Chapter III: New Interactions
Hifumi's House/Kanda (神田)/Chiyoda, Tokyo (千代田区, 東京)/July 28, 2020 (2020年7月28日)/12:30 PM (JST)
It was another passing day for Hifumi and Sion. Both sat and talked about various subjects at the dining table. Hifumi ordered pizza for them. She was surprised Sion knew about pizza.
As Sion bit into his pepperoni pizza, he noted Hifumi meticulously observing him. He suddenly became disquieted.
"What is it?" Sion asked.
Hifumi blinked for a moment. "Huh? Oh, I'm sorry!" She replied apologetically. "I hope the pair of clothes my father left you are ok."
"Oh, these? Yeah, they fit just fine." Sion answered, casually dressed in a short-sleeved white dress shirt, beige khaki pants, and dark blue & white tennis shoes.
Smiling, Hifumi curiously asked. "I just wanted to know if you do eat foods besides drinking blood."
"Didn't I say before I can eat solid foods?" Sion asked her.
"You mentioned that. I just wanted to see if you like pizza."
"Yeah, it's not like pizza is a foreign concept where I come from. It's just not commonly produced, especially since a lot of Revenants require blood."
"Right, I get that," Hifumi said, watching him hungrily devour a whole pizza slice. Offering him a napkin, he wiped the pizza sauce off his lips. "With that sauce on your face, you might as well be drinking blood."
"Well, I can safely say that the pizza here tastes much better than in my world." Offering a soft chuckle, Sion eyed the bandaid on her right shoulder. Noticing the way he looked at her, Hifumi covered the bandaid.
"Hifumi…"
"No, it's ok. You needed blood. I said I'd let you drink me. Don't worry about me."
Sion sighed. "I don't want to be burdened to you."
"You're not. You saved my life and now I've been gifted with new abilities. It's the most I can do."
"Thank you, Hifumi. And thanks for letting me stay here."
Hifumi chuckled. "Well, I've had to convince my parents you were a European foreigner looking for a place to stay during the Olympic season. There's no way they'd believe me if I told them you were a vampire from another dimension. You understand how outlandish that sounds?"
"Perhaps it does. Your parents are very nice people. Despite my sudden arrival, they've treated me well. It's comforting. However, I do miss my friends back home, who I consider my family."
"These friends of yours sound very loyal."
"They are. Io, Louis, Yakumo, Mia, Rin, and the others have been there when I needed them." He looked down at the pizza in front of him, sighing as he recounted the last moments in his native dimension. "I remember Louis, Yakumo, Mia, and Rin trying to reel me from the wormhole that pulled me. They're the last faces I remember before landing here. When I awoke, I admit… I was scared. Then, your human scent caused me to react out of hunger."
"I'm sure glad you didn't, but I'm glad I helped in any way I could," Hifumi said, watching him take a bite from a second slice. "Listen, about Io, I didn't mean to take that amber bead."
"It's ok. You had no idea, but if I know Io, she probably had a good reason to allow you to absorb her essence."
"So, she's part of me? Does that mean I'm a Revenant now?"
Sion nodded. "No, you've only gained some of our characteristics, especially what you already showed in that transformed state. But, you don't exhibit our thirst for blood and you still have a functioning human heart." He placed a hand over his chest. "Us Revenants have these BOR Parasites to keep us alive. Should those get destroyed, we die."
"You also mentioned if you don't consistently feed off blood or Blood Beads, you turn into those Lost?"
Deeply sighing, the Revenant regrettably answered, dread in his apparent tone. "Yes, and I've seen it happen. Too many times to count. I knew someone who turned right before my eyes. His name was Oliver Collins. Before I met Louis, he was a friend, who became frenzied and turned into a Lost. Louis and I had no choice but to end him."
"Is there no way to turn a Revenant back?"
"No, once a Revenant becomes a Lost, there's no going back."
Hifumi fell silent.
"But, you needn't worry. Since you're not a Revenant, you don't need to drink nor will you ever become a Lost yourself." As he calmly reassured her, he noted serenity etched across her face.
"I have noticed my wounds have been healing much faster. Even your bite mark near my neck is gone." The dark-haired woman added, caressing the bandaged spot on her shoulder.
"That's because Io's essence is healing you. Her innate powers are coursing strongly through you."
"I see. She really is looking out for me."
"Because she trusts you to take care of me and she's given you abilities to help you fight with me."
"Fight against those Lost creatures you mentioned?"
"Yeah, and also that Yokai, wherever it came from. I don't know how Lost got here, but I'll do my best to eliminate it and these Yokai." Sion vowed on his new mission.
Hifumi reaffirmed with a determined look. "And you won't have to fight alone. Your friends aren't here, but you have me now."
"Thank you, Hifumi. Just knowing you'll be able to aid me puts my mind at ease."
"We know more Lost has appeared since we watched the reports of the attack at the Olympics. Thankfully, the Phantom Thieves reappeared to stop them. Sadly, that attack forced the Olympics to be postponed until next summer. Now, they're discussing stay-at-home orders in case there's another attack. I know certain areas close to the Japan National Stadium might be placed under lockdown."
"Taking security precautions might be a good idea. I suppose we'll see if there's another Lost attack."
Hifumi nodded, sighing. "I hope that's not the case."
Sion then noted her opening a box and setting up a board with Shogi pieces. "Ah, another round of Shogi? I'm starting to get the hang of it."
"Thanks to me, of course," Hifumi said proudly.
Upon hearing the mention of them, Sion addressed her. "These Phantom Thieves. They're heroes in this city?"
"Well, they're more urban heroes, but yes they've helped bring hope after exposing Shido's corruption and revealing the dark hearts of horrible people."
"So, they can change people's hearts?"
"In a literal and figurative sense. They helped change my mother's heart." Hifumi said, referring to the previous incident of her mother fixing her Shogi matches to establish Hifumi's idol status. She did this to gain fame through her daughter's work. "But after the Thieves changed her heart, my mother's greed subsided and she became the good person you've met."
"That's horrible what she did to you."
Hifumi shut her eyes. "You're right."
Sion shifted a Shogi piece to the right. "But, for the Phantom Thieves, they must have incredible influence. Having seen them through the TV footage, they fight well together. In some ways, their unity reminds me of me and my friends'. I'd like to meet the Phantom Thieves."
She smiled, moving a Shogi piece forward. "You would?"
"Yes, since they helped your mother, I'm sure you know them?"
Hifumi added, moving another piece. "Well, I have the faintest idea who the one named Joker is, but I can't say for sure if this man and Joker are one and the same."
Sion then stated, moving a piece and removing one of Hifumi's. "Well, who do you think it is?"
Hifumi offered, removing two of Sion's pieces. "He's someone who I connected with and he helped me through that difficult time in my life. He became my confidant."
"This guy sounds mysterious, but has good intentions."
Hifumi gave a heartfelt chuckle. "I wouldn't call him mysterious, but he did work in mysterious ways. I have him to thank for getting me out of my rut."
Sion asked, intensely staring at the board as Hifumi got one over him. "And what's his name?"
