Disclaimer:
Praise to Atlus, the company that created the games! I do not own the story and the concepts represented in this fiction!
Author's Notes:
Salutations everyone! Apologies for the long wait for this update and the relatively short chapter. The next chapter is about twice the page count, so I hope that helps.
I'm doing some work training while attending classes, so I'm constantly busy. Nonetheless, I still found time to finish this. On some good news, I've outlined the rest of the story. Only a little time until the end!
Comment to Reviews:
meatloverspizza: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it!
nsilver: The only time I've seen the Lust arcana used is in Persona 4 Golden. It was the Hunger, I believe. It's an interesting card, and I've considered implementing it on other ideas. It does seem to be the opposite of the Empress in some ways.
Ganheim: Thanks for your feedback. I always make the corrections you point out and appreciate them. I make fun of my friend, who proofreads my chapters, and tell him and say how he could miss these things.
Ganheim: Dude, thanks for the comment, as always. We're almost there! Concerning the story, they will be pretty dark when the bad times come.
codywhite162: Hey, thank you for the comment and for supporting the story. I have to be honest. Writing Chapter 27 was pretty emotionally draining. We're reaching the point where the Before section meets the After, and that part gets dark.
Before
9/12
The walk to Leblanc fills Akira with anticipation. Sure, he enjoyed every aspect of his stay in Hawaii, some more than others. Still, nothing could replace his dainty attic room. Or his Morgana alarm. He was missing Morgana during his trip.
Opening the café door, Akira pushes his suitcase over the entrance threshold and grins. "Aloha."
Sojiro chuckles from behind the counter. "Welcome back. You look…hm, well, like you had a great time?"
"I like your necklace of flowers," Futaba chimes.
"It's called a lei," Akira replies in a fake snide tone. "Thanks. Wait till you see your souvenirs."
Futaba jumps to her feet. "Oh, it better be cool!"
"I have better have gotten something, too," voices Morgana as he appears from upstairs.
"Of course," Akira winks. "Let me get them out of my suitcase."
As Akira kneels to open his suitcase, even Sojiro circles the counter to look over his shoulder in eagerness. Akira stifles the growing smile on his face. Opening his luggage, he immediately pulls a bag and hands it to Sojiro.
"Why him first?" Futaba and Morgana bemoan in union.
"He gives me housing," Akira resorts. "Check what's inside."
Smirking, Sojiro reaches inside the shopping bag. "Oh, hm. You know, I can see myself wearing these."
In his hand, he examines a fedora with a coconut tree pattern. "I think I even have some outfits that'll match it."
"Of course," Futaba says with a sigh. "More importantly, where's mine?"
"Patience, young grasshopper." Akira searches his luggage once more, fishing for Futaba's present. "Ok, one dainty and overpriced collectible, coming right at you."
He tosses a square box to which Futaba nearly drops.
"Hey, careful," Futaba whines. "What do you think I am, an athlete?"
"If staying in bed was a sport," Akira resorts with a smirk.
"Haha…ha…" Futaba's fake laughter slowly dies as she examines the box. "A feather man mini, like the ones treading all over!"
"You'd know more than me."
In a very un-Futaba manner, the auburn-haired teen jumps up to give Akira a one-handed hug. "In return for your act of gratitude, you get a hug. Your maxed SP will receive a permeant five-point boost."
"Five points, hm. Worth it."
Sojiro rolls his eyes at what he perceives as obscure video game talk.
"Ok, that's fine, but now's my turn!" Morgana huffs.
"Sure, sure, but your gift is something different?"
"Hm, really, what? It had better not be something cheap!"
Akira laughs.
Sojiro shakes his head at the ongoing conversation between the man and the cat. Fedora in hand, he maneuvers toward the back of the counter and turns on the television. The channel playing is the usual salespeople trying to sell whatever merchandise is hot with the topic.
"We have it all! From Phantom Thieves styled clothing, book material, houseware, and more at the steepest discounts!"
"Heh, maybe I should order some Phantom Thieves merch," Sojiro comments.
"Huh, merch? You sound old saying that," Futaba says.
"Wait, how?" Sojiro asks, turning to Akira in confusion.
Akira laughs, happy to be back.
9/13
Walking towards the train station, Akira tiredly rubs his eyes. His jet lag was worse than expected, and, being his first time, he had never imagined this level of exhaustion. As he leans against a nearby wall, a familiar figure approaches.
