I'd just like to let everyone know that I'm currently doing a rewrite of the earlier chapters. As of writing only chapter 1 has been rewritten, but please check it out if you have the time and let me know what you think!
Ch. 100 - Visit
"Everything okay, mister?"
"Yeah, just got a lot of stuff to think about is all."
"Want any more gummy worms?"
"I think I'm fine for now. Thanks though, Jose."
The Thieves Den had undergone many changes ever since that day. Under Ren's renovations, it had become much, much larger. Rather than looking like an art exhibit, it now resembled more of a museum, with various exhibits lining the walls. The floating platforms and stairs were still present, but now they were organized in spirals with elevators running down the middle, with branching staircases leading to multiple floors.
Despite the more formal appearance of the Den, there were still splashes of eccentricity: Red, zigzagging lines streaked across the Chaldean-style walls, lined with TVs that played his various memories. The gigantic figures of Yaldabaoth and Adam Kadmon were now both present, looming over the 'shattered' ceiling and posed like they were about to fight one another. Right below them was the top of the floating staircase, which opened into a gigantic ring platform. Various lounges dotted the Den now – perfect for playing cards, video games, or for watching movies on the gigantic TVs.
As for the LeBlanc exhibit, it now had its own dedicated section near the entrance of the Den. The café had been replicated further, from the booth seats to the entrance, even the upstairs section which led to Ren's bedroom. The stairs, however, were sectioned with a small chain and a sign marked 'Do Not Enter Without Permission'. While it seemed a bit hypocritical given the Den was literally his own mindscape, a small private place of his own never hurt anyone. The place was filled with the scent of coffee and curry, with just the faintest hint of cigarette smoke as the TV played some comedy routine Ren recalled seeing some time ago.
In the café were only two people at the moment: Ren, who stood behind the counter in a dark green apron over his clothes, and Jose, who was savoring yet another memory from a shot glass. The apron was unnecessary considering he couldn't make a 'mess' in the Den unless he wished for it, but it just felt right. Besides, he had a sneaking suspicion Sojiro would spontaneously manifest himself to tell him off if he didn't put it on.
Ren leaned over the counter with his own cup of coffee, staring into it as he pondered. While he was satisfied with how Loki's situation was handled, what happened afterward was one surprise after another. The kiss was the first thing. If the Avenger wanted to take him off guard, then they had been very successful. He would have to think of some sort of payback, but the only question was what he would do. Tit for tat might end up in things escalating beyond what even he could handle.
And then there was the arcana bond that formed. It was another Fool arcana but unlike with Ritsuka or Joan, this was a Reverse Fool. That had him do a double take when he noticed it. Every arcana he had so far had been an Upright one and while he was curious about it, he wouldn't ignore the dangers a Reversed arcana posed. If he was careless, it might end up dragging him down as opposed to building him up.
Still, he couldn't help but inwardly smirk at the thought. What's life without a few risks? And he had been taking risks constantly the past year or two now. An arcana wouldn't have formed if there wasn't something to be gained from it. So long as he was on his toes, he should be fine – and Loki certainly would keep him on his toes whether he liked it or not.
"Do you want anything for this memory, mister?"
Ren paused and looked over at Jose, who was staring inquisitively up at him. He simply smiled and shook his head. "Not right now," he replied. "But I'll put it on your tab."
Jose nodded as he fished out a tiny notebook from his jacket pocket and wrote it down. The Phantom Thief had to smile. The kid was incredibly diligent with recording things, whether it was things he saw and experienced, or keeping a tally of the debt he incurred. He still remembered the stamp stations at Mementos where he turned them in for further beneficial 'tweaks' to the place's cognition. Jose was a mystery to him, but then so were Igor and Lavenza. In the end, they trusted him, and he trusted them in turn. That was good enough.
"How's the drink?" Ren asked. Jose had ordered 'A Rainy Day in Shibuya' and he had to admit, he was curious as to what it was like.
The grey-haired boy glanced up, then beamed. "It's a very curious drink," he chirped. "It's very mellow, almost watery in a way. But there's so many different subtle flavors that I can't help but want more and more just so I can tell what they are. A bit of bitterness, like plastic. A bit of what tasted like… sparkle? I don't know how to describe it. A bit of woodiness as well. Sometimes I thought I could even taste regular food as well.
Ren smiled. "Sounds about right," he agreed. Walking through Shibuya during the rain always was an interesting experience. The sound of rain pattering against his umbrella, the normal noise of the crowd muted, the hurried footsteps of people running by while holding backpacks or newspapers over their head, all of which threw into greater relief all the different shops and restaurants that were more crowded than usual as people took shelter.
