Persona 5 Royal: tmdrago Special Edition
By Tayla Drago
Episode #6 - Details about the Metaverse
A very close call for those two almost had, huh? For Keiko to awaken to a new power which saved both her and Ryuji to get out of Suguru Shadow's castle? Yeah, that wasn't the real Suguru to be someone else like him from another world of some kind and the same with the other Fake Keiko to be a sexy torture person in this world too...So confusing right now! From crawling through the hole to get to the other side for Keiko to lead and Ryuji to follow 'and try to look at Keiko's butt too much until they make it to the other side' of another jail cell.
Keiko: This way.
Trying to keep his cool together to have his entire face blushing.
Ryuji: Yeah, right behind you... (Damn girl, that's a fine ass you got.)
Continuing on...They work around the jail cell rooms to find their way out of the place somehow; from crossing over a bridge, other parts in the water, getting from one room to the next, hiding from the knights, and seeing strange prisoners to be in their cells and cages hanging below the waters from down below the castle.
Keiko: Look at this, Ryuji.
He sees Keiko pointing out to a bridge to get to the other side.
Ryuji: Huh? 'Sup?
Keiko: A bridge.
Ryuji: A bridge...Looks like it's broken though...Wait, think we can jump across?
It was better than sitting and waiting for them to be killed, for Keiko goes first to jump across to the other side safely.
Keiko: Got it! Come on, Ryuji, before those weird knights find us!
Ryuji: Hey, Keiko, you better not fall again...
He catches up with her. Seeing another empty cell room for Keiko to find a hidden hole from a wall to lead them to the other side.
Keiko: There's another hole there. (I wonder...)
Ryuji: Another cell...?
Keiko: Follow me.
Keeping her skirt down for Ryuji to not see while he and Keiko crawl from one room to the next one just fine.
Ryuji: Crap! My bag's stuck!
Keiko: Keep going.
Further in, as Keiko and Ryuji made it, only to encounter more obstacles they must jump or crawl pass. Hiding in the corner before any of them could find out. Too close!
Ryuji: Hey, hold up!
Hiding until everything was all clear to come out. A bit close for Keiko to stay by Ryuji's side to like the warmth feeling from her and the smell.
Keiko: There are so many of them...!
Ryuji: Look! There's some guys in armor over there. They'll prolly call for backup if we try and take 'em on. We should go some other way…!
Keiko: Let's turn back then.
And they did for more of the strange looking knights coming.
Ryuji: Hey, we gotta hide!
Hiding in time as the knights passed them, they kept on going.
Keiko: Too close.
Ryuji: Over there…They're lookin' for us, right? I ain't playin' along with this anymore! We gotta find a way outta this goddamn place!
Keiko: Let's go upstairs then.
And they do since the enemies are now blocking the path behind the two, to not go forward at all.
Ryuji: If this goes up, you think it heads to the exit, Keiko?
Keiko: Hopefully...
Reaching to the half open door to give it a try to see what's inside the next room.
Ryuji: *gasp* *pant* I-Is this...the exit?! Hey, let's get the hell outta this place!
With nowhere to go to still be in the basement to have more prison cells and water streaming by, the two were lost.
Ryuji: Dude...You gotta be jokin'...
Keiko: Is this some type of maze?
Ryuji: This ain't the exit!? What the hell is this place!? H-Hey...Look...
Before moving any further to see where the screaming of pains were coming from. There were more people trapped in their cells to be hanging by the waters.
Keiko: More people. (It's like we're in a never-ending nightmare...)
Ryuji: We really did hear people screamin'...So we ain't the only ones who got captured! Is, uh…Is he OK…?
Figures wearing strange masks are locked in cages. That's troubling.
Ryuji: There's something up there. A bridge...and a statue...?
We can't do anything to lower the bridge for now, so let's continue forward.
Keiko: It won't start.
Ryuji: Another dead end...? Dammit! How the hell're we supposed to get outta here!? What kind of castle is this? I don't see a way out!
Keiko: But there has to be another exit somewhere.
They soon hear someone calling out to them in a jail cell of this creature...
?: Psst...Hey, over here...Silky black hair! Blondie! Look over here!
The two stop to hear someone calling out to them. Looking around to find the voice to be something for Keiko to notice first.
Keiko: Oh! (This is no ordinary animal I've never seen before.) Ryuji, look at this.
Ryuji sees it too...it appears to be a black cat-like creature, but not just a normal looking pet house cat either, not at all for he is far different and smarter than he appears to be.
Ryuji: What is this thing?!
?: You're not soldiers of this castle, right?! Get me out of here! Look, the key's right there!
He really wants to get out as much as they do as well, looks like this one got caught up in something bad.
Ryuji: We're trying to get the hell out of here...! I mean, you obviously look like an enemy too!
Keiko: If he was our enemy, he would've attacked us by now. Please don't jump to conclusions.
She was right about that part, even the creature says so himself.
?: I'm locked up here, so how can I be your enemy? Help me out!
Keiko seems to trust in the little creature to help out in any way.
Keiko: Shh...Quiet down.
?: Trust me, I'm not speaking so loud to get you two into trouble.
