Chapter 23: Fallout with Counselling
September 23rd, 2016
"Thank you for taking your time out of your busy schedules to gather here." Okumura announces at a press conference, eyes set. "Today, I'd like to elaborate upon the whole truth behind my company's labour situation. How my employees were forced to work under severe conditions, how…lax we were with sanitation…and how my corporation acted as a whole to…cover up this scandal. For all this, I wholeheartedly apologize."
Flashes from cameras blind his vision as talks whisper between the audience.
"All of this was done under my orders. I am solely responsible."
"What about those that had resigned from due to mysterious illnesses? Furthermore, these happened to be officials who stood against your proposal for overseas expansion. The same thing happened to executives at competing companies who were looking to expand abroad."
"Ah…about that. I have a critical piece of information to announce here today. It is related to the epidemic caused by the Mental Shutdowns and Psychotic Breakdowns."
The audience holds their breath, waiting for whatever Okumura had to say. Okumura opens his mouth, ready to say the words.
But he never got the chance.
Before he uttered a word, the doors leading to the stage were forcibly broken down as a team of riot police, their faces masked and hidden, burst onto the stage as two forcibly forced Okumura off his seat.
"Kunikazu Okumura, you are under arrest!" One of the men shouts before dragging him away, leaving behind an audience confused and fearful. From those watching the action via the television and their phones in Leblanc, it was an atmosphere of gloom.
"It would seem Shido has made his move." Yoshida comments with a frown. "Unable to kill him, he has him forcibly removed before he could speak. The typical reaction of a tyrant." He turns his eyes to Haru, sitting next to Yusuke with her head locked on the table. "I am sorry for what he is going though, Okumura-chan."
"Thank you, Toranosuke-san." Haru replies before glancing around the café. Every member of the Phantom Thieves and their confidants, barring Akechi, Kasumi and Maruki, were inside. Sure, it was a little cramped, but it had to do.
"Now that we are all here, we need to discuss how things are going forward." Ren stars, placing his hands on the table. "Since Okumura is still alive, Shido won't be able to pin the blame of the Mental Shutdowns on us. Or if he tries, it won't be as effective as it was originally."
"Having said that, there is the possibility Yaldabaoth will influence the public opinion to side with him, just like he did when we first defeated Shido." Makoto joins in.
"What do you expect from something calling itself the 'God of Control'. He's practically public enemy number one to us journalists." Ohya comments with a frown.
"So, what's going to happen? Target Shido right now?" Shinya asks while tilting his cap.
"Much as we want to, we are no where near as strong as we were when we first entered his Palace. Especially against Black Mask." Ryuji comments with a groan. "It felt like he was playing with us."
"Then there's the fact that his identity is completely unknown to us." Ann adds. "We know he's not Akechi, but Akechi HAS been to the Metaverse."
"Did you get a good look at his face? Something that can identify him?" Takemi asks. The Thieves glance at each other, each thinking back to the fight.
"There was one thing I noticed." Hifumi comments. "Before he attacked us, there was a glow on his head that took the form of a cross."
"Now that you mention it, I think I saw a cross-like scar on his face when I locked weapons with him." Mishima comments.
"A cross-like scar, huh?" Iwai comments, pulling down his cap. "Think I remember hearing a rumour about something like that."
"You did?" Kawakami asks, putting away a duster. Why she was absentmindedly dusting away, nobody asked. Although Sojiro was secretly grateful for it.
"Yeah. Just a rumour, but I remember hearing about something happening a good few years back before the whole Mental Shutdown stuff. Something about a P-1 Grand Prix, but no matter what I looked up, it looked nothing but a hoax. But after spending time with you, something in my gut tells me it is Metaverse-related."
"That makes sense. There have been other Wild Cards and Persona users before us. Black Mask even admitted to fighting two different wild cards and their teams before us." Futaba confirms.
"Each one revolving around the Fool's journey." Chihaya adds, placing her tarot cards on the table.
"Before we came back from the final battle, Igor told us about how a Wild card and their team managed to save the world from death. Although it cost the Wild Card their life." Ren admits. "Maybe their team was one of the groups Black Mask referred to?"
"This brings it back to what I mentioned. Apparently, during this incident in Inaba, a guy was walking around with a cross-like scar on his face." Iwai reveals. "His name was Sho Minazuki."
"Sho Minazuki?" Sae asks, placing a hand on her chin. "I think I heard the SIU director talking about him a few times. Although, I've never seen him in person."
