Here we go the Clean up Event where we finally learn Uchiyama's first name and gain two new confidants.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this
Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Lysandre Arc Chapter 23
Clean Up Event
The next morning Aqua yawns waking up and sitting on her bed stretching.
"We're cleaning up today?" Gatomon asked sitting on the floor and Aqua nods. "It's further away than school, right? Hurry up and get dressed so we won't be late."
Aqua nods and gets dressed in her gym clothes so she didn't have to change while there.
We come to the train station we see the first year student known as Uchiyama who Aqua befriended and some slimy middle-aged woman in a business suit was messing with him.
"Sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry." Uchiyama said to the lady.
"You go to Citadel, right?" The Slimy Middle-Aged Woman asked "I heard things have been rough there lately, what with that violent incident. You want to go talk about it somewhere?"
"Thank you for your concern." Uchiyama said to her. "However, I really am in a hurry, so if you'd excuse me…" He bows and tries to leave but the woman grabs his arm "…Ah!" At that moment Aqua was passing by and sees the situation and is surprised as other people also look to watch.
"Come on, there's no need to be shy." The Slimy Middle-Aged Woman said to Uchiyama.
"Like I said…" Uchiyama said a bit scared.
"If you're busy, I'll put my number in your phone so you can call me later. Sound like a plan?" The woman said grinning.
"Stop it…." Uchiyama said nervous.
'I can't overlook this…' Aqua said angered and goes to the two.
"Uhhh…" Uchiyama said seeing Aqua.
"What do you want?" The Woman asked Aqua annoyed.
"You know I go to Citadel too." Aqua said with a glaring smile.
"Huh? Uhhh…." The woman said confused and lets Uchiyama go. She then sees Uchiyam go to hide behind Aqua "Oh, what the…What're you getting so jumpy about? Like you're anything special!" Annoyed she then leaves.
Uchiyama sighs in relief but seeing how close he was to Aqua he backs up and bows saying "Thank you so much! I'm sorry for the trouble!"
"No problem but are you okay?" Aqua asked him.
"Yes, I'm fine now!" Uchiyama said smiling. He then rubs his arm and said "It was pretty scary, though…" He looks guilty and remains quiet before saying "Ah-Um…May I ask you something? So…what made you step in to help me?"
"I just couldn't look the other way." Aqua said to him.
"I…see." Uchiyama said thinking "Well, I apologize for asking something so strange. You're headed to the cleanup as well, right?...The cleanup…?" He checks the time on his phone and gaspes "Look at the time! I'm so sorry, I haven't even thanked you properly yet!" He sees Aqua in her blue gym pans, jacket and white shirt and blue gym shoes "Oh no! I forgot my gym clothes at school! I'll see you at the cleanup, soon. We can talk more then, if you'd like."
"Sure thing" Aqua said.
Uchiyama goes to leave but stops to turn to Aqua and said "Pardon me!" He bows and leaves for school.
Aqua nods and heads for the train to Everfree Park.
Aqua arrives at the park and sees Uzi and Alexis were by a tree talking, Uzi was in gym clothes but Alexis was in her regular uniform.
"Hey, what took you so long?" Uzi said to Aqua.
"Did you really come here from home in your gym clothes?" Alexis asked surprised.
"Yeah, I did." Aqua said nodding.
"It must be so nice to be a guy or a girl confidant enough to do that…" Alexis said under breath.
"Ain't it normal?" Uzi asked her confused. She looks at Alexis' outfit "And, uh, are you planning on doing this cleanup in that outfit?"
"Of course not! I brought my gym clothes with me." Alexis said to her. "I was going to change in the bathroom, but now there's a huge line."
"Ohhhh, that makes sense." Uzi said nodding. "Sounds like it sucks to be a girly girl."
Soon Penny in her gym clothes and said "It's such a nice day out that even the weather seems to be mocking us."
"Dude, could you try pushing your way into our conversation a little less awkwardly next time?" Uzi asked sweat dropping.
"I bet some Station Squard clean freak hung paper dolls all over and prayed for clear skies today." Penny said thinking.
"Hey." Starlight Glimmer the school consoler said walking up to the group in her normal outfit. She said smiling "Morning, everyone."