The three soon hear footsteps making a lot of noises to be coming closer in the hallways of the cell rooms.
Ryuji: They're catching up already...!
He tries using his cell phone to call for help, but with no luck.
Ryuji: Shit! My cell phone doesn't give out any service here. Ain't there a way to contact someone outside?! How the hell do we get out?
The creature might have something in mind to tell the others.
?: Hey, you two! You guys want to know where the exit is? Let me out and I'll take you there. You two don't want to get caught and executed, right?
Keiko: Are you sure? It sounds dangerous to get more people hurt, even for us.
?: I never go back on my word!
Keiko didn't mind helping him out, but for Ryuji...not so likely.
Ryuji: I don't know, Keiko. This thing sounds like it's all talk...I mean this cat–!
Now Ryuji has done it to make this creature get mad on the one thing it doesn't like to be called a cat.
?: Call me a cat again, I swear you'll regret it, blondie! Look, you two have to trust me! But if you think you can find a way out of here, then be my guest.
Ryuji: Whadda we do…?
Keiko: We have to help him out. Please, Ryuji.
The noise was getting closer...
Ryuji: Are you seriously not messin' with us?!
?: If you don't hurry, they'll catch you.
He seems to be trustworthy since Keiko could already tell Ryuji to trust in her more.
Ryuji: F-Fine...but only because Keiko wants to.
As Keiko tried to get the cell keys right away, the answer was clear...And with the key turning the lock, the creature was finally free to feel happy and stretch out like a real cat.
Keiko: There you go. (No one has the right to get hurt like this, not even made-up animals like this one...whatever he's supposed to be. Note to self - don't address him as a real cat.)
?: Ah...Freedom tastes so great...
Ryuji: There, you happy? Now where's the exit, you monster cat?!
Keiko: Ryuji!
Ryuji: What?
Really, Ryuji? He's still calling the creature a cat again? He is so rude he is sometimes. Now he tells them his real name is Morgana.
Morgana: I said, don't call me cat! I am Morgana.
Nice name there!
Keiko: Morgana? What an odd name, and yet different it is.
Ryuji: Shuddup and hurry it up! You wanna be locked up again?!
Morgana: A-All right, sheesh!
He leaves the way for the other two to follow Morgana.
Morgana: Follow me and stay quiet.
And so they followed the small leader...While back at the school in the real world, the teacher Kawa was worried about Keiko being late at school to see that something wasn't right at all...
Kawa: ...It's the fourth period already. Sakura-San said that Amamiya-Chan left the house this morning. Should I contact the police? No, that'll just be more of a hassle… *sigh* What did I do to deserve this…?
While back at the castle – Morgana pulls the lever with the looks from the king himself 'to be a big show off' to lower the bridge to walk through it.
Ryuji: Oh well...Guess we just gotta follow it.
Keiko: I think "it" has feelings, Ryuji. Let's go.
Morgana stops in front of this statue.
Ryuji: What're you doin'?
Morgana: What does it look like I'm doing? I'm lowering the bridge. You, Silky Hair. It seems like you pick up on things faster than our Blondie over here. Try checking around the mouth of this statue, OK?
Keiko: Got it.
With Morgana's quick thinking, Keiko pulls down the mouth from the statue...and the bridge lowers.
Ryuji: How were we supposed to know to do that?!
Morgana: Hmph, amateur. Come on, let's keep going!
As Morgana, Keiko, and Ryuji kept on going to see more knights in the way...
Ryuji: A-Aah! Shit...Shit, it's them!
Morgana steps in to push Ryuji aside so Keiko's new fighting clothes come back again to stop the enemy from getting out the castle alive.
Morgana: Tch...You amateur! Blondie, stay still!
Keiko: Hey, my clothes changed again!
So Morgana could fight like Keiko could.
Morgana: Say, lady, you can fight from the looks of it, yes?
Keiko Ah, sure looks like it to me...
Morgana: Good enough. Let's take these guys on together.
Morgana releases his Persona next in battle to have a huge sword and a character who was a hero from Mexico.
Morgana: Come, Zorro!
Tayla: Persona #3 – Zorro
Zorro (Spanish for "fox" and "sly") is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York–based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. His true name is Don Diego de la Vega. Zorro is a Californio nobleman of Spanish and Native Californian descent, living in Los Angeles during the era of Mexican rule. He is a masked outlaw who defends commoners and the indigenous people of the land against tyrannical officials and other villains.
Ryuji: Y-You got one of those too?!
Morgana: Hmph, we will promptly shut them up!
Time to fight for Keiko and Morgana use their powers and their own Personas in battle.
Keiko: This will be easy for the two of us working together.
A lot of these things surrounded them.
Morgana: Damn Shadows...they're taken up intercept positions! It means they're holding nothing back and are serious about killing us! They're out for blood! I'll back you up, so fight like your life depends on it! Let's go!
Keiko: Here we go again...Right!
Keiko does well with her Persona attacks for Morgana to see her powers of darkness.
Morgana: Hmph, I knew you were a cute amateur, but no matter. This is how you fight!