"Check," Hifumi answered, declaring her victory. With a winning smile, she answered. "His name is Amamiya Ren."
Café Leblanc (純喫茶ルブラン)/Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo (四軒茶屋, 東京)/1:00 PM (JST)
After some time to think and rest, a reassembly for the Phantom Thieves was called on by Makoto. The Thieves sat at their meeting table. They reviewed what happened on July 24, a day that signified the return of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. They were once again hailed as heroes. All this after the vigilantes redeemed themselves when Tokyo's citizens supported them against the Holy Grail. Now, they've been praised after stopping these latest monster attacks.
Of course, Makoto readdressed an issue. "While it's true the people praised our return, our attacks still did some considerable collateral damage inside the stadium. Thankfully, I can report there have been no human casualties."
"Thank goodness, but those creatures we killed certainly aren't Shadows," Yusuke stated.
"They were physical manifestations. I checked and any link to Mementos is gone," Morgana clarified.
"That was real blood we spilled then. Of course, that's not excusing the monsters' attack," Haru said.
"Have y'all been keeping up with the tweets and headlines? We're all over the place again!" Ryuji proudly soaked up the fame they've been gaining since the Lost attack.
"Yeah, yeah, it's been all over the news, I'm kinda sick of hearing it," Ann sighed in exasperation. "Now, variety shows just want the Phantom Thieves. That attack not only canceled the Summer Olympics, but officials have postponed them to next summer."
"Man, I was looking forward to the event," groaned Ryuji, feeling dejected from being denied a fun and exciting summer event.
Makoto added. "Sis has been talking with the media. Law enforcement has told the media to warn civilians of any future monster attacks, but we haven't issued lockdowns just yet. Thankfully life is returning to some normalcy. Even still, a stay-at-home executive order is being pressed for areas close to the Japan National Stadium, Kichijōji, and Taitō."
Haru inserted. "Don't forget Ueno Park. That's been closed to the public since monster attacks were reported there."
Rubbing his chin, Yusuke deduced. "But, why attack those locations specifically?"
Futaba then pointed out one peculiar pattern. "And why did they attack us? They ignored every other person in that stadium!"
"And who were they targeting in Kichijōji and Ueno Park?" Wondered Ren. "I don't even have a clue."
"Well, think. They isolated everyone else, except us. It's like these monsters knew we're the Phantom Thieves and specifically attacked us," Ann said.
Ren then came to a realization. "There's Sumire."
Morgana turned to Ren. "You might want to call her. She might've been at one of those two locations."
"Right," he said, scanning through his caller ID list on his cell.
"We have to consider people linked to us as possible targets," Makoto suggested. "Thankfully, sis wasn't at those other two locations. Speaking of sis, she's thankful we've managed to stop those monsters and mitigate any more potential disasters that may have followed."
"Heck, even Boss was thankful we showed up to beat those monsters' asses!" Ryuji said, referring to Sojiro.
"Yeah, but Sojiro did remind us not to get too deep into trouble," Futaba said.
"So much so that law enforcement are scaling back and entrusting the Phantom Thieves to handle these otherworldly threats," Makoto pressed on.
"Even some famous figures have spoken about the situation. One such figurehead is Hyakkaou Private Academy's former student council president, Momobami Kirari," Yusuke commented.
"In any case, we're not stealing the 'hearts' of corrupted figures, we're venturing in a realm of supernatural entities from a physical realm," Morgana professed.
"So, if the Metaverse didn't bring these things here, we've got an alien invasion," Futaba said.
Yusuke corrected her. "You mean a demon invasion?"
Futaba nodded, frowning. "No, they could be aliens. Or cryptids."
Ryuji blinked in confusion. "Crypt-what?"
Ann sighed. "Forget it, Ryuji."
"So, if what Mona says is true, then there's no Palaces for us to check," Futaba pointed out. "We're totally working with our Metaverse abilities in the real world!"
Before attempting to call Sumire, Ren warned his colleagues. "But, we're also in serious risk of causing damage to surroundings, or worse we end up hurting bystanders." This warning caused the group to reassess their battle tactics outside the Metaverse.
"For a while, we let the adults take over handling the responsibilities to protect society," Haru recalled a previous comment since the final Mementos heist. "But with all this, we've been forced out of the shadows."
Ann concurred with Haru's sentiment. "I feel it's premature for us to return."
"As cool as our comeback might've been, Haru and Lady Ann are right." Morgana acknowledged the situation they've entered. "I'm also wary of where these monsters came from and why they targeted us. We need answers."
"Well, I did go into the Velvet Room a few hours ago," Ren verified, causing them to flip around and face him.
The Velvet Room (ベルベット・ルーム)/Flashback
Ren entered a spacious room. From a glance, it resembled an enclosed prison. The very air Ren breathed had a thick, musky quality. Scanning the room, his eyes caught the prison cell, the very same one he once occupied during this rehabilitation period. Scouring the familiar surroundings, he noted the dark ceiling, the cinder block walls, the intense blue hue that colored the schemes of the room, and the mist. The atmosphere of this room gave off an otherworldly vibe.
Glancing away from the prison cell, he faced a rotting wooden desk.
A single bulb hung over the desk and illuminated the spot. He spotted two familiar figureheads. One was a man and the other a little girl.
"Welcome back, Trickster," greeted the man in front of the desk. His tone was calm and lowkey. Although, one would surmise from first glance if this 'man' was really human. He had features uncharacteristic for a human. He has the physical features of an elder man, but his long beak of a nose and wide bulging eyes appeared bird-like. Tufts of gray hair adorned the back of his head. Unusually thick black eyebrows made up the strange man's face. He had on a black suit and white gloves. He raised his head to Ren's level, grinning wide.
A subtly collective grin formed on Ren's face. He added. "Igor." Identifying the strange beak-nosed man first. The Trickster, as Igor named him, veered over to the right side of the table. His eyes fell on a long platinum-haired young girl. She wore a blue dress and a matching headband decorated with white butterflies and yellow roses. Her golden eyes scanned Ren, who approached the desk as the bulb's light unveiled his presence.
"It is good to see you again. I, Lavenza, am at your service once again," the girl greeted him in a logical and composed tone.
"Are you surprised that my friends and I came out of retirement?" Ren casually asked the Velvet Room occupants.
"Indeed, it was an unexpected turn of events," Igor stated, grin widening. "We presumed the Metaverse had fallen out of existence. Due to these recent monsters that are not from this world, these Yokai, and the connected energies that you and your friends back into the Phantom Thieves, these connections have been tightly knit together from a source."
"We sensed that there is an anomaly that traversed into this dimension." Lavenza theorized.
"An anomaly?" Ren asked in concern.
"Yes, an entity that should not exist in this world has forced these events to materialize. However, there must be another real reason why." Lavenza answered.
"You must seek these answers, Trickster. To pinpoint this source, go to the Meiji Shrine. There you'll find a special recruiter with a Guardian Spirit." Igor provided guidance.
Café Leblanc (純喫茶ルブラン)/Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo (四軒茶屋, 東京)
"An anomaly?" Mona was left befuddled over what Igor told Ren.