"Oh? Are you here for the cleanup too, Doc?" Penny asked Starlight surprised.
"You got it." Starlight said nodding.
"Uh, in those clothes?" Uzi asked indicating to her clothes.
"Oh, no. I'm in a different…" Starlight said about to explain.
"There you are, Dr. Glimmer!" A Fawning Male Student said approaching the group.
"We're going to start prepping soon…" A Thin Male Student said smiling.
"Prepping what?" Alexis asked confused.
"I'm part of the cooking crew." Starlight explained smiling "Hope you're looking forward to a solid meal. See you all later." She then leaves with the two male students and they leave the guys hanging on Starlight's every word.
"More like Dr. Popular…" Uzi said a bit annoyed.
"I'm sure the Phantom Thieves will be even bigger someday." Penny said to them.
"Good morning, Citadel Academy students and staff…" J said on a megaphone getting everyone's attention. "Please pick up all the trash located in the area assigned to your group. Once the cleanup is completed, a lunch of miso soup with pork and vegetables will be served in more normal and energon based depending on if you're organic or cybernetic."
"Ooh, pork miso soup! So, what's what Dr. Glimmer's fan club is making." Alexis said smiling.
"FYI, the school already assigned the groups at random. They're four people apiece, boys and girls mixed." Penny explained to them.
"Oh…. really?" Uzi said swatdropping and looking down.
"Now that those announcements have been made, please break into your groups and head to your assigned areas." J announces on the megaphone.
"Alright, let's just get this over with as fast as possible so we can chow down on that soup and get out of here!" Uzi said with a grin.
Aqua was busy working with her group as she was cleaning up with trash picker tools and a plastic bag while her teammates look at her wearily.
The Third-year group leader said to the other two in a loud whisper "Hey, that girl yeah, her. Is she…THAT transfer student?"
"Yeah…" A Second-year Group member said nodding.
"You mean the one in all the crazy rumors?" The First-year group member asked.
"Keep it down! What if she hears us?!" The Group Leader said.
'Oh, geez really…how long until I am no longer this feared?' Aqua thinks groaning and sweat dropping.
We come to Alexis with her group as they were cleaning up discarded broken umbrellas.
"Ugh. Anyone who just dumps a broken umbrella on the ground like this is human garbage." A testy first year said.
"Oh, before you trash it, you have to make sure you separate the plastic parts from the metal frame." Alexis said to the group.
"Separate it? How?" A large second year asked curious.
"Like this." Alexis said and shows it by successfully the plastic and metal with ease, surprising the group.
"Whoa, awesome!" The testy first year said amazed.
"I had no idea you knew about that kind stuff, Alexis." A brunette female third year said smiling "I bet you'd make a wonderful wife."
"Oh, nah…" Alexis said awkwardly.
We come to Uzi working with her group and one of the members sees a wallet on the ground.
"Sweet, a wallet!" The Uncouth Third year said getting the others attention.
"Anything in it?" An Excited Second Year asked as she turned around.
An Easygoing First year goes and picks it up and he looks inside and said "Whoa! Yeah, a whole ton!"
The Uncouth Third year looks to the three and he asks "…We going splitsies on this?"
"Wait, shouldn't we take that to a police box?" Uzi said to them, her group mates look at her confused and she said annoyed "What?! How was that weird?"
We come to Penny on her own as she picks up a plastic bottle.
"Man, this park is trashed…" Penny said looking annoyed "No way this was all done by kids. It's got to be the work of some no-good adults, too."
Just then the white haired mature third year girl approaches Penny said, "If you don't mind, may I have the cap on that bottle?"
"Huh? Sure…" Penny said confused but then realizing asked "Oh! Are you a collector?
"Ah…Not exactly." The Mature third year said shaking her head "Recycling companies collect these and convert them into vials for vaccines."
"Huh, I didn't know that…" Penny said thinking and smiles "Well, that sounds like an awesome way to bring more justice to the world!"
The Mature Third Year sweat drops and said "…I apologize, but I don't follow the logic there."
We then come to Starlight Glimmer busy cooking the Miso soup with her fan club.
