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

80. Joker VS Shido! Joker's Comeback part 9

A/N: sithlorde1988 here, with another chapter of Persona 5- The Phantom Files! Per usual, let's deal with the disclaimer while I'm thinking of it.

Disclaimer: sithlorde1988 does not own the Persona series in ANY way, shape or form (excluding the OCs Kusa/Draconis, Somasi/Slim, Kyori, Akira, Lumine, Mimille, and any other OCs that might pop up throughout the story, all of whom are created and thus owned by sithlorde1988 unless otherwise stated), and the actual ownership credit for the Persona series belongs to Altus and Sega, as well as Koei Tecmo to a point, so all credit to them.

That being said, this chapter should be an eventful one, considering the fact that I intend to fit the seventh calling card and Palace Ruler fight into this chapter, along with some other stuff as well. So there'll be a good bit in this chapter to look forward to. But for now, here's chapter 80!

Chapter 80: Tension, Calling Cards, and Battles! Sinking the Cruiser of Pride! Joker's Comeback part 9

(In an abandoned part of the Metaverse, with Crow and Draconis)

"All right, we're here. So I suppose now we cut to where we fight it out?" Crow said dryly as Draconis shook his head in the negative and spoke up.

"Not quite yet, Crow. First, you're going to explain a few things to me. For starters, why is it you thought that sinking to such tactics as murder, betrayal, and even trying to pin the blame for your crimes onto the Phantom Thieves was the right course of action for you. Also, you're going to tell me what part of your revenge plan on Shido involved Joker needing to die. I don't get that." Draconis said as Crow frowned and spoke up.

"Isn't it obvious, Draconis? Unlike you, and even the others, I didn't have the luxury of having a huge group of friends that cared enough about me to be there for me. Or at least, I didn't, until I joined the Phantom Thieves. Granted, that was just an arranged ruse on my part to get your trust. But somehow, along the way, I actually started to somewhat appreciate, and even to a point grudgingly respect, most of you. Sure, there are some, like Skull and Mona, who are entirely insufferable to me with how much they end up at each other's throats.

And then there are others, like you, Joker, Queen, and even Noir, who I find myself grudgingly impressed with for various reasons. With Queen, it's her resilience and unwillingness to give up or compromise her beliefs. For you and Joker, it's the fact that both of you can keep up with my train of thought most of the time, and even get ahead of it in some cases. And for Noir, it's the fact I can, albeit reluctantly, relate to her. I can understand having a messed up father, as I'm sure you can also understand. Even if in your case, you didn't really get to know him that much, if at all.

But then at the same time, I find Joker's tendency to act like he knows everything annoying, as well as how easily he sees through everything I do. I wasn't lying to him when I told him that I hate him, because I do. But at the same time, that was only a half-truth. It'd be more accurate to say that I hate how much better Joker is than me in most ways. So yeah, I don't hate Joker as a person. I just hate how often he gets the better of me.

However, I will also say that you're also pretty up there as worthy foes go, Draconis. Sure, you've yet to beat me, but that wasn't for a lack of effort in either case. I was just lucky enough to be able to exploit flaws in your technique on both of our previous encounters. So consider me genuinely impressed with your skills. As for why I felt Joker needed to die for my plan? That's a long story.

Suffice it to say, I was acting on Shido's orders with that one, though there was a part of me that also longed to be able to finally remind Joker how much better than him I am. Could I have done that without trying to end him? Probably. But doing it the way I did not only let me have the satisfaction of personally ending him, but it also kept me in Shido's good graces, which was essential to getting revenge on him. Does that answer your questions?" Crow asked Draconis, who nodded and spoke up.

"Yes, it does. Now, as you said before, we proceed to the part where we face off in a duel. Just you, and me. No Shadows, no weapons, only our fists, and if necessary, our Personas. But I think we can both agree it's long past time we properly settled once and for all who the stronger of the two of us really is." Draconis said as Crow nodded his agreement and smirked viciously as he spoke up.

"I quite agree, Draconis. There's no more need for words. Now we put it all on the line, here and now! So prepare yourself, because I'm coming at you, no holds barred!" Crow said before charging forward to start the fight with Draconis. As the fight started, Crow chuckled and spoke up.

"Heh, ready? I have a feeling you won't be putting up much of a fight without the others here, both with that bum arm of yours, the fact you're going it solo for now, but most especially, I have a hard time believing you'd do much to me without that weapon of yours that I destroyed before." Crow said smugly as Draconis frowned and spoke up.

"So you say, Crow. But don't count me out yet! I might only have my fists, but that's more than enough to handle the likes of you." Draconis said as Crow huffed and lunged forward to throw a punch at Draconis, only for Draconis to catch the punch in one hand, effortlessly tossing it back at Crow while driving an elbow into Crow's stomach, making him stagger backwards a bit while Draconis followed up with a right hook of his own, which he felt connect with Crow's jaw, snapping his head back a bit as Crow winced and rubbed the area that had been hit as he spoke up.

"OW! I felt that one! Not bad." Crow said as he then moved to aim a punch at Draconis' stomach, only for Draconis to catch the punch and use the momentum to flip Crow over his head, slamming him to the ground while glaring down at him and speaking up.

"HA! See? In a fair fight, you've got your work cut out for you when it comes to me, Crow. The only reason you beat me the last two times we fought was because in one case, you caught me by surprise with your power, and in the other, I let myself lose my head when you revealed your true colors. So I can fully own up to the fact that I pretty much defeated myself on both of those occasions, but that was then, and this is now." Draconis said as he threw a left hook at Crow's face, enjoying the slight cracking sound he heard in Crow's nose when his punch connected, even though he felt a jolt of pain in his left arm afterwards for punching Crow with his bad arm. After a bit, Crow frowned and kicked Draconis backwards off of him before getting to his feet and huffing as he spoke up.

"Heh, not bad. But now the real fight begins. COME! LOKI!" Crow said as he summoned his 'Loki' Persona. Draconis sighed but nodded as he spoke up.

"So you say. Very well, now we fight with Personas." Draconis said before steeling himself as he spoke up.

"THAILOG! COME FORTH!" Draconis said as he summoned out Thailog, who appeared at his side with a nod, sword in hand. Crow and Draconis glared at each other and spoke up in unison.

"LOKI!/THAILOG! ATTACK!" Crow and Draconis called out at the same time as Loki and Thailog nodded, proceeding to clash blades independently of the struggle between their wielders, at which point Crow smirked and leapt to his feet before tackling a shocked Draconis, bringing him to the ground as the two started rolling around in a flurry of fists and feet, both swearing at each other while they fought each other as their Personas kept clashing weapons back and forth. Thailog turned to Loki and spoke up while shaking his head disdainfully, as if unimpressed by the two currently rolling around on the ground throwing hands.

"How is it you and I are so calm about this, yet our wielders are down on the ground rolling around like a pair of angry kids?" Thailog asked brusquely as Loki shrugged and spoke up.

"Your guess is as good as mine, Thailog. But that's not important. For now, our main focus is our clash." Loki said as Thailog nodded and went back to clashing weapons with Thailog. While this was going on, Crow went flying backwards off of Draconis after Draconis landed a well-placed kick to Crow's torso, launching him off of him. After the two got to their feet, they frowned at one another and flew at one another, fists extended.

At that point, Loki and Thailog stopped clashing blades to turn and watch as Crow and Draconis suddenly skidded to a halt, each one's fist embedded in the jaw of the other. After a moment, Draconis and Crow skidded backwards away from one another, both going to a knee and panting from how intense their struggle had been to that point. Once Loki and Thailog returned to their respective wielders, the battle ended. From there, Draconis huffed and spoke up as he got to his feet, but not before offering Crow a hand getting to his feet. Crow blinked at this, but accepted the outstretched hand and spoke up after getting back on his feet.

"Why help me out, Draconis? Surely you could've finished me while I was down?" Crow asked as Draconis laughed and spoke up with a smile.

"True, I could. But where would the honor be in that? Besides, I think we both got exactly what we needed from that battle. I'm willing to call our fight a draw on this occasion, since we both pushed each other pretty far. But in all seriousness, I'm sorry that you felt that your only option was to try and take Shido down on your own. Granted, I can see how working with us wouldn't be an appealing prospect for you, but at this point we're basically after the same thing, and that's Shido's downfall.

So why are we still enemies in that regard, Crow? Yes, you've done some screwed up things, but who hasn't messed up at least once in their life? Think about it, Crow. You could start over here and now, and strive to right your wrongs as best you can. Sure, there are some things, like what you did to both Oracle and Noir, that might be impossible to make amends for, but you can at least make up for as much of your misdeeds as you can. So what do you say, Crow? Can we put our differences aside and strive for a fresh start while working together to hopefully find a way to bring you onto the path of redemption?" Draconis asked a suddenly pensive Crow, who thought Draconis' words over carefully before he spoke up.

"You make a very valid argument, Draconis. However, even if you were receptive to me basically repenting for my sins, I have the sense that at the minimum, Joker, Noir, and Oracle might not be as forgiving. Nor do I expect them to be, considering what I've done to them. As it is, I'm shocked you're not angry at me, considering how often you claim to see your teammates as family, or as a lover in Oracle's case." Crow said as Draconis smiled and spoke up.

"I won't deny that some part of me is still furious at you, Crow. However, I know that it would be petty and foolish to let that anger push away what could be a very capable and reliable ally, should you ever decide to want to work with us again. But, I fully realize and therefore accept that this is entirely your decision to make, Crow. If you'd truly rather go after Shido on your own and not work with us, I respect that. But I still feel the need to at least try and hopefully convince you to let go of your grudge and work with us." Draconis said as Crow smiled and spoke up.

"Draconis? You're not wrong. But even if I wanted to work with you guys, I'd be basically revealing myself as a traitor to Shido. And the moment he figured out I was turning on him, he'd probably have me arrested for all the crimes I committed on his orders. So, what's to say I'm not on borrowed time here, no matter what I do?" Crow asked as Draconis frowned at this question, realizing Crow had a point. However, before he could answer that, another voice reached his ears, making him frown.

"Hello? Who's out there?" Draconis heard an ominous sounding voice call from nearby, making him turn to Crow in shock and blink in surprise before speaking up.

"This place IS abandoned, right? That's what you said when you had me bring us here, at least." Draconis asked Crow, who frowned and spoke up.

"I thought it was, to be honest. But given what we just heard, maybe its not so abandoned after all? I wonder if that's the ruler of this place, which might be a Palace. Or if it's just a minion." Crow asked as his question was answered by way of around a dozen Shadows in lab coats approaching them, the leader of which was wearing glasses. The lead Shadow looked at Crow and Draconis before it spoke up.

"Ah, I see. So it seems that we have intruders. So much for this place being kept a secret." The lead Shadow said as he signaled to the other Shadows, who moved to surround Crow and Draconis, only for Draconis to look at Crow and speak up, the look of pure determination and resolve in his eyes both unnerving and surprising Crow as he spoke.

"Crow, get out of here and save yourself! There's no need for both of us to get caught here! And I feel like you might be able to be of use to the others in the long run, if you play your cards right. And regardless of what you've done, even you deserve to have a second chance to make amends for what you've done.

Besides, I notice that these Shadows are wearing lab coats. And considering that, I think I have a vague idea of whose Palace this might be, if in fact this IS a Palace. But if I'm right, it'll be me that the ruler of this Palace is after here, and not you, especially if the Palace's ruler is who I think it is. So you should be able to get out of here safely while I give myself up to buy you time to escape." Draconis said firmly as Crow frowned at Draconis and spoke up.

"WHAT!? Why would I abandon you like that, Draconis? Especially when you've got a bad arm? And more to the point, what about all your talk of us working together?" Crow asked irately as Draconis spoke up.

"We still can, Crow. But for now, at least one of us needs to escape from here, if only to be able to warn the others of what happened here. I get the sense that a time might come when they need to be guided here, and they can't do that if they have no reason to think to look here. So trust me, Crow. I feel you're better equipped to convince the others to come here.

And to be honest, do you honestly think the others would be apt to come here and save you after what you did to them, Crow? Now go! I know for a fact they'd come here in an instant to save me." Draconis said firmly as Crow reluctantly nodded and sprinted towards the nearby exit point to use his phone to escape the Metaverse, while the Shadows converged on and swarmed Draconis. The last thing Draconis was aware of before slumping forward to the ground unconsciously as everything went black was the flash of steel and the impact of something heavy on the back of his head, both hearing and feeling his dragon mask crack slightly from the impact...

(Meanwhile, at that same time, back at the entrance of Shido's Palace, with Joker, Skull, Mona, Panther, Fox, Queen, Oracle, Noir, and Sumi)

Joker sighed before reluctantly walking towards the exit point of the Palace, at which point Mona spoke up.

"Joker, I know you're probably upset about what happened back there, but we have to carry on, for both Draconis' sake, as well as Crow's. That said, what do you wanna do? We've secured our route to the Treasure at this point. As such, do you wanna get out of here?" Mona asked Joker, who thought about it and nodded as he spoke up.

"Yeah, we might as well. No sense lingering here for no reason. I'll just have to hold out hope that Draconis and/or Crow are okay on their own, depending on which of them survived." Joker said as he hit the button to return the group to the real world as the MetaNav spoke up from his phone.

"Now returning to the real world from Shido's Palace. Thank you for your hard work." The MetaNav said as the group started returning to the real world. As the group returned, Mona spoke up.

"YES! We finally secured our route to the Treasure! All we need to do now is send the calling card." Mona said as Panther nodded and spoke up.

"You're right, Mona. And once we send it, the heist is the only thing left to take care of. We have to succeed this time, if only for the sake of Crow and Draconis, who both might be lost to us." Panther said as Joker winced at the mention of Draconis and Crow while Sumi smiled, gently patting Joker on the shoulder comfortingly as she spoke up.

"There, there. It's okay, Joker. I'm sure they'd want us to keep our spirits up and not fall to pieces in their absence. Besides, we owe it to both of them to take out Shido." Sumi said wisely as Panther nodded and spoke up.

"That's true, Sumi. Anyways, I'll let you decide when we do it, Joker. Let's make sure we're ready before then!" Panther said as the group exited the Metaverse...

(Back in the real world, at the Sakura residence, with Morgana and Futaba)

"You did great today, Futaba. How are you holding up?" Morgana asked Futaba, who sighed and spoke up.

"I'm okay. A bit worried for Kusa, but fine otherwise. But I know I have to stay strong and keep fighting the good fight." Futaba said as Morgana nodded.

(At the same time, at Leblanc, with Ren)

As soon as Ren stepped into Leblanc, his phone went off to signify a group chat with Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Haru, Futaba, and Kasumi, with Haru sending the first response.

"We were finally able to get into the main assembly hall." Haru sent as Ann sent a response.

"True. That means we're ready to send the calling card too. When should we do it?" Ann asked as Yusuke sent a response.

"Indeed. We must consider the method by which we send it as well." Yusuke sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"All those guys cheering for Shido better be ready. We're gonna surprise the shit outta them!" Ryuji sent as Futaba sent a response.

"I can't wait for this." Futaba sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"By the way, where's Makoto? She's in this chat, right?" Ryuji sent as Makoto chose then to send a response.

"Yes, sorry. Don't worry about me. I've been reading it." Makoto sent, making Ren frown at the tone of her response, making him send his own response.

"Is something wrong, Makoto? You seem anxious." Ren sent. Makoto sent a response.

"Well, to be honest, yes. I wasn't going to bring it up, since it kinda involves what happened earlier." Makoto sent as Haru sent a response.

"It's about the current status of Akechi-kun and/or Kusa-kun, is it not? That was really sad how things played out with Akechi-kun back there. And honestly, while I have a few mixed feelings about what Akechi-kun did, I can't be mad at him for it. Not only that, but I think he was a victim, too. Him and Kusa-kun both." Haru sent as Kasumi sent a response at that point.

"Good point, Haru-senpai. It's awful that one or both of them could be gone right now, and we have no way of knowing for sure which one of them it might be. Also, I can only imagine how both Ren-senpai and Futaba-chan are feeling right now." Kasumi sent as Ann sent a response.

"Good point, Kasumi. That makes them both victims we couldn't save, doesn't it?" Ann sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"Indeed. And am I the only one who is slightly bothered by Kusa's mention that he could easily have ended up like Akechi, had things been different? In truth, he's not the only one to feel that way. I believe that had I not met you all, I may have become like Akechi as well, loathe as I am to admit to that." Yusuke sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"Truth! I understand if some of you feel you can forgive Akechi for what he's done. But personally speaking, I'm not sure I can forgive the guy myself. Especially when he might be the reason Kusa's not with us right now." Ryuji sent as Ren sent a response.

"Ryuji, let's be fair here. Yes, Akechi was in the wrong for what he did, but he was also taking orders from someone who's more in the wrong than he is." Ren sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"That's true, isn't it? Dammit! But more importantly, I can't forgive Shido for warping his mind so goddamn much!" Ryuji sent irately as Makoto sent a response.

"I must agree. What Shido did to Akechi-kun is reprehensible." Makoto sent as Haru sent a response.

"That's true, Mako-chan. Because of that man, someone who might at one time have been a truly charming and charismatic person was warped into a broken and bitter individual who chose to resort to crime to try and dull his suffering. That said, we must do this. I'm certain we'll be able to pull this off." Haru sent as Ren sent a response.

"I'm certain too, Haru. If nothing else, I believe that Kusa would have also expressed his confidence in our ability to do this. And considering he's just as likely to be a victim in this as Akechi is, we owe it to the both of them to bring Shido down." Ren sent. Kasumi sent a response at that point.

"That's true, Ren-senpai. But never forget that we're all here for you if you need someone to vent to. We're all going through this together, after all." Kasumi sent as Ann sent a response.

"Well said, Kasumi. And yeah, definitely! You're in charge of picking the time for us to do this, Ren!" Ann sent as Ren put his phone away, at which point Morgana winced and spoke up after he walked into Leblanc with Futaba.

"Regardless of what actually happened behind that wall, one thing is for certain. Akechi saved most of us in the end. Granted, he couldn't have realized his actions would trap Kusa behind that wall with him, but even so, he risked himself for the rest of us. I think in his heart, he might not have been so bad. It's a shame he didn't have anyone he could truly confide in or be friends with, or he might have been a much better person.

Ah, and then there's Kusa. He's so selfless, I've no doubt that he'd have stepped up to help Akechi fight off his cognitive counterpart, even after what he did. So for all we know, maybe the signal that Futaba lost the reading of was the cognitive Akechi." Morgana said before he steeled himself and kept speaking.

