Ren's POV
Ugh, my head hurts. Where am I?
I look around and see... folded chairs and desks?
This is 100% a palace, I can feel it. But other than that metaverse feeling this is a normal classroom. Is this a safe room?
Let me retrace my steps. Me, Makoto and the Phantom Thieves landed next to this palace in a world inside a tv. Then I start to feel weightless and black out.
Was it the Palace's ruler?
BOOM!
I just heard an explosion from somewhere. That was weird.
I have to get out of here.
I pushed on the door. Nothing.
Window? Same thing. No way out.
"Arsene! Eiha!"
Nothing. I need something more powerful, but I never even got a chance to change personas.
"Ugh, ouch... Who are you?"
Some guy with silver hair is lying down in the corner. I didn't even notice him.
"I'm Ren Amamiya, who are you?"
"My name is Yu Narukami. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. Where are we?"
"We're inside a T- Yasogami high?"
"This is YOUR school?"
"Well, old school to be exact. Why is it here?"
"I know this doesn't make any sense, but we're inside someone's cognitive world right now."
"Cognitive world? What are you talking about, this is the TV world."
"Well, yeah, but... WAIT, THIS IS NORMAL FOR YOU?"
What does he know?
"Did someone throw you in here?"
"Throw me in? No I just put myself through the TV."
It sounds sarcastic but it's literal.
"I thought only Persona users can enter the TV world without being thrown in."
"Well I am a persona use- you know about Personas?"
"I'm more shocked that you did."
"Let's start again. Who are you?"
Narukami kun starts telling me about his adventures with his friends. That's now three different teams of persona users.
"Do you know a Makoto Yuki?"
"Not personally but some friends of mine do."
"S.E.E.S?"
That's the only explanation.
"Yeah... now it's my turn. Who are you?"
I tell Narukami kun about my adventures with the Phantom Thieves.
"Wait. You're the leader of the Legendary Phantom Thieves? As my little sister would call you."
"Yeah, that's me."
"To think the Phantom Thieves were persona users too. And you called this place a palace, are they always like this?"
"Well no actually. But they're always different, this just has the same feeling as one."
"Well... this place doesn't feel quite like the dungeons me and my friends went through."
"So, a palace inside the TV world. It's like someone's mixed the two concepts."
"They're probably laughing about it as we speak."
"Wait, why did you mention Yuki kun?"
Oh right I forgot that part.
"HE'S ALIVE? After 6 years he just comes back?"
"I'm just as clueless as you are. Wait, Makoto was transported too!"
He must be in another room.
"Wait he was?... Aigis, oh no."
He knows Aigis? Personally? Wait why did he say oh no?
"What was oh no?"
"Im guessing you spoke to a being named Igor right?"
"Yeah..."
"He mentioned there were four wild cards that were part of this, and only me and Aigis were transported who are both wild cards, Makoto is a wild card so that must mean you are too."
"Oh yeah, only the wild cards were brought to a different room. So that must mean Makoto and Aigis are together. But why is that oh no? Wouldn't she be thrilled?"
"I'm thinking no."
"Why?"
"Her and her friends just had a bad run in with a shadow of a dead friend. He said some... brutal things. So sh-"
"She's going to think he's a shadow!"
"Yeah."
That's not good.
"We have to get out of here! But my persona isn't strong enough."
"I've only had a week to train after being out of the game 4 years so I doubt mine can either."
Dang it.
"You wish for freedom? Simple, you leave and your opponent stays." Says an eerie voice.
"Not this again."
What does he mean?
"When I first came back to the TV world, I heard that same voice talk about how our regrets are here."
Our regrets? That doesn't mean mine too right? Because if it does... oh no.
Not important right now.
I'm sure Megidolaon would do the trick, but Arsene doesn't have that, plus it would probably kill us if used here.
"What are we gonna do?"
"She's just said it was simple right? You have to go find and stop them."
"WHAT? I can't just leave you here! You go."
"No, it should be you."
For the love of Igor I think we both see where this is going.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Probably."
"Arsene!"
"Izanagi!"
"Blazing Hell!"
That works too. Ann blasted the door open.
Ryuji: "There you are, wait who's this guy?"
Me: "Narukami kun, Phantom thieves, Phantom Thieves, Narukami kun."
Haru: "Oh, nice to meet you."
Narukami: "You too, but we don't have time for this. We need to find Makoto-kun and... Aigis?"
Oh look, Yuki is right there. With others, I'm assuming S.E.E.S.
Narukami: "You know what, there's too much to unpack right now let's just talk in the real world."
I couldn't agree more.