And then Morgana shows his skills from Zorro to have the power of air 'or wind' to blow the Shadows away to hurt and to pack a punch. Surprising Ryuji to stay behind the two – as Morgana has Zorro cut his way from the enemies and using his blade, the same with Keiko with Arsene and her weapon to fight back as they kept on running to a nearby exit, to be somewhere from within the strange castle.
Tayla: Persona #4 – Incubus
An Incubus is a demon in male form supposed to lie upon sleeping women in order to have sexual intercourse with them, according to a number of mythological and legendary traditions. Its female counterpart is the Succubus. An incubus may pursue sexual relations with a woman in order to father a child, as in the legend of Merlin.
Religious tradition holds that repeated intercourse with an incubus or succubus may result in the deterioration of health or even death. In medieval times, the church would use incubi and succubi to explain sexual functions, which were taboo subjects.
Stopping a few enemies to do pretty well in battle to keep on running for Keiko was getting better at it, and Morgana was good when he fought twice as hard.
Morgana: Hey, you're not bad and your Persona's pretty powerful...Ah, what's your name?
Keiko: I'm Keiko Amamiya and this is Ryuji Sakamoto. Please meet you, Morgana. And the fighting...Yeah, I guess I'm getting really good at it.
But there was a thing on how it's all done.
Ryuji: Hold up! How's this even possible for someone like Keiko to have power like you do too, cat?
Morgana knows it all to explain to the rest while trying to find an exit.
Morgana: Allow me to answer the question for you both...Masks function as a summoning medium. It appears to be symbolic of their Personas, as captured Personas are shown taking the form of masks, rather than the Tarot Cards they were previously contained in. When anyone's heart realizes that society forces people to wear masks to protect their inner vulnerabilities, and by literally ripping off their protective mask and confronting their inner selves do the heroes awaken their inner power, and use it to help those in need. Just like you just did, "Madame Keiko"...For now on, I shall address you with a proper name for a pretty lady such as yourself. Any who - To acquire a mask, a potential Persona user must be in the Metaverse and must acknowledge that they are being wronged by someone in the real world. Their Shadow Selves will speak to them, asking if they are willing to rebel against these wrongdoings. Should they accept, their eyes turn yellow and a Mask appears on their face, requiring that they rip it off and bleed. Once they do so, their Shadow Self manifests into a Persona, granting them the power to fight Shadows. Yours is Arsene, Madame Keiko, it's nice. And mine's Zorro. The mask permanently appears on them whenever they enter the Metaverse and becomes their medium to summon their Persona. While removing them to manifest the Persona for the first time inflicts them with great pain, they can remove it freely on subsequent attempts without inflicting any pain on themselves.
Morgana also describes the masks, and by extension, their appearances when traversing the Palace, as representations of their rebellious wills. Each member of these guys 'with a name of their group for later on to be told' has a unique mask that is manifested from their sense of rebellion. The Shadows in dungeons are actually demons who have been corrupted by the masters of the Palace, each of whom wears a mask that can be removed to briefly break the Palace owner's control over them, which allows the Phantom Thieves "more about that part later on" to have a full round before the Shadows can move. Soon, Keiko has her normal clothes on again for her power to disappear twice now.
Ryuji: Huh...? Your clothes!
Keiko: Again with this...?
Ryuji: She went back to normal again...
The creature looks at Keiko's appearance to learn about one issue...
Morgana: It appears you haven't fully controlled your powers just yet, but you'll get there soon enough, Madame Keiko. The more you learn how to use it, the stronger you'll get.
Ryuji: Rrgh, that's enough! This crap doesn't make any sense!
Morgana: Can't you just sit still and listen for once, Blondie!?
Ryuji: Don't call me Blondie! My name's Ryuji…
There's no time to argue, it's time to get going already!
Morgana: Actually, there's no time for me to lecture you! You wanna escape this place in one piece, right? Let's go! Oh, but before that…take these, Madame Keiko. Use them carefully, OK?
Giving Keiko some items to have some to heal herself with was good to hold on to.
Keiko: Thanks, Morgana.
Morgana: Come on, we should hurry. It's not much farther to the exit. And remember this, Madame Keiko. Just make sure you're good on HP, OK? There's still a chance we'll end up having to fight in here.
Good advice for Keiko to remember it well. They kept on running all over because Ryuji sees a lot of prisoners who looked like high school students in some sports event to be in pain, and just leaves them there so Morgana knows what he was doing, I hope.
Ryuji: Hold on a sec!
Seeing some of the other guys were trapped in their jail cells to look like they're in pain, Ryuji knew some of the guys.
Keiko: Ryuji...?
Ryuji: I feel like I've seen what this dude's wearin' before...Dammit! I'm too flustered! I can't remember a damn thing!
It's clearly some sort of sports uniform, and it has the name of your school on it. We've never even been there, but it seems pretty obvious what he's wearing.
Morgana: Come on, let's go!
Really...? Just leave the others to suffer like this by the likes of the Fake Keiko?
Ryuji: Hold on, dammit!
Morgana: What is it? We need to go, fast!
Ryuji: But…who are these guys?
Morgana: Do you really think you have time to worry about other people right now!? Besides, they're-
Just then...More guards arrived in the hallways to spot the two, more Shadows!
Guard: There!
Here comes more trouble.
Morgana: You should've listened to me...!