"Before I add taro to the pot, I have to rub them with salt to reduce the sliminess…" Starlight said to her group.
"Ohhh, you're an amazing chef!" The Fawning Male Student said smiling.
"I do cook pretty often at home." Starlight said smiling. "Let me try this little technique here…" She then tries to sprinkle salt down into the soup but some was caught by the wind and pass by the Thin Male Student.
"Huh? What the…Why's the wind salty?!" The Thin Male Student asked confused.
"Uh…Sorry." Starlight said to him sweat dropping.
We soon come to J addressing the students a while later.
"The cleanup is officially complete." J said through the megaphone "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Would the leader of each group please come and get the soup for their teams?"
We come to Aqua's team, and the group leader looks at Aqua and nervously looks at the other two and said "So, after the soup's doled out, everyone's free to do whatever they want. Including getting the heck out of here."
"Oh, okay." The second year group member said nodding.
"Thank you for everything." The first year group member said to the group including Aqua. He and the other two quickly leave Aqua.
Aqua sighs and sits on the nearby bench and rubs her face.
"I don't know the best way to put it…but that was a lousy time out there." Gatomon said poking his head out of the bag.
"Oh!" Uchiyama said approaching Aqua now in his gym clothes. He smiles seeing her and said "I've finally found you. I was trying to find you so I could thank you properly for this morning." He looks around and asked confused "So…Where'd the other people in your group go?"
"To put it simply, they ditched me." Aqua said sighing.
"Ah…I see." Uchiyama said sadly "…I'm in pretty much the same situation." He then smiles "If it's all right with you, why don't we eat our soup together?"
"Sure." Aqua said with a smile and nodding.
"Great!" Uchiyama said smiling.
They soon grab their soups and return to the bench and sit ready to eat.
"Thanks for the food." Uchiyama said and the two eat, after a bit he said to her "I want to tank you again for this morning." He sighs "That woman was even more frightening than he might have appeared to you…" He smiles "So I truly appreciate what you did for me! Thank you so much."
"Don't worry, it was nothing." Aqua said with a smile.
"Sorry, but I'm not even finished!" Uchiyama said and added sadly "There's one more issue I need to address…I'm also so sorry for what happened the other day!"
"The other day?" Aqua asked confused.
"…The run-in we had outside of the guidance office." Uchiyama said to her.
Aqua remembers it was back after just before Aqua and co changed Gaston's heart.
"Remember the discussion we just had? There are a number of students in this school you shouldn't get involved with…" Past Gaston said, "This one's at the top of the list."
"Oh, the delinquent transfer student…?" Past Uchiyama said surprised looking at Aqua.
We come out of the recollection as Aqua looks at Uchiyama who looks down guilty.
"Mr. LeGume had just told me about you a moment prior, so I sort of spoke without thinking there…" Uchiyama said. "I heard some of my classmates gossiping about you, too."
"Were you disappointed?" Aqua asked him.
"No, nothing of the sort." Uchiyama said smiling and shakes his head "I don't like gossip or rumors and the like…And I know this'll sound strange since I just met you, but you don't seem like the kind of person they describe. It'd be a different story if all those rumors were actually true, though." He thinks and says "What were all the cimes I'd heard? Burglary, murder, and…Donphan tusk trafficking, was it?"
"Well that Donphan one is a first for me to hear about." Aqua said surprised.
"It's absurd, isn't it?" Uchiyama said smiling. "Rumors can't be trusted at all, yet everyone starts shaking in their boots whenever they hear your name…" He then realizes something and said "You know what, it just hit me I haven't introduced myself yet!"
"Well I'm Aqua Strife." Aqua said smiling.
"Oh, I'm sorry to make you go first…Aqua." Uchiyama said smiling "I apologise this was such a long time coming, but I hope we can get along well! I believe you already learned from our meeting at school…"
However he stops when he sees a little girl with a balloon walk by and lose grip of it. He then gets up quickly and leaps into the air high and catches it and lands with a small flip.
"Wh-what the heck just happened?!" Gatomon said shocked and sees something on the ground "…Oh, look."