He didn't think he'd recall such days with such clarity, but considering his turbulent life, maybe that was what made such mundane moments that much more extraordinary for him. And the mundane moments made the extraordinary even more so. It was all part and parcel – and frankly, he wouldn't have it any other way. The only thing he was missing was more people to share it with, but that would remedy itself in due time.
Suddenly, he felt a presence approaching the Den. Glancing over at Jose, it seems the grey-haired boy noticed it too. "Were you expecting guests, mister?" he asked out of curiosity.
The Phantom Thief homed in on the presence… then smiled happily. "This one, yes," he answered. "Come on – I'll introduce you to meet a good friend of mine."
Jose blinked in surprise, then grinned broadly. He finished up his drink and hopped off the stool, making his way to the door with Ren. As they stepped out, he flipped the little sign hanging on the door to 'Closed'. Old habits die hard. With that, they stepped into the hallway that led out of the Den. A glowing door appeared on the far side which swung open, allowing them through into a void – and where Ren's guest awaited.
"Hey Mash," he greeted with a warm smile. "Glad you could make it."
It had been some time since Mash had been here. Although the void encompassed her, she didn't feel nervous at all. If anything, it felt oddly comforting, like she was wandering the familiar halls of Chaldea. She had been holding off this visit since Ren-senpai seemed incredibly busy, but she had idly wondered before she went to bed what his mind was like – and she woke up here. She started musing if she could try going back to sleep when she sensed a familiar presence behind her.
"Good evening, Mash Kyrielight," Arsene greeted cordially with a bow as Mash turned to face him. "Or perhaps, more accurately, a pleasure to see you once again."
Mash bowed back in turn. "Good evening, Mr. Arsene," she replied. "It's a pleasure to see you too. I didn't expect to be here again, but I hope I'm not a bother."
The flaming grin on Arsene's face seemed to widen. "A guest of my other self is never a bother," he reassured her. "Especially since he has granted you permission. In fact, he will be delighted to see you. Come, let us go and meet with him." The Shielder nodded in response.
They made their way through the void, Mash's footsteps utterly silent, and soon the cell door made of light was before them once more. Arsene floated aside, allowing her access. Just as she was about to approach, however, the door suddenly opened – and Ren stepped through, followed by a small, grey-haired boy wearing a large white and grey jacket.
"Hey Mash," Ren greeted with a warm smile. "Glad you could make it. Hope Arsene remembered his manners." He shot a jokingly stern glance at his true self.
Arsene laughed heartily. "What do you think, Mash Kyrielight?" he asked, turning toward her. "Have I comported myself as befits a Phantom Thief?"
Mash smiled and bowed once more towards Arsene. "You have been more than courteous and kind," she earnestly replied. "I thank you greatly for your hospitality."
"She seems like a nice person, mister," Jose commented.
Ren had to chuckle. "She is, and a lot more," he agreed easily, causing Mash to turn a slight shade of red. "Mash, this is Jose, a friend of mine. Jose, this is Mash Kyrielight, one of my closest friends in Chaldea. She's got my back more times than I can count even in the short time I've been here."
The Shielder's mouth dropped slightly open at the description. She expected a simple introduction but not such glowing praise. She was shaken out of her thoughts when the boy – Jose – walked up to her. "Hello, Miss Kyrielight!" he greeted cheerfully. "I've seen you in the exhibits in the Den! You look just as noble as how Ren portrays you!"
He held up a hand for her. "A handshake is the normal greeting for humans meeting for the first time," he said. "Am I doing this right?"
Mash paused at the question before smiling and taking his hand in her own. "Yes, that is correct," she replied kindly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jose." Then she registered the boy's words. "But pardon me for asking – what do you mean by 'exhibits'?"
The Phantom Thief chuckled. "Step inside and I'll show you," he replied enigmatically. With a beckoning gesture, he stepped back through the door and disappeared into the red light. Jose gave her a grin before bouncing back through as well. Mash stared at the door for a moment, looked over to Arsene who gestured her in, then stepped through as well.
What she saw wasn't anything she expected whatsoever. The walls were that of Chaldea but… at the same time not. Especially with the dash of red and video screens running through. Her footsteps were muffled by the red carpet underneath as she walked through the hallway behind the two, which opened up into the main area proper: A huge museum-like looking structure, filled to the brim with so many different kinds of exhibits and wonders that her mind could barely comprehend what she was seeing.