"Hey, man," Ryuji greets before letting out a yawn. "How're you doing? You get over the jet lag?"
"Not one bit," Akira says before letting out a yawn. Damn, things were contagious.
"Heh, yeah, that sounds about right. Anyways! Did you see it? We're treadin' pretty much everywhere. They're even selling merch on us. Ain't that amazing!"
Akira finds the increased popularity mostly troublesome but nods at Ryuji's enthusiasm.
"We just got to keep kickin' butt and surprisin' the world." Ryuji proclaims.
"I'm all for it," Akira agrees. "Let's all take a break for the next few days. I can do without anything troublesome for a bit."
x
Something troublesome happens regardless of what Akira wants. Following his classmates to the auditorium, the teen can't help the ball of dread slowly growing in his chest. Ann walks alongside him, visually perturbed.
Akira can't fault her. The last few visits to the auditorium concerned Shiho and Kamoshida. The hall is packed when they arrive, so it's hard for Akira to find his friends.
With no info on the purpose of this meeting, Akira focuses on the voices around him.
Two girls, members of his class, whisper loudly to each other. "Do you think this is about you-know-what?"
"You mean the principal?"
Akira narrows his eyes. The load-looking guy?
Before he can listen more, the murmuring around them becomes deafening, with students speculating with their peers, until a tall man approaches the center of the podium. The auditorium is instantly silent.
"Ahem, hello, everyone. You should know me as your vice principal for those who have not met me."
He pauses, inhaling deeply.
"Now, onto the purpose of this meeting. I am here to confirm with you that the rumors are true. Principal Kobayakawa passed away yesterday."
Akira's eyes widen. He glances at Ann, who returns his confused expression with her own. Then, around them, the rumor mill picks up.
"I wonder if it was a suicide like the rumor?"
"It did happen in front of the police station.
"Principal Kobayakawa truly loved this school and wished everyone to live a normal, fulfilling school life..."
"Bullshit..." mummers someone behind Akira. "He was covering something up."
Akira can't help but agree. His phone beeps, and he reaches for it to find a message from Makoto in the group chat.
[Makoto N.] 835AM: We need to have a meeting.
No need for elaboration. Glancing around, Akira knows Makoto is in the crowd, stricken by the news. Turning to Ann, Akira shares a grim nod and then waits for the assembly to end finally.
x
When the team gathers in the attic of Leblanc, the air is tense and grim.
"There's so much chatter about it online," Ann says somberly. Sitting on the bed to Akira's right, Yusuke raises his head momentarily, then looks down again.
"Well, no one's said anything about this bein' the Phantom Thieves' fault...so far," Ryuji says, looking up from his phone.
At this, Yusuke says, "People are speculating that he did it after being exposed by that tabloid of covering up Kamoshida's abuses."
"Y-You don't think we're responsible for the principal's suicide, right?" Ann says.
"What are you talkin' about?" Ryuji asks.
"Well, we changed Kamoshida's heart. This craziness all started because of that..."
"What!? No way! We did what we had to do. Otherwise, Kamoshida would have kept on hurting people!"
"I know, I know...but..." Ann bites her lip, her expression pained.
"Tons of opinions are happy he's gone," Futaba inserts, cutting the tension. "Some say it was wrong for him to cover up the crimes."
"The comments I've been reading are eerily similar," Yusuke agrees. "Some go as far as to say that only us, the Phantom Thieves, are on the side of justice...some are calling to change the hearts of police and politicians."
"You see!" Ann exclaims. "This is all getting out of hand. It's like people are going too extreme."
Makoto sighs. "Are our actions right? Are we making a positive difference?"
"Hey, we're doin' the right thing," Ryuji says. "The principal was coverin' up some big stuff that hurt people. Even if we were somehow responsible, he had it comin'!"
"Ryuji!?" Ann shouts in disbelief.
Even Akira doesn't know how to respond to his friend's assertion. Sure, the principal deserved punishment, but death...
Fortunately, Morgana jumps in and changes the subject. "Guys, we are getting way out of topic. Why don't we check that info we got from Niijima?"
"Kitty's right," Futaba says. "Inari, would you mind telling them?"
"I... would not mind, of course."
He stands, walks close to Futaba's side, and bends slightly to scrutinize the laptop screen. "Alright, first, Prosecutor Niijima is looking into the ongoing cases of people suddenly collapsing. While she has nothing concrete, she noted a common link between all the incidents."
Surprise is evident on everyone's faces.
