Chapter 1: Wait and Bleed

"Is this a dream…"

It was over. The wind was rushing all around as she fell through the sky. Ryuko could hear the people below her shouting, but the only thing she had eyes for was the final dissipating gusts of ash that once was Senketsu. The ground was approaching faster and faster, but Satsuki was too late. However, Ryuko was placed somewhere else, a place between death and reality, the Velvet Room. X

This train was taking forever. After the summer I was eager to get back to Tokyo. I had spent the summer working at my uncle's blade forge for peanuts, grinding pieces of steel into knives that were worthy to cut anything. But it was hard work, my hands were hard, and my back still ached from bending over the grindstone so much. I was thinking about all the great times I was going to have with the Thieves once Morgana, who was sleeping peacefully in my bag, and I got back. I'd been dying to have some of Sojiro's curry and to walk around the city with my friends. I was thinking about all this when the train finally pulled up.

I sat down at a window seat as the rest of the passengers boarded, I had sent most of my luggage ahead of me, that trusty cardboard box still being able to fit everything I needed. It was going to be a long ride from here to Tokyo. Luckily it was already late, and we should be getting there as the sun raised. I leaned back into my seat and stared out the window, watching stray raindrops hit the glass as a storm brewed above. I found myself dozing off as the train pulled out of the station and eventually, I fell into a deep sleep. But instead of dreaming, I ended up somewhere else. A place I had never thought I'd return to, the Velvet Room.

The lights which usually emitted a lustrous glow were dimmed and I couldn't see a whole lot. I was placed in a different cell this time, however. Instead of the door to the Room being parallel to me, it was off to my left. And unlike usual, Igor's desk was nowhere to be seen, neither was the man himself or his assistant Lavenza.

I leaned up from my bed and I walked to the door, my Thief gear had appeared, and I checked my pockets for the key that Lavenza had given me before I left Tokyo. I found it and unlocked the door. It creaked open and I walked towards the center of the room. I noticed that in the cell that had been across from mine someone was sleeping, a ragged blanket covering them. I went over and looked into the cell, it was a girl, maybe my age. She had short black-blue hair with a red highlight which looked natural rather than something fake.

This girl was fast asleep, and I kept staring at her. I only broke my gaze when I heard footsteps behind me. I saw Igor emerge from the darkness where the other cells were, Lavenza on his heels. He turned his head to look at me and waived his hand towards the center of the room where his desk and chair appeared in their usual place. He walked over and sat down as I walked in front of the desk. With Lavenza at his side Igor gazed at the ceiling for a moment, as if trying to figure out what to say.

"Welcome, Trickster, to my Velvet Room." he said, looking me in the eyes. "It appears that we have been once again reunited by a twisted turn of fate. I apologize for not being here to greet you, but the Velvet Room takes on a will of its own from time to time." he said. I nodded along as I shifted my weight. If the Velvet Room had called me here again, something had to have gone wrong, especially given that Igor seemed to be taken off-guard by all this.

"Trickster, I am sorry to say that I cannot give you a full account of what has occurred in the last few moments. The best way I could describe it to you is that the very fabric of our universe has been interwoven with another. A being with immense power and knowledge of the construction of their own reality has merged theirs with ours, but things have not gone according to their plans. When you awaken, you will find yourself to be in the same place you were almost a year ago, when the Metaverse Navigator was first given to you." Igor said.

I had a hard time really understanding what he was saying, "Wait, what?" I asked, "Trickster, we are trying to tell you that all the progress that you have made in your life for the past year has been reversed. Your confidants, the people in your reality, and everyone in general except for us present here have been reversed in time over a year. While you will retain your memory, we do not know if it will be possible to restore the memories for those who are close to you." Lavenza said, her voice full of genuine sympathy. As she finished, I was washed in anxiety, I began pacing as my heart raced. I knew for sure that they had no reason to screw with me, but there was still a thought in the back of my head that told me so.

"No, no, no, you two have to be joking." I said as I turned to face them again. "Trickster, if we were being untruthful to you, we would not have come here tonight." Igor said. As he said that I knew that whatever it was that happened was something beyond their capability to discover for now. I wondered back towards my cell and sat on the bed to try and process this. I was making an effort to rationalize this, but I was finding it hard. Lavenza eventually came to my door and offered me her hand. I looked at her and I took it as she guided me towards the other occupied cell, Igor having taken his leave.

