The Second to last chapter of this arc, enjoy as Aqua and Gatomon move to seel the Medal.
Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Gaston Arc Chapter 29
Selling the Medal
We come to the next day Tuesday, Aqua was sitting on her bed fully dressed in her regular clothes. Gatomon sitting at her foot.
"Come on, we're going to pawn that medal today." Gatomon said smiling.
"Hey, you can hear me, right?" Vito calls up from downstairs "You don't have plans, do you? Come help me out, instead of sleeping your life away."
"We do ow it to him…" Gatomon said wincing, be bad to get on Vito's bad side. "…We'll just have to wait. Hurry down and help him out."
"Right." Aqua said nodding and calls out "Coming Vito!" She goes downstairs.
We come to a bit later, Aqua was in an apron and washes the dishes. Vito was sitting on a stool watching the news.
"Heh, sorry I kind of pressured you into doing this." Vito said smiling.
"Tom Tucker here with our next topic…. Fall from Grace: the story of a dishonoured Olympic medallist." The newscaster said as an image of Gaston appears on the screen "Just recently, a high school coach confessed at an assembly that he has been repeatedly abusing students. Given his prior Olympic achievements, this has caused quite a stir."
"What caused this habitual offender to suddenly confess these heious crimes to his entire school?" Tom asked as he did the story. "The police troopers are hoping that the upcoming interrogation will bring light to this question."
"Hm? Isn't this…?" Vito said focusing on it.
The news goes to interviews, a male Citadel student said "My friends would come back from practise with bruises all the time…It was scary, but I'm relieved that the abuse is finally going to end now."
We then come with a female Citadel student who said "He would touch me and stuff all the time…I'm glad I don't have to deal with that sexual harassment anymore…"
A second female Citadel student being interviewed said "There were always rumors, sure. Not many people believed them though. Like…I'm totally shocked they were actually true. At least now I can go to school without worrying."
"I knew it. This is your school, isn't it?" Vito said seeing the uniform and looks to Aqua.
"Yeah seems like it. Guess news does spread fast." Aqua said looking at the screen.
Vito sighs rubbing his eyes, he then said "Things might be getting turbulent at school, but you need to just keep your head down, all right?"
"Right" Aqua said with a nod.
"More importantly, keep those hands moving. I've got some more stuff I need you to do." Vito told her.
"Right on it!" Aqua said as she continues.
It soon came to the evening, Vito put Aqua through a lot of tasks helping him run the café, she didn't find any time she was allowed to do her own thing as it was the time, she was restricted to Metru-Nui only.
"The chief really worked us hard…" Gatomon said sighing.
"Yeah, but I owed it to him." Aqua said nodding.
Just then there was a message notification in the phantom thief group chat and Aqua checks her phone.
"Did you see?! It was on the news!" Uzi messaged "No way the school's going to be able to play dumb after that."
"I saw it too." Alexis messages "Hina's name didn't come up, right?"
"Not that I saw. I'd bet they wanted to keep that part quiet." Uzi messaged.
"I'm so glad…" Alexis messaged.
"It's finally over then…" Uzi messaged. "All we got to do is stuff our faces and put this Gaston junk behind us. I'm totally looking forward to this celebration party."
"I'll try not to let you guys down!" Alexis messaged.
Aqua smiles and puts her phone away. Gatomon nods and said "All right, we need to go sell the gold medal tomorrow. Even if the chief wants your help, make sure you turn him down, okay?"
"Agreed" Aqua said with a nod.
Aqua decides to put on Wraith to watch with Gatomon and her Persona's. It was a strange story about a woman who can speak with the spirits of the deceased…
"I wonder if that womjan would join the Phantom Thieves." Gatomon said thinking "She'd be useful don't you think?"
"Yeah I think so." Aqua said smiling.
"Definitely a candidate for a Death Arcarna Persona" Mandrake said smiling
Aqua smiled as they finished halfway through, she could feel the woman on the show's Kindness from watching it. She and Gatomon then went to bed.
The next day Aqua had got her things and was ready to leave but first she had to convince Vito to let her do her own things today.
"Make sure to do the dishes" Vito told Aqua.
"I promise I will do it when I get back." Aqua said to him.
"Just do it." Vito told her looking serious "Don't get cocky with me."
Just then the door opens getting the twos attention as three people enter the café, they were Windblade and her two Law Troopers Jess and Jacob.
"Welcome." Vito said to them.
"Are we interrupting something?" Windblade asked.
"No not at all." Vito said to her.
Windblade nods and takes a seat at the counter while Jess and Jacob sits at the booth behind her. Just then the news on the TV came on.
"The cause of the runaway-train incident in the subway earlier last month still has not been found." Tom Tucker reports "Police troopers are hurrying to solve the matter as it may relate to the rise in psychotic breakdown incidents."
"Oh, is that the thing everyone's been talking out?" Vito asked.
