AUTHOR'S NOTE: There will be some retcons due to my changing artistic vision, mainly regarding femc's outfits. Praise my absolute power over this fic.

"Let's get a move on..."

The trio entered the castle quietly, making sure to avoid all the guards on the way. Thankfully, the area was less guarded. "Guess they didn't check where we left... These palace rulers aren't the smartest bunch..." Akira leaned against a wall decoration while Morgana stopped at their previous exit point.

"Can't expect much from Kamoshida...", Ryuji remarked. "Does whatever he wants and as long as that happens, he couldn't give less of damn..."

"Relax...", Akira went to ruffle Ryuji's hair. She thought back to what happened in the hallway, thinking of how he could just do wha the did to her without anyone cared, all because of some dumb tradition! Akita took a breath. "We'll get him."

"Yeah... thanks, almost lost my cool there..."

"Want to rest on my lap?"

Ryuji freaked out.

"Just kidding..." Akita hid her laughter to not alert the guards.

"Why you–"

"Hey, listen up." Akita and Ryuji's attention went to Morgana. "This is our infiltration point."

"But isn't this just where we escaped from?"

"Well in addition to what m'lady explained so amazingly, it's also smart to not barge in through the front." Morgana explained before Akita gave a snort from trying not to laugh.

"Dude...", Ryuji's disappointment in Akita's humor was palpable. "Aren't guys supposed to be like that..."

"Sorry... Keep going Morgana", Akita turned to the confused maskot, who didn't seem to get what was funny.

"As I was saying, it's one of the basics of phantom thievery."

Ryuji scratched his neck. "How're we supposed to know all that?"

"Don't worry, I'll teach you two as we go along..." Morgana quickly jumped up to the vent. "Come on, follow me!"

Ryuji began looking like he had doubts, Akita couldn't blame him. She was just willing to go along, nothing more to it besides Kamoshida being a scumbag. "Sorry for dragging ya into this mess... But–"

"But you can't forgive the bastard, right?"

"Yeah, you get it. I can't forgive him for doing whatever the hell he wants!"

"It's alright to be mad, I already hate him and it hasn't even been a week since I came to Tokyo."

"Thanks, I owe you big time for coming along to this place, really." The two made their way inside following Morgana, despite Akita's teasing. "Man, this place is as creepy as always."

"Mhm, now make sure you do everything I tell you. You got that?"

"Aye aye, captain." Akita winked, making Morgana pur and Ryuji tapps his foot. "Jealous?"

"I– well."

"Kidding. Where to, Morgana?"

The cat flinched. "O-oh... uh..." He dashed to the hallway and ran off. "Just follow me!"

"You heard what he said?"

"Yeah, let's get going."

The three ran through the castle, running through glorious ballrooms and golden sculptures before reaching the dungeon again. There Morgana taught them how to sneakily take out shadows, giving Akita the chance to show-off. The dashing performance even got Ryuji pumped-up and everyone ready for more action. Akita made sure to pocket some change and loot from around the dank dungeons.

Morgana stopped next to a strange door, explaining to them saferooms and palaces.

"... So this place became what it is because he views the school like this?" Akita asked while Ryuji started getting angrier.

"That asshole!"

Morgana was somewhat shocked. "You really hate this guy, huh?"

Akita tried to chime in, but Ryuji finally burst. "Hate... doesn't even come close. Everything is that asshole's fault!" The small bit calmness did surprise Akita, but the outburst still left her speechless.

"...", Akita decided to stay quiet. He's dealt with it longer... He deserves this.

Morgana looked concerned for Ryuji, for once during their interaction. "I don't know what happened between you two, but don't let your emotions get a hold of you. We need to stay on our feet with his lackies everywhere. Let's change the subject." Morgana turned to look at Akita. "I bet m'lady is curious about her outfit."

Ryuji turned to look. "Yeah, me too."

Akita smirked and started acting high and mighty. "Calm yourself."

"Shudup..."

"Uh..." Morgana was starting to be annoyed by the constant interrupting. "Well as I was saying, it's also a result of this world."

"More stuff that makes zero sense..."

"Anything distorts to how the ruler pleases in a Palace. Like a school to a castle. To resist that power, one must hold a strong rebellion within themselves. That outfit is a view of your idea of rebellion."

Ryuji took a closer glance at Akita. "So that's what you see as rebellion?"

"What, a dashing thief is pretty rebellious. The gentleman thief, the anti-villain that still sits outside society–" Akita took a pause. "... but considering what I'm right now, I'm starting to regret this dress..."