"Trickster, there is one more thing we must discuss as our time runs short." she said as we stopped outside the cell. "This is Ryuko Matoi, a girl who served a similar role you do. She is from the other universe, and my master and I went to great efforts to arrange it to where your paths will cross in this new hybrid reality. Her heart is of the Fool Arcana, and her Persona has taken the form not of a mask but as the clothes she wears. She however does not possess the gift of the wildcard." she said. I gazed at the sleeping form, and I saw peeking out from the blankets a dark grey uniform of some sort, there wasn't enough to fully get a look at, however.

I wanted to ask more about her, but it was as I thought of one when the bell rang, and I was signaled to go. "Trickster, be sure to use this girl to your advantage, the Velvet Room brought you two here for a reason. Igor and I will continue to investigate what exactly happened, and we will inform you of our discoveries when we can. But for now, good luck." Lavenza said as she escorted me back to my cell. Given it was time for me to wake up, I went back to bed. X

I woke to the train slowing down as it came into the station. For a moment I was dreaming that the Velvet Room was just that. But I quickly pulled out my phone, and sure enough on my lock screen, there it was, April 9th, the day I first moved into LeBlanc. I didn't want to predict how I'd react, but I was sweating at that point, my heart started racing, it was all true, everything had been turned back, things were reverted. I looked into my bag for Morgana where he'd been sleeping during the train ride. He was gone.

I was left staring into the bag, telling myself he had just wandered off to find a snack or something, but I soon found myself being prodded on the shoulder by a train attendant. I was the last one left on board, and they had to get moving again, so I collected myself and went onto the platform. I stood amidst the crowds of people, and I began to wonder towards the subway station. I unconsciously took the subway to Shibuya, my mind trying to cope with all of this. By the time I got to Shibuya Square however I managed to collect myself more and I determined that I should get more proof.

I stepped off the train and went over to the stands that held the job advertisements and newspapers. I picked up the newest looking paper and I saw the date, April 9th. I put it back, needing more proof to convince me that truly everything had reverted. I walked up to the Square proper and went over to my good friend Mr. Tora. There wasn't any possibility he would ignore me if I went to spectate his speech. I saw his audience was much smaller than I remember it looking when I left. I could also tell that they were less interested in what he was saying too. I joined the crowd, making my way towards the very front. Yet he glazed over me, making eye contact with me at one point as if I was just another person. One of the people next to me started heckling him, and he said the magic words, "No-Good Tora!"

Mr. Tora froze up then as he always used to, and it was then I left, knowing that at least he was reverted. I sat down on a nearby bench, and I contemplated what I ought to do next. A part of me was still unconvinced, so I came up with an idea that would undisputedly prove this time reversion. I got on the train and rode it to Kichijoji. I got off and walked over to the jazz club, I wasn't exactly sure I would find him on my first guess, it was just intuition at this point. I walked into the club, the lights dimmed and the air hazy with the smell of tobacco and cheap drinks.

I ordered something small and sat down at a table and observed the other patrons as the music played on. After a short while, and after moving tables a few times, I finally spotted him at a small table in the corner where no one would see him unless they were looking carefully, Goro Akechi. I had spent so much time with him that I knew his face and form when I saw it. I remained calm as I exited the club. I wondered through the streets for a bit, eventually stopping by the Buddhist shrine to clear my head. The monks left me alone as I tried to piece together what I needed to do.

After some rumination I decided to head to LeBlanc. If what Igor and Lavenza had said was true, then maybe there was a way to reverse it, and the best shot I had at doing that was to get back into the Metaverse, but for now I needed to make sure I had my real life sorted out. So, I went back to the train station and went straight to Yongen-Jaya. On the ride there I really considered the situation I was in. Sure, I was going to have to rebuild my network of friends, but I wasn't the awkward anti-social guy I was last time around. I also still had all the skills and abilities that I learned from people like Mr. Tora and Hifumi. I was also sure that I could talk my way into getting the weapons and medicine I'll need as well. So, all in all, things might not be as dire as I thought they once were. But it still felt like a hopeless situation in the end.

The train pulled into the station, and I got out, making my way to the backstreets towards LeBlanc. I stood outside the café, reminiscing about all the good times which were now little more than myths and memories. I knew that despite all the things that had happened in these walls, things that I know had happened, when I went inside none of it would count.

I placed my hand on the doorhandle and went inside. It was just as if I walked in for the first time. The bar radiated the smells of coffee being brewed to sublimity and I couldn't ever forget the perfectly crafted curry that I could sense simmering in its pot. I took a deep breath as I took it all in and I guess I might have been a little too indulgent because Sojiro, in his trademark frugality cleared his throat.