"Hey, Ren. Let's succeed on this mission, no matter what." Morgana said kindly as Ren nodded resolutely before turning to the coffee maker, feeling like making some coffee. As he did so, Sojiro frowned and spoke up.

"I see that Futaba and Morgana are here. But I have to wonder why Kusa's not with you three." Sojiro said, not noticing the wince on both Futaba and Ren's faces at his mention of Kusa. Ren sighed and spoke up.

"That's a long story, Boss. To make a long story short, we ran into a trap near the end of our most recent mission, and Kusa got separated from us when the trap was sprung. At this point, we have no idea if he's even alive or not, considering said trap had him stuck on the opposite side of a giant metal wall with Akechi while the rest of us had to escape and leave the both of them behind. So that'll be why he's not with Futaba and Morgana." Ren said bluntly as Sojiro gasped but nodded as he spoke up.

"Ah, I see. I had no idea. Sorry for being so tactless before. I'm sure Kusa will be fine. He's a resilient young man. And I don't see him letting himself be taken away from you so easily, especially from Futaba." Sojiro said encouragingly as Futaba and Morgana smiled while Ren spoke up.

"Good point, Boss. If you don't mind, I think I want to brew some coffee to try and get my mind off things a bit." Ren said as Sojiro nodded understandingly.

"I understand. Normally, I'd make a joke about the coffee bug biting you awfully hard, but I don't think this is the time for such a joke. Well, whatever, it's fine with me. All right, I'm headin' out to buy some cigarettes for a bit. I'll leave Futaba and Morgana with you." Sojiro said as he left, leaving Futaba and Morgana to take seats at the counter as Ren set up the coffee brewer. After a bit, Futaba smiled and spoke up.

"Mmm, gotta love the smell of freshly-brewed coffee. And Ren? Regardless of what Sojiro says, I think you're a great coffee brewer." Futaba said honestly as Ren smiled and patted Futaba on the head appreciatively as he spoke up.

"Heh, thank you, Futaba. That means a lot coming from you, sis. But I don't think you're the only one here who likes that smell, is she Morgana?" Ren said, giving the not-cat a teasing grin as Morgana spoke up.

"Hmph! If you must know, I too appreciate the smell of a good cup of coffee." Morgana said primly as Futaba giggled at the mock-posh tone in which Morgana had spoken. After a bit, Ren poured himself and Futaba a cup of his finished product, sitting next to Futaba as he sipped his cup and spoke up while pumping a fist eagerly.

"YES! Another well-brewed cup! I might end up on the same level as Boss yet!" Ren said as Morgana smirked and spoke up with a closed-eye grin.

"Sure you will, Ren. I must say though, the way you're drinking it makes it look delicious." Morgana said as Futaba smiled and spoke up after trying her own cup.

"It doesn't just look delicious, Morgana! It IS delicious! Here, try a sip!" Futaba said, carefully pouring some of the extra coffee into a small cup and setting it in front of Morgana, who lapped up a few sips and smiled as he spoke up.

"Mwehehe! Ooh, that IS good! Good work, Ren!" Morgana said happily as Ren nodded, pocketing 2 'Master Coffee' items for his efforts. Morgana then chuckled as he spoke up.

"Heh, not that you need it anymore Ren, but it seems that the chief's gentlemanly charm is rubbing off on you, much as it does after every cup you drink." Morgana said as Ren nodded, feeling his Charm get a slight, if unneeded, boost. Futaba just nodded as she sipped her coffee, at which point Sojiro walked in and chuckled as he saw Ren sipping a cup of his finished product and spoke up.

"Heh, looks like you're at it again, eh Ren? How's it going? Here, I'll have a sip." Sojiro said as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"Yes, please do, Boss. Grace me with your coffee-making wisdom. After all, there's a reason you're the Coffee Daddy here." Ren said eagerly, ignoring Futaba and Morgana chuckling at Ren's reference to the nickname/code name that Kusa had once coined for Sojiro as he passed the cup carefully over to Sojiro, who nodded and took a sip, speaking up after savoring the taste.

"Mmm, this soft acidity. There's no doubt about it, this is a Hunduran SHG. Confused? Let me explain!" Sojiro said as he kept speaking.

"A third of Honduras landscape is mountain or highland. The coffee grade is determined by the altitude of the harvest location. Strictly Home Grown, or SHG for short, similar to SHB, is grown at high altitudes. It has a fruity aroma, soft acidity, and a solid richness." Sojiro said as Futaba smiled and spoke up.

"Oh, that's actually rather interesting, Sojiro. I had no idea you knew so much about the different coffee beans in your collection." Futaba said to Sojiro, sounding impressed. Sojiro chuckled and spoke up.

"Of course I do, Futaba. Considering I run a cafe, it's kind of my job to know how to differentiate one type of coffee from another. Also, Ren? I'll be honest. Delicious almost doesn't cover how good this cup of coffee is. I'll admit that I'm impressed. Although, that being said, surely you realize that you'll never truly catch up to me. But even still, I like your coffee. Furthermore, I'm overjoyed to have such a competent apprentice. Allow me to act as your lead for a little longer if you would, Ren." Sojiro said as Ren nodded and Sojiro spoke up.

"Well then, that said, I should probably get these two back home so you can get comfortable for the evening, Ren." Sojiro said as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"Please do. As I'm sure Morgana was probably about to say we should probably rest now, since tomorrow's gonna be another busy day." Ren said as Morgana nodded approvingly before Sojiro took Futaba and Morgana with him, leaving Ren to head back upstairs and lay down on his bed, his hands folding themselves behind his head while he stared at the ceiling, his mind flashing to his final moments with Akechi.

Ren then idly wondered what actually became of Kusa and Akechi. As he recalled, after the group heard the sound of the gunshot on the other side of the shutters, Futaba said there were only two readings left on her radar, not counting the Shadows that were with the cognitive Akechi. Depending on which two readings it was, could it mean that he might never see either Kusa or Akechi again? At that moment, one thought ran through Ren's mind.

'I know it's too soon to assume anything about either Kusa or Akechi, but I know one thing for sure. Regardless of which two made it out of that situation, I want to keep the promise Akechi and I made of having another duel. After all, I do still have that promise with Akechi to have another duel someday, fate willing.

And I know Akechi would especially hate having it end with his defeat, even if it was only made possible by the collective efforts of the rest of the group after Kusa was separated from us. But still, the fact remains that there's nothing I can do now. I should probably get to sleep while I can, since the day of Shido's reckoning is looming in the distance.' Ren thought as he laid down and fell into a fitful sleep...

(The next day, in the attic of Leblanc, with Ren)

After thinking it over, Ren decided to do some inventory management, selling some sooty gear to the second-hand shop in Kichijoji and getting a 'Clothing Grab Bag' with the proceeds, which netted him some extra gear as a result. After checking his stuff and making certain he was prepared, Ren made to leave Kichijoji to head back and gather the others when he spotted Kasumi near the entrance to the promenade. Chuckling to himself, Ren walked over and spoke to her.

"Well, well. What brings you out here on a day like today, Sumi?" Ren asked Kasumi, who blinked on recognizing Ren's voice, before smiling as she spoke up.

"Oh, hi Ren! Didn't know you were out and about. Preparing for the calling card?" Kasumi asked as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"Precisely. Actually, it's good timing I ran into you. I was planning to call everyone to the hideout so we could send the calling card. Did you want to head back with me?" Ren asked Kasumi, who smiled and spoke up.

"I'd love to go back with you, Ren. Let's go." Kasumi said with a very pretty closed-eye smile as the two headed back to Leblanc after Ren sent a group chat summoning the others to the hideout...

(A bit later, at the hideout with Ren, Kasumi, Ryuji, Makoto, Haru, Ann, Futaba, and Morgana)

"This is finally it, everyone. Let's hurry up and send the calling card!" Ann said as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"That was precisely my plan, Ann. We're here today to discuss sending the calling card." Ren said. Morgana heard this and spoke up.

"Oh? Just so you know Ren, once you send this calling card, there will be no going back. Make sure you're fully prepared beforehand, okay?" Morgana said as Ren smirked and spoke up.

"I know. I already finished my preparations this morning. We're good to go." Ren said to Morgana, who nodded. At that point, Ryuji grinned and spoke up.

"So, it's finally comin' down to this! Also, how're we gonna send the calling card?" Ryuji asked as Yusuke spoke up bluntly.

"Good question, Ryuji. It would be pointless to send it to the Diet Building." Yusuke said as Makoto nodded and spoke up.

"That's true. And even if we handed it over to different media sources, who knows how it would be treated once we handed it over. And the worst case scenario would be giving it to the police under the table." Makoto said as Haru frowned and spoke up.

"I see. What shall we do then?" Haru asked as Ren thought about it and spoke up.

"If we can't send it to the Diet Building, why not ask Makoto's sister for her opinion on how to proceed? Surely she has at least some insight that could be of use." Ren suggested. Ann frowned at this and spoke up with a sigh.

"I get where you're coming from, Ren. But we literally just said that's not gonna work." Ann said as Futaba chuckled ominously at that point, making the others turn to her at that point as Haru spoke up warily.

"Um, Futaba-chan?" Haru asked as Futaba pushed up her glasses and spoke up.

"My Futaba Cannon is ready." Futaba said, confusing the others as Ryuji spoke up in surprise.

"Huh?" Ryuji said as Kasumi blinked and spoke up.

"Um, not to doubt you, but what do you mean, your Futaba Cannon is ready? I don't get it, Futaba." Kasumi said as Futaba smiled at Kasumi and spoke up.

"Not to worry, Kasumi. It's good to go. Look. Now, if I do this, then look at what happens." Futaba said as she turned her laptop so everyone could see the screen, making most of the others' jaws drop, specifically Makoto's, prompting her to speak up in surprise.

"When did you make this!?" Makoto asked with widened eyes as Futaba spoke up.

"I finished it last night while I tried to fall asleep. But I started work on it shortly before we infiltrated the Palace. To be fair, the initial idea was Kusa's, since he suggested we might need a flashier way to send our calling cards in case our usual method of handwriting them wouldn't work for some reason. But I took it over and finished it on my own, hence the Futaba Cannon." Futaba said as Ryuji blinked and spoke up with wide eyes.

"First of all, shouldn't it be called the Draconis Cannon, in his honor? Secondly, you shoulda told us you were plannin' something!" Ryuji said as Futaba chuckled and spoke up.

"Mwehehe, to trick your enemies, you first gotta trick your allies. On at least that point, I agree with Akechi-kun." Futaba said as Ren frowned at the mention of both Kusa and Akechi, at which point Yusuke changed the subject by speaking up.

"I see. How stylish." Yusuke said as Ann did a closed-eye smile and spoke up.

"Right!? As Kusa would no doubt say, it's kickass!" Ann said as Haru smiled and spoke up.

"Agreed. This should work nicely for our purposes. Well done, Futaba-chan." Haru said as Ryuji grinned and pumped a fist as he spoke up.

"All right! It's time for people to start comin' to their senses!" Ryuji said as Kasumi spoke up.

"Agreed, Ryuji-senpai. It's time for Shido to be held accountable for what he's done, not only to us, but to both Kusa and Akechi as well." Kasumi said firmly as the others nodded their agreement, all looking forward to the sending of the calling card...

(Later that evening, in Shibuya)

"We first start with national news. Since the young man suspected to be the leader of the Phantom Thieves died while in custody, the police have officially announced that these crimes have come to an end, and assure everyone that the peace will be restored in the coming days, and-" The newscaster said as he was cut off mid-sentence as the signals were all cut to static before flickering to a red screen with the words 'TAKE YOUR HEART' on it with a red and black picture of a top-hat and mask, with flames coming out of one eye socket, as a voice came over the hijacked TV screens.

"Yo! What is UP, everybody!" Skull's voice could be heard over the screen as his voice was replaced by Fox's voice.

"We are the ones who you all know as the Phantom Thieves." Fox said as Queen spoke up at that point.

"Or some of you might be more familiar with our nom de guerre from our calling cards, the Phantom Crew." Queen said as Skull spoke up at that point.

"And all of us are alive and kickin', even if a couple of us are presently unaccounted for. But those shitty guys in power? They've been manipulatin' information to try and hide the truth." Skull said as a panicked TV station worker spoke up while listening to the broadcast with his co-worker.

"What is this!? Where is it coming from!?" The panicked worker said as his co-worker frowned and spoke up.

"I dunno. We can't switch it out! Seems we aren't the only ones affected by this either." The less panicked worker said as the shot panned back to Shibuya where the broadcast was happening. At that point, Queen's voice came over the screen.

"So, before we appropriate our next target, we would like to first borrow your time!" Queen said as one of the onlookers asked her friend if the person speaking was a girl. At that point, Fox's voice came over the screens.

"The recent scandals of public figures, the accidents caused by psychotic breakdowns and mental shutdowns, and even the disappearance of two of our own. All of these weren't caused by unknown reasons. One man is behind every single instance we've listed. And why, you may ask? The reason is nothing more simple than so he can satiate his own greed." Fox said as Oracle's voice cut in at that point.

"That man was afraid his crimes would be exposed and shifted the blame on us. He even manipulated the police for that." Oracle said as Skull's voice spoke up.

"We only steal the hearts of criminals. But this asshole tried to dump what he did on us. That just shows he doesn't care about those victims at all!" Skull said as an officer gasped at hearing this and spoke up while on the phone.

"Are they stupid!? Shut everything down!" The officer said. At that same moment, Fox's voice came back on the screens.

"The identity of that cowardly man is-" Fox said but was cut off as the signal briefly ended. In the crowd, one excited man with a megaphone spoke up.

"Da hell!? It was getting good!" The man said. At that same time, Futaba spoke up as she saw the signal get hacked.

"Oooh, the police reacted much faster than I thought. Too bad. Heh, I win!" Futaba said, pushing a button and forcing the broadcast back on every screen in Tokyo, making the public gasp as Fox's voice could be heard once more.

"-Ah, we're back! As I was saying, the man behind it all is a current cabinet member, of all things." Fox said as the screen cut to a picture of Shido as he kept speaking.

"The Minister of State for Special Missions, Masayoshi Shido!" Fox said, prompting much gasping and many shocked cries of 'SHIDO!?' among the crowd. At that point, Sumi's voice was heard speaking.

"Fox-senpai is right! Shido-san might put up this front of being concerned for the future of Japan and of its' citizens, but don't be fooled by what he says!" Sumi said as Oracle cut in.

"What Sumi said! Everything that guy says is a lie! And to prove that, behold!" Oracle said as the screen cut to a shot of all the Thieves with the exception of the still-missing Crow and Draconis, as Panther cut in at that point.

"Look! As you can see, with a couple of exceptions who are missing at the moment thanks to Shido, all of us are alive and kickin'!" Panther said as Queen spoke up.

"I'm sure the people investigating us can tell if this is a lie or not." Queen said as Noir spoke up at that point.

"But have no fear, people of Tokyo! Shido himself will soon confess to all the crimes that he's committed." Noir said as one of the officers watching the broadcast dumbly asked if it was just a prank, getting shrugs from the other officers. At that point, Panther spoke up once more.

"What Noir said! Please look forward to it, everyone!" Panther said as Sumi spoke up from next to Joker.

"And rest assured, we will do all that we can to ensure it comes sooner, rather than later." Sumi said firmly. At that point, the same officer who'd spoken up before asked if the broadcast could be real. Back in Shibuya, the crowd was listening with rapt attention, ignoring the traffic cop trying to guide traffic and warning people not to block the road as Skull spoke up.

"And another thing! We're not gonna sit back and watch some crook wreck this country just 'cause of his goddamn ego." Skull said as Oracle spoke up while the shot cut to Skull and Joker holding a picture of Shido.

"And even though he's not here, I do have a message from Draconis to Representative Shido. He says, and I quote, 'SHIDO! Prepare yourself! I might not be there to witness it myself, but the rest of the Phantom Thieves are about to steal that warped effing rapist heart of yours! And at that point, you will answer for all the suffering you've put countless people through! So enjoy your freedom while you can! The Crew is coming for you!

And they'll have enough spare vengeance for both myself and for Crow. So enjoy yourself while you can...Father! But you don't have to take my word for it. I'm sure Skull here will be only too happy to vouch for my words. Won't you, Skull!?'. Huh, who knew he was so perceptive?" Oracle said as Skull smirked and spoke up at that point, clearly amused by the wave of shock and outrage that Draconis' claim of being a son of Masayoshi Shido would no doubt cause.

"Got that right, Draconis! We're coming for your shitty heart, Shido! Ain't that right, Joker, our oh so wise and revered leader?" Skull said as Joker strode forward so that his figure was clearly visible in the lighting of the screen, prompting a man in the crowd to point out that Joker's face could be clearly seen. Joker then spoke up confidently while crossing his arms with a resolved look in his eyes as he spoke.

"Yes! It is as both Skull and Draconis have said! Shido will be brought to account for his crimes, and we WILL change his heart! But before that happens, we WILL take this country and put it back on the correct path!" Joker said, prompting an explosion of raucous cheering from the crowd. At that same time, Shido frowned from where he was watching the broadcast on a conveniently provided tablet, frowning at the part where the thief called 'Draconis' called him out and basically confirmed that he was Shido's son, as it confirmed his suspicions about why the last name Amamiya sounded familiar.

Not surprisingly, Shido's frown deepened on realizing it was in fact because the Amamiya woman he'd conquered some years previous had in fact bore him a son, and potentially a worthy heir at that. As he scowled, his aide was on the phone promising that the incident was being looked into. At that same time, Shido growled as he stared at the screen and spoke up angrily while the camera briefly panned to a shadowy view of what appeared to be a scowling figure with a spiky helmet and cape, as the security level of Shido's Palace shot through the roof as the camera panned back to the very angry Shido while he spoke.

"So, you wish to change my heart, Phantom Thieves!? Very well, then so be it. I will crush them beneath my heel!" Shido said as the camera panned back to Shibuya, where the TVs showed the picture of Shido and of Joker's face as Mona spoke up to end the broadcast.

"Beware, Masayoshi Shido! Your day of reckoning is nigh! We will steal your heart without fail! So prepare yourself! For now, this is the Phantom Crew, signing off!" Mona said, though all anyone in the crowds listening could hear as the screens cut to black was a long drawn out series of meows, since none of them could understand the not-cat...

