Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
5/16
Hakuno gripped the side of the sink, her hair cascading down her face as she took deep breaths, she could feel something was wrong. She wasn't sure what it was, but she felt something deep within her move. She flexed her Magic Circuits, they felt fine. So… it must be something normal.
She shook her head as she moved her hair out of her face. She debates calling out of school, but sighs when she realizes she would have to have her parents call.
She didn't want to worry them, from what she heard from them their new job on the island was a lot more stressful than their previous ones.
She stretched then put on her uniform, turning off the lights to the bathroom behind her. If she glanced back she would have noticed pale yellow eyes in the mirror.
Hakuno managed to pull through the day, lucky for her she wasn't asked to answer too many questions, that mixed with the fact that today was a general review of what she already knew let her coast a bit.
Dr Maruki appears in her class for a brief minute and he is back run RUN. Hakuno tightened her fist at the sight. She knows she is mostly safe in her seat.
She doesn't know why he reminds her of Twice. But for some reason they feel the same. Hakuno just has to ignore it and avoid him.
Hakuno saw Kawakami-Sensei glance at her and go pale as she shuffled into the teachers office.
'That was weird…'
Hakuno mulling over decides that she should go check up on Caroline as Makoto seemed busy. Hopefully thinking of their chat. Maybe she should also check out that Airsoft Store? Hakuno took a mental count of her money, they said that those airsoft guns worked in the Metaverse… so having one in case her Code Casts don't work might be best.
They are in the same area, perhaps she should take the young girl to a movie?
"Kishinami? Would you mind coming to the Principal's office?" Her teacher asked, Hakuno was confused slightly but nodded as she went towards the office.
"Kishinami-San, from my understanding you are top of your grade, aced the entrance exam and currently have no extracurriculars is that correct?"
"... Yes?" Hakuno was slightly uncomfortable seeing the Principal, he just… reminded her of a toad.
"Good good, You see, I have an idea." Hakuno did not like where this was going.
"You see, recently there have been several complaints about Students getting up to no good, with the whole." He waved his hands, "Phantom Thief business, I figured having you as a student known to the rest of the student body as top of her grade working alongside the Student Council President would be an excellent way to show the other students that we are doing our part in keeping Shujin safe."
Hakuno mulled it over. "I can see your point…" But knowing what she knows that her own cousin is a member would be at most a token effort.
"Excellent! You see, I believe you can do this, you have after all a brilliant mind and surely your parents would love to hear how you managed to get a letter of recommendation in your first year at a new school."
Hakuno shook her head in the negative, "Apologies but I must stop you there, a letter of recommendation for me wouldn't be much use as I already have plans for a school in America. And the specific one does not accept any form of recommendation letters." Hakuno didn't have plans at all to be honest but she feels she should nip this in the bud.
"I see…" Principal Toad looks down for a moment before flashing a weird smile in her direction, "If you ever have any knowledge please inform me or Student Council President Niijima."
Hakuno nodded, "Of course Sir." And took her leave her shoulders slacking slightly as she closed the door to his office.
Hakuno made her way to Shibuya's main street and found Caroline waiting again. Seeing her bristle for a moment as she approached Hakuno sighed slightly.
Why was the little girl afraid of her?
Deciding to come back to it she walked into the airsoft shop and looked around, her eyes landed on nothing in particular.
"What does a little girl like you want from here?" A gruff man with a gecko tattoo on his neck asked her from behind the counter.
"I wanted to look around." The man flipped the page on his newspaper.
"Ya looked, now either buy somethin or get out. Can't have a kid wasting time." Hakuno nodded, she knew nothing about guns.
But the idea of mindlessly putting something together… seemed interesting to her. She took an inventory of what was displayed and her eyes landed on a small strange box tucked in a corner. Approaching it led her to find that it had a layer of dust on it and had this strange gun model that had a dish on it. It vaguely looked like a microphone but… the barrel was too long and the dish was way too small.
Even Gecko Man seemed confused as he peeked over his newspaper, "Huh.. didn't know that was still there."
