Author's Notes: Greetings again to one and all of my beautiful readers! Another 28 days has elapsed and it is time for another entry of the best Persona 5 story on the internet!

I'm glad to see that chapter 5 was so well received. The first major deviation from the events of the game and we're off to a great start. That's encouraging; there'll be more of those, and they'll all be as good or better than what you've seen so far. When it comes to making this story incredible, we're just getting started.

But before we can get started, some replies to my amazing reviewers.

UltimateCCC: That he does, but was there ever any doubt?

Myalko: Welcome back! The opportunities Makoto offers by being present and accounted for early on were too good to pass up, and you can bet we'll see more of her in the future. As to the content, I wanted early on to go deep and make it hurt where it counts, and it seems like I've succeeded. Glad to hear that. Morgana having sticky fingers, or paws in this case, just makes sense, doesn't it? And I'm glad you liked Carmen, we'll be seeing more of her as we go. As to the P3 remake, the engine update is certainly interesting, though I tend to always remember characters the way I first heard them. Unless the first VA did an atrocious job and the second one knocked it out of the park, I'd probably always be fighting with that. Thanks for the review!

Fallen Phoenix of Berk: Thanks for reviewing. Carmen's section was a pleasure to write, crazy as that might sound. The aesthetics, the themes, and what that will all mean for Ann in the future, I'm really happy with how it turned out. Glad you did too, and thanks again!

B1ackAshes: Great to hear from you again! I'm glad you're liking the story so far. You are correct that Akira's a mystery that we'll get into slowly as the story progresses. It'll take a while, but it'll be worth it. Ryuji and Morgana will be different from and better than what we got in the game, absolutely. I doubt anyone came here wanting more of their pointless bickering, and I couldn't stand the idea of writing it anyway. Ann and Shiho, I'll only say that unlike in the game, that's not a thread that's going to go away and come back for half a scene at the end. I won't spoil the surprise. But I am glad you liked Carmen's scene, that stood out to me as being pretty unique. Out of curiosity, what issues do you have with Ann's portrayal in the game? I have my own, but I like having perspective from other people. And you can be assured that your questions about the future content will be answered, all in due time. Thanks for the review, and cheers!

Many thanks to Firion for his unwavering support and input, as always. This wouldn't be half the story that it is and will be without you, good buddy.

And finally, don't forget to rate, comment, ring the bell, donate, subscribe, hit the like button, share the link, smash the bell, leave a comment, unsubscribe and resubscribe again!

Four of a Kind

The next day, the first of the thieves to wake up was Ryuji. He came to feeling like he'd been beaten with a large stick. Considering some of the hits he'd taken in the castle the day before trying to rescue Takamaki and get to the treasure room, a stick would have been the preferable option. But years of athletics training had made him used to waking up sore, so he took the pain on the nose and got up before his alarm.

On one hand, his room was what one would expect of a teenage boy. Games with a console and TV were set in one corner; autographed posters hung on the wall, crooked and in no particular order; and manga volumes were piled atop the already full waist-high bookshelf where they'd been dropped and forgotten. Even his laundry spoke of neglect, with the clean stuff being crammed into drawers and poking out between the creases while the dirties were in a pile overflowing from the basket, with only his uniform blazer earning a place on a hanger thanks to the fervent insistence of his mother.

On the other hand, there were details that an observant eye would know to be out of place in a room defined by its aggressive indifference. A low cupboard held shoes that showed signs of wear and attention, selected for cushioning, balance and grip. They were an athlete's running shoes, even if they'd been shoved in upside down or sideways and left behind a closed door. Resistance bands and strength training gear were in the further corner under the bed as though thrown there and thoroughly ignored. There was the void on one wall bookshelf, a place next to the models and action figures where the dust showed there had been books and something else at one point but weren't there any longer. What had been on that shelf once was now in a box under the spare clothes in his closet, and Ryuji unconsciously averted his eyes whenever he looked along that wall of his room.

None of that was in his mind today, though. After throwing his uniform on and washing his face, he heard a familiar key to the lock of the apartment's front door. He went to it just as it opened, admitting the only relative he had worth mentioning. "Hey, Mom."

Sakamoto Yoshie defined the American phrase 'rode hard and put away wet.' She worked the night shift at the same place she'd been employed since before Sakamoto Ichiro left her and their son in a drunken rage. Ryuji didn't refer to 'that man' as his father, and Yoshie hadn't spoken of him since that night either. But time and taxes waited for no one, so she'd taken on as many hours as she could to keep a roof over her and her son's heads. The cost of the long hours at work was that she came home right as Ryuji was leaving, she slept when she could and tended to whatever had to be done in the day, and then she went back to work shortly after her son came home from school. She wore the strain of life on her face and hands, looking at least seven years older than she actually was, and it had been a long time since Ryuji could remember her entertaining company or visiting with her friends.

Despite that and everything else, she looked up with a smile that was more radiant than it was tired. "There you are, Ryuji! I'm glad I could see you before you left."

"Yeah, me too." Their hug was longer than what might have been seen between a normal mother and son – she was Ryuji's only family, and they'd gone through a lot together.

She looked him over, then leaned in a bit. "You've been happier lately, you know. Is the semester going better than you expected?"

"Happier?"

"Yes. Or maybe lighter is a better word for it. It's only happened in the last week or so, but it definitely wasn't there last year."

"I… I guess so. I made a friend at school. A new guy."

"Excellent! What's his name? Will you have him over sometime?"

"Kurusu, and I dunno. We haven't gotten that close yet, y'know?"

"Having someone over would be a way to get closer to them, wouldn't it?"

Ryuji kicked the floor out of habit. "Yeah."

Yoshie smiled at her son. "Well, anytime you want to have friends over, you can. You don't need to worry about me, all right?"

"I know, Mom. I'll remember that."

She came further into the house, but turned. "Speaking of which, have you talked to that girl you were friends with in grade school? Takamaki Ann-chan, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, sometimes. Why?"

"I was thinking of her lately, how she insisted on coming to deliver that dolphin plush when you went to the aquarium on that field trip. What a dear she was."

Ryuji remembered that day, how even-keeled Takamaki had been when his mom insisted she stick around. It was still a fun memory, watching Mom have fun with a girl, pushing baked sweets on her and asking questions with bright eyes that had Takamaki blushing. Funny, he hadn't thought of those days in a long time. Though now that he did, he recalled that he never mentioned how the plush had come from borrowing money from Takamaki back then. Money he was now somewhat confident he hadn't paid back yet. "Yeah, she was. You still have that, right?"

"Of course. It was a gift from you and her, I certainly wasn't going to get rid of it."

That brought a smile to Ryuji's face.

His mom went on. "Make sure you're nice to her. She's a sweetheart, and I'm sure she's growing up so fast. She must be going off to college soon. I might not see her again."

"You don't usually mention her. What brought this up?"

"I saw her in a magazine the other day, one of her fashion jobs. Those always make the models more beautiful, and you should see the ones the editor goes too far on – what a nightmare. But I doubt they'd have to work very hard at it in her case. You can tell just looking at her that she's the real thing."

"I'll tell her you saw her. I think she'll appreciate it."

"Thanks, dear." She yawned so deeply that she couldn't cover her mouth with only one hand.

"Go to bed, Mom. I'll see you later."

"All right. Do your best and take care."