He was standing behind the bar, his bittersweet posture aimed towards me. I glanced around the place, and I was the only one here. "Can I help you?" he said as he crossed his arms. "Are you Sojiro Sakura?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "Yes," he began before his face turned a little more bitter than it already was. "Oh, I know you, you're that brat I'm supposed to take care of." he said as he went to the other side of the bar, beckoning me towards the stairs in the back. I followed him upstairs and I arrived once again in my room. "So, here's your room. I would say that it's yours, but you'll be sharing it with another kid I'm taking in. I couldn't really back out of it. She hasn't arrived yet though." Sojiro said.

Now this wasn't something I had expected to hear, "Another?" I asked, "Yes, some mixup in the government paperwork has you and a girl named Ryuko Matoi staying with me. I've already been paid for both of you though, so I don't really care at this point." he said. I had up to this point forgotten about her. Lavenza did say she would cross paths with me, but I never thought it would be this direct. I just sighed and tried to act as annoyed as Sojiro was. "Anyways, this is your room, I brought your stuff up here already and I set up a cot for you and the other one already. I'll give you sheets but you break it you buy it." he said as he began to go downstairs again.

"Oh yeah, here's a journal, keep it up to date. The parole office wants an accurate record of your time spent here, and I'm not about to monitor your every move, got it?" he said, handing me a small brown notebook, the same one I remember filling to the brim. I nodded along and he made his way downstairs some more. "I'll be driving you to your school, Shujin Academy, tomorrow to register you and the other one. So, make sure you're ready to go in the morning." he said as he fully went down, manning the counter once again.

I stood there for a moment, staring idly at the little book in my hand before I turned towards the rest of the room. It was cluttered and dusty just as it was the first time around. But without anything else to do I started to clean up the place. Over the next hour or two I had managed to clean up most of the junk and I had cleared off the workbench, shelves, and the small table where my TV once was. I was about halfway through dusting the place when I heard the door open downstairs. It was around closing time by this point, and Saturday nights were usually pretty slow. I heard Sojiro and someone else talking downstairs. It was a girl's voice, but it was rough, as if she had been shouting and talking loudly to people all her life. Was it that girl I was supposed to cross with, the one with the red highlight?

I found my answer soon enough as I heard footsteps coming up towards me. I began to dust off the windowsill as they reached the top of the stairs. I turned around and got a full view of her. "This is your roommate, the guy I told you about downstairs." Sojiro said. I waved over to her, and she gave me a knowing smirk, I was going to say something, but Sojiro cut me off as he gave her the same rundown I got about the room, the journal, and Shujin before eventually leaving.

While he did that I continued to dust, and I suppose I drifted off a bit because I almost waved my arm right into my new roommate. She had come up right next to me, and despite being a few inches shorter than I was she had a dominating air around her. "You the Trickster?" she asked. "Yeah, I saw you in the Velvet Room last night." I said, placing down my duster. I sat down on the folding chair at the workbench as she sat on the futon as we eyed each other up.

"What all did Igor and Lavenza tell you?" I asked, breaking the silence which had formed between us. I could tell that she didn't exactly view me as trustworthy yet, more just as someone to crash with because she didn't have anywhere else to go. "They told me that my world had merged with another, and that whoever did it had screwed up and had to turn back time a year to compensate for their error. They said you were possibly the only person in this reality who was aware of this and that I should find you. They rushed through a lot of it, saying they 'didn't have enough time' to give me the full spiel about what they did and who they were." she said frankly. I nodded along and sighed when she ended.

"Well, I'm sorry to say this but they weren't lying. Before I came here, I went around to some friends which I made last year, and they didn't recognize me. And I even saw an associate of mine who died." I said. As I said that her expression softened a little. We sat in silence for a moment, not really knowing what to say, but I decided that if we were going to be the two people in the entire world wo knew about the reversal, then we ought to at least know where we were coming from.

I guess she was thinking the same thing, "So, like, what's the deal with this place then?" she asked, and I took this as my opportunity to tell her about what happened with the Phantom Thieves, Shido, the God of Control, and Dr. Maruki as best I could without getting too long winded. As I was finishing up my story it looked like she had a lot of questions. "So, like, there's another reality where people's thoughts take form or something?" she asked. "Yeah, we call it the Metaverse, like I said. And we use this to go in between here and there." I said, showing her the Nav app on my phone. "So that's what that is!" she said excitedly as she took out her own phone and showed me her copy of it.