"Whoa! Holy hell, you mean we're dealing with someone who just came from another world?!" Ryuji cried out.
"Yeah, something tells me that it won't be easy," Ren warned his friends.
"And what about Meiji Shrine?" Ann pondered.
"You're telling us that we should recruit a Guardian Spirit?" Yusuke suggested. "I've heard of Guardian Spirits, but I thought they were simply legends. Granted, we've encountered cognitive Personas and Shadows based on mythological figures, but certainly not genuine spirits."
"If Igor and Lavenza wanted us to, then yeah," Ren answered them both. "And, if we're going to deal with someone much tougher than anything we've experienced with the Palaces, then we need to do this."
Ryuji enthusiastically grinned. "Hey, I'm in, dude."
"Me, too!" Futaba shared Ryuji's enthusiasm.
"Consider me intrigued," Haru added with a bright smile.
"While our Personas are certainly maxed out based on the battles we've had, we still need to take caution with our surroundings. We want to avoid creating property damage and actively keep civilians away," Makoto openly advised her teammates. in not inflicting property damage from ourselves
"Then, I guess this meeting is adjourned then," Ren announced as Ann grabbed his arm.
"So, you weren't able to reach Sumire?" Ann asked Ren.
Nodding, he sighed. "I got nothing. She's not answering for whatever reason."
"I'm sure she's fine," Ryuji said.
Morgana considered another possibility. "Unless she was at one of those locations? If anything, she's probably had her abilities restored like the rest of you. Knowing how resourceful she's been, Sumire might be hiding out until she's ready to meet with us."
"So, you think she'll be ok, Ren?" Ann asked Ren.
Clenching his smartphone, he nodded. "She'll come to us when she's ready. Let's meet at Meiji Shrine tonight."
Yotsuya, Tokyo (四谷, 東京)/2:22 PM (JST)
Later that day, Hifumi took Sion out on the town to explore the streets of Yotsuya. It was a clear and sunny day. This relaxing weather made a world of difference to the Revenant, who up to now has adapted in harsher and dangerous conditions. The rays of the sun bathed across Sion, almost blinding him. The air quality was worlds apart from Sion's dense and almost toxic world. Breathing in the air from this world relaxed Sion's stress levels.
Most of all, the passersby around them are all human. Where he lived, humans were a scarce food source with many living outside the world of Vein. Seeing these humans became overwhelmingly surreal for Sion. Despite appearing human, the Revenant felt like an outsider.
"Walking here feels nice," Sion muttered, scanning the Japanese crowds and the infrastructures. He was mesmerized by the buildings in place. He only explored infrastructure ruins left abandoned following apocalyptic disasters. He and other Revenants only know about previous human events from texts and hearsay.
"Yes, but wait until we explore the big areas. This is nothing compared to Shinjuku," offered Hifumi, taking Sion's hand while guiding him.
Sion continued scanning the crowds, eyeing people on their smartphones either calling or texting. He saw others walking, tending outlet shops, driving on the streets, and some just aimlessly touring the area. "There's so many people here. It's just like what I've read from the texts. Cities like these teemed with human activity!"
While walking, Sion then noticed surgical masks being worn. This quickly reminded him of the dark masks he and his Revenants usually had on. The Revenant mouthguard masks were worn to protect them from the toxic air and sedate their bloodlust. This also helped prevent them from becoming Lost. Luckily in these modern times, no such toxic air was around, helping to alleviate Sion's anxiety.
"I see you've noticed civilians wearing masks." Hifumi noticed Sion's curiosity when observing the masked people. "Those masks basically protect them from allergies and also prevent them from spreading bacteria and viral infections."
"I suppose that's right. They don't want to spread infections that can get many people sick. Well, us Revenants don't have to worry about being infected. Our bodies are resistant to human diseases in our dimension. Wow, but I had no idea this was part of the Japanese culture."
Hifumi replied. "This is indeed part of our culture." Turning around and without paying attention to what's in front of them, she and Sion bumped into a long, black-haired young woman. Hifumi replied apologetically. "Sorry about that!"
"Oh, no worries. I should apologize. I wasn't paying attention!" replied the woman. Hifumi and Sion faced Jabami Yumeko, who waved her hands out apologetically. Just then, Yumeko's newfound spirit powers allowed her to sense supernatural energies from the two. "Wait, I sense something off about you two."
Hifumi and Sion held their ground. Before they could dismiss or rebuke Yumeko's statement, they noticed Mary and Ryōta running up behind Yumeko.
"Hey! Don't walk so fast! You left us behind!" Mary chided Yumeko, pinching her cheek.
"Ow! Sorry!" Yumeko apologetically replied to her friend.
Ryōta noticed Hifumi and Sion. "Oh, hi. Sorry about that."
Hifumi smiled. "It's ok. My friend and I weren't looking and we bumped into your friend here."
"Hey, you two don't have Guardian Spirits, but I can sense weird powers from you," Yumeko readdressed Hifumi and Sion.
"Guardian Spirits?" Sion was confounded from Yumeko's seemingly baseless remark.
"What do you mean by Guardian Spirits?" Hifumi asked Yumeko.
"The spirits that my friends and I possess. We just got them a few days ago and used them to fight some Yokai." Yumeko plainly answered with a smile.
Once Yokai was brought to their attention, Hifumi and Sion recounted the previous battle with the Ogress that accompanied the Queen's Knight.
"Yokai? You also fought some of those?" Hifumi quickly raised this to the gamblers' attention.
"Wait, you fought Yokai, too?!" Mary exclaimed in disbelief.
"Just one, but we also fought some other monster called a Lost," Hifumi said.
"We don't have these Guardian Spirits," Sion stated.
"Then, how did you fight back?" Ryōta asked, curious to find out the nature of Sion and Hifumi's abilities.
"Well, you see. My powers come from a different source," Sion tried his best to explain without revealing his Revenant nature. "Hifumi got her powers from something I had."
Nodding, Yumeko listened with great interest. "Mmhmm, I see. Well, I don't know what your powers are based on, it's neat to meet others who have specialized powers. Oh, where are my manners? My name is Jabami Yumeko!" She then motioned over to the other two. "And these are my friends, Saotome Mary and Suzui Ryōta! We attended Hyakkaou Private Academy not too long ago."
Upon hearing this, Hifumi responded with a quizzical look. "Hyakkaou Private Academy? Is that not the infamous gambling school?"
"Yes and I quite enjoyed being a gambler there!" Yumeko's face beamed with overbearing ecstasy.
"Well, I'm not exactly a fan of illegal gambling. I am a professional Shogi player," Hifumi stated, differentiating her and Yumeko's choice of gaming.
"Oh, I've heard of Shogi," Yumeko said, coyly smiling. "Perhaps once we get to know each other more, we can play."
"Hmm, if you insist." Hifumi mulled over Yumeko's challenge offer. "My name is Togo Hifumi."
Lifting a brow, Mary turned to Sion. "And your name Mr. Quiet?"
"Sion."
"It's nice to meet you two!" Yumeko greeted them.
"Listen, it's great meeting you two, but our Guardian Spirits are telling us we need to go to Sensō-ji in Asakusa." Mary stated, quickly grabbing Yumeko and Ryōta's arms.