After one more hug, she shuffled away to her room and shut the door. Ryuji waited until the door closed, then grabbed his lunch out of the fridge, a pre-made meal from the weekend that he'd thrown together as part of helping out around the house. Back when he'd been on the track team he'd learned the importance of good meals and nutritional balance to boost his performance. He credited his successes back then to having a proper diet. Nowadays he ate an adapted version of the same recipe – his leg throbbed when he thought of why he'd needed to lower his protein and caloric intake – and always made enough for his mom. He hoped she liked it – it was one of the few things he knew how to cook, and she took it to work with her without complaint. It wasn't much, but it included a chicken recipe he'd taken the time to perfect and some homemade snacks including sliced lemons and honey to keep her energy up. Mom always said she liked them.

Once he was packed up he got ready to leave, passing the kitchen table and the piles of opened mail on it. He stopped when he saw some of the amounts on the sheets.

He was under no illusions of how hard it was for his mom to keep them at the shaky balancing point they were on. Bills always came in whether people were sick or not, whether they wanted to work or not, and it had been a source of some pretty bad arguments 'back then.' Ryuji tried not to think about it – he didn't know the first thing about working or finances or helping out beyond what he already did. That was too much for a kid to handle and look after.

He shifted the papers aside, saw more numbers, and felt a ripple on the surface of his soul.

Then again, he wasn't a kid anymore.

7 7 7

The close second and distant third of the thieves to wake up were Akira and Morgana. The day before had been draining enough that Akira felt his cat slumbering before they even got back to Leblanc. Sakura-san was in the middle of serving customers, asked his usual grumpy questions in passing, and then Akira was upstairs laying Morgana out on the pet bed and blankets he'd bought back when the cat had been cleared to move in. Initial opinions of the bedding weren't positive, but Morgana had been so bagged that he curled up and was asleep before the offer of milk could be made. Akira had gone to bed sore and exhausted and woke up stiff and groggy. Much as he wanted to sleep in, however, he got up early, stretched his cramped muscles, and navigated his bruises and finished cleaning the attic. By the time Akira stopped he had two-thirds of the living space sparkling clean while everything else had been moved to the remaining space on the other side of the stairs. He'd have to ask Sakura-san where all that stuff could go – there was still a fair amount of room that could be opened up.

It was at that point that Akira realized he'd gone the night without a visit from Igor and the girls. Considering how he'd responded to their demands, he'd expected at least a sternly worded letter. The quiet was appreciated, but now he wondered if he was just delaying the argument to come.

Morgana stirred from his slumber just then. Akira went down to the fridge, grabbed some milk and a tin of food, and had the meal laid out for his companion in short order. Morgana stretched, yawned hugely, and then devoured his breakfast.

"Hungry?" Akira asked once the container and the saucer were licked clean.

Morgana answered, "Not anymore. Thanks. Yesterday took more out of me than I thought."

"I figured you'd be used to how things went 'over there,' fighting and climbing or not. Do you get that tired very often?"

"No, but I haven't pushed myself as hard as I have with you. This is new territory. I also think that this world has that influence on me. I got used to how things feel on this side so when I go back 'over there,' I have to readjust."

"This wasn't a problem before?"

Mona shrugged as a cat might shrug. "Don't worry about it. None of this is serious or dangerous, and what we're doing on this side is too important for me to stay 'over there' just because I might need more sleep. I'll get used to it."

"So… if you never came to this side before, but the only things 'over there' are Personas and Shadows, and you're helping us against Kamoshida… then what are you?"

"I'm Morgana, the Phantom Thief of Hearts," was the proud reply as though it answered the question.

"You've used that term before. What is a Phantom Thief?"

Morgana offered, "It's someone who does what we're doing right now. Avenging those who have no other hope, setting injustices straight and confronting evil wherever we find it, but using tools and tricks of the trade instead of kicking down doors and wearing armor."

"You're describing the gentleman thief, right? Someone like Zorro? Fighting dictators and protecting the weak?"

"Yes, except we're doing it on 'that side' where no one can find us, using what we have to stop whoever abuses their power. That's what our Personas are for."

Akira considered how this sounded a lot like what Igor spouted, but Morgana was much easier to listen to. "That's quite a goal."

"It's what we do. Kamoshida's a good example of someone a Phantom Thief would stop, and for the same reasons and using the same means."

"Stealing his heart, that's what you called it. Was that what you were in the castle for in the first place? To get to his treasure because stealing it would change him on this side?"

"Yes. His heart is the source of his distorted desires and that's why his castle looks like it does." A grim look fell across the cat's face. "Palaces shouldn't exist. They're a perversion of normal human drives and they're a breeding ground for Shadows, which feed the Palaces and protect them. Anywhere you find a Palace, you'll find that a lot of normal people, good people like Suzui Shiho, end up suffering. I don't mean having problems with the normal challenges that life brings up, but real suffering in ways that will affect those people for life. They can't defend themselves against power like that. They have no way of stopping it or fixing it. We do. When we steal Kamoshida's heart, the Palace will disappear and he'll change on this side. Then the damage he caused can be dealt with in normal ways."

"Wait... But if you'd never come to this side before you met us, then how would you know what the damage would be over here? Why would it matter to you what Kamoshida or anyone with a Palace does?"

"I did just mention Kamoshida's victims, didn't I?"

Akira pressed, "Sure, but why would that matter 'over there?' It doesn't affect your life, does it? So why get involved?"

The cat smiled tolerantly. "Well, consider the ramifications. What are Shadows and Personas? Where do they come from?"

"I... don't know. I know Arsene came from... inside me, I guess."

"Correct, inside human hearts. Personas are the manifestation of a mind that casts off its reliance on lies, its desire to shirk the truth or hide from what is in front of it. Personas are what give us our power. Shadows are the expressions of the worst side of the mind. Fear, spite, envy, anger, the desire for revenge, when these things are allowed to run free without restraint or control, they manifest like what we've seen so far."

"The worst side of the human mind..." When Akira considered what he'd fought from that angle, the pieces clicked into place. That explained how the Shadows could morph shape, why they seemed to enjoy toying with a person's mind, and why they'd been eager to get at Takamaki the day before. "And that's all coming from this side?"

"More or less. The relationship is a lot more complicated than that, but for now it fits. What happens here affects 'that place.' More victims means more negativity and pain, more people with Palaces shapes the landscape into something twisted and corrupt. Altogether it means more Shadows, which makes it dangerous for people like me. I wanted to change that, so that's why I was in the castle."

"I see. And stealing Kamoshida's heart puts an end to all that." Akira shook his head. "This all sounds like a pretty big impact. You said 'that place' has power, and I've seen what we can do with our Personas and all, but still…"

Morgana shrugged. "To say that things will change isn't a good description for what'll actually happen. You were right when you said it would be a big deal. If we pull this off, it'll cause a fundamental shift in Kamoshida's psyche, a change to something foundational to his worldview. It's definitely not a small thing, and even those words don't really do the idea justice. It won't be nothing, don't worry about that."

Akira had been worried about that, given how much they had riding on something he'd never heard of and had no template for. But Morgana's firm resolve set his questions to rest. "Okay, so we found where his heart is and we have a way to get to it. What do we do now?"

"Make Kamoshida aware of us," Morgana stated with no hesitation.

"Come again?"

