Persona 5: Daywatch

Wednesday, 6 July 2016
After School
Kosei High, North Courtyard

Stepping out of the west Academic Building, Hifumi angled for the disused gazebo past a water feature which dried up years ago. Too small for a group to take shelter under and too exposed to the courtyard to be used by more intimate couples, it was far enough to provide her slight respite from the either jealous or lustful gazes of the Kosei students—a situation which became more common every week.

Before Hifumi could finish her third step, she realized the clump of third years who always meandered to the ceramics building instead stood in a stationary clump on the turf. They gathered around one student, streaming a video on his phone. Hifumi slipped closer to listen in.

One of the seniors blurted, "He is crying."

On the stream, she recognized the old man with tears streaming down his face. Kitagawa's master, Madarame-san. "…plagiarized the toil of my own students. I… I had them blacklisted when I c-couldn't use them anymore." Madarame's sobs made his next sentence incoherent. The flashes from the press conference reporters made his shaking look like seizures. "I-I… I committed crimes against art itself. I… I even stole Sayuri!"

The seniors burst into shocked chatter.

Hifumi stepped back and slipped off to the gazebo. While the other students yammered about Madarame's drastic change of heart, her mind drifted back to Akira. "What do the people say about Madarame?" He asked when they were texting about three weeks back. "Any unpleasant rumors about Kitagawa?"

A month ago, Kitagawa would scratch away at his sketch pad, rarely speaking to other students except to ask them to hold a pose, and never eating during lunch. What embers burning within his eyes smoldered. Now she saw him eating rice and sprouts every lunch, and hum marching tunes in the halls. Sometimes grim ones, but still humming, his eyes sparking with energy.

A week ago, Madarame was praising paintings as his own and giving daily interviews at his art exhibit. Now, a newscaster droned about him turning himself over to a police psychological screening.

Wednesday, 6 July 2016
After School
Shibuya, Teikyuu Overpass

Salarymen and students in twos and threes passed by on the bridge over the street, nobody giving the gathered Shujin students a second glance. Akira shifted his lean against the railing, the other Phantom Thieves gathered around as they all watched the news stream on Yuuki's phone.

"Previous pupil Nakanohara has come forward," the newscaster said, "alleging abuse on top of the aforementioned charges. Fraud allegations have potential repercussions across the world. The National Tax Agency has announced an investigation…"

One of the Shujin students passing by exclaimed to the girl at her side, "I told you his heart would change! The Phantom Thief always changes bad guys' hearts, and he left calling cards in Shibuya." She pulled out her phone. "Look!"

Ryuji flashed a wide, toothy grin. "Score!" He took a step after the pair of girls.

Makoto pulled him back into the huddle, then shifted her focus to Yuuki. "This channel's not likely to say anything which isn't an official statement from law enforcement. Anyone talking about the Phantom Thief?"

Yuuki nodded. "I'm sure they are." He paused the streaming video and brought up a web search on Madarame and the calling cards. The result counter ran into the hundreds, and the three results showing declared the Phantom Thief responsible for Madarame's sudden change of heart.

Ryuji's grin widened again. "Double score! We're famous!"

Ann gave him a light kick in the shin. "Keep it down, dumbass."

Yuuki gave a hesitant grin. "But he's right. You guys are finally getting the recognition you all deserve."

Makoto patted a hand on the class representative's shoulder. "We are getting the recognition. Or at least the idea of the Phantom Thief."

Ryuji threw a fist into the air. "Eff yeah! Suck it, Akechi!"

Kasumigaseki, Police Headquarters

Sneezing, Akechi took the lollipop out of his mouth. "Excuse me?" He shifted the bulging folders held under his other arm.

The uniformed officer smirked and held up his smart phone, bearing a tabloid article on the Phantom Thief changing Madarame's heart. "That's right, Defective Detective. Looks like you called it wrong on KFTV."

Shibuya, Teikyuu Overpass

Akira even felt a smile tug at his own lips. They'd risked everything, but Ann and Yusuke were in the clear now. That felt like even more of a weight off his shoulders than ending the threat of expulsion. "Nice job, everyone. One down, many more to go." He met the sapphire gaze of his classmate. "How's Yusuke?"

Eyebrows furrowing, Ann tapped away at her phone's virtual keyboard. "I don't know, he's not responding to texts." She looked up at him. "What about your contact?"