No time to run! More fighting for Keiko and Morgana had to keep on fighting.
Keiko: Let's fight them!
Morgana: I'm glad you stick to your guns, Madame Keiko. Looks like it's raring to go too!
Using their weapons like Keiko's knife and Morgana's sword to slice and dice their enemies in half within seconds. For Keiko uses her new skills to have powers to change when they're in danger, instincts I guess.
Keiko: We did it!
Morgana: All right! Let's get away before more show up!
After changing back, Ryuji still didn't want to leave the others before at all.
Ryuji: Hold on, we can't just leave these guys here...!
Morgana: You really don't get it, do you? Hrgh…There's no time to explain. Look, I'm going. If you don't want to follow, be my guest!
They have to leave the place to forget the other prisoners...seems like it.
Ryuji: Dammit…Fine, I'm coming!
Glad they're settled on "abandon the needy" as their course of action. What brave heroes we are, now it was time to climb up the stairs next.
Morgana: The entrance hall is right above here! The exit closed...Keep it up!
And seeing more guards out running them some more...Making their way to some hallway room, where did they have to go to next?
Keiko: Yes.
Morgana: We're here!
But where to go next? Ryuji was pleased to try opening a door next to him, but he couldn't get the door to open at all.
Ryuji: Finally! We're saved…! Nnh...?!...It's not openin'! D'you trick us, you jerk?!
I doubt Morgana would do anything like it at all.
Morgana: Don't jump to conclusions! Over here!
He leads Keiko and Ryuji to find another way out in another room, for Morgana knows of another way.
Ryuji: H-Hey, wait up!
Keiko: He must've found a way out for us.
Getting to a hidden room at the main entrance to see no doors or windows to get through, so where's the exit at?
Ryuji: Where's the door? Window? Where is anything?!
Morgana: Hey, it's obvious where the exit is. Look around the room to find it.
Well, I think Keiko might know a way out...
Keiko: Is it up there? Through the air shaft?
She was right!
Morgana: That's using your head.
Ryuji: I got it. Whoa-!
Ryuji starts to shake the get off carefully, then falls down hard to the floor.
Ryuji: I'm okay! We're gonna finally get out!
True, but now it was time to really leave the place next.
Morgana: Save it after leaving the place first. Now get going, we're going our separate ways.
Guess they have no other choice but to go their separate ways for Ryuji and Keiko to make their escape, leaving Morgana to do something on his own from within the castle to be very important to take care of.
Keiko: If so, then please don't get caught again, Morgana. Good luck.
Morgana: Heh, you better be careful too.
Keiko: Of course.
And so, they got out just in time. As for Morgana to look at Ryuji and Keiko to be far more than mere humans.
Morgana: Those two aren't half as bad, they could be useful for me...The same goes for Madame Keiko if my judgment's correct.
Hmmm...He was on to something. Seeing from the other world to get away from as the two got out alive to be back in the real world again, somehow!
Ryuji: *pant* *pant* Did we make it...?
Keiko: I think it says so on my phone. I don't know how it works.
Playing the voicemail from Keiko's cell phone to say something...
[Navigation Voice: You have returned to the real world. Welcome back.]
Keiko: I guess we are back from this and from our surroundings. We have returned.
Ryuji: Huh? Returned…? ...Does that mean we got away?
Keiko: Probably, yes.
Ryuji: I dunno what to think anymore...But what was all that anyways? That castle, and Kamoshida, the other fake you, and that weird cat! The hell's going on?!
Things only get from bad to worse for the cops to come around and stop the two thinking they were skipping classes, but they weren't. But from this type of mess, no one would believe in any of their stories.
Police #1: What's with the yelling? Aren't you two students from Shujin?
Police #2: Cutting classes, are we?
Not good...For Keiko could tell any of the adults won't believe in them, for her to make something up to get herself and Ryuji out to go to Shujin Academy this time.
Keiko: (This is bad...! I better come up with something to say to these officers and fast.)
Ryuji: Huh? No! We were tryin' to get to school, and we ended up at this weird castle!
They didn't believe in them at all.
Police #1: ...What? Hand over your bag. You better not be doing any drugs.
Ryuji: Why would you think that!? Tell them, Keiko-!
Keiko stops Ryuji in time to grab his arm to make their way to school right away.
Keiko: Drugs? Us? No, it tastes and smells bad to do any of those things, not us. Anyways, I fell for this gentleman who came to my aid and almost ended up in the hospital, but I didn't. I can still walk. And now, we're making our way to school like the good children we are. Come along, Ryuji.
For her to pull Ryuji away, they made their escape to get to the school next.
Ryuji: Hey! Wait, Keiko!
Keiko: Shh...Play along, Ryuji, I believe in you. We can't tell anyone else, trust me. Let's just get to school.
He had no choice but to go along with it now and the two policemen got back to their duties to see them acting well to not do this type of mess again.
Police #2: Kids these days...
Saved to be getting to school at least...elsewhere – the SIU Director had other things to be going on to be up to no good from the sound and looks of things, to even have some plans with Sae the most to use her skills real soon.
SIU Director: A Minister of Transport announcing his resignation...*chuckle* Things are going as planned…Sae Niijima…That reminds me… *sigh* Better to leave it be for now.