"There's a lot about 'that place' that I can't explain properly, but I know what we have to do and why. We have to show him that the Phantom Thieves know about his crimes and will come to do something about it. He needs to know that his heart can be stolen. You remember that hazy thing we saw in the treasure room? That'll become real once he thinks it's in danger, and that's when we can steal it."

Akira scratched his cheek. "Make it real… is this like when someone jokes that they're going to steal your wallet, so you reach for it without thinking?"

"Yes, exactly. The specifics are very different, but the idea is the same. He'll realize there's a genuine threat and he won't be able to ignore it."

The next most likely outcome came to mind right then. "If we convince him that there's a threat, then he'll know we're coming. Won't he beef up security and try to protect it?"

Morgana replied with a simple, "Absolutely. But that's the time window we have to use to steal it or we'll lose our chance. It's a guarantee that we'll have to fight him and anyone else he has with him. He and the Shadows know how important it is."

"That doesn't sound like it'll be easy."

"I'm certain it won't be. Having Takamaki and her Persona might be a serious asset, or she might go crazy once she sees him again – she's already done that once. Ryuji's a bit more stable, but we'll still be fighting the master of a Palace. Everything about it is going to be hard. That means that we'll have to be completely ready before we take the next step. Tools, tricks, weapons, we need everything we can think of and carry because Kamoshida will throw everything he has at us as well."

Akira grimaced. "I guess this wouldn't be worthwhile if it were a walk in the park. All right, it sounds like you know how to get Kamoshida's attention and get the ball rolling."

"Naturally. I think we'll want Ryuji and Takamaki on board when we do it, though."

"I'll get in touch with them and see what they say. Hopefully it's not too crazy to pull this off."

"It's because it's crazy that it's going to work." Morgana gave a particularly feline grin. "And trust me, given what we need to do, I don't think you'll have a problem getting them to help out."

7 7 7

The last of the thieves to wake up was Ann, and it wasn't even close. She was slumbering so deeply that she cracked her eyes open twenty-six minutes into her alarm going off, and she got up only long enough to yank the cord on it so she could go back to sleep. At some point later, she rolled out of bed and awoke with her head stuffed with the mushy lethargy of oversleep. She tripped to her feet and rubbed her eyes before turning the lights on.

Her fatigue was blown away by Carmen's shrill demand, "What is this place?!"

Ann jumped and straightened, looking around instinctively for her Persona. "This is where I live."

"You reside here? Of your own free will?"

"Yes. Why?"

Exasperation and strained patience were rich in the gypsy's voice. "Look around, penya. Tell me what you see."

That word made images flash through Ann's mind, scenes of caravans circling the fires and close-knit families looking out for their own. 'Kin of my kin' was a rough translation, used for young girls who were assigned to women to learn their history, pick up a craft, and grow in the ways of the tribes. The bond wasn't always one of blood, but it may as well have been for how dedicated the girls were to their guardians and for how passionate the women were about training their wards.

With such a connection being foundational among the gypsies, it made sense to Ann why Carmen responded as she did before – stringing one's own out to dry would have been seen as the most vile of betrayals.

"Why did you call me that?" Ann asked.

"It is appropriate, given this arrangement. Now, do as I ask."

Ann looked around and saw her room with the many, many clothes she owned – normal and designer and foreign brands sent by her parents – on racks and in bins and peeking out between the cracks of the nearby closet. She saw all her shoes next to her vanity, overloaded with her many perfumes, the pile of cute plushies she hadn't gotten around to finding proper places for yet, and the scatterings of snacks on her table that had been her only sustenance for the past few days. Also on the table were her bilingual fashion magazines, the teen gossip rags that were garbage but still entertaining to read, and her school notes that she'd been working through. Last, there was the modern art piece on her wall that she'd been given by one model director she was sure was trying to woo her, but who she shot down once he got pushy. She thought the picture was actually pretty hideous, but the other models had gushed over it and it gave the bare brick walls of her studio apartment some semblance of class, so she'd put it up.

Ann summarized what she saw with, "Um… I see the place how I left it."

"Clothes everywhere, garbage for food, no order or allure at all. Tell me, does a child live here?"

"No. Just me."

Carmen's silence spoke volumes.

Ann fired back, "What's wrong with it? And you're in my head; why do you care what my room looks like?"

"How did you end up looking like you do?"

"What does that mean? You see my clothes here, don't you?"

"I mean your body, penya."

"It runs in the family. My mom and grandma look like this, too."

"So you came into this naturally." Carmen's disbelief carried actual physical weight. "Listen, I would have killed to have had your body and not needed to work for it. Most girls would. Do you know how many more men I could have had if I'd looked like you?"

Ann huffed. "I've heard that before. I didn't ask for this body."

"So you want to be flat like the girls of this country? Straight lines and no figures? Perhaps you'd prefer obesity, weighing more than a packhorse and possessing the same prospects? Or maybe you'd rather be invisible while the boys look elsewhere and take their opportunities and business with them, treat you like you aren't even there?"

That brought Ann up short. "I hadn't thought of it that way."

"Experience with pigs and mere children might sour you to men, but don't ignore the useful ones because of that. The gods granted you a gift with this body, and its charms won't last forever. Best to make the most of them now."

"Okay… but what does this have to do with my room?"

"I will show you. Close your eyes."

Ann narrowed them, remembering the day before.

"Nothing so severe this time, I assure you. Trust me."

Ann considered the wisdom of trusting the gypsy, but did as she was asked. Things went dark, and then she saw her room like it was somewhere else entirely. The scent of perfume colored the air and teased the nose, luring one in. A mirror in the corner and vanities and tables set up to entertain company and to always remind them where they were. Clothes made to promise at the figure were arranged in the closet, and what was on the hangers to be seen was put there to suggest and intrigue, but never to reveal. The walls were decorated in such a way as to always pull one's attention to the room's owner, the carpets and lights were alluring and tasteful, and even basic furniture like Ann's metal-frame bed was made a thing of temptation and denial simply by a choice of spreads and colors.

Ann recognized what she saw as inspired by Carmen's boudoir, a sanctum of femininity where the gypsy held sway. Any who entered would know that and fall under its spell immediately.

Ann blinked twice and saw her room again, recoiling from the trash and used wrappers she caught sight of. "Okay, your place is nicer than mine. But what's the point? I don't have a boyfriend and that's not an impression I want to give my friends when they come over."

"There are many forms of power, penya. You never know when you will need to use it. Also, look at this."

Ann closed and reopened her eyes again, this time seeing herself dressed in clothes she knew she owned. Except she barely recognized herself. The makeup was subtle, the cinch of the belt on her waist and the curve of her shoulders distinct, and her hair looked different outside of its usual tails. It was her, but it was so much more, like Ann couldn't distinguish just what was so appealing but she knew it was there and that it grabbed her by the eyes and wouldn't let go.

Subtle but intense and entirely unforgettable. How had she done that?

"A body like yours would make any clothes work," Carmen explained, "but when you make the clothes work for you, you will be undeniable. Beauty is as much a state of your mind as it is what you wear, and you wear your best to feel and be your best. Men, perhaps even your men, will line up just to fall at your feet and offer what they have, whether their money or loyalty or whatever they might know."

"That's… that's true, but…"

"And who knows when and how you might need that loyalty? What might those needy little boys do for you, even in the face of that pig of a king?"