"Why go to Sensō-ji if you don't mind me asking?" Hifumi queried.
"Why don't you come with us?" Yumeko offered Hifumi and Sion.
"Should we? The spirits only asked us three to go there, Yumeko," Ryōta said.
"What's the harm with bringing these two? They have special powers and fought a Yokai!"
Eyeing Hifumi and Sion, Mary folded her arms. "I don't know. Sure we can take their word they fought a Yokai, but they don't have Guardian Spirits." Just then, Janomecho's voice conversed with Mary in her mind. "What? They're telling the truth? So, it's ok to bring them?"
"Who are you talking to?" asked Sion.
Nodding, Mary addressed them. "Alright, it seems like my spirit said it's ok. You two can come with us."
"Isn't that great?! You'll be meeting some spirits there! Now, let's get going!" Yumeko excitedly said, clapping her hands.
Sion whispered to Hifumi. "Is this ok? I know you wanted to show me around town."
With a reserved smirk, Hifumi replied. "This is a great excuse to see the more traditional side of our culture, Sion. You'll like this." She faced the gamblers. "Shall we get going to Sensō-ji?"
Sensō-ji (浅草寺)/Asakusa, Tokyo (浅草, 東京)/3:26 PM (JST)
Hifumi, Sion, and the gamblers arrived near the famous ancient Buddhist temple and it is Japan's oldest temple. Of the group, mesmerization filled Sion, who scanned over the beautifully lavish historical ground. They faced the front of the temple as a congregation of tourists started leaving.
"This is incredible," Sion muttered in awe at the Sensō-ji. "There's nothing like this where I came from!"
"Really? Where are you from?" Yumeko asked Sion.
"He came from overseas," Hifumi answered on Sion's behalf.
"Oh, I see. Well, Tokyo has a lot of fascinating locations to see. I'm glad you're taking him around the town, Hifumi!" The Compulsive Gambler stated.
As the tourists cleared the vicinity, the gamblers' spirits materialized in front of them, surprising Hifumi and Sion. The Nine-Tails appeared next to Hifumi. Janomecho and Enku materialized around Mary. Kato and Genbu appeared on Ryōta's opposite sides.
"Amazing! These are your Guardian Spirits?" Hifumi asked in awe.
Sion blinked in befuddlement. "Wow, I can see them now. Thankfully, I sense good intentions from them." He noticed none of the other passersby noticed the spirits. "Strange, only we can see them?"
"That's because our spirits ensured only us five can see them. No one else here knows we're communicating with the Guardian Spirits," Ryōta answered Sion.
Hovering on Mary's right shoulder, Janomecho communicated with her. Mary nodded.
"They're coming, guys," Mary addressed everyone.
Before everyone's eyes, two ethereal pillars of light materialized. From these pillars, two figures materialized on the temple grounds. The Guardian Spirits briefly congregated with the two spiritual figureheads.
"Well done coming here as we asked," a voice belonging to an older man addressed the Guardian Spirits and the gamblers. This spirit emerged from the ethereal pillar, revealing himself as a man in crimson armor coupled with an antlered, red helmet. He smiled when Janomecho and Enku hovered next to him.
"On behalf of our Guardian Spirits, we are grateful you can come, young ones," the second voice belonging to a woman said with genuine intentions. The second spirit, a beautiful pale-skinned Japanese woman with long black hair, emerged. She has two long strands of hair tied and hanging in front of her chest. She has on a black royal robe covered with white feathers covering the top areas. Her primary clothing is a red kimono underneath the robe. Yumeko watched Nine-Tails saunter toward this beautiful woman.
"Wait, I've seen artwork depicting these two," Hifumi muttered.
"Who are they, Hifumi?" Sion asked her.
"They're historical figures from the Sengoku era and both had integral roles during the Siege of Osaka."
Nodding, the Revenant balked at the history lesson. "Right, looks like I have a lot to learn about your culture's history. So, these two are the ones who called for you, guys?"
"Looks like it," Mary frowned as she approached the historical figures. "We're here like you asked."
"That's Sanada Yukimura, who's also known as Sanada Nobushige! And the beautiful woman is Yodogimi, mother of Toyotomi Hideyori! She's also known as Lady Chacha!" Ryōta identified the spiritual figures.
"Wow, you're good, Ryōta!" Yumeko clapped her hands. "This is truly an honor!"
Glancing over her shoulder, Mary groaned. "You mean you didn't know their names?"
"Sorry, but their names were a blur to me until now."
"Yes, so that's Sanada Yukimura and Lady Chacha. I remember them from historical stories." Hifumi smirked.
The older man, Yukimura, chuckled. "You're an interesting group of young people. Welcome, my friends." He and Lady Chacha both bowed their heads.
"We thank you for utilizing these Guardian Spirits," Lady Chacha said, her eyes now facing Yumeko. "And thank you for keeping my former Guardian Spirit under control, young miss."
Yumeko bowed. "It's an honor, Lady Chacha. Your fox spirit is so cute and loyal."
The woman smiled. "How shall I address you?"
"My name is Jabami Yumeko."
Yukimura turned toward Mary and Ryōta. "And what are your names?"
"I'm Saotome Mary."
"Then, you're the one Janomecho has chosen."
"Yes, Yukimura-sama."
A composed smile adorned Yukimura's older features. "Then, Janomecho has chosen well." He noticed her trembling. "Are you ok, Saotome-san?"
Looking away, Mary mumbled. "...what? Oh, please don't mind me, but I'm not used to seeing ghosts."
"You needn't worry, young miss," Yukimura chuckled, shifting his eyes on Ryōta. "And I'm impressed you knew about us. I see Genbu and Kato are with you."
"I'm Suzui Ryōta…!" The young man shook anxiously. "Sorry, but I've never interacted with spirits before. So… if I sound like I'm shaking…"
"Hehehe, aww don't be scared, you two. They might as well be friends now!" Yumeko tried livening up the mood with her infectious laughter.
Mary took a deep breath. "I'm not scared. I'm still getting used to spirits hanging around me. Seeing ghosts of people is a different story."
Hifumi pointed out. "And Yokai didn't scare you?'
"Of course, they scared me, but that's beside the point," the blonde-haired woman sighed. "Anyway, we'd like to know why these spirits chose us?"
"It all happened when strange energies materialized a few days ago and released the Yokai along with a host of other unknown creatures. When these monstrosities appeared in various spots, we sent our spirits to find and help new candidates. They ultimately chose you three." Yukimura addressed the gambler trio.
"So, those two were your Guardian Spirits?" Hifumi asked the Sanada warrior.
Beckoning Janomecho and Enku toward him, they floated around Yukimura. Enku neighed. "They were my trustworthy partners. Janomecho's previous wielder before me was Otani Yoshitsugu. Enku represents the symbol of the Sanada Brave."Yukimura faced Hifumi and Sion. "Apparently, the spirits have granted you permission to meet with us. They informed me that you and this young man engaged an Ogress and another monster? I also understand you two wield different sources of power."
Hifumi verified. "That's correct. We slew the two monsters."