Hakuno mulled it over, it seemed interesting and even if it didn't work in the Metaverse it would be something interesting to have. Placing it down on the counter she stared at the man.
"I don't take ya much for an enthusiast girly, why ya buyin?"
Hakuno shrugged, "I think putting one together would be fun."
He shook his head, "Girly, only sellin this to ya cause you're the first person to even look at the thing sense I got it years ago. It was popular in some sort of game or somethin… but those types don't come around here." Hakuno nodded to the man in thanks as she purchased it.
She feels like she got scammed a bit from the price but she felt it would be a fun time investment at the least, she placed the box inside of her bag and walked out of the store towards the pale haired girl.
"Hi Caroline."
"Erm, Hello Friend of Inmate!"
"You can call me Hakuno."
Caroline robotically nods as she looks around attempting to ignore Hakuno, "I was wondering… do you want to go to the movies?"
"...Movies?" Caroline looked interested, "I can't leave in case the Inmate comes."
Hakuno took a mental note of the day, but before she can think of what they were going to be up to, Caroline freezes up, "Apologizes but I must be going. We…" Caroline turned her back to Hakuno, "Can talk later, yes!" and in a blink of her eyes Caroline disappeared.
Hakuno shrugged, 'Something to do with the Metaverse then.'
Well… at least now she has something to do after she finishes her homework and does some mild studying.
5/17
Hakuno rubbed her forehead as she listened to what happened, "Ann…how did you end up Modeling and getting the other two in trouble with the police."
Ann was pissed from what Hakuno could see, "Well… Yusuke just wouldn't open up about the abuse! He was going on and on about how great Madarame was and that he was just helping him! It was super obvious plagiarism!""And now he wants you to be nude." Hakuno spoke slowly.
"Yes! And the guys don't see a problem with it!" Ann signed, "If only there was another girl Persona user. Hopefully, with his Sensei's change of heart he will be too busy to remember."
Hakuno shrugged, "Who knows… Though, maybe Makoto has the potential to be one, you never know."
Ann chuckled at that, "I doubt it. Niijima might be your friend, but she does not seem like she would have a Rebellious Spirit."
Hakuno sighed, "Don't be too hard on her… She means well." Ann rolled her eyes at the comment, but nodded.
"And you guys are going to meet up with someone tomorrow… with the person's heart already being stolen? You know this sounds like a trap right."
Ann looked down, "Yeah… But Mishima said it would be fine!"
Hakuno mulled it over, Makoto was on to them and the Principal even asked her to be on the lookout, if anyone else could put two and two together they would see the glaring connection the four had with Kamoshida…
"Do you at least have disguises ready?" Ann's eyes grew wide.
"Smart idea cuz!"
How have they not been caught already…
5/18
Hakuno blinked.
Then blinked again.
She decided she is going a bit crazy.
Their 'disguises' were for them to buy cheap wigs and wear hoodies over their school uniform.
They vaguely look like they will start selling drugs, leading most to give them a wide berth.
Somehow it worked. At least… Everyone just chose to fully ignore them as they began talking to a man in a business suit… probably the guy they were going to talk to? Hakuno wasn't sure.
Hakuno kept an eye out for Makoto, just in case. She leaned back and scanned the area, nothing really standing out to her. A flicker of bright yellow eyes stood out but a glance back in the direction and they were gone.
'Must be imagining things…'
"Hakuno… we are going to head into the Palace, we got proof of Madarame's crimes, thank you for helping."
"Next time we head to Mementos, we will let ya know! To test out your magic stuff." Ryuji added.
Hakuno frowned slightly but nodded, a Palace would be risky to test things with, and it isn't like she could go alone, if her Code Casts didn't work then she would be utterly helpless.
Hakuno did a mental count of what she had to do, and decided to go home to do some homework.
"What."
"I… have to pose for Kitagawa."
"You're going to be nude."
Ann nodded.
"To unlock a door. In the Palace."
Ann nodded again.
"And you're going to have Morgana. A Human, inside of a Cat's body, picks the lock. And see that it can be opened."