"I think I have." Toranosuke replies, folding his arms. "Recently, Shido has been seen with a young man with red hair. I've never seen his face, but it is possible that he is this Sho Minazuki."
"Futaba, do you think you can find out more about him?" Yusuke asks as all eyes turn to the hacker.
"Maybe. I won't find out until I try." Futaba replies with a nod of her head.
"Having said that, what should we do now?" Shiho asks with a hand on her knee. "There's no way Shido won't let us slip past without trying something."
"I fear you may be right." Sae agrees with a sigh. "Just last night, I received a message saying that the SIU is now being included in the Phantom Thieves' case. Even though they are not being held as suspects for the Mental Shutdowns, they are being considered threats great enough for the SIU to get involved. And it will begin next week."
"Which means we might get interviewed at school again. Like last time." Ren surmises. "Do they suspect anyone at Shujin, Sae-san?"
"At the moment, no. But I can guarantee that they will visit to interview the students, but from what I've heard they are looking elsewhere."
"Meaning you kids have more breathing room than you did before." Sojiro chimes in before shaking his head. "But even so, it doesn't help that they are all in Shido's pocket."
"In that case, why don't we target the SIU Director now?" Morgana asks. While those who understood him turned to look, those who didn't just stared questioningly at him. "Looks, it's clear that the Director and Shido are in cahoots. So we should target him now and remove a powerful ally from Shido's side before he drags his Shadow into his Palace."
"Erm…what's the kitty saying?" Ohya asks, earning a bristled look from Morgana.
"He's saying we should target the SIU Director." Makoto translates. "We already know he has a Palace, and we already planned to target him. We just need to decide when to go for his Palace."
"Do you even know where it is? Or what it even is?" Kawakami asks.
"Yeah, we do. It's the Prosecutor's building, right outside the courthouse." Ryuji says, earning a wince from Sae.
"The place that was originally my Palace before my change of heart…" She says with a whisper.
"Alright, so you know where it is. But what is it?" Takemi asks. Only to earn a collective sigh from the Thieves.
"That is the problem. We do not know." Yusuke replies, taking his phone out. "We have tried almost everything, but the answer eludes us."
"Strip club!" Ohya suddenly shouts, much to everyone's confused looks.
Conditions have not been met.
"Well, it was worth a try…"
"What made you think it would be a strip club?" Toranosuke asks with a shake of his head.
"Armory." Iwai suggests, only to receive the same result. "Not that either…" As everyone racked their brains on the codeword, Sae looked at the phone in deep thought before opening her mouth to speak.
"Execution grounds."
Conditions have been met. Please enter the area to begin navigation.
"That's…dark…" Shinya remarks as Yusuke pockets his phone.
"What made you think it was that?" Sojiro asks.
"It's something that he mumbles about a lot sometimes, that we prosecutors are modern day executioners handing out the sentences. That the courts are a show." Sae replies, a disgusted look on her face. "How far from the truth that could be."
"Sis…" Makoto whispers silently as Sae looks at the table. Hiding her eyes.
"Well, now that we have our way in, we should plan when to start the infiltration." Ren says while folding his arms. "When do you want to start?"
"Honestly, I want to say now, but if the SIU is going to be showing up at school, I think it's best if we wait until October. Maybe the near the end of the month?" Ann suggests.
"Work's for me." Ryuji remarks, folding his arms. One by one, the rest of the Thieves agree, setting the Infiltration date as October 30th.
With the date agreed upon, each of Ren's confidant's left one by one. So not to arouse any suspicion, only The Thieves, Sojiro and Sae were left. But just as Sae was about to leave, she paused for a moment before turning back to the others.
"Ren, I have a request I want to make." She says, catching his attention. "When the day comes, and you infiltrate his Palace, allow me to come with you. I want to see the corruption that has befallen the office with my own eyes."
"Sis, are you sure?" Makoto asks, surprised by the request. And she was not the only one, as the rest of the Thieves looked in shock.
"I am. I have been blind to it for far too long. It is time I faced it." Silence filled the Café as Ren considered the request before nodding to her.
"If that's what you want, then we accept. We'll let you know when we're readying to infiltrate."
"Thank you." Sae replies, before leaving the café. Leaving the Thieves to ponder and plan.
Ren was expecting to be woken up this night. It always happens when they have their target confess. Even as the soft piano fills the air, he still didn't want to get up. But still he does, only to see what Yald's face is like for escaping this trap.
