Important: this version of Chapter 27 is a "compromised" version of the awakening scene. Since the FFN editing tool doesn't allow the special structure I planned. So the AO3 version of this chapter would be the "Definitive" version instead.
If you want to read the AO3 version, the link is on my Twitter "at" Namelessfanfic!
"…M-mother…"
Too shocked to even make a word leave from her mouth, Hifumi found her body frozen. For some reason, she just couldn't do anything, she just couldn't say anything.
After all, all those suffering… started because of her.
"I had never expected you to be here, Hifumi," Mitsuyo's shadow said, closing her fan and put it aside. "But… now you had seen it all-"
"It's because of me, right?" Interrupting her, the Shogi princess only let her eyes land on her mother. "All this time… your grief is cause by my existence."
However, the shadow empress just kept her calm and indifferent gaze on her sole child."…Yes, for some part, it is. Every time I see you… I see him."
"Then why did you still let me play Shogi?!" Hifumi shouted, her hands clutched into tight fists. "I… E-every time you see me play, it's just another reminder of father! W-why?!"
"I'm not a good player, every victory I got… they're just because of your effort," She continued. "If not for you to fix the matches, I would lose all those matches, right? Then why?"
"Because you're Mamoru's daughter," Mitsuyo answered, and even though it's subtle, but there was a hint of a struggle as she said it. As if this wasn't what she really thought."Mamoru… We have a reputation to hold, for him. I don't want his legacy to be ruined."
However, Hifumi didn't notice, or chose to ignore those signs. "…Father's legacy… to be ruined?" She repeated, eyes widened in shock.
"Yes, our father's legacy,"Shadow Hifumi suddenly said, walking up from the shadow, their eyes met. "After all, our father was called 'The Star of Shogi', right? How would the media see us if we kept losing?"
"…W-we would become the laughing stock…"
"That's right, this is how the celebrity world works, after all," Hifumi's other self nodded, her hand kept tracing the edge of her mask. "We should know it the best, right?"
"…You're right…" Trailing off, The Shogi princess found her gaze lowered, her face covered by her bangs. "…Then why did you even keep me alive, mother?"
"No…" Eyes widened, Raven immediately slammed his fist to the wall of field, his breathing quickened. "Togo-san! Don't dive into that thought! Togo-san!"
However, his cry still couldn't reach her, as it was blocked out by Hifumi's own thoughts. "…Mother, why? Why did you even keep me alive?"
Mitsuyo didn't say anything, but her gaze only got filled with more and more sadness, as if she didn't want to see this unfold in front of her.
Slowly walked until she's in front of her true-self, the shadow princess only stared at her. "You know why, Togo Hifumi. You just chose not to face and accept it."
"…You're talking like you know me…"
"Of course I know you,"She laughed at her words, her hand tightened around her mask.
"Because I am the person you wished to be."
With that said, she took off her mask and tossed it away.
Behind the mask, it was a perfect replica of the Shogi princess. However, instead of a pair of golden eyes like a shadow, one of her eyes was the same color as real Hifumi. An emerald-like pupil alongside the golden one.
"W-what?" Shocked, Jester only found himself at a loss of words. "T-that's not a shadow…"
"No, it's a fusion of Togo-san's shadow… and something else," Raven shook his head, eyes widened.
However, Swan realized what exactly did this meant. "…I-it's this palace's version of Togo, just like my copy in Kamoshida's castle. But… why did her shadow fuse with it?"
However, Hifumi only stared at her other self's face, eyes widened as she unintentionally took a step back. "…W-what…?"
"Hello, other me, and Phantom Thieves," Feeling her mouth perked up to a smirk, Cognitive Hifumi only took a few steps closer to her, her gaze scanned over the thieves and Hifumi. "Surprised, huh? Turns out I'm not fully a cognition or a shadow."
"But to be honest, I'm surprised that you decided to contact them," She continued, her gaze landed on her real self. "You know it wouldn't change anything, right?"
"I…" Trailing off, Hifumi could only avert her gaze away. "I t-thought this would…"
Even if she said it herself, but Hifumi felt no weight in her own words. She wanted to say 'no', she wanted her action to mean something. But… she just couldn't do it, it's just… She was just a big reminder of father's death to mother, a reminder of those pain.