Aqua picks it up and looks at it thinking 'It seems to be a Citadel Academy pocketbook. The name 'Ventus Uchiyama' is written inside.' It must have fallen out when Uchiyama did his jump.
"Got it just in time…" Uchiyama said handing the balloon back to the little girl. "Here you are. Don't let got of things you like, okay?" The little girl nods and walks off. Uchiyama goes to Aqua and said "Sorry, I didn't mean to run out on you like that."
"You dropped this." Aqua said handing him the pocketbook.
"Huh?" Uchiyama or rather Ventus said and looks at it and smiles "I guess you sleuthed me out before I got to tell you. Well, you've cracked the case, I'm Ventus Uchiyama, a first-year!"
"That was impressive." Aqua said smiling.
"You mean back there? Oh, it was just some basic gymnastics." Ventus said with a shrug. "It's not that difficult once you get the hang of it just a hop, skip, and a jump."
"Gymnatistics, huh?" Gatomon said thinking. "Hey don't you think some of those moves would be awfully useful? I was just thinking about how the Phantom Thieves need to get some sweeter moves, too…" Aqua thinks on it.
"What's the matter, Aqua?" Ventus asked confused and looks around. "Wait…Is there a cat somewhere around here?"
"Can you teach me that stuff?" Aqua asked him.
"Does that mean you're interested in gymnastics?" Ventus asked surprised and smiles "That makes me so happy! I'd be honoured if you'd allow me!" He thinks "The only problem is…I have a favor to ask for myself as well if you wouldn't mind…Lately, I haven't been getting the results I want from my performances, and I'm worried that I'm overthinking things… So, it would be wonderful if you could give me some advice whenever you have the time."
"Are you sure you want my help?" Aqua asked him.
"Of course, I am!" Ventus said smiling "I'm not looking for technical coaching so much as just lending me an ear from time to time."
"I see…" Gatomon said thinking. "This sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me what do you think?"
"I hope I'm helpful to you." Aqua said with a smile and nod.
"Thank you!" Ventus said smiling. "Then we've cut a deal! Heh, heh…"
We return to the present as Aqua holds her head as Windblade and her Lawtroopers Jacob and Jess look at her.
"I've read in the reports that the Phantom Thieves' physical abilities are more acrobatic than the average person's" Jess said looking at her pad. "It seems you've gained an aptitude for specialty equipment as well."
"Wouldn't a natural conclusion to draw be that you were trained by an expert in that field?" Windblade said. "Well? Tell us the truth!"
We come to the past as the mystery voice speaks again.
"I am thou, thou art I…Thou hast acquired a new vow." The Female voice said "I shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity. With the birth of the Faith Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power."
"Faith, the second of the two rare Arcarna's to come across, you are indeed special" Arsene said to Aqua smiling.
'Maybe but….this card…something's wrong with it.' Aqua thinks look at the Faith Arcarna's card with Ventus' name on it.
The Faith card depicted a skeleton priest being pupated by deamons but what was stange it had black boarders while the others were white and it only had Five stars with one lit up.
"Hmmm…curious." Arsene said confused as Aqua puts it in it's spot in the book
"Oh, why don't we exchange contact information?" Ventus suggested smiling and looks at his phone "Hm? It shut down…Sorry, my smartphone's been acting up lately." He smiles "Ha, it's back! Okay, I'll contact you when I've got free time, if that's fine!"
"Sure" Aqua said nodding and adds Ventus' info into her contacts.
"Attention Citadel Academy students: the cleanup event will be ending momentarily." J announces via the Megaphone "Please do not discard your trash in the bins here. Instead, bring your waste to the predetermined location for disposal. After that, we will be officially releasing everyone for the day. Thank you all for your hard work."
"Well, the cleanup seems to be finished." Ventus said smiling putting her phone away. "We've already in our gym clothes would you care for some basic training before heading home? Let's start with some core exercises! Those are the foundation for staying in shape."
Aqua smiles and trained with Ventus before they separate and she heads home.
When she returned Vito informs her a box came and it was her Folding Screen set.
"We're finally home…" Gatomon said sighing seeing how tired Aqua was. "Ugh. You're all dusty. Hurry up and get changed."