"It would seem that you have encountered the rouge Persona user." 'Igor' says with his hands folded. "You were lucky to survive."
"What matters to me is that Okumura still lives." Ren replies, not wanting to give Yaldabaoth any idea that they know about his identity.
"So it would seem." 'Igor' agrees. "You have escaped the trap laid before you with remarkable ease. I wonder…did you know that he would appear?"
Uh oh… "No, we didn't, but we prepared in case we did. We did catch a glimpse of him while in Kobayakawa's Palace, but even then we were unsure if we would face him again." Can't let him get any more suspicious of me.
'Igor' stares at Ren for a moment, seemingly judging his words before nodding his head. "I see. Your prudence for preparation is something to be admired. Indeed, your rehabilitation is proceeding all according to plan." Ren internally scowls as he sees the eights star appear on the Jester Card. But it was only then that he noticed that his two wardens were being unusually quiet.
Before he could ask either of them what was wrong, the siren flares signally the approaching of dawn.
"Once again, out time is over. I look forward to how you move forward." 'Igor' says, chuckling darkly as Ren leaves the Velvet Room.
September 24th, 2016
"Boss is taking a while to return. Did he not say he was going out for a smoke?" Hifumi asks, wiping down one of the counters. Ren, currently sweeping behind the bar, shrugged his shoulders in response.
"Sometimes he has more than one. And considering what we talked about yesterday, I don't blame him." He replies. Hifumi nods her head in acceptance as the door jingles open, and Maruki walks inside.
"Ah, Ren-kun! I was hoping you were here." Maruki says happily, walking up to the counter before seeing Hifumi. "And you must be Hifumi Togo. Futaba-chan mentioned you were living here. It's nice to meet you." He offers a hand to her, with Hifumi shaking it in return.
"A pleasure to meet you as well, Doctor Maruki. Ren and the others have said a lot about you to me and Yusuke."
"Good things I hope." Maruki replies with a warm smile, turning to look at Ren."
"Would it be anything else? Nice to see you again anyway Doc. What brings you to Leblanc today?" Ren asks, already moving to pour him a cup of coffee as Maruki takes a seat.
"Well, I was hoping we could talk more since the last time. It has been a long time since we last spoke after all." Ren couldn't deny that, what with the summer break and then Hawaii trip, they hadn't had a chance to speak in a while.
"Of course it's fine." Ren easily replies, placing a cup on the bar. "Here, on the house. Just don't tell Boss." Ren jokes as Maruki takes a sip, humming in satisfaction.
"Amazing. Sakura-san has taught you well." Maruki praises. "Anyway, what I wanted to talk about was the research we were discussing about. I'm actually putting it all together in a paper."
"A paper? You mean you want to publish it?" Hifumi asks. She had been told by the others what Maruki was researching, so as not to feel left out if she ever met him.
"That's right." Maruki nods with a smile. "And it's been really progressing lately, no small thanks to Ren and his friends. But I feel like I've hit another wall…"
"What wall have you hit?" Ren asks. Even if he and Hifumi couldn't answer it, they could still bounce ideas around.
"Well, in deepening our understanding of the heart, I wanted to find a means to help those who have been hurt by traumas. I already told you that was the point of all my research, right?"
"That's right. Something that we support as well." Ren replies with a nod.
"Finding ways to help people overcome their trauma will always be a good cause. Provided that it has no negative points, that is." Hifumi adds.
"That is true, Hifumi." Maruki agrees. "But because of all the progress I've made…I've realised a problem. One that may not have any solution." At Ren and Hifumi's silence, he continues. "Even if my research makes grate strides, even if we DO find some miraculous way of healing psychological wounds… With the way things are right now, I can only save the people directly within my reach."
"Isn't that enough though?" Hifumi asks with a tilted head. "To be able to save these you can easily reach?"
"…True, I guess. It's better than not being able to save anyone. But I just can't be satisfied with that. I mean, there are so many people out there suffering so badly they can't even speak up and let that pain out. This is a painful, bitter cruel world. And there's only so much one individual can do to fight against that. And working as a counsellor has only made that more painful obvious."
"So, you think our current ways of doing things isn't enough?" Ren asks, leaning back on the ranks behind him. Maruki shakes his head, folding his hands on his lap.
"I don't know. Deep down, I… I don't think it's enough that I can just help people around me. A few people, out of billions. I want to help more people overcome their suffering. Pain can strike the heart in infinitely diverse ways. In turn, we have infinite methods by which we try to treat it."