"Welcome to the Thieves Den, Mash!" Ren introduced, opening his arms in a grand gesture to show it off. "You came at a great time – I just finished remodeling. There may be one or two touches I'll add on later but for the most part, it's completed. What do you think?"
The Shielder could only look about her in wonder. "This… this is fantastic, senpai," she gasped. "I had no idea that your inner self was so… wondrous!"
The Phantom Thief shrugged. "A lot of experiences in the Metaverse, the real world, and in singularities do that to you," he explained easily. "Come on, I promised you a tour of the place, and so I shall. It's probably not the best idea to look at everything in one go, but I can at least show you the highlights."
Mash blinked, then nodded. "O-of course, senpai!" she stammered. "I'll be in your care!" In her heart, however, excitement and anticipation began blooming. There were so many sights and scenes here that she had never witnessed in Chaldea that her curiosity was overwhelming. She couldn't even begin to fathom what Ren would consider to be 'highlights' but she was more than excited to find out.
With that, they began walking, passing by exhibits with Ren explaining each of them as they did. Mash could only look about in wonder, marveling at all the different life experiences on display, with Jose piping up to make an occasional observation or question about humanity. She knew Ren was her senpai to life, but she had never thought it would be so comprehensive. There was so much to learn here, so much to discover. And it only made her more and more painfully aware of the gap between them.
As they passed by a certain exhibit, she slowed down as it caught her eye. Ren and Jose both noticed and stopped as well. It was the busy street of Shibuya on a sunny afternoon. "Something caught your eye, Mash?" Ren asked out of curiosity.
The Shielder paused for a moment, then nodded. "I have read and heard about cities before," she murmured. "And even seen them in videos. But seeing one in person is something I haven't done before. I wonder what they are like is all."
Ren nodded pensively as he stared at the exhibit. "Let me try something…" he murmured. He walked forward and to the surprise of the other two, jumped into the exhibit. The Phantom Thief looked around him for a moment, seemingly concentrating on something, then nodded with a smile of satisfaction. "Come on in!" he called out, beckoning.
Jose eagerly rushed forward and jumped into the exhibit, leaving Mash standing there confused. But seeing her senpai's encouraging smile gave her the drive to walk forward as well. She stepped up into the exhibit –
And stepped out into the busy city street of Shibuya. Her eyes widened in shock and wonder as she witnessed everything: People were walking to and fro around her, trying to get to their destinations, chatting with their friends or associates, or on their phones. The sun shone overhead, partially blocked by the massive buildings that loomed over them. She could hear the noises of even greater crowds behind her at the massive street crossing.
"Your cognitive powers have truly grown," Jose remarked in amazement. "This is truly impressive!"
Ren shrugged. "It's a bit of a hack job given it was on such short notice, but it's the best I can do at the moment," he replied, waving off the praise. "But it'll do for now. So, Mash, welcome to my little slice of home: Tokyo. Or a small part of it, anyway. What do you think?"
The Shielder could only look at Ren with pure awe in her eyes. "You made all this, senpai?" she gasped. "This is truly fantastic! I feel so… tiny next to all of these buildings! And there are so many people!" One cognitive person bumped into her as they marched by her without even glancing up or apologizing. "Perhaps a few too many," she amended sheepishly.
The Phantom Thief couldn't help but laugh. "You get used to it," he reassured her. "With how many people here, bumping into others isn't all that uncommon, unfortunately. Come on, let me show you guys a few places around here." They walked down the street, with Ren pointing out some innocuous, though interesting to the two, landmarks.
"I worked at that beef bowl place for a while. Met someone who would become a good friend of mine there. He taught me a lot about how to talk to people and keep my cool, even in the face of temptation. Last I checked with him, he was elected to the Diet. He's busier than ever but always makes time to chat."
"The Diet?" Mash questioned.
"Japan's legislative branch of the government," Jose explained. "They write and debate laws and policies as well as are the ones who elect the Prime Minister. It's a pretty big deal to be elected there. Mister's connections run rather far and wide."
"I got pretty lucky in meeting him," Ren admitted. "But he's a good guy. He'll do great." He recalled Sae telling him that among all the support to get him released from juvenile hall, Yoshida had rallied his Diet members together to put on the pressure. Ren had absolutely no doubt they played a major part on how he managed to get out as early as he did.
He had to smile to himself. If the government were filled with more people like Yoshida and less people like Shido, people who could reflect upon themselves and become far better for it, then Japan would be a far greater place.