Akira brought up Queen Togo and sent a chat request. [Hey, there's a lot of talk over here about Madarame's change of heart. How's Yusuke-san?]

Before a response came back, Ryuji bobbed his head. "This is so awesome. I mean, it was kinda touch-an'-go with the others, but we're on a roll here. I hope we keep on gettin' even more famous!"

Akira shot him a hooded gaze. "To what end?"

Morgana popped his head out of the bag. "Once and they could pass us off as coincidence, twice and they had to make excuses. But with three big changes of heart out there, they have to acknowledge the Phantom Thieves."

Makoto gave a small nod. "It's so soon after, it's hard to say how far-reaching the effects will be." The corners of her lips turned up. "But as big a splash as Kaneshiro was, I'm sure Madarame's change will give heart to people, too. We don't even know for sure how many of his students are still alive, but I'm sure the ones left will be glad to finally come out of the long shadow he cast. It will just take time."

The transfer student's phone buzzed and he looked down to see Queen Togo's ID. [Sorry for the delay. People in and out of Kosei have been buzzing about Madarame.]

[Everything okay?]

[I have been almost completely ignored all day. It's been a relaxing change of pace. I imagine things are harder on Kitagawa-san. He was being mobbed by curious freshmen until he fled campus. I suspect he was heading for somewhere quiet.]

[That might be for the best. Stay safe, Queen Togo.] He typed, [Could we meet? I want to talk about my record.] He read over it and frowned, then deleted it instead of sending.

A beat passed before she replied, [Of course. The Legion of Steel hasn't seen the last of the Togo Kingdom.]

"Sounds like Yusuke's fine—just laying low while people are going nuts over Madarame's confession." Akira shifted his weight away from the railing he leaned against and brushed at his long sleeve. His eyes met the class president's. "You think your sister might get involved in Madarame?"

She shifted her weight, silent for long seconds, but behind her red eyes whirled the gears of her mind. The intensity of it reminded him just a bit of Hifumi. Then she shook her head. "Big Sis has prosecuted financial crimes before, but most of her cases revolve around the corruption of public officials. Awarding business contracts without the required competition phase, things like that." She uncrossed her arms to reach a hand up and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "I think she knows there's more to it than the Phantom Thief 'passing names along through me', but she made a few enemies, too. I think it's best to leave other teams to Madarame. We wouldn't want to point any of the SIU at Yusuke or they'll get around back to us."

Morgana nodded from the transfer student's shoulder. "Good point, Nightrider." He glanced to Akira. "I'm glad we have somebody strategically-minded."

Akira straightened and shot the team leader as much a glare as he could from the perch. "Oh, you did not…"

"Shh!" Ryuji snapped, turning to face a pair of officious-looking men. One wore a traditional officer's uniform and sunglasses, but the other bore a bland, dark suit. The track star hissed, "Attendance officers." The other Phantom Thieves turned on the pair of adults advancing on them from the bridge.

"Good evening," the officer with his eyes hidden by mirrored sunglasses said. "May I speak with you a moment?"

Akira felt his body tense and knew he wasn't succeeding at masking his hostility to the two sorts of the people who took away his future forever. "You're a little early, fuzz. It's still afternoon."

Ann jabbed him with her elbow. "Don't provoke them." She flashed the adults the fakest smile she'd given yet. "H-how can we help you, sirs?"

Morgana shivered enough for Akira to feel through the long-sleeved white shirt, then retreated to the satchel.

Suit's narrow gaze passed over all of them, coming to rest on the student council president. "What are you all doing here?"

Akira rolled his eyes. He puffed out his chest. "Clearly they are my pawns in my diabolical scheme to take over the world. And you, too, can join for just twelve easy payments of 499."

Ann jabbed him in the side, sparing him a momentary glare before turning on an even more plastic smile than before. "T-that was a joke!"

Makoto gave a shallow bow. "Please forgive his… unique sense of humor."

Yuuki arched an eyebrow. "I didn't think it was that bad a joke."

Suit rolled his eyes. "They sound harmless. You kids just be careful, okay? The Shibuya cleanup operation may be winding down, but you should still be careful about where you spend your time." He sighed and rubbed the side of his head. "Just when I thought things were gonna quiet down, that artist had to up and make a ruckus."