That caught her attention. "Kamoshida… And like you said, power doesn't have to be something big and heavy…"

"The best touch never is."

Ann checked her phone for the time, grimaced when she thought of what classes she was missing, then nodded. "All right, I see your point."

"Marvelous! Let us make this place into a fitting domicile for both of us. First we must clean; true beauty begins with a mop."

7 7 7

It felt strange for Takamaki's seat to be empty. Akira had taken his chair at Shujin that morning to the sound of whispers and murmurs over the rather lively conversation she'd had with him the day before and speculation over where she was.

The most likely reason for her absence to Akira's mind was exhaustion. She hadn't looked good yesterday, and after awakening a Persona and staying in the fight on little food and no sleep would have taken anyone down. It was a testament to how alien and draining 'that place' was, and how intense the battle to rescue her, that the day before felt like a week ago.

However, she'd also fought harder and stuck it out longer than he expected of someone as pampered as she looked. That soft exterior had concealed a back and blade of tempered steel.

But evidently Akira shared his class with a gaggle of future fiction writers. The students around him bandied about theories over Takamaki's present location, theories which included: her still grieving over Shiho and entering a monastery, her hung over from a furious bender, her recovering from Akira putting her in the hospital for how she spoke to him, her recuperating from an all-night sex marathon with him and their argument actually serving as foreplay, her skydiving with her model friends, and her out planning an investigation over Shiho's accident.

It was a testament to the creativity of the students that only one of them offered a possibility that sounded even remotely normal, like her being sick or away visiting family.

Akira let the gossip move around him and he made an adamant vow to never get close to these people – if he had friends like this, he'd never take his back from the wall. That thought brought a bad taste to his mouth, and he crushed certain murmuring memories right away.

Lunch came and he met Ryuji in the hall. "Takamaki got in touch with me," the athlete said. "She won't be here for class, but she said we can meet her at Inokashira Park after school's over to talk business."

"Did she sleep in?"

"Yeah, sounds like it. Can't say I blame her – she was asleep on her feet when I got her home yesterday."

No few students stopped to look at them upon hearing that. Ryuji turned, glared, and snapped, "Clear outta here you fuckin' parasites!"

That got rid of most of them, and Akira's stare dealt with the rest. He'd never thought of himself as intimidating – particularly not with his glasses on – but his rep was finally good for something.

"Anyway," Ryuji went on, "we got a next step planned? Sounded like there's more that we gotta do 'over there,' unless I was mishearin' somethin'."

"You weren't, and it sounds like there is something in mind. Thing is, Morgana's the only one who knows what it is, and he's being coy about it."

The cat was smirking hard enough to be heard in his bag despite not saying a word.

Ryuji shook his head. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. See you after school, I'll show you the way there."

7 7 7

For Inokashira park being in the middle of the city, it was surprisingly large and almost quiet. Spacious paths, lush greenery, and plenty of places for people to be as social as they wanted or to slip off and snag some privacy. There were students walking around, chatting and laughing; housewives enjoying the shade; elders with the grandkids out for a stroll; and even a few salarymen catching some quiet time to have a snack and a smoke away from the office.

It was a good place for a meeting. Three students and a cat wouldn't stand out at all. "Nice little spot for a date," Akira added as they walked.

"Dude, where'd that come from?"

"Why not? Never thought about it?"

Ryuji looked away. "Nah. Never had the time when I was on the track team, and after… that ain't somethin' girls're into."

"Some girls like thugs, you know."

"I ain't a thug."

"Neither am I, but that's how people see us."

"Ones you're talkin' about're usually gyaru and ditzes. Most they talk about is fashion and karaoke."

"You've gotta start somewhere, Ryuji. I wish that a perfect ten would show up right as you turn your head or something, but–"

They rounded the corner and caught sight of Takamaki leaning against the stone railing by the bridge. She was dressed in her jacket and tights and skirt, nothing they hadn't seen her in before, but there was something intangible about her this time that held their attention fast. She turned and smiled softly, lighting up her eyes and tilting her lips up in a way that made one notice how soft they looked. She walked over, and every step was different from usual. Guys stopped mid-sentence to watch her pass, girls pointed and whispered, and whatever anyone was doing was suddenly a secondary priority to watching Takamaki Ann.

Akira could acknowledge that she'd always been attractive, but never had he seen her this riveting before.

"You were sayin'?" Ryuji whispered.

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

Takamaki sidled up to them and greeted them with a smoky, "Hey, guys."

A heady scent reached their senses and tugged them in close. If that perfume wasn't named Desire, someone in Marketing wasn't doing their job.

Morgana popped out of the bag and asked, "Is she that strong?"

The effect stilled and wavered a touch. "What do you mean?"

"Your Persona. I know she's there, right under the surface. The connection between Summoner and Persona is different for everyone, so is this normal for you? Or is she up and awake for a reason?"

Her eyes narrowed. She seemed to hear something they couldn't, replying with, "You're pretty sharp."

"I've been at this longer than you have. I knew she was powerful in the castle, so is everything all right?"

Takamaki's facade flickered as her eyes narrowed. "It's fine. She and I are fine."

"Then ask her to keep it down, please. These guys aren't here for you or her to play with."

Akira and Ryuji looked at each other, the allure fading.

"That's pretty rude of you," Takamaki sniped. "Carmen gave me some suggestions and I was trying them out, that's all."

Morgana didn't budge. "Please let her know how sorry I am that I don't trust her. She did almost kill the three of us when she awakened, and all we were doing was trying to save your life. Maybe that's something we can work on."

Takamaki huffed and settled against the railing. The effect disappeared entirely. "Fine."

The guys shook the lingering glamor off. Ryuji muttered, "The hell was that?"

Akira added, "I don't like people screwing with my head."

Takamaki looked over peevishly. "And I don't like guys carrying me around like a sack of rice. The guards yesterday did that, and it was… I don't want to think about it. Then you did it, too. If you ever feel the need to try that again? Don't."

"Given the circumstances, it was the right call."

"Hitting a girl was the right call?"

That got her a shrug. "All right. Next time you sabotage our plan and try to throw your life away, I'll drag you instead."

She glared.

He answered with a bland smile and, "Or would you prefer a piggyback ride?"

"Don't do it again unless I ask for your help."

"Don't give me a reason to save you and I won't have to."

Ryuji cleared his throat. "Watchin' this is entertainin' and all, but are we gonna have a problem with you two?"

"Not at all," Akira stated.

"No," was Takamaki's reply. "I think we've got that settled."

"Good, then let's get started," Ryuji told them. "The sooner we get this plan off the ground, the sooner we can make that piece of shit pay."

Morgana asked Takamaki, "Are you feeling better now? You were in bad shape yesterday."

She looked a little surprised, and her expression shifted into that of her usual self. "I… yeah. I got a lot of sleep last night, and I was able to… I'm fine now. Mona, wasn't that your name?"

"When we're in 'that place,' yes. Here, Morgana works fine."

"Morgana. Thanks for your concern, and it's nice to meet you. Ryuji knows this, but you guys can just call me Ann. Is it okay if I use your names too?"

They nodded.

"Good," Ann continued. "About that, you said not to use your normal names over there. What do you use instead, nicknames?"

Ryuji replied, "Somethin' like that. Over there, I'm Skull and he's Joker."