"In the end, I began to think that my work would not be enough to finally beat trauma. And I guess that's what I ultimately realised." Maruki finishes with a frown.
"That is a hard question to answer." Hifumi admits. "But are you going to call it a game like that?"
"No, I will not." Maruki replies adamantly. "But if there was a easier way of looking into a persona heart to find the root cause of their trauma, I believe it would help tremendously. But, that's only a dream. There's no way a person can actually delve into someone's heart like that." Closing his eyes while shaking his head, he misses the knowing glance between the two.
"So, you are saying that it would be better if people could understand one's cognition quickly and easily?" Ren questions.
"Yes! That's right." Maruki says, snapping his fingers. "But not just one person, EVERYONE's cognition." That struck a cord with the two Thieves, their minds flashing to Mementos. "But such a thing is impossible…"
"All hearts share the same thing, Doc. There are similarities." Ren says subconsciously. Wait, what am I saying? I can't tell him about Mementos! Or should I…? And from the look Hifumi was giving him, she was thinking the same things.
"Huh? Yes, there are common factors…" Maruki says before his eyes shoot wide open as though he was struck by a lightning bolt. "No, wait… You're right! Dear kami, you're right! That's it, Ren! The collective unconscious… If people's hearts are connected in the unconscious, their senses are shared subconsciously! Ah, it's so simple! Why didn't I realise it before?"
What have I created?
"If I can combine this with the theory I'm verifying, I can tie it all back to cognitive psience, too!" The grin Maruki was sporting was so wide it threatened to split his face.
"Call down, Maruki, or you'll explode." Hifumi says, shaking her head.
"S-Sorry." Maruki replies sheepishly. "But I think you helped me make a major breakthrough. I think this means something big for my cognitive psience research. I need to hurry and get this written down in my paper." Maruki stands up, but before he bolts her turns to Ren again. "Before I go, how about we meet up a few more times next week? I understand the SIU will be investigating the school about the Thieves and with your past experience with the law…"
Subconsciously, Ren flinches. His mind flashes back, or forwards, to November 20th. The beatings, the injections, the near death. Even if his body has not gone through that, his mind and heart still remember. He swore he could feel some of the aftereffects from that day, even though it hadn't happened.
"Yeah…I think I'll do that." Ren agree. As Maruki smiles with a nod, Ren sees the sixth star appear on his card before he vanishes from the café.
"Ren? Are you alright?" Hifumi asks, entering into big sister mode. Ren takes a breath, moving around to sit on a stool as he takes his glasses off.
"I will be. Just need a moment." He sighs wearily. "It's strange. November 20th hasn't happened yet, so the scars from that day are not on me. But I can still feel the pain from that day at random times. Maybe I still have those scars on my heart."
"I'm afraid I can't answer that." Hifumi says. "But I can say this. None of us will allow that to happen again." Ren nods his head, putting his glasses on as he stands up once more.
"Never again."
September 27th, 2016
"How are you doing Ren-kun?" Haru asks with the two heading to the nurses office. Makoto would be with them, but she and the student council were being questioned by the investigators.
"Fine so far. The interview went as how was last time." Ren replies. "Although, I had to suppress memories of the 20th… That day still haunts me and will continue to do so until we pass it…"
"We should never have gone through with that…" Haru admits with a sigh.
"What about you? How are things at home?" Ren asks, Haru had been quiet about what was happening at home ever since Okumura was arrested.
"Well, the police were all over as expected. The board of directors elected one of the people my father hadn't got to yet to lead in the intern. They have already moved to fix all the mistakes he has made. And as expected, I am being held away from the meetings." Haru explains. "Surprisingly, I am not being cut off, so I have no worries about funding for the future. But I do plan to cut all ties one day."
"And we will all be with you every step of the way." Ren replies as they arrive at the nurses' office. "Anyway, time to see what Maruki wants to talk about." He slides the door open, finding Maruki working away at his computer as he greets the two with a smile.
"Ren-kun, Haru-chan. Glad you can make it. How are you both doing?"
"We're doing well, all things considered." Ren replies neutrally.
"I see, that good to hear. Especially from you, Ren-kun." Maruki replies before looking at Haru. "I am sorry about what happened to you, Haru-chan. It must be a shock about what your father did."