"So you're a tomboy type?"

"No comment."

"Alright you two...", Morgana sighed.

"What? Did the cat lose it's tongue?" Ryuji grinned.

"I am a human! An honest-to-god human!"

Ryuji tried to see what Morgana was talking about. "Nah, you're more like a cat."

"Well... uh... Well it's obviously because I lost my true form... I think."

Akita looked concerned. "You think?"

"But I do know how to gain my true form! I came to this palace to investigate just that, but... then I got captured... B-but I was also OBVIOUSLY tortured by Kamoshida to lose my true form! And so I'm going to make him pay for that..."

That doesn't really line up, but as long as he's willing to help.

"What are we in, a comic book? This is insane."

Akita sighed, staring at the ceiling. "Maybe we should get going before we take revenge, boys."

"Of course, now I'll be counting on you too, m'lady."

"Aww, thank you, Mo-chan", Akita leaned over to scratch behind his ear. After an awkward few second for Ryuji, he pulled out a replica gun for Akita to use. Despite this attempt at help, Morgana doubted it would be of use. "I'll make sure to thank you properly later."

After running around, killing shadows, Morgana complimenting Akita, Akita teasing Ryuji and Morgana, they took a second before engaging the next enemy. During this moment Morgana thought to use the gun given to Akita as an effective weapon within the Metaverse. After figuring out to use replica guns to trigger distortions to make it real, the team now had another option for weaponry. After an ambush by another guard, Akita got another chance to show-off.

"I'm a natural. Thanks for this, Ryuji", Akita took a bow for Ryuji for her gratitude.

"Yeah... nothing much... you're welcome." Ryuji blushed slightly, Akita taking it as another win for her game.

"Well it was just dumb luck that it wound-up working..." Morgana was almost pouting.

"Did you have to put it like that", Ryuji bit back before Akita pulled Morgana up for a hug from behind.

"Mo-chan, apologise to Ryuji. It wasn't dumb luck", Akita winked at Ryuji.

"Yeah, what she said, Mo-chan", Ryuji grinned.

"Sorry Ryuji..." Morgana quickly leaped out of Akita's arms.

"Was it that bad, Mo-chan?" Akita hid her face teasingly.

"N-no!"

"Good."

Afterword the three ended-up divvying-up their roles, for now Morgana would act as support and Akita as the leader. Running around through the dungeons, they ran into another shadows, with which Morgana decided to demonstrate the All-Out attack. With that final lesson, they reached a particular gate to 'the Training Hall of Love'.

"What kind of bullshit is this..."

"Probably nothing good..." Akita's mind was going wild with what could be in that place, but upon entry she was glad it was one of the less disgusting. The sounds of cracking whips and smacking sticks rang through the halls, making Akita flinch a bit with each sound. "These sounds... what's that bastard doing here?"

"Dunno..." Ryuji grunted. "Let's keep going."

Akita gave a concerned look. "Whatever you say." As they finally got close-enough to see, the sight was of students being tortured. "I don't know what else I should have expected."

"Dammit. This is bullshit–"

Akita covered his mouth from behind, her fingers slipping to hold onto his mouth. She whispered into his ear. "Morgana told us to be quiet, I don't fully trust him, but he clearly knows better than us."

Ryuji felt her tight grip around his arm, he wouldn't be able to move with her grip around him. He wouldn't be able to move with her body tightly pressed on his body, he decided to listen and calmed down. "Alright..." Akita released him from her grip, wiping away the spit from her glove. "This is beyond messed-up..." He looked at the locked door leading to a room filled with students being tortured. "How do I open this...", he said calmly.

Faint voices shouted out. "–op it..." One of the students came crawling towards them. "Just leave us alone... it's useless..."

Ryuji almost shouted out. "What?" As more students appeared, they continued to express how they would be tortured if they tried to escape and maybe even killed. "Are you seriously planning on just staying like this?!"

Morgana gave a concerned scowl. "Ryuji, were you planning on taking them out of here?"

"Yeah."

"How stupid can you be?"

Akita turned to look at Morgana with an angry expression. "What?!"

"Listen, they're only human in Kamoshida's Palace. These guys aren't real humans who entered here, they aren't like you two." Akita calmed down, it made sense. She looked over at Ryuji. "You could say that these are extreme similar-looking dolls..."

"I hate everything about this...", Akita looked to Ryuji for a similar sentiment.

"Schools a castle, he's the king, the students are slaves..." Ryuji grit his teeth. "... It's so on point it makes me laugh. This really is the inside of his head."