"Why? Is that just a thing you're doing or is it important?"

"It's important. If someone like Kamoshida knows your actual name…" Ryuji shuddered. "Trust me, you don't wanna know."

She watched him appraisingly. "All right, I'll take your word for it. Will I need a code name or whatever if I don't want that to happen to me?"

"Absolutely."

"Then what's mine? How do you guys get them?"

"We decide, mostly. Morgana here's been the one to pick and so far he's made good choices."

"Well?"

Morgana frowned. "Hm. It's not as easy this time."

"Your mask looked like a cat's," Akira offered. "But we have a cat already."

"Red?" Ryuji suggested.

"That's a little too on the nose."

"Panther," Ann decided. "Carmen likes it and so do I."

Akira considered that. Solitary, cunning, and an apex predator. "That fits," he granted, then grinned. "You know, if we were to talk about your Persona, then we could also say she's a..."

"Don't say it." Despite Ann's words, there was an irrepressible upturn to her lips. "She wouldn't take it very well if you called her that."

The others laughed and the initial tension diminished.

"Panther it is, then. Welcome to the team. Let's start the meeting," Morgana stated, jumping from Akira's shoulder to the railing and facing the three. "First, are we going to be able to meet here or at school when we need to?"

Ann crossed her arms. "I'd rather meet here. I don't plan on attending class until Kamoshida's dealt with. If I have to even look at that pig…"

"That won't work," Ryuji said. "I get your point, and I'd do it too if I could, but if you stay away and then come back right after Kamoshida changes, it's gonna look bad for you. He's itchin' for a reason to sink people right now, so he might even raise hell himself. Dependin' on how big a deal this becomes, the powers that be might be lookin' for someone to sandbag."

"And the principal and teachers don't need hard evidence to run with a suspicion, it seems," Akira added.

Ann looked at them, then grimaced. "Yeah, good point. I don't like it, though."

"None of us do, trust me."

"What about you guys? I heard you have a clock running on you, is that right? Something about expulsion?"

Ryuji nodded. "Yeah, pretty soon. So we gotta move fast."

"We will," Morgana promised. "Here's my plan."

The cat explained the concept in full and brought up what the three needed to do. His audience listened carefully and only asked for clarification twice.

"Show everyone that Kamoshida's a criminal," Akira summarized, "and make him angry so the treasure manifests."

"Hang a poster up callin' Kamoshida out?" Ryuji put in. "Count me in on that, when do I start?"

Morgana replied, "Right away. There are some things it needs to say to get the greatest effect, and I'll get to that in a minute. Once we get everything we need, Joker and I can sneak in and put it up. His heart will manifest, we'll steal it, and then he'll change."

"You're puttin' it up in the school? Let me come with you. I owe Kamoshida, and I know the layout better than you."

Morgana hummed. "I thought about that. I'd take you with us, but it'll be too suspicious. They know you, Ryuji, so if anyone sees you on or around the school grounds after classes are over, you'll be the first person they ask when everything happens. They might even try to blame you anyway just because they think you're a troublemaker or because they want a scapegoat. You need to be somewhere else and have a solid alibi."

"Considering everything," Akira added, "I'd say that Kamoshida's going to blame us for it whether there's proof or not. If we don't want anyone else to come down on us after this, we need to play it safe. Same goes for you, Ann-san, since you're close to Suzui-san."

They both grimaced. Ryuji said, "Yeah, more shit from the school is the last thing my mom needs."

"Are there any cameras on the school grounds we need to be aware of? I haven't seen any, but..."

"Nah, nothin' like that. I've heard students and teachers talk about them, but it never makes the budget." Ryuji chuffed. "Mighta saved those girls a lotta grief if they had – harder to assault them when there's cameras catchin' you in the act. I bet Kamoshida leaned on someone to make sure the cameras never went up."

"Pig," Ann muttered.

Akira put in, "Either way, that works to our advantage. We can use that when we go in."

"You sound like you've planned something like this out before," Ann brought up.

Akira recalled his past encounters with law enforcement and their investigators, his life being turned upside down and the trial back home. Instead of saying that, he replied, "Morgana's staying with me. He's a good teacher."

"Is that all we can do, though?"

"You say that like it's almost nothing," Morgana answered. "You and Ryuji will put the poster together. The details need to click or Kamoshida won't take it seriously. The better you do, the more you hit Kamoshida where it hurts and the more his Shadow will manifest 'over there.' Once that happens, he'll have no choice but to answer the challenge, and we can steal his heart. There's a lot riding on what we say being as authentic as possible."

"We can call him whatever we want?" Ryuji asked.

"The truth cuts deeper than lies," Ann put in. "If we just trash talk him, he can shrug that off. If we bring up all his crimes, he won't be able to duck it. He'll have to take it seriously, especially if we put it up in a place everyone can see."

"That's the idea," Morgana replied.

"What are the specific points that you need us to make?"

"That we'll come for him no matter what and we'll make him confess his sins to everyone. No one, guilty or not, is going to take admitting their faults to a crowd very well, so that has to be in there. The rest is up to you, but you seem to have a handle on it already. Can you do it?"

She grinned cruelly. "In front of everyone? Where there's no chance of him getting away with it? I like that. Yes, Ryuji and I can put that together, no problem."

"That'll also let everyone know what his crimes are," Morgana continued. "They can see that someone like him can be called out and punished by the Phantom Thieves for hurting the innocent. They might even pitch in to help overthrow him if we do a good enough job."

Ryuji looked over. "Phantom Thieves, huh?"

Akira answered, "It's his idea."

"It has a nice ring to it," Ann put in. "It sounds like we have a plan in place. We just need to execute it."

"We'll also need to do some shopping," Morgana added. "We used a lot of what we had fighting the Shadows before. We need to buy or make more, especially if we're going to fight Kamoshida directly. That means medicine, materials, everything."

"Especially the medical stuff," Akira answered. "I don't know about you guys but I took some good hits yesterday. If we're going into something like that again or worse, we'll want something strong to keep us going."

"Amen to that," Ryuji said with a grimace.

"Try out the doctor in Yongen-Jaya," Ann suggested. "Ta... something. A woman, she's supposed to be excellent. I've heard of her from other models over things like prescriptions, diet advice and medical check-ups."

"I live in that area. I'll track her down. There's also the matter of the stuff we found 'over there.' It's not doing us any good in a box."

"I'll find us a fence," Morgana replied.

"I can pitch in too," Ann added. "If what you have is worth anything, I'll find someone who can get us a good price."

"It'll look strange if a student is handling gems and expensive perfume."

"That goes for Akira-san too, doesn't it? Carmen will help me; I won't get caught."

"Hm. All right, we'll get you half of the stash. It's better to not rely too heavily on one avenue, or it'll catch attention or mess us up if someone can't pull through."

"That's what we'll do."

"Shouldn't we have a logo or somethin'?" Ryuji asked. "You always hear about thieves deliverin' notes with signatures so people knew who they are."

Morgana nodded. "A calling card. I was just about to get to that. The message will be a big part of this, but something that's unique to us will really make Kamoshida take us seriously. He won't have a choice but to respond to our challenge."

The surface of Akira's soul rippled. "I have an idea we can use. I'll take care of it."

Ann asked. "Can you draw?"

"Well enough. It feels like… I know I can do it."

"Sounds good to me."

