Captain Blues: It's time for a little sidebar
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Ninety
[Opening Scene: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (Late Afternoon)
Theme of Okumura Residence: Have a Short Rest from Persona 5]
The Phantom Thieves sat inside Haru's living room looking frazzled after their battle in Kaneshiro's palace.
As Ren sat in between Makoto and Shiho, he took the time to observe his group. Mishima had already fallen asleep against the barely coherent Yusuke's shoulder, Ann and Shiho were leaning against one another while struggling to stay awake, Eleonora slept against the exhausted Makoto, and Hifumi had her head in Haru's lap as Haru calmly sipped her tea.
Everyone looked as worn down as Ren felt. They had already looked beaten after dealing with the gauntlet of Madarame and Mitsuyo's palaces, with Ren having the bonus of that mysterious palace. Add to the emotional impact of Ryuji being injured, being blackmailed by Yakuza, and the two girls that Kaneshiro had, it was only a matter of time before they would break from the stress.
They need a break.
It was cruel to even think this but Ren knew that his team needed it. Thanks to Kaneshiro, Ren knew that the two girls would be safe from his corrupting nature until two weeks passed by without either changing Kaneshiro's heart or paying him his money.
They would be cutting it close even waiting a week, but they needed some sort of break to not only mentally reset but to check in with their feelings regarding everything. "Alright," Ren started, making everyone who was conscious turn to him. "I know it's been a hectic ride since we took down Kamoshida. I'm not recommending this, I'm ordering this. We are to cease Phantom Thief activities for one week."
"What?!" Makoto exclaimed with shock, waking up both Mishima and Eleonora from their slumber.
"I wasn't sleeping Kawakami-sensei!" Mishima blurted out with panic.
"How could you even think of taking a break? Eiko and Oribe are in the hands of that monster," Makoto explained.
"Taking a break?" Eleonora repeated to herself with a frown before she rushed to her feet. "Not while my friends are captured!"
"Relax," Ren gingerly told the two girls. "I don't want this either but Makoto, look at us."
Makoto observed the thieves and Ren could see her surprise and indignation begin to fade. "While you decided to take on Kaneshiro alone and leave us in the dark until this explosion, we've been under a lot of stress," Ren explained as softly as he could despite frustration bubbling under the surface.
He didn't fault Makoto for doing what she did. It would be rather hypocritical of him to judge her. But he was still deeply frustrated with her because whenever he needed help from his former friends, he didn't shy away from accepting it while she hid all of her problems away until it all hit the fan.
"We haven't had a chance to take a breather," Ren continued. "We will rescue your friends, I promise you that. I would be a failure of a leader if I allowed someone to kidnap two innocent people AND beat my second in command and not get payback. Kaneshiro said it himself, we have two weeks before he does anything to them or us. That gives us a week to recover and a week to blitz the palace and change his heart. Can you both give us that?"
Eleonora and Makoto stared at one another before Makoto sighed and answered, "It is my fault all of you are put in this situation to begin with. Going about it alone has only been detrimental. I will agree to this but only if Eleonora does."
Ren looked to the platinum blonde, who looked unsure before she let out a deep sigh. "I don't like it but it's not like we're in any position to not agree. Fine, have your break," Eleonora said. "But if anything happens to Tsubasa or Eiko because of this, I will beat your ass."
"And I'll let you," Ren replied as he held out his hand.
Eleonora shook it before quickly peeling away. "I'm going to go home and get some shut-eye. Don't know how but I'm going to," Eleonora said while turning to Makoto. "Call me when the week is up, alright?"
"I'll come with you," Makoto offered but Eleonora shook her head.
"I need some space for a bit. I'm not angry at you, so don't think it, but I just need to decompress," Eleonora rebuffed before she looked at the rest of the thieves, gave a wave, and stormed out of the apartment.
"That could have gone better," Yusuke stated as Haru nodded in agreement. "However, Ren's right. We do need a break."
"Ain't that the truth? I think I've hit my quota on risking my life for a bit," Mishima yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Not to mention, I'm sure I'm not the only one whose schoolwork has been piling up because of all of this chaos."
Ann and Hifumi groaned in unison while Yusuke, Haru, Makoto, and Shiho visibly deflated. Ren, for his credit, didn't outwardly show his panic at the thought but inwardly was a different story. He had to get good grades in school as per his agreement with the courts.
"I don't like it being at the expense of my companions but Sae is expecting perfection from me. Perhaps this week would be good…" Makoto mumbled.
"We have a week to fix things. After that…We take down Kaneshiro," Ren concluded. "Now let's get some rest."
"As always, you are all welcome here to rest," Haru informed.
Most of the thieves, including Makoto, agreed and began to retreat down the hall but Ren, Shiho, and Ann remained with Haru. "As much as I want to, I should return back to the café. Don't want Boss to sell my room due to me not sleeping there as much," Ren joked.
"Yeah and my parents are finally home so I wish I could stay," Ann grumbled.
Shiho winced and asked, "Do you want me to go over and stay with you for the night, Ann-chan?"
Ann shook her head with a smile. "As much as I want to, they'll be peeved if I come back with someone without asking them, even if they are you."