Mash meanwhile stared at Ren with wide eyes. "You were friends with someone who became part of the government?" she asked in surprise. "That's truly impressive, senpai!"
The Phantom Thief smiled. "He was someone who heard me out and had me be his sounding board and occasional support," he explained. "In return, he taught me conversational tricks that he had learned over the years of working in politics. It came in handy no small number of times, both inside the Metaverse and out." After the election campaign, he never stopped checking if Yoshida was on his soapbox giving his speeches in Shibuya. The crossing felt oddly quiet without his booming voice ringing over the crowd.
They kept walking along the street, with Ren pointing out more landmarks. "That's the Big Bang Burger I often visited," he pointed out. "They run the Big Bang challenge every evening, where they give you these massive burgers you have to finish in one sitting. It's tough going – your jaws get one hell of a workout and it dries your mouth, but every sip of a drink to fix that also means less room in your stomach for the burger."
"Did it at least taste good?" Jose asked.
Ren chuckled. "At first," he admitted. "But after a while, it all starts to taste bland and stale as you force yourself to keep eating. And there's three challenges, each with a larger and larger burger. The last one is pretty much a tower. I don't think I'll go for the challenge again if I don't have to." He shuddered at the thought. Just thinking about it made him feel queasy – he recalled throwing up from the challenge at least once or twice afterward.
"And you did this challenge with your friend…?" Mash asked quietly.
The Phantom Thief blinked, then remembered. "I did, yep," he replied. "I did all the challenges solo then thought it'd be fun to see Sumire attempting it. She always had a large appetite thanks to the calories she burns doing gymnastics. I thought perhaps the Big Bang burgers might finally prove to be too much for her." He laughed in reminiscence. "I'm never challenging her in any eating competitions ever again."
The Shielder quietly nodded. For some reason, the story sent a painful pang through her heart – similar to when Nero had kissed Ren, then Loki. She had meant to talk to Ritsuka about it, but she had been dealing with her own troubles and the doctor had been far too busy. As much as she wanted to ask her senpai, something told her that he wasn't the right person to ask – or rather, it wasn't the right time. She still had a very long way to go before she would be able to do so.
But still, it didn't stop it from hurting.
Ren pointed out a few more locations, like the movie theater and the bookstore, before turning down an alleyway. It was far more cramped and darker, and even though this was a cognitive area, Mash couldn't help but feel a bit on edge. It would be the perfect area to be ambushed. Thankfully, they didn't walk far as they stopped at a seedy-looking shop, with a neon sign, emblazoned with the word 'Untouchable'.
"And here's where I got a lot of the equipment for our missions," the Phantom Thief explained. "It sells model weapons and military surplus gear. All rather good stuff. It's also where I pawned off a lot of the Treasures we managed to steal in Palaces: Gold medals, a suitcase made of gold, things like that." Ren blew a slightly irritated breath. "Pretty sure the owner only gave me a fraction of what they're worth, but beggars can't be choosers," he grumbled.
Hearing that, Mash took a closer look at the shop. It looked… dingy was probably the best word she would use. It wasn't like the far cleaner and brighter shops she saw on Shibuya proper. The door was made of glass, but when she looked within, she saw nothing but darkness. "I can't see anything inside, senpai," she noted. "Are the lights turned off?"
"Oh, that's because I haven't created the interiors yet," Ren answered, ruefully rubbing the back of his neck. "This entire Shibuya is something I just cobbled together just now so I haven't had a chance to get to the details. Once I have a bit more time and get everything set up, I'll give you an inside tour of all these places."
The Shielder whirled back around, her eyes wide. "Wait," she said. "Did… did you say you created all of this just now?"
The Phantom Thief nodded. "You said you wanted to see the city, right?" he replied. "I wanted to see if that was possible – and lo and behold. I'm still learning to utilize the Thieves Den to its full capacity so this is pretty surprising. I've got a lot to experiment and do here and honestly?" His face broke out into an eager grin. "I can't wait."
Mash could only stare at Ren for a moment before turning away. Ren-senpai was creating entire cognitive landscapes from his memory. He had proven time and time again that he was indeed her senpai in life and the world, but she never expected the gap in experience would be this enormous.
She looked through the glass door into the shadows beyond. Ren knew precisely what it looked like within and yet she couldn't even begin to conceive of the design. There could be no better metaphor for their gap right now.
Jose tilted his head as he regarded the shop. "I'm guessing you have a personal relationship with the owner?" he guessed.