"Thank you, Doctor Maruki. I admit it was painful to hear, but even so, I am glad I got to see my real father again. Even if it was for that one evening dinner and I can only ever see him on the other side of a glass wall. I would rather have that than see him killed." Maruki raises an eyebrow at that last remark but remains quiet.
"I see. I'm glad you two are moving forward with your lives. But speaking about your father, I would like your opinion on the Phantom Thieves of Heart."
"The Phantom Thieves? Why?" Ren asks politely.
"Can you blame me? The ones who 'steal the desires' of criminals, and force them to confess… It might be a bit hard to believe, but I guess I've taken an academic interest in them."
"Is it because what they are doing could be related to your studies?" Haru asks gently.
"Just so Haru-chan. I just get the feeling that the Phantom Thieves' work and my own research are rooted in the same principles. That's why I've decided to analyse them from my own perspective. For example, there's the matter of their methods."
Ren and Haru share a glance, each wondering what he had in mind.
"According to those calling cards they send out, their stated method is to 'steal your desires'. How is such a feat even possible? Any ideas?"
"Not a clue." Ren replies easily.
"Neither do I, I'm afraid." Haru also says. But she wondered if they might have spoken a bit too quickly.
"I don't blame you." Maruki replies easily. "As for me, I suppose that it'd be possible if there was some material proxy for those desires."
He's good. The two think in unison.
"Ren-kun, remember what I said about that story with the cookies."
"I do. About how the scarcer an item is, the more we covert it, right?" Ren replies, earning a nod from the doctor.
"That's right. In that experiment, the desire for the cookies actually changed the way people tasted them. I think we can look at this the same way. They're not something easily perceived, but desires have a tremendous effect on our cognition."
It's scary how he's deducing this. Haru tells herself.
"Put it another way, if that desire is gone, your cognitive perception of the cookies goes back to normal. So, does that remind you of anything?"
"It sounds similar to the change of heart." Ren replies, but for him and Haur, it was eerie how Maruki had almost deduced how they work.
"That's right. The Phantom Thieves own change of heart. That's the basis of my theory: Their 'theft of the desire' is not metaphorical but something more direct. We still don't know exactly how they steal those desires, of course… But suppose this idea of physical, tangible desires can be actualised. In that case, I think it'd logically follow that it can be taken away."
If Morgana or Ryuji were here, they would be sweating buckets right now. Ren mentally tells himself. Although, he himself was starting to feel a bit freaked out by Maruki's theory.
"In a world of intangibles… Let's say a world composed of the contents of people's hearts… Well, they're thieves, so if they could perceive a world like that, they could steal desires like any other treasure… What do you two think? Am I getting anywhere?" The two look at each other as Ren shrugs his shoulders.
"I think it is rather interesting." Haru replies for the both of them.
"You think so too? If it's actually anywhere close to the truth, it'd be incredible. Then again, we'll probably never know for sure unless we could ask one of the Phantom Thieves themselves."
If only you knew Maruki.
"I think I can construct a solid hypothesis now." Maruki pushes his glasses up. "It feels like I'm just one step away from finishing this paper. Thank you, Ren-kun, Haru-chan. And to all of your friends as well."
"It's our pleasure, Doc." Ren replies, seeing the seventh star form above Maruki. Before checking his phone for the time. "Sorry to cut it short, but we better get going."
"Of course. Stay safe on your way home." Maruki sees the two off as the leave the office. Where they both let out a breath of air.
"That was stressful for a moment." Haru admits with a whisper. "Maruki-san had almost found out how we steal hearts."
"I know. But Maruki doesn't strike me as someone with malicious intent." Ren replies, looking back at the door. "I think I'll pay him another visit later this week by myself. But first, we should let everyone know about this. Once we leave the school."
"Right." The two head off, heading to the exit as the school day wound to a close. All the while glancing back at the nurses' office with concern.
September 30th, 2016
"I'm surprised that you came to see me again so quickly, Ren-kun." Maruki admits, sitting in his chair.
"Well, I'm just making up for the holiday break, and the Hawaii trip is all." Ren admits with a smile. And making sure Shido hasn't found out about you. We don't want you to end up like Wakaba. "So, shall we start off with the usual topic?"
"Actually, I have something else I wanted to talk about." Maruki asks with a smile. "A surprise, I know, but I figured we could try and switch topics. You're in a real treat today, and I figured it has been a while since you had one as well."
"If it's more cookies, sorry, but no thanks. I've had enough for the week." Ren politely declines.