(A short time later, at the police station)

"Answer me! Did the remaining members of the Phantom Thieves put that notice out!? And what did they mean when they said 'nobody has died'!? Could they possibly have installed a new leader just to threaten us and Shido!?" The Police Director asked the chief detective, who spoke up.

"I don't know. We're going to check with the different departments and see what we can figure out." The chief detective said as his phone rang and he spoke up.

"Excuse me while I take this." The chief detective said as he answered his phone.

"Yes." The chief detective said as he listened to the voice on the other end speak up, frowning as they finished speaking and he swore and spoke up.

"What the hell!? How can that be!?" The chief detective said as he hung up the phone and turned to the Police Director and spoke up.

"Um, sir? The phantom thief's corpse seems to be missing from the morgue!" The chief detective said as the Police Director scowled and spoke up.

"WHAT!? Didn't your men check the death certificate and carrier documents!?" The Police Director asked angrily as the chief detective spoke up.

"Yes, but none of us get it how it happened either. Um, that is, we're shocked too." The chief detective said as the Police Director spoke up angrily.

"Give me a straight answer!" The Police Detective said to the chief detective, who sputtered and spoke up.

"I wish I could, sir. Perhaps this phantom thief tricked us with his bizarre powers! Maybe he had just made us think he had died as part of an elaborate ruse." The chief detective said meekly as the Police Director growled and spoke up.

"Never mind that! Who made those documents? Who was there at the scene of the suicide!?" The Police Director said angrily to the chief detective, who bowed apologetically as he realized what he had to do...

(At the same time, in Shido's office with Shido)

"Don't give me excuses! Find a way to stop a change of heart! Don't we have Wakaba Isshiki's research materials!? And what about Akechi!? Where did that useless brat go!? He must have run away knowing he failed! Bring him here when you find him! Got that!?" Shido said to the men in front of him, who nodded and fled the room, as the shot cut to a view of a shadowy silhouette, showing what appeared to be spiky shoulder pads, a spiked helmet, and what was clearly a man's figure as a voice spoke up.

"Hmph! I'll erase any who gets in my way, no matter who they might be, just as I've always done!" The figure of Shadow Shido said ominously as his security level shot through the roof and the camera panned back to a frowning Shido...

(Elsewhere, with Sae and some police detectives)

"Where is the phantom thief's body?" A police detective angrily asked Sae, who frowned in confusion as she spoke up.

"Phantom thief? Body?" Sae asked as the police detective spoke up angrily.

"This isn't the time for games!" The police detective said as Sae spoke up in confusion.

"Um, I'm sorry but I really don't know what you're speaking of, sir. Oh, but that reminds me of something. I received a calling card from the Phantom Thieves recently, but everything from then on is a blur to me. Oh! No, could it be? Could I have done something wrong!? Then I, I, might have broken the law?" Sae said as she grabbed her head and fell to her knees as the police detective spoke up in a worried tone.

"Oh, uh, hey!?" The police detective said as a junior detective spoke up.

"Did the Phantom Thieves get to her?" The junior detective said as the police detective gasped and looked at Sae and spoke up.

"Don't tell me, was your heart changed? Could this be true, Niijima!?" The police detective asked Sae, who grabbed her head and spoke up in confusion.

"I don't know. Oh, what have I done?" Sae said as the police detective frowned and spoke up.

"The phantom thief! He's alive!" The police detective said as the junior detective frowned and spoke up.

"Tch! Even so, how did he escape from the station?" The junior detective asked. The police detective frowned and spoke up.

"It doesn't matter! We must catch him! We can't let this get out! Not only was the suicide announcement false, but he got away on top of that!" The police detective said as the third detective ran off to do damage control as the police detective looked at Sae and spoke up.

"I'm sorry, but we'll have to interrogate you, Niijima. As a key witness, of course." The police detective said as Sae groaned and spoke up.

"Oh, uh, why me?" Sae asked as the police detective spoke up in a blunt tone.

"Check the documents you created. You may remember something once you look at them. However, that changes nothing. The fact of the matter is you're in trouble. It might seem difficult to grasp, but even if you can't recall, all responsibility for his escape rests squarely on your shoulders." The police detective said as Sae frowned and spoke up.

"Oh? I'm sorry, but I honestly don't know what's going on here, detective." Sae said as the police detective spoke up.

"I'll tell you what's going on. You were the last person to talk to that phantom thief! You have to clean up your boss' mess! If you're going to resent someone, resent your dead director!" The police detective said as Sae frowned and spoke up.

"Oh, yes. My deceased director. Tell me, is illness really what killed him? Do you think his death was truly due to illness!?" Sae asked as the police detective frowned and spoke up.

"That doesn't matter! Your actions have made a mockery of the police force! You're going to pay for this, I promise!" The police detective said as Sae sighed and spoke up.

"So you say. I don't really get it, but very well, if you insist." Sae said as the police detective walked off, while Sae spoke to herself.

"It's all up to you now, everyone." Sae said as she walked off with the police detective...

(Back at Leblanc with Sojiro)

"Police officials are said to be currently reviewing the facts of the Phantom Thieves' notice and-" The newscaster said on-screen before Sojiro's attention was drawn to the sound of the door opening and several men in suits filed in, prompting Sojiro to turn and face them while speaking up.

"Welcome." Sojiro said as the agent leader spoke to his subordinates.

"Search the place." The agent leader said as the agents looked through the cafe as the agent leader spoke to Sojiro.

"You're Sojiro Sakura, yes?" The agent leader asked as Sojiro spoke up.

"I am. Who the hell're you?" Sojiro asked as the agent frowned at him and spoke up.

"That's not important. Where are the Phantom Thieves?" The agent leader asked as Sojiro spoke up.

"Oh, you mean those guys they've been talking about on TV?" Sojiro asked as the agent leader slammed his palm on the counter and spoke up.

"Don't play dumb with me." The agent leader said as Sojiro frowned and spoke up.

"This is an obstruction of business, you know." Sojiro said as the agent leader spoke up.

"Be that as it may, we've investigated this thoroughly." The agent leader said threateningly as Sojiro spoke up.

"Is this the only way you do things?" Sojiro asked as one of the agents ran up and spoke up.

"Sir! They're not upstairs!" The agent said as the agent leader snatched Sojiro up by the collar and spoke up.

"Where are the Phantom Thieves?" The agent leader said as Sojiro shook his head and spoke up.

"I have no idea. If you're not a customer, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." Sojiro said as the agent leader shoved him down and spoke up, while looking at the agent.

"He's an accomplice. Take him away." The agent leader said as the agent nodded and strong-armed Sojiro to his feet, prompting Sojiro to scoff and speak up defiantly as he felt his arms get pinned behind his back by some of the agents currently hoisting him to his feet.

"Don't get all cocky. You're just some useless criminal's little lapdog. And what's more, justice isn't on your side." Sojiro said ominously as he was man-handled out of the cafe...

(Back in Shibuya, with the crowds from earlier)

As the same crowds from earlier were listening, Shido came on-screen to give a press conference.

"The notice put forth by these so-called Phantom Thieves is absolutely groundless. It is nothing more than a wicked terrorist act, aimed at obstructing the elections. What we need now is a powerful, unyielding leader. I am willing to risk my life to fight them." Shido said as a businessman spoke up in confusion.

"Oh! Which one is right: Shido, or the Phantom Thieves?" The businessman said as a plump housewife spoke up from nearby.

"I hear what Shido-san is saying, but is it true?" The plump housewife said as Shido's voice was heard once more.

"I speak now to those who call themselves Phantom Thieves. Your actions are gravely serious crimes. You are rebelling against the laws of this country and unnecessarily causing alarm among its citizens. I call on you to surrender yourselves at once and apologize to the people of this great nation." Shido said as a gaudy young man spoke up, unaware of the Phantom Thieves themselves being amongst the crowd as he spoke up.

"The Phantom Thieves cut into a live broadcast signal, didn't they? They're crazy if you ask me." The gaudy young man said as a flashy girl next to him spoke up.

"True. Oh, but don't you think that Shido looks like a criminal, too?" The flashy girl said as the businessman from before spoke up.

"Oh, I don't know what to believe anymore, to be honest." The businessman said as the plump housewife spoke up.

"I hope they catch them soon, if only to see them brought to justice." The plump housewife said as Ryuji grinned at Ren and spoke up.

"Heh, that bastard Shido's tryin' to act all calm, but he's prolly freakin' out on the inside." Ryuji said as Yusuke scoffed at Shido's words and spoke up dryly.

"Is he serious? 'Apologize'? Quite the funny joke." Yusuke said as Kasumi spoke up uneasily.

"Um, I don't think he was joking, Yusuke-senpai." Kasumi said as Haru frowned and spoke up.

"Regardless, who is the real criminal here?" Haru asked as the group turned as one and headed to the Diet Building, where Haru spoke up once more.

"A lot of people are gathered here, aren't they?" Haru said, as the group could hear protesters outside the Diet Building asking for answers from Shido. Yusuke nodded and spoke up.

"Indeed. I think it's safe to say that our calling card had a tremendous effect. Even with that bit Futaba added in about a message from Kusa." Yusuke said as Futaba spoke up.

"That bit was all true, though. Kusa left that message himself before we went into the Palace. I think he might have suspected that something would happen to him during Shido's Palace when he left it. That said, I'm real proud of that one!" Futaba said as Ryuji frowned and spoke up.

"True. But all they're doin' is makin' noise though, aren't they?" Ryuji said as Ann frowned and nodded as she spoke up.

"Seriously. They should just go home and sleep like reasonable people." Ann said as Kasumi frowned and spoke up.

"Um, do we have room to say something like that, given what we're about to do, Ann-senpai?" Kasumi asked Ann, who shrugged as Makoto spoke up.

"That's true, Kasumi. That said, even after what happened, not many people want to see Shido have a change of heart, which is unfortunate. What we're about to do is just and righteous, right?" Makoto asked as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"That's right, Makoto. Our justice is absolute here. And we owe it to Kusa and Akechi, who both made great sacrifices so we could be here right now, to see this through. They'll all see who was right soon enough." Ren said confidently. Morgana nodded confidently and spoke up.

"That's right, Ren. Kusa would no doubt agree if he were here. Besides, have we ever acted outside of the scope of justice?" Morgana asked as Makoto gave him a closed-eye smile and spoke up.

"Hm, you have a point." Makoto said as Morgana blinked and spoke up.

"Hey, look over there." Morgana said as the group turned and saw what looked to be Ohya speaking up.

"Huh, to think he'd actually go after Masayoshi Shido, of all people. Youth is incredible. This has me excited as well. Heh. That boy really keeps the news rolling in." Ohya said with a closed-eye smile on her face. Morgana frowned and spoke up.

"Um, she doesn't notice we're here at all, right? That keen journalist nose is a force to be reckoned with." Morgana said as he and Ryuji both gasped as they saw Mishima running through the crowd, the not-cat speaking up in surprise.

"Whoa! Why's Mishima here!? Man, that kid is impressive, isn't he?" Morgana said as Mishima spoke up confidently.

"The Phantom Thieves are just. I guarantee it." Mishima said firmly as Ryuji grinned and spoke up.

"Heh! Now THAT's what I like to hear." Ryuji said as Morgana nodded and spoke up with a closed-eye grin.

"Right? There may not be many of them, but we have to cherish our fans. That said, let's go change Shido's heart!" Morgana said as the group nodded...

(Back in Shibuya, with Yoshida)

"Heh, if only I were twenty years younger, I'd be helping them out for sure." Yoshida said confidently...

(In the Metaverse, at Shido's Palace with Joker, Skull, Mona, Panther, Fox, Queen, Oracle, Noir, and Sumi)

Joker looked at the others and nodded as they prepared to confront Shido's Shadow. Joker then spoke up at that point.

"It's time, everyone! We're about to go and confront the Shadow of Masayoshi Shido himself! But before that, we need to settle our front lines! I think, given the circumstances, the best three for the front lines are Sumi, Skull and Panther. But the rest of you will be on the reserve team and will likely be called on to keep the front lines safe." Joker said as the necessary tagouts were made so that Sumi, Skull and Panther were on the front lines with Joker as the group headed towards the assembly room. Once in the room, the group looked around, not seeing the wheel now spinning around on the ceiling, too preoccupied with the bald-headed man standing on the stage at the front of the room. Skull frowned as he spoke up.

"Shido!" Skull called out as Shido's Shadow spoke up at that point without turning around.

"Tell me. Where did you lowlifes obtain that power? Heh, not that it matters. If you have a complaint, I'm willing to listen." Shido's Shadow said as Fox growled and spoke up.

"Complaint!? Don't be absurd! Even if we had complaints, some of us aren't able to be here to voice them right now. Like Draconis! He might be dead right now for all we know thanks to that cowardly trap YOU set with that cognitive version of Akechi! And speaking of Akechi, what did you do to him!? He might well have ended his own life to save us! Not only that, he made that risk to save us from a cognitive clone YOU sent! And he did it, knowing the risks! How could you have a hit put out on him!? He was your own son, just the same as Draconis is!" Fox said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Tch. Hmph, I had a feeling it was something like that. Akechi reminded me too much of that woman. And as for Draconis, as you call him, I had a feeling there was a reason the last name Amamiya was leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Back on the subject of Akechi, I also have an idea as to why he approached me. He was hoping to trap me, was he not? Hmph! He was sharp, but in the end he was just a kid. I controlled him merely by offering praise.

But it's irrelevant. No matter how useful he might have been to me, I intended to dispose of him as soon as I became prime minister. That fool had one job, and that was to dispose of the lot of you! At least I can see that he succeeded at that job to some extent. Granted, I told him to leave the one you called Draconis alive, since I wanted to eliminate him myself." Shido's Shadow said as Skull frowned and spoke up.

"What!?" Skull said as Sumi spoke up in shock, gasping in horror as she spoke.

"Truly!? You are disgusting! All Akechi-kun and Draconis ever did was try to do their best, even without having the likes of you around. I can't believe you could speak so casually about eliminating your own offspring!" Sumi said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Does it matter!? I could never keep someone with such intimate knowledge of my past alive. As for Draconis, or Kusa, I was hopeful I'd get to meet him, since I was curious to see if he might be able to be the suitable heir I needed to my legacy, since quite clearly Akechi could never have cut the mustard as my heir." Shido's Shadow said before scoffing as he spoke up.

"Ah, Akechi. Tch, what an 'ace' detective. He was standing beside me all this time, yet he couldn't see through a single one of my plans. I will admit, his destroying himself, if I'm interpreting what you're saying correctly at least, saved me quite a bit of effort though." Shido's Shadow said as Panther gasped and spoke up.

"No! How could you say such a thing about your own son!? And I very much doubt that Draconis would willingly have worked with you, since he is a very morally upright young man, even if he doesn't always have the strongest grip on his temper." Panther said as Oracle growled and spoke up.

"Not only that! You stole my mom's research from her, had it destroyed, and even took her life!" Oracle said as Noir spoke up at that point.

"Everything you've done has been for your own selfish gains! You even killed my father! I will never forgive you!" Noir said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Pah! You don't get it. Sacrifices are inevitable in the path of reform. I only require that the foolish entrust themselves to their superiors. I shall guide them." Shido's Shadow said as Skull growled at him and spoke up.

"Dammit! The hell makes you think you're so much better than everyone else!?" Skull said as Panther spoke up.

"Skull's right! Not only are you not better than anyone else, but you never would have been able to make it this far without Akechi's help!" Panther said as Shido's Shadow adjusted his glasses and scoffed while he spoke up.

"So what!? He only appeared because of the expectations God held for me. Moreover, it was thanks to ME that Akechi was properly able to use his power to begin with. The 'changing of hearts' that you've been doing this whole time was nothing more than provoking the public." Shido's Shadow said as Fox gasped and spoke up.

"How selfish! You were unable to win by honest means, so you used foul tricks to ascend the political ladder!" Fox said as Queen spoke up at that point.

"Fox is right. A cruel person like you has no right to stand leading the citizens of this country. You're nothing more than a criminal who rose above others by climbing a staircase of sin." Queen said as Shido's Shadow sneered and spoke up.

"Shows how little you know! The life of the nation as opposed to those of a few sacrifices here and there? There can be no comparison. The ignorant masses only care about their own personal happiness. I am merely granting that for them. That is the social reform that only I, as the one chosen by God, can enact!" Shido's Shadow said dismissively as Noir frowned and spoke up.

"Even so, I can't believe you look down on everyone else so harshly while you use whatever means necessary to achieve your wicked goals." Noir said as Panther nodded and spoke up.

"I agree with Noir! I'd never accept a leader that makes a teenager murder people! Much less a leader who basically cornered a teenager into a situation where they had to attack their own flesh and blood just to earn what they thought was your approval. You say it's for the country, but I bet it's all for yourself. Nobody would wish for something like that!" Panther said as Shido's Shadow chuckled and spoke up.

"Nobody, you say?" Shido's Shadow said as he stepped up to the upper platform and kept speaking.

"If that's so, then why was I chosen? Why are they surrendering the seat of prime minister to me? Everyone denies the value of hard work these days. Instead, they seek to effortlessly gain wealth. That is why I must reestablish this mighty country. One that does not waver in the face of adversity. One that others bow to." Shido's Shadow said as Skull growled at this and spoke up.

"Mighty, my ass! That's just a crooked country made by a crook!" Skull said as Fox glared at Shido's Shadow and spoke up.

"We cannot let you do this. You are a disgrace to Japan. Hence, we will take your deranged heart." Fox said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Tch! Hmph. Those who disobey me must be eliminated. However, given the circumstances, and considering the apparent loss of Akechi, it would be a waste to kill those who are actually capable. Therefore, I will allow you to choose between life or death one last time. Devote your power to my social reform. I will give you anything you want, be it wealth or status." Shido's Shadow said as Joker scoffed at this and spoke up.

"Are you being serious right now? No way! Why would I, much less the rest of us Phantom Thieves, help out the social reform of a power-hungry rapist who goes around framing innocent teenagers who were brave enough to stand up to your drunken ass to save an innocent woman from your advances!? Don't be ridiculous!" Joker said. Mona nodded and jumped up and down as he spoke up.

"Exactly, Joker!" Mona said to Joker before glaring at Shido's Shadow as he kept speaking.

"There's no way we'd follow you!" Mona said as Panther frowned and spoke up.