Yuuki gave a quick bow. "Of course, officer. We'll make sure to keep an eye out."

The two adults walked off, though the cop kept his gaze on them for a while.

The thieves let out a relieved breath.

Ann jabbed Akira in the ribs. "Don't go putting me on the spot, okay? I already get enough grief from Shiho about my acting." She pulled out her phone.

Makoto crossed her arms and gave him a scathing glare. "Especially when we need to avoid drawing attention."

Yuuki nodded. "Ann's got enough to worry about."

"Ugh," Ryuji rolled his eyes. "Would you two just make out and get it over with?"

Both blushed and stammered incoherent, babbling denials.

"Reaper!" Morgana hopped out to his perch. "A Phantom Thief is a gentleman to a lady." He huffed. "Still, Nightrider caught on to us because we spent so much time meeting up. Adding to that a major victim from yet another change of heart, from another school no less, might draw undue attention."

Ryuji let out a puff of air and crossed his arms. "Eh, nobody's noticin' a buncha' Shujin peeps hangin' out. Peeps from diff'rent schools hang out all the time. Don't get all bent outta shape." He scratched his scalp. "Shame we couldn't get nothin' else outta 'Rame. If he really does go to prison, we might not ever be able to find out if he knew anything about Black Mask."

Akira crossed his arms, one finger tapping his elbow. "I suspect it would be too much to expect the conscious mind to draw details that may never have left his subconscious." He tightened his arms. "Hm. With Madarame gone, that means the courts are going to have to appoint a legal guardian for Yusuke."

Ryuji slumped. "Ugh. That could make meetin' up tough." He straightened – at least, as much as his perpetual casual attitude would allow. "Eff, man. How're we gonna top 'Rame?"

Makoto held a hand to her head. "The stir from Madarame's confession hasn't even settled. I recommend we all keep our heads down. Finals are coming up next week, anyway." She shot the track star a narrow gaze. "And I know no Phantom Thief would fail the most important evaluation of the semester."

Ryuji straightened and stepped away, pedestrian traffic bumping into him from behind and driving him back towards the president. He almost dropped his phone he was browsing pictures of girls on. "Y-yes ma'am!"

Morgana slipped down into the satchel as another clump of Shujin students passed into the station proper, then popped his head back out. "I'll think about Mementos later, but for now, Nightrider is right. It wouldn't do for the Phantom Thieves to be laid low by something as mundane as tests. Go out and be ready, everyone. We'll have plenty of time to look for our next target. Keep your eyes and ears out for opportunity, but your mission is to act like normal students until we get a good lead."

The thieves started to break up, but Makoto followed the transfer student. "Akira, could I ask for your assistance today?"

He paused, his satchel feeling heavier than some days. "Help me review for the finals and it's a deal."

Friday, 8 July 2016
Evening
Shibuya, Bikkuri Boi Diner

Akira yawned into his fist. The chatter of the diner around ebbed and flowed like currents of water in a bay, pressing in but at least never zipping into his ears the way it did at Shujin when he kept hearing his name at the library. The only name he picked out of the distant talk was Madarame's.

Makoto picked up her phone to check the time. "We have been going for a few hours. Now would be a good time to take a break." The corners of her lips turned up. "Or bring things to a close for this session. You have a remarkable academic stamina." When she started packing, he followed suit.

Akira stacked some papers. "Getting good grades is the best thing I can really do to give Shujin the middle finger. Everyone wrote me off before things even begin. If I fail, I'm just the record who was never going to amount to anything." He straightened the papers in his math book. Makoto had nothing to say Hifumi hadn't already gone over. "Between Kamoshida and Kaneshiro, I was only half there for mid-terms."

Makoto nodded. "So on to the other purpose of my approaching you. I asked around about that girl you saw in Shinjuku. Most students wouldn't respond to my questioning, but Tomoya-san had unconfirmed reports of a senior matching her description at a club in Kabukichou, despite the Shujin charter against involvement in clubs serving alcohol. The old me might have left it at that, but I feel like this is an opportunity to expand my boundaries and maybe do some good for another student."

"I probably shouldn't show you the notes I made in the student handbook Shujin sent me," Akira said, struggling to keep his smirk down. When he let his emotions play too obvious, it slipped into his tone and gave away his jokes. "Are you worried she has a sugar daddy?"