Aqua nods and gets dressed into her normal clothes. She then decides to call up the maid services to get Yor to come over. She uses LeBlanc phone.
"Thinking of calling in a maid?" Gatomon asked "Well, if you use this, you won't leave proof in your call history! This is all for the good of the Phantom Thieves…right?"
"Of course," Aqua said nodding and calls the maid service.
"Hiiii, this is Megan…" The voice of Yor is heard on the other end smiling "…Oh, wait, it's you. Well, it'll be 5,000 yen with the request fee included, you know. Is that okay with you?"
"Of course" Aqua said nodding having enough.
"…Very well." Yor said "I'll head over right away then…"
A while later Yor arrived in her Megan the maid look and looks around the room.
"So, this is your room, huh? Hm, how do I put this…?" Yor said looking around. "…Never mind. So, what kind of kid are you? The way you opposed Mr. LeGume, I'd say that you're earnest and have a strong sense of justice." She was thinking "That being said…you called a maid service and requested me?"
"To be honest I don't have many friends." Aqua said sighing looking down.
"I see…Oh, that's right. You have a criminal record…" Yor said sadly knowing that everyone in the school knows of it. She gets and idea and smiles "Okay, then how about this…I'll let you skip class a few times."
"Wait what?" Aqua said looking at Yor surprised.
"I know personally how tough it is not having any place where you belong, right?" Yor said smiling but then looks serious "However, I reserve the right to change my mind if your grades drop."
"Sure, I understand." Aqua said with a nod.
"And in exchange, you won't tell anyone that I'm moonlighting as a maid." Yor tells her "Sound good?"
"Thanks " Aqua said with a nod and smile.
"Then it's a deal!" Yor said with a smile.
'I've made a deal with Yor…' Aqua thinks on it.
We return to the present as Aqua looks at Windblade and the two Lawtroopers.
"To think you pulled off so many crimes while attending school." Jacob said shaking his head.
"It's impossible to think you managed that by yourself." Jess said thinking "There had to be someone at the school helping you."
"Well, what do you have to say to that?" Windblade asked Aqua.
We come to the past as the voice from before speaks again.
"I am thou, thou art I…Thou hast acquired a new vow." The Female voice said "I shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity. With the birth of the Temperance Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power."
Aqua looks at the Temperance card with Yor's name on it and had an anger in a desert pouring water into jugs on it. She heard ability with it called Slack Off which will allow her to perform various activities in Yor's class.
"Temperance is my Arcana" Makami said smiling.
'Well that is good' Aqua thinks smiling putting the card away.
Yor sighs and said looking away "What am I doing here with one of my students…? Well, my husband and daughter will be wondering where I am if I don't get back soon so I should get going." She then smiles "Oh, please request me if you need any help with your housework, okay?"
"Um, why?" Aqua asked confused.
"Well, I mean…we know each other's secret, and it would really put my mind at ease…" Yor explained "Besides, I'm, uh…I'm considered over the hill for this type of job, so I don't get requested that often…I'll show my appreciation by making it easy for you to ditch class! Just think about it, okay?"
"Sure" Aqua said smiling.
The two head to the entrance so Aqua can see Yor off.
"All right, Mistress, that'll be it for today!" Yor said smiling putting on her Megan persona doing a curtsy. However, she sweat drops and stops it "Ugh…you have no idea how exhausting this job it…" She looks at Aqua serious "Listen, promise me you won't tell the school about this, okay, or my husband, okay? For both our sakes. Absolutely no talking about maid stuff to anyone!"
She then does big anime eyes and said in her Megan cutesy voice "It'll be our wittle secret, just for Megan and Mistress, okay? Can you keep a secret?"
"Yeah, I get it don't worry" Aqua said nodding.
"Oh my gosh, Mistress! Thank you sooo much!" Yor said happily "I'll make sure to keep my promise too." She then sighs "…Well, I'm going to head home."
"Right." Aqua said nodding.
"Oh, and don't forget to study for your exams, okay? If you waste all your time playing around, your grades will suffer." Yor told her firmly "See you later." She then leaves.
Aqua stretches and decides to go to bed.
Well that was good, next chapter we will be returning to Mementos get ready
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.