"What they said! No matter how many times you ask us, our answer's not gonna change! Besides, helping you would be like taking Akechi and Draconis' sacrifices and spitting right on them." Panther said as Shido's Shadow sneered and spoke up.

"I see. It seems the ignorant masses are doomed to remain as such, despite my best efforts. I thought you were smarter than that." Shido's Shadow said before glaring at the group as he kept speaking.

"This is unfortunate, but if you are adamant about opposing me, I have no choice but to eliminate you all. A small leak will sink a great ship. Great nations have fallen to such lenience. I will not make such incautious mistakes!" Shido's Shadow said passionately, making the Phantom Thieves gasp at how much they could hear the same long-winded sort of charisma in Shido's voice as they so often heard in Draconis' voice, confirming to them that Shido was undoubtedly Draconis' father.

After that, the Thieves blinked and looked around in confusion as suddenly, the room was filled with the thunderous applause of many Shadows, making the thieves all gasp in shock as Sumi spoke up in surprise.

"Oh! No way! When did the room get so full!?" Sumi asked as Mona spoke up.

"No idea Sumi, but there's tons of them!" Mona said as Queen gasped and spoke up.

"Since when!?" Queen asked as Shido's Shadow waved his hands to silence the applause, which was replaced with an ominous rumbling as the platform Shido was on rose up through the opening ceiling as he ascended upwards, the Thieves following after him, with Sumi grabbing on to Joker's waist as he used his grappling hook to get the two up the ledges. After everyone safely got up to the upper area, the roof closed itself as Shido's Shadow spoke up bluntly.

"Let me make myself clear. Do not think of me as you did my foolish son Akechi, who acted so brashly." Shido's Shadow said as he was enveloped in a red aura as he ascended the steps of the platform to glare down at the shocked Thieves while he got a spiked helmet over his head and spiked shoulder pads as Skull growled and spoke up.

"You little piece of shit! How dare you speak of Akechi with such disrespect? Sure, he was an insufferable douche most of the time, but in the end, he was a good guy who made a brave sacrifice to ensure our escape, even if he inadvertently trapped Draconis behind the wall with him. So do not call him brash!" Skull said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Enough about my illegitimate sons! Die, here and now, without further delay!" Shido's Shadow said as he stepped onto a golden lion as Skull growled at him and spoke up.

"I don't think so! Our leader's gone through a ton of shit 'cause of you. It's on!" Skull said as the battle started. At the start of the fight, Shido's Shadow spoke up.

"I will eliminate any who stand in my way! That said, there is no need for thieves in my mighty country that I'm building. Only myself and the ones who revere me are needed." Shido's Shadow said as Oracle spoke up.

"Risking our lives to stop rotten adults? That's why we're Phantom Thieves!" Oracle said as the battle began! Joker, Skull, Sumi, and Panther looked at each other before nodding as one and speaking up together.

"SCATHACH!/SEITEN TAISEI!/HECATE!/CENDRILLION! COME FORTH!/LET 'EM HAVE IT!/DANCE!/GRACE THIS BATTLE WITH YOUR PRESENCE!" Joker, Skull, Panther, and Sumi all said as they summoned their Personas, who nodded as one and charged at Shido's Shadow, attacking him for all they were worth. After a bit, Scathach looked at the others and spoke up.

"Jeez! This enemy is strong! We might have to rely on our magic attacks to stop him! Let's do it, guys!" Scathach said as Seiten Taisei, Hecate, and Cendrillion nodded and combined their attacks, making a huge torrent of elemental energy shoot out at Shido's Shadow, rocking his lion mount for a ton of damage, and making him scoff as he spoke up.

"Tch! You lowlifes! I hope you understand what it means to turn your back on me!" Shido's Shadow said as Oracle scoffed and spoke up.

"I don't wanna understand! Especially not if it means understanding the mindset of a scumbag who took my mother from me!" Oracle said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Hmph! Very well, then you shall perish! You shall regret these foolish actions against me soon enough, in the afterlife!" Shido's SHadow said as his lion mount leapt up and grew wings, making Oracle gasp in shock as she spoke up.

"Oh! It changed!?" Oracle said as Shido's Shadow spoke up from his mount.

"I will destroy you!" Shido's Shadow said as Seiten Taisei looked at the others and spoke up.

"I think we might be able to swap to using our physical moves now!" Seiten Taisei said as the other Personas nodded and started swinging their fists/weapons at Shido's Shadow's winged mount, which recoiled from the massive amounts of damage it took from the onslaught as the other Thieves stepped up and spoke up.

"OUR TURN! GOEMON!/JOHANNA!/NOSTRADAMUS!/MILADY!/ZORRO! STRIKE!/CHARGE!/SMITE THE ENEMY!/COME!/SHOW YOUR MIGHT!" Fox, Queen, Oracle, Noir, and Mona all said as they summoned their respective Personas to help contribute to the fight, at which point they all flew forwards and charged up their best attacks, creating a rainbow-colored torrent of energy that slammed into the winged mount of Shadow Shido, making it groan from the damage it sustained as Shadow Shido spoke up in annoyance.

"Inconceivable! To think you'd manage this much of a resistance against me! Why won't you stop resisting me, you worms!? The nation I strive for above all else is the ultimate realization of the public's happiness!" Shido's Shadow said as the mount changed forms into a pyramid, with the top of it being the spiked helmet Shido's Shadow had previously worn, implying he had now fused completely with his mount. Oracle gasped in shock as she spoke up.

"It changed again!?" Oracle said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Now you get it! The weak must be sacrificed for the sake of grand ideals! That is the natural order of this world!" Shido's Shadow said as the battle continued. At that point, all the Thieves worked together and coordinated the attacks of their Personas, managing to alternate between healing themselves as needed and powering up while dealing damage to Shido's Shadow. At that point, Scathach looked at the other Personas and spoke up.

"I think at this point, our best move is to combine our powers together and hope we can destroy that winged lion! Who's with me!?" Scathach said as the other Personas nodded and spoke up.

"HERE WE GO! EIGAON!" Scathach said as she shot forth a torrent of Curse energy at the same time that Zorro stepped up and spoke up.

"GARUDYNE!" Zorro said as he added a burst of Wind energy to the attack that Scathach had created.

"AGIDYNE!" Hecate said, adding a burst of Fire energy to the attack as Goemon spoke up.

"BUFUDYNE!" Goemon said as he added a burst of Ice energy to the attack while Johanna spoke up.

"FREIDYNE!" Johanna said as Seiten Taisei spoke up at that point while a burst of Nuclear energy was added to the attack.

"ZIODYNE!" Seiten Taisei said as a burst of Elec energy was added to the growing attack as Milady spoke up.

"PSIODYNE!" Milady said as a burst of Psy energy was added to the attack as Cendrillion spoke up at that point.

"KOUGAON!" Cendrillion said as a wave of Bless energy was added to the attack and Nostradamus stepped forward to speak up.

"And since Thailog cannot do so himself, I will do it in his honor! TIME TO FINISH THIS! HA! MEGIDO!" Nostradamus said, waving his wand as a wave of Almighty energy shot forth, completing the massive multicolored sphere that the Phantom Thieves nodded in unison with their Personas as all of them spoke up together.

"HA! TAKE THIS! ELEMENTAL BURST!" Joker, Skull, Mona, Panther, Fox, Queen, Oracle, Noir, Sumi, Scathach, Seiten Taisei, Zorro, Hecate, Goemon, Johanna, Nostradamus, Milady, and Cendrillion all called out at once, shooting forth the massive bolt of multi-colored energy into the pyramid-shaped form of Shadow Shido, making it explode into black mist as it reformed into Shadow Shido and his lion mount, at which point the mount crashed to the ground motionlessly to end the battle, while Shido's Shadow hopped off of the lion and spoke up.

"Ugh! Useless, ignorant masses!" Shido's Shadow said as his mount dissolved into black mist and he strode forward and spoke up.

"Hmph! It seems even thieves should not be taken lightly if they come in great enough numbers, as it happens." Shido's Shadow said as Skull smirked and spoke up.

"I see how it is! Once you're losin', you're puttin' all the blame on the masses, huh!?" Skull asked with a smirk, only for Shido's Shadow to ignore him and focus his attention onto Joker as he spoke up.

"So, you're the one unifying them against me, are you!?" Shido's Shadow said as Panther sneered and spoke up.

"That's right! A touching reunion, isn't it?" Panther said as Fox nodded and spoke up.

"Indeed, Panther! And Shido! The next time you crush a foe, I suggest you do it in a more certain manner." Fox said as Oracle scoffed and spoke up.

"Tch! Not that there'll be a next time for you!" Oracle said defiantly as Shido's Shadow gave Joker an intrigued look and spoke up.

"Hm? You, in the black coat and white mask. Be honest with me! You're more than just a member of the Phantom Thieves, aren't you?" Shido said as Joker frowned but nodded as he spoke up.

"Got that right, you crooked effing rapist bastard! Long time no see! Remember me? I doubt you do, since you were too busy telling your 'bitches' to make sure I was dealt with in a way that wouldn't mention your name. Recognize where this is going yet!? No? Well, let me make it clearer for you!" Joker said as he removed his mask to show his face to Shido's Shadow as Skull smirked and spoke up.

"Heh! This ain't the first time you've failed to finish this guy off!" Skull said as Queen scoffed at Shido's Shadow and spoke up.

"You took him to court, and forced his little brother into a position of having to accompany him out to Yongen-Jaya for a year's probation, and yet you don't remember? Tch! You truly don't care about the fate of others." Queen said as Shido's Shadow looked into Joker's face, gasping as recognition set in and he spoke up.

"Wait, could it be!? Could you possibly be that brat!? Could you be the one from back then!?" Shido's Shadow said as a flashback to the night Joker stopped him from raping a woman played before Shido's Shadow scowled at Joker and spoke up.

"YOU! You're that damn brat who showed up with that mouthy little brother of yours and stood against me when I was with that woman!" Shido's Shadow said as Joker put his mask back on as Shido's Shadow chuckled and spoke up.

"Heh, I see. How interesting. So it truly is you. It's a shame your brother couldn't be here so I could crush you both here and now. But I suppose that's at least ONE thing that Akechi managed to do right, even if I gave him explicit orders not to kill him. Haha, but no matter. What an interesting turn of fate." Shido's Shadow said as Joker snarled at this and spoke up.

"How dare you speak so callously of Akechi and Draconis like that, Shido!? I don't care what you do to me, since I can handle myself, but you don't get to go around speaking ill of those who aren't here to defend themselves! It's just as much in their honor as it is our own that we stand here today to change your warped heart!" Joker said as Shido chuckled mockingly and spoke up.

"So you say. It makes no difference to me, though! Try all you like, but your efforts will be worthless in the end." Shido's Shadow said as Skull frowned and spoke up.

"What!?" Skull said indignantly as Shido smirked and spoke up.

"No matter how regrettable some of them may be, small sacrifices are inescapable for those wishing to be powerful, competent leaders. How would you ever reach your destination if you stopped to count every ant you crushed on the road?" Shido's Shadow said as Noir and Sumi gasped in horror as the former of the two spoke up.

"NO! Are you saying that the people you killed deserved to die!?" Noir said as Sumi frowned and spoke up.

"And this is the man that Japan wants for its' next prime minister!? How pitiful." Sumi said as Panther spoke up.

"Right!? But more importantly, he's totally insane and out of his mind!" Panther said as Shido's Shadow scoffed and spoke up.

"Oh, well. I wouldn't expect the ignorant masses of this country to understand. Thus, I will offer proof of my power!" Shido's Shadow said as he whipped his cape off, revealing a seriously red and swole physique as he stared down the Phantom Thieves, who gasped at the sudden appearance of Shido's Shadow's physique as he spoke up.

"And I will do that by forcefully crushing the Phantom Thieves!" Shido's Shadow said as the next phase of the battle began! At the start, Shido's Shadow spoke up.

"I will crush the ignorant masses! And more importantly, I, Masayoshi Shido, shall win this game!" Shido's Shadow said as Oracle frowned and spoke up.

"No way! What is this power!?" Oracle said as Sumi frowned and spoke up at the same time that the group took notice of the ominous red aura flaring off of Shido's Shadow.

"To be honest, Oracle, I think we just got further proof that Shido is in fact Draconis' biological father, given that I'm pretty sure Draconis had a similar aura rippling off of him when he tried to charge at Akechi-kun before." Sumi said as Oracle frowned and spoke up.

"Ugh, good point, Sumi! Guys! Careful! Those muscles aren't just for show!" Oracle said as the battle resumed. The group wasted little time in summoning their Personas back out, at which point Queen and Noir nodded to one another as they spoke up.

"HA! IT'S SHOWTIME!" Noir and Queen said as they started their Showtime.

"Time to teach him a lesson, Queen!" Noir said as Queen nodded and the two leapt into the ring as Queen nodded and spoke up.

"Right! HA! TAKE THIS!" Queen said as she bashed him first with a chair, then with her fists, then finally, she grabbed a nearby monitor and smashed that over the head of Shido's Shadow, staggering him as Queen and Noir leapt onto the corners of the ring and spoke up.

"READY, NOIR!?" Queen said as Noir nodded and spoke up.

"READY! HA!" Noir said as she kept speaking.

"1!" Noir said as Queen nodded and spoke up.

"2!" Queen said as both Queen and Noir spoke up to finish the countdown while leaping forward to pile-drive into Shido's Shadow.

"3! DOUBLE CHEST BLOW! HA!" Queen and Noir said as they slammed into Shido's Shadow feet-first, dealing a tremendous amount of damage to him, and sending him staggering backwards as he spoke up.

"Heh, not bad, you fools. But there is no reason for me to lose to thieves!" Shido's Shadow said as the fight continued! At that point, Sumi and Oracle looked at each other and nodded as they spoke up.

"Shall we give this man a taste of our power, Oracle?" Sumi asked Oracle, who nodded as she spoke up.

"I couldn't agree more, Sumi! Let's get this freak for both of our boyfriends!" Oracle said as Sumi and Oracle nodded and spoke up as one.

"HA! IT'S SHOWTIME!" Oracle and Sumi said as their Showtime started. Sumi extended out her rapier and lunged forward, nimbly flipping right over the head of Shadow Shido as Oracle spoke up from nearby.

"Heh, you let your guard down! Mwehehe! MY TURN!" Oracle said as she activated her dual-edged beam staff and charged at Shido's Shadow, slamming it into him repeatedly before kicking off of the chest of Shadow Shido and flipping towards Necronomicon, which beamed her up in that moment, and in a swirl of ribbons, replaced her with Sumi, who dove downwards, rapier extended, to drive into Shido's Shadow as a low whirring was heard from behind Shido's Shadow as Oracle spoke up.

"AND NOW, I TAKE MY SHOT! FIRE!" Oracle said as she fired the laser mounted to her left arm, striking it squarely into the chest of Shido's Shadow as she and Sumi both slammed their weapons into the chest of Shido's Shadow as they spoke up together to finish their Showtime.

"TAKE THIS! DOUBLE TROUBLE!" Sumi and Oracle said, their weapons actually both slamming into the torso and/or back of Shido's Shadow, making him grunt as he skidded backwards after the Showtime ended.

"Nnnnnngh, what is this!? How are these lowlife brats beating me?" Shido said as Oracle spoke up.

"Now's our chance! Let's take his Treasure!" Oracle said as Shido surprised the group by throwing his head back and laughing maniacally in a way that was unmistakably the same as Akechi.

"Aaaaaaaahahahaha! DON"T THINK YOU'VE WON! The power held by the most elite is what rules over our society in the end. It's vexing that I have to use this on some foolish brats, but sometimes it can't be helped. Not only will I defeat you all, but I will educate you through and through!" Shido's Shadow said firmly as Oracle gasped and spoke up in surprise.

"No way! He's still gonna come at us!?" Oracle said as Joker nodded and spoke up.

"Looks like it! Time to finish this, everyone! We're taking this man's heart, right here, right now!" Joker said decisively. Oracle nodded and spoke up.

"Gotcha! Let's do this, not just for us, but for Draconis and Crow as well!" Oracle said as Shido's Shadow tensed himself before the restraints on his torso shattered, revealing his physique to be even more chiseled and cut as Shido's Shadow spoke up authoritatively.

"Just so you know, I have decades of experience on you brats!" Shido's Shadow said as Oracle gasped and spoke up.

"No way! He's even stronger now!?" Oracle said in shock as Shido's Shadow spoke up angrily.

"Hmph! And now, you die!" Shido's Shadow said as the fight resumed. At that point, Panther and Mona looked at each other and spoke up.

"What do you think, Mona? Is it our turn to stick it to him?" Panther asked Mona, who nodded and spoke up.

"Right there with ya, Lady Panther! Let's get him!" Mona said as he and Panther nodded and spoke up at the same time.

"HA! IT'S SHOWTIME!" Panther and Mona said as they initiated their Showtime.

"This is for you, Lady Panther!" Mona said as he presented a bouquet of roses to Panther with a flourish, making her smile as she spoke up while reaching into it.

"Thank you! It's just what I NEEDED!" Panther said as she reached into the bouquet and pulled out her SMGs, proceeded to pelt the shocked Shido's Shadow with gunfire, as she and Mona leapt into the air and spoke up.

"WOO-HOO!" Mona and Panther said together as Panther spoke up.

"Have some of this!" Panther said as Mona pulled out a bomb and tossed it downwards at Shido's Shadow, smirking as he spoke up while doing so.

"AND HERE'S THE BULLET!" Mona said as the bomb flew downwards as it exploded in the face of Shido's Shadow, who gritted his teeth and spoke up.

"Hmph, not bad! However, it matters not. You WILL regret your actions. And just so you know, you've angered me for the last time!" Shido's Shadow said as the fight resumed. At that point, Joker called out Izanagi-No-Okami Picaro, and used the Concentrated boost that he'd gotten from Noir to unleash a powerful Myriad Truths right in the face of Shido's Shadow, hitting him numerous times, making Shido's Shadow grunt as he spoke up.

"Nngh! To think you'd put up this much of a fight! Not bad for a bunch of brats! But that's as far as you go! Ugh, YOU BASTARD! I won't let you have this!" Shido's Shadow said as he slammed his fist onto the ground to separate Joker from the rest of the horrified Thieves as Oracle spoke up.

"What happened!? Are you all right, Joker!?" Oracle asked, but Shido's Shadow spoke up once more before Joker could answer her.