Makoto dropped her history textbook, a blush lighting her face and choked sound coming from her throat. After several moments of stuffing books in her school satchel with a distinct lack of eye contact, she regained control. "It is the responsibility of the Student Council to look out for the good of Shujin students. Predatory hustlers are not uncommon there. I want to make sure she isn't at risk."

Back straightening, the transfer student took in a long breath to launch off on how her entire start was just to look out for the school's reputation, but Morgana cleared his throat. "Joker, pre-Persona Nightrider might have made mistakes, but she changed. She had every opportunity to leave the Phantom Thieves after Kaneshiro's confession, but she investigated and fought alongside us to bring down Madarame."

Akira pursed his lips. "Fair." He cycled through a cleansing breath. "The student body has noticed you carry yourself differently, but not a lot of them trust you yet. And since clubbing is against the Shujin charter, she'd probably deny it if you confronted her about it at Shujin."

"I'm worried she has an older, experienced man manipulating her, Akira." She paused to sigh. "You're right, I don't think Shujin is the place. I don't even know for sure if she's really the one who was out there." She settled her school satchel on her shoulder. "I want to go see for myself. You saw her up there, right? I'd like you to take me so I can judge for myself."

Morgana peered up at him. "I think it would be good. She'd get the relief of knowing for sure, and either have the knowledge to help or to dispel those rumors, and you'd get a little more experience handling crowds."

Akira had to admit the not-cat had a point. "You coming along?"

Morgana hummed for a while. "Nah. Nightrider should be enough to handle you."

"Hey!" Akira exaggerated his pout. "I was thinking of enough to watch her."

Morgana smirked, his tail swishing behind him. "I'll bet you alone will be enough to do that, too."

Akira pulled out the spare street clothes he kept in the bottom of the satchel before letting the team leader in. "Just let me change at the train station and I'll be ready…"

"Excellent," she stated, sounding a bit smug as she tilted her bag to reveal rolled-up clothes in her own bag. "No reason to be seen in our Shujin uniforms when we're investigating people clubbing against school rules."

Akira nodded and they headed out, where he let Morgana out at Shibuya Station, then changed and met the class president at the line to Shinjuku. He tugged at his black jacket. It added another layer when it was already hot out, but he didn't like leaving his scars exposed. She wore the same tasteful, casual garb he saw her in that one Sunday.

She gave a nod. "Ready to visit the red-light district?"

Akira clasped both hands over his heart. "Why, Niijima-san… I had no idea you felt that way about me. I just don't think I'm ready."

A touch of pink bloomed on her cheeks. "W… No! This is for Takao-kun." When he smirked, her hands curled and she growled. "D-don't tease me!"

Chuckling, Akira boarded the train with her and they shot off to the red-light district. Despite the relative sparsity of passengers on the train, the district itself bustled. Rock music poured out of various bars and clubs, the crowds on the sidewalks so dense the criers didn't even stand out. He found himself stepping closer to the class president.

When his shoulder bumped hers, Makoto took that as a cue to start talking, though her back was even straighter than his and her eyes wide. "So this is the biggest red-light district in Asia. It actually looks much cleaner than I expected. You hear so much about it being a hotbed for illegal immigrants and brothels."

Akira shrugged, more to try to convince himself he wasn't tense about the churning tides of humanity going back and forth. "I'm sure the cameras Big Brother installed everywhere make the streets safer, but without the cooperation of all these people, that's just going to drive the crime underground where it's more dangerous and harder to track."

Makoto hummed. "I suppose that's true. Kaneshiro operated across Shibuya, and may even have had operations as far as here." She hopped up on her tip-toes for a beat, more animated here than he ever saw her at Shujin. "Dad talked about places like this. He worked in the division against organized crime, before dying in an unexplained crash. Thanks in part to all the surveillance, the police have been able to make it much safer than it was before." She swiveled her head to take in the garish signs. "Well, let's get a move on."

They swept the streets to find either that Takao girl or the club he and Mishima spotted her at earlier.

One of the adult business criers spotted them first. The man in an ironed but ill-fitting suit stepped all the way into the transfer student's path to stop them, but his eyes focused on the president. "Hey, hot stuff. You lookin' for a good time or some spendin' money? We got both."