"What are your names?" Yukimura asked.
"I'm Togo Hifumi, Lord Sanada," Hifumi bowed.
Yukimura turned toward the Revenant, waiting for a response.
"And I'm Sion, sir."
Yukimura immediately assessed Sion's Revenant presence and suspiciously viewed him as an enigmatic figure. "And you are not from this world. Yet, I sense no hostility inside you."
"Wait, not from this world?" Mary picked up on Yukimura's vague wording.
"You could say that," Sion replied. "But, I'm not from around this part of the world."
"That's right! He's from some European country! He's so mysterious, isn't he? Hifumi is being very nice and taking him out to see Tokyo's wonderful sights." Yumeko asserted on Sion's behalf.
Sion added. "I'd be lost here without Hifumi's guidance."
"I've taken care of him quite well, like a knight and a squire," metaphorically stated Hifumi.
"What do you mean?" Sion asked her.
"It's a compliment."
Yumeko confronted the two spirits. "I'm glad to be involved in this. I don't know why, but the Nine-Tails spirit has been very attached to me." The Compulsive Gambler watched the Nine-Tails gallop back to her.
Lady Chacha chuckled. "Yes, I see the Nine-Tails has picked a very interesting successor. She's drawn to your vibrant and free spirit, Jabami Yumeko."
"She's very cute," Hifumi eyed the Nine-Tails spirit as Yumeko petted the fox's head.
"I know. Isn't she?!" Yumeko concurred with the Shogi player.
Lady Chacha added. "Before she became my Guardian Spirit, the Nine-Tails belonged to my mother Oichi. Miss Yumeko, treat her well and she will return the favor with undying loyalty."
Yumeko nodded. "I will, Lady Chacha."
"We entrust you all with the Guardian Spirits. They will protect you and assist against the Yokai." Yukimura said, pressing his knuckles against his palm as he bowed. "Now we must take our leave."
"If you wish to see further answers about other Guardian Spirits and the Yokai, you must go to the modern vicinity now known as Shinjuku. Other spirits like us will be there," Lady Chacha suggested.
"Thank you for your guidance," Mary bowed in respect.
"Yes, thank you for helping them," Hifumi nodded.
"We wish you all well," Yukimura added with a bow as he and Lady Chacha faded away through a wall of ethereal light, returning to the afterlife.
As he tried to make light of what happened, Sion remarked. "Now that was… interesting."
"They gave these three a lot of encouragement. So, was it enough to entice you to fight these Yokai?" Hifumi asked the gamblers.
"Yeah, it sure did," Mary firmly nodded.
"But, first let's head over to Shinjuku like Lady Chacha suggested," Ryōta said.
"Yeah, what Ryōta said! Let's go and explore some more!" Yumeko giddily cried out. "Hifumi and Sion, will you two join us?"
Sion turned to Hifumi. "It's up to you. I'll go wherever you go."
Hifumi smiled and addressed Yumeko. "We'll join you only so Sion can see Shinjuku."
"Yay! Sion, I promise you won't be disappointed!" Yumeko said with enthusiasm.
Mary sighed. "Ugh, pipe down, Yumeko."
Hifumi patted Sion's shoulder. "If you want, we can head home after we explore Shinjuku."
"No, I'll be fine. Thanks, Hifumi."
The Shogi player smirked. "If you insist."
Meiji Shrine (明治神宮)/Shibuya, Tokyo (渋谷区, 東京)/4:10 PM (JST)
The Thieves reconvened at the shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, the symbol of the Meiji Revolution. Scouring through the shrine grounds, the Thieves bypassed a shrine maiden giving a tour to tourists.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same. This place remains artistic as ever," Yusuke's artist eye admired the famous shrine.
"Hey, Ren. Do you remember when we met Takemi Tae here?" Ann recounted their brief interaction with the back alley doctor.
Ren coolly smirked. "I remember." He recalled every visit to the Takemi Medical Clinic, doubling as a patient and Tae's 'guinea pig'.
"Alright, so we're our spirit friend supposed to be?" Ryuji wondered, quickly and frantically searching around the shrine.
Clamping a hand over his face, Yusuke sighed in exasperation. "Show some respect, Ryuji."
"Shouldn't we be careful since we have people surrounding us?" Haru queried worryingly.
"I don't think so. If they are spirits, they're probably anticipating us and only allowing us to see them. They won't permit normal people to notice them," Yusuke deduced. "If anything, these spirits could be figureheads from Japanese Mythology."
Futaba interjected. "How would you know that, Inari?"
"It's just me conjecturing."
The gremlin girl rolled her eyes to the left side. "Riiight." Just then, she heard a signaling beacon from her handheld device. "Whoa, you might be onto something, Inari! Guys, I just picked up a reading!"
Taking heed of Futaba's word, the Thieves took on stances. Their ears picked up on some rattling in some bushes near them. Expecting a man or a woman, instead a white cat with black spots popped out. The cat paused and stared at the group with its yellow eyes.
"Uh… huh, ok I didn't expect that," Ryuji gawked dumbfoundedly.
"It's just a cat, Futaba," Ann pointed out.
"Not exactly, miss," the cat suddenly spoke with its mouth moving on its own. This quickly startled the Phantom Thieves, but none more shocked than Morgana.
"Did that cat just talk?!" Haru exclaimed.
"Yeah, it talked just like you, Mona!" Ann cried out.
Narrowing his eyes, Morgana suspiciously eyed the cat. "Hold on. That's not a cat. Something briefly possessed it."
"Yeah, Mona is right! The readings are coming from this cat!" Futaba traced the beacon straight to the cat.
"Well, I guess it's time to reveal my real self," the cat sighed as a sphere of light energy popped out of the cat. Then, the sphere of light floated above them. The sphere opened as a small white twin-tailed cat with a black eyepatch on the right eye and a purple scarf emerged.
Looking over the tourists and other passersby, the Thieves noted no commotion over Nekomata's presence.
"Greetings, youngsters. I am Nekomata," The spirit cat introduced himself in a sagely and eccentric tone.
"You're just like me!" Morgana spat out, eliciting laughter from the spirit cat.
"He's not a cat. He's a Yokai called a Nekomata. He's one of the benevolent ones and the Guardian Spirit for Hattori Hanzo from the Sengoku era." Yusuke explained.
"And how would you know this, Inari?"
"My dear Futaba, I've read the books based on the legends."
"Needless to say, it is an honor to meet you, honored spirit." Makoto offered up a bow to Nekomata.
"Likewise, Niijima Makoto," Nekomata replied.
Makoto was taken aback. "Wait, how do you know my name?"
Ren smirked. "It's like you've been watching over us."
"We are Nigitama, Guardian Spirits that are born from the light of human faith and belief. We have observed the modern world on a daily basis since the dawn of recorded history." Nekomata explained, basing his knowledge on his interactions with humanity. "Human society is an interesting and fickle kind. For as long as humanity wanted peace, they've always returned to their warring ways. Back in the feudal era of the Warring States up to the Genna Era, there were prominent wars over the possession of Amrita."
"Amrita? I know some of my party members used techniques with the name, but what exactly is it?" Ren asked the sage spirit.