Ann nodded.
"..It makes sense changing how he sees the world should work to open things in his Palace… I wonder if you guys could take it a step further somehow…"
Hakuno sighed.
"You just need Madarame to see the door open right?"
"Yeah…?"
"Why not just… I don't know, wear a lot of clothing or something? Or a very complex thing to take off? Surely you have something like that."
Ann had a bright smile on her face.
"Kitagawa said Akira and Ryuji couldn't come… but he didn't say my lovely cousin couldn't come to make me more comfortable~."
Hakuno sighed. It was going to be a long day tomorrow.
5/19
Hakuno had somehow found tons of clothing from her uncle and aunt buried in their closet that vaguely fit on Ann as she tottered down the steps as if she was wearing a fat suit.
Hakuno couldn't help but chuckle as she took a picture without her cousin noticing. "You sure you're going to be ok walking in the city like that?"
"What other options do I have… Got any bright ideas, Miss Wizard?"
Hakuno smiled… things were still a bit tense between her and the male members of the thieves but at least her cousin was warming up to her again.
"At least… wear that tacky wig you bought, orange hair on you looks incredibly off but it hides you fairly well." Ann grumbled something about the wig being uncomfortable as she helped Ann put it on.
… On the account that she could barely move her arms in the ridiculous amount of clothing she had on.
At least it was raining and they could hide under an umbrella, no one should recognize Ann.
Probably.
Hakuno should start trying to think of better ideas in the future.
Morgana sat comfortably in her bag and the three made their way to the Madarame residence… or at least that's what Ann called the dilapidated building that looked ready to crumble to a strong breeze.
"Kitagawa-kun… I'm here, I brought my cousin, the guys aren't here." Hakuno heard shuffling on the other side of the speaker.
"Yes come on in, the door is open."
Hakuno took uneasy steps as she let Morgana out of the bag, "Good luck Morgana." She whispered and the cat nodded as he held a lockpick in his mouth.
Hakuno idly wondered where they got their lockpicks.
Kitagawa's room was… a mess.
Paint cans lined the room, easels toppled over with nothing on them, tarps layed down and a tiny futon that looked like it was as old as the building laid scrunched up in the corner.
"I see… so she was your cousin. Very well, we have a deal, as long as those two stay out of the way and she stays quiet she is welcome to stay. At least she seems interested in the world of art." Hakuno shrugged, the only Artist she knew really was Nero and well her art was
Different.
"But as I said, Sensei will be coming home in about twenty to thirty minutes… Sorry if it causes you any anxiety."
"By the way… have you gained some weight?"
Hakuno chuckled as he seemed nervous at the question. Maybe… Maybe he was just awkward? And didn't know what he was asking was wrong?
It could be, or maybe he is just a weird pervert. Or maybe both?
"I uh… just need to take my clothes off right?"
Yusuke nodded, "Yes that's what it is to be nude."
"Can you leave the room you two? It's… embarrassing."
Hakuno's eyes widened slightly, this… wasn't in the plan.
"Oo-h Yes… of course."
Hakuno and Kitagawa stood outside the door, Kitagawa looked incredibly uncomfortable.
Then again she wasn't sure what to do about this situation either.
"Do you have any pieces on display?" Hakuno tried to break the ice.
"...No, Sensei believes my art is not yet good enough. I believe Takamaki will allow my art to finally reach that level."
Hakuno nodded, "How is Kosei? I heard you went to school there… I was debating on going myself before it was decided I was going to Shujin."
"The teachers are strict. As for the other students… I do not know, Kosei is full of strange people. I do not speak to many of my classmates."
And he doesn't think he is strange!?
"Ann, are you almost ready?" Hakuno took a glance on her watch as she noticed it was almost time for Madarame to get here.
"Just a sec!" The door opened and Ann walked out wearing short shorts and a pink camo top.
"Heyy Hakuno… do you mind giving me and Yusuke some privacy." Hakuno felt a headache coming on as Ann had the most fake smile she has ever seen on her face.