What's this man up to? Right around lunch time now Keiko and Ryuji arrived to see the school looking normal to not be a castle anymore.
Ryuji: Is this for real...? I'm sure we came the same way…What's goin' on here…?
Keiko: I would like to know how we ended up all the way in the city.
Just then, the school's counselor appears to not look so happy.
Counselor: That's what I like to know about myself. We receive a call from the police.
This was bad.
Ryuji: The damn cops snitched on us after all!
I take it that some of the teachers didn't like Ryuji's attitude problems.
Counselor: Sakamoto with another student to not be alone this time, so where were you two?
Ryuji: Ah...At a castle...?
Counselor: Not giving me an honest answer, huh?
Suguru: What's this about a "castle"?
And then, he appears...Suguru Kamoshida himself to look like a regular gym teacher with no connections to the castle of a different world at all. Shocking to Ryuji who wanted some answers, Keiko didn't know what to think about all of this.
Ryuji: Kamoshida?!
Keiko: The man from the car who gave the blonde hair girl student a lift... (And he's different from the other one we saw.)
He looks and sounds like his normal everyday self.
Suguru: You seem more free than you were from track practice long ago, Sakamoto. You must not be feeling well lately.
Ryuji: Shuddup! It's your fault that-!
None of the teachers would take any from Ryuji.
Counselor: How dare you speak that way to Mr. Kamoshida! ...There's not much leeway left for you; you know?
Ryuji: He's the one that provoked me!
Counselor: Do you really want to be expelled!? In any case, you'll have to explain yourself! Follow me!
Ryuji: What!? This is bullshit!
Well, it didn't bother Suguru to put a smile on his face to let those words pass by.
Suguru: Now, now, don't let this student's words get the best out of you, it won't help. It's both of us to blame and nothing else. For Sakamoto just needs to be told is all until he learns, and dragging a pretty woman like this one into all of this must've scared her completely.
The counselor allows it.
Counselor: Well, if you say so...Still, Sakamoto, you're coming with me since you're late.
Ryuji goes with the counselor to get off with a tough warning at least.
Ryuji: Fine...
And then before Ryuji gave the gym teacher the dirty look in his eyes when he was leaving, as Suguru then meets the new transfer student to be a woman and sees Keiko herself in person.
Suguru: So you must be the new transfer student, right? What's your name...? Oh, yes. Keiko Amamiya, correct?
Having trouble on what to believe in made Keiko feel weird to go along with this whole thing.
Keiko: Umm...Yes, I am. Please meet with the teachers of this school so far. (I can't just say Suguru's a bad person...not like this, or we'll be in serious trouble.)
Ryuji goes with the counselor to stare at Suguru to leave afterwards, as Suguru says this next part to Keiko.
Suguru: Yeah, I saw you at the train station this morning. Someone like you can do a lot more to change from good school and lots of things, like gym class. I can teach you if you like. And from the event today, I'll overlook it just this once with you. As for Sakamoto, I can deal with troublemakers in my sleep if I have to. Anyways, from the principal himself to tell me a lot about you...I will kick you out of my school if you cause any trouble. Looks, drinking, drugs, and causing more crimes will not do here. Is that understood?
She answers the right answer because this guy looks like trouble to already be liking Keiko's looks way too much. Ew...!
Keiko: Yes! Understood, sir.
Suguru: At any rate, hurry up and go to the faculty office. I'm sure Ms. Kawakami's tired of waiting. Good luck getting your life together here.
Once he left, Keiko went to the faculty office to go see Kawa next. Already I hate Suguru for looking at Keiko's cuteness way too much...Really bad to see.
—-Tayla: Going back to the present time for Keiko to tell Sae on what's been happening so far. From the school turning into a castle out of nowhere, Morgana, and other weird things to not be involved with drugs for her to be doing at all; to getting back to the story to send out a calling card for the first target to really be the first bad guy for the first few Phantom Thieves to stop – Suguru Kamoshida himself on many reasons why he did something bad in real life and more from the other world.
Sae: The school turned into an old castle...? A talking cat…? Are you hallucinating from an overdose? I won't put up with you if you're simply joking around. I'm going to have you, Keiko, continue the story. The one who received a "calling card" from the Phantom Thieves was an Olympic medalist...An alumnus from Shujin Academy- the PE teacher Suguru Kamoshida. It all came out in his confession. He was guilty of everything-the abuse, then...violations...It's true that what he did were deplorable crimes from...indulging his desire. Even to you too. He confessed to it all. But there should've been no connection between the two of you since you had just transferred. Why did you target him?
Trying to remember a little for Sae wants to hear from Keiko about what she did on the first target.
Keiko: Why did I target him...?
Sae: You can do this, Keiko, come on. Try and recall it once again…!
—-Continuing on with the story right back to the past time, Keiko enters in the office to meet with Kawa to start class a bit late and to make something up on why she didn't arrived sooner on a regular school time when it starts 'since she wouldn't believe in Keiko or Ryuji's stories'.
Keiko: (All right, here I go.) Ah, hello, Ms. Kawakami. I'm here. I'm so sorry I was late. Please forgive me.
