With the Palace gone the phantom thieves can do nothing but wait for Gaston's change of heart

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.

Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Gaston Arc Chapter 27

Waiting For Change

We come to Friday which was a day off and Aqua was enjoying Breakfast curry and curry when she got a message from Uzi.

"Hey, I'm gonna go train. You want to join in?" Uzi messaged "I probably end up going easy on myself if I do it alone…Anyways, it'd probably be the most efficient if we trained together. How about it?"

Aqua was eating right now so she will respond later.

"A cup of coffee right after some curry is the best." Vito said to her with a smile. "Just be sure to drink it while it's still warm, all right? The temperature affects the flavor."

"Alright" Aqua said smiling nodding.

"Let's just enjoy the chief's coffee for now. We can leave that message for later." Gatomon said to Aqua.

A while later Aqua was getting her trainers on in her room when there was a message in the group.

"So, Gaston's had a change of heart now, right?" Uzi asked in the chat. "I don't really care what happens to him…But it'd totally leave a bad taste in my mouth if he wound up dead or something."

"Hey! Don't stay stuff like that!" Alexis told her in chat. "We didn't kill his Shadow so he should be fine, right?"

"Should be." Aqua replied

"I never thought I'd end up worrying about a jerk like him." Uzi messaged "It feels kind of weird, tbh. Eh, it's fine. I'm sure we'll find something out when tomorrow rolls around."

"Right." Alexis messages

"Well, I'm looking forward to it!" Uzi messages.

Aqua nods, have to wait and heads down, it was Golden Week right now so it was a nice vacation for a while. She heads out for the day.

She went to the Video Rental store and returned The X-Folders and rented out Wraith. She went to the Arcade and finds Uzi there and approaches her.

"Hey Aqua, did you get my message?" Uzi asked her and Aqua nods "So want to train together?"

"Ooo, let's go and train" Agathion said eager.

"Sure, let's go train" Aqua said smiling

"Awesome. Then get changed and meet me at the school then." Uzi said with a smile "There's no school today, but we can sneak in through the back entrance."

"You two have a good time, I'll walk around near the school. Let me know when you're ready to leave." Gatomon told Aqua.

We come to the school, Aqua and Uzi were in there school gym uniforms at Uzi's secret training spot and finished some as Uzi was hunched over, hands on her knees.

"Ugh, dammit! I want to move better, but I just can't…" Uzi groaned "I was training for nationals back in the day…but now I totally suck now."

"What the robot hell do you think you're doing?" A female irritated female voice said. The two look up seeing three female drone girls all in red cheerleader like school uniforms.

The first, the one who who spoke had pink LED eyes and blonde hair in a ponytail tied with a yellow bow. The second had neon blue LED eyes and short blue hair and the red LED eyes and long purple hair.

Uzi's eyes go wide in surprise and said "Lizzy…Rebecca…. Doll…"

The blonde-haired drone Lizzy shakes her head and said "…Running, huh? I saw you from the window."

"What, you gonna try to come crawling back to the Drone track team?" The short blue haired drone Rebecca asked.

Doll says something but it was in Russian so Aqua didn't get it. But Lizzy said "Yeah, like that would happen."

"Huh? H-Heck no…" Uzi said to them.

"Hmmm…" Lizzy thought looking around. "…Speaking of which, this was you secret training spot, right? Well, it's our spot now." She folds her arms. "You know, us. The former drone track team."

Doll speaks in Russian and Rebecca nods "Yeah Doll said it, we have nothing since the team was dissolved, we don't even have a locker room anymore, thanks to someone I know."

Uzi looks down being unusually quiet rather than usual confrontation.

"Look, let's not fight alright." Aqua said to the drones.

"Yeah, no violence" Agathion said worried

"We're not fighting…" Uzi said to Aqua.

"Yeah, this isn't anything like a fight. Not even close." Lizzy said looking at Aqua. "Hang on, aren't you that transfer student? You're really going to hang around with this freak?"

Doll speaks in Russian and Lizzy translates "Doll said you better watch out. She'll hit you the second she gets annoyed. We've heard her mother is the same way. Like mother like daughter, right? That is very freaky."

"That doesn't got anything to do with this…" Uzi told the ex-track drone team members.

"Uzi, calm down." Aqua said to her.

"Deep breaths" Agathion said

Uzi takes a deep breath "…You're right." Lizzy looked a bit surprised but remained quiet. Uzi looks at them sad and said "Look, back then, I…"

"I don't need to hear your excuses." Lizzy told her cutting her off. "Everyone was going through the same scrap with Gaston. The beatings, the impossible exercises…but we put up with all of it for the drone track team." She steps up to Uzi "But no. You had to go and mess it all of that up!"

Lizzy sighs and shakes her head "Man, I was stupid for even considering you were my teammate." She turns away "…That's all I have to say to you. I'm out of here." She along with Rebecca and Doll leave.

Uzi sighs "…I nearly smacked her when she was talking about my mom…I haven't changed at all…" She then smiles looking at Aqua "But you know…you actually helped me calm down a little. I'm glad you were here with me. Thanks Aqua!"

"Don't mentioned it Uzi." Aqua said with a smiling and the two high five. She felt her bond with Uzi going deeper.

She then sees the Chariot card get a third star and she learned a new ability known as Follow up, which gives a chance for Uzi to perform a follow-up attack Aqua's attack doesn't down the enemy.

"Well then, let's call it a day." Uzi suggests

"Hey, Lizzy! Why didn't you kick her butt?!" Rebecca's voice is heard saying.

"…What? The heck's your problem?" Lizzy is heard saying.

"Now they're just arguing with each other…" Uzi said as she looks at them "I should stay out of it." She shakes her head "Anyways, nice training with you."

"Same" Aqua said nodding.

A while later Aqua had gotten dressed and reunited with Gatomon and made it home when her phone rings and she answers.

"Hey, it's me. You good to talk?" Uzi said on the other head.

"Yeah, what's up?" Aqua asked.

"I wanted to thank you again for today." Uzi said sighing "I really owe you one, really. I get angry so damn easily. I really need to work on that."

"Well, I can't exactly blame you" Aqua said

"Yeah especially when people push your buttons" Agathion said.

"Nah, this one's defiantly my bad." Uzi said sighing. "Besides, I can't cause a scene. Don't want to get you pulled into even more bad stuff. Huh…I have to wonder what they were arguing about." She thinks for a bit "…But hey. I'm an outsider. Nothing to do with me. Thanks again for today!"

"Don't forget to massage your human legs before you sleep, okay? See you later!" Uzi finishes said.

"See you." Aqua said and ends the call and goes into Leblanc.

She occasional left the café to hang around the streets and heard people talking about the trains stopping, another minister resigning their position due to possibly adultery and also an attack on a train with knife

Aqua returns after some walking and got a message in the group chat.

"I went to see Hina today." Alexis messaged "And I told her we settled things with Gaston. She still hasn't regained consciousness…but I had to go make amends."

"What do you mean? You didn't do anything wrong, Alexis." Uzi messaged "Right, Aqua?"

"It's not your fault, Alexis." Aqua wrote.

"But I wasn't there when she needed help. I'm a failure as a friend…" Alexis wrote "I have to do all I can to make up for that, starting now. Otherwise I don't think I'll be able to move on."

"Man, I didn't know you were so passionate." Uzi messaged "I totally didn't notice that back in middle school."

"I think it's because of you guys. I'm a little embarrassed though," Alexis messages "Anyway, Uzi, Aqua…. I hope we can keep helping each other out from now on too."

Aqua sighs and goes to study in the middle booth to do some studying and increase her knowledge. Once she was tired she went to bed.

The next day Aqua was in her uniform heading to school and was able to sit down. She decided to read and picked the Alluring Dancer which was the story of Carmen.

"She is just the most elegant of us all" Arsene said with a smile.

"It wasn't just her looks, but her way of life was also very beautiful…" Gatomon said smiling.

By the time they make it to the station, she made it halfway through the book, so she have to continue it later. She makes it to the Beacon line station and Alexis was walked up.

"Morning. The board meeting is the day after tomorrow." Alexis said to her. "…I wonder if Gaston really had a change of heart? What if we failed? That's all I've been able to think about…"

"We have to believe. This is our first day back to school since we took the treasure." Aqua said nodding. She will have to see how Gaston is acting when they make it to school.

"We did do what we could. I guess all I can do now is believe…" Alexis said sighing. "But how strange…I feel a bit better now. Maybe it's because of your composure?" She smiles happily "We'll be able to avenge Hina, and you won't get expelled! After break, we'll all be able to laugh together! That's what I'll believe."

"Yeah!" Aqua said with a smile and they board the train.

They make it to school and it was English class with there teacher for it a gumball machine man named Benson.

"Hello everyone! How're you all doing?" Benson said to the class. "These days, you're expected to know colloquial English even its idioms that come from other languages."

"I want you to forget that you are from non-english born countries or planets during this class and make yourself believe you're a foreigner. What's important is becoming someone else." Benson said "In this day and age, being able to swap your mask depending on the situation is a critical talent."

Benson looks around and looks at Aqua and said "How will you fare, Miss. Strife? Here's a question." Aqua sits in attention "'Are you a wunderkind?' See if you can work out the answer based on what you know."

"'Are you a wunderkind?'…" Gatomon said thinking "Well seems to me like we need to work out what this is so we can answer properly. My German is a bit rusty, but I'll give you a hand if I can! First off, the 'wunder' part probably means…"

"Wonder" Aqua said to herself thinking.

"Right, wonder!" Gatomon said smiling "So something…wondrous, I guess, or impressive. Next, the 'kind' part. That's probably…"

"I think child." Aqua replied.

"Hm…Let's think about this again." Gatomon said thinking "Oh, huh. If the 'kind' in 'kindergarten' refers to all the kids in it…Yeah, that's got to be it. 'Kind' mean a child…or at least a young person, in your case."

"A prodigy." Aqua said to Benson in response.

"That's right!" Benson said impressed "I was asking you you were a wonder child in other words, a youth of uncommon talent. But I suppose if you were able to think and adapt so quickly, that proves you certainly must be!"

"Oh, the word 'talent' comes from the Greek 'talanton', a sum of money referenced in the Bible." Benson added "The more skilled a servant was, the more coins they would receive from God their talent led to wealth."

The class was impressed with Aqua's ability to answer and she feels smarter for it.

"The English word 'talent' didn't originally have anything to do with our modern concept of celebrity." Benson continued the lesson "But the ability to change one's mask depending on the situation is surely a talent given to one by God. It's not too far off calling people who can react to things on the spot on TV 'talents.'"

"The talents of changing masks….Does that makes us all 'wunderthieves'?" Gatomon said chuckling.

At lunchtime Aqua was hanging with Uzi in the school hallways.

"Have you seen Gaston?" Uzi asked.

"No, I haven't." Aqua said shaking her head. She hasn't seen Gaston at all today and it seems none of the other students have either

"You really think he changed?" Uzi asked.

"I sure hope so." Aqua said sighing.

"Well yeah…" Uzi said nodding.

"Oh, perfect timing!" Yor is heard saying as she approaches the two. "Study hall will be held instead of PE today. I'm letting you know just in case you haven't heard. Mr. LeGume has taken the day off."

"He ain't here?" Uzi asked surprised as was Aqua.

"Don't tell anyone that you heard this from me…" Yor explained to them "But we received word that Mr. LeGume is placing himself under suspension. It's such an important time before the tournament too…Principal Lionheart went to talk to him about it, but he supposedly wasn't making any sense…"

"Wait, a suspension?!" Uzi called out in shock.

"Not so loud!" Yor told her. "The talks about your expulsions may be put on hold too…I don't know too much about it though…Anyway, I've relayed what's going on to you." She then walks off.

"Looks like something happened…" Uzi said to Aqua. "At least it sounds different from a mental shutdown…"

"Yeah, it seems like something has happened to him" Aqua said nodding.

"I guess all we can do it wait…" Uzi said with a thought.

Soon it was after school and as Aqua was getting ready to leave when the group chat gets a message.

"Man, all this waiting's got me so antsy." Uzi messaged "We should go on a trip or something, what do you think?"

"Sorry I'm going to have to pass." Alexis messaged.

"What, you busy?" Uzi asked.

"Yeah, I'll be visiting Hina in the hospital after school for the next few days." Alexis replies "I can't do much to help her, but it'll be nice to at least see her face."

"Understood…. I hope she wakes up soon." Uzi messages

"Go cheer her up" Aqua messages smiling. Hina was one of the few people who didn't judge her based on her record so she wants the best for her.

"Yeah, thanks." Alexis messages "I'm totally down to go somewhere once things calm down though."

Aqua puts the phone away and Gatomon sighs "It sounds like we won't be able to see Lady Alexis after school for a while. How unfortunate…" He looks at Aqua serious "You should work on your Kindness. That way, you can say something encouraging next time you see her!"

"I know" Aqua said nodding and leaves the classroom. She then sees Carly and approaches her "Hey Carly."

"Oh hey, did you need something?" Carly asked, "If you've got a question for me, will you make it quick?"

"How's Gaston?" Aqua asked.

"I hear Mr. LeGume's taking a leave of absence." Carly explained "Maybe it's because of that calling card. I'm sure this Phantom Thieves stunt is just a prank. Still, the newspaper club should follow this."

"What's with the Phantom Thieves?" Aqua asked her wanting her opinion.

"Wouldn't it be amazing if they were real?" Carly said starry eyed behind her swirly glasses. "As a member of the newspaper club, I'm going to see what I can dig up on them!"

"I see, so what happening on campus?" Aqua asked.

"Mmmm…All I can say is what happened recently has created quite a stir on campus…" Carly explained "Because of what's going on, people will probably pay less attention to the bad rumors about you. The teachers will still keep a close eye on you, so we can't talk for too long. I'm sorry"

"Right." Aqua said and leaves.

Aqua feeling like she should have an early celebration and go to watch Tanktop Millionaire with Gatomon at the Central Street Movie Theatre.

"How the hell did some slumdog right get so much prize money?" A tough sounding character asked "It's just not possible. He must be cheating!"

"No it wasn't cheating, it was destiny!" An Indian character said.

"How does a little kid like him have guts like that?" Gatomon whispered to Aqua.

Aqua nods and could really feel the courage of that boy and his attitude towards life as she feels her Guts improve. Soon it came to the end of the movie and the two watches the credits all the way to the very end before heading home.

Once Aqua made it home after buying some things from the Second hand stuff for crafting lockpicks, she got a message on her phone from Uzi.

"You heard anything about stuff happening to Gaston?" Uzi messaged

"What's wrong?" Aqua asked

"I guess I probably should've asked you about this at school." Uzi messaged.

"Did something happen?" Aqua asked.

"I don't know. I'm just feeling kind of anxious." Uzi messaged "I keep thinking about how even with all you did…we might still end up getting expelled. My dad's totally going to suffer if that happens…won't even have time to build doors. Plus, if we couldn't even help Alexis or Aoi…

"We have to believe Uzi." Aqua messages her.

"Sorry, I guess now's not really the time to be getting all down in the dumps." Uzi messaged "Anyways, I'm feeling a little better now that I talked to you about this. Thanks."

"Oh, and don't tell Alexis I was doubting us, okay?" Uzi added "She won't have anyone to rely on if we're getting all worried about this stuff. Well. See ya!"

Aqua puts her phone away and sees an episode of the new season Phoenix Rangers was on and watches it. She was surprised that they lost their memories and hopes the regain them.

She then crafts some lockpicks before going to bed.

Meanwhile somewhere unknown a shadowry figure was watching a view of the city and said "So…the master's game has begun…he chose me to be hold the power of the corruption just to begin the Ruin"

Another figure said "If you know we're used why don't we just tell his champions!"

The first the leader said, "Because we are powerless to stop him, we must bide our time until we find a chink in his armor."

A third concerned said "You're nuts! We're done for!"

"Not yet, Asmodeus wasn't a part of circle yet" A more refined member said "We are safe for now."

The leader nods "Indeed, let's continue what the master tasked us to do…until we can break away."

The next day Aqua first goes to check the shopping channel.

"Hi, every it's time to do some shopping! Here's what we've got for you today!" Chris said "First the Military Ration set! You can't fight on an empty stomach, so get your nutriants with this! 2 Torimeshi Ration, 2 MRE ration and 2 Beef Patty Ration all in one! What a deal!"

"But wait! There's more!" Chris said "We also have the Muscle Workout set! You'll see an enmormous improvement in your training results! This set includes…2 Pretein and 2 Moist Proten! I can't believe they're both in one set! What a steal!"

Aqua thinks and calls in and orders the Muscle Workout Set and smiles as she will no doubt expect it tomorrow. She then talks to Leo.

"Did you know that there are batting cages in the vicinity?" Leo asked her "I fail to see the appeal through. Adults swinging bats, screaming their grievances at society…"

"I want to go sometime." Aqua said thinking.

"Heh. You don't need to relieve your stress like that." Leo said smiling "Not until the hardships of adulthood. And you're too old to try becoming a baseball player. Even so, it could be a pleasant distraction. Visit the batting cages if you're ever free. Through, it's ill-suited for an old guy like me…"

Aqua nods and leave Leblanc to spend time out.

She first went to the Underground walkway and bought some Bio-Nutrients for her plant and then a Vitality Aojiru to improve her Proficiency. The juice was bitter so she's glad they were only available once a week.

She then went to Mordin's clinic. Mordin looks up and asked "Oh hello there. So what can I do for you today?"

"I like to do a clinical trial." Aqua said.

"I developed a new medicine. Could come to the back?" Mordin asked her.

"Sure." Aqua said nodding.

"Perfect. I will go to get things set up. Go wait to the examination room please" Mordin instructs.

Aqua nods and leaves Gatomon to wander as she goes to the examination room.

In the examination room Mordin gives her a cup full a blue medicine and said "…Here you go. I made various adjustments to the previous drug, based on you trial results. All right, drink it down in one gulp."

"Right" Aqua said and drinks it in one gulp. It had a powerful taste, both sour and bitter, overwhelms her… The smell is terrible. She was having a hard time breathing. She holds her head and passes out on the exam room bed.

Mordin was typing on a pad and said "…Ah, your reaction to it is just as I calculated. You feel a bit dazed, hm? Yes, I mixed in some special…components." He looks at her "Okay, let's take your temperature and blood pressure. I'll also going to draw some blood."

"I also want to perform a few motor skill tests." Mordin added "But those might be too much for you right now. Anyway, since we're in the final stages. I should first stabilize the fundamental formula…"

"Oh, so you ARE here." A male armoured voice said and in walks in was a police scout trooper. Aqua seeing him sits up on the bed.

"Excuse me sir, but I'm in the middle of an examination officer." Mordin said to him. "I believe I told you before, if you want to investigate me, you need to show me a warrant."

"Hmph! I'm here because we received a report." The Scout trooper said arrogantly. "I'll need to see a detailed statement of medical expenses and full medical records. I bet you didn't have enough time to hide any incriminating documents, huh Salarian?"

"…Must be under the orders of Watts." Mordin said in a low voice. He then brings up the files on a computer "Here you go."

"Huh…?" The trooper said confused as there wasn't a lot there. Only the file relating to Aqua's session was there.

"This human child here is my only patient today." Mordin explained. "If you're asking for her medical expenses, I'm guessing I'm under suspicion of improper billing. But without a receipt, I'd say you've been sent on a wild goose chase."

"Wh-What's going on here?" The Scout Trooper said in shock

"I believe you're being manipulated. That 'report' is fictitious." Mordin told him. "It's nothing but an attempt to harass me."

"What?!" The Scout Trooper said and looks at Aqua "Hey, you! What're you doing here?! You don't seem to be sick…Are you up to something illegal?!"

"I have a bad heart." Aqua said to him.

"Nice cover" Mandrake said nodding.

"A-A bad heart?" The Trooper said confused.

"She's stressed about taking her entrance exams" Mordin explained "I have some drugs that help with relaxation. So, is there anything else? As you can see, I'm quite busy at the moment."

The Scout trooper sighs annoyed and said "…Fine. You're influriating, you know that? Hmph…but I'd expect nothing less from the 'Plague'" He leaves.

Mordin sighs rubbing his temples "I am quite over all this…"

"I agree." Aqua said nodding understanding where Mordin is coming from.

"Same" Mandrake said.

"Hmmm…I feel you and I will get along fine." Mordin said nodding "Anyway, that is nothing to be concerned about. I'm positive it was my former superior who made this false report. You eavesdropped on our conversation the other day, remember?"

"Oh yeah, Watts" Aqua said nodding.

"He's just trying to put pressure on me…by having the police troopers investigate me and my practice." Mordin explained he stands up "Anyways, I need to draw some blood. There'll be some mild anemia, but only temperaily. You'll be fine. It is within our 'deal', remember?"

"Uh…yeah…" Aqua said worried 'I have no choice in this…'

"I like people who listen to those who know what they're doing. Enjoy your medicine." Mordin said nodding.

Aqua felt her bond with Mordin grow deeper. She feels the Death card gain a second star.

"I think I'll draw more blood then usual…since you're healthy and everything…" Mordin said thinking.

"Wait what?" Aqua said nervous.

"Oh…sorry, that was a joke." Mordin told her. "Okay, please lie down. You can go home when I'm done."

Aqua follows and felt her Guts improve thanks to this clinical trial. She then goes back to Leblanc but her phone rings and she answers.

"Hello my test Gunia pig. You get home safely?" Mordin said on the other end.

"Yes, I did." Aqua said.

"You still seemed kind of dizzy when you left, so I figured I'd check in." Mordin explained "You know how it is. Some patients get sick on their way back home."

"I'm totally fine." Aqua said.

"Very healthy" Mandrake said.

"Yeah, you sound all right." Mordin said "Guess I've got nothing to worry about. I think you'll be okay but call me if you start feeling sick. Okay, I'm looking forward to our next clinical trial"

"Yeah" Aqua said nodding and ends the call.

Aqua re-enters LeBlanc with Gatomon.

"Tomorrow's the board meeting…" Gatomon said "Don't worry. I'm sure the change of heart worked."

She gets a message in the group chat and looks to see Alexis say, "The board meetings tomorrow, right?"

"We're gonna get expelled if Gaston doesn't have a change of heart by then…" Uzi messaged

"I'm sure he will." Aqua messaged.

"I agree, I am sure Asmodeus will make sure he will" Arsene said nodding.

"He'll definatly change." Alexis said, "It would be a real problem for us if he didn't."

"You're right." Uzi messaged "It's a little too early to be giving up now. Guess we're going to find out one way or the other tomorrow. We just got to brace ourselves for all the possibilities."

Aqua nods and closes the chat.

"I'm sorry I can't offer more reassurance, but he should have the change of heart." Gatomon told her "Let's just believe in that while we wait for tomorrow."

"Yeah." Aqua said nodding

She then goes to have a medicinal bath in the bathhouse for her Charm before going to bed ready for tomorrow.

With a new star for Chariot and Death the next day it is time to see the groups fate

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