The Phantom Thief grinned. "Right in one, Jose," he confirmed. "He was one of the scariest guys I've met. A single glare from him would send any thug or hoodlum running for cover. He was blunt and no nonsense when it came to his business and dealing with customers. I'm not hyperbole either – I was working here at one point when two punks came in. One glare and him growling 'get out' sent them running. I'm still laughing thinking about it." He chuckled as he thought back to that time.
When he finished laughing, he smiled warmly. "But in the end, he had another side to him – one that cared deeply for his son.," he finished. "Both of them even saw me something as akin to family. They even gave me a gecko design for a tattoo, something of a family symbol to them."
Mash's eye widened. "You have a tattoo, senpai?" she gasped.
Ren nodded and pointed at his upper arm. "Around here," he replied. "Mainly so it stays out of sight unless I want to show it. Japan doesn't look too kindly on tattoos, and while that attitude is slowly going away, it's better safe than sorry. Both the owner and his son agreed, though they have their tattoos in other locations."
The grey-haired boy looked contemplative. "Why are tattoos looked down upon?" he inquired. "Are they not pieces of art using one's body and skin as a canvas? How is that different than carrying a drawing or a painting on one's person and displaying it when asked?"
The Phantom Thief opened his mouth, closed it, then thought about it. "Hm, if you're asking about the difference in art, that's probably something you might wanna ask Yusuke about," he admitted. "He knows more about that than me. But as for why Japan isn't a fan of tattoos, it's because yakuza used to have tattoos to denote their status and their clan. It's something of an ingrained cultural phenomenon that you see it everywhere in fiction depicting them."
Jose blinked at the explanation. "Yakuza?" he echoed. "You mean criminals?"
"Very organized criminals," Ren corrected. "We haven't had a lot of dealings with them, thankfully – and hopefully we can keep it that way."
Mash looked up at the shop, thoughtful. "Was the owner a yakuza member?" she asked.
Both Ren and Jose immediately looked at Mash in surprise. "How did you come to that conclusion, Mash?" the Phantom Thief asked, keeping his expression neutral.
"You explained how tattoos were linked to the yakuza and most regular people in your culture disdain them, correct?" Mash replied. "Since he's the owner of a business with weaponry and has a son who is also old enough to get a tattoo, I assume he's a man with some experience. And the fact that he's comfortable enough to suggest such a thing to mark you as family and a connection means he is used to it as well. You made no mention of him being a foreigner, so that was the only remaining conclusion."
Finished, Mash glanced nervously at Ren. "Or am I mistaken?" she asked.
The Phantom Thief just stared at her for a moment, then laughed heartily. "You put together the pieces incredibly quickly, Mash," he replied, his eyes glittering with surprise and amusement. "You're only slightly off the mark – he's ex-yakuza. He left that life behind so he could properly raise his son." He looked back at the shop with a fond smile. "He was probably a pretty tough guy in yakuza, but to get out just so he can raise his son right takes someone even tougher. I have nothing but respect for him for that."
Mash listened as her senpai talked about the man with such fondness. Ah – that was it. He already had no small number of connections and friends that stood alongside him. People who were his senpai just as Ren was hers. There was so much he could learn and gain from them. Whether it was strength, knowledge, skills, or supplies, they all provided what he needed and then some.
But her? What did she have? She was a demi-Servant but an incredibly inexperienced one. Her power and skills could be matched by another Servant if necessary. In terms of versatility, Ren-senpai with his personas far outstripped her in that regard. There was nothing she could properly offer, and she wasn't even sure where to start. Was the gulf in experience truly that enormous? Would she never be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him as her senpai needed?
Then in the end, what could she even do?
"Tough enough to be a criminal, even tougher to leave that behind and do good," Jose echoed quietly. "I thought it was easier for humanity to do good than to do bad. Are you telling me it's the opposite?"
Ren was quiet for a moment as he considered. "I don't have an easy answer for that," he admitted. "If there was one, then I'm not sure I'd be a Phantom Thief right now."
Jose frowned in thought. "Every time I learn something new about humanity, the less and less I understand them," he murmured as he crossed his arms in bemusement. "This is quite complex."
"It is," the Phantom Thief admitted. "But that's part of what makes life, well, life. I might as well show you guys something. I think you guys will find it pretty interesting." He capped the last statement off with a small grin.
"Oh, of course, senpai!" Mash hurriedly said. "Please, I'm curious!"
Ren nodded. They walked back to the main street proper – and were greeted by two very odd figures. In front of them stood a pure white horse with a spiraling horn on its head, red eyes and a malevolent grin. Riding on the horse was a small, white snowman wearing a blue jester cap, waving at them. "Hee-ho!" the snowman cried. "It isn't often we have visitors here-ho!"