The teacher let out a big sigh to continue doing her job.
Kawa: *sigh* Unbelievable...Being over half a day late on your first day...? Can you explain yourself, Amamiya-Chan?
Keiko had an idea on what she could come up with to tell her home room teacher on what happened to her.
Keiko: I...Got lost and fell for someone to help me out and to almost get hurt in the hospital.
Somehow, Kawa believes in Keiko to get some cuts on her hands and having her legs a bit sore 'only due to Suguru Shadow and his Shadows hurting her in the jail cells'.
Kawa: No wonder why you look like a mess. You didn't get into a fight, right?
Keiko: No, I really took a trip from the train station's stairs... (Please let her see through this, just for today...)
Kawa: Well no wonder why you look like a mess. Here, let me clean you up.
Wow, a teacher who looks sad to do her job wants to help out Keiko.
Keiko: No, I can do it.
Kawa: Look, Amamiya, I feel like it. You look like a person who needs help from another woman, you know? I'll let you eat something before lunchtime is over. I guess from your little accident and getting lost makes much more sense. But to be this late? Please try not to let that happen again. There, good as new. Now please eat up, and try not to choke.
She allows it to stay in the room until Keiko could go to class this time.
Keiko: Oh, thank you very much, Ms. Kawakami. (Good, that's all I wanted to see. And...it was nice of her to clean the dirty and cut off of me a little.)
Now the teacher had to tell Keiko something about the so-called trouble making student Ryuji to watch out for.
Kawa: Listen, Amamiya, I heard you were caught with Sakamoto-Kun.
Keiko: Huh...? Do you mean Ryuji? What did he do wrong?
Ryuji a troublemaker? Really? For once to be good on the track team to have something change to hating Suguru a lot, for the teachers really don't like him. But Keiko doesn't see anything wrong with Ryuji at all.
Kawa: Just don't get involved with him, OK? He's nothing but trouble. He wasn't like that when he was devoting his time to track and field though…...Anyway. Break's almost over. Classes will end after fifth period today because of the subway accident. When you're finish eating, I'll take you to the fifth room next to have you introduce yourself to the students so you may tag along with me for today. So try to be serious even if you're lying, please Amamiya-chan.
I guess Keiko will do her best. For her to follow Kawa to the classroom next, for the two girls to already know all about her.
Sharp-eared Female Student: ...You think that's her?
Short-haired Female Student: Huh? The one in the rumors...?
Even the other students in the classroom were talking if she was really a troublemaker for someone who looks cute, smart, and innocent looking.
Quiet Male Student: Being super late on her first day? She really is insane...
Girl Student: She looks normal though.
Boy Student: But she might slug us if we look her in the eye...
Some of the guys found her cute, while the girls were very jealous.
Kawa: Settle down...Well, I'd like to introduce a transfer student - Keiko Amamiya. Today, we...have to let her attend from the afternoon due to hurting herself on her way to class, but she's feeling better now. All right, please say something to the class.
And Keiko bows down to everyone to be very nice to them all.
Keiko: Ah...Yes...Um...Hello, I'm Keiko Amamiya, it's nice to meet with all of you.
From there, others see Keiko on who she was...or trying to be for others to talk about her as Kawa gets back to the subject at hand.
Short Hair Girl: She seems quiet…but I bet when she loses it...
Long Hair Girl: I mean, she was arrested for assault, right...?
Others have no choice but to help out Keiko.
Kawa: Okay...? ...Uhh, so…Your seat will be…Hmm…Over there. The one that's open. Sorry, but can the people nearby please share your textbooks with her for today? Thank you.
Guess what they have to do is Kawa tells her students to help out Keiko for today.
Other Girl: This sucks...
One of them was a blue-haired boy who let her borrow his textbook to make him look like he was beaten up a lot.
Well-behaved Student: ….
Keiko felt bad to still use the book from him and go to sit down where Ann was sitting, the one from this morning.
Ann: ...Lies.
Keiko might've heard Ann say something behind her back.
Keiko: Lies. What lies? Me?
She tried to ask Ann to ignore her.
Ann: Nothing...
And Keiko remembers her from this morning.
Keiko: You're the girl I saw. (So why did she call me a liar...?)
From others talking about how Ann might be going out with Suguru 'ew' and seeing how they think Keiko was one of those types of girls as well, for rumors to be going around like crazy.
Brown-haired Student: ...Did you catch that? Do those two know each other?
Long Hair Girl: Does that mean she's another one like Takamaki is too?
Short Hair Girl: That means Mr. Kamoshida has another girl with Takamaki-San to have a little sexy time. Oh boy...!
Long Hair Girl: For real. That side of the room is totally awful
Speaking of Suguru the gym teacher...Kawa tells the other students about a volleyball game coming up for the members who are in it to be ready, a lot to be playing in the games.
Kawa: Oh, right! The volleyball rally's in two days…Everyone's just changed classes, so make sure you use that time to get to know each other. Well then, let's get class started. Who's on duty today?
The boy gets up from his seat to say something to the other students.
Well-behaved Student: Everyone, please rise...
Once class was over for Keiko to be walking down the hallways to then stop. For the scenes in the entire building it was looking weird to have her head hurting and for Kawa to see her student just standing around.