Shiho pouted but she understood.
"…What about you, Shiho?" Haru hesitantly questioned. "Will you leave here as well?"
Shiho stared at Haru for a moment before she sighed and said, "No, I'll stay. I think it's about time we talked anyway."
Haru blinked in surprise but nodded. "I suppose I should make some more tea then," Haru said with a nervous smile to Shiho. She then turned to Ann and Ren and added, "Be safe, you two. Try not to get into any misadventures without us."
"No promises," Ren and Ann said in unison. "Well, I think we should jet. See you later," Ann laughed before she grabbed Ren's wrist and dragged him toward the front door.
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Streets of Shibuya (Late Afternoon)
Theme of Shibuya (Late Afternoon): Map I From Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]
"So, wanna explain why you dragged me out like that?" Ren asked once the two stepped outside of Haru's building.
Ann stared at the building for a moment and then said, "Shiho and Haru have been having problems since Mitsuyo's palace," Ann explained. "Haru was basically controlled by the "Dick on Wheels" and things got pretty bad."
"Oh, the same battle where Ryuji unlocked his potential and temporarily became normal. Man, that feels like a lifetime ago," Ren said.
"It really does," Ann sighed.
"Well, since we're both out here, I'll walk you back home. You don't live far from here, right?" Ren asked.
"Yeah. I know my parents don't mind someone escorting me home. Let's go," Ann smiled and the two began to walk.
After a ten minutes of walking in comfortable silence, Ann finally broke it as she said, "I think this break is a good idea, Ren. I hate that it has to come with Kaneshiro's shadow looming over us, but who knows when we'll get this chance again, you know?"
"Yeah. Plus, it'll give us a chance to I don't know, connect with the others," Ren said before his eyes widened. "We haven't even had a proper DnD night yet."
Ann snorted and said, "Well, you didn't. Mishima led us to a village to have a sidequest while you were off having adventures with Morgana and Ryuji with Makoto." Ann's mood took a turn. "Ryuji…"
"Yeah…" Ren whispered. He wrapped an arm around Ann's shoulders and pulled her close in an attempt to comfort his sister. "He'll be alright, Ann."
Ann nestled closer to him for a moment and took in his warmth. This feeling felt so familiar and comforting to her. Like putting on her favorite sweater. "I know…He's such an idiot. Always taking the big bullets for people…" Ann looked at Ren. "He's no different from you."
"It's almost like we're brothers," Ren grinned, only to cough when Ann elbowed his stomach fairly hard.
"I mean it, Ren," Ann objected as she stepped away from him. "You two boneheaded idiots are so willing to throw your lives away at the drop of a dime. Shield of Gorin and Second in Command be damned."
"Ann…" Ren whispered.
"I was pissed at you after you told me about that mysterious palace," Ann told him. "And that's on top of being pissed at Ryuji's sacrifices. You two don't understand what you risk leaving behind if neither of you comes back. I just…" Ann paused to gather her words. "I just need both of you to understand that when you both do this, it's not just you two that hurt…It's me and the others as well…"
For a moment, Ann felt her mind shift to her sitting in front of a grave in the middle of a storm, her wails melding in with the sound of thunder before it snapped back to looking at Ren in the middle of Shibuya.
"I just need you both to start caring about yourselves and not be the ones to make those big sacrifices," Ann softly concluded. "That's all…"
Ren faltered but then he nodded. "Alright…" Ren softly agreed.
Ann smiled and repeated, "Alright…"
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Café LeBlanc (Evening)
Theme of Café LeBlanc: Beneath the Mask From Persona 5]
"Welcome back, Ren."
Ren jumped out of his skin at the sound of his mother's voice greeting him as he walked into LeBlanc. For a moment, he had forgotten that she was here. "Jumpy much?" Minako teased as she placed a cup of coffee in front of the patron who sat at the counter. "Here you go, sir. One black coffee, no cream, no sugar, and some curry. And for you, ma'am, a simple cappuccino and donuts."
"Thank you, ma'am," the girl at the counter softly said.
Ren opened his mouth to respond when the patron replied, "Much obliged, thank you."
Ren felt his heart stop and his head hurt at the sound of the person's voice.
He slowly turned his attention to the patron as the teen's gloved hands grasped at the cup's handle and brought it to his lips.
"Ren?" Minako called out as Ren continued to stare at the patron, who turned to look at him with a quizzitive expression.
"He doesn't look too good," the girl murmured with concern in her voice.
For a moment, Ren found himself in a dark room with a feeling of something pressing against his forehead. He looked up and couldn't see anything but the bottom half of the person's smirking face. "…But that is what happens when you face off against true justice," a voice echoed in his mind in smug satisfaction.
There was a bang and Ren, now shaky and pale stood at the door.
What was going on?
"Is everything alright?" the teen asked with a gleam of confusion in his brown eyes as he began to stand.
Ren struggled to speak as the pain in his head grew worse. The person's voice…why was it so familiar?
"I-I'm fi—" Ren felt the world spinning as the male's brown eyes widened and then it all went black.
Captain Blues: And just like that, Ren meets Akechi