"Seems to be" Aqua said nodding.
"Doesn't it make you curious?" Windblade asked everyone "People who were living normal lives suddenly went mad or deranged out of the blue…"
"Yeah, the scary thing is it's happening one after another…makes it hard to believe they're coincidental?" Jess added.
"Yeah, I do know some people involved in the incidents, they say it was so sudden." Jacob said sighing.
"Hmmm…" Vito said thinking. "Leaving that aside…What will you three have?"
"I'll have some Blue Mountain." Jess said.
"Cuban Crystal Mountain for me" Jacob said nodding
"And I'll have the house blend please." Windblade said nodding. She then looks at Aqua "Are you a part-timer?"
"Honestly I am surprised this place could afford one." Jacob said and yelps when Jess kicks his shin under the table.
"Uhhh, no, not exactly…" Vito said to that.
"You look to be a high school student." Jess said looking at Aqua "Where do you attend?"
"Oh, I attend Citadel Academy" Aqua said to the three.
"Oh? Someone I know goes there as well." Windblade said "I heard that things are rough right now."
"Yeah, word is being spread among the Law Troopers." Jess said nodding.
Windblade nods "A teacher named Gaston confessed his crimes like he was a completely different person, supposedly."
"The crazy thing is it all happened 'all of a sudden one day…" Jacob said shuddering.
"Can a person't mental state change so easily?" Windblade said thinking.
"…Huh." Vito said in response to that.
"Is our drinks ready yet?" Windblade asked him.
Vito smiles "…Coming, right up." He goes to begin making the drinks.
"Well, I will see you later Vito" Aqua said and leaves the café taking the chance to go.
Once outside Gatomon said "All right, today;s the day we turn in that medal for cash. You know the place that'll buy it off you, right?"
"I hope he will" Aqua said nodding.
She heads for Vale and to it's Central Street, on her way she heard people talking about Gaston and the recent news and she smiles a bit knowing people are talking about it.
She was stopped by Kent Brockman on the streets who asked her "Excuse me. May I ask your opinion on something? There's a rumor that an informant revealed the details regarding Gaston's criminal activities…"
"That's right" Aqua said
"Do you hear what she's saying?" Kent said to the camera "This girl has mustered her courage to admit that she is discontent with out educational system! And that's all for our on-the-spot coverage."
Aqua blinks and walks off to Central Street and stopped by the same Gangter guy "Hey, you a student? You want a job where you can make stacks without lots of work?"
"Sorry, I don't have time." Aqua said wanting to get away.
"Yeah, pawning off the gold medal should be our top priority right now." Gatomon said nodding "Ignore that guy! He seems suspicious anyway. It's best to avoid those kinds of people."
Aqua moves to Soundwave's Untouchable store but sees two Purge Troopers, who were special forces but part of the detective line of police troopers this was indicated by a red Police logo on their armor, standing outside talking.
"So, this is the place…" The tough purge trooper asked.
"Looks like it." The Shady one said looking at the store "Let's just take care of this."
"Wait! We don't have a search warrant yet" His partner told him. "Just be patient. I'm sure we'll get one soon enough. And besides, they'd never think about running off down this narrow alley."
Aqua not sure what was about goe and enters the store. She approaches Soundwave to talk to him. "Hey."
"Hm? Oh, it's you again? What can I do for you?" Soundwave asked.
"I would like you to buy this." Aqua said pulling out the gold medal. Lazerbeak caws in surprise.
"What the? A gold medal? Why do you have this?" Soundwave asked surprised "So you know we don't buy any fake or stolen goods here, earthling."
Soundwave looks to Lazerbeak who nods to him and then he said "…Hang on one second. Let me see it properly."
"Sure" Aqua said and places it on the counter.
Soundwave examines it, seeing it was real, he thinks as he says "I will just…not going to ask where you got this. How does 30,000 credits sound for it?"
"Sure, that works for me" Aqua said smiling that was the price she expected for it anyway and she didn't want to risk anything asking for more.
"Hmph. 30,000 it is, then." Soundwave said nodding and gives the credits to Aqua. As the blue haired girl puts it away, Lazerbeak caws looking at the door. "It's about time…"
"What?" Aqua said confused,
Soundwave grabs a sealed brown paper bag from behind the counter and hands it to Aqua "Here, take this with you. It's a thanks for selling me that medal. But, um…best not to open it. Just bring it with you next time you come back here."
"Oh um…sure I got it" Aqua said nodding holding the paper bag.
"Glad you're so quick to understand." Soundwave said arms folded. Lazerbeak caws again and the cybertronina looks at the door looking serious "…They're here."
Just then, after Soudnwave hid the medal behind the counter, the two Purge Troopers who were outside came in. The Stern Trooper who seemed to be the more older and expierneced one said "Soundwave, yes? There are some matters we'd like to discuss with you today."