"Even I know I'm not THAT predictable." Maruki replies with a grin. "So, I found this delicious-looking buffet. It's apparently very well regarded, has all sorts of cuisines… Thanks for your input. I've been making some real progress on my paper. So, I figured I'd like to take you out to that buffet. As thanks for all, you and your friends have done. How does that sound?"
"I'll be honest. That sounds great. But could I bring some of my friends with me? I'm sure they would like it as well." Ren replies with a grin.
"Of course! I am thanking all of you after all. It would be rude of me to only bring you." Maruki easily replies. "Let's head over there before it gets busy. Can you let your friends know as we head over?" Ren nods as he brings his phone up, sending a message to the group chat.
Unfortunately, not everyone could make it. Haru was busy dealing with the fallout with her father's company, while Hifumi was busy training her Shogi skills with Futaba. Mishima and Shiho were also unavailable to come, leaving Makoto, Ryuji, Ann and Yusuke as the only ones to join them.
"All right then! Now, this is all on me today! Enjoy!" Maruki tells the young adults as the table is covered in food.
"Thanks' Doc! You're awesome." Ryuji says, already taking a large plate full of food. While Ann had already started going for the deserts.
"This is really generous of you to do this, Maruki. Thank you very much." Makoto says with a smile before filling her plate.
"Indeed. My thanks for allowing me to join." Yusuke replies, filling his plate with food.
"A friend of Ren-kun is a friend of mine, Yusuke-kun." Maruki replies, "So please, don't hold back. Eat as much as you like. Especially you Yusuke-kun, you look like you need it."
"Yeah. Yusuke spends so much on art supplies that he forgets to stock his cabinets with food." Ann comments after swallowing her food.
"I have other priorities, Ann." Yusuke comments back.
"Some things never change." Ren comments with a smile, secretly placing some of the sushi in a container for Morgana later. The group ate away in silence, only broken by the average comment about current activities and plans. Before long, the plates were cleaned and their bellies full.
"Man…I can't eat another bite." Ryuji comments, patting his stomach.
"I feel as though I have transcended to nirvana…" Yusuke replies, eyes closed. The others chuckle lightly at Yusuke's comments as Maruki watches with a calm smile.
"I am glad you all enjoyed it. By the way, since you are all here, I wanted to ask you about something."
"Let me guess, your paper?" Ren replies with a smirk. Maruki sheepishly rubs the back of his head, caught red-handed.
"Heh, you got me." He admits, before his eyes wonder, to a man nearby. "Is that…" He whispers to himself as the man spots him before greeting him with a friendly wave. "Shibusawa? I didn't know you were here."
"Hey Maruki! Long time no see." Shibusawa greets, before glancing to the teens at the table. "And who is this?"
"Student's from Shujin academy. I was tasked with being their councillor after the Kamoshida incident, but they have been more of a help to me than anything else." Shibusawa's eyes flash with recognition.
"Oh, I see." He says before looking at the kids with a smile. "Nice to meet you guys. You guys been keeping him in line?" He says jokingly, earning a chuckle out of the students.
"Well, you could say that." Ann replies with a smile.
"Shibusawa was one of my colleagues back in college. He's also the one who recommended that I pursue a career in counselling after I hit a wall." Maruki reveals with an easy smile.
"And I hear it's been doing you some good, too. I catch wind of your goings-on every so often. Honestly, it's a big relief. You have so much more compassion than most, but you can also be a bit too carefree." Shibusawa replies, earning a hum from Yusuke.
"That sounds a bit like Ren here." He comments.
"Ditto." Ryuji agrees with a head nod as the girls giggle at the two. While Ren looks away with a bashful look.
"So, what brings you here with some students anyway? A privet counselling session?" Shibusawa asks, settling in.
"Not really. Ren and his friends here have been helping me with some research on the side. This is just a thank-you gift for everything they have done. Yusuke-kun here is actually from Kosei, but we invited him along regardless." Maruki tells him, settling into the couch. While Shibusawa raised an eyebrow at the 'research' comment, Maruki continued on. "I was about to mention this before, but my paper is almost finished."
"Really? That's amazing to hear." Makoto says with a smile.
"For real. You've been working on that ever since you came to Shujin. Glad to hear that it's almost done." Ren adds with his own smile.
"And it is all thanks to you and your friends." Maruki replies.
"Paper? Wait, you mean you've still been doing that research?" Shibusawa asks with recognition in his eyes.