Yusuke steps back and glances at Makoto. "The common link is the corporation Okumura Foods. More specifically, its CEO Kunikazu Okumura."
A tremor runs down Akira's spine. Okumura...Okumura...Okumura!
Lamia of the Empress Arcana screeches internally—no way, he thinks, feeling a little ill.
The conversation around him, but everyone's voices sound muffled and far away.
As much as Akira wants to quell his suspicions, Lamia is already at work, evoking memories he couldn't recall without her help.
Y-yes. Nice to meet you. My name is Haru Okumura.
My family's business...
Akira tunes in when Yusuke says, "They are the parent company of Big Bang Burger."
Akira feels his stomach drop. At his side, he notices Makoto gnawing her lip and Ann making a complicated expression.
"My brain's not working right now," Ann says, drumming a hand against her thigh. "Okumura...what the heck, I know this."
"Hey," Morgana calls, gathering everyone's attention. "The report goes into more detail. Only one CEO is profiting from all of these accidental occurrences. Given the evidence, he's purposefully casing these incidents."
"Wait," Makoto chimes. "W-we can't be too hasty just yet. I mean..."
"The evidence doesn't end there," Morgana continues. "Futaba."
"The guy has a palace," Futaba says. "Put it in the Nav and all."
Shit, Akira thinks. Even Makoto is shooting him uncertain glances that he ignores.
Akira thinks in alarm. Why her? Is she somehow involved?
"Then, that's settled!" Ryuji proclaims. "That scum bag is our next target."
"For once, I agree with Ryuji," Morgana says. "Okumura is at the top of the rankings, after all."
"Wait, wait, let's not rush in deciding that just yet," Ann says. "This is all moving too fast."
"Huh? What are you talkin' about?" Ryuji inquiries.
"I agree with Ann's assessment," Yusuke says. "While he may be at the top, we still know too little to judge him as evil."
"Exactly!" Ann agrees. "I feel we're moving too fast without thinking about everything. Why don't we take a few days to think it through before rushing into anything."
"Ann, Yusuke, what the heck? The people want us to take that scum bag down," Ryuji angrily retorts. "What's wrong with that?"
"Ryuji," Akira says, and the room goes quiet. Akira usually speaks little during team meetings. When he does, the team rightfully listens. "While I think Okumura is...something we need to look into, we can't go guns blazing. We need time before committing."
Ryuji clicks his tongue but nods nevertheless.
"H-hey, well, the leader has spoken. We'll decide something another day," Futaba concludes.
Everyone seems in agreement until Morgana angrily huffs, "Sheesh."
The team looks at him in bewilderment.
"You guys aren't much of a team. What's with all of this hesitation? Even you, Ryuji, someone I thought had courage, are just backing down like a coward!"
"The heck you say," Ryuji says, glaring harshly at the cat.
"You heard me. You only use the Phantom Thieves to feel better about yourself. You're getting conceited and big-headed."
"Morgana, that's enough," Akira says, uncharacteristically incensed.
Still, however, Morgana continues. "No! No, it isn't. None of you are taking this seriously!"
"What the heck do you mean!?" Ryuji retorts. "You're doing this for your own selfish reasons, too. Don't go actin' like a saint!"
Morgana huffs. "Just become my appearance has changed, I'm still an admirable human. More than some of you guys have it all and refuse to take action!"
"It's more complicated than that," Akira stresses, only to be refuted.
"Sorry, I am not buying my time while some low-level target gets to run wild. I'll take the credit for solving this case, making me the better person."
"You're bein' a brat," Ryuji says.
"Ryuji, stop!" Ann demands.
"Enough, I'm done taking! I'll prove myself," Morgana seethes.
The feline jumps off the table and races downstairs faster than anyone can react.
"Shit," Akira mummers once his shock settles. "After him!"
An embarrassing display of discoordination follows as Akira, Ann, Makoto, and Yusuke bump into each other to reach the stairs. Ryuji remains in his spot, seething, while Futaba looks on worryingly.
When the four reach downstairs, they find Sojiro peering out the front door and then turning towards them. "Kid, I just saw your cat unlock the door and race out of here like a man on a mission. What the heck is going on?"
Akira can only sigh at the sensation of his stomach dropping.
x
The evening air is cooling and a wonderful distraction from Haru's overanalytical thoughts. She has no one but herself to blame for storming out of her residence without a coat after all. Even Akio-san called out to her, pointing out Haru's lack of attire.