I nodded, "Yeah, that's it. I'd take you there now, but going there takes a lot out of you, and it's late." I said, she nodded. "So, now that you know my story, what about you?" I asked. And boy did she go on with this one. She described how her dad had been killed by this psychotic tailor lady, how she went and fought her way through her school to find answers and then eventually how she ended up saving the world from some sort of clothing magnate who was also her mother or something. To be honest it was quite a lot, but she explained it well enough to where I could generally get the gist of what had happened. I nodded along and I also asked a few questions myself about how life fibers worked and what exactly a "kamui" was, but by the time I was done it was after midnight. X

The next morning, I woke up and got ready for Shujin. Ryuko and I had agreed on dividing the room in half using some panel dividers which we found stuffed in the back by the stairs. She was still fast asleep by the time I was getting dressed and I prodded her shoulder to get her up. She moaned and turned over and I pushed her a little more to get her up. "I'M UP!" she shouted, I was startled by the outburst, but I backed off all the same. She turned over and opened her eyes. "Goddamnit, sorry." she said as she sat up and checked her phone. "We gotta go with Sojiro soon. We'll be downstairs." I said as I took my leave.

Sojiro had already come in. He glanced at me as I sat down at the counter. "Where's the other one?" he asked as he poured me a cup of coffee. "She's just woken up.' I said as I sipped it a little. "Damn kids these days, can't wake up at a reasonable time anymore." he said as he glanced over at the curry pot which was simmering away. "This coffee's great." I said, "Thanks." he replied, going to stir the pot a little. "Did you use Mocha Matari?" I asked, easily guessing the flavor profile from memory. "Oh, so you're a connoisseur huh?" Sojiro said as he placed the lid back on the pot. "Well, you're close, it's actually Salvadoran Pacamara." he said as he took a nearly empty jar of beans off the shelves behind him. "Oh, busting out the good stuff just for me?" I asked coyly. "Ha! Not really, these beans expire soon, so I had to use them." he said, putting them back on the shelf.

I'm glad I caught him in a good mood today, I wanted to get back to what we had before, and I had to start somewhere, same with the others. I sipped on the coffee some more as Sojiro read his newspaper. Eventually Ryuko came downstairs, wearing much of the same stuff as she did yesterday, a white shirt and black skirt. "Finally, let's go." Sojiro said as he grabbed his car keys. Ryuko and I followed him out of the store, Sojiro locking the door behind us. We went through the alleys and to his car. I got in shotgun and Ryuko sat in the back. I couldn't exactly read her too well, but I concluded that she really didn't have any other option than to play along for now, and judging from her set expression, I could tell she wasn't a fan of this whole ordeal.

Sojiro got us stuck in traffic and turned on the radio to pass the time. "Reports of another mental shutdown have come in as a subway derailed yesterday. Thankfully no one was significantly hurt during the incident. The train's driver is currently detained by police with charges pending. For now, this incident has caused several delays for commuters, and they likely will continue for the next several days." the radio announcer said before they cut away into commercials.

"That's gotta be why there's so much damn traffic today. Starting tomorrow you two are taking the train to school you hear?" Sojiro said as we got moving again. I nodded and Ryuko muttered something from the back. Eventually we reached the school, and we all went inside. I had wanted my reunion with this place to have been in better circumstances, but I was nevertheless glad to be back. Hopefully my efforts to rebuild the Thieves went smoothly. And I'm sure Ryuko would fit in with us, but we will see I suppose.

We went directly to the principal's office where Ms. Kawakami and Principal Kobayakawa were sat waiting for us, hopefully I could save the principal's life this time around. He wasn't all that dangerous, just a pawn in Shido's game. "Hello Sakura-san, I'm glad that you have chosen Shujin Academy as the place to educate the children under your care." the principal said. "Yes, thank you, now can we move onto the paperwork?" Sojiro asked, the principle agreed and looked over to Ms. Kawakami, "Why don't you show these two around, give them a tour of the building." he said. "Yes, I am Ms. Kawakami, your homeroom teacher." she said, "Come on then." opening the door to the office for Ryuko and me.

"So, this is the front door, you will come through here every day. There is also a convenience store here if you wish to buy food and drinks, although most students bring their own lunches from home." Ms. Kawakami said as she led us to the stairs. "The first-floor rooms are meant for third years, and the top floor is for first years, given that you are both second years you will spend most of your time on the second floor. The layouts are pretty much the same for all the floors, but the library is on the top floor and the student council room and teachers' office are on the second." she said as we climbed up.

I got a look at Ryuko's face, and she looked incredibly bored, but I could tell she was doing her best to get the layout of the place, looking for exits and pathways. Given her story I imagine she has a brain wired for combat. "This is your classroom and my homeroom. I expect you both in here on time and ready for the day's lessons." Ms. Kawakami said as we stood in front of the classroom. "If you two want to say here, I'll go fetch copies of your class schedule." she said, heading off towards the teacher's office.