Kawa: Amamiya-Chan, is there something that matters?
Like she would believe in Keiko if she did tell Kawa about it, she tries to suck it up and keeps on walking.
Keiko: I'm fine...just tired from the fall, but felt fine from school today. Yep. That's it, Ms. Kawakami. Thank you for asking.
Kawa: If you say so...*sigh* Also…it seems like people are already talking about you, Amamiya-Chan, but I'm not the one who told them. I can't even catch a break…Why do I have to deal with this? You should head straight home without stopping by anywhere. Sakura-San sounded pretty angry. Oh, and about Sakamoto-Kun. Don't get involved-
Well, Ryuji comes around for Kawa to see him and so does Keiko to not see anything wrong with him- psychically.
Keiko: Oh!
Kawa: Speak of the devil…What do you want? I heard the police caught you cutting classes today.
Ryuji: Ugh…It was nothin'.
Kawa: And you haven't dyed your hair back to black either...
So that's why his hair looks completely different.
Ryuji: Sorry 'bout that.
Before leaving, Ryuji leans near Keiko's ear to try saying something to her real quick. For them to talk more in person somewhere else later on.
Keiko: Ryuji...?
Ryuji: ...I'll be waitin' on the rooftop.
He then leaves for Kawa trying to warn Keiko about Ryuji's problems.
Kawa: See? That's why I don't want you getting involved. Understood?
Keiko: I'll be fine, there's no need to worry about me. Thank you again, Ms. Kawakami.
Taking off for Kawa hopes for Keiko to be better tomorrow coming to school and Sojiro not getting upset with her on her way home.
Kawa: I can't even catch a break sometimes...
With Ryuji to be passing by to go through the rest of the days for Keiko to go see him 'even if she was warned to stay away from someone like him', she also hears Suguru and Koba talking to one another; the gym teacher worries of Keiko hanging out with Ryuji to be trouble to her to watch out for to help her start a better school life.
Suguru: Why did you allow a troublesome female student like Amamiya to transfer here? She's already been sadly associating with Sakamoto. A student with a criminal record, and the culprit of an assault case. At this rate, it'd be pointless how much I contribute to the school.
Koba: Now, don't be like that…This school counts on you, Kamoshida-Kun. You are our star. Still, a steady build-up is necessary behind such brilliance as well.
Suguru: ...Your troubles never seem to end, do they, Principal Kobayakawa? All right, I understand. I'll continue to do my best to answer your expectations of me.
Thinking of Keiko's past on the mistake she made to try to save a life to get arrested for, they still wanted her to change.
Keiko: (But I haven't done anything wrong...)
Suguru: Maybe...I think I can change Amamiya with a good workout. Have her try out for practice at the later volleyball games of mine. Give her something to do to hang out with other kids like her, get her out more, a good way to make it into life a few years later.
Koba: Hmmm...Have her restart a new life...yes, that could work for this girl. Kamoshida-Kun. , if you can change Amamiya's life with good sports to be part of her permitted record. See what you can do, you have been helping out others to help someone like this trouble marker.
Then it settles for Keiko to overhear to not do something she didn't want to be forced upon.
Keiko: (Me? Join the volleyball team?)
For the gym teacher will do his very best to make it happen to be laughing in a good and fun way about it.
Suguru: Thank you, Principle Kobayakawa, I always get something done. I'll see what Amamiya has to say about it. I know she'll join my team in no time by next year.
Kobayakawa: You never disappoint me one bit.
I think Keiko might have some problems, even for Ryuji to have trouble with Suguru the most and dating Ann. So weird...For Keiko goes to see Ryuji by heading upstairs at the school's rooftop to go check on how he's been holding up so far, and from the mess that's been going on lately – from the castle, another Keiko who was bad, and the other "king" Suguru to be something amiss and the strange Morgana creature.
Keiko: Ah, hi. Ryuji. How are you holding up?
Ryuji: Huh? Oh, there you are, Keiko. Sorry for callin' you up here like this. I bet Kawakami already told you stuff like "don't get involved with him," huh?
I guess he overheard everything from Kawa telling bad things about him to Keiko.
Keiko: Oh, that...she did.
Ryuji: Heh, we're pretty much in the same boat.
Keiko: We are?
Ryuji has heard a little about Keiko's background story 'from other students in the school' so far.
Ryuji: I heard you got a criminal record. Everyone's talkin' about it. No wonder why you're so brave, reckless, and gutsy today.
Keiko: I do what's right to save many lives.
Ryuji: And from today...what was that all about? The castle and almost dying in...whatever it is we went to. And I know we weren't on drugs.
Keiko: No we weren't. It felt like straight out of Alice Through the Looking Glass book to me.
Ryuji: And it wasn't a dream, right? You have to remember it too?
Keiko: I remember it all.
I guess they were both right, for it really did happen today.
Ryuji: A dream or not, you did save me from Kamoshida. So thanks a bunch, Keiko.
A new friend for Keiko to make being a boy to thank her, for Ryuji was blushing a lot to befriending a girl to talk to him.
Keiko: Oh, it was nothing...really...
