Chapter 47: Gun with the Wind
Ω • Ω • Ω
•Akira•
While Ryuji was stuck in tutoring, he walked out of Shujin with Ann. With both Makoto and Ryuji doing their thing, they would have to wait another day before they could go to the bank. He might have suggested training in Mementos with just himself, Ann, Morgana, and Yusuke, but he didn't want to be worn out for the Palace.
So, instead, he was spending some time with his flaxen-haired teammate.
Goddamnit, how many times are we going to be dragged into this diner?!
'The food and coffee here isn't even all that good, it's adequate at best!'
They sat down across from each other in their usual booth, Ann ordering a fruit juice while he got a coffee. They talked about inane and random topics as they waited for their orders, Makoto's joining them, how quickly Ann had gotten along with her, how cool Johanna was…
Once their drinks arrived, Ann moved on to something else. "So, remember how you came with me to visit Shiho to apologize to her, for what happened with Mika back at the photoshoot? Well, after she laughed at you and you left, you know what she did? She just kept laughing, at me! She couldn't stop talking about how tough she thought Mika sounded!"
"Suzui-san's one cruel cookie," he grinned widely. "She would have been a badass PT if circumstances had been different."
"Definitely! Honestly, though… her reaction was really refreshing. If you hadn't calmed me down at the time, she would've. I guess you just need someone to laugh at you if you want to feel better."
He raised and wobbled his hand from side to side. "Well, yeah, but I'd say only if they're a friend."
"You're probably right about that… It'd just make me angrier if it was some random person. But anyway, even though I'm trying to strengthen my heart… Shiho's the real strong one here."
"She's tough, but you're plenty strong yourself, Ann."
She shook her head. "I went to one of her rehab sessions the other day… She said she wanted me to be there. So I agreed without thinking much of it, but it ended up being… pretty overwhelming."
His eyes softened. "Was she in pain?"
"Yeah, it was… a lot tougher than I'd ever imagined." She winced at, he presumed, the memory of her rehab. "It was horrible. She was dripping with sweat, teeth clenched… she was clearly in a lot of pain. Apparently… she can't even move her feet. She said it feels like her legs are filled with sand… But she dragged them along, even when they were swollen with blood. I wanted to just make her stop."
"..." He couldn't find anything to say to that. He just watched as silent tears began pooling in Ann's eyes.
"By the time it was all over, she was in tears… It was really tough on her… She said she wanted to give up… And that's why she wanted me to come. To keep her motivated… The whole time she was complaining about things in ways she normally never would. But even with that, she finished her session…" She sniffed and used her hand to wipe away the tears. "I… I don't even know why I'm crying… I didn't have to go through that… Is it because I'm weak?"
"No! No." He got out of his seat and sat next to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "You're not weak at all, and certainly not because of that."
"Then why… can't I stop crying?" She let out a breath. "You know, even through all that pain, I thought Shiho was so cool… beautiful, even. Despite all her complaining, she still tried incredibly hard. Strength is more than just not getting fazed… It's the power to fight through adversity." She wiped away the last of the tears and turned to him. "So I was thinking, and, um… what can I do to help Shiho?"
He thought for a moment, pulling his hand away from her shoulder and interlocking his fingers on the table. "I think you should show her your own strength."
"My strength?"
"Inspire her. Show her that she's not the only one that's working hard to push forward."
"Yeah… I'll do just that. I'm gonna give it my all!" She pumped her fists in determination, and he chuckled. After she was done hyping herself up, she turned to him with a wide, bright smile, and he could feel his heart fluttering at the sight of it. She mirrored his actions by placing a hand on his shoulder. "You know, Akira, being with you really helps me see things clearly. What I should do, the true meaning of strength, so, well… Thank you for that."
Her hand traced down his arm and took hold of one of his hands in hers, her smile showing only gratitude and motivation, and he was so distracted by it that he didn't notice the crashing chains.
RANK UP!
Lovers Arcana, Ann Takamaki: Rank 6
"Ugh, my nose is all runny…" She used her free hand to grab a napkin, and he chuckled. "W-What are you looking at me like that for? Pretty girls get runny noses too, you know!"
"Not gonna say anything," he spoke, innocently holding up the hand not being held.
"You better not!"
He sat there for another moment, silently, before raising an eyebrow slowly as his mouth twitched into a smile. "So… Want to let go of my hand yet?"