Soundwave said at a low voice to Aqua "…Go, earthling" Aqua confused does so and heads for the door pasting the Purge troopers who head for the counter. Aqua stops by the door to listen in.
"Do you know why we're here?" The Stern Trooper asked Soundwave.
"I don't know, looking for evidence?" Soundwave said feigning ignorance "You tell me, Mr. Detective Trooper."
"Watch your attitude Decepticon!" The Vulgar Purge Trooper said to him annoyed slamming his hand on the counter.
"Well, you guys going to search me? Go on, do what you got to do." Soundwave asked them.
"What was that?" The Vulgar Trooper asked him.
"An upstanding citizen's supposed to cooperate with the cops, right?" Soundwave asked
The Stern Trooper thinking looked to his partner and asked "Hey, you sure that lead was legitimate?"
"I could've sworn it was…" The Vulgar Trooper said in defence.
"Can you two hurry it up? I got a business to run here." Soundwave told them.
"You scarp pile…" The Vulgar Trooper said glaring, he then looks and sees Aqua watching "…Hey, you!"
"Oh, um, yes?" Aqua asked
"What's in the bag, huh? Show me!" The Vulgar Trooper ordered her.
"Look, that kid's just a regular old customer of mine." Soundwave said, "You can check the tapes If that will convince you. They'll show everything that's gone down here today."
'I don't want to be here when the detective Purge Troopers see the footage of me with that gold medal…I need to leave.' Aqua said concerned.
"I won't let you get away that easy!" The Vulgar Trooper told her "Show us what's in the bag!"
"Excuse me, but what I bought is none of your business." Aqua said to him firmly.
Soundwave stifles a laugh, upon hearing that while playing clown music as he sees the Vulgar Trooper sputter at that.
"I said, show it to me!" The Vulgar Trooper told Aqua going to approach her
The Stern Trooper stops his partner and says "Hey, you're talking to a kid, remember? Besides, she's not the one we're here to see."
"Urgh…" The Vulgar trooper said calming down.
"That's right Mr. Detective Trooper." Soundwave said to him "Maybe next time try not harassing my customers, see how that goes."
"Grrr…." The Vulgar Trooper clenches his fist.
Soundwave looks to Aqua and said "Safe trip home, Earthling."
Aqua nods and exits the store quickly.
"What were those detective troopers doing there?" Gatomon asked concerned "More importantly aren't you curious about what's in the bag?"
"I am a little bit…" Aqua admits looking at the bag.
"Well?" Gatomon said grinning. "Come on, let's open it up." Aqua nods and opens the bag and both were surprised as inside was a gun. "A real gun?! Wait…I think it's just a model." The cat said surprised. "It's incredible though! Miles ahead of the one Uzi had."
"Yeah, looks like it has some modifications added to it." Aqua said.
"There's something weird about that place…" Gatomon said thinking "Hey Aqua, I just had a great idea… We should totally buy this gun from him later!"
"Wait, really?" Aqua said shocked.
"I mean, it's perfect." Gatomon explained "Something this real-looking would work wonders in the Metaverse…Anyway, he told you to bring it back the next time you came, right? You should try striking a deal with him when we go to return it!"
"Agreed" Aqua said with a nod.
The two then head back to LeBlanc.
After making it back to her room, the phone rings, the one calling was Alexis.
"Hello?" Aqua said answering.
"Oh…Hello, it's me" Alexis said "I saw the news. You know, about Gaston. It's getting a lot of coverage…"
"How do you feel about it?" Aqua asked her.
"I don't really know…" Alexis sighs. "The reactions been bigger than what I was expecting…I guess I'm just…surprised. I don't think we did anything wrong though. I wonder if we helped those people speak up about it…"
"I'm sure we did." Aqua said smiling.
"That's pretty amazing, huh? I didn't think we'd actually be able to do it!" Alexis said sounding happy. "And yet look at us now! This calls for a celebration! Let's meet in front of Vale Station at noon tomorrow. Don't be late! Oh and did you pawn off that medal? You didn't forget, right?"
"Don't worry I remembered so it's done." Aqua reassured her.
"Good to hear! I already made reservations!" Alexis said with a smile. "You should be really excited about the place I chose, by the way. I'm sure everyone's going to love it! Well see you guys tomorrow!"
"See you Alexis" Aqua said and ends the call.
"Ah, a restaurant of Lady Alexis's choosing. Finally, a decent meal!" Gatomon said happily "Hey, what do you think we're going to be eating?"
"I am hoping for some barbeque." Aqua said thinking on it.
"Ooh, I could go for some wagyu beef! It better be Grade-A!" Gatomon said happily "In any case, I'm surely looking forward to it! Mwehehehe!"
Aqua smiles and crafts some lockpicks for a bit to increase her proficiency before going to bed, eager for the celebration tomorrow.
The finale will have the celebration. Through I will need suggestions for the IT President as he will be showing up later
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you