Ryuji: And still, that is different from you and the other Kamoshida we saw there...You prolly don't know about it, but there are some rumors about him. Tall, good looking, great shape, the same asshole from the castle. People don't take it seriously because he was the champion who won many things throughout his career; and the way he felt like king makes more sense because of the very real 'cause of it.
Keiko: I kind of did now that you mentioned it.
And that's where it hit Ryuji to think of an idea for Keiko to agree upon.
Ryuji: ...I wonder if we can go back to that castle again...
Keiko: Huh?
Then he stops to overthink things way too much.
Ryuji: Ah, forget it. It was all a dream; it has to be. Sorry to drag you into all of this, Keiko, and yet...I have a feeling that us "troublemakers" are going to get along just fine.
For them to shake hands, they are now friends.
Keiko: Yes, of course. (Ryuji Sakamoto isn't such a bad person once you get to know him more.)
For them to chitchat to then be leaving school to go on home next. For Keiko had a day to explain the story again to Sojiro once she got back to beg for forgiveness, for him to believe in her to tell her to be more careful from not tripping into puddles to give Keiko an umbrella to use in case it happens on a rainy day to watch where she was going to.
Sojiro: So you tripped to almost getting hurt to have someone help you out get completely wet, and your teacher cleaned you up to finish the rest of the half day of your school. Am I correct?
Half of it being true, yes...
Keiko: Yes, Mr. Sakura!
Sojiro: I see...It's good to know you weren't seriously hurt. So take it and be grateful it'll keep you dry from catching a cold. You're welcome.
I guess all was forgiven then? Looks like it.
Keiko: (I guess this is his way of saying - "I've forgiven you.") Thanks, Mr. Sakura. I'll be more careful next time and get to school on regular hours. I promise.
A very close call there, huh? For now, it was time for Keiko to close the cafe and lights off for Sojiro to be heading home and for her to get some sleep from a very long day she's been having from school and the strange place she was in.
Keiko: (I feel exhausted. Maybe it's because of all the weird stuff that's been happening to me...)
Sleeping well, to soon wake up back into her jail cells from another world again – the Velvet Room for Keiko to be wearing stripes and chain up to have another meeting with Igor again. Along with both Caroline and Justine.
Caroline: ….About time you come to. On your feet, Inmate!
From her hitting of the stick near the bars of the cell doors, Keiko was forced to get up on her feet.
Keiko: Ah! I'm up! See?! I'm up!
Justine: Our Master wishes to speak with you. It's for your own sake that you take his words to heart.
So Igor speaks up next to feel out Keiko's new found powers are growing.
Igor: First off, let us celebrate our reunion. Ms. Trickster, it's good to see you again. Oh...? You've awakened to your powers. And special ones at that. Your rehabilitation can finally begin.
Keiko: Wait...My powers...? Rehabilitation?
Igor: There is no need to understand it at all for the time being. You will be training the power of Persona, which you have awakened to. Personas are, in other words, a "mask" - an armor of the heart when confronting worldly matters. I have high expectations for you, Ms. Trickster. Yes, and let's not forget about the wish you'll have with the little item I've given you, one wish you'll get that matters to you the most from the heart. It won't happen right now, but soon you will for me to grant it to you.
I guess that makes much more sense for Keiko to take it and to learn more about it next.
Keiko: What do you mean? Besides the wish, I understand. And the rest?
Igor: There, there, there's no need to worry. You will learn when the time comes. By the way...have you come to appreciate the Metaverse Navigator?
From the phone app Keiko was getting, that's why it was there.
Keiko: So it was you. That's why it's on my cell phone a lot, it's my guide to a different world.
Igor: Yes it is. Using it will allow you to come and go between reality and Palaces.
Keiko: Wait! Palaces? Metaverse Navigator? Sorry, but I'm really confused.
A lot more to explain here a bit more from "Palaces" to "Metaverse Navigator".
Igor: Palaces are places where the ones with dark hearts rule from anywhere they think about from the real world...And I bestowed it to you as a means to train you as a thief.
On the phone to be some type of a weird app and how people own the places of Palaces, so far that's understanding...
Caroline: The Metaverse Navigator is a gift from our Master! You better take care of it, inmate!
Justine: Devote yourself to your training so that you may become a fine thief.
But wait, there was more...
Igor: It must be disheartening to make use of the Metaverse Navigator alone. Should there be others who would prove beneficial to you, I will grant it to them as well. This is all for you to grow as a most excellent thief...
Keiko: If you say so, Igor Sir. Thank you again. (Hopefully I'll do my best on what's to come next, seeing as if I have no choice and the wish to use later...Even Kamoshida wants me on his volleyball team? I still don't know...)
As the bell was ringing again, it was time to go back to the real world again for Keiko to get more answers tonight until the next time they'll meet again.
Caroline: Hmph, it's time. Go back and enjoy whatever rest you might have...
Keiko: Then goodbye.
And with things to go dark to go back to sleep, for Keiko will have a normal life while also trying to find out what's going on yet. It was hard to tell for a new morning to start for Keiko to go to school right on time. As for the other world with a castle, it might happen again for her and Ryuji to see and to also meet up with Morgana again to learn more on what's about to happen next time.