"Once Kamoshida sees our message, we'll have to hit the castle," Morgana told them. "There'll be no turning back, so we have to be ready for anything. It might take a few days for all this to come together, so I ask that you keep your heads clear until then. I know it won't be easy."

"Got that right," Ryuji grumbled.

Ann nodded, but then said, "For Shiho. I can do this."

"We all can. If there's anything else, contact us."

7 7 7

Ryuji and Ann moved away from Akira, going deeper into the park and conversing quietly. The specifics of what the note would say were the first and second thing on their minds. They spitballed ideas, brought up names, vented on occasion, and generally made progress in this new form of larceny neither had any experience in. They narrowed the ideas down as they went, considering some points or phrases and discarding others for being too obvious, and by the time they made their slow trek out of the park and through the busy Tokyo streets, they knew what they wanted to say and what it was going to look like.

Ann looked around them from time to time, watching the students from other schools chatting and laughing as they went by. "Do you and Akira-san have a place to meet when you need to talk business? You always hear about thieves having a secret hideout where they plan their heists and split the loot."

"Nothin' too secret. The last few times we met on the school roof, that's been quiet enough and outta the way so far." Ryuji grimaced. "But the Student Council Prez saw us come down one time, so I dunno how long we'll be able to keep usin' it."

"Hopefully for a while. That's a good spot. If we're careful with it I think we can make it work, and the air vents would cover sound pretty well. We just need to make sure we watch what we say in case anyone else comes up there."

"Yeah, last thing we need is for someone to listen in and track it back to–" Ryuji realized something and swore. "How much money you got?"

"Why? I'm not lending you any, if that's why you're asking."

"It isn't. I just thought, this message is gonna be posted at our school, right?"

"Right. So?"

"So that's where our teachers are. They've seen our handwritin'. If this catches fire, they're gonna go into damage control and start lookin' close at people."

"Which means comparing the note to whatever they have from the students," Ann finished in disgust. "Good thinking. Looks like we'll need to do some arts and crafts."

They split up in the nearby shopping district and bought what they needed. Ann got some fashion and teen mags and a newspaper 'to check my parents' stocks,' she lied, and Ryuji got some sports rags and a coupon book from a passing vendor. "I've got scissors and glue at my place," Ryuji said when they had what they needed. "It's pretty close. You wanna work there?"

"That's fair. You came to my place last time."

When they got there, Ann looked around once they were inside. "It's been a while since I've been here."

"A few years, easy."

"Not since…"

"Yeah."

She winced. "Sorry, I didn't mean…"

"It's fine. Let's just get to work."

They did, and they navigated their space easily, cutting out names and working on phrases to make the message complete and legible, but also completely anonymous. Half an hour passed and they were building the list of victims when Ryuji muttered, "I still can't believe he got to so many girls. One's too many, but this is insane."

Ann nodded bleakly. "These were the names on the statues he had. I remember hearing about some of these girls, how they transferred out in the middle of the year or had problems and stopped showing up to class. Everyone had some idea of what happened to them, you know how it is. If Kamoshida really did hurt all of them, then he's got a lot to answer for."

Ryuji looked across the table at her. "Be careful with that."

"With what? We already agreed on what to say, I'm not going to change it now."

"I mean Kamoshida, 'over there.' You haven't faced him before. He's the king of that castle for a reason."

"Maybe. He needs to pay."

"And we'll be there to make it happen. But make sure there's somethin' for you on the other side of your revenge."

She looked over, puzzled. "After what he did to you I figured you'd be ready to fight him, no holds barred."

Ryuji rubbed his leg. "I am. But I thought that last time, too, and he took more than I thought I had to lose. You never know how bad somethin' can get until someone makes it even worse, so be careful. Shiho's gonna need you after all this, and I remember your parents bein' really great people. I don't wanna have to make that phone call."

"I… yeah, I understand."

"Good. That's all I wanted to say."

"Thanks, Ryuji. For looking out for me. I meant to say that yesterday."

He shrugged. "No worries. If we're doin' this together then you may as well be part of the team. C'mon, that's enough chatter. Let's get this done."

7 7 7

Akira thought he'd seen most of what Yongen-Jaya had to offer in his previous explorations of the district. The vacant buildings, the shop stalls and store fronts, the particular spots where people hung out or the shortcuts taken by those ducking local traffic, the place had a pulse to it that he was getting used to far quicker than he expected, being a kid from the countryside.

Then again, it was hard to get jolted by the press and proclivities of normal people after being subjected to Shadows 'over there' and dealing with Igor and his miniature guards. Rude passersby and pushy vendors felt positively pedestrian by comparison.

Still, finding the clinic Ann-san mentioned took more time than he expected – he had to ask for directions twice. Both times the people knew what he was talking about, both times they commented on how off the beaten track it was, and both times the speakers expressed the sentiment, "She's very good, but…"

Akira finally tracked the place down, at first missing the sign reading "Takemi Medical Clinic" thanks to how far back from the street it was, and took an appraising look. Nothing from the outside seemed out of place, and when he made that comment to Morgana, the cat replied, "Appearances are deceiving, but I don't feel anything wrong here either." The locals didn't skirt the building or look away from it like they might a police station or a yakuza-run gambling hall, and the father who came out of the clinic door with his daughter just then seemed relieved while the girl appeared happy, an empty candy wrapper in hand.

Akira shrugged and went inside. What was the worst that could happen?

Antiseptic and cleanliness were the first things he noticed, and that was expected enough to calm his imagination. This was how a clinic should be run, after all. Next was the silence of the place, no screams from the back room or moaning patients in front. There wasn't anyone in the waiting room at all.

But then the lady behind the desk asked, "Can I help you?" and Akira stiffened instinctively, turning one jerky move at a time.

She was slim, her dark hair in a bob, and had the pale skin of someone who didn't get out much. A spiked choker brought the eye to the smooth length of her neck. The dark dress under her white coat curved with her figure, making a promise of cleavage that the rest of her attire kept secret. Aesthetically she was attractive in a punk rocker sort of way, an obvious contrast that would have put Akira off balance if not for her eyes doing that job already. They were dark as a falcon's, fixed on him, unmoving, and he felt like she was seeing a lot more than he was going to tell her. Second, the air around her felt still. The clinic was air conditioned and temperature controlled, but though he could hear the air hissing through the vents, he got the impression that it would stop as it approached her and wait as she passed through it.

Akira swallowed. Was this Ann-san's revenge on him? Her way of getting even? He felt Morgana peek around his shoulder and then dive back into his bag, the little traitor.

"Are you here on someone's behalf?" she went on.

"Pardon?"

"You look fine and I've never seen you before. Did someone leave a purse here and you're here to retrieve it?"

Those polished dark eyes felt capable of scouring away any lie. Persona or not, Akira was certain that he would do well to not try and hide things from this woman. "N-no."

"Then what do you need?"

Akira straightened. "I was looking for Takemi-sensei. I assume I'm speaking to her?"

"You might be."

Her deadpan delivery threw Akira's composure. He tried again. "I never knew there was a doctor in this part of the district. I'm new here so this is an interesting find."

"I'm glad I could interest you."

"Uh, right."

His discomfort was either beneath her notice or the point of the exercise. She looked him over with a flat stare and asked, "Are you sick? Any chronic conditions or illnesses?"

"No."