"In Hinduism, Amrita means immortality as a gift of the Devas. They are mystical spirit stones that grant power for humans and us Guardian Spirits. But, they are also one of the main sources for the Yokai. Known as the Aratama, these fiends are born from the darkness of human's self-loathing and resentment. Nigitama and Aratama have long opposed one another."
Just then, Makoto realized. "Wait, could the Amrita have been responsible for bringing the Yokai and those other monsters into our world? Could someone have rediscovered the Amrita?"
Suddenly, a series of spiritual energies congregated and materialized in front of the Phantom Thieves and Nekomata. As if he was expecting company, Nekomata turned to meet a wall of ethereal white light. More Sengoku Era figures emerged from the wall of light.
"Good to see you've all arrived. William, our guests are here." Nekomata addressed the first of a few spiritual figureheads.
The group faced a non-Japanese, pale blonde-haired Irish man in Japanese gray samurai armor with a blue cape. He has his hair tied in a ponytail.
"That's… that's William Adams, who also went by the title, 'the Blue-Eyed Samurai,'" Yusuke fell into astonishment over the Irishman's presence.
Futaba glanced over William. "Cool, so there were non-Japanese people in samurai armor then."
"Hattori Hanzo, it's good to see you again," Nekomata addressed a black and gray uniformed Jōnin ninja.
The legendary ninja removed his mask and bowed to the Thieves. "Greetings, Phantom Thieves of Hearts. We are so honored to meet you."
"No way! Hattori Hanzo?! That's a name I've heard of!" Futaba exclaimed.
"Okatsu, our guests are here!" Nekomata beckoned as out came a kunoichi in a blue ninja uniform and a black shirt underneath the uniform.
Facing William and Hanzo, Okatsu approached them. She, too, bowed to the Thieves.
"Date Masamune," Nekomata called forth the next historical figure: a blue and black armored warrior with a right eyepatch and a yellow crescent fashioned on his helmet. The man joined with William, Hanzo, and Okatsu in unison.
"Date Masamune, too?!" Yusuke let out a shocked gasp. "These are some of the more revered legends and historical figures of our country's past together!"
Futaba patted Yusuke's shoulder. "Easy, Inari. Don't go fainting on us."
"No, this is a very surreal experience, guys," Makoto added, intrigued by the spiritual presence of the aforementioned figureheads.
"Do you guys remember when we went to Sendai a couple of years ago?" Ren called their time in Sendai when incidents broke out there.
"Yeah, that's the city of Date Masamune! We saw his statue there!" Ann remembered, facing the historical figurehead in front of them.
Ryuji's mouth dropped. "Man, that's really him."
"I remember reading about these people in historical stories and classes," Yusuke stated. "Especially the One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshu that wielded the Blue Dragon Guardian Spirit."
"Ah, but that's not all," Nekomata called forth three more individuals.
William turned toward the three individuals emerging from the wall of light. "Ah yes, we cannot forget about you two." He and his three colleagues turned as a large, robust man emerged.
The man is garbed in a tattered set of clothing, including a bright yellow shirt over a long-sleeved green undershirt, thick black leggings, black-armored leg garments, and dark brown open-toed straw sandals. His overall wardrobe appeared older than what William, Hanzo, Okatsu, and the other spirits have on. A yellow belt with a white sheet with Japanese characters embellished over it rounded out his waist. A red cloth, fashioned like a bandana, is tied around his neck. Covering his forehead is a dark brown cloth. While not too conspicuous from a first glance, he has a sword sheathed behind him.
A Guardian Spirit resembling a monkey materialized next to the large man. Its baby blue eyes scanned the large man, finally settling on the Thieves. It is largely covered in white fur. Its yellow mane resembled a crown adorned its head and face. It also has tufts of golden fur resembling flames covering most of its chest. It has on black wrist guards with yellow flamed markings emblazoned on them. Squeaking at the guests, the monkey spirit floated around the man.
"This is Tokichiro, otherwise known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi," Nekomata introduced the first of the three newcomer spirits.
"This is the actual Toyotomi Hideyoshi?" Yusuke asked Nekomata and the other spirits.
"He is indeed. He would become Japan's second greatest unifier." Hanzo clarified.
Tokichiro acknowledged everyone with a customary bow. "Good day to you all. You can also call me Tokichiro." He addressed the Thieves in a relaxed manner. He petted his monkey spirit. "And this here is my friend Masaru! Say hi to our guests, Masaru!"
The monkey spirit greeted the Phantom Thieves with lively squeaks.
"Aww, how cute!" Ann and Haru said together.
Taking full notice of Masaru, Morgana devilishly grinned. "Hey, look, Ryuji. One of your relatives?" Morgana teased the Phantom Thief.
"Heheh, yeah. Very funny, cat," quipped Ryuji, pressing his knuckles into Morgana's back.
"Merow!" Morgana screeched.
However, Ann quickly chastised them with an intense glare. "Hey, knock it off, you two!"
"Come on, my friends! We have guests!" Nekomata beckoned the remaining two spirits.
Stepping out of the wall of light, the second spirit is a younger man with unkempt neck-length black hair. A faded black mustache and goatee made up his face. His choice of clothing consists of thick brown animal fur, covering most of the right side of his body. On his left side, he has on a dark blue upper body garment with a brown shirt under it. He has dark blue pants and black legwear. He has dark brown straw sandals. The man's steel gaze eyed the crowds facing him.
Nekomata went on. "This man has no real name. The few who have accompanied him often refer to him as Hide."
Hide bowed to the Thieves.
"You have no real name, huh? They just call you 'Hide'?" Haru added, garnering the second spirit's attention.
"Yes, it's a name he went by!" Tokichiro replied. "But, personally, I liked calling him 'Hiddy'. Right, Hiddy?" The man jovially laughed while slapping Hide's back. "But everyone else just called him Hide. And did you know he's a half-Yokai and half-human? We often call his kind Shiftlings."
"He's a human and Yokai hybrid?" Yusuke blinked. "How astonishing."
"But, how Shifting?" Makoto queried.
"Because he would shift between forms in the heat of battle. You oughta see him when he really cuts loose! Hiddy's a monster in battle!" Tokichiro heartily laughed, causing Hide to sigh deeply.
"Yes, that much is true. My father can attest to Hide's strength while training with him," Hanzo recalled his father's previous spar matches with Hide.
Hide faced the wall of light as the spirit materialized, taking on the form of a young huntress woman with dark brown, neck-length hair. She has on a full-bodied red outfit with an armored waist belt and battle dress. The woman has on a black coat with feathers covering the topmost areas. A necklace full of bones and beads comprised her neckline. She has on black sandals. In her right hand is a black scythe roughly the same length as the woman's body base.
Appearing beside the huntress is a mermaid whose body consists of clear white, greenish blue, and purple colorations. Adorning this Guardian Spirit's head is a light purple jellyfish, doubling itself as a hat. The woman's hair and face remain largely pale. Her eyes are obscured by the long strands of white hair and the jellyfish's tendrils.
"And this is Mumyo, leader of the Sohaya people, a Yokai hunting clan," William introduced the huntress.