"Yes. Despite everything that went down, I'm still going at it. Not to the point that I'm letting it interfere with my counselling, but on the side when I have time. Ren and his friends here, who don't need counselling, had taken time out of their own schedules to help me along."
"And what he was talking about was really interestin'. We just felt that we Had to lend a hand, you know?" Ryuji comments. Shibusawa stared at Maruki for a moment before bursting into a good-natured laugh.
"You blow my mind sometimes! I swear, you've gotta be the most stubborn man in the world. Still, nice work man. I know how much that paper means to you."
"Thank you. Still, its not 100% complete yet. I haven't even begun the peer review process." Shibusawa smiles, before taking his phone out and seeing the time.
"Sorry, but I've gotta go or I'm going to get an earful." He says putting his phone away.
"An earful? From whom?" Yusuke asks.
"My girlfriend. Or rather, my fiancée, to be more exact. We're getting married soon." While the Thieves congratulated him, no one saw the pang of guilt flash across Maruki's face. "Anyway, gotta run!" And with that Shibusawa left, as the team turned to Maruki who still had his pained look.
"Are you okay?" Makoto gently asks, drawing his attention to them.
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking. About my ex-girlfriend." Maruki reveals with a sad voice. The team quickly understood while he looked so pained as Maruki leaned back in his chair. "We had both know each other from high school, and for a while believed it would always be. But, I was spinless, and we eventually broke up. Everyone now and then, I can't help but think about her…"
"Are we, making you uncomfortable?" Ann asks, silently talking about them.
"No, no you are not." Maruki replies. "It would be very petty of me to be envious of people in love. It is a wonderful thing and should always be treasured." He shakes his head, before leaning forward. "Sorry if I killed the mood. But I still need to express my appreciation proper. So thank you, Ren-kun. You and all your friends that have helped me over these past months. And even if you weren't part of them, I still extend those thanks to you Yusuke-kun. Thank you all for helping someone like me realise their dreams come true."
"And if we said it once, we will say it again. It was our pleasure, Maruki." Ren replies, watching as star number eight appears on the Tarot card. But a small part of him told him to be cautious around him. But of what, he did not know.
At a stadium under construction in Odaiba, everything seemed peaceful. Birds fley in the sky, while the random stray cat walked along the construction barriers. To the average eye, nothing seemed out of place.
But to those who could see, what they saw instead was something else. A towering silver tower while soft gleaming white lights, with a giant yellow tree sprouting from the top. Around it a rotating ring with floodlight slowly spun around, illuminating the ground.
For Yaldabaoth, this was an interesting occurrence. A Palace, forming without his knowledge or influence. Any time he tries to send a fragment of his power to it, he is repulsed violently away.
Who was the cause of this? Philemon? Salmael? The real Igor out of spite? No that's impossible. This Palace, it was created by distorted desires, no question about that. But this second aura he could sense. It did not make sense.
How could a Palace Ruler have a Persona?
Confidant Ranks:
Yaldabaoth: Jester (Rank 8)
Phantom Thieves of Heart: The Fool (Rank 10/Max)
Makoto Nijima: High Priestesses (Rank 10/Max)
Ryuji Sakamoto: Chariot (Rank 10/Max)
Ann Takamaki: Lovers (Rank 10/Max)
Yusuke Kitagawa: Emperor (Rank 10/Max)
Haru Okumura: Empress (Rank 10/Max)
Futaba Sakura: Hermit (Rank 10/Max)
Morgana: Magician (Rank 10/Max)
Mishima Yuuki: Moon (Rank 10/Max)
Suzui Shiho: Charity (Rank 10/Max)
Kasumi Yoshizawa: Faith (Rank 5/Max?)
Hifumi Togo: Star (Rank 10/Max)
Sojiro Sakura: Hierophant (Rank 10/Max)
Goro Akechi: Justice (Rank 6)
Sae Nijima: Judgment (Rank 9/Locked)
Chihaya Mifune: Fortune (Rank 10/Max)
Munehisa Iwai: Hanged Man (Rank 10/Max)
Tae Takemi: Death (Rank 10/Max)
Sadayo Kawakami: Temperance (Rank 10/Max)
Ichiko Ohya: Devil (Rank 10/Max)
Shinya Oda: Tower (Rank 10/Max)
Toranosuke Yoshida: Sun (Rank 10/Max)
Takuto Maruki: Councillor (Rank 8)
Lavenza (Justine & Caroline): Strength (sealed?)