"But it only showed that you are the cause of everything,"Finishing for her, the cognitive Hifumi was about to continue when her mother suddenly interrupted her.
"It's enough, Hifumi," Mitsuyo's shadow stopped her, which only earned a groan from the cognitive princess in return. "You don't need to keep going."
"But Mitsuyo-sama-"
"You've done enough to try and prove yourself to me," Cutting her sentence short, the empress raised her fan and covered her mouth. "Hurting your other self won't do anything."
"I just…" Trailing off, the shadow princess only looked off the distance for a while, her mind raced for anything to reply.
And Hifumi could only stand there and watch, as her other self struggled to find a word to reply. However, her thought came to a halt as she finally heard those voices behind her.
As those voices finally broke through the walls she built up.
[Meanwhile, Madarame's palace]
Yusuke couldn't believe what he was seeing.
All those paintings looked different, but each of them looked the same. All of them… are the pupils, Mai-san, Kaoru-san, Kensuke-san… Shuichi-kun.
"…W-what is this?" Gulping, the young painter could only take a step back, his hand covered his mouth.
"This is how Madarame saw you all," Joker replied, his hands rested inside his pants pockets. "To him, all of you are just paintings, his works. To him, you aren't even a person at all, just another well of paintings for him to take, until there's nothing left."
"Kitagawa-kun, I know it's hard to take in…" Trailing off, Panther raised a hand and attempted to comfort him. But seeing how his shoulder shivered, she hesitated and left it dropped.
"But this is who Madarame really is," Skull finished for her, his hands tightened into a fist out of anger. "That piece of shit doesn't care about you, he's just seein' you all as objects."
"After all, we are inside Madarame's heart," Morgana said, his time filled with sympathy for the painter. "I'm sorry, but this is who he really is. A monster."
However, Yusuke didn't say a word, just kept his eyes clutched shut. Right, of course, Madarame wouldn't see them as anything other than his works, this happened before, right?
Forcing himself to keep calm, the young painter shook his head and turned back to the thieves. "I… I guess we can't stay here forever, right?" He asked, try to put on a reassuring smile.
But judging from the concerned look from them, it seemed like this attempt failed miserably.
"I understand how much concern you all, I'm trying to be rational-" Before he could finish his word, a wave of sickness suddenly hit him, and he almost collapsed to the ground. "N-ngh…"
"Kitagawa-kun!" Rushed to his side, Panther crouched to his level but still didn't what she could do. "A-are you okay?"
"I… it's just my emotions are overwhelming me…" Shaking his head, Yusuke steeled his will and stood up, his legs shaking and just barely enough to support him.
"Dude, you don't look alright," Sighing to himself, Skull walked to his side, grabbing his arms and gave his shoulder for him to lean on. "C'mon, let's get the eff outta here."
"Right…"
With a nod, Joker wasted no time and immediately led the group. And they wasted no time and rushed for the rope, to the only exit they had without being noticed.
However, before they could reach the main hall, just outside of the massive statue, two shadow guards suddenly materialized. And their way was blocked.
"The exit is right there!" Morgana groaned, but it was interrupted as laughter suddenly erupted behind them.
Turning back, the group only came came-to-face… with Madarame's shadow. Wearing a yellow Kimono with different outlines of flowers. And his face was painted pale white, with his lips painted in crimson, in a shade that's horrifyingly close to blood. And his hair was tied into a topknot, which somewhat resembled a paintbrush.
"Who is- What the…" Eyes widened, Panther took a step back.
"Talk about bullshit clothes!" However, Skull just laughed at how ridiculous it looked instead. "First a king, now some kinda shogun?!"
However, the shadow shogun paid no attention to his comment. "Welcome to the museum of the master artist Madarame."
Seeing it all, Yusuke only felt a new wave of rage slowly surging inside him. "Sensei, answer me."
"This is all one big lie, isn't it?"
"Togo-san! You're not worthless!"
Eyes widened, Hifumi turned back and saw the trio of The Fools and Raven. How his eyes were filled with conviction, conviction, trust for her.
"When you showed me the Hime-piece, I could see how crude, how amateur the person who made it is," The half-Frenchmanman continued, both of his fists were against the field. "Your father, I'm sure that he made that piece FOR YOU!"
Sitting inside the church, and agreed to come to her mother's palace. Hifumi reached into her blazer's chest pocket and showed Keigo the 'Hime' piece they needed.
"…I always kept this close to me, ever since father passed away," Hifumi explained, letting the piece rested in her palm. "And… maybe it's because this is the only thing I had from father… I couldn't just give it away. Even if it's required to save mother."
"I understand," Keigo nodded, as his eyes scanned thoroughly at the Shogi piece. "And… just as I said, you might have the potential to… have the power to help us. Not just because of this, but you yourself."
"Kamisaki-kun… I…"
"Just believe in yourself, Togo-san. At least, I believe in you."
Gaze lowered, she took out the Shogi piece from her chest pocket, letting her eyes observed the details. The memories started to flood back, all those memories she kept away.
The day of her first win in school's Shogi tournament, the first taste of victory she got. The day she received this exact piece.
"And the champion is… Togo Hifumi!"
As the room erupted in cheer and congratulation of her victory, the young Hifumi couldn't help but grin brightly. Even though it was just primary school, but it felt like she just won over the world.
After a small ceremony, receiving the champion certificate and took the picture for the school, young Hifmi's smile only brightened as she saw her parents outside of the school.
They were proud, they were happy for her.
"Daddy! Mommy! I won!" Without skipping a beat, the young girl immediately rushed and embraced Mamoru. And he only spun for a few rounds as he laughed at how adorable it was.
However, this moment was interrupted as Mitsuyo lightly slammed her hand onto his head, just enough to get his attention. "Mamoru, Hifumi would get dizzy," She scolded, arm crossed.
"Oops, I guess I'm just too excited," Sticking out his tongue, the Shogi star carefully put Hifumi back down.
Giving out a small sigh, Mitsuyo crouched to her daughter's level, patting her head with a soft smile. "But I'm proud of you, baby girl."
"And Mamoru seems to have prepared something for you, isn't it?" She asked, giving her husband a wink. "Right?"
"…Of course I remember," Deadpanned, Mamoru reached into his pocket and took out a small Shogi piece. "…Well, that's my best attempt."
"C'mon, it was that bad."
"It is, Mitsuyo," Giving out a long breath, he handed the piece to Hifumi. "Anyway, here, I uh… made this for you, Hifumi."
Tilting her head in curiosity, Hifumi couldn't help but giggle at how crude the piece was. However, she could still clearly made out her name being carved into the woods. And with the small attempt of carving a star next to her name.
"Daddy, why there's a star here?" The young girl asked, pointing at the star on the said piece.
"Well, that's more of Mommy's idea, but I agreed with it," Rubbing the back of his neck, Mamoru let a warm smile formed on his face. "This star is who you are for us, our rising star. The brightest star in the night sky."
"And be the star which guides the world," Mitsuyo added with the same warm smile. "We don't want you to follow our footsteps, just… find your own way forward. To find your happiness and purpose."
"For us, Hifumi is Hifumi. And that's all we want." Father nodded. "Well, it's probably still a bit too much for you to understand now, but… let this be the reminder of it, okay?"
A bit confused and surprised by all those words, Hifumi didn't know how to respond. But… she wanted to keep this promise, she will keep these promises. Holding out her pinky finger to both mom and dad, she only grinned at their surprised look.
"Then let's do a pinky promise!"
And they nodded, as their pinky finger intertwined and curled with Hifumi's.
…
Eyes widened in realization, Hifumi stared at the piece in her palm, before clutched her hand into a tight fist. "…How could I forget that?" She murmured, placing the fist on her heart. "…Dad, I'm sorry for forgetting it… I'm sorry for not keeping that promise…"
Back then, she never questioned or understood why did they say those words to her. Back then, she didn't understand why her father made this for her. But she understood now.
"He always wants me to be better than him, to forge my way forward… And not be limited by expectations, like how he used to be..." Taking a deep, deep breath, she set her gaze toward Mitsuyo's shadow. Even though the resolve was clear behind those eyes, it wasn't harsh.
"Mothe-" Stopping herself, Hifumi shook her head and pondered for a moment. "No, mom! I… I know I used to just want to seek approval from you. I thought I wasn't good enough to fulfill dad's legacy, and so did you."