Tilting her head, she gave him a quick once-over, though her stance widened. "Do high school students frequent your establishment?"

Akira caught his footing when a drunk stumbled into him from behind, but when the guy shambled on, Akira just straightened his glasses. "I don't think this is the pla—"

"Buzz off, four-eyes. She can think for herself," the crier snapped at him before turning back to the upperclassman with a practiced smile. "Come on in, it's all good, clean fun! We don't discriminate against any ages here. Everyone's welcome!"

Makoto's crimson eyes searched his. "So you do have high schoolers at your…?"

"Private club," he said, chest puffed out. "But that's just so we can have a smoking section. City laws, understand. It's a clean, classy joint. A beautiful dame like yourself would love it."

She brushed her hair back over her ear, her stance narrowing and her eye contact faltering. "O-oh, I think you might misunderstand…"

He reached a hand towards her, clasping her wrist. "Naw, it's the perfect place for a nice girl lookin' for new experiences. The other clients and staff would love to have you. And 'cause the clients like the place so much, I can pay my girls loads to get to work in the cutest dresses you've ever seen."

Makoto's left hand toyed with her skirt. "Are there any here from Shujin Academy?"

Akira tried to step back to Makoto's side, but the crier bumped him away to force her attention.

"There's girls from loads'a big-shot high schools here," the crier said. "And we get guys from all over." He took her hand in both of his and looked straight into her eyes. "Just think of the people you could meet."

Her features hardened and her stance widened. "So nobody from Shujin works at 'your' place."

The crier's friendly mask faltered, but held. "Give it a chance. Just imagine gettin' paid to wear a dress as cute as you—"

Akira slipped behind the crier and pulled a pen out to press against the crier's back. "Her hand or your liver."

The crier's hand opened and he lifted both. "Whoa, there's no need for bloodshed." He turned enough to take in both Shujin students in street clothes, one hand slipping into a coat pocket.

Akira clicked the button on the back of the pen twice. "Can't call the cops on a kid with a pen."

The crier fumed, but after a moment spotted someone else out of the corner of his eye and walked away, all sweet words and smooth motions.

The transfer student and Makoto rejoined, pressing to the brick-faced building to catch their breaths and scope out the crowd churning by. She wiped her hand on her white blouse. "Ugh. He must have been one of those hostess club scouts. If you hadn't been there…" Her lip twitched and her hand clenched on his.

Akira pocketed his pen. "It would've been dangerous for him. I saw what you were angling to do. I figured I'd step in before you threw him." He slipped his hand out of his pocket to straighten his glasses. "People in his line of work have to get good at reading people fast, and you were pretty obvious about being here for the first time. He made a couple assumptions and gauged your reactions to try to flatter you inside." He shoulder-bumped her. "Not like you're the sort to just let people push you around anymore, eh?"

It was hard to tell with all the garish street signs, many of them already being red, but he thought Makoto's face flushed. "W-well, him being suspicious just made him seem like the kind of person to ask." She brushed some hair back behind her ear. "It was a little hard to follow what he was saying."

Akira gave her a flat stare.

She brushed her hair back again. "W-well, I suppose that's one new thing today. But still not the place we were looking for." She looked up and around again at the glowing signs. "Do you remember where exactly it was you saw Takao-kun?"

Akira shook his head. "I have a better memory for voices than landmarks. I know Yuuki pointed her out somewhere on the way to Crossroads, but we were avoiding some of the cops patrolling the thoroughfare from the train station."

She sighed. "Well, nothing to it but to pound the pavement, then." She stepped into the crowd and he followed her, searching for what felt like hours in the congested streets of Shinjuku. As it turned out, the girl they were looking for ran into him.

She bounced off, and the first thing she did after catching her footing was looking up at him to meet his annoyed grey gaze. Her face paled as her eyes flicked over him, trailing down his arm, then up to the upperclassman. "Prez?" The girl's brown eyes flicked down to their clasped hands, then back up, then to him before stopping on the class president, mischief warring with fear in her eyes. "I didn't think Miss Perfect Marks went for bad boys."

Makoto glanced down, then jerked her hand out of his.

When did that happen?

Makoto drew herself up to her full height, though given the high heels on the girl wearing an eye-searing pink mini-skirt-and-suspenders it still wasn't quite enough to look down on her in a literal way. "What are you doing here, Takao-kun?"