"Let's just keep moving, the dungeon probably holds the torture parts", Akita thought for a moment. "Isn't he a PE teacher or something... that means he must be treating them like slaves in the real world." She shuddered.

"Wait... in the real world", Ryuji took a long look at the copies. "I know these guys. They're part of the volleyball team, the one he coaches!"

"So... they're getting physically abused every day?" Akita wondered what else he could be doing to students.

"... so their going through this shit in reality too, right?"

Morgana looked up. "Yeah, this wouldn't happen normally in a Palace otherwise."

Ryuji tried taking a photo to use as evidence, but as the two teens fiddled with their phones, they couldn't open their camera app. Eventually though, they had to keep moving to not get caught by the guards. As they went through the dungeon Ryuji tried to memorize all the torturees' faces, but that dragged the guards' gaze, forcing the thieves to leave before they were caught.

Akita ran back into the main hall, only to be met with a grim sight. "Well well well..." Kamoshida was surrounded by his guards. "If it isn't the knave and slave. You're honestly hopeless to have come back."

Ryuji tried to bite back, but Akita stepped-up. "The school isn't your castle. We know everyone's face, you're going down for what you've done!"

"Calm down, I'll have fun with you later."

Barph

"And Sakamoto, I guess barking dogs seldom bite." Kamoshida laughed. "How far has the star runner fallen..."

What? Akita glanced at Ryuji.

"What are you getting at?"

"I speak of the Track Traitor, who turned on his king and ruined the dreams of his teammates."

Ryuji lost his nerve. "What does he mean?" Akita lowered her guard just a little bit upon seeing Ryuji looking defeated.

"How sad, you followed him without knowing his crimes? Nowadays he doesn't even care about what happened, he's still carefree as ever..."

"That's–" Ryuji tried to speak up, but Kamoshida began to order his men.

"Dispose of those two, but try to keep the girl's body." The shadow began moving away, his guards moved closer to the trio. The guards burst into their true forms as bicorns.

Ryuji cursed himself as the monsters got close, Morgana and Akita stepped between him and the bicorns. "Stand back Ryuji!" Morgana tried to push back Ryuji. As the battle began Akita managed to knock down one of the shadows, but the other two struck back. Only one landed a hit on Akita before galloping over her and ramming Morgana. After pushing the two thieves on the ground, Kamoshida arrived to place his foot on Akita while his elite guard pushed down Morgana.

Akita felt Kamoshida's toes push on her back individually, the shadow was playing with her. "I bet you came here on a whim and ended up like this, right?"

"No..." Ryuji tried raising his voice.

"Getting emotional already? What a worthless piece of trash..." Kamoshida leaned over, putting more preasure on Akita. "You two raised your hand at me. Though it was only temporary, have you forgotten my kindness in supervising track practice?"

"It was just abuse. All because you didn't like our team..."

"Well I would've stopped at breaking the star runners leg if the coach had just agreed to provide a sound argument against me."

"Dammit, shut up..." Ryuji nearly cried, Akita could hear him mumble under his breath as he collapse to his hands.

Kamoshida saw Akita looking at Ryuji, he reached down and ran his hand across her hair. "Once I've dealt with you two, I'll deal with him..." He took a hold of a handful of hair, forcing Akita to look up as the shadow laughed.

Akita managed to avoid Kamoshida's eyes. "Don't let him win..."

Ryuji looked up for a moment at Akita. "You're right... Everything important to me was taken by him, I won't let that happen any more... I'll never get those things back..."

"Are you done? Just stay there and watch. Look as this hopeless wretch dies for scum like you."

Ryuji stepped up straight. "You're the real scum here. Stop looking at me with that dumb grin of yours!"

"Silence him!" Kamosida raised his hand off Akita, her head nearly dropping straight to the ground.

"Shut up. All you think about is using people, so shut the hell up!"

Ryuji collapsed to the ground as a blast of air flung the guards and Kamoshida off Morgana and Akita. There stood Ryuji with a mask on his face and a scowl as he began to tear it off in shock. Blood splattered around before a blue flame devoured him. From the flames there stood Ryuji in a dark leather jacket and a ghostly pirate riding a ship behind him. "Man, this 'effin rocks. Persona... wassup, Persona?"

Akita got up and went to Ryuji's side with Morgana. "So nice to get that guy off my back. Are you ready?"

Ryuji clenched his fist. "Yeah, I'm ready."

The elite guard of Kamoshida burst open into horse-riding demon. "You dare defy the king?!"

"Yeah, bring it!" He lifted his hand. "Blast him, Captain Kidd!"