"I never would've imagined this was possible. To think, that impertinent brat from so long ago, managing to get in my way this much! Honestly, it's wholly unbelievable that you've gotten this far! I should've finished YOU off before this could've happened! But, heh, it seems I too was naive. However-my dream has been attained! My desire to steer this country has finally come to fruition! But, my ambition has only yet begun! I! WILL! NOT! stumble over mere minutia like yourself! This time, I'll be dead certain to seal your fate myself. I WILL REDUCE YOU TO NOTHING!" Shido's Shadow said as he and Joker stood off one on one as Oracle spoke up.

"Guys, we have to do something! Joker, please don't lose!" Oracle said as Joker nodded, realizing he would have to finish this fight himself. Joker nodded before summoning forth Scathach and having her wave a hand over Joker, causing a rainbow-colored wave of energy to wash over him, allowing Joker to boost his own stats all at once through the power of 'Heat Riser' while proceeding to charge at Shido's Shadow and speaking up.

"You want a one-on-one fight!? BRING IT! I won't be easily defeated, though!" Joker said as Shido chuckled and threw a punch at Joker, who smirked and side-stepped the blow before throwing his own left hook, which connected with Shido's Shadow's jaw, staggering him as Joker then brandished his pistol and emptied a clip into Shido's Shadow's torso, making him stagger backwards as Joker called forth Scathach once more.

"SCATHACH! Put all of your energy into one super-charged assault! We need to finish this up, right now!" Joker said as Scathach nodded, waving a hand and charging a large burst of Curse energy, eventually thrusting her palm forward as the charged blast slammed directly into the torso of a stunned Shido's Shadow, who grunted as he spoke up while holding his torso.

"URGH! WHAT!? This can't be possible! ME? Lose to a brat like you!? ARGH! NOOOOOOO!" Shido's Shadow said as he grunted before slumping forward and crashing to the ground face-first where he laid face-down, slumping over unconscious to finally end the battle. From the ensuing EXP gain, Panther hit level 63, Noir, Fox, Skull, and Mona all hit level 64, Oracle hit level 66, and Joker's 'Lachesis' Persona hit level 53. From the level-ups, Noir acquired the heavy-tier Psy skill 'Mapsiodyne', making Noir smile as she spoke up.

"Good, a new skill! Now I can fight harder!" Noir said as Milady acquired 'Mapsiodyne'. After the fight, Shido's Shadow took a knee as he reverted to his normal appearance and spoke up.

"How could I have managed to lose?" Shido's Shadow said as Joker frowned and spoke up.

"At last, you see for yourself that your methods won't win out in the end. And now, the time has come to bring you to justice, for ALL that you have done!" Joker said as Queen nodded her agreement and spoke up.

"I agree, Joker. As for you, Shido, for causing countless mental shutdowns in others, as well as basically using both of your sons like disposable pawns, you will atone for your crimes. And you will do so with your life." Queen said as Skull glared at Shido and spoke up.

"And on that note, don't you got something to say to our leader before you go passin' out?" Skull said insistently to Shido's Shadow, who frowned but nodded and spoke up.

"Yes, that's right. I acknowledge, here and now, that I incriminated you on false charges. I did it to protect myself from what was no doubt my deserved punishment. I'm so sorry for what I've done, not just to you, but to your brother Kusa as well. I am the reason you both had to uproot your life and move out to Yongen-Jaya for a year. Granted, from what I've heard, it sounds like this was more beneficial than harmful to Kusa. But as for you, Ren? I truly am sorry for the pain I've caused you. Heh, it feels as though it's been some time since I have felt sincerely apologetic to someone else." Shido's Shadow said as Joker glared at him and spoke up.

"If that's true, you know what you have to do, don't you!? You have to return to your real body, confess your crimes, and atone for what you did!" Joker said firmly yet resolutely as Shido's Shadow nodded and spoke up.

"Hmph, you have a point. That may be good for me in the long run if I atone for my crimes. Granted, there are some, like Akechi and possibly Kusa, who I might not be able to properly make amends to, but I will do my best to make amends to all those I'm able to do so for. And so, I've been defeated, in the end. Haha, how poetic that you, the one who stood in my way so long ago, are the one to strike me down now. Hahahaha, well done. You've proven yourself to be the better man, Ren Amamiya." Shido's Shadow said while kneeling...

(At the same time, in Shido's office in the real world with Shido and his goons)

Shido groaned as he held his head and staggered towards the window as one of his lackeys spoke up in concern.

"Sir!" Shido's lackey said as Shido grunted and spoke up.

"No, could it be? Did they succeed?" Shido asked as he turned to his lackey and spoke up.

"H-Hey!" Shido said to a nearby researcher, who nodded and spoke up.

"Yes, sir!" The researcher asked as Shido spoke up resolutely.

"Be honest with me. Will I really be able to kill the Phantom Thieves if I take that!?" Shido asked as the researcher spoke up.

"It seems so, sir. According to Wakaba Isshiki's research, the act of temporarily collapsing a Palace will take down anyone inside it as well. The abrupt nature of the collapse means they will be unable to escape without extreme luck. However, the only way to purposely erase a cognitive world is by halting biological activity. In other words, this medicine will temporarily kill you. There are great risks involved in taking this, sir." The researcher said as Shido snatched the bottle out of the stunned researcher's hands and spoke up.

"I don't care! Anything will do! Give it to me!" Shido said as the researcher gasped in shock as Shido proceeded to shove a handful of the pills into his mouth as he spoke up.

"Ngh, here goes nothing. Heh, now this is the end of the Phantom Thieves. With any luck, they're done for this time, for sure!" Shido said as he collapsed to the ground and a senior lackey spoke up.

"How reckless of him to take such a bold measure." The senior lackey said as Shido's private doctor spoke up.

"I agree. W-We must be sure to transfer him at once if anything goes wrong!" Shido's private doctor said as the others nodded.

(Back inside of Shido's Palace, with Oracle, Skull, Joker, Sumi, Shido, Mona, Panther, Noir, Queen, and Fox)

"Wait, why a wheel? And it's for a ship?" Panther asked in confusion as Shido's Treasure, a steering wheel, lowered itself down to the Thieves. Shido's Shadow spoke up desperately.

"I must be the one to steer this country! If I don't, then who will!?" Shido's Shadow said as Fox frowned and spoke up.

"What arrogance you have, Shido!" Fox said as Shido's Shadow grabbed his chest and fell to his knees as he spoke up.

"I-I must prevail! GAH! AAAAAAAGH!" Shido's Shadow said before screaming as he collapsed and vanished into black mist as Skull spoke up in horror.

"What the hell!?" Skull said as the Palace started rumbling and Skull spoke up with wide eyes.

"Huh!?" Skull said as Panther frowned and spoke up.

"No way! An explosion at a time like this?" Panther asked as a wide-eyed Queen spoke up.

"That can't be right! Not only have we not fully changed his heart, but we haven't taken the Treasure yet either." Queen said as Mona spoke up hastily.

"True, but we'll talk later! Come on, let's grab the Treasure and run!" Mona said as the group started running for their lives. After a bit, Panther frowned and spoke up.

"Huh!? Didn't we come from this way!?" Panther asked as Skull frowned and spoke up.

"I dunno, but we can't get through like-" Skull said, only to be cut off by a nearby explosion as Noir gasped and Fox spoke up.

"What is happening!?" Fox asked as Skull spoke up.

"Hell if I know, Fox! Hey, Oracle!" Skull said as Oracle spoke up in shock.

"No! The ship is exploding for some reason, but why!?" Oracle said in shock as Skull frowned and spoke up.

"What kinda sloppy explanation is that!?" Skull asked. Oracle frowned at Skull and spoke up.

"Hey, cut me a break! I don't know what's happening either!" Oracle said as Mona winced before frowning as he spoke up.

"Guys? I think something might've happened to Shido in the real world!" Mona said fearfully as Skull frowned and spoke up with his jaw slightly dropped.

"Whaddya mean 'something'!?" Skull asked Mona, who hopped up and down angrily as he spoke up.

"I don't know!" Mona said as Panther frowned and spoke up.

"It doesn't matter! Standing around here isn't gonna help! Not to mention, it'd be a pretty piss-poor way to repay Crow and Draconis for their sacrifice if we get ourselves killed because we weren't quick enough to escape." Panther said as Noir nodded and spoke up.

"I agree, Panther! We have to run now!" Noir said as Queen turned to Oracle and spoke up.

"Oracle! Are there any other escape routes!?" Queen asked Oracle, who spoke up in a panicked tone.

"I'm looking, but I'm not seeing any immediate way out of here!" Oracle said, before hearing a voice in her head speaking to her, one she'd not heard in some time.

"Oracle, trust your instincts. And don't forget, most boats come equipped with a lifeboat for emergency situations. You just have to find the one for that Palace. And don't worry about the others, everyone got out safely. But that's all I can say for now. Now hurry and go!" Oracle heard the voice of what she eventually recognized to be Thailog say to her in her mind, making her remember that she'd somehow established a link to Draconis' Persona as well as her own when she awakened to the powers of Nostradamus and Necronomicon. Queen then spoke up while pointing ahead of her.

"What about that way!?" Queen said, pointing towards a nearby hall, only for everyone to gasp as the hall in question was filling up with water, making Noir put a hand to her mouth before she spoke up in horror.

"No! Is this Palace sinking!?" Noir said as Queen gasped and spoke up.

"Our path, is it cut off!? Is this as far as we go!?" Queen asked in disbelief as Joker shook his head and spoke up.

"Surely not, Queen! After all, we promised Akechi we'd safely change Shido's heart. I don't think, therefore, we have the luxury of allowing ourselves to die here before we fulfill his potential final request." Joker said firmly as Yusuke nodded and spoke up.

"Well said, Joker! But still, where else can we go!?" Fox said as Skull turned around and gasped as he saw the other side filling with water, making him speak up.

"Crap, now this side's sinking too!" Skull said as Oracle turned the way Skull had pointed, her eyes wide in shock while Panther spoke up with a frown.

"Is this it!? Are we actually sinking?" Panther asked as Mona frowned at this and spoke up in a determined yet resolute tone.

"NO! We are NOT gonna die like this!" Mona said firmly as at that same moment, various parts of Shido's Palace started being engulfed in flames as explosions went off throughout the area, cutting to places like the restaurant, halls, and other areas, with shots of some of the cognitive guests being caught in the explosions as water started sweeping up the sides of the sinking ship that was Shido's Palace. As soon as the group reached an area that let them look out over the side of the ship, Oracle gasped and spoke up.

"WE'RE GONNA DIE! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM!" Oracle cried out frantically, before blinking as she heard Thailog's voice in her head.

"Calm yourself, Oracle! You are not going to die! It might seem bleak, but it is not the Phantom Thieves' destiny to die this day! You might have a close call or two, but you'll all make it through in one piece! If nothing else, I trust in what Nostradamus showed me of your escape from Shido's Palace, and he's rarely, if ever, inaccurate in his visions. So you'll be just fine." Thailog said in Oracle's head, confusing but also surprisingly reassuring her. At the same time, Queen looked past Oracle, and smiled at what she saw as she pointed towards the other side of the ship and spoke up.

"Over there, guys! It's a lifeboat!" Queen said as Oracle blinked, recalling Thailog's previous words to her about a lifeboat, making her smile as Skull spoke up.

"C'mon, guys! Let's go!" Skull said as the group rushed ahead to where the lifeboat was seen hanging up on the front end of the ship, a little ways away from the group. Skull frowned at this as he spoke up.

"We just gotta get there and lower the lifeboat this direction, and we're basically home free!" Skull said as Fox frowned and spoke up.

"Over there!? It's too far! I doubt any of us could get there in time to beat the ship sinking with us on it! Also, we won't reach it in time!" Fox said warily. Skull looked from Fox back to the lifeboat, before closing his eyes as he felt a sense of resolve fill him in that moment, making him feel brave enough to speak up.

"Guys, I got this." Skull said, making everyone else look at him in surprise as Panther looked at him in a mix of surprise and even slight admiration while she spoke up.

"Huh? Are you sure you can handle this, Skull?" Panther asked in concern, while also being slightly impressed at Skull's bravery. Skull nodded and spoke up.

"Definitely! Leave it to me! Hang tight, you guys. I'll nab the boat!" Skull said as he slid his mask back over his face and leapt down to land on the front of the ship and assume a runner's stance as Panther gasped and spoke up.

"Oh! RYUJI!" Panther said in a mix of concern, surprise and horror. It was a testament to the seriousness of the situation that no one moved to reprimand her for her usage of Skull's real name. Speaking of Skull, he smirked and spoke up while assuming his runner's stance.

"Heh, it's now or never. If I still got my old form and speed, I need to bring it out here and now! Otherwise, we're all finished! Well, here goes! AAAAAAAH!" Skull said as he started running full-sprint towards the lifeboat controls. Even as explosions rang out from nearby, Skull took a flying leap of faith and landed on the wall leading up to the lifeboat controls and managed to find his grip while grunting and speaking up.

"No, I'm not giving up here! I CAN DO THIS! HRAAAAAGH!" Skull said as he started sprinting up the wall with a look of incredible determination on his face. At the same time, the others finished heading towards where Skull had jumped to the wall, Fox and Panther both speaking up.

"RYUJI, YOU CAN DO IT!" Fox called out encouragingly as Panther spoke up.

"WE BELIEVE IN YOU! NOW GO!" Panther called out to Skull supportively. Sumi then added in her two cents as well.

"You can do it, Skull-senpai! You might have your doofy and silly moments, but when the chips are down, you usually come through big time for us. So now it's our turn to believe in you!" Sumi said boldly as the others nodded their agreement while Skull kept sprinting up the wall, eventually making another insane jump, this one letting him latch onto the airborne lifeboat control lever, making him grunt as he focused and used his strength to throw the lever down and lower the lifeboat for the others, who all cheered, even as Panther jumped up and down, her momentum making her have to use the nearest thing to steady herself, which just so happened to be Mona.

However, even though Mona was able to stop Panther from falling, his height also meant he mostly ended up using his head to awkwardly hold Panther up by her chest, much to his mixed amusement and embarrassment. At that moment, the lifeboat lowered into place in front of the others as they started filing onto the boat. Panther started by helping Oracle and Noir onto the boat, while Joker helped a grateful Sumi onto the boat ahead of him.

At that point, Skull winked and gave the others a thumbs up while grinning. Eventually, the last ones onto the lifeboat were Joker, Fox, and Mona. After everyone safely boarded the lifeboat, Fox busied himself getting the engine started so the group could make their escape, even as Joker looked up at Skull and spoke up.

"Hang on, Skull! We're coming to get you!" Joker called out as Fox spoke up once the engine roared to life.

"Guys, we're moving!" Fox said as the boat started moving towards where Skull was literally hanging around from the lifeboat control lever as the group all looked up at him with nearly identical looks of respect and admiration on their faces. However, right as the group got close to where Skull was hanging, the front of the ship was engulfed in a large, violent explosion, which reached up high enough to seemingly obscure Skull from view for a short time and make the group have to shield their eyes from the intensity of the explosions.

Once they could open their eyes again, Panther looked up and saw, to her horror, that Skull was no longer dangling from the lever he'd been hanging from previously. At that same moment, explosions started consuming the sinking ship that was Shido's Palace, causing it to stand straight up and start plunging into the ocean, but with no sign of Skull anywhere. At that point, Joker gasped in horror while both Sumi and Panther spoke up.

"What!? It can't be! Is Skull-senpai really gone!?" Sumi asked in horror, her hand going over her mouth as she gasped, while Joker instinctively pulled her into a gentle hug to try and comfort her as Panther spoke up.

"No way, is this for real!? It can't be, can it!? Are you seriously gone!? Come on, what the hell, Ryuji? No! DAMMIT, NOT YOU TOO! RYUUUUUUJJJJJIIIII!" Panther called out desperately, half-hoping Skull might miraculously answer her out of nowhere, but no such luck was to be had as the now-flaming ruins of Shido's Palace slowly sank beneath the sea, vanishing from sight, without so much as a trace of Skull anywhere to be seen. The group could only silently bow their heads in mutual prayer, all silently praying that Skull had somehow escaped the sinking ship unharmed, possibly by diving into the water, even as they escaped the Metaverse without him...

(Back in the real world, with Futaba, Morgana, Kasumi, Ren, Ann, Makoto, Yusuke, and Haru)

"Oh, we're back in the real world! We made it out safely, guys!" Ann said before gasping as she recalled that one of their group was still unaccounted for, making her call out fearfully.

"RYUJI!?" Ann said, but when Ryuji didn't reply right away, Haru gasped and spoke up in a somber tone.

"Oh no! He didn't get out in time! Ryuji didn't make it out after all, it seems." Haru said as Futaba spoke up frantically.

"NO! We gotta go back!" Futaba said as Morgana shook his head and spoke up.

"I'm sorry, but that's impossible now. Shido's Palace has collapsed, so we cannot return to it anymore. We have to pray that Ryuji made it out safely on his own somehow." Morgana said grimly as the reality of the situation set in for the group. Unfortunately, it seems that they've suffered their third lost ally in the space of the past two days, between Kusa, Akechi, and presumably now Ryuji. Yusuke gasped at this and spoke up in a shaky voice.

"Ha, good one, Morgana. Haha, so this is how Ryuji seemingly meets his end? This isn't funny at all, Metaverse!" Yusuke said as Ann spoke up, sounding like she wanted to break down crying at that moment.

"He was our fastest runner too!" Ann said as Kasumi walked over to pat Ann comfortingly on the shoulder as she spoke up.

"There, there, Ann-senpai. I don't think Ryuji-senpai would want us to be sad for him. After all, if he is gone, he got to go out in a literal blaze of glory. And what better way to go out than helping your closest friends escape a sinking ship? Truly, if Ryuji-senpai truly is gone, he chose a heroic and noble way to make his final mark on things." Kasumi said comfortingly as Yusuke leaned down and scooped up a tiny object off of the ground, frowning as he inspected it while speaking up.

"Hm? So, this is the Treasure of Shido's Palace, is it?" Yusuke said as Makoto spoke up in a sad tone.

"Indeed. It's a legislator's pin. But how much is that worth, compared to the price we might have had to pay to get it out of the Metaverse?" Makoto said, looking suitably sad at the idea that her boyfriend might be dead. At that point, Futaba started breaking down in tears, likely having been holding them in since the seeming demise of both Kusa and Akechi. But now, with Ryuji's apparent end, she could hold her tears back no longer.

"Dammit! Why do we keep losing good people!? RYUJI!" Futaba said as she lowered her head and started crying, followed shortly after by Ann, who had also had the same realization she did, both Ren and Morgana moving to try and comfort Futaba and Ann respectively. But of course, the seemingly sad moment would be interrupted by a familiar voice speaking up from nearby.

"Maaaaaan, that was close as heck, though." The group heard, looking up and gasping as Ryuji himself strode up to them and spoke up.

"For real though, why do Palaces gotta explode so much? Can't they disappear normally?" Ryuji asked, before blinking as he saw the mixed shocked and/or disbelieving stares the girls gave him, speaking up uneasily.

"Um, why's everyone looking like someone died?" Ryuji asked in confusion, frowning at the disapproving looks his question got him from Morgana and Kasumi as he kept speaking.

"Uh, what? Something I said?" Ryuji asked obliviously. The group ran over to him as a confused Haru spoke up.

"Ryuji!? Didn't you get caught up in those explosions back there and die?" Haru asked, making Ryuji's eyes widen as he spoke up.

"WHAT!? Hell no! I was caught in the blasts, but I got blasted out from the explosion if I recall right. When I woke up, I was lyin' on the grass back here. I mean, ain't I alive?" Ryuji asked, before he turned and saw Ann's sad expression as he spoke up.

"Oh, what's this!? Your cryin' face is so not cute, Ann." Ryuji said as Kasumi frowned at this, subtly elbowing Ryuji in the stomach, ignoring the almost-muted 'OOF!' of pain that her actions elicited as she spoke up with a disapproving glare on her face.

"You do realize we were crying because of YOU, right Ryuji-senpai!? We saw you vanish from sight after getting caught in those explosions! We thought you'd been blown up! So excuse us for wanting to grieve for having yet another ally be taken from us." Kasumi said bluntly, getting approving nods from Ann and Futaba for her response. Ann then stamped her foot on the ground as she spoke up, glaring at Ryuji as she did so.

"I SHOULD HOPE HE DOES, KASUMI! AND RYUJI! IT'S YOUR DAMN FAULT!" Ann said angrily as she stepped forward and brutally slapped Ryuji across the face, making him slam backwards into the pole behind him and wince as he spoke up.

"Ow. Damn, what'd I do?" Ryuji said in surprise as Haru spoke up with tears in her eyes.

"We were worried about you, Ryuji!" Haru said as Futaba stormed up to Ryuji and glared at him as she spoke up.

"YOU TROUBLEMAKER! It's not bad enough that we might have lost both Kusa and Akechi, but to make us think we'd lost you too!?" Futaba said irately as the girls, aside from a relieved Makoto who stayed out of what was about to happen, glared at Ryuji, who blinked and spoke up.

"Wait, huh? What's this about?" Ryuji asked as Kasumi, Haru, Ann, and Futaba all glared at him, while Ren and Morgana crossed their arms disapprovingly as Fox just glared at Ryuji in disappointment, making him wince as he spoke up.

"H-Hold on a sec, okay? I-I was caught in an explosion after all, yeah? So in that sense, I almost k-kinda died!" Ryuji said as Makoto chose to join in on glaring at Ryuji, not pleased with the lack of tact her boyfriend was showing in that moment. Ryuji frowned and spoke up fearfully, seeing the menacing looks the girls were shooting him, while Ren and Morgana just gave him sympathetic looks as they slowly backed away while Ryuji spoke.

"Uh, you guys are joking right now, right?" Ryuji said as the screen cut to black while all of the girls advanced on him, each of them taking turns slapping him across the face firmly but lightly, starting with Futaba and going in order from Ann, to Haru, and then to Kasumi, before eventually ending with Makoto glaring at Ryuji as she spoke up after giving him a solid backhand across the face before looking at him with tears in her eyes.

"Dammit, Ryuji! Do you have ANY idea how horrified we all were when we thought you'd died!? Don't make light of that! Now shut up and kiss me." Makoto said as Ryuji smiled, eagerly obliging as he leaned forward to pull Queen into a passionate kiss. While they leaned against a nearby pole to kiss for a bit, the others gathered around as Yusuke spoke up.

"Truth be told, I'm feeling a bit hungry." Yusuke said as Haru smiled and spoke up.

"Good point, Yusuke. Why don't we stop by somewhere before going home?" Haru said as Futaba did a closed-eye smile as she spoke up.

"Oh! Then, I want sauteed foie gras!" Futaba said as Makoto gave her a closed-eye smile and spoke up after finally pulling away from Ryuji, leaning her head on his shoulder happily as she spoke..

"Um, Futaba? We're in reality right now you know. Also, I doubt any of us could actually afford that anyways." Makoto said cautiously as the group walked off, leaving Ryuji slumped over by the pole...

(Back in Shido's office, with Shido and his lackeys)

Shido groaned as he came to, holding his head as he sat up, making his secretary look at him in concern as he spoke up.

"Sir!" Shido's secretary said as Shido spoke up, a look of true guilt on his face as he spoke.

"What have I done?" Shido asked as his secretary spoke up in horror.

"Huh?" Shido's secretary asked as one of the researchers looked at Shido and spoke up.

"Is the medicine still affecting you?" The researcher asked Shido, who frowned and spoke up.

"Medicine?" Shido asked in confusion, making his secretary frown and speak up.

"Should we get him to a hospital?" Shido's secretary asked as Shido's private doctor spoke up.

"We should probably wait and see a little longer first, just to be safe." Shido's private doctor said as Shido spoke up in horror.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about, but I feel as if I've done a great many terrible things! Ngh, what have I done?" Shido said as he then broke down crying before he kept speaking.

"I must start taking responsibility for my misdeeds! And the first step in that process is for me to atone for my sins. Granted, not all of those I wronged are around to see it, but I owe it to those who still are around to change my ways." Shido said in guilt. One of Shido's younger lackeys spoke up in horror.

"No! Could it be? Was his heart changed!?" The young lackey asked as the researcher from before spoke up uneasily.

"Did the temporary-death serum not work?" The researcher from before asked as Shido's secretary spoke up.

"Sir!" Shido's secretary said as the young lackey from before spoke up in a panicked tone.

"This is bad! If he's had a change of heart, will he blab everything about us?" The younger lackey said as a senior lackey spoke up.

"If he does, everything will be ruined!" The senior lackey said as Shido's secretary spoke up in worry.

"Never mind that for now. What are we supposed to do about his campaign?" Shido's secretary said as the young lackey from before spoke up.

"That's easy! Announce that he's not feeling well!" The junior lackey from before said as the senior lackey from before spoke up with a nod.

"Exactly! Arrange a hospitalization in complete secrecy! Don't let anyone near him!" The senior lackey from before said as Shido's private doctor bowed and spoke up.

"Y-Yes, sir! Yes, sir!" Shido's private doctor said as the young lackey from before spoke up.

"And keep the media out! Gah, dammit! We have to do something, and fast!" The young lackey from before said as the group filed out of the room, leaving Shido alone with his tears as he continued crying for the guilt he felt for everything he'd done, as well as for the regret he felt at his damaged relationships with both of his sons...

(Meanwhile, back at Leblanc with Ren, Kasumi, Morgana, and Futaba)

As Morgana, Ren, Kasumi, and Futaba walked back into Leblanc, which was oddly unlocked, they gasped at the sight that greeted them, which was one of destruction, and a lot of messes, making Morgana's eyes go wide as he spoke up.

"What the heck!?" Morgana said as the newscaster was heard on TV talking about a kidnapping victim who was found murdered, making Ren and Futaba's eyes widen at the same time when the implications of this hit them, especially given the lack of immediate greetings they got from Sojiro. Futaba gasped and spoke up.

"SOJIRO!" Futaba said in horror as Morgana winced while Kasumi spoke up in surprise and horror.

"Boss? Are you here? If so, answer us!" Kasumi called out as Morgana spoke up.

"Don't tell me they got Boss too!?" Morgana said as Futaba gasped in horror at this and raced towards the kitchen as she spoke up.

"SOJIRO! I'm gonna get angry if you don't come out! Sojiro, don't make me have to possibly lose my dad on top of possibly losing my boyfriend!" Futaba said, looking sad as she finished speaking. At that point, Ren gently helped Futaba into a booth seat, where she blinked and looked up at him in surprise before she started crying once more, the full implications of her own words hitting her.

"Ah, why is it always the ones closest to me that we almost lose!? First it was you Ren, then it was Kusa, then it was Ryuji, and now it's friggin' Sojiro!? WHY!?" Futaba said sadly through her tears, as Ren and Kasumi exchanged worried looks and both sat down to try and comfort Futaba, right as the door opened up and a familiar voice spoke up.

"Hey. Didn't know you guys were back. And I see Ren's girlfriend followed him back here again." Sojiro said as he walked in, making Ren and Futaba both turn mixed relieved and shocked looks onto Sojiro as the latter spoke up in a mix of sadness and frustration.

"Oh, come on! Sojiro, you're the same as Ryuji!" Futaba said, her eyes widened slightly in surprise while running up to hug Sojiro for all she was worth. Sojiro, for his part, frowned at this and spoke up.

"What're you talking about, Futaba? Sorry for the language in front of young ladies like Futaba and Kasumi-chan, but I was taken to that asshole Shido's place, but they suddenly told me I could go home." Sojiro said before giving Ren a knowing look as he kept speaking.

"That's thanks to his change of heart, right?" Sojiro asked Ren, who subtly nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah, something like that. Basically, it was thanks to an unlikely come-from-behind win that was only made possible through some luck, perseverance, and of course some frankly heroic and noble sacrifices by both Kusa and Akechi." Ren said as Sojiro nodded understandingly before he spoke up.

"Heh, thought as much, Ren. I stand by what I said before, though. I believe Kusa's still alive somewhere." Sojiro said, surprising both Futaba and Ren as he kept speaking

"But back on topic, they had me blindfolded the whole time, so I've got no idea where they took me, unfortunately. Though it sounded like they were oddly bustling about." Sojiro said as Morgana did a closed-eye smirk and spoke up.

"Heh, sounds like it's going well." Morgana said as Kasumi spoke up so only Morgana spoke up.

"Perhaps so, but be quiet for now, Morgana-senpai. You know that Boss can't understand you." Kasumi said gently to Morgana, prompting the not-cat to nod understandingly as Sojiro spoke up with a frustrated look on his face.

"But man, my handsome mug was nearly ruined. Eh, that's all fine and dandy, but the fact is, they really did a number on this place." Sojiro said before turning to Kasumi, Ren, and Futaba as he kept speaking.

"Sorry to bother you three while you're tired, but if you can, I'd like you to help me clean up." Sojiro said as Kasumi, Ren, and Futaba nodded while Morgana spoke up.

"We just have to wait like usual now." Morgana said with a closed-eye smirk as Ren nodded and headed upstairs with Kasumi after Sojiro took Futaba home. Once upstairs, Ren and Kasumi's phones went off to signify a group chat from Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru, with Ryuji sending the first response.

"We finally did it." Ryuji sent as Kasumi sent a response.

"If by that, you mean we finally took Shido's Treasure, then I agree, Ryuji-senpai. Otherwise, we don't know for sure that we've changed his heart yet. All we can do is wait, as Morgana-senpai said." Kasumi sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"Indeed. Well put, Kasumi. That said, we've done all we can for now." Yusuke sent as Futaba sent a huge response.

"Mwehehe! I feel confident in our chances this time around! We started off with a huge announcement this time, after all! I can't wait for the results." Futaba sent as Ann sent a response.

"True, but even if we succeeded in changing Shido's heart, that's just a moral victory for us. I believe, and I'm sure that Kusa would agree with me on this, that all that popularity doesn't matter anymore." Ann sent as Makoto sent a response at that point.

"Right. Things like approval ratings aren't important now. It'd be trivial to worry about them in light of what we've potentially had to sacrifice to get this far." Makoto sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"Yeah! We definitely did the right thing for society. And more importantly, we made the first step in keeping our promise to Akechi, while likely making Kusa proud. So, for his sake, we just gotta be proud about it, am I right?" Ryuji sent as Ren sent a response after laughing.

"Heh, that's right, Ryuji. However, I believe that were he here right now, Kusa would be reminding you not to get cocky. After all, we all saw how well that ended for all of us before." Ren sent wisely. Ryuji sent a response.

"Yeah, I know, I know. Don't worry about me, Ren. I'm not going to get full of myself like I did before. I've learned my lesson from that, as well as from the very painful and non-verbal lesson the girls taught me earlier." Ryuji sent as Kasumi sent a response.

"Oh, you mean when we took turns slapping you one by one until Makoto literally bitch-slapped you across the face and then pulled you into a rather heated-looking kiss that lasted for quite a while!? Sorry about that, but you needed to be taught a lesson about taking things seriously, as well as learning some tact." Kasumi sent as Haru sent a response.

"I agree with you on that, Kasumi. That said, all that's left is to wait calmly for the results." Haru sent as Ren and Kasumi put their phones away, at which point Morgana spoke up.

"All right, now that we've beaten Shido's Shadow, that doesn't mean we're out of the woods just yet. As such, we should act as normal as possible while we're waiting too." Morgana said as Ren and Kasumi nodded, the latter speaking up.

"Understood, Morgana-senpai. But, does that mean Ren and I have to cut back on our time spent together?" Kasumi asked as Morgana spoke up.

"Not at all, Kasumi. I wouldn't dream of keeping you two apart. Just try not to get Ren into trouble, yeah? After all, in his absence, Kusa would want you and I to watch over Ren and Futaba for him." Morgana said as Kasumi nodded and spoke up.

"Good point, Morgana-senpai." Kasumi said as Ren pouted and spoke up.

"Aw, come on. Isn't it my job to watch over you, and not the other way around, Sumi?" Ren said smoothly as he gently wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's waist, making her flush prettily as she spoke up.

"Y-Yes, but that doesn't mean it can't go both ways, Ren. And besides, we're lucky my parents and Boss agreed to let me remain here with you overnight tonight. We should make the most of the time we still have while we can." Kasumi said as Ren spoke up.

"Let me check this message first." Ren said as he looked at the private chat he'd gotten from Mishima.

"This is so intense! I never would've imagined you'd be going after Shido! It doesn't matter who the Phantom Thieves are going after! Justice is always on their side! I'm glad I kept the Phan-Site going through all the criticism too. Also, sorry to hear that your brother's missing. That said, I think I'll change up the survey question to commemorate your comeback. I'll obviously be answering 'YES' this time! Not to say I said 'NO' before, but anyways, I believe in you, Amamiya! Stay strong!" Mishima sent as Ren shook his head and put his phone away while Morgana sighed and spoke up.

"Wow. I tell you what Ren, this guy never changes. Well, it sounds like he's looking forward to how it goes. All we can do is wait now too." Morgana said as Ren nodded his agreement to the not-cat's words before sitting next to Kasumi, who'd sat down on his bed, and smiling at her as he gently pulled her down on top of him as the two kicked off their shoes and cuddled together, Kasumi looking into Ren's eyes lovingly as she spoke up.

"Ren? I'm so blessed to be able to be here right now with you like this. I hope we can continue to have opportunities like this for a long time to come." Kasumi said as Ren smiled and nodded as he spoke up after slyly stealing a kiss from a blushing Kasumi.

"Of course we can, Sumi. I'm not going anywhere. I promise you that. And if I have my way about it, you're not going anywhere, either. I love you, after all, and want to be able to keep being able to call you my girlfriend for a very, very long time to come." Ren said as he gently wrapped his arms lovingly around Kasumi, who smiled as she laid her head on Ren's shoulder and spoke up as Ren pulled a blanket over them.

"I love you too, Ren. And I promise you, I'm not going anywhere either, no matter what happens going forward. So relax, and let's enjoy our time together, not just for ourselves, but for Kusa's sake too." Kasumi said as Ren frowned at the mention of Kusa and spoke up.

"Agreed. Still, I can't help but wonder if Kusa is actually okay right now, as well as where he could possibly be. Him and Akechi both, though I know Akechi can handle himself." Ren said as Kasumi shrugged, not sure of the answer to that either, instead choosing to snuggle into Ren's hold as the two decided to spend their time together, knowing this might be some of the last such time they have together if Shido's change of heart doesn't go to plan. As they did so, both Ren and Kasumi's thoughts idly wandered to the question of where Kusa might possibly be...

(At the same time, in an unknown location, with Draconis, Draconis' POV)

I groaned as I slowly opened my eyes, looking around at my surroundings, though I frowned when all I could see in the dimly-lit room was what appeared to be the outline of walls and what appeared to be bars on one side of the room. I then made to stand up and look around, only to frown when I realized I couldn't lift my arms or legs, looking down and gasping as I saw iron shackles securely fastened to my legs and arms. I then groaned as I tried getting the shackles off, only to swear profusely moments later when I had no success. I then spoke up in the hopes someone would hear me and at least give me an idea of where I was.

"WHAT THE HELL!? Why am I chained up like this?" I asked, my eyes widening as I realized I felt a wall behind me as I spoke up.

"And am I chained to an effing wall!? FOR REAL!? Whoever's in charge here needs to let me out now, since I don't recall signing up to be taken prisoner in an unknown location!" I snapped as I vaguely registered movement out of the corner of my eye before I felt something metallic prod my side, causing me to feel a burn on my side, basically making me groan and fall silent as a voice spoke up to answer me.

"Silence, maggot! You'll find out where you are when the time is right, and no sooner! Suffice it to say, we're keeping you here until my lord can decide what to do with the likes of you. However, you might be in luck, since I vaguely recall that my lord is looking for someone that vaguely matches your description. Until he decides to deign us with his presence, you will remain our prisoner.

Be glad we're not punishing you for denying my associates and I your friend's capture, but we agreed your friend wasn't important enough to worry about. Now shut up and just hang there!" The nearby guard rebuked me in a firm yet brusque tone, making me just sigh as I realized that while I'd managed to get Crow out safely, I might've gotten myself into who knows what sort of danger. As I hung there, I let myself be lost in thought.

"Well, at least if nothing else, I've got you, Thailog. And I know you've got my back like I have yours." I thought as I heard Thailog dryly chuckle as his voice entered my mind.

"That's right, Kusa. As we vowed when you awoke to my power, just as I am thou, thou art I. So in that sense, we will forever be connected, no matter what happens. Also, you should know that the time is coming for you to confront the worst part of the very great risk that that blonde fortune-teller warned you of so long ago. You already made one right decision in letting the one you called Akechi escape safely, since he will no doubt be a key figure in the coming struggle.

But I'm afraid that's just the beginning. You will still have a number of other tough choices coming. However, know that each correct decision you make brings you another step closer to awakening your true powers. But you've still got a ways to go before you reach that point, so be patient, Kusa. For now, let's save our strength and try to hope the others can get us out of here." Thailog said to me as I nodded understandingly and spoke up in my mind.

"Fair enough. And I am nothing, if not a patient man. So waiting and biding our time it is for now. Hopefully Taba and the others got through Shido's Palace safely. I won't deny that I miss them, but I know that we're all still connected in spirit through our Personas, so we're not truly alone." I thought to myself as I just hung there, resigning myself to waiting for the time being and seeing what happens next...

(A bit later, in the Velvet Room, with Ren, Igor, Caroline, and Justine)

As Ren got to his feet after waking up alone in the Velvet Room, he looked over at Caroline and Justine as the two spoke up, Caroline speaking first.

"Congratulations. I've reconsidered my opinion of you, Inmate!" Caroline said as Justine spoke up.

"The look on your face seems to be that of a man who has accomplished a great deed." Justine said as Igor chuckled and spoke up.

"Indeed. To think you would use the trap set against you to entrap them instead. Allow me to be frank. I've never seen a dramatic resurgence such as that. Even after having some of those closest to you seemingly make the ultimate sacrifice to allow you to proceed on the path of your rehabilitation. Truly marvelous-those are the only words I can think of to describe you." Igor said as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"So you say, Igor. But I would be remiss to not acknowledge that I owe a great deal of my current success to the aid you and the twins have given me, so I owe you all a lot." Ren said humbly. Igor chuckled and spoke up.

"Don't be so modest, Inmate. WE should be thanking YOU for entertaining us thus. Furthermore, you've even overcome a mysterious misfortune. At this point, there should be no one left to hinder your rehabilitation. If all stays on track, your rehabilitation will be completed shortly. That is, assuming things stay on track, and if everything goes well, without any problems." Igor said as he chuckled darkly, leaving a confused Ren to blink as he was led back to his bed by the twins...

(Elsewhere, in an unknown location)

An ominous-looking feline being stood up from a vat of red liquid, hissing angrily as it rose from the depths of an eerie-looking location.

At the same time, Morgana sat up in horror from where he'd curled up on Kasumi's stomach, sighing as he realized it was just the same bad dream as before that had woken him. Morgana then quietly spoke up to himself, taking care to keep his voice down, so as not to disturb the sweetly-sleeping couple next to him.

"Damn. How many times have I had this dream? Or, is it possible? Could it be that it's not a dream at all? My memories aren't any closer to coming back to me, after all. But, I wonder. Might there be something I'm supposed to remember? Oh, that reminds me. If that dream is real, and if I'm not human after all, and if the truth of that comes to pass down in the depths of Mementos, I don't know what I might do. Could it be that I'll finally find the truth of myself in the depths of Mementos? Or worse, could I turn into that monster from my dream?" Morgana said to himself with a shudder, before looking at the sleeping forms of Ren and Kasumi as he spoke up.

"Ren, I owe you and Kusa a lot. And I even owe a bit to Kasumi as well. But I won't let anything happen to you guys if I can help it. I promise you that on my honor." Morgana said as he curled back up on Kasumi's stomach and tried to doze back off...

(The next morning, on the train to school with Makoto)

"I can't wait for Shido's new administration. I'm sure our economy and market will improve." Makoto heard an aging businesswoman near her say to the naive office worker next to her as the naive office worker spoke up.

"I went to listen to Shido-san's speech. I was so moved! His words really resonated with me. I hope he keeps fighting and doesn't let that slander get to him!" The naive office worker said as the aging businesswoman spoke up with a nod.

"Ah, yes. You mean that broadcast hijacking hoax? They only attack Shido-san because of how charismatic he is." The aging businesswoman said as Makoto gasped and spoke up.

"Oh! 'Slander' and a 'hoax', eh? They'll hear the truth soon-from Shido himself. And then they'll learn the truth behind his 'charisma', and how he is only interested in his own self-preservation. People are just tools to him. Ugh, I just wish it didn't take us losing Kusa and Akechi, not to mention almost losing both Ren and Ryuji, to finally bring him down. Father, please watch over us and give us luck in our mission. I'm fighting against this injustice, just like you did. So please, watch over me, okay?" Makoto asked as the rest of the train ride passed uneventfully...

(After school, in the attic of Leblanc with Ren and Kasumi)

Ren slowly sat up as the buzzing of his phone woke him up, grabbing it to see he had a private chat from Mishima, which he opened up to view.

"This one's a pretty dark rumor about a big-shot producer in the entertainment industry. Apparently he's been forcing young idols and other girls to have sex with him to move up in the ranks. It feels like he's just feeding off of their dreams." Mishima sent as Ren growled, realizing how much he was fortunate that Kasumi wasn't anywhere near the entertainment industry and was a gymnast. Ren then sent a response.

"What a dirtbag! I don't care what his reasoning is, you don't do that to girls, or idols! As such, I can't overlook that." Ren sent as Mishima sent a response at that point.

"Right!? Anyway, have you heard of Shiro Asakura? It seems like he's behind these crimes. Well, I'll be counting on you for the rest!" Mishima sent as Ren put his phone away and Morgana spoke up from on Ren's shoulder, having read the chat over said shoulder.

"This guy might not be famous, but we can't let him get away with it. Let's talk to everyone at the hideout when we have time, okay?" Morgana said as Ren nodded at the same time that everyone's phones pinged to signify the receipt of the Mementos request 'The Head Honcho in Showbiz'. After that, Ren turned to check on Kasumi, only to frown as he saw that she wasn't there. Blinking, he looked around, only to notice a note on the bed where she'd been laying. While frowning, Ren picked the note up and examined it. It read as thus:

'Ren, if you're reading this, sorry I'm not there with you. My parents woke me up early with a call, saying that Coach Hiraguchi was looking for me and that I needed to go see her when I could, so I got dressed and headed over to see her. So once you read this, shoot me a private chat so I can let you know what's up. Hope you're not too upset that I'm not there next to you right now, but I had to go. Love you, Senpai! -Kasumi' The note read, making Ren blink as he pulled out his phone to send a private chat to Kasumi.

"Is everything all right, Sumi? I just found your note. I'm actually legitimately impressed neither myself nor Morgana were woken up by your phone going off. As it is, we were only awoken by my phone going off with a private chat from Mishima. So, I hope all is well for you, Sumi." Ren sent as Kasumi quickly sent a response.

"Ah, good afternoon, Ren. Sorry about leaving without a word like that, but I didn't have a choice. As it turns out, Coach Hiraguchi signed me up for some mandatory holiday gymnastics meet that I had to start training for, so unfortunately I won't really be available much for the next 2-3 weeks. So if another target comes up during that time, you might have to handle it without me. But for the purposes of observing formalities, I trust you to vote for me on my behalf, since you have a good idea of how I'd vote on things. So yeah, sorry about that. Love you, Ren!" Kasumi sent as Ren sent a response.

"That's unfortunate, but I understand full well that you need to take advantage of special opportunities when they present themselves. Therefore, I wish you the best of luck in your meet, Sumi! Go do your best out there, and know that the rest of us are rooting for you and there with you in spirit, even if we can't necessarily make it to your meet. Love you too, by the way." Ren sent back before he put his phone away and looked over his options. On looking all of his options over, as Ren had a lot of people available to rank up, Ren decided to go hang out with Yusuke. After having Yusuke duplicate a 'Debilitate' skill card for him, Ren looked at Yusuke and spoke up.

"Hi, Yusuke. Nice day today, isn't it?" Ren asked Yusuke cheerfully as Yusuke nodded and spoke up.

"Indeed. It has finally ended, Ren. We've managed to defeat Shido. Now, we just have to await his change of heart. That said, I have been people-watching, as usual. Is there something you'd like to do to kill time today, Ren?" Yusuke asked Ren. Ren nodded and spoke up.

"In fact, there is. I notice you're not as often available as you usually are, so I figured I'd take advantage of you being around to hang out with you, if you're agreeable to it." Ren said as Yusuke chuckled and spoke up with a closed-eye grin.

"Hah, is that so? You must have a wealth of free time if that is your decision. In truth, I am still mulling over what Kawanabe said to me the other day. Oh, that reminds me. I would like to speak with you, as well as the others. Do you have some free time today?" Yusuke asked Ren, who smiled and spoke up.

"Well, Kasumi won't be able to join us since she got called out of town for a sudden holiday meet that she's gonna be out of town for that is apparently going to last 2-3 weeks, so as long as you're okay with her being absent, along with our other missing allies, I definitely have free time today, Yusuke." Ren said as Yusuke spoke up.

"Truly? That's unfortunate that she's not available, but I know she aspires to become a gymnast, so I can understand that she has to take any chance she gets to advance that goal, so I have no qualms with her not being available. That said, I would like other opinions as well. I shall send out an invite and see who has time to meet. Furthermore, I wish to do so at Leblanc, if that is all right with you." Yusuke said as Ren spoke up with a smile.

"Yeah, that's fine, man. Boss already said that if we need the place for a meeting that all we have to do is ask. So that should be no problem. But let's see who all accepts your invite first." Ren said as Yusuke nodded and sent out an invite to the others. In the end, only Ryuji and Ann accepted the invite, so Ren and Yusuke headed to Leblanc to wait for their arrival. Once Ann and Ryuji had arrived and taken a seat, Yusuke spoke up.

"Thank you all for coming. My apologies for calling all of you here like this. Luckily, Boss was even kind enough to serve us coffee before he went shopping with Futaba. Now, that said, I have a vital request." Yusuke said as Ryuji spoke up with a nod.

"Hey, hit me with your best shot! All the tough problems're gonna have to go to Ren, though." Ryuji said as Ren just chuckled and spoke up.

"Why am I not surprised you'd nominate me like that, Ryuji?" Ren said fondly as Ann chuckled and spoke up at that point.

"Heh, that's Ryuji for you, Ren. And Yusuke? Hmm, I can help with any subject that's not math. Unfortunately, none of us in this room, aside from possibly Ren, are that good at math, and even then our best people at math are either out with Boss or missing/busy." Ann said as Yusuke chuckled and shook his head while speaking up.

"Hm? Do you two honestly believe I would ask you here for help in my studies? To tell the truth, if I was gonna ask for that sort of help, I'd have likely asked Ren and/or Makoto, since they have the best grades out of us all. No, but in all seriousness? The truth is, I am planning to display my work in a competition. The one organized by Kawanabe of the Japanese Art Support Foundation. You remember, yes, Ren?" Yusuke said as Ren nodded and Yusuke kept speaking.

"As you should. That said, I must win and prove not only my ability, but my intense passion for art as well. However, I confess that I am having quite a bit of trouble determining what my next subject should be. I have given this painting a fair amount of thought, but nothing has come to me yet. Hence, why I asked you here. I was hoping to hear your opinions on an ideal subject." Yusuke said as Ann put her head in her hands while assuming a contemplative stance. At that point, Ryuji spoke up, making both Ann and Ren groan at what he said next.

"Oh yeah! If you're having trouble decidin', how 'bout you have Ann strip?" Ryuji asked as both Ren and Ann sputtered at this, the former speaking up.

"Really, Ryuji? And you wonder why people say you have no tact." Ren said as Ann nodded and spoke up.

"Right, Ren!? Ugh, how long are you gonna keep bringing that up, Ryuji!?" Ann said irately to Ryuji before turning to Yusuke as she kept speaking.

"Anyway, maybe you should paint something people find pretty." Ann suggested as Yusuke frowned and spoke up.

"Hm, I see. So in the end, we return to the concept of beauty. Ren, what subject do you think would most capture beauty?" Yusuke said as Ren spoke up.

"Good question, Yusuke. But if we're talking about beauty, I think there's an obvious answer here. Between her modeling, and the fact she usually has the most keen eye for fashion out of all of us, I feel like it's not inaccurate to say that it likely has to be Ann. I'd have said Kasumi, but again, she's out of town and thus wouldn't really be a good choice for a model." Ren said honestly. Yusuke nodded and spoke up.

"Hm, that's true. I'm both amused and impressed you didn't immediately mention Kasumi when I brought up the subject of beauty. In my admittedly limited experience, most guys immediately think of their girlfriends when the subject of beauty comes up. But back on the subject of Ann, I suppose she IS a subject I put great focus on in the past. But now I am aware of her true personality and character. As such, I am not sure I could paint her beautifully enough to do her justice as an art subject." Yusuke said as Ann giggled while giving Yusuke a closed-eye smile and speaking up.

"Heh, thank you! Haha, that's right!" Ann said before blinking a couple of seconds later as Yusuke's words sank in fully and she spoke up with a shocked look on her face.

"HEY! What's that supposed to mean, Yusuke!?" Ann asked as Yusuke spoke up while wincing.

"It means that I don't want to ask you to be my subject if I cannot accurately capture the full picture of your beauty on canvas. In other words, I am trying to be sure I can do a good job with whatever subject I end up going with." Yusuke explained before groaning as he kept speaking.

"Argh, but that said, why can I not paint a beauty as pure as the 'Sayuri'? Where have all of my efforts gone?" Yusuke said as Ann sighed and spoke up.

"Ah, I see. Sorry for jumping the gun, Yusuke. But that said, to be honest with you? Just so you know, I'm not really sure what you mean by pure beauty. I mean, yeah, it's a pretty painting. But when you think about it, I'm not sure I really consider it a pure beauty or whatever." Ann said as Yusuke looked at her in shock and spoke up.

"Hm? Is that so, Ann?" Yusuke asked Ann, who nodded and spoke up with a closed-eye smile.

"Yeah, it is. I dunno, I guess it just feels more gentle to me. And honestly? I almost cried the first time I saw the 'Sayuri'. It felt kinda like I was a baby again in my mother's arms. Watching over me, telling me everything's gonna be okay and not to cry. That was the gentleness the painting made me feel. But then again, this IS coming from someone with absolutely no art knowledge whatsoever, though." Ann said honestly as Yusuke gave her an intrigued look and spoke up.

"Oh? I see. Gentleness, you say? So that is yet another aspect the 'Sayuri' captures that I cannot, is it? I wonder. Could it be that the reason I can't match up to the Sayuri is because my heart is too clouded?" Yusuke asked as Ryuji shook his head and spoke up with a frown.

"No way, man! Your heart ain't cloudy, dude." Ryuji said firmly as Yusuke spoke up.

"Are you sure about that? Painting used to be all my heart desired at one time. I needed nothing else in life. But, now? What now!? I have become overwhelmed with a need to prove myself to Kawanabe, and more than that, to prove myself to the world. I looked down on Madarame for focusing so sharply on fame and money, yet I too yearn for the praise of others! In truth, I oftentimes regret declining Kawanabe's offer back then. Oh, how could this be? Is this what pure passion is supposed to look like!? My heart is clouded by worldly desires!" Yusuke said as Ren smiled at that and spoke up.

"Perhaps, but the fact that you can see that in yourself and acknowledge it is proof that you've really grown, Yusuke. And I'm proud of you." Ren said kindly to Yusuke, who blinked in surprise and spoke up.

"What? My ugliness has actually benefited me somehow? You're saying that my ugliness has helped me grow?" Yusuke asked as Ryuji nodded and spoke up.

"Yup! Ren's right, dude. Ain't nothing wrong about doin' your best to make a livin'." Ryuji said wisely as Ann nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah, what Ryuji said! And you just want someone to acknowledge your work, right Yusuke? That's some serious passion." Ann said as Yusuke spoke up in surprise.

"But how? I don't get it. How can passion be born from these repulsive thoughts?" Yusuke asked as Ryuji spoke up.

"You think that, do you Yusuke? Listen here, dude. I was totally like you back on the track team. I just wanted to prove myself to the world. Y'know, to win and to get all the girls to call me shit like 'Sakamoto-senpai', kinda like how Kasumi occasionally calls Ren here 'Ren-senpai'. But y'know, even through all that selfishness, I was tryin' to help my team out. Sure, running's a solo sport, but nobody's gonna run 'til they puke if they don't got teammates they wanna inspire.

I guess what I really wanna say is, you gotta do stuff for people beyond just yourself if you wanna succeed." Ryuji said, ignoring the slight frown that Ren gave him for using his girlfriend as an example while Yusuke blinked at this and spoke up.

"Hm, truly? Is that how it is? I see. So the sincere gentleness held within the 'Sayuri' that Ann felt, the warmth of its heart in the painting, it was all for the sake of those who gaze upon it? How interesting, if true. Wait, could it be that simple? Yes, I think it could!" Yusuke said before getting to his feet as he had understanding hit him.

"Ah, I see! So that's what you mean." Yusuke said as Ryuji blinked and spoke up in surprise.

"Whoa, hold up. Huh? Whaddya see!?" Ryuji asked as Yusuke chuckled with a closed-eye smile and spoke up.

"I have been a fool! Beauty is not the superficial thing I have long thought it to be! No, it is something that wells up within the heart until it breaks free! Furthermore, it is a gift, given by a subject unto the viewer! Yes, I finally see the truth! That's very kind of you. The three of you have my sincerest gratitude! You have been a truly tremendous aid!" Yusuke said as Ryuji blinked and spoke up.

"Y-Yeah. U-Uh, I'm glad we could help? But we were a tremendous aid to you, you say? How, exactly did we do that?" Ryuji asked Yusuke, who just smiled as Ren, Ann, and Ryuji all sweatdropped at the lack of response from Yusuke, the former of the three noting that they'd somehow managed to help Yusuke out when he needed it. From there, he noted in amusement that his bond with Yusuke appeared to have grown still deeper as a result.

At that point, the 'Emperor' card appeared in his mind's eye, the 'VII' becoming a 'VIII' to signify that his Emperor Confidant link with Yusuke had reached Rank 8. As a result of the rank-up, Yusuke had awakened to the power of Endure, making it so that like Ryuji, Kusa, Ann, and Morgana, Yusuke could now potentially withstand a single piece of otherwise fatal damage with 1 HP remaining. Afterward, Yusuke started laughing as he spoke up.

"Yes, the time has come for my brush to meet canvas in beautiful harmony! And to your question Ryuji, you gave me inspiration! Now, if you'll excuse me!" Yusuke said as he fairly well sprinted out of Leblanc, leaving Ryuji to blink in confusion as he spoke up.

"Man, he's actin' even weirder than normal." Ryuji said as Ann spoke up.

"True, but he looked pretty inspired though, so he'll be fine in the end, right Ren? Anyway, changing the subject, are you guys hungry? I might ask Boss to make me something once he gets back. Hm, maybe curry this time." Ann said as Ryuji spoke up, not even feeling the subtle elbow in the stomach he got from Ren at what he said next.

"C'mon, man, for real!? God, you eat so freakin' much food, Ann. How are you still that skinny despite how much you eat? Granted, it's not to the extent of Kasumi, but she's a whole different story entirely. Oh yeah, and what was that crap about bein' good at everything 'cept math? It ain't nice to lie, y'know." Ryuji said as Ann frowned and spoke up while aiming a pissed-off glare at Ryuji.

"First of all, as Ren will vouch, both Kasumi and I work out a lot and are very active, so we burn off pretty much all the calories we take in. That said, NO! I wasn't lying! It's just really hard to get good grades at Shujin!" Ann said as Ryuji spoke up with an unimpressed look on his face as he spoke up.

"No way, man! If you're not gettin' good grades, you shoulda known Yusuke wasn't gonna ask you to study with him!" Ryuji said as Ren frowned and mused that maybe Kasumi was the lucky one in not having to be here right now. Even so, Ren said nothing as he, Ann, and Ryuji enjoyed the rest of their time together before Ann and Ryuji had to get the trains home. After escorting Ryuji and Ann back to the train station, Ren headed to Leblanc, where his phone went off to signify a group chat with Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Haru, and Futaba, with Yusuke sending the first response.

"It seems the election battle has reached the halfway point." Yusuke sent as Makoto sent a response.

"True, but the polls for each election ward have remained the same though." Makoto sent as Ann sent a response.

"Um, does this mean Shido's victory is guaranteed?" Ann sent as Makoto sent another response.

"It seems like that would be the case, yes." Makoto sent as Haru sent a response.

"Hm, in that case, I wonder if voting will shift if Shido has a change of heart before the election." Haru sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"For sure! Nobody'll vote for him once they find out he's a criminal." Ryuji sent as Futaba sent a response.

"If he were here, I'm sure Kusa would've pointed this out, so I'll do it for him since he's not. We're all assuming that the public finds out the truth before they vote." Futaba sent as Makoto sent a response.

"Not only is that very Kusa-like of you to say, Futaba, that's also the important part. We would prefer him to announce his crimes BEFORE the election if at all possible." Makoto sent as Ann sent a response.

"True. But if the change of heart doesn't make it, the election will go just as expected." Ann sent as Ren sent a response.

"Good point, Ann. However, we have to not panic here. Results aren't what matters. What matters is that Shido confesses his crimes." Ren sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"You are correct, Ren. So long as his true nature is brought to light, other options will be available to us. All we can do is hope his change of heart takes." Yusuke sent as Makoto sent a response.

"I agree, Yusuke. Hopefully it did take, otherwise all the stuff we've gone through to get through Shido's Palace won't mean much of anything. And more importantly, both Akechi and Kusa might well have seemingly sacrificed themselves for no reason." Makoto sent as Ren put his phone away at that point. When looking at his options, Ren blinked in shock as he saw that Mishima was actually available to rank up, making him nod to himself as he decided to go rank him up, knowing that Mishima wasn't really available that often for ranking up, so he needed to get him while the getting was good, as it were. Once he got to Akihibara, he found Mishima and spoke up to him.

"Hey there, Mishima. Long time, no chat, yeah?" Ren said conversationally as Mishima nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah. Listen, we need to avoid anything that'll make us stand out right now. Don't worry though, Amamiya. Your secret is safe with me. Not just as the admin of the Phan-site, but as your friend too. So, that being said, you did the request I asked you to do. Thanks! Hey, I'd like to talk to you today about how I'm helping you guys. Do you have time?" Mishima asked Ren, who spoke up with a nod.

"For you, Mishima? I always have time for you." Ren said honestly. Mishima nodded and spoke up.

"C'mon, let's get going! Let's go somewhere close then!" Mishima said as his phone chose then to start ringing, making him wince as he spoke up.

"Sorry, one sec." Mishima said as he took the call, answering it and speaking with the person on the other end and hanging up before speaking up again.

"That was from Akiyama-kun. He said he wants me to stop by. Apparently he's pretty close. It sounded serious, too. Um, I don't think we should ignore him. Can you come with me?" Mishima said as Ren nodded and the two headed to Akiyama's location. Once they got there, Mishima gasped at the sight that greeted him and Ren. It was Akiyama, being surrounded by a pair of what looked to be tough guys. Mishima gasped and spoke up.

"A-Akiyama-kun!?" Mishima asked in shock as Akiyama spoke up on hearing Mishima's voice.

"Mishima? Is that you, Mishima?" Akiyama asked as the dark-haired tough guy looked at Mishima and spoke up.

"Ahhh, there's our guy. Look, Akiyama-kun says he's not gonna be able to pay up this month. So, how 'bout you spot him? That's what friends're for, right?" The dark-haired tough guy said as Mishima blinked and spoke up in surprise.

"F-Friends?" Mishima questioned as the dark-haired tough guy spoke up in surprise.

"Huh? You guys ain't friends?" The dark-haired tough guy said as the blonde-haired thug-looking guy glared at Akiyama and spoke up.

"Don't try 'n mess with us, Akiyama. We don't got time for games. Is this loser s'posed to be the 'friend' who was gonna help you!?" The thug-looking blonde guy demanded of Akiyama, who said nothing as the dark-haired tough guy spoke up.

"In that case, if you don't got anything to do with this little bitch Akiyama, I suggest you get outta here." The dark-haired tough guy said before turning to the blonde-haired thug-looking guy while he kept speaking.

"Tch. C'mon, Tohru. Looks like we're just gonna have to go have a nice chat with that girlfriend of his." The dark-haired tough guy said to the now-named Tohru as Akiyama spoke up fearfully.

"P-Please, no! I'm begging you!" Akiyama said as the dark-haired tough guy spoke up with a frown.

"Sorry, but you broke our promise. Now she's gonna be the one to pay us back in your place, if you catch my drift. This is just what you get for tryin' to screw us over." The dark-haired tough guy said as Tohru chuckled and spoke up.

"Ahahaha! You're so clever, Yuuta-kun!" Tohru said in an amused tone to the now-named Yuuta. Mishima winced and spoke up.

"A-Akiyama-kun, how did they do this to you?" Mishima asked before turning to Ren as he kept speaking.

"Amamiya, you don't got anything to do with this, so run." Mishima said as Ren frowned and spoke up.

"Hell no. I'm not leaving, Mishima. You plannin' on helping Akiyama-kun? If so, I got your back, man." Ren said. Mishima chuckled and spoke up appreciatively.

"A-Are you sure? I don't want to get you involved in this if I can help it. Though to be honest, having you around is definitely reassuring. That said, I think I have an idea. It's risky, and might go wrong, but if I can pull it off, it just might work. If anything happens to me, take care of Akiyama-kun, Amamiya." Mishima said before striding forward and speaking up, accidentally biting his tongue as he spoke.

"H-H-H-Hey, you guysh! C-Crap, I bit my tongue somehow." Mishima said as Yuuta frowned at Mishima and spoke up.

"Huh? You're still here?" Yuuta said to Mishima as Akiyama spoke up at that point.

"Run away, you idiot! Save yourself!" Akiyama said to Mishima, who ignored him to whip out his phone and flaunt it in Yuuta's face as he spoke up.

"U-U-Ummm, listen here, Yuuta-kun! You'd better lay off Akiyama-kun! I've been taking a video of this whole conversation!" Mishima said as Tohru blinked and spoke up.

"Wait, huh?" Tohru asked in confusion as Mishima spoke up with a determined look on his face.

"That's right! If you do anything to Akiyama-kun or his girlfriend, I'll bring it straight to the police! Oh, and don't get any ideas about breaking my phone. It backs up to the cloud automatically." Mishima said as Tohru winced and spoke up.

"H-Hey, what should we do?" Tohru asked Yuuta, who scoffed and spoke up.

"We'll be fine, Tohru. The police ain't gonna do shit 'cause of a stupid little video. That said, why don't you run along home to your anime girls? We don't got time to deal with losers like you." Yuuta said, aiming the first half of his response at Tohru and the second half at Mishima, who winced as he spoke up.

"Urgh, really?" Mishima said as Ren frowned and spoke up at that point.

"Believe in yourself, Mishima!" Ren said encouragingly. Mishima blinked at Ren in surprise and spoke up.

"Amamiya, thank you. You're right." Mishima said as Yuuta spoke up while glaring at Ren.

"Eh, who're you?" Yuuta asked Ren as Mishima scowled and spoke up while stepping towards Yuuta and Tohru as he spoke.

"What the hell!? Look, I know you guys're supposed to be tough and all, and I get that. But are you sure it's really worth getting arrested again over something like this? I mean, this video is definitely enough to get you guys busted given your previous criminal records." Mishima said bluntly as Yuuta blinked at that and spoke up.

'EH!? How'd you know about that!?" Yuuta asked as Mishima frowned and spoke up.

"It doesn't matter how. Just leave Akiyama-kun alone and we'll be even! Then if you keep your word, I'll delete the video. The backup, too." Mishima said as Yuuta frowned and spoke up.

"Nothing doing. You'll delete them now." Yuuta said demandingly as Mishima frowned and spoke up.

"N-No!" Mishima said firmly, showing he had no intention of backing down in that moment. Yuuta frowned at Mishima, seemingly locking into a staring contest with him. Tohru frowned and spoke up.

"Uh, you okay, Yuuta-kun?" Tohru asked Yuuta, who blinked at that moment unintentionally, sighing as he spoke up.

"Oh, whatever. Tch, I've had enough of this shit." Yuuta said as he turned around and left, a confused Tohru following close behind. After Tohru and Yuuta had left, Mishima spoke up in relief.

"M-Man, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack for a second there. My whole act would've broken down if they didn't back off when they did. Hahaha, wow, I really suck, huh?" Mishima said as Ren shook his head and spoke up.

"Not at all, Mishima-kun. If anything, you were super cool back there." Ren said approvingly. Mishima blinked at this and spoke up.

"Y-You think? Even if I peed in my pants a little at one point?" Mishima asked as Ren winced and spoke up.

"Dude, really!? We are both guys here, yes. But even still, that's too much information!" Ren said in disgust as Mishima chuckled and spoke up.

"Eheh, sorry about that. The truth is, I've dealt with enough bullying to know guys like that have probably been arrested at least once. Oh, and by the way? Thanks for sticking by me, Amamiya. We can't let injustice like that go unchecked. I think I finally get it now, to be honest. This feeling is what made me want to help you guys to begin with. That's why I started the Phan-Site in the first place. To make sure that nobody has to go through stuff like this again!" Mishima said as Ren nodded, seeing that Mishima seemed extra motivated.

At that point, the 'Moon' card appeared in his mind's eye, the 'VII' becoming a 'VIII' to signify that Ren's Moon Confidant link with Mishima had reached Rank 8. However, this time around, Ren didn't gain a new skill from the rank up. Afterwards, Mishima turned to Akiyama and spoke up.

"Akiyama-kun, are you okay? Looks like they really laid it on you and then some." Mishima said as Akiyama winced and spoke up.

"Mishima, thank you. But why'd you help me?" Akiyama asked as Mishima spoke up in confusion.

"Huh?" Mishima asked as Akiyama spoke up at that point.

"You didn't need to get involved before, you know." Akiyama said as Mishima winced and spoke up.

"S-Sorry. It looked like you were really in trouble though, so I did what I thought was right, and I stepped up." Mishima said as Akiyama looked at Mishima in a mix of shock, respect, and slight awe before he spoke up.

"Ah, is that so?" Akiyama asked Mishima, looking as if he might have a newfound respect for Mishima. Mishima nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah, that's right. Anyway, can you walk? Do you need us to call an ambulance?" Mishima asked as Akiyama shook his head and spoke up.

"No, I'm fine. Just go." Akiyama said as Mishima nodded and spoke up.

"Oh. All right then. Come on, Amamiya, let's get out of here." Mishima said as Ren nodded, walking with Mishima to the station, where the two parted ways as Mishima spoke up.

"Well, see you later, Amamiya. And thanks again!" Mishima said as Ren nodded, riding the train back to Leblanc, where his phone rang as he got to the front door for the first time in a long while, making him blink before he answered it.

"Hello? Ren speaking." Ren said as he answered the phone, relaxing slightly as he heard Mishima's voice on the other end.

"Oh, Amamiya? Sorry, are you okay to talk right now?" Mishima asked as Ren nodded and Mishima spoke up.

"Good. Th-The panic is finally kicking in from what I did earlier. I'm shaking so bad, I felt the need to talk to someone, and you were the first person I called. H-Hey, you think I'll be okay!? What if those guys secretly followed me home!? Oh! B-But I have the model gun I got for self-defense! And my security system's top of the line! So I'm safe, right!?" Mishima asked as Ren spoke up with a smirk.

"I have faith in you, Mishima. That said, you've got this, man. Just believe in yourself, like I told you before." Ren said as Mishima blinked in surprise and spoke up.

"Wh-What, you're not even gonna help!? I can't face these guys alone! They're gonna tear me apart! Destroy me! Oh, huh, look at that. For some reason, I feel weirdly calmer after getting to yell a bit. Anyways, that was pretty crazy before. Ugh, I'm so exhausted from it right now. I wish I could just crash, but I've gotta do some research on these guys first, make sure they don't need a change of heart or anything. Ugh, and I have to mod the Phan-Site too! It's looking like another all-nighter for me! Hahaha, but that's my problem. Thanks for listening through all that, though. Okay, see you later." Mishima said as Ren hung up and went inside to get comfortable for the night...

(The next day, after school, in the attic of Leblanc with Ren)

Ren groaned as he was woken up for the second day in a row by his phone going off. He opened it to see a private chat from Mishima.

"Hey, sorry to bring this up now. I know you have your hands full with everything you're dealing with and all, but the Phantom Crew can do it. I have faith in all of you. Anyways, here's the info I have for you this time. This one's important! Apparently this post was made by someone with ties to the banks and the finance sector. The target this time is a guy who never pays back his loans. It sounds like he might be involved in organized crime too. He could be dangerous." Mishima sent as Ren sent a response.

"Oh? And exactly how dangerous are we talking about, Mishima?" Ren sent. Mishima sent a response after that.

"Well, apparently even the police are having trouble catching him. He keeps changing his name and appearance to elude them. I guess he's basically the man of a hundred faces. Not bad, huh? According to one particular post, he's going by the name Fumio Akitsu. I went ahead and made a warning post about it, just in case. Is that OK? Either way, I'm sure it'll be easy for the Phantom Crew!" Mishima sent as Morgana spoke up, having padded up the stairs to surprise Ren when Ren pulled out his phone, letting Morgana deftly hop up onto Ren's shoulder to read the post over said shoulder.

"Oh! Wow, this is some good info, even for Mishima! Let's discuss whether or not we go after this guy over at the hideout!" Morgana said as everyone's phones pinged to signify the receipt of the Mementos request 'Man of Many Faces and Debts'. After that, Ren had a seat on his bed to ponder his plans for the day...

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: And boom, another chapter done and dusted! Wasn't expecting to actually finish Shido's Palace in this chapter, but I pulled it off! Also got part of the waiting period for Shido's change of heart in here too. Suffice it to say, the next at least chapter or 2 will probably be filler-esque chapters with a lot of Confidant rank-ups and waiting for the deadline to approach for Shido's change of heart. So don't expect a lot in the way of story stuff for now.

And on the note of story-related stuff, the scenes with Kusa and Akechi, and later just Kusa, are setting up for a sub-plot that will go down during the third semester. Suffice it to say, it'll eventually lead to Kusa's Tier 3 Persona awakening, and maybe even his true awakening? We'll see. Also, the scene between Kusa and Akechi may or may not have been teasing a change-up for a certain plot point that happens in the third semester. But I'll leave it at that for now. Hopefully I didn't piss any fans of Kusa off TOO much with what happened to him in this chapter.

Changing the subject for now, extra-special shout-out to all of you who've been following, favoriting, and reviewing the story so far, since all the input is very greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much for showing Phantom Files so much love thus far! And feel free to keep following and/or favoriting the story and leaving reviews with your thoughts/feedback/input/constructive criticism on the story so far, or feel free to shoot me a PM with that stuff if you prefer, I welcome either form of input from my readers. And I appreciate the support either way. Until next chapter, sithlorde1988 out!

CONFIDANT RANKS AS OF THE END OF CHAPTER 80

FOOL (Igor/Prison Master) - Rank 9

MAGICIAN (Morgana/Mona) - Rank 9

PRIESTESS (Makoto/Queen) - Rank 7

EMPRESS (Haru/Noir) - Rank 6

EMPEROR (Yusuke/Fox) - Rank 8

HIEROPHANT (Sojiro/Boss/Coffee Daddy) - Rank MAX (10)

LOVERS (Ann/Panther) - Rank MAX (10)

CHARIOT (Ryuji/Skull) - Rank MAX (10)

JUSTICE (Akechi/Crow) - Rank MAX (10)

HERMIT (Futaba/Oracle) - Rank 7

FORTUNE (Chihaya/Fortune Teller) - Rank 5

STRENGTH (Caroline and Justine/Twin Wardens) - Rank MAX (10)

HANGED-MAN (Iwai/Weapons Dealer) - Rank 5

DEATH (Takemi/Back-Alley Doctor) - Rank 8

TEMPERANCE (Kawakami/Becky) - Rank 8

DEVIL (Ohya) - Rank 4

TOWER (Shinya/The King/Skilled Gamer) - Rank 4

STAR (Hifumi) - Rank 8

MOON (Mishima) - Rank 8

SUN (Yoshida/Man Of The People) - Rank MAX (10)

JUDGEMENT (Sae/Prosecutor) - Rank MAX (10)

FAITH (Kasumi/Sumi) - Rank 5 **MAX**

COUNCILLOR (Maruki/Doc) - Rank MAX (10)

WORLD (Kusa/Draconis) - Rank MAX (10)

**ALL CONFIDANTS UNLOCKED!**

MAXED-OUT CONFIDANTS: HIEROPHANT, LOVERS, CHARIOT, JUSTICE, STRENGTH, SUN, JUDGEMENT, COUNCILLOR, WORLD