Akira looked up and spotted that sign for the place he saw her entering when he was up here last with Yuuki. "Oh, the After School Salon." Akira looked the girl in the eye, though part to avoid looking at that eye-hurting pink she wore. "You work here, don't you?"

Now Takao's face went pale enough to be clear despite the garish signs. Her breath halted as she glanced at Akira, then to Makoto, then stiffened even more and looked back to the transfer student before clasping her hands before him. "Please, Transfer, you've gotta understand. If the school knew… My parents would find out. They would ruin my life."

Makoto gaped like a fish.

"Whoa, calm down," Akira said, tapping the side-ponytailed girl on the forehead with one firm finger. "We're not the Spanish Inquisition. She came because she heard unsavory rumors of something going on around here and wanted to make sure you weren't caught up in anything bad. I mean, think about it. Shujin itself can go to hell, but the students in it already had to suffer through Kamoshida and Kaneshiro."

Takao rubbed the back of her neck, her posture tense and her eyes refusing to meet his. After a moment her breathing slowed. "T-thanks. But I need to get home fast."

She didn't have enough time to turn for the train station before Makoto snatched for her wrist. "Hold on, I've got questions."

Takao danced away into the crowd. She waved a hand high over the crowd. "I can't now, maybe later."

Makoto fumed next to the transfer student, her mood so obvious even most of the drunks gave them what little wide berth the busy street allowed. "That was fruitless."

Akira pulled up a review on the After School Salon on a social media site he'd never heard of – though that didn't mean much, as new to socialization as he was. "Sorry about the hand thing. I still have problems with Tokyo crowds."

She cleared her throat and looked at him, but avoided straight eye contact. "O-oh, well… no harm done." She crossed her arms and muttered, "Why'd she ask you for help and not me?"

He nodded. "We accomplished plenty, Senpai. We confirmed she comes here and either attends or works at the After School Salon. I was kind of joking when I mentioned finding a sugar daddy, but apparently this is a good place to springboard into that kind of thing nearby." He sidestepped to a building wall and held his phone out to her after she joined him away from the street.

Makoto read the reviews on the After School Salon, then handed back his phone. "This has suspicious all over it. I don't have much time before finals, but I want to question her further."

Akira put his phone away. "Up to you, Senpai. At least you've got evidence to weigh. Just don't make your judgment based on what it looks like up front."

She took a slow breath in, then out. "Right. Well, it is getting close to curfew. I'm not too far away from home, but Leblanc is a ways from here." At his nod, she led the way at a purposeful walk to the train station, where she headed for a line to Chiyoda and he back to Shibuya.

Friday, 8 July 2016
Late Evening
Yongen, Backstreets

Akira noticed the sign still read Open despite the lights off inside. He flipped it and unlocked the door. His phone sang with eerie string instrumentation, so he pulled it out as he strode inside. "Tokyo University Ornithology Department, Luke A. Boyd."

Makoto groaned from her side of the phone. "Anyway, Big Sis got home and I had a chance to talk with her about my suspicions. She told me never to go there again, but after some of the risks she reiterated, I wanted to thank you for coming with me. That barker could've ended up a much bigger scene if you hadn't stepped in when you did."

Smirking, Akira leaned against the divider separating the door from the restaurant. "Maybe we try going in next time?"

The scoff was all she gave in dismissal. "It's just… Dad tried to teach me about how to remain aware when going to a new place in the city, and I've practiced aikido since as far back as I can remember, but today reminded me that planning ahead doesn't always mean being ready to act when the moment comes. I started to brace to throw him, but then I thought of what happened to you and froze up. So… thank you."

Akira looked at his phone. She sounded like it caused her literal pain to say those last two words. "Uh… no problem, Senpai. 'Night." He looked into his phone, wondering what the weird feeling that conversation gave him. She was avoiding something, but besides annoyance with him he couldn't guess what it was.

AN: Makoto's arc seemed to focus more on another person's problems than her own character growth. However, it's still an interesting plot thread and one that Akira's going to do his best to tie up. I am trying to integrate everybody's personal plot arcs into the overall story, involving more people and showcasing a little more personal development for all of his friends.

Tell me what you think. Thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts!