8/14
A week had passed without incident, still nothing from Futaba, either at least as far as what Sojiro had told her. Kyoko was beginning to feel on edge in a way her trained stoicism could not totally suppress. Medjed had remained quiet, but their promised cleanse was only a week away, now, and if Futaba didn't show any changes by then, they'd be out of luck.
Kyoko sat pensively at her laptop, resting her chin in her gloved palm as she stared at the screen while Morgana was sound asleep on the bed behind her, the young detective trying to piece together all the data she'd acquired so far.
The black-masked metaverse assassin.
Madarame's and Kaneshiro's Shadows' knowledge of him.
The death of Futaba's mother, who researched the metaverse in a project called "cognitive psience", via a mental shutdown.
The woman who harassed Sojiro about the project, and the men who'd covered up Wakaba's death by framing it as a suicide they blamed Futaba for.
Futaba's mother having died two years ago, around when the incidents began. This metaverse assassin must have gained their power around that time, and with the research and judging by what Futaba had described in it, he would know how to use it.
All of this, and the people involved, Kyoko was certain were connected to an unknown but powerful benefactor who seemed to be using the metaverse to cause deaths and scandals through mental shutdowns and psychotic breaks that couldn't be explained in the real world via his black-masked assassin serving as his hitman and enforcer. Identifying this benefactor and taking them down, not just their instrument who shared her power, was the key to solving this case, and if Futaba could successfully neutralize Medjed, the publicity the Phantom Thieves would achieve would likely draw said benefactor's attention on them.
Perhaps enough so they'd make a mistake that'd give the Phantom Thieves a way to identify them and take the fight to their doorstep...
Her phone suddenly chimed, indicating a text and she picked it up, seeing a message from Mr. Yoshida, inviting her to his latest speech he'd be doing that evening. Looking at her laptop and noticing how time had flown by, she typed a quick response and shut her computer off before getting ready to go out.
"...Acting not out of self-interest, but for the greater good!" Yoshida declared as he stood on his wooden crate before a crowd even bigger then before while Kyoko stood next to him with his sign. "That, right there, is the mindset we politicians must instill into our constituents!"
By Kyoko's observation, far more people then before were now present, and the boy with the dark spiky hair and sharp eyebrows from last time stood at front and center, smiling in awe and applauding despite his intense features. She saw a similar intensity in Yoshida's eyes, as well, he was more confident then before, like when he found his resolve to stand up to the one who heckled him last time.
"Alright, we all cued up?" she heard a man say nearby, turning to see a guy with a cameraman had emerged from the crowd. "We're sure to get plenty of interesting footage! This is "No-Good Tora" after all!" the man said with a cocky smirk.
To Kyoko's, and clearly the boy's pleasant surprise, Yoshida paid them no mind despite the insult and continued to speak.
"...Advocate an overly optimistic policy, only to lure in voters during the election season," he said, before his features hardened. "...That, is exactly how "No-Good Tora" thought and operated 20 years ago, making unachievable pledges!"
"Huh... this isn't how I saw this going," Kyoko heard the director mutter as Yoshida continued.
"...If you make a promise, you must keep it, and if you make a mistake, you must atone for it!" Yoshida declared to the crowd before him. "These are basic human principles that we have learned from the youngest of ages."
"Boring," the director groaned, facepalming.
"He's making some pretty good points, don't you think?" Kyoko heard the cameraman reply.
"That's why it's useless!" the director protested angrily.
"Hey, man, there's nothing wrong with what he's saying!" the spiky-haired boy uttered sharply to them, looking their way. "If anything, I'd say it's a perfect reason to keep rolling!"
Yoshida paused and looked over at the director and cameraman with a kind smile. "You're certainly welcome to stay and listen. Record my entire speech if it pleases you to," he said. "...I'd even be happy to recite it again for you after if you missed any of it. I'd want anyone who wishes to hear me speak get a chance to hear all I've had to say, today."
"Uh..." The director paused, dumbfounded. Kyoko couldn't help but give a faint smile of her own, even the cameraman looked like he was considering Yoshida's offer regardless of what his director chose to do.
"Furthermore, if you have any questions, after, I'd be happy to answer all of them for you as well once I have finished," Yoshida added with a polite nod.
The director looked all the more speechless and taken off-guard, now. "I... think we got enough. Thank you for your time!" he said anxiously, ushering his reluctant-looking cameraman to follow.
"I think I'll stick around and record some more," he replied.
"Fine, do what you want! He'll always be "No-Good Tora" no matter what you get!" the director snapped, storming off.
"What a shame, but I appreciate your willingness to give me a chance, so I hope you'll enjoy the rest of my speech," Yoshida said, returning his attention to the crowds while the now lone cameraman joined them alongside the young man who'd spoken earlier.
Once it had concluded and the crowds had dispersed, Yoshida gathered his things and joined Kyoko behind the kiosk. The man wasn't just more confident in his speech, but it was clear he was in far better spirits then before.
"Quite a visit that was, wasn't it?" he asked with a laugh. "Seems they only wanted to get some footage of the old "No-Good Tora". Very disrespectful."
"...And you kept them from getting that," Kyoko said with an approving nod and a faint smile.
"Indeed, I like to think so!" said Yoshida. "I've been distancing myself from that, you think I may have regained my confidence?"
"I'd say so. You didn't recoil at the insult when that man tried using it."
Yoshida smiled in relief, from Kyoko's words letting out a slight, merry chuckle. "Well, if you think so, then I must have!" he said. "...However, I will never forget the disgrace I suffered as "No-Good Tora"... may I tell you a story, Kirigiri-san?"
Kyoko folded her arms and gave an affirming nod. "You may." She was, admittedly curious of what he had to say.
"Well, I'd mentioned this before, but twenty years ago, I was lucky enough to become a Diet member... but I wanted to be a politician for all the wrong reasons," he began, sighing. "...I wanted to be in a position of power, and I was obsessed with having a glamorous lifestyle." Yoshida frowned deeply. "I thought only of being popular and nothing else. I truly was "No-Good Tora", so learn from me, and whatever it is you seek, like for instance, if you take politics, don't let becoming a member of the Diet be your only goal in life. Voters are much more sensible then we give them credit for, and just being ambitious and striving to advance in the political world will change your outlook on life."
Kyoko's folded arms tightened a little, she briefly averted her eyes. Even if Yoshida was using a career in politics as an example, she could tell he meant any especially gainful career, especially one that relied on winning over the trust of others.
...Like a detective...
The way Yoshida described the man he was in the past made Kyoko think of some of the ways she had been when she followed her grandfather's every word, her general apathy she'd enforced on herself towards everything and nearly everyone but what and whoever centered around detective work to meet the expectations he had of her and that it was necessary if she was to do so...
Yoshida sought to distance himself from the person he was, and Kyoko looking back could see she was holding a similar sentimentality towards herself.
His advice just then was so like what Big Sis had tried to tell her that she wouldn't hear until after it was too late.
As if triggered by such thoughts, Kyoko heard another chain link shattering within the recesses of her mind.
"Oh, are you alright, Kirigiri?" he asked, concerned.
"...Yes, it's just... you're right," she said softly, closing her eyes and sighing as she brushed back her hair. "...I'm... not very proud of who I was in the past, either. I even ignored someone who tried to tell me otherwise and now... it's too late to apologize for it. I've tried to take her advice now, but I guess it still hangs over me sometimes."
Yoshida offered a warm, comforting smile. "...Kirigiri-san, if you've shown me anything in standing by me despite having no reason to, it's that people can change when they have the will to, even when it seems you've hit rock-bottom and the odds are against you."
Kyoko blinked at his words, before giving a small smile. "...I appreciate it."
"Yoshida-san?" Both turned at a man's voice and saw a man in a suit approach. "You've been giving some good speeches, sir. I can't believe you lost the last two elections."
"You were there listening earlier...?" Yoshida's eyes widened in recognition at the man. "Wait, y-you're... Mr. Kuramoto's grandson?"
The man nodded. "Correct. I'm his grandson, Benzo."
Yoshida, however, looked confused. "...But does he know that you're here, speaking with me, now?"
The man, Benzo, shook his head. "I'm aware you and my grandfather are on bad terms, but that doesn't concern me," he explained, before looking over at Kyoko. "...Is this your secretary? I hear she's been helping out a lot, lately."
"Wait, you... know of her?" Yoshida asked, stunned but speaking before Kyoko could respond.
"I suppose I should explain it," Benzo replied. "...My grandfather has been hospitalized recently, and you've become the topic of our conversations," he said. "...But I need to get going, I'd like to talk with you again sometime, as I learned a lot from your speech today."
Once he'd left, Yoshida stood there, stunned. "I don't believe it, Mr. Kuramoto... he spoke of me?" he wondered aloud in surprise before his phone suddenly chimed. Checking it, he looked surprised by a name he read off it. "Matsushita?!"
"Someone you know?" Kyoko asked.
Yoshida nodded and put his phone away. "My apologies, Kirigiri-san, but I must be on my way immediately to take care of some business. Let's wrap it up for today and I'll get in touch when I have my next speed ready."
Kyoko cocked a brow at the man's abrupt demeanor, it seemed something was going on in his life but for now, she'd not get any answers to it. Helping Yoshida gather and pack his things, Kyoko prepared to head back to Leblanc.
Only for her phone to ring again, this time her screen did not show a number, but the screen was blue with a capital V framed in gold laurel. It didn't take being a detective to guess whom it was from.
"Hey! Inmate! The door in central street of Shibuya. Pronto!" Caroline's voice snapped sharply as soon as Kyoko switched her phone on and hanging up before Kyoko could even answer.
Sighing, the young detective looked down at the turn further ahead leading out to Central Street and decided she may as well comply and see what Caroline wanted.
"About time! You were almost tardy, inmate!" Caroline sneered as she sat atop the doorway to the Velvet Room while Justine leaned quietly against it. "I'm gonna guess you wanna know why we called you out here, right? Justine, tell her."
Nodding the small girl in the guard uniform held up her clipboard. "We have another place we wish to visit for your rehabilitation decided," she explained as she looked down at her notes. "We want you to bring us to a place that hones both the body and spirit."
"...Hones the body and spirit?" Kyoko asked, raising a brow. She could think of several types of places that could fit that description, like gyms or spas. "...You'll need to be more specific then that."
"We're not finished, inmate!" Caroline snapped with a glare from her remaining eye. "We speak of a place where trainees gather to test and push their limits using various pieces of equipment!"
"To be honest, I'd not expected a rehabilitation facility on this side," Justine added. "...Thus in observing your own rehabilitation we must see such training for ourselves."
"Does such a location sound familiar to you?" Caroline asked. "If you know where one is, escort us there immediately!"
Kyoko blinked, it seemed a spa was not what they had in mind, nor the school, which left...
"...The gym?" she asked, already not liking where this was going. Aside from a trip here with Ryuji, she'd not gone near it for a while due to when Kaneshiro's goons had taken to prowling the area before his arrest, and had not given it much thought after considering all that had followed with Medjed and Futaba.
Needless to say, her response was all it took to spark a mischievous grin on Caroline's face. "Ah, yes! So you're aware of where it must be, then! Well, guess what, inmate: You're escorting us there right away because you're getting a special training regimen!"
"Can we do this another time?" Kyoko asked, she didn't exactly have her gym clothes to change into at the moment, let alone a protein drink or anything else that'd prepare her for what she expected was going to be well beyond anything she was physically capable of right now.
"NO EXCUSES!" Caroline snapped, jumping down from her perch and slapping her baton against the bars of the Velvet Room door. "No time like tonight, now take us!"
"Hm," Justine mused, frowning as she looked Kyoko up and down, studying the sundress, cloth gloves and summer shoes the young detective was wearing due to the hot August weather. "Caroline, the inmate is not properly dressed for the activities we have planned. Perhaps that "convenience store" we saw near the restaurant will have something she can change into?"
"I don't care! If she needs different clothes for it, she can go buy them now!" Caroline shot back, before glaring at Kyoko again. "Don't try and get out of this, inmate! This regimen is designed with the purpose of this place in mind and we're not letting it go to waste!"
"Indeed, if you do not keep up the pace, you will die," Justine replied nonchalantly with a satisfied smile. "Now, let's procure what you need and be off."
Once more, Kyoko took a deep breath and let out an exasperated sigh, knowing she wasn't going to get out of this. Hopefully, her concerns were wrong and whatever the twins had planned won't be that bad.
"So, this is the training area..." Justine looked around in awe at the many pieces of equipment set up and hung around the training area of the Protein Lover's Gym. Kyoko herself now wore a pair of track pants and cheap trainers, a tanktop, and her hair up in a ponytail as she stood behind her and Caroline letting the twins take it all in.
"Is this what you use to train?" Caroline asked, looking at Kyoko. "It's rather different then how I imagined."
"I've not been here in a while, actually," Kyoko replied. "I've been preoccupied with other things."
"I must agree with Caroline, though," said Justine. "...I expected the equipment here as having more spikes and chains."
"...Maybe in Shinjuku," Kyoko muttered, already running out of patience.
"Shinjuku? You mean a facility that meets our equipment expectations exists there? Then you must take us at once!" Caroline snapped.
Kyoko gave her a withering look. "...I don't want to get arrested again, so no. This place will do."
Justine took a few steps forward and looked around, studying the equipment and nodded in approval. "...I suppose it will."
"You hear that, inmate? We have deemed this place acceptable for your rehabilitation for the time being! Show some gratitude!" Caroline stated, before something caught her eye and drew her over to it. "Hey, inmate! What's this?" she asked, pointing at it.
"That's a bench press," Kyoko explained, folding her arms. "It's for upper body workouts."
"That's a bench?! Then show us how it works!" Caroline commanded.
Kyoko felt very skeptical about this, less so when she looked at the weights already currently attached which, by her analysis, was greater then anything she could handle. Kyoko Kirigiri was not out of shape in the slightest, but she wasn't someone who put a lot of focus on exercises like this.
"That's way too heavy for me," Kyoko replied flatly.
"No excuses, inmate! She's doing just fine!" Caroline snapped, gesturing her baton at another girl around Kyoko's age nearby currently lifting a similar amount at the butterfly seat, if not greater.
"At least let me adjust it a little, first, if I'm going to demonstrate," Kyoko replied, not wishing to draw attention to herself by irritating the twins into shouting at her again.
Justine brought her hand to her chin in thought as she held the clipboard behind her back with the other. "She has a point. If the inmate were to injure herself prior, she may be unfit to carry out the regimen," she mused. "...Very well, as this is merely a demonstration, we will permit you to adjust it to what you feel is appropriate."
"...I appreciate it," Kyoko said flatly as she then took the time to carefully remove the weights on the ends, straining a little with the heavier ones before finding rings that she recalled were sufficiently beneath her last evaluation under her grandfather and laying on the bench, clasping her gloved hands around the bar and with a deep breath, began to lift, seeing no reason to test her maximum amount while demonstrating.
"Hm, I see," Justine observed. "...By lifting the weight, you strengthen your arm and chest muscles!"
"But this isn't nearly enough for a real workout!" Caroline stated as she tilted herself to look at the numbers on one of the rings. "...You should increase the weight!"
"I was thinking the same thing, Caroline. We should assist with that at once," Justine replied.
"...You should probably let me," Kyoko said, slowly laying the bar to rest on the notches.
"That won't be necessary," Justine explained as she and Caroline walked over and promptly climbed up to sit on the ends of the barbell.
"...What are you doing?" Kyoko asked, staring at them in confusion.
"Isn't it obvious? We said we would assist, now start lifting, inmate!" Caroline ordered.
"That's dangerous. You should get off before someone sees you," Kyoko warned, her patience even more thin now.
"Hm, very well, perhaps a more discreet method is required. Come, Caroline!" Justine replied, climbing off and the other twin following suit, only to cling to the ends of the weight. "...You may now train to your heart's content."
Kyoko's gaze furrowed as she looked at her. "...You're kidding."
"Stop whining and lift!" Caroline commanded.
Deciding to humor them as Caroline's habit of raising her voice was already starting to get attention, Kyoko attempted to do so, finding very quickly the weight no longer budged even as she strained with it, unable to even move it off the safety notches. She didn't want to put too much in, either, due to the pain it caused the damaged skin on her palms even with her gloves on.
"We're not too heavy, you're just too weak," Justine replied. "Please try again."
"Do you... need help?" a soft female voice asked, causing Kyoko to turn and seeing the girl from the butterfly chair had come over, looking at her with what seemed more like curiosity then concern and her short dark hair, light dusting of freckles against her fair complexion and almost gray blue eyes Kyoko recognized her as the girl she'd seen talking to the homeless man in the subways and getting interviewed on TV with the fashion model Ann was a fan of. At the moment, she wore a black tanktop and gray sweatpants and trainers, with fingerless gloves on her own hands.
"Is it... that obvious?" Kyoko asked, her tone still neutral but a hint of irritation seeping through.
"Please get off, they'll kick you out for that," the dark-haired girl stated, the twins looking up and quickly letting go despite the girl having not raised her voice in any way, Kyoko giving a sigh of relief after and letting her arms hang on the sides of the bench.
"Wow, Justine, her eyes are like gazing into those of an Orthus," Caroline uttered, staring up at the other girl.
"Indeed, it's remarkable how often we find reminders of the Personas we fuse, Caroline," Justine replied. "Perhaps it has to do with how they are connected to human consciousness."
The dark-haired girl paid them no mind as she approached the weight rack and looked back at Kyoko. "I'll spot you. What's your maximum?"
"I appreciate it," Kyoko replied, giving the twins a slight hint of a withering look. "...My lifting maximum? I'm not sure, I've not done this in a while and I... wear gloves for a reason."
The other girl gave her a silent, analytical stare for a moment, looking her over before taking a few of the smaller weights from the rack with little difficulty and placing them on. "...Try these."
Taking a deep breath, Kyoko gave it another go, it was heavier then what she'd demonstrated with, but not so much so that she would feel a dangerous strain on her body or irritating her palms anymore. The other girl watched silently with a neutral expression as Kyoko lifted, Caroline cocking her head with interest and Justine taking notes on her clipboard.
"That'll do," Justine said at last several lifts later.
"Here," the dark-haired girl said, lifting the weight out of Kyoko's hand and placing it on the notches before helping her up.
"I really appreciate it... um...?" Kyoko asked as she stood back up, remembering she'd not having gotten the girl's name.
The other girl blinked, silent for a second before giving a small smile back. "...Ikusaba. Don't worry about it," she said softly with a slight nod before her attention was taken by the sound of a chime in the backpack she had nearby and took out her phone, frowning at a text message on it. "...I need to get going, be more careful next time, alright?"
Kyoko took a moment to catch her breath as she watched the other girl gather her things and leave.
"Hm, you're fortunate she was here, inmate. That's a physical condition you should strive for with your rehabilitation!" Caroline stated, getting her attention before taking interest in another piece of equipment in the gym. "...What's that thing over there? Is it another body-training device?"
Kyoko saw Caroline was pointing at the treadmills. "It is, yes. It's for cardio exercises, you run on it."
"Cardio?" replied Justine, looking at it pensively. "Why would one run on a machine to see their heart rate?" she mused.
"Perhaps there is more to it then that, Justine," said Caroline.
"Indeed. Demonstrate it to us," Justine said, looking back at the young detective.
Despite still catching her breath, Kyoko could at least assert to herself that this was more her area then weight lifting was, which she was still feeling worn from.
"What's the wait? Get on it!" Caroline ordered.
"Let me get some water first," Kyoko replied, suspecting the twins were already contemplating a way to make this exercise more difficult then it needed to be as well.
Within moments, Kyoko was jogging at a steady pace on the machine as Justine and Caroline watched with fascination.
"Oh, I see... you run on it to improve your stamina and strengthen your legs," said Caroline.
"What a fascinating contraption," Justine observed. "Perhaps we should bring one to our room!"
"We could force imprisoned Personas to run on it!" Caroline chuckled. "Not a bad idea, Justine."
Kyoko ignored their commentary, trying to instead focus on keeping herself from tiring out as she continued to jog and not say anything that might make this more difficult.
"Hey, what's this button do?" she heard Caroline suddenly ask.
Kyoko's eyes went wide as she saw what the girl was reaching for. "Wait, don't-!"
Kyoko barely had time to reach over and give a warning not to touch it when Caroline beat her to it and the belt beneath her feet suddenly sped up exponentially, causing the young detective to topple over flat on her face before being flung off the machine and sent tumbling across the mats and on to her back.
"...touch," she grumbled, glaring up at the ceiling in exasperation and nursing her bruised forehead from the earlier impact. Kyoko didn't even want to imagine how that had to have looked to anyone who saw it, least of all the twins, though Justine did not appear overly concerned as she looked back at her.
"Out of breath already? You still have quite a ways to go judging by the timer on the machine," she asked, shaking her head and sounding more disappointed then anything else.
"It would seem the inmate has faced all she can handle with this contraption, so let's move on to the next one immediately!" Caroline declared in a jovial tone, equally undaunted by what had just happened. "On your feet!"
"I just got thrown off a treadmill thanks to a certain someone's curiosity, may I have a moment?" Kyoko asked with a hint of annoyance both in her tone and her gaze as she winced while slowly sitting herself back up.
"Hm, it may be in the inmate's best interest to recover first," Justine replied, looking at her sister. "Otherwise, how will we properly assess her limits on these different contraptions?"
"Yeah, yeah," Caroline rolled her eye and the two gave Kyoko two minutes before wandering over to the next device that had caught her attention, the wooden wing chun dummy in the corner. "...What is this bizarre object?"
"Another tool for training, perhaps?" Justine inquired.
"Basically," Kyoko replied, folding her arms. "It's used for self-defense solo training. The knobs and fixtures rotate to simulate an opponent's attacks to help you refine blocking, striking, and body positioning to improve balance and movement."
"...Ahhh, so it's a stationary battle partner!" Caroline marveled, her remaining eye wide with awe.
"You speak as though you have experience with one, inmate," Justine replied, looking back at Kyoko.
"My grandfather would sometimes have me train with one," Kyoko explained. "...As a detective, investigating a case meant putting myself in potential danger, so he had me learn self-defense."
"Well that's perfect, then!" Caroline said with a smirk. "...It means you have no excuses for poor performance on it! Begin at once!"
Justine nodded in agreement. "With your current progress on your rehabilitation, the notion you would fail to defeat a stationary wooden post is preposterous at best," she said. "Please indulge us with a demonstration."
Kyoko closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and keeping her gaze on the wooden dummy. By this point she'd determined any sort of attempt to dissuade the twins was fruitless and she may as well get this over with despite still feeling the aftermath of the last two gym activities. Approaching it, Kyoko silently hoped her technique hadn't declined too much as it'd been a while since she'd trained with one and the metaverse did not seem to abide by the rules of muscle memory and rather merely sheer willpower, plus she wasn't exactly engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemies she encountered there, either.
Drawing one hand back, Kyoko struck one knob, causing it to turn with quick force that she brought up her other elbow to block, bring up her leg next.
"Concentrate on the force of your blows, inmate!" Caroline snapped.
"Focus more clearly!" Justine ordered.
Kyoko's impassive frown deepened slightly as she continued to carry out different strikes and blocking gestures, the twins' continued demands of things she was already trying to do bringing memories of her grandfather's goading her performance no matter what when she trained causing her calm to waver.
Enough so that one of the leg fixtures spun faster then she could react and tripped her over flat on her back.
"...Your footwork was sloppy, inmate," Justine assessed.
"My apologies, I was... distracted," Kyoko muttered, looking over at the twins.
"No room for excuses, inmate!" Caroline stated sharply. "Honestly, we expected better then this!"
"We would have demolished such an unimposing object from the start were it our opponent," Justine added.
Closing her eyes and drawing in a deep breath, Kyoko took a moment to calm down and clear her head, like when she was analyzing a case, before standing herself back up and approaching the dummy once more.
"Going to try it again? Render it to splinters this time to avenge your previous humiliation, inmate!" Caroline urged.
Kyoko paused, though didn't turn as she studied every detail of the wooden contraption before her. Each knob, each fixture, each rotary hinge. "It's not meant to be destroyed. It's for practicing."
"Ahhh, you use it to simply polish your technique, then there is no reason to destroy it," Justine replied in understanding. "Will you use the other skills you have also polished to prevail against its defenses this time, then?"
"That is the intention," Kyoko replied.
"Then begin, inmate!" Caroline cheered with a raise of her baton.
This time around, Kyoko was able to handle the dummy's movements much more successfully. While Justine simply watched in silence, Caroline soon grew excited and began commenting throughout. Kyoko filtered her words and kept focus, studying each detail she'd memorized and its movements as she turned and weaved, striking and blocking, moving her stance until fatigue finally set in as she slowed down and brought it to a stop, resting her hand against the top as she caught her breath.
"That will do," Justine said with an approving nod.
"As far as physical training goes, I must say this place leaves much to be desired," Caroline stated as she looked around, frowning.
"...But, it is admittedly sufficient for your rehabilitation," Justine added.
"Take these," Caroline replied, taking a pair of shiny cards out of her uniform pocket and handing them to Kyoko. One read Apt Pupil, the other Counterattack. "Your second attempt has demonstrated your keen eye for striking openings as well as your sharp reaction time when you put your mind to it. These will ensure your Personas will do the same for you."
"It's been said a sound mind requires a healthy body," Justine nodded.
"This has been yet another step towards rehabilitation! Keep training just as diligently, inmate!" Caroline added. "Now, escort us back to the Velvet Room. We will inform you when we have prepared the prospects of our next venture!"
Accepting the cards, Kyoko gave some thought to the experiences she'd just gone through as she led the twins back outside and behind Central Street. Despite the painful setbacks, she could now see more merit in the gym's features and made a mental note to return at some point.
For now, she'd settle for getting to the bathhouse as soon as she got back home, still feeling the sweat and bruises that made her decide she'd stay in the neighborhood tomorrow.
8/15
"...Well, I suppose that's it for today," Takemi said as she turned to look back at Kyoko who was seated on the exam table.
"Glad to help," Kyoko replied dryly as she felt the last of the fatigue wear off from the young doctor's latest attempt at her special medicine. Thankfully the bruises she'd gotten from last night's trip to the gym had since faded and she'd not needed to get anything for them. "...I suppose I'll be on my way, then?"
"If you want, or help yourself to one of the apples out in the office," Takemi offered. "They were a gift from one of my elderly patients," she explained, "...Seeing as you already know I've gotten quite an increase in people coming in even from outside Yongen-Jaya lately thanks to that little girl's recovery."
"Business still doing well, I see," Kyoko replied as she got off the exam bed.
"Yes," the doctor replied curtly. "Why do you think it took as long as it did before I had need of you again? Help yourself to as many as you want, she always gives me quite a few. Speaking of patients, I trust Mr. Sakura's daughter's doing well?"
"Far as I know," said Kyoko. Sojiro had not given any indication otherwise.
"Good to hear," said Takemi, "Anyway, this new data will be-"
Before Takemi could finish, she heard the door open, and the door to the exam room swung open just a second after as a tall, middle-aged man in a black pinstripe suit with a briefcase stepped in.
"Hello, Dr. Takemi," he said in a cordial tone, though by Kyoko's observation his eyes, framed by a pair of round glasses, were anything but.
"Chief Oyamada...?" Takemi blinked in surprise. Kyoko immediately recognized that name as the one who owned the hospital in Shinjuku that the little girl had come from.
"There was a medical conference nearby so I thought I'd check up on you!" the man, Oyamada, replied, though his tone now sounding less friendly and more condescending before turning his attention to Kyoko. "...And who's this young lady? She doesn't look like a patient."
"Part-time staffer," Takemi said before Kyoko could give an answer and giving her a brief side-eye urging she stay quiet. "...I have her handle some miscellaneous tasks around here. So what's your business with me?"
"Well, it took me a while as I am a very busy man, Dr. Takemi," Oyamada explained. "...But I hear you stole one of my patients. A girl with bronchitis, came here with her father..."
"...Bronchitis, you say?" Takemi asked, scowling at the memory of the misdiagnosis that'd endangered the girl's life. "...Funny, though, I don't recall having any intention of taking her from you, nor did I encourage her and her father to visit my clinic."
"Well, now because of this little incident, there's talk that the care of a respected university hospital is inferior to that of a general practitioner!" Oyamada replied sharply, all previous attempts to sound amiable completely gone, now. "..."Original medicine"? Ha! What you're doing here is simply absurd!"
Takemi's hardened gaze faded to a downcast frown. "...You're right."
"Just who do you think you are?" asked Oyamada, scoffing and shaking his head in disgust. "...I would have turned a blind eye if you'd just rotted away out here in this little town, but it seems being a Hope's Peak alumni made you think you had the right to do whatever you wished and cause such potentially damaging rumors to spread. I'll give you this one final warning, Takemi: Shut this place down and resign your medical license!"
Kyoko had heard enough.
"That's enough," she said sharply, stepping forward and folding her arms.
Oyamada looked over at her, though more surprised then angered. "What did you say?"
"With all due respect, I know you heard me," Kyoko said, glaring. "Yes, a little girl who'd been diagnosed with bronchitis came here with her father, he brought her here by his own choice after your "respected" university hospital's diagnosis turned out to be wrong and her health had worsened."
"Kirigiri, please don't escalate this," Takemi said softly.
"You are a good doctor, Takemi. I can see why Hope's Peak would have scouted you," Kyoko replied. "...Considering it wasn't until she came here that she recovered completely from a more serious illness that Oyamada-san failed to notice."
Takemi's eyes went wide with worry at how Oyamada would react to Kyoko's rather bold attitude and having subtly insulted his competence to his face, but to her surprise, he simply smirked at the teen in amusement.
"...Well, young lady, before you get too comfortable defending her, perhaps I should reveal this woman's identity?" he asked. "She's nothing more then an arrogant monster who thought graduating from Hope's Peak meant she could torture a patient by experimenting on her with unregulated medicine!" He chuckled as he brought his free hand to his chin pensively. "...What was that poor child's name again? She was such a brave little girl, always smiling..."
Worry came to Takemi's face once more. "..."Was"? What do you mean...?"
A cruel smirk spread on Oyamada's face. "Oh, you didn't know? She passed away." Takemi went completely pale as her mouth hung open in horror, Oyamada looked back at Kyoko again, sneering. "...Maybe you'll meet the same fate, if you catch my drift, young lady. She is the Plague, after all!"
"No! Don't lie to me!" Takemi snapped, anger quickly taking over as she stormed up to him. "I know she had more time! There's no reason for her condition to have deteriorated that quickly!"
"And yet it did, seems you've misjudged!" Oyamada replied, Kyoko could see he was savoring every moment of this. "...Now, back to the reason I'm here... don't ever take another patient from me again! Your Hope's Peak diploma didn't save you from getting blacklisted, imagine what I can do to you if you make me truly angry. You do not want that happening."
"Is that a threat?" Kyoko asked, her tone low and dangerous. Oyamada did not look intimidated nor offended, however.
"It's a warning, for her own good," he replied dismissively. "...Kimura-chan's doing quite well, by the way, she's been scouted with the same talent you boasted, after all. It'd be such a shame if I had to object to the medical community who her mentor was and it had a... negative impact on her future prospects before she even has the chance to graduate..."
"Leave her out of this!" Takemi protested, her anger rising again.
"That all depends on you, Plague," Oyamada replied dismissively. "...Either way, you've no one to blame but yourself for all of this. How much more trouble you wish to cause by forcing my hand further is up to you."
Takemi stood frozen in place, trembling as Oyamada turned and took his leave, before she collapsed to her knees on the floor, her hands falling limply to her sides as she stared down in defeat.
"Miwa-chan... sh-she's dead..." Takemi's voice was barely above a whisper, broken by tears she struggled to hold back. "No... no... she's all I've been working toward all this time. Curing her was the only way to... there's no way she could have... what was I even doing all this time, then?!"
"If I may, something seems off about this," Kyoko replied, looking away at the door and bringing her hand to her chin. "...I am a trained detective, so I could investigate the details for you."
"No, just forget it, alright? I don't want to cause anyone any more trouble," Takemi said, shaking her head as she stood herself up. "...I'm sorry that you had to see this side of me. I appreciate the concern, though."
Kyoko heard the sound of a chain link shatter within the recesses of her mind as she let her arms slide down to her sides. Takemi, however, she could see was still very distraught as she went over to her work desk and sat down.
"...That said, I probably should just resign at this point," she said, frowning.
"Why?" asked Kyoko. "Is this guilt? Or are you that afraid of him? I've done things I'm not proud of..." She glanced away, brushing back her long hair. "...And had my share of... unfair outcomes, but these past few months have taught me to not just lay down and give up."
Takemi scoffed. "Did someone die because of you, Kyoko?"
"Yes," Kyoko replied softly. "I know if I'd trusted her more when she needed me to, she'd still be here. Instead... she died saving me."
Takemi sighed, resting her forehead in her hand as she rested her elbow against her desk. "...I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said that," she said quietly. "...But try to understand something, even if I kept going... even if just to try and keep atoning for this, it'll bring more attention on me, and Oyamada's reach in the medical community is not to be trifled with..."
"Elaborate."
"Well, for one, he's highly respected and in charge of a university hospital of very high reputation, and on top of that he's very well-connected. He can pressure my suppliers to stop selling to me, and if I can't get my hands on medical supplies I won't have what I need to complete the medicine even if I wanted to," Takemi explained, her hand slowly tightening over her notes and beginning to crumple them. "...I never wanted money or fame from finding a way to save Miwa-chan, I just... wanted to keep her smiling... give her hope she'll have a life and a future, and not just her, either... I wanted to help every single person who was suffering from that horrible disease! Because..."
"Is that why you wanted to become a doctor?" asked Kyoko.
"I told you I didn't come from some long line of famous doctors or anything, but I didn't tell you that when I was young, I was a very sickly child," replied Takemi. "...I was always in the hospital, rarely well enough to attend school at all. Medicine was all that kept me alive. That is why I decided I wanted to become a doctor, so I could save people... just like I was saved, but I guess this is where it ends. Like it or not, the medical industry is still a business and the chief decides what's best for it."
Takemi's hand slowly let go of the crumpled paper it was clasped around. "...I'm already out of allies after he blacklisted me, and with my old protégée at Hope's Peak, now, I don't want to imagine him doing the same to her, either, before she even gets her chance... she really reminds me of myself when I was her age, wanting to save lives, too. I won't let him ruin her future, too, all because I was too stubborn to accept it was time to quit."
"You're wrong. You're not out of allies," said Kyoko. "I haven't abandoned you despite the rumors, have I?"
Takemi looked back at her, a sad smile on her face. "I guess I can't argue with that, your nosiness led to my practice increasing, and in the end I got to feel like a real doctor again, so... thank you. Maybe Kimura-chan will have better luck and accomplish what I couldn't for someone else once she graduates."
"Then you're really going to give up and run away?" Kyoko asked, folding her arms as she gazed down at the doctor. "What about the patients that have been coming here, now?"
"There's plenty of other small-town doctors they can go to," said Takemi. "...As much as it frustrates me, yes, I'm sorry but this is where it ends. I appreciate your help, but can't do any more clinical trials, either with him watching me, now, so just forget about me and go on home. Work on your own dream of getting into Hope's Peak..."
Kyoko nodded silently and made her way to the door, but paused. "Doctor, before I go, I'm curious... this Chief of Staff, what's his full name?"
Takemi cocked a brow at her. "...You mean Oyamada? Why?" she asked, suspicious. "...Trained detective or not, Kirigiri, don't go trying to trying to find blackmail on him or something to get revenge for me!"
"I'm not," said Kyoko. "I told you, I was just curious."
"You really are a strange one," Takemi sighed. "His full name's Shoichi Oyamada. As I mentioned, he's very influential in the world of medicine and as a Chief of Staff. Not someone to get on the bad side of."
"I understand," replied Kyoko with a nod as she opened the door preparing to leave. "Just do me one favor? Don't throw your research away."
"Are you planning something, Kirigiri? Because I already said-" Takemi started.
"No, just..." Kyoko pondered a way to put it. "Detectives and police keep all of their data and archive it in case it can be used later, sometimes it can lead to a breakthrough in another case. You can't be sure when you might end up needing it again, even if it seems like you won't."
Takemi blinked in confusion at her. "...Really strange kid," she muttered. "Fine, I'll humor you. I won't get rid of it. Now why don't you get going, a kid your age shouldn't skip meals and I have a lot to think about right now..."
Heading back outside to return to Leblanc, Kyoko checked the Meta-Nav, and a quick confirmation ensured the Phantom Thieves had a new mission plan for tomorrow...
8/16
Emerging from a swirling red portal into another isolated chamber of Mementos, Ace stepped out of the Morganamobile along with the others, the bus transforming back into the catlike thief that promptly joined her side.
"That must be him, Ace. The Shadow of Shoichi Oyamada," Mona observed.
"There's no mistaking it after the impression he made the other day," Ace replied, folding her arms and glaring at the suited figure watching them before approaching it.
"Sure looks like he's been eating well," Skull mused.
"Shoichi Oyamada!" Ace called out sharply, the figure turning and revealing itself to be a likeness of the Chief of Staff that'd visited Takemi's clinic yesterday.
The Shadow of Oyamada chuckled darkly. "...And what business does trash like you have with me? As head of the medical office I'm entitled to nothing but respect from everyone!" he declared, folding his arms and grinning. "If anything, you should be begging me to examine you!"
"We met the other day," Ace stated. "You harassed Dr. Takemi for treating a patient you misdiagnosed."
Oyamada scoffed at her. "So, you're that mouthy young lady at Takemi's! So tell me, how is she doing?" He let out a cruel laugh. "She was so depressed when I told her that her patient died! Haha! I'm so worried about her, poor thing!"
His laughter escalated, a wide sneer on his face as his golden yellow eyes gleamed with sadistic delight. "It's been so long since I've felt so exhilarated!"
Ace's brow furrowed under her white domino mask. "...Not since when you were responsible for the rushing the production of an unfinished medicine she was working on so you could take credit for it?" she asked coldly. "...And when it didn't work because she'd not had the chance to perfect it yet, you blamed her and made her take the fall for it?"
"So what if I did? It's one of the privileges of being the Chief of Staff!" Oyamada sneered. "Tell me, is Takemi finally understanding who has the power here, and finally going to quit being a doctor? If she isn't, tell her she'd best hurry up if she doesn't want her reputation to ruin the future of her poor little former understudy before she can even graduate from Hope's Peak!"
"You are absolutely abhorrent!" Fox snapped, teeth grit at the man. "You'd ruin an innocent student's life just to get back at her over curing a patient you could not?!"
"It doesn't bother you at all that more people could die if you keep this up?!" Panther asked.
"Why should it? I have plenty of doctors who work under me I can pin any misfortune on!" Oyamada smirked. "Furthermore, I save so many lives every day like they're running off an assembly line, a few patients lost won't tip those scales in the slightest!"
"It's unbelievable a man like this doesn't have a Palace of his own," Queen mused to herself, brandishing her fists. "If anyone needs to quit, it's an irresponsible piece of garbage like you!"
"The Phantom Thieves are going to change your wicked heart, Oyamada!" Mona declared, drawing his cutlass.
"...And to be frank, I may actually gain a degree of satisfaction in doing so," Ace said, stepping forward and making her knife appear.
Oyamada's fists clenched, gritting his teeth in anger. "You'd dare speak to ME, your superior, this way?!" he snarled, his voice deepening as red and black smoke began to gather around him. "Your diagnosis is arrogance with no chance of recovery!"
"Speak for yourself, man!" Skull retorted, causing the Shadow to grow angrier.
"In that case, I'll simply "treat" you right away, and blame your deaths on Takemi messing up again!" Oyamada snarled, his form suddenly melting down into a mass of red and black ooze before reshaping itself into a human-sized, seated white baboon wearing a green shawl and diamond-pattern scarf, with a gold Egyptian ornament on its head and a large open tome in its hands, like the ones the Thieves recalled from Futaba's Palace.
"FEEL THE POWER OF MEDICINE!" it screeched loudly as it stood up on its hind legs, raising its tome into the air. Orbs of glowing blue energy swirled around him before suddenly exploding in a wave of power at the Phantom Thieves and knocking them to the ground.
"Damnit!" Ace cursed, scrambling to her feet in a kneeling position and touching her mask. "SENTATA!"
The spear-wielding Persona manifested before her and struck. To her surprise, the Shadow promptly toppled over in a dazed state. It seemed the cards the twins had given her had done their work.
"Ha! Went down in one shot!" Panther chuckled.
"Let's take our chance, then!" Mona shouted. "ALL-OUT ATTACK!"
The entire group as one leaped into the air, rebounding off the walls as they struck the transformed Shadow from all directions in a flurry of blows, causing it to collapse and dissolve apart in a cloud of smoke, revealing the defeated Oyamada underneath.
"That was easy!" Panther remarked with a chuckle.
"Of course it was," Ace said, approaching the defeated Shadow of Oyamada in disgust. "...Because despite his power and influence, he knows deep down he's nowhere near as competent at the job that affords it to him as he tries to make everyone think he is, correct?"
"A fraud who propped his career off the achievements of others," Fox mused, shaking his head. "...And at the cost of peoples' careers and lives. Truly despicable."
"How come..." Oyamada's Shadow slowly stood up, downcast as he struggled not to weep. "How come I'm not good enough?!"
"What are you going on about?" Ace asked, folding her arms as she regarded his wilting form.
"There was a time, where all I ever wanted was to save lives, and do something great, and help make medical history," he whimpered. "...But in truth, I'm a mediocre doctor at best... all my promotions and influence came only because of my university connections."
"...And even still you made Dr. Takemi's life miserable, you rushed her work's production before she could refine it, and when things went wrong as a result, you took advantage of it to discredit her and shift the blame," Ace replied sharply. "...Why? Was it just a way to avoid being accountable, or... were you jealous because she was a better doctor that you knew deserved those promotions more then you?"
"...I was," Oyamada said with a slow nod. "She was so creative, always so focused on medicine, always full of ideas and her techniques were extraordinary... and it was because of that, she everything I ever wanted, the fame, the prestige, she earned it so quickly! I always told myself it was some genetic talent or special treatment as a Hope's Peak alumni, but... I didn't want to look at how she became that talented, and why they'd scouted her... all because I was jealous. That's why I tried to take credit for the new drug she was working on."
Ace still felt a great deal of contempt for the man and all he'd put Takemi through, and his apathy towards lives in his care, yet she could feel her features soften as something else about Takemi came to mind at his praise towards her. "She told me she was very ill growing up, spending almost all her time in and out of hospitals and not getting to go to school, much. She didn't inherit her skills. The way she grew up just..."
"...Made her want to?" Makoto said softly, approaching.
Ace nodded. "...It all came from how badly she wanted to help people going through what she did and give them a better chance in life."
Oyamada's Shadow shook his head, smiling sadly. "She had someone study under her for a while, currently in Hope's Peak, now. She was the same way, no wonder those two got along so well like they did before I screwed everything up with my oversight, and made Takemi "the Plague"."
"Kimura? Takemi said she reminded her of herself when she was younger," said Ace. "...But there had to be another way then what you did that caused all of this."
"If only there were a medication that cured jealousy," Oyamada sighed. "...Also... Takemi's patient isn't dead."
"For real?!" Skull asked, eyes wide with shock from what he remembered Ace telling the group prior.
"I had felt something was off when you'd said that to her," Ace replied, looking at Oyamada.
"...Yes, Miwa-chan's alive," Oyamada explained. "I thought she wouldn't recover, so I moved her into the hospice wing for terminally ill patients... but the patient didn't believe my diagnosis and she ended up transferring to another hospital, and transferring to another hospital for such a reason makes our own hospital and university look really bad and affect patients' trust in it."
The man looked down at the ground, ashamed. "...And that's when I made everyone tell the same lie: the patient chose to leave the hospice and died," he said.
"That's terrible of you," Panther said, scowling.
"...And because of that, Takemi's lost all will to keep going, even if you hadn't made those threats against her," Ace stated. "I'll be sure to let her know her patient's alive."
"See to it you do, as soon as possible," said Oyamada, a light beginning to engulf him. "...Though Miwa's still alive, she doesn't have long. Maybe Takemi can still do something about it..."
In a bright flash of light, Oyamada's Shadow was gone, leaving behind a small glowing sphere of light which Kyoko took, a green metallic card with the word Mediarama engraved on it.
"Looks like we're done here," Mona said, looking up at Ace as she pocketed the card. "You have Dr. Takemi's phone number right? Let's call her as soon as we get back!"
"Good idea," Ace nodded.
"It's a relief her patient is still alive," Makoto said with a smile. "I hope everything can all work out, now!"
"In the meantime, we've got less then a week left until Medjed's promised date," Fox said. "Hopefully Futaba will fully recover as well."
"So far, Boss has said she's doing alright, she comes out for basic necessities like food or the bathroom and responds to him. He said he'd let me know if anything changes since I was worried about her," said Ace. "At any rate, our mission today was a success, so let's head back..."
With a poof of smoke, Mona transformed back into a bus again and Ace and the other Phantom Thieves piled in, ready for the trip back to the surface.
Kyoko waited patiently for Takemi to answer her phone as she sat on her couch in her room after evening had fell. With any luck, Takemi had taken her advice to heart and not done anything reckless with her research notes yet. There was no telling how long it'd take before Oyamada's heart was changed in reality, so there was no room for the news he'd given to be all for nothing.
At long last after three tries, she heard Takemi pick up.
"What is it, Kirigiri?" Takemi's tired voice asked, "Unless it's an emergency you can't get to someone else for, I don't really have the time for this and I'll be closing my business, anyway."
"Doctor, before you consider that there's something I need to tell you." Kyoko replied sternly. "...I had promised I wouldn't take revenge on Oyamada, but something he said didn't sit right with me and I wanted to verify something. I did some detective work on my own today and I discovered something about your patient, Miwa."
"...Kirigiri, I don't care," Takemi answered, though her tone wasn't harsh, but rather hurt, it was understandable, as she still believed what Oyamada said the other day, which Kyoko had asserted was about to change. "...I'm going to hang up, now."
"She's alive," Kyoko responded abruptly before Takemi could be afforded the chance.
A pause followed.
"...What did you say?" Takemi's voice was skeptical, but curious.
"I investigated and I found out Miwa-chan's alive. Oyamada lied to you," Kyoko replied. "He was telling the truth that her condition had worsened, but when he attempted to move her to the terminal wing she chose to leave and her family took her to a different hospital. He made that lie up to preserve his reputation and, I suspect, because he would no longer be able to take any credit if you produced a breakthrough that cured her."
Another pause followed, Kyoko suspected the doctor was trying to process what she'd just been told.
"...Kirigiri, if this is a lie to get me back to work on my research..."
"It's not. I'm telling the truth," Kyoko replied. "I even took the liberty of tracking down the name of the hospital she's at if you need further proof."
"How did you..." Takemi's voice was barely above a whisper.
Kyoko couldn't help but smile, casting a glance at Morgana, who looked just as satisfied as he sat on the couch with her. "...I'm a detective, doctor. Trained by the best."
She heard a slight chuckle, but also gasping, as if Takemi were trying to hold back tears and cover them with an attempted laugh.
"She's at the Hiroo Metro Hospital in Shibuya," said Kyoko.
"I'll call them right away," Takemi replied, finding her words again. "...But, Oyamada..."
"Don't worry about him right now. I... I have hope that the situation will solve itself soon," Kyoko replied. "Just make that phone call, now."
"I will," Takemi answered. "...Come by tomorrow afternoon, too. I'll let you know when."
"A skilled detective makes an amazing phantom thief," Morgana said with an approving nod. "...Especially since using those sleuth skills got you the last part real fast you had a good alibi."
Kyoko smiled again, relieved and looking more... at peace was maybe the way the cat would describe her then the rare, more faint smiles he was used to. "Yes, good thing," she said. "...And it felt more... rewarding, I suppose, then even a lot of bigger cases I dealt with before coming here."
"Oyamada's change of heart is sure to happen, soon, too! He's bound to confess to everything so maybe he'll also clear Dr. Takemi's name!" the cat said excitedly.
Kyoko flipped on the TV, turning to the news for any updates on Medjed, but instead saw a report of a scandal regarding a Shinjuku university hospital's chief of staff.
"...Maybe sooner then we'd think."
8/17
Kyoko entered Takemi's clinic, Morgana in her backpack as the cat had insisted he come along. With having taken part in seeing the defeat of Oyamada's Shadow, she couldn't blame him. "You wanted to see me, Doctor?" she asked as she looked over at the reception desk where Takemi was seated.
"I did, yes," the doctor replied, standing up and coming around to the waiting room area. "...I made the call and it turns out, you were right, Miwa-chan's alive... she'd left Oyamada's hospital in Shinjuku and transferred over to the Hiroo Metropolitan in Shibuya."
"Then you're going to continue your work?" Kyoko asked, folding her arms.
Takemi smiled and nodded. "Yes. Obviously, I can't give up now. She's still got time and I plan to not waste any of it finishing this medicine. I'm resuming development right away!" She gave Kyoko a sly, devious smirk. "...Which means, I'll be requiring your help again, like we agreed, guinea pig. I almost feel bad that it's like I'm rewarding you with doing more tests, after what you've done for me."
"It's alright. If it can save Miwa, I'll cooperate," Kyoko replied with a resolute nod and a small smile.
"I can't thank you enough, Kirigiri... you're-" Takemi began as the door suddenly opened, her and Kyoko turning to see the little girl who'd come by before and her father having come in. Takemi hadn't been wrong, Kyoko asserted, that the little girl was much more spry the way she practically skipped in and looked very excited.
"Doctor! Doctor!" she said with a big smile before noticing Kyoko as well "Oh! And you, too, Miss!" she said with a bow.
"What's this about?" Takemi asked, looking at the girl's father.
"I wanted to come speak to you right away!" he said. "The hospital that was on the news, the one I took her to before I came here, that's the same one you used to work at, isn't it?"
Takemi cocked her head, puzzled. "Hospital on the news?" she asked.
Seemed she missed that, Kyoko thought. Probably due to calling the one Miwa was at...
"Oh, dear! It seems everyone was thinking the same thing!" the elderly lady Kyoko remembered seeing outside with Takemi once said, coming into the waiting room as well. "...But I knew you weren't capable of doing those terrible things!"
Takemi looked at the visitors in confusion. "What's going on here?!" she asked.
The elderly lady looked surprised, but then gave a kind smile. "...Oh, you really don't know, do you?" she asked.
The little girl's father looked back at the elderly lady then at Takemi. "Well, Chief of Staff Oyamada has turned himself in. He was manipulating things behind the scenes. Turns out he was the one who made that terrible medical error and laid the blame on his subordinate!"
"...Wait, what?!" Takami gasped, staring agape in shock. "...Is all this true?!"
The man nodded. "It's been on news channels all over the country. They first covered it last night, actually!"
"I haven't... seen it," Takemi murmured to herself. "It must've been because I was..."
"I knew something about that story wasn't adding up," the little girl's father said.
"And as I said, I never believed someone like you could have done such a thing," the elderly lady added.
"Hooray, Doctor!" the little girl cheered excitedly before looking curious. "...Um, what's a medical error, though?"
Takemi looked away a moment. "It's... something that shouldn't be allowed to happen, I guess," she said softly before noticing Kyoko silently smiling at her from where she was standing and approached. "...Kirigiri, is this some kind of joke? Oyamada up and surrendering himself at such a convenient time? Why?"
"I told you, I'm a detective," Kyoko said, "...But if you must know, I didn't threaten him or anything. Maybe he realized lying about this and Miwa's transfer would catch up to him sooner or later. Either way, I don't think you need to worry about him anymore."
"Now that you mention it, there was mention of a young patient who was involved in the medical error incident," the elderly lady said.
"...It must have been difficult for her, too. She was moved to another hospital over in Shibuya," the little girl's father added.
Takemi couldn't help but chuckle a little. "...I suppose you're right. I've got a much more important matter to focus on right now, don't I?"
"T-Takemi-sensei?"
Once again, Takemi's eyes went wide at the sound of a voice she immediately recognized as she saw a girl Kyoko's age nervously enter. Despite it being summer, she wore a longsleeve white t-shirt with gloves like Kyoko's and a black miniskirt, with striped tights and black mary-janes. Her short hair framed her face in a bob cut with long flipped ends and fringe over her left eye while her visible right eye stared in a deer-in-the-headlights look. More notable, though, was the purple surgical mask covering the lower half of her face.
"K-Kimura?" Takemi stammered.
"I-I h-heard the news a-and checked it a-all out, Takemi-sensei," the girl said softly. "...Mr. Oyamada confessed t-to everything he s-said about you when the... error happened s-so since it was summer break I... tracked you down to see you. I-I'm so happy it's f-finally over..."
"You..." Takemi stared in disbelief. "...All this time, I was... I was afraid what you thought of me. You were my understudy after all, but he was Chief of Staff, I didn't think you had any reason to believe I..."
"NO!" the girl, Kimura, suddenly shouted, shaking her head anxiously. "E-Even though everyone else sided with him, I d-didn't believe it, but you should be mad at me anyway because I was too scared to say anything!" she bowed immediately. "I'm so sorry I didn't defend you, Sensei!"
Takemi looked at the girl a moment, chuckling. "It's alright, Kimura-chan. What's done is done, and I guess I can't blame you for feeling like you couldn't do anything. You're still in school and now you're at Hope's Peak, aren't you? You shouldn't be risking your own chances on my behalf, anyway."
Kimura jerked back up, slowly tugging down her mask as her eyes watered, quickly wiping them away and anxiously pulling her mask back up and bowing again. "Thank you... thank you so much, Sensei!"
"Hey, now, I'm not your sensei anymore, Kimura-chan. As I understand it you're studying at Hope's Peak, now, aren't you? The next "Super Highschool-Level Pharmacist"?" asked Takemi.
Kimura blushed and quickly looked away. "Y-Yeah! But... I have you to thank for that, too. From w-what you taught me. Y-You're... m-my hero... even if I was a bad student for n-not speaking up."
"Kimura-chan, I told you, what's done is done. What matters is now I can work on fixing Oyamada's error," she said. "I want you to get back on your studies, you're still serious about being a doctor, right?" she asked, smirking.
"I am, yes!" the girl said, beaming, then taking notice of Kyoko. "Oh, who's this?"
"Oh, don't mind her, she's hired help for my research," Takemi said, looking over at Kyoko. "Since you've not been formally introduced, Kyoko Kirigiri, this is Seiko Kimura. She was my understudy, the one I told you about. Seiko Kimura, this is Kyoko Kirigiri, my guinea pig."
"P-Pleased to meet you!" Seiko said anxiously with a bow.
"Well, it's wonderful that everything worked out, I need to be going, now," the elderly lady said with a relieved smile and a bow before taking her leave.
"Thanks again for taking care of me, Doctor!" the little girl said with a bow as well.
"Yes, thank you," her father added, before the two left.
"...So, you're working on the medicine for Miwa-chan again?" Seiko asked after they'd gone.
"I am, I have her to thank, Oyamada fed me a lie that almost made me stop, but she did some... investigating and found out the truth," Takemi explained. "...Still, there's not a lot of time left, so I've got a lot of work ahead of me."
"I see," Seiko replied, glancing down at her hands. "M-Maybe... I can help? It's summer break so I'm not at Hope's Peak right now. I'd be the least I can do for... my sensei."
Takemi chuckled softly to herself. "I don't see why not. You have a lot of promise, Kimura-chan, and this young lady here's helped me with letting others in again."
Seiko's face, or what Kyoko could see of it, promptly lit up, overjoyed. "I promise I won't let you down, sensei!"
"I'll hold you to that, Kimura-chan," said Takemi, before looking over at Kyoko. "...Thank you, by the way, for all you did."
Kyoko nodded, and she heard the sound of another chain link shatter within her mind.
"...That said, we're going to be working quickly, so you may experience some pain during examinations, so you know," Takemi stated. "...So just hang in there, alright? Once the medicine is perfected, I'll introduce you to Miwa-chan and tell her how much you helped."
Kyoko sighed a little. What Oyamada had said meant Takemi would need to work fast, she wouldn't let this be for nothing. Not when a life was at stake. Not this time. "...I can handle it," she said.
"Thank you," Takemi said, a relieved smile on her face. "...Kimura-chan? Join us in the exam room. I'll have you helping, and while we observe my guinea pig's side-effects, I'd like to hear about how you've been coming along."
Seiko nodded. "Oh, of c-" She paused, then slid down her mask again, showing her pale face as she blushed, but also smiled in gratitude. "...Of course, S-Sensei!" she stammered, accompanying Takemi and Kyoko to the back.
"You sure you're gonna be alright? You staggered a few times on the way back," Morgana said, concerned as he peered from Kyoko's bag as she made her way to Leblanc.
"Considering all that happened, I'll live with it," Kyoko uttered as she felt her balance fully return.
"I'm happy knowing she'll be able to save that child, now! I know she can do it!" Morgana stated.
Oyamada's confession and uncovering the truth, Kyoko could feel a relief through any lingering symptoms that things finally could truly turn around for the once-jaded doctor.
Her phone suddenly chimed, and Kyoko saw Takemi was calling and promptly answered. "Hello?"
"Just wanted to make sure you got home safe, Kirigiri," Takemi answered.
"I did," Kyoko said, opening the door and giving Sojiro a small smile as he greeted her before heading upstairs so she could sit down.
"I apologize for pushing you hard after what you've done for me, but understand I can't waste the opportunity you've given me. We're going to make up for lost time," Takemi said. "...Seriously, what was wrong with me, having spent all that time moping and feeling sorry for myself when Miwa-chan was fighting all that time. I need to fight for her, now, too."
"What's done is done, as you said," Kyoko replied, setting her bag down as Morgana climbed out.
"Heh, I suppose so," Takemi answered. "I'm letting letting Kimura-chan stay on to help me around the clinic for the remainder of the summer break from school while I work on this so I'll have more time to it. I know I'm close, I just need to perfect it. Anyways, get some good rest tonight. I'll let you know once I've made progress and I'm ready for another trial. Have a good night, Kirigiri."
Once Takemi had hung up, Kyoko lay down on her bed and weighed her options for the remainder of the evening, still feeling the effects of the medicine.
"Even when it's not a Palace Ruler, the Phantom Thieves can make a huge difference in bunch of lives!" Morgana said pensively as he joined her. "Making Oyamada confess, now Doctor Takemi has a chance to save her patient, and the patients she's gotten have their doctor, and she reconnected with that girl who studied under her."
"Back then, it was all about solving the case and leaving," Kyoko said. "Being there and seeing the difference it made... Big Sis was right."
Kyoko smiled faintly. The rest was up to Takemi, just as the rest would be up to Futaba regarding Medjed. In the case of the latter, in few days, she'd have her answer on what was in store for the Phantom Thieves...
A/N: At last, another chapter to HoJ, managing to get it out before the year is over as an early Christmas gift! I chose to combine Takemi's Rank 7 and 7.5 ones since it seemed unlikely Kyoko would just leave this be and hope you enjoyed the surprise Danganronpa character appearances!
0 - The Fool: Rank 6
I - The Magician: Rank 6
II - The Priestess: Rank 3
IV - The Emperor: Rank 4
V - The Hierophant: Rank 4
VI - The Lovers: Rank 7
VII - The Chariot: Rank 9
VIII - Justice: Rank 3
X - Fortune: Rank 1
XI - The Strength: Rank 5
XII - The Hanged Man: Rank 3
XIII - Death: Rank 8
XIV - Temperance: Rank 7
XV - The Devil: Rank 3
XVII - The Star: Rank 2
XVIII - The Moon: Rank 5
XIX - The Sun: Rank 5
XX - Judgement: Rank 2
1 - The Councillor: Rank 5
? - Faith: MAX(?)
Kyoko's Personas: Anzu, Nigi Mitama, Flauros, Naga, Neko Shogun, Sandman, Phoenix, Setanta, Clotho, Isis