After all, her school attire could be more efficient to the elements.
She is having a rough day, and her father's sudden reminder of her unwomanly demeanor toward her fiancé makes it no better.
Shivering, Haru pockets her phone and logs into her anonymous Phansite account. It's been months since she heard the rumors and finally mustered the courage to follow the Phantom Thieves' fad.
The chance to change someone's heart, open their mind to the harm they are causing, and repent seems too good to be true.
So, with hope filling her chest, she requested to change Sugimura's heart. To convince him he shouldn't pursue a high school girl and he should cancel the engagement. That was months ago, and she was still waiting for a reply. Her decision, in hindsight, was probably shortsighted because it is not Suigmura's heart that needs changing.
Oh no.
Her father, Kunikazu Okumura, is the puppet master moving the pieces to his will. On that front, there is progress. As much as it pains her, her father is at the tippy top of the leaderboard. This coincidence presents a chance that the invisible pressure weighing her down for years will disappear. It offers her the possibility of being an ordinary girl without the family business dictating her life.
Haru pockets her phone.
When she surveys her surroundings, Haru almost laughs because she somehow wanders to the one place she'd rather avoid: the Okumura Foods headquarters.
Haru walks up the steps before stopping, losing her drive, and sits down. The concrete is cold against her butt, but the cold helps her from spiraling further into negative thoughts.
"Should I... message him?" Haru wonders out loud.
But even as she wonders about this, she thinks against it. Akira has slowly become a pillar of support for her—a reliable means to escape the pressures of everyday life.
After reading dozens of relationship articles and pressing Akio-san on the issue, she knows not to appear clingy.
The easiest way to turn a man off, they say. Please don't dump your problems on him.
Haru knows this, and she never mentions her issues. Fortunately, his presence always puts her at ease. Their time together is slowly becoming one of her favorite pastimes.
Haru blushes at the thought. Something else most articles agree on is securing the man as your lover before jumping into the sheets.
Well, Haru has long since crossed that bridge. While not fatal to a long-lasting relationship, which she wants, it can complicate whether the couple is together for fun or genuine feelings.
Again, Haru pockets her phone and reviews her messages with Akira—nothing but his last message that he's busy and the acknowledgment text she sends afterward.
Sighing, Haru stands and dusts her legs. As she prepares for the journey home, something flies past her, causing her to jump.
Haru turns, catching sight of a cat running straight towards the entrance of the building, and then—disappears!
Haru's mouth drops. "What?"
It can't be her imagination. She trusts her senses more than that. Slowly, she creeps closer and closer to the cat's last position. She bends slightly, reaching her hand, then falls face forward at the surprise of her hand disappearing.
"Aahh!"
Inelegantly, she falls on her face, bruising her chin. Rubbing her face, she slowly takes in her surroundings - a futuristic-looking hallway in dim-blue lighting - and a small, approaching figure holding a scimitar.
"What are you doing here!?"
Haru jumps back, hitting a wall and staring at a cartoon character brought to life, glaring at her.
"P-please don't hurt me, ah, Mr. Talking Cat. I-I must be dreaming, right?"
"Not exactly," the cat mummers before turning around sharply. "Darn it, all the commotion has increased the security level!"
"The what!?"
"No time! Here they come!"
Before Haru's eyes, two tall metal cans appear and explode in red and black tar, reforming themselves into two floating starfish with eyes.
"Oh my goodness, I'm on drugs..." Haru says.
"No!" the cat bellows. "This isn't the time. Stand back, and don't distract me!"
Swift like the wind, the cat craves its weapon into the eye of one of the starfishes. Glowing black tar explodes from the wound, and the creature falls.
However, before the cat can withdraw its weapon and strike, the second starfish shoots a pillar of ice at the cat.
The cat is sent flying and crashes into the nearest wall with a groan. Haru can only stare in disbelief. Then, the starfish turns its eye on her menacingly.
Adrenaline flares within Haru, every cell in her body screams for her to flee. The closer the starfish, the more Haru presses herself against the wall. She sees the cat attempting to stand and shrug off whatever damage it suffered, but Haru knows it won't reach her. The cat cannot save her. No one can save her.
Like no one will save you from your father selling you off like a cheap accessory. Not the Phantom Thieves, not this cat, not Akio-san, not Akira...no one!
Haru chews her lip so hard its bleeds. Her nails dig into her palms, breaking the skin.
Fine, she tells herself. It's fine!
If no one will help or protect her in her time of need, she will strike down all her adversaries alone!
A menacing yellow glow shallows Haru's brown eyes. Flames engulf her body, changing her uniform for an outfit made for combat: pink blouse, black corset, bloomers, black pantyhose, and a holster belt around her waist.
Well, my dear, a sinister voice whispers to her. That cretin hopes to do you harm. What do we do with such low breeds?
"We take their heads!" Haru roars.
Haru shifts her body swiftly, twisting her torso and raising her leg to send a powerful kick to the starfish's side. The force of the blow sends the creature hurling into a wall.
Turning, Haru dashes toward the cat and the other starfish, slowly regaining its senses.
Haru slides, snatching the cat's fallen scimitar and pouncing on the starfish. Stradling the poor creature, Haru flashes a feral smile before repeatedly driving the weapon into its eye.
As she watches the monster underneath squeal in agony, a deep-rooted hunger in her feels satiated. Especially when its insides slowly become its outsides.
As the monster stills, Haru's senses warn her of an incoming attack on her side.
She is too slow to defend herself and braces herself for the strike when a voice shouts, "Zorro, lucky punch!"
A gloved fist soots out, walloping the second starfish square in the eye.
"Wow," Haru praises.
"Naturally," the cat says. "Now, if you're done, pass my blade. Your shadow is long, um, done."
Haru looks down to see that her enemy is a black ichor puddle. A little saddened, she hands the scimitar over to the cat and watches it sink the weapon into the second starfish in one swift motion.
A little too swift for her liking, but she can't complain.
As she stands, ignoring the grime staining her bloomers and pantyhose, the cat turns toward her, frowning.
Everything is silent other than the mechanical clangs of their surroundings.
"Haru...what are you doing here?"
Haru blinks. "You know me?"
"Of course," the cat snaps. "I practically have a front-row seat whenever you and Akira...! Um?"
But it is too late. Hearing Akira's name, Haru walks toward the cat slowly but purposefully. "How do you know that name?"
Even unharmed and less experienced, the girl eludes an aura of violence and danger that puts the cat on guard.
"W-well, you know, I-I... Oh, forget it," the cat fumes. "It's me, Morgana."
"Morgana, who?"
"Morgana, the cat!"
"Morgana...the cat, what do you...!"
The realization hits Haru like a bag of bricks. "What, how is this possible? Morgana is so cute and fluffy!?"
"Ignoring that," the cat, apparently Morgana, sighs. "Yes, this is me. Now, will you explain what you are doing here?"
Despite the sudden reveal, Haru cannot explain her calm acceptance of the situation. "Where exactly is here?"
Morgana sighs again. "Ok, let's not do this here. We'll only further increase the security level. Follow me."
Morgana stalks past her, sheathing his sword. Haru follows uncertainly. When they approach the area she hurt her chin, the feline walks through a wall as if it were the surface of a liquid.
After a moment of hesitation, Haru mimics the cat, only to find herself back at the entrance of the Okumura Foods headquarters. Their change of scenery immediately zaps Haru out of her earlier calm.
"H-how...what?"
"Hey, don't go fainting on me now," a voice says by her foot.
The voice came from the adorable cat belonging to Akira.
Haru falls to her knees hard on the concrete.
"Hey, I said you shouldn't faint!"
"I- I don't know what's going on anymore," Haru confesses quietly.
Morgana laments in a way that seems too human for a cat.
"Look...just follow me. We'll sit on the steps, and I'll explain everything. I promise."
Wordlessly, Haru complies. She is silent throughout Morgana's explanation. Not once does she interrupt, even when Morgana explains about the Metaverse, shadows, personas, palaces, the Phantom Thieves (which he mentions in disdain), and finally, Akira.
Haru doesn't know what's worse. The fact that the boy she's pining for is some vigilante jumping into people's minds. Or that she never realized and never would have.
Or that it's his cat explaining this all and not him.
No, the most damning news is that he is most likely the group's leader she's been trying to reach for months. With a whim, he could've solved her biggest problem.
But realistically, Haru knows she is being unreasonable, withholding her private life from the young man.
No, Haru decides. She can't hold Akira in contempt because this is her problem. And, like any reasonable adult, she should sit down with him and talk.
Haru imagines changing her father's heart, crushing every shadow in her way, and reveling in the destruction. Then they'll talk. They'll have a very long and peaceful discussion.
If no one else will save you against the tyrants dictating your life, you must strike them all down ruthlessly!