"Then you've seen everything you need to, right? Or is there something else I can help you with?"

"So you are Takemi-sensei? I don't see anyone else here."

"Yes, if you must know."

Akira cleared his throat and approached the desk. "I know a guy who used to be an athlete. Something happened to his leg and he's got a limp. I'm wondering if you can recommend any non-prescription painkillers for him."

She blinked once. "Non-prescription? Why?"

"I want to help him, and I don't think he likes doctors."

"Most athletes don't."

"You also came recommended," Akira tried. "The people who just left looked pretty happy."

Her stare didn't move. "They recommended me?"

"No. One of my classmates did. Blond, foreign, a high school student – I think she models on the side."

"I might know who you mean. If you need normal painkillers, why not go to a proper drug store?"

"I figured I'd come talk to a professional first. See what she thinks is best."

She stood up and leaned forward. The piercing quality of her eyes intensified. "Just a professional, hm?"

Akira hedged, unsure where this scrutiny was coming from. "Should I not seek out proper medical help?"

"Your accent. You're not from here, are you?"

"No."

"What do your parents do?"

Akira winced. That was a sore topic. "My dad works for a farm equipment engineering firm, my mom–"

She pulled a pill bottle from her pocket and held it in front of his face. "Read this."

"Phen… Phensux… what is that?"

She put the bottle away. "Hm. Good enough. Come here."

He did. "What was that about?"

"Do you want my help?"

"Yes."

"Then there will be some questions you don't need answers to. I won't endanger you or your friend, but I'll also tell you what I want at my discretion. Understood?"

"Yes, Takemi-sensei."

"Good. Tell your friend to try these. There's nothing illegal in them, but they pack more punch than the stuff you'd find at the store. They should also be easier on his body and not run the risk of dependence or addiction, but don't let him use so much of it that that's a problem in the first place."

"I'll be careful." Akira took a few packets of the offered drug and was quoted a price. He paid it without question. "Do you have anything for sale that would help keep me awake?" He asked.

"Stimulants? What do you need those for?"

"Studying for my entrance exams. They're coming up next year, but I want to get a head start."

She narrowed those dark eyes. "I've seen you before, haven't I? Do you go to the coffee shop on the other side of the district?"

"Leblanc. I'm staying there for now."

"So have Sakura-san brew you something strong. He knows what he's doing."

"You're a customer of his?"

"A regular. He makes the best curry in Tokyo, hands down. It's criminal that more people don't know about him."

Akira hoped his grimace wasn't too obvious. "Well, he's not too fond of me. It's complicated."

"Perhaps. Because you're a minor, I'll be asking him about this next time I see him."

"Go ahead. Should I call him right now for you?"

"Hm… no. I'm sure he's busy. But he would probably like to know that his nephew is asking about this."

"We're not related. Like I said, it's complicated."

She looked at him for a long few seconds, then gave him another handful of packets. "These'll give you a jolt, but don't rely on them. If I find out you drove yourself to exhaustion, you won't like the side of me you see."

"That won't happen, Takemi-sensei. Thanks." Akira paid again, then asked, "Could I bother you for one more recommendation?"

Her voice went hard. "You're pushing it, kid. What do you need?"

"A good library."

"They don't have one at your school?"

"My classmates are there. They can be distracting."

"That's benign enough," she decided after a moment, writing an address on a piece of paper. "Sure, here's one that's not too far away."

"Thanks."

When he reached for it, she moved the paper back out of reach. "This stays between us," she told him in a tone that allowed for no argument. "The meds, that I even have them, no one else hears about it, understand? If it gets back to me that you told people the quack doctor on the corner is peddling drugs, we're going to have a problem. Understand?"

"Perfectly. I wouldn't do that, and I don't think your patients would believe me if I said that. Even the people who think you're a bit… eccentric all had good things to say about you as a doctor."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Hm."

"Should they not say that? It's the same impression I have."

"Not everyone thinks that way about me, kid. Are we done?"

"Yes, Takemi-sensei. Thank you again."

She waved him off.

Akira headed for the door, but before he got to it, she said, "Unless your cat is a service animal, leave him outside. I like them and there's no one here right now, but this is a medical clinic. I have patients to think about."

"I understand." He turned to elaborate, but she was already head down at her desk and writing out forms. He left and closed the door quietly. It was a few seconds before he let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. "That was…"

"Yeah, I hear you." Morgana jumped down to the street and shook his head. "I can't believe she knew I was there. Maybe I got careless."

"I saw that. But why doesn't anyone at school see you?"

"It's a bit like what Ann-san did at the park. She makes it so people pay attention to her, I make it so they don't pay attention to me. They won't step on me or anything – some part of their mind recognizes that something is there – but they never actually notice me."

"Sakura-san did, though."

"And he's why I use it now. It works on most people, so those are just the few exceptions." Morgana looked back at the clinic. "If she knew I was there then she must see a lot. Maybe she's even a bit overly suspicious. I wonder what made her like that. Either way, I think she notices a lot more than she lets on."

"That's the same impression I got. Not a bad trait for a good doctor, though."

"I agree, so let's stay on her good side." Morgana stretched. "Now that that's done I'm going to go make some contacts for that stuff we got from the castle. The sooner we get rid of it, the less we have to worry about someone finding it in your room."

"You're going on your own? Want me to come with you?"

"It'll be easier if you don't."

"Who're you going to talk to? Other cats?"

"Would you believe me if I said I was?"

Akira thought that over. "Good point. Be careful around traffic and don't get caught."

"A proper thief is ready for anything. You're going to the library?"

"Yeah. I don't want anyone at school to see me doing research or practicing on something they'll see later."

"Good thinking. I'll meet you at Leblanc later." Morgana darted into the crowd, and a few seconds later he was gone. Akira turned and left in the opposite direction.

The library took some time to get to, but that was what Akira wanted. He slipped in, found the art section, and proceeded to get lost. He knew his drawing skills weren't up to what he wanted to do and he needed some references, but while he expected to find some books on technique, the huge selection and particular terminology stayed his hand from picking at anything.

"I'll be right back, Sensei," someone said nearby.

Akira almost didn't hear the words, so irrelevant they were, but then a tall, slim student around his age with blue-black hair stepped over and looked at the books on offer. "Let's see here… oh, pardon me."

Akira stepped aside. "No, excuse me. Go ahead."

"You were here first, so you should have your pick of the books."

"I'm not sure what to get or where to look, actually. I don't want to hold you up."

"It's no trouble. Since you are here I assume you are sketching something. If you don't mind me asking, what is the subject?"

Akira grasped at the first thing his mind offered. "A… live model."

"That's a bit complex for a beginner, isn't it? Oh, I'm sorry, I'm assuming you are a beginner. That was rude of me."

Akira shrugged, trying for nonchalance. "That's fine. You're right, I am. That's just how the classes fell."

"What school are you from?"

"Shujin Academy. I'm Kurusu Akira."

The student bowed politely. "Kitagawa Yusuke, from Kosei Academy. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Kitagawa-san pursed his lips in thought. "I didn't know Shujin's model drawing class had started already. Interesting."

Akira hoped he wasn't sweating too obviously, caught in such an obvious lie.

It seemed to be enough, though. Kitagawa-san shrugged. "Well, would you be offended if I offered you some pointers?"

"You're an artist?"

"A painter, but I started with sketches of people and scenery."