The Phantom Thief grinned. "It isn't," he agreed. "But I think you guys will like her. Mash, these are two of my personas. I think you've met Jack Frost before, and this is named Unicorn – hard to remember, I know." He gave a small, cheeky grin at the last line as Unicorn let out an irritated snort. "Jack, Unicorn, this is Mash Kyrielight, one of my closest friends in Chaldea. Behave yourselves, you two."
Jack hopped off Unicorn and walked up to Mash. "Nice to meet you, ho!" he greeted cheerfully. "I think we saw each other once or twice while we were back in France! That was one hee-ckuva fight-ho!"
Mash paused for a second to remember. "Against that Archer Servant and against Carmilla?" she recalled. "Yes, I remember. You were amazing in that fight, Mr. Jack Frost. Thank you so much for your help!"
The snowman puffed out his chest. "That is the power of Jack Frost, hee ho!" he declared proudly. "I might not be as strong as my big brothers, but I'll get there someday! But until then, I will hee-lp however I can, ho!"
The Shielder smiled in response and bowed to the diminutive persona. "I would be grateful for your help!" she replied happily. Looking back up, she noticed Unicorn staring at her. The red eyes and grin were mildly unnerving, but she stepped forward regardless and bowed. "Um, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Unicorn!" she said. "I will be relying on your strength as well!"
The persona said nothing. Instead, it slowly circled Mash, its gaze calm and observing. "So," his voice rang out – a calm, soothing tone which contrasted sharply with his more malevolent appearance. "This is the one you have compared to Sumire, correct? I can see the similarities, and yet the differences are far starker in comparison."
Mash's eyes widened as she whirled to face Ren. "You believe me to be similar to your friend?" she asked in surprise.
Ren smiled sheepishly. "For a bit, yeah," he admitted. "She called me senpai as well – she was only a year younger than me in school, after all – so I couldn't help but make the comparison. But as Unicorn said, your differences stand out way more."
The girl paused, her anxiety greater than she could control. "Is that good… or bad?" she asked tentatively. The question left her lips before she could restrain herself. She was utterly terrified of the answer at this point, of Ren saying that she wasn't as good as Sumire. After all, Sumire was one of his close companions in the outside world. There wouldn't be any doubt she wouldn't be a match for her-
The Phantom Thief looked genuinely surprised at the question. "There's not really a 'good' or 'bad' here," he replied. "I appreciated her for being Sumire, just as I appreciate you for being Mash. There's no other – or better – way for me to put it."
The Shielder went quiet. Right – perhaps she could have worded that better. Was Sumire more competent, or were there aspects she could perhaps learn from her and use as a base for improvement…? Yet each question seemed to loop right back to the same answer he just gave her: That she wasn't Sumire. But then, what could she offer…?
"I have something special to show you guys," Ren spoke up, once more catching Mash's attention as Jose tilted his head in curiosity. "Let's head out. Jack? Unicorn? You guys wanna come with?"
"Hee-that sounds like a lot of fun-ho!" the snowman cheered.
"I am curious myself," Unicorn replied. "Lead on, contractor."
Ren smiled as Jack Frost hopped back on Unicorn's back (something it looked distinctly unamused about). In the middle of Shibuya, there was a rectangular portal that led back to the Den. They all stepped through – and once they were back, the streets of Shibuya had become nothing more than an exhibit once more.
As they walked through the Den, Mash looked over at the divine beast. "Excuse me, Mr. Unicorn," she called over.
Unicorn glanced over. "What is it, guest of the contractor?" he asked.
"You seem familiar with Sumire," she noticed. "Have you fought alongside her often?"
The horse-like persona laughed, a sound that was a cross between a human laugh and a horse's neigh. "Ha! Yes, I have fought alongside her a few times," he answered. "But it is more than that, for I belong to the Faith arcana – the same arcana as Sumire. My strength is dependent on the bond between her and our contractor, and thus I am aware of her and her power."
Faith arcana…? Right, Arsene had mentioned it last time she was here. It was one of the sources of his strength and she had apparently formed one with Ren. "Am I of the Faith arcana as well, then, given our similarities?" she asked.
"No," Ren interjected before Unicorn could answer. As Mash looked over in surprise, the Phantom Thief turned to her. "Your arcana isn't Faith, Mash. It's something else entirely – something I honestly haven't seen before." He smiled. "It's a path that I'm more than curious about, and I can't think of a better partner to walk it with."