"Ah! I'm sorry!" He laughed at her embarrassment even as he stamped down a blush of his own.
"You won't find me complaining." He slipped out of the seat and moved back across from her as she puffed her cheeks out at him, narrowing her eyes.
"But you clearly have no problem making fun of me."
"Eh, seeing your reactions is cute." She flushed and tried to lean across the table to whack him, so he leaned as far back as the booth let him.
"God! You're the worst, Akira!"
Oh, I'm sorry, what was that about not flirting? Arsène spoke sarcastically, as his other Personas snickered.
He just smirked at her and grabbed his cup to take a casual sip. Ann just crossed her arms and shook her head. After drinking from her fruit juice, she spoke again. "I feel better now that I got to talk to you about everything. So I'll try my best to help out Shiho my own way, by showing her my strength."
"You'll do great, Ann."
She nodded. "Maybe our relationship won't ever be exactly the way it was before… But now that I saw her crying, I know I'll find something I can do for her!"
"I'll make sure to cheer you on."
"Thanks! I can't let her leave me behind! You just watch me, one day, I'll be cool and strong, just like Shiho!" Ann breathed out. "Wow… It feels really great just getting that all off my chest. You're a great listener."
"Didn't I tell you I'd be your favorite Confidant?" he asked with a wink. "Just part of the job."
She giggled. "Well, then I know I can keep counting on you for that!" They tapped their drinks together, and after Ann looked at the dessert menu, ordered three items compared to his one, ate, and exited the diner, they split with bright smiles.
"See you tomorrow, Ann."
"Byeee!"
As he walked away, he heard chuckles in his head. More than one 'e' in a 'bye' means she likes you.
'Only in text messages,' he responded.
How do you even count verbal 'e's?
It depends on hee-how many seconds she holds it, ho.
Oh, so three 'e's. Aw yeah, thou art IN!
'Ugh…'
Ω • Ω • Ω
He looked down at his bowl of cup noodles before his gaze slowly traveled back up to Kawakami. "Well, did you enjoy the 'Maid's Cooking' and 'Together with a Maid' services I provided today? ❤️ The high-end cup noodles really do make a difference, don't they?"
"They sure do," he sighed. It was… kind of true? He'd splurged on cup noodle packs for late-night study sessions back home, and to save money he went for basic ones. There was probably a taste difference, right?
I can't tell the difference.
"I thought you'd agree, Master! They are pretty complicated though… It says to drain the hot water once and leave the sauce packet on the lid so it gets warm…" His gaze became incredulous when he heard her complaining about the difficulty of cup noodles. How was this woman surviving on her own if she found cup noodles difficult to cook?! She narrowed her eyes, seemingly sensing his thoughts. "Don't request me again if you're going to complain."
Oh, nope, she just thought he had been internally complaining about the taste. He rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Besides, I thought I warned you already. Why would you request me again…?"
"Eh, mostly curiosity."
She scoffed. "Are you sure that's the only reason? …Well, I guess I'm in no position to complain since I'm making money from it." She paused to yawn, before leaning back in her chair. "I'm so tired… We had a faculty meeting just the other day. Why do they have to last so long? The students have been really restless lately thanks to those Phantom Thieves. The teachers can't agree on what to do about them or the Phantom Thieves."
"What do they even have to do with the school anymore?" He asked, of course knowing that Kobayakawa was obsessed with finding them. "I get the students talking about them, but the teachers too?"
"Yeah, I wish they talked more about our bonus instead. I heard they might even cut the teachers' salaries… I'm so sick of it…"
"Sounds like I'll be requesting you more often," he smiled.
"Really?" Kawakami visibly brightened, clapping her hands together and tilting her head. "I'll continue serving you with all my might, Master!"
Excellent idea, Trickster!
'Shut.'
"I'm going to be in trouble if I don't pick up more shifts…" She was interrupted when her phone rang, and she stepped away from the table. "Hello! …What? How much? I can't… Yes, but… That… That's true." She sighed. "Sure. …Yes, I understand. Yes, It's my responsibility, after all…"
"That certainly sounded serious," he spoke when she hung up. "So. Medical bills?" He asked skeptically.
"Oh, uh, haha… Yeah, I'm a little behind on my sister's medical bills."
"Really."
"Uh, apparently, it's some crazy incurable disease, so there's lots of fees and extra charges! That's why it would really help me if you requested me more… Oh, never mind, you're my student… I can't keep relying on you." She groaned, placing her hands on the table and hanging her head. "What am I going to do…?"
"I could recommend another Doctor," he suggested while thinking of Takemi. "She's definitely reliable, and she won't drain you dry."
"It's fine… Anyway, it's time for me to go! So… Feel free to call me to do housework. It doesn't have to be through the maid service. I live close by, so I can stop over whenever you need me. Besides, I'm worried that you can't cook or do laundry because you don't have your parents… And if your friends suddenly come over, I leave out the back."
"I'll do that," he nodded, feeling her kindness.
RANK UP!
Temperance Arcana, Sadayo Kawakami: Rank 3
As she began walking out and he grabbed his wallet, he could hear her whispering under her breath. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go. In any case, I should talk to the boss about getting more shifts… I have to get requested more."
He stayed silent as they descended the stairs, and handed over her money. As she got ready to exit she breathed in, then turned to him with a smile. "Thank you for using our service today!❤️ Wasn't my meal so delicious? Could you taste all the love I put into it?"
"...Sure."
"But remember, you can't just eat cup noodles, alright? You need balanced nutrients! Maybe next time, you can try some of my 'home-maid' cooking instead?" She dropped the voice. "Seriously, though. You're still young so you need to eat properly."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," he chuckled.
"You can thank me once you start making actual improvements!" She cleared her throat. "Uh, I mean, you're sooo very welcome!❤️ …Um, I know it's kind of silly, but you really do need to eat healthy, okay? I mean, considering how much you spend on requesting me, you can probably afford some good food… Well, I hope you'll request me again sometime! Bye-Byeeee!❤️"
She turned and walked out of the store, so he silently locked the door after her and shook his head. What the hell was going on with her?
Ssso what wasss that about multiple 'e'sss meaning a girl likesss you?
'SHUT.'
Ω • Ω • Ω
6/23, Thursday
DEADLINE: July 9th
DAYS UNTIL PICS LEAKED: 16
Steal Kaneshiro's heart.
"Mwehehe… so then she takes them and… yes! Eureka!"
He had been trying to ignore the weird giggling of the not-cat chilling out on the railing next to him, but couldn't any longer. "What's the deal?"
"Nyahaha… curious, hm? Well, I've come up with a super cool idea. Lady Ann will surely swoon for me if I—"
"Sorry for the wait." Ann walked up to them, being the second person to arrive at their hideout after he'd texted everyone that they were finally entering the Palace. She turned to Morgana, head cocked cutely. "So, what's up, Morgana?"
"Supposedly, you'll swoon," he grinned.
"Swoon, huh?"
Morgana smirked, holding his head up proudly. "Well… it's something I've been giving a lot of thought lately. Now that we've gained some experience in battle, I think it'd be good for us to work on our finishers."
"Our finishers?"
"Do you mean our All-Out Attacks?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah, I guess if we're going to keep fighting, we ought to do it with style."
"Right, right?! Oh, not you, Akira, Lady Ann was right. I'm not talking about All-Outs."
He raised an eyebrow. "Alright, screw you too. So what were you talking about then?"
"Well, I just came up with this idea… It's maybe my best one yet! And we can definitely pull it off if you play a part in it, Lady Ann!"
"Me?" She glanced at him, and he shrugged at her, so she looked back at Morgana. "Well, okay. What do you need me to do?"
"Now that's our Lady Ann! Quick on the uptake. What I had in mind was…" And then Morgana described the most batshit attack he'd ever heard of. It felt like his eyebrow would fly off his head from how high he was raising it. "...And that should do the trick!"
"Really?" Ann asked skeptically.
"So is that a no?"
"Well, it's not like I don't want to… It's more like, isn't your idea sorta impossible? Even in the Metaverse?" Before Morgana could answer something flashed inside his bag. He frowned and reached in to pull out… Jose's star. It was faintly sparkling, and the three Phantom Thieves looked at in confusion. "What was that?"
"It glimmered after your talk," he murmured.
"'Sup." Ryuji spoke as he and Yusuke finally arrived.
He grinned and put away the star, reminding himself to think on it later as he fist-bumped Ryuji. "Oh shit, it's the boys!"
"We are… the boys?" Yusuke questioned.
Ann shook her head. "Uh, clearly,"
Eventually, Makoto joined them and began questioning them about the Metaverse app. After he reassured her that it was impossible for their history on the app to be accessed considering it was a gift from Igor, even if none of the Thieves would understand who that was, with Morgana agreeing, they jumped straight into the Palace.
"So what am I going to be called?" After they reached the top of the road leading to Kaneshiro's bank, they paused to discuss Makoto's codename. "You all were using code names, weren't you?"
"Hm…" He observed her outfit, holding a hand to his chin.
"This one's kinda tough," Skull muttered. "Maybe somethin' like 'Shoulder Pads'?"
"Why in the world did you focus on that?!"
"I refuse to be called that."
"What about 'Rider'?" Fox suggested.
"Sounds too much like a smuggler. Next."
"'Fixer'?" Panther asked.
"I'm not a mastermind though. Next. Won't you give me something better to work with?"
He snorted and smirked at her. "C'mon, Niiji. Still acting like a queen after we had to save your butt?"
"Wha—! I'm not acting like that at all!"
"Well… it totally fits, doesn't it?" Panther giggled.
"Yeah… so well that I'm at a loss for words."
Makoto glared at all of them before she crossed her arms and sighed. "Well… I suppose Queen does have a nice ring to it. Alright, let's go with that."
"What'd I say?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Queen it is," Mona nodded.
"Oh, and just in case ya missed them, I'm Skull, she's Panther, he's Fox, that's Mona, and our leader's Joker!"
"Very well. Now then, could you explain to me the strategy for this mission?"
"Uh, strategy?"
"…Don't tell me that the Phantom Thieves haven't had a strategy and were acting without any plans?!"
"Uhhh…" Mona crossed his paws. "We pretty much look around the area, I provide navigation when needed, and then…"
"If we run into Shadows, we beat the shit outta 'em!"
"Honestly, that's the best that can be done when it comes to planning for Palaces," he admitted with a shrug. "With how Palaces can have such… wild interiors, you can't truly make real plans until you've come up against an obstacle. For example, right now our plans are finding a new, stealthy entrance into the bank. After that, exploration, but nothing specific, simply because we have no idea what's coming."
"I see…" she combed a strand of hair behind her mask and nodded at him. "That makes more sense. Very well then, I feel like I'll be useful in an advisory role. Joker, you have been the leader, making plans according to Mona's navigation? You're both the brains of the group?"
"Yep."
"Pretty much."
Skull and Panther grumbled at his and Mona's nods, but couldn't say anything to the contrary. Fox just simply didn't care.
"Alright, then it seems my job will be to assist you in making plans, by analyzing Mona's information and giving out orders."
"I agree. It seems like the Phantom Thieves aren't done growing yet, and depending on how many members we have, someone else who can keep a level head and order the others around will be invaluable. Glad to have you with me, Queen."
She placed a hand on her hip and looked at the others. "Any objections?"
"N-None, Queen!"
Seeing Skull's immediate reaction had Panther crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him. "I bet Skull's definitely the type that'll be under a girl's thumb."
"Mona, will you begin navigating for us?"
"Y-Yes, Queen!"
"Mona too, it seems…"
He chuckled at Fox. "Well, I don't blame him. Depending on the girl, I'd be happy to be under her thumb… or whip, rather."
"Don't you start, Joker, we haven't even been in here for five minutes!" He just grinned at Panther, before leading them further into the courtyard. The front entrance was now covered in caution tape, the broken doors boarded up.
"Should we spread out and look for a vent?" Fox asked.
"Yes. Fox, Mona, and I will take the left side of the building. Skull, Queen, Panther, take the right side." They split, but before he started searching he ducked into the Velvet Room. As he came back to awareness to feel the scratchy material of the prison uniform, he leaned forward against the bars of the cell. "Yo. Here for a fusion."
"Very well." Justine handed over her clipboard for him to get to work.
If he remembered right they wanted a Flauros with Tarukaja… Checking the advanced fusions page he found the Persona, which required a Berith, Eligor, and Orobas. Well, he had just fused the man-horse, and the other two horsemen were cheap to resummon, so it would be easy enough.
He sorted through the options, and after selecting Orobas' trait of Mighty Gaze, as well as Tarukaja, Marakunda, Maragi, and Regenerate One, sent the three Personas to the guillotine. The blades rose and fell, and soon enough the tiger-headed Persona was standing before him. Well… more like the head of a tiger was in the center of its chest, with some odd, sword-hilt-like protrusion extending from where its neck should be.
"I am Flauros. I shall become a fiery mask of thine, with my powers to see the past and future…"
As Flauros became a mask and was absorbed into his body, Justine nodded. "You have fused a Flauros with Tarukaja then?"
"Of course I have. That was the whole point of coming here today."
"Heh. You're better than I thought, Inmate." Caroline smirked and tapped her baton against her shoulder. "I was thinking you'd just give up straight away."
"It is to be expected of the human our master saw potential in."
"You're dedicated, I'll give you that. Just keep it up, all right?" He nodded. "Hmph. Keeping quiet even though we complimented you, huh?"
He chuckled. "I talk, you berate me. I stay silent, you berate me. What do I have to do to get fair treatment from my oh-so-loving wardens?"
Justine just shook her head. "If you prove yourself through your actions, then that is sufficient. What we wish to see are results."
"I've gotta say, Justine, it's an accomplishment that he hasn't thrown in the towel yet."
"How so?"
"That task list you wrote. It's not only keeping him on his toes but helping him improve too."
"Hm? I am not the one who wrote it." Caroline looked confused, and Justine tilted her head. "I have always assumed it was you…"
"What?! I don't know anything about that thing."
Justine hummed, flipping through her clipboard. "I suppose now that I consider it, that list is far too precise for you to have written it."
Seeing him snicker, Caroline blushed in embarrassment and stomped on the floor. "Quiet! You didn't need to say that!"
After he got over his giggles, he leaned against his cell door. "What about Igor? Maybe he wrote it."
"No, I have not heard him mention anything of the sort," Justine murmured. "…How long have we had this list?"
"So… anyway, where's my reward?"
"Sh-Shut up! Just keep quiet and focus on finishing your tasks, Inmate!"
"Can't do that if you don't give me info on my tasks."
"Caroline, should we consult with our master about this?"
"…All our master told us to do is oversee the rehabilitation, and it's our duty to follow orders. We shouldn't waste his time on something this pointless."
"Indeed," Justine agreed. "It does not matter who conceived the list."
"Now quit prying, Inmate! Got that?!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Justibe had a tiny smile."Of course, we will continue to offer benefits to you if you can further fulfill our tasks. All that we ask is that you work hard in the duty you are assigned. …We shall do the same."
He laughed and nodded. "Roger that." And of course, he heard crashing chains as his Strength Arcana ranked up.
RANK UP!
Strength Arcana, Twin Wardens: Rank 3
"As promised, I have granted you an ability that will prove greatly beneficial. You may now place a Persona into Lockdown and train it to learn new skills."
"While you're lazily wasting away, your Persona's gonna grow all on its own. Talk about hospitality! Anyway, time for your next task! According to the list, it's, uh… What is it, Justine?"
"The next task is… Please bring us a Phoenix with Counter. Speak to us again once you have obtained it. The next privilege we provide for you will unlock great power. Therefore, we will need you to fulfill two more tasks before we can hand it over to you."
"Got that. Can I do some more fusions before you kick me out?"
"Yeah, yeah, get to it!" He snickered at Caroline's brusqueness, getting back to the fusing. Shortly enough he had a Nigi Mitama but didn't fuse any others, leaving space within his 'mind' open for any Personas he might grab within the Palace. He flicked Caroline on the forehead, ignored her squeaks of rage, pat Justine on the head, and walked towards the back of his cell.
Stepping out of the Velvet Room he began to search the area for a way into the bank with his fellow thieves. The left side of the building was a bust, unfortunately, but Queen, Skull, and Panther had more luck on the other side. "Over here!"
Peeking up at the call, he jogged over to find everyone crowded around a pig statue. "You found something?"
Queen nodded. "There's a faint draft coming from below the statue."
"A secret entrance?" Fox questioned.
"It's gotta be! But how do we open it?"
He stared at Skull silently, before pressing the very obvious button that was disguised as a plaque. The statue rumbled and slid to the side, to reveal a hole beneath it leading into a tunnel. "Come on, man. I didn't even need my Third Eye to see that."
"Eff off!" He just grinned, clapped Skull on the shoulder, and jumped into the pit. It hadn't been deep enough for the bottom to be obscured, and he landed lightly and silently, using a hand to help balance. The rest of the thieves followed, Queen landing in a standard superhero pose, her brass knuckles making quite a bit of noise as she hit the floor with them.
"I guess with those and Johanna, you won't be the quietest thief," Panther pointed out.
Queen flushed in embarrassment, while Skull laughed. "Even then, the Numbskull will always qualify as the loudest."
"Hey!"
"Your shout simply proved Mona's point, Skull," Fox dryly pointed out.
"Can we please focus?" Queen asked.
Her plea didn't change much as the group continued to laugh and bicker as they snuck down the tunnel. At the end of it, they found a ladder leading up to a hatch, and once he'd carefully opened it and snuck out, the thieves found themselves in a side area of the bank.
"Alright, time to get serious. Mostly," he chuckled. "Advance team is Queen, Fox, and Skull. The first order of business, again, exploration. Hopefully, we can find a map soon and begin plotting out the interior."
"Sounds good, Joker," Mona nodded.
"Don't be too reckless out there," Panther agreed.
"Me? Reckless? Perish the thought." He grinned when every thief minus Queen gave him a look.
Instead, seeing their reactions, Queen just sighed. "It seems my other job on this team will be to keep everyone focused instead of joking around at all times."
"Probably. I'm way too lenient with these idiots… but that's what makes me the best leader of all time."
"Yeah— hey, I ain't no idiot!"
Before he could cheekily remind his best friend of every way he was, in fact, an idiot, they rounded a staircase and spotted a Shadow. Oddly enough it was in the shape of a dog, and apparently had the same senses as it began sniffing the air. "I don't like the looks of this…"
"Y'mean 'cause you're a cat?"
"Hell no! I mean it might be able to sniff out intruders, or hunt us down super fast!"
"I wonder if it would target you specifically," he hummed.
"Don't you dare, Joker!"
"Sorry to butt in, but it's definitely spotted us!" Just as Queen said, the dog-shaped guard Shadow began sprinting towards them, and halfway there transformed into a full Shadow, a large canine-like beast bearing two heads, with black and rust-colored fur and a long almost metallic tail with spikes.
He could feel the security level rising, a jolt going up his spine. "Brace for combat, move!" Everyone jumped back as the Shadow snarled and jumped onto a wall, then launched off of it directly at Mona.
"N-Nya!" Mona dodged one strike, but not the second, as both heads roared and chomped at him. The head that caught shook him around like a doll, smacking him into the ground at one point, before throwing him away.
"Mona!" He cursed as he prepared to summon Nigi Mitama and cast Diarama, but Mona interrupted him before he could pull off his mask.
"Don't worry, Joker… Love always burns brightest when facing down an opponent like this!"
His eye twitched. "Mona, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Panther, I think the moment's finally arrived— it's Showtime!"
"Eh?! You wanna do that right now?! Geez… Fine! Here we go!" Mona and Panther leaped towards the Shadow and… he wasn't quite sure what happened.
The Palace around them began warping, reality shifting… It distorted in on itself, and a moment later the bank was replaced by a vibrant, grassy field with flowers of all colors blooming. Skull, in particular, seemed to shut down at the sudden scene change. "What." The Shadow had a similar reaction, also shutting down at the sudden difference in scenery out of sheer confusion.
Mona turned to Panther and blushed as he pulled a bouquet of roses from… somewhere, offering them to her with a smile. "This… is how I really feel!"
"Thanks! You have such good taste!" Panther reached out for the flowers, but instead of grabbing them pulled a pair of submachine guns out of the bouquet, firing them off before the two thieves posed together. The Shadow was riddled with bullet holes and fell back, wincing, before both Phantom Thieves leaped high into the air. Panther emptied her magazines, while Mona pulled out a cartoonish bomb and threw it down.
They landed and struck another pose, while the bomb blew the Shadow to nothingness. The rest of the Phantom Thieves could only watch on as the grassy meadow and bright blue sky faded back into the bleak bank, Joker turning away and removing his glove, pressing the back of his hand against his forehead. "Am… Do I have a fever? Is this a fever dream? Am I just fucking high or something?"
I… would like to deny such a suggestion, but it would certainly fit…
"What the actual hell was that ultimate move thingamajig?! When'd you guys figure out how to do somethin' like that?!"
"Mwehehehe… It's simply the fruit of our secret, passionate training—!"
"Eh, yeah, I guess we DID put some effort into thinking it up. Still, I'm surprised it went so well."