"Is there anywhere private you two could go for a few minutes? Ann… sometimes gets like this." Hakuno felt bad for insinuating what she was but she didn't know what else to do.
Ann's smile became irritated and Hakuno knew she wouldn't hear the last of it, "Y-Yeah! Maybe a door with a lock on it?"
Hakuno could see Morgana motioning for them to come closer, "Is that a cat?"
"Did a stray wander in!?" Yusuke looked terrified. "It might ruin one of Sensei's pieces!" Yusuke bolted towards where Morgana was as Hakuno could barely hear the front door open.
"Yusuke, I am home!" Hakuno could hear it was Madarame.
Morgana bolted into the now open door as the three stood outside of it unsure whether to go in or not as Madarame walked up the steps and saw them.
"Wait, don't go in there!"
"Sensei… I think we have been robbed! Someone might still be in there!" Kitagawa said as he looked inside, flipping the lightswitch on. Ann then grabbed both their arms and dragged them in.
Hakuno could feel her expression change to one of extreme nervousness. Throughout the room were countless copies of Madarame's Sayuri… the painting said to have been stolen.
"Get out!" Madarame commanded as the group gawked at the pictures.
"Sensei… What is the meaning of this?" Hakuno glanced and noticed one was covered under a tarp… Hakuno could feel something twist in her gut.
She had a real bad feeling about this.
Hakuno slowly moved closer to the one under the tarp.
"Truth be told… I am in severe debt. I hand make these Sayuri copies and have been selling them with a friend of mine. Ever since the original was stolen… I've been mired in a terrible artist's block. Because of this several of my older students have given me some of their ideas in the meantime. You can't not show the world you are still doing art."
Madarame took a few steps forward as he continued, "To do that would let the world forget about you, I knew I couldn't keep up so I attempted to recreate the "Sayuri" countless times. I… couldn't keep up with being famous."
"How did you recreate all of these?" Hakuno asked, "And why is this one covered up?"
Hakuno had a gut feeling that she knew what was under the tarp. And doing so might make the man pissed but what could go wrong?
Hakuno removed the tarp as another Sayuri appeared.
"That's a replica!"
"No that can't be! It's the real one, it's the only reason I was able to make it this far…"
"Sensei…" Hakuno could hear the desperation from his voice.
"It's a counterfeit! Yes it was a well made counterfeit, and once I heard it was in the market I bought it."
Hakuno shook her head as Ann spoke up, "So you're telling me, the actual artist behind the painting bought a counterfeit? Someone in 'severe debt'? That's pushing it."
"You're lying Sensei.. Please tell me the truth."
Hakuno felt dread in her stomach as she realized… Madarame brought out a phone and pressed a few buttons.
"I have just contacted my private security company! I will have all three of you arrested for trespassing."
"What!?" Hakuno and Ann both said.
"Please wait! We can talk about this!" Kitagawa begged.
"You can talk all you want to the police… that includes you Yusuke. To think… that the disciple I loved so much went behind my back to sell counterfeits of my most prized painting."
Hakuno realized that no one would believe them more if Kitagawa was also arrested.
Why couldn't we just open the door and not go in!?
"Lady Ann, Hakuno! Let's hide in the Metaverse!" Morgana shrieked as they ran out of the room with Yusuke right behind them.
"There is no point! They'll be here within two minutes!"
Rounding the corner out of sight of Madrame as he fiddled with the lock Ann brought out her phone and activated the Meta-Nav.
A familiar sick twisting feeling that she only felt once in her life washed over them as they turned to static and waves of red and black overtook their vision.
Hakuno could see Yellow eyes glaring at her for only a split second before numerous hands grabbed at her as they were swallowed into the Palace.
Author's Note: So…. yeah. That happened. The gun is based off of the Pulse Gun from Fallout New Vegas, it fires out EMP bursts. I think Hakuno having a more wave based gun would be cool.
Though she doesn't have it on her as she was still putting it together and she wasn't expecting a trip to the good ole Metaverse.
But huh… lots of people think Bless…