"Oh…" Mash replied, surprised. Despite how anxious she felt, she felt mildly reassured. "Then what arcana am I, senpai?"
The Phantom Thief grinned. "Your arcana is Aeon, Mash," he explained. "What that means or what path it is, I honestly have no clue - like I said, I've never seen it before. Whenever a new arcana is opened up, there's a path or journey you'll have to take. There's never a direct destination or answer, but there's plenty to guide you and learn on the way. I've no clue where we'll end up, but it's usually more than worth it at the end."
The Shielder frowned in consideration. "Is that how your journey went, senpai?" she asked. "And everyone else's?"
Ren nodded. "Through some form or fashion," he confirmed. "In the end, everyone came to their own conclusions and answers. I just helped them along the way, and they helped me in turn." He stopped in front of one exhibit and nodded toward it. "Something you're already more than doing, Mash," he finished. The girl blinked in confusion, then turned to look at the exhibit – and her eyes widened in surprise.
The exhibit was that of herself fighting with Leonidas. She was in the air, shield extended and crashing into the Spartan king as he defended with his own, clearly on the back foot. Her expression was one of determination, frozen in a war cry that Mash could faintly hear through her mind. It was rendered with such vivid detail that she was completely at a loss for words, just staring as a million thoughts raced through her head all at once.
"She looks really noble and brave," Jose admired.
The Phantom Thief grinned. "Right?" he agreed as he fondly looked at the exhibit. "That duel with Leonidas was fantastic to behold. Up against a warrior with far more experience and skill, who was used to killing or being killed, and yet you didn't even back down for a second. Instead, you looked for every advantage you could, learned from any and every mistake, took every opening I could give you, and refused to give up even once. I may have got your back, Mash, but you were the one on the field facing off directly against him."
He turned back to Mash, who was still staring at the exhibit, and grinned. "It left quite an impression on me, to say the least," he finished. "That and a few others."
That jolted Mash out of her reverie as she looked over at Ren in surprise. "O… others?" she echoed.
Ren glanced at the exhibit. It blurred and shifted to become a large metal bridge with a fiery hellscape in the background. Mash was there, blocking the shadow Assassin's knives from overhead after Ren had called out their enemy's positioning. She recognized this scene: It was in Fuyuki, when her senpai first became her Master. She had her hands full trying to defend him from the onslaught of shadow Servants. It had been a desperate situation, yet they had won.
The exhibit blurred again, and this time it was the frozen streets of Orleans – or more properly, the Jeanne doppelganger's Palace. This time, Mash was on the back foot, trying desperately to defend from the black knight's wild strikes. Ren, in his Phantom Thief uniform, was trying to regain his senses as his head bled from the knight's grip earlier. Mash's eyes widened. She had reached him just in time to prevent that knight from killing her senpai, but she had been close to being overwhelmed. That knight was far stronger and skilled than she expected. And yet, despite everything, they still won.
The scenery changed once more. This time, it was a simple meadow with a tree, with a distant town. Mash narrowed her eyes as she tried to recall this scene – especially since this time, it was absent of any people – then they shot open in realization. It was the outskirts of Bordeaux, when they had been waiting for Marie to finish scouting out the town. That felt so long ago.
With a smile, Ren stepped into the exhibit, looked back at everyone else, and beckoned. Mash and Jose jumped in – and they were in the meadow once more, the fields stretching to the horizon as the setting sun glittered off the nearby river. Orange rays bathed the landscape in a fiery light, beautiful yet fleeing. There was no activity from the town, just a soft breeze that drifted through the land.
The Phantom Thief walked over to the tree and sat down with a satisfied sigh, resting his head on the trunk. Mash hesitantly stepped forward, then sat beside him as she had done so before. Jose sat at the tree, but he sat down some distance away instead at Ren's side, happily looking up at the evening sky and the leaves above. Unicorn walked in and gently laid down in the grass with a huff while Jack Frost hopped off with a loud 'Hee-ho!', landed, and began making dirty angels as the ground around him frosted over.
"Each and every time, Mash," Ren continued, looking toward the town. "You had my back. No matter the enemy or the situation. I don't know what path you're going to walk, but you're more than strong and brave enough for it. And I'll be doing my best to keep up with you as you do so."
Mash hugged her knees to herself. He was right – they had won. Not just because of him, and not because it was despite her. It was because they had worked together and managed to overcome such enemies. If either of them had been by themselves, they would have been overwhelmed in short order. Instead, they had succeeded by covering for each other's weaknesses. She knew she still had a long way to go, but perhaps it wasn't as insurmountable as she had thought it was.