"And her Guardian Spirit is Yaonami-Hime, thought to have been a princess that was turned into a mermaid following an unfortunate incident," Okatsu stated.
Mumyo then went into her Guardian Spirit's origins. "In truth she devoured the flesh of a mermaid and was granted immortality. Needless to say, her immortality came at a price as she witnessed all her loved ones pass away one by one. Unable to bear this tragedy and cope with the loneliness, she drowned herself and deep in the water's surface she turned into a mermaid."
"These three were around long before William reached Japan," Nekomata said.
"Hiddy and I played big roles during our time together serving under Lord Nobunaga. I was a traveling peddler of Spirit Stones and I had a driving ambition to rule as a leader. I would realize my dream and become Hideyoshi. However, a dark evil corrupted me and drove me to accomplish my goals with malicious intent, which stood against what I wanted." Tokichiro added, sighing regrettably. Facing Hide and Mumyo, he gave them an apologetic look. "And because of that I nearly destroyed our bonds."
Mumyo nodded. "We've already forgiven you. Right, Hide?" To which he nodded and smiled toward Tokichiro.
"Thank you, Hiddy," Tokichiro graciously said.
"And to answer any questions you may have, we once dealt with intruders such as Edward Kelley and Maria who've amassed Amrita, which has brought conflict to the land," William informed the Phantom Thieves.
"We sensed that someone enigmatic and wretched might be using the stones right now," Okatsu said.
"There's also the mysterious anomaly that's not from this world which ties into this," Masamune added.
"In fact, we sensed his presence in Shinjuku," Nekomata announced.
"Really?" Ren raised an eyebrow.
"Shinjuku? But that's not far from our location!" Ann exclaimed.
"Not only him, but there are three individuals who've recently acquired Guardian Spirits." Nekomata clarified.
"They should have Guardian Spirits like ours," Tokichiro pointed out.
"Wait, there are three who have Guardian Spirits now?" Yusuke asked.
"And you referred to this anomaly as him. Now, I'm interested," Makoto astutely said.
William added. "Yes, their involvement is unexpected. Of course, we don't know if they and the anomaly are on our side."
"And that's why there's another reason why we're here." Ren addressed the spirits. "I went to the Velvet Room and discussed my concerns about the recent events. They suggested seeking out and recruiting you."
Nekomata nodded. "Yes, we are aware. We have been acquainted with Igor and his assistance. Cognitive Personas are a wonderful thing, but working together alongside spiritual folklore is fascinating."
"Will you join us?" Ren asked Nekomata.
"On behalf of my colleagues, it would be my pleasure to join you on your quest, Phantom Thieves." Nekomata offered his services.
"Sounds like this is going to be a great partnership," Morgana remarked. "Just what we need is another talking animal companion."
"Haha, sounds like you're jealous that another cat is joining us!" Ryuji snidely joked at Morgana's expense.
"Like hell I'm not!" Morgana retorted at Ryuji.
"Chill out, you two!" Ann chided them.
"Sorry, Lady Ann," the black cat apologized.
"It is time for us to go. We wish you well, Phantom Thieves," William announced.
"Good luck on this journey," Okatsu said.
"Do not let your guards down," Masamune reminded the younglings.
"Stay safe, heroes." Hanzo bid his farewell.
"Yeah, do your best and take those Yokai down!" Tokichiro cheered the Thieves. "Ain't that right, Hiddy?"
Hide nodded.
Then, the spirits of William, Hanzo, Okatsu, Masamune, Tokichiro, Hide, and Mumyo disappeared into the wall of light. As the divine door closed, bewilderment overtook the Phantom Thieves.
Futaba blinked. "Whoa, now that was freaking awesome."
"Indeed, now you see why these legendary figures are so revered?" Yusuke said with admiration for the spirits.
"Now, we know what we must do," Ren turned to meet the other Thieves. "We'll need to confront this anomaly and these three with Guardian Spirits.
"Are we all set?" Makoto asked the Phantom Thief leader.
"Yeah, we're off to Shinjuku," Ren announced to his team.
Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿区, 東京)/4:52 PM (JST)
Scouring through Shinjuku, Hifumi, Sion, and the three gamblers viewed the prefecture's landmarks and went into several store outlets. As his mind tried to take in everything he'd seen in this modern world, Sion was still overwhelmed with shock. Although, much to the Revenant's relief, there were a few who spoke English fluently for him to understand and communicate with.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎)/Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿区, 東京)/5:15 PM (JST)
Known in short as the Tochō, this area was the next sight for the trio. Hifumi explained to Sion the significance of the government building. Admiring the prestige of the building, the Revenant learned how humans in this dimension handled government policies.
Not one to let this opportunity pass, Yumeko took a selfie of herself, Yumeko decided to do a selfie with herself, Ryōta, and Mary near the government building. Then, Yumeko took another with the three of them, Hifumi and Sion. Almost hesitant to get in for a selfie, Sion was convinced by Yumeko that'd make a great souvenir for Hifumi.
Glancing over the selfie with them, a genuine smile spread over Hifumi's face. Sion smiled back at her.
Kabukichō (歌舞伎町)/Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿区, 東京)/5:25 PM (JST)
The group later visited the red-light district. Thankfully, it is not nightfall yet, allowing them to scour this section of Shinjuku. They headed up a girder bridge to get a better view of the buildings and the busy roads.
"This is a really nice view," muttered Sion, enjoying a glimpse of the local infrastructure.
"I'm glad you like it, Sion," Hifumi smiled.
"If this is a red-light district, then there should be a place to gamble!" Yumeko exclaimed, flailing her arms around. Mary quickly grabbed the Compulsive Gambler's arms.
"Down, girl," remarked Mary.
"Want to move on to the next sight-seeing location?" Hifumi asked Sion.
"Sure, lead on."
Near the same area, the group scoured outside a Toho cinema known as the Shinjuku Toho Building. Next to the cinema plaza is a store decorated with Godzilla advertisements and memorabilia. Situated next to the cinema plaza is a tall skyscraper with a Godzilla statue.
"And that skyscraper there is called the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku," Ryōta pointed to the infrastructure with the Godzilla statue.
"And that giant monster you said is called Godzilla?" Sion blinked at the iconic Japanese monster.
"Yep, he's a famous movie monster and one of our country's symbols!" Yumeko enthusiastically added.
As they entered the Godzilla-themed store, the group glanced over the array of action figures and shirts. Shown on several TV screens are Godzilla films from the past and present eras: the Shōwa (including the original 1954 film), Heisei and Millennium series of films alongside Shin Godzilla, the Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters trilogy, and the Godzilla Legendary Films.
Sion was flabbergasted by the reverence for a Japanese movie monster. No, a movie icon. He didn't realize he was in a place with historical pop culture significance for many generations.
"So, what do you think, Sion?" Hifumi asked, breaking Sion out of his mesmerized state.
"T-This is incredible. What else is there to see?"
Yumeko raised a hand. "I know a place!"