"You know more than I do. I'll take whatever you can give me. Thank you."

"Not at all. Now, for sketching…"

Kitagawa-san picked out a few books from the shelf and led Akira to a table. What followed was a swift tutorial on sketching the human form that was remarkably in depth. Not only was Kitagawa-san knowledgeable, he was good at explaining why his techniques worked. He was clearly in his element, sometimes going off into the weeds, until his phone vibrated and he smiled ruefully. "Ah. I got carried away; I was only going to be here for a moment. Excuse me, I have to leave."

"Of course. Thank you very much for the help, this was perfect."

"It was a pleasure, Kurusu-san. Until next time." He got up, grabbed the books he'd come in for, and left.

Akira got back to work, expanding on his notes of what he'd learned and making examples from the books for the future. Then he went to a new sheet and set it against the table so even the imprint wouldn't be on the next page of his notebook, then pulled from the sea of his soul.

He struggled. Reality was a weight on his Personas, even though all he was trying for was drawing Arsene to the surface. It was shaky and uneven like handling a plate with soapy hands. Ann-san seemed able to communicate with Carmen in the real world, was that because of how intense her summoning had been? Or was it something else? Akira focused and caught that feeling again, this time a little more sure, and used what Kitagawa-san had shown him and let Arsene guide his hand.

It took time. Akira quickly appreciated how much work was needed to make even a basic version of what he wanted. He tried over and over, tearing out pages and stuffing them in his bag and starting from scratch until his hand cramped up and the library made the call to close. Then he went back to Leblanc and kept practicing. Against the deterrent of the real world and his own inexperience, he brought the image in his mind to form.

It was hours later, deep into night, when he finally got it right. Morgana had returned, tapping on the window to be let in and watching quietly once he saw what was going on. Akira destroyed all the failed attempts – no sense in being careless and getting caught by leaving the evidence around. Finally he got what he wanted. He showed it to Morgana and they both grinned.

It was still rough, but there on the sheet was a familiar glowing mask, a burning face and Arsene's top hat.

The Phantom Thieves had their calling card.

7 7 7

They were ready Monday, April 22nd. Morgana's contact had led to several pawn shop owners who were eager to buy just the sort of things that Akira had to sell, no questions asked, and Ann-san came through with her share and added a healthy sum to their war chest. The tools and trinkets, the medicine from the clinic, and the message to Kamoshida and the calling card were all acquired with patience and focus. At lunch, Akira sent out the message to meet on the school roof after class. The sentiment when they arrived, past the non-incriminating conversation, was that their plans were in place. Things could finally move forward.

"I'll be glad to deal with that prick," Ryuji muttered with a glare when they had all arrived. "You seen him? He's struttin' around like a rooster, tryin' to show his stuff. He thinks he got away with it."

Akira replied, "That's going to change. Morgana says we have everything ready to do this."

"Good. I'm not sure how much more I can stand seein' him."

"Once he sees the calling card, that's when we'll be able to hit him?" Ann asked.

Morgana nodded. "Yes. He'll see it and then we'll do exactly what we planned."

Akira stated, "Then we'll go in tomorrow and settle this. First we'll deliver the message and the card. Morgana and I will do that tonight."

Ryuji grumbled. "Wish I could be there with ya, but I see why we're doin' it this way."

"I'll need an alibi, too, so where will you be?"

"An arcade at Shibuya. Lots of guys from my class go there. I'll make sure they see me."

"What about you, Ann-san?"

She shrugged. "I'm doing some renovating. Don't worry, I've already talked about it in class. I'll make sure people see me at the store."

Akira stated, "It's been said before, but we're expecting him to put up a serious fight. Make sure you're ready for one."

Her tone went hard. "I'm more than ready."

So did Ryuji's. "Same."

"Then we'll see you two in the morning."

Ryuji grinned. "I can't wait to see that asshole's face. Wonder if anyone'll take pictures."

Akira left and kept quiet through class like normal for the rest of the day, went back to Leblanc like usual, and got everything Morgana said he'd need. Once it was dark he grabbed his bag and headed out, telling Sakura-san he was meeting a friend at the arcade.

"Stay outta trouble," was the grumbling response.

If only he knew.

Akira kept to the alleys Ryuji suggested and crept up on Shujin, jumped the fence and went around to the track field. No one was around. Morgana crept forward, eyes and ears everywhere, and let him know when the coast was clear. Akira took off his glasses, donned his black mask, and crept along behind the cat. The side door Ryuji mentioned was open, and the dark halls felt different from how they did in daytime. He half expected the walls to shift into the unreality of the Palace.

Akira felt the familiar grin turn his cheeks up. He couldn't help it. The exhilaration of working a job was still as potent as the first time.

"Calm down," Morgana warned. "Don't get careless. This is where people make mistakes, and we can't afford that."

Akira nodded, paying attention to his footsteps and the lessons he'd learned 'over there.' But it still would have taken acid and a pry bar to remove the smile from his face.

They ducked the nighttime security and janitors, getting the timing down and confirming Ryuji's schedule for them. The intel was good – nothing had changed much. In short order the two were at the bulletin board at the front of the school.

"Now," Morgana instructed, looking up at the glass case, "help me up."

Akira knelt and let the cat jump onto his shoulder. Using his claws and teeth to handle the lockpicks, Morgana was working on the mechanism with only a little less proficiency than when he'd been 'over there.' The lock gave and Akira silently moved the door aside and got to work. The cut-and-pasted message covered two sheets of paper, and they were set across the school announcements like war paint on a marble statue. The calling card was set between them, impossible to miss.

Just like that, the job was done. Odds were that no one would notice anything until the morning, and by then that was exactly the point.

"Let's go," Morgana said.

"One minute," Akira answered. He set his homemade pick into the lock and wrenched it to the side. It broke off, jamming a piece of metal into the lock, and Akira bent the stump into the keyhole, out of sight. Now when the students and teachers saw this, they wouldn't be able to take it down.

Akira's grin was hurting his cheeks now.

The two thieves retraced their steps and left the way they came in, making sure nothing was out of place. They skirted the field and hopped the fence, looking normal again by the time they reached the street. The last step was to take a cab to Shibuya, maybe hit up the arcade with Ryuji to make sure they were seen together, then take the last train back to make sure his pass didn't have any unexplainable stops on it. When the two were a few blocks away from Shujin, Akira couldn't contain himself and broke into laughter, covering his mouth to not stand out too much but he couldn't stop once he started.

"What's so funny?" Morgana asked.

It took a while before Akira answered. By the time he could speak, his body was trembling and he had to wipe his eyes clear of tears. "The school's name, you know what it means?"

"Prison, isn't it? Someone's idea of a bad joke."

"Before I came here, when I was back home and everything was normal, I didn't do any of this. No jumping fences, no cards, no dealing with teachers or breaking and entering or vandalism, nothing."

"So?"

"So I haven't even been here for a month and I've done all of that." Akira looked over with a wild smile and bright eyes. "It's only after someone put me in prison that I became a criminal."

Post Script: Thus ends another great chapter! We'll have to wait until August 19th to see what happens next, but because I'm the best Persona writer out there I figure I'll give you all a little hint of what's to come. No need to thank me.

"What manner of worms dare to challenge me?! Come then, little thieves! Try to steal that which is mine and die at my hand for your trespasses!"