"Good to be back." I said as Ryuko started to gaze around the hallways. "This a good school?" she asked benignly, "Yeah, once we take care of Kamoshida we should have an easy time." I said. "Who's that?" Ryuko asked as she approached a nearby bulletin board. "He's the gym teacher and coach of the volleyball team, complete asshole by all accounts, but it should be a good way to get back in the swing of things." I said as I joined her in front of the board. On it were the results of the student council elections which must have just happened recently.

"I don't recognize most of these people." I said, "Yeah, because they're all from my world." Ryuko said, a soft note in her voice. "Oh" I said, looking down the list of winners. "Satsuki Kiryuin is my sister, the one I was telling you about last night." she said, I nodded along. "Her deputies are the same here too, Nonon Jakuzere, Ira Gamagori, Uzu Sanageyama, and Houka Inumuta were her Elite Four." Ryuko said, ripping the list from the board. "Anyone else elected?" I asked, "Yeah, someone named Makoto Nijima, I don't know her." Ryuku said, looking at the list intently. "Oh, yeah, she was one of the Phantom Thieves and the council president too. But I guess she's been demoted to a deputy." I said. Ryuko nodded as she tossed away the list.

Ms. Kawakami came back and handed us our class schedules. "We should probably get going again, I'm sure Sakura-san has finished the paperwork by now." she sighed. We followed her back to the office and went inside just as Sojiro was signing the last piece of paper.

"Alright then, we should all be good to go!" the principal said as he took all the papers and shuffled them straight. "Did you give them their class schedules?" he asked Ms. Kawakami as she went back to his side of the desk. "Yes, they have everything they should need." she said. "Okay then, thank you for stopping by and we will see you tomorrow!" the principal said as we exited the office. "Ugh, wasted my Sunday just to sign some papers. I could've opened up the shop today you know!" Sojiro said to no one in particular as we went down the stairs towards the street where he parked.

I looked over to Ryuko and I could tell she was holding back a nasty comment. We got into Sojiro's car and went back to LeBlanc. But the traffic was thick again so by the time we got back it was already turning dark. Sojiro unlocked the door, "Now, it's a bit too late to open up shop. So, I'm just going to lock up the store and head home. Don't either of you do anything stupid now you hear? There should be some leftover curry in the fridge if you're hungry, just make sure to clean up after yourselves." Sojiro said as he closed the door behind us.

"Jeez what a piece of work!" Ryuko said as she flopped into one of the booths. "Sojiro?" I began as I walked towards the fridge, "He's not so bad once you get to know him." "Really?" Ryuko asked as I took out some ingredients. "Really." I confirmed as I turned on one of the gas burners. She sat up in the booth and flipped the pages of a crossword book that was sat on the table.

"You like churrasco?" I asked as I laid down some meat in a pan. "Never heard of it." Ryuko said. She stood up and came beside me as I prepared some vegetables for the side. "I guess I found myself a chef." she said, taking in the aromas and sounds of the steak as it cooked. "Yeah, I used to cook curry all the time here before, you know…" I began as I added some spices to the pan. "Yeah," Ryuko said, her face turning a little cloudier. "Well afterwards I had to keep busy over the summer, so I taught myself how to cook when I wasn't working." I said, flipping the steak over.

"Well, it seems like you got the hang of it. I guess confidence is key." she said, taking a seat at the counter. I smirked at that, and I plated up the food for both of us shortly after. "Madam, bon appetite!" I said, placing the plate in front of Ryuko dramatically. She giggled a little bit and smiled, I don't think I've seen her do that up until now, and hers was great. We locked eyes for a few seconds before she broke off and started eating, as did I. We ate in silence for the most part and Ryuko seemed to enjoy what I made. I hadn't cooked this recipe in a while, so I was a bit nervous, but I pulled it off.

I cleaned off my plate in the sink as she finished up. "That was pretty good." Ryuko said as she grabbed a dishrag. "Well, I'm glad you liked it." I said, shooting her a smile. "Hey, do you know any good clothes shops around here? I only got the clothes I had on when I woke up and the uniforms the school mailed to Sojiro." Ryuko asked. "Yeah, but you got any money?" I asked. "No," she said, "Well, I know a good way to get money, I'll show you tomorrow after school, because I'm also broke." I said reassuringly. "Okay then." Ryuko said slyly. We finished up the dishes and got ready for bed. I was planning on taking her into Kamoshida's Palace anyways tomorrow, may as well rob some Shadows while we are there too. I just hope I can do the thing that I really want to while we're in there, which was finding Morgana.

"…or a memory?"

X