Cat Café Calico/Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿区, 東京)/5:53 PM (JST)
"Isn't this place just great?!" The group's entrance into the cat café accompanied Yumeko's giddy laughter. Running over to meet the adorable cats wandering the floors, the Compulsive Gambler naturally made herself right at home and lied on the ground. "Merow!" She beckoned for the cats over to her.
Scanning through the café, the Hifumi, Sion, Mary, and Ryōta saw cats resting on couches and cats climbing trees.
"These cats…" Sion blinked, eyeing the free-roaming animals.
"Yes, you may pet them, but we have a do not hold cat policy," one of the cat café workers informed the group.
The group watched tourists petting some of the cats. Pivoting across the cat café, they saw two tourists, a young man and a woman from Melbourne, Australia, skimming through a manga collection. There was a female European couple petting a brown tabby cat.
Suddenly, several cats circled and rubbed against the Revenant, seemingly drawn to his presence. Urging him to pet one, Hifumi crouched over to pet a black and white spectacled cat. Facing a black cat, Sion reluctantly reached over to pet it. The cat leaned over, letting SIon pet his head. The other cats joined in receiving head pats and neck rubs. Feeling more at ease with the cats' company, a warm smile formed on his face.
"This feels nice and cozy. Definitely different from where I'm from."
Mary curiously asked. "What part of European are you from, Sion?" She tried to pry an answer from the enigmatic Revenant.
Before he could answer, a white cat suddenly hopped on Sion's back. Then using him as a platform, it bounced onto a bench nearest to him. Taken aback by the cat's sneak pounce, Sion heard Hifumi chuckling.
"Are you… really laughing at that?" Sion gawked at her.
"Sorry, but that was cute what that cat did," Hifumi apologized.
Mary smirked. "You should've seen the look on your face."
"Yumeko! Get off the floor!" Ryōta was heard yelling at the Compulsive Gambler, who was lying on the floor and acting like a feline.
Meowing with a coy smile, Yumeko crawled up to Hifumi and Sion. "What do you think? I'm a naughty cat! Meow!" She pressed her knuckles against her face like a cat would with its paw. This elicited awkward glances toward her abnormal behavior.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sion balked at the Compulsive Gambler's odd behavior.
"YUMEKO!" Yelled Ryōta and Mary, quickly pulling up their friend and saving her further embarrassment.
"Do you really want to act like a house pet again?" Ryōta asked Yumeko, reminding her of her low ranked status back at the academy.
Mary sighed. "God, please don't do that again."
Hifumi leaned into Sion's ear, whispering. "Want to move along?"
"Yeah, might as well."
Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑)/Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿区, 東京)/6:23 PM (JST)
Having seen enough of the Shinjuku ward, the group headed over to Japan's famous park. Despite some civilians and tourists in the area, Hifumi, Sion, and the three gamblers admired the peaceful atmosphere.
Letting out a deep breath, Sion sighed happily. "That was a great time. I haven't felt this relaxed in a long while."
"That's great to hear. I'm glad," Hifumi nodded approvingly.
"Meow!" Yumeko playfully teased Sion, crawling around him. This prompted Mary to ear grab her.
"Hey, what did I just say?!" Mary chastised the Compulsive Gambler.
Ryōta shook his head. "Oh boy, you're a handful, Yumeko."
"Oh please, have some etiquette already, Jabami-san," Hifumi lectured the eccentric gambler.
As they headed midway through the park, ominous energy materialized, alarming the group. Out of warning, a pocket dimension made of clear light unseen by any other bystanders formed over the group. The pocket dimension trapped Hifumi, Sion, and the gamblers.
"Hey, what the hell is going on here?!" Mary exclaimed as her Guardian Spirits, Janomecho & Enku, appeared. It didn't take long for Yumeko's Nine-Tails and Ryōta's Kato & Genbu to appear.
Suddenly, a black aura formed over Sion's new civilian clothing and his Revenant attire returned.
"Hey, your clothes!" Ryōta exclaimed as he and the gamblers noticed his attire change.
"Is this part of that power of yours?" Queried Yumeko.
"Ok, fess up! What's the deal with those clothes?" Mary harshly raised her tone at Sion.
Hifumi scanned the surrounding pocket dimension. "I don't think that matters now. Sion, is this not like what happened to us last time when we fought that one Yokai and Lost?"
"It appears so," Sion suspiciously eyed the pocket dimension. "This isn't good."
Just then, the pocket dimension started shifting.
"What now?!" Mary exclaimed.
"I don't like this. Something's coming," Sion scowled as Hifumi turned to him with despair.
Chapter Soundtrack
Nioh 2 OST - Peace - Hifumi's new experiences and her time with Sion adapting to modern times.
Persona 5 OST - Restlessness - The Phantom Thieves discuss the current events in Café Leblanc.
Persona 5 OST - Aria Of The Soul - Flashback of Ren meeting and relating the current events with Igor and Lavenza.
Kakegurui OST - A Flower Without a Match - Hifumi and Sion meet Yumeko and her friends.
Nioh 2 OST - Awakening- Meeting Yukimura and Lady Chacha.
Nioh OST - Loneliness- Phantom Thieves meet Nekomata and the spirits of the historical figures. Nekomata joins the Phantom Thieves.
澤野弘之 NHK WORKS-07-Will - Hiroyuki Sawano - Hifumi, Sion, and the Kakegurui trio exploring Tokyo.
A/N: Now for those who questioned whether the Olympics would be canceled in the AnM timeline, you have your answer. The Lost and Yokai attack pushes the event to summer 2021, mirroring the real life COVID-19 pandemic delaying the event over a whole year.
Then, there are the talks of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders after the monster attack. And while this attack is more of a local/city-scale threat, that doesn't mean the world at large won't get affected by the mysterious being behind the release of these monsters.
In light of this eventful attack, Sion has been given refuge at Hifumi's family home. And how can a vampire eat pizza? Well, Revenants aren't your traditional vampires. They're vampire-like in that they require blood, but sunlight, garlic, holy weapons, and stakes (as long as they don't pierce their BOR Parasites, and even then it would take a great deal of effort to do it) won't kill them. Second, pizza doesn't always need garlic. And as Sion said, pizza still exists in some form in his post-apocalyptic dimension.
The crossover begins as Hifumi and Sion meet Yumeko and her friends. They then meet the spirits of the Japanese historical figures from the Nioh franchise. Yumeko and her two friends gain insight into their predecessors' connections to their Guardian Spirits.
Of course, they're not the only group to meet the spirits, the Thieves find out about Nekomata from Igor and Lavenza. William, Hanzo, Masamune, Okatsu, Hide, Tokichiro, and Mumyo from Nioh/Nioh 2 also make appearances to inform the Thieves about the mysterious 'anomaly' from another world. Gee, I wonder who that could be?
And just like that, Sion senses danger. And that's where I'll stop. I can't reveal who or what triggered his alarm. You'll need to wait for the next AnM chapter.
I'm also going to clarify that I'm keeping tabs on P5 Scramble and am aware of some of the events in it. A few characters may or may not appear beyond secondary roles/cameos. And don't expect Io either anytime soon. If/When she does, it'll be for a big and crucial moment. That's the last I'm addressing those kinds of inquiries.
Until then, comment and review!