Still, she didn't feel content. To match her senpai's experience and skills, there was much more she had to learn. But what? Training might be a good start, but it wouldn't be enough. She needed to grow – beyond the black knight and Leonidas. Maybe she could ask the Servants. They might have some advice for her.
Meanwhile, Ren looked over. He knew that look on Mash – he had seen it many times. She wasn't satisfied with her current progress and wanted more. He was curious how she would go about it - Her situation was so far removed from any of his past confidants' situations that it was practically an entirely different world.
He slowly breathed out as he closed his eyes. Normally simply being there and giving them small nudges was enough, but he felt there had to be just a bit more he could do. But what…?
Suddenly, the sound of gentle snores reached his ears. Peering over, Ren saw Jose dozing off against the tree. Unable to hold a smile, he poked at Mash and pointed. The Shielder blinked and looked over, then smiled as well at the sight. "He is more adorable than I expected," she whispered.
"He's a good kid," Ren replied quietly with a smile as he relaxed back on the tree. He thought about taking a picture of Jose napping but decided not to – he didn't want to take advantage of him that way. Then suddenly, he thought upon another idea. "Do you want to take a picture?" he asked.
Mash looked over at Ren in surprise. "I beg your pardon?" she asked.
Ren smiled. "To commemorate your first time in the Thieves Den," he explained. "Aside from Jose, you've been the only guest here so far. I think that deserves a little something, wouldn't you agree?"
The Shielder took a second to comprehend, then nodded. "Of course, senpai," she agreed with a smile.
The Phantom Thief grinned. Sliding out a phone from his pocket, he opened the camera app and turned it so it was using the forward facing camera. He was in frame but… "Mash, could you come a bit closer?" he asked. The girl sidled over slightly but she was barely in frame still. "A bit more," he said. She slid slightly closer and was still out of frame. Ren was about to ask her to move yet again when he had another idea – one that would get him a fantastic picture.
Instead of asking her to move again, he simply reached over, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her close to him. Mash squeaked in surprise as she was suddenly face to face with a grinning Ren, her face immediately feeling like someone had set it on fire. He nodded to the camera. "Say cheese, Mash!" he said cheerfully.
Her thoughts moved a million kilometers a second, distinctly aware of Ren's arm still around her. "Ch-cheese!" she stuttered out. With the press of the button, the picture was taken. His arm withdrew as her senpai looked at the picture. As she tried to recompose herself, she glanced over curiously. "H-how is the picture?" she asked.
Ren smiled wryly. "I think it turned out pretty well," he commented. Turning the phone, he showed the picture to her. The Phantom Thief was smiling as always while Mash was… as red as a tomato, looking bewildered with the oddest smile on her face from the surprise and shock.
The girl could only stare at the picture, then turned a half-hearted glare at Ren. "That's not fair, senpai," she muttered. "I wasn't ready."
The Phantom Thief chuckled ruefully. "You're right, sorry," he apologized. "Wanna take a better one?"
Mash considered, then nodded. "Please," she accepted.
He switched it from the gallery to camera mode once more. As the Shielder sidled closer to him so she could be in frame, she noticed that she wasn't as shy about approaching him anymore – at least it wasn't as embarrassing as when he pulled her in. Did he do that intentionally? It was her senpai – the question answered itself. She looked back up at the camera. "Say cheese," Ren called out.
"Cheese!" Mash repeated with a smile. Once more, Ren took the picture – and grinned.
"Much better," he remarked. The Shielder checked. It was a simple picture of them smiling for the camera, with the tree as their backdrop. She had leaned her head closer to him so she could be in frame, but both of their expressions were quite happy regardless. She could also see Jose in the background as well, still asleep, while the meadow rolled into the distance under the light of the setting sun.
"Want this picture in the real world?" Ren asked, looking over at her with a gentle smile.
Mash hesitated, then nodded, smiling back in turn. "I would like that, senpai," she replied.
Ren nodded as he tucked the phone into his pocket. He was sure he could manifest the picture out in the Den. "I'll give it to you once we meet again in the real world. For now… It's a nice day."
She followed his gaze. The setting sun, the personas amusing themselves, the gentle snores of Jose, the gentle breeze that lightly rustled the grass and flowers around her… and of course, the content company of her senpai beside her. There was much they all had to do, and not much time to do it, sure. But for now…
"Yes," she agreed quietly with a small smile. "Yes it is."
If you have questions about the story and/or lore, check the Discord! You'll get more than you can stomach!
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