"That's all you literally did! I was there ten minutes ago when you first came up with this attack!" He began pacing as he ranted. "Now all of a sudden we can distort a Palace into some anime attack bullshit?"
"OH!" Panther clapped her hands together as an idea struck her. "You know what it could've been? That star thing Jose gave us! I think it even gave off a twinkle after Mona described his idea for the combo attack!"
"Huh… you're right." He dug into his pocket and pulled out the faintly shimmering star, eyeing it. "So we can use it to create some real powerful finishers…"
"So in other words, the star, I guess we'll call it, reacted to Mona's wish to fight alongside Panther?"
"Wish-granting stars," Fox murmured. "If that's truly the case, we're just encountering one strange phenomenon after another.
"I don't really get it… But what I know is, if Mona and Panther can pull that off, can't we do it too? Wouldn't that be sick?! Hey Fox, you wanna try comin' up with one o' those badass moves of our own? We could call it, like… 'Art Run' or somethin' like that!"
"..." Fox looked… physically pained by that name.
"C'mon, quit it with that look!"
"There's a lot we don't understand about this… as usual," Mona scoffed, "But what I DO get is that if we use that star right, we'll be more ready than ever for our battles!"
"Alright, I want you all to brainstorm some good attacks. For now, back in formation. Advance team, forward, backup team, keep your distance." So they made their way further into the bank, passing by the entrance and main room they had fought in the last time they had been there. Seeing that the back where they had gone into the reception room was closed off, Joker motioned them to a doorway that led off to the side, where they could see more Shadows.
As they slunk forward, Queen noticed a Shadow walking into a large elevator. "Joker, look there."
They watched as the door closed behind the Shadow, and the elevator descended. "So there're lower floors, huh?"
"But that elevator is lacking a control panel," Fox noted.
"We'll likely need to find a control room, or security room," he reasoned. "It's a simple enough method of screening, but effective nonetheless."
"That must mean they really don't want anyone going down there… Joker?"
"Right. Let's find that security room. It's likely that a map will be there as well." They moved forward again and spotted a Shadow patrolling by a large staircase. "Ready?"
"Let's do it!"
He smirked and burst forward at full sprint, the guard beginning to turn when it heard his footfalls. Thou may have learned to dash stealthily, but there is still work to be done to become completely silent.
'Yeah, I've got to work on that.' Before the Shadow could fully turn and spot him he was already leaping through the air and onto its back, smirking as he ripped its mask off. "I'll reveal your true form!" The guard trembled and then erupted into an ooze that formed four separate bodies, each one a small fae-like being that looked similar to his Pixie or Hua Po Personas.
"Jack Frost! Mabufu!" The wave of ice encased the fairies and froze three before Queen sped past, punching one Shadow so hard that it practically disintegrated from how many pieces it shattered into. Fox and Skull followed along and they annihilated the frozen fairies, while the one remaining panicked and flew upwards, throwing a Magaru down at them.
"G-Get back!"
Skull grit his teeth as the attack struck and he was thrown back, while the rest of them were able to withstand it. Queen took aim with her revolver and fanned the hammer, six bullets whizzing through the air. Most barely missed by inches, while two struck home and sent the fairy falling out of the air.
When the Shadow had fallen far enough Fox dashed up to it and sliced it clean in two, turning it to dust. "A clean victory."
Skull groaned and rolled his shoulder. "Yeah, I wouldn't call my ass gettin' hit by a wind spell 'clean'."
"Great work." He chuckled as he twirled his knife and pointed up the large staircase. "Now, let's keep moving!"
Entered the Palace proper now, and the first Showtime. I think I'll only really be describing the Showtimes the first time each is used, as fun as they are it can slow a fight scene down to write an in-depth description of them lol.
Other than that another Lovers, Temperance, and Strength Rank, which includes some unintentional flirting, some very intentional flirting, Becky shenanigans, and Tsundere Lolice. I've also thought about fixing Phoenix, since as most people know it's actually Feng Huang and just mistranslated in the English version as Phoenix, which of course is why it only has nuclear attacks and no fire ones. I guess when I get to it I'll see which I want to do, either include actual Phoenix as the other games depict it, or keep it as a mistranslated Feng Huang and use it for jokes. So, let me know what you think of the chapter, or just leave a 'nice,' both are always great to read. See y'all next time!