"But… that's not what dad wanted," She continued, as a small, but noticeable smile formed. "He wanted me to be better, to be the star who guides, to be the brightest star in the night sky…"
"And I don't want you to see me as a reminder of dad's passing, but all those memories we shared. All those laughs, all those precious moments… the love he had for us…" Taking a small step forward, Hifumi felt determination filled her gaze. "And I don't want us to protect dad's legacy, I want us to be better."
"I wanted to save you, and that's why… I am taking my first step to forging my own path."
Taking a deep, deep breath again, Hifumi stood tall.
"I might be the cause of your pain, but I will be the one who ends it!"
"Of course, all this ragged artist bullshit… I'm just doing it for shows,"Shadow Madarame said, with a disgusting grin on his face."I have another home, just under a mistress's name."
"Disgusting," Panther said, her gaze narrowed at him.
"I'm almost impressed," Joker complimented, even though there was no sincerity under his eyes, nor did anything other than sarcasm in his tone.
"Then… all this time, the whole Sayuri business is just an act…" Trailing off, Yusuke lowered his hand and clutched tight. "Isn't it?"
"The painting being stolen was just a false rumor I spread!"The shadow Shogun laughed, spreading his arms as if this was his victory speech."It was all a perfectly calculated staging!"
"Do you know how much money it made me? Millions!"He exclaimed, the grin only widened as each second passes. "Don't you see, art is just a tool for money and fame."
"And for me, YOU are the tool. Every. Single. One. Of. You."
"What a shitbag of a human being…" Skull commented, cocking his shotgun. "No wonder you have this whole effin' museum as your palace."
"That's who your teacher really is, Kitagawa," Joker said, his hand gripped tight against his pistol.
"Then… all this time…" Trailing off, Yusuke found nothing but himself to blame. "All this time, I chose to be ignorant toward it all… To all those things you did…"
And with that, all those memories flooded and returned. All those times he ignored and chose to blindly trust Madarame.
"Yusuke-kun… I'm sorry that I had to leave. I… Madarame forced me to pay for all that… I-I have Ai to take care of."
Mai-san's livelihood almost got destroyed because of how much money Madarame demanded when she left. Madarame didn't care at all, even if Mai-san had to take care of her younger sister. He just kept doing it, as a 'payment for leaving'.
"Madarame-sensei! What's… What's the meaning of this!"
Karou-san used to be someone who was filled with hope, hoping that learning under Madarame would lead him to a bright future. But… Madarame destroyed it, just because he didn't want to gives his work over. Because that work was about his mother how left a few weeks ago, he drew that for her. But Madarame still didn't care.
"You never cared about us, isn't it? The day you took me in, knowing how much mom and I were abused by that shithead of a dad… All of them are just an act, ISN'T IT?!"
And… he heard that Karou-san got into domestic abuse. If not for the Phantom Thieves… Karou-san's family would become the same as the one he used to be in.
"Yusuke-nii-san… I'm sorry… I… I just can't take it anymore…"
"Shuichi-kun… W-why? Why did you have to come to this…"
Till this day he could still remember the day he received the news of Shuchi-kun's passing. The day he found the suicide note, written for him… even after all these years, he could still remember it.
He could still remember how much it hurt, how much of a hole this left in his heart. The person who looked up to him, gone, just like that.
No warning, no signs, nothing.
No warning, no signs, nothing.
But Madarame didn't care.
He.
Never.
Cared.
To him, they're just wells of money, ready to be squeezed until there's nothing left. Until their life is destroyed, their family shattered, their psyche broken. Until the day they decided to leave the world on their own accord.
And anyone who's daring enough to pose against him, he would use his influence to make sure that person's life is ruined…
How could he believe in this monster for this long? For all his life? How could he just choose to stay silent and took it all?
Feeling a small giggle left his mouth, it didn't take long before Yusuke realized he was laughing. At his own ignorance, at the absurdity of all this, at how much of a lie he let himself in.
"And I used to see you as my mentor…" Trailing off, he locked his gaze with his former mentor. "How stupid was I. Convincing myself that you are just on an artist's block, choosing to be ignorant to what happened to others…"
"You're going to rebel against me, you brat?!"Gritting his teeth in anger, Shadow Madarame pointed his finger at the thieves. "Men! Dispose of these petty thieves!"
"All this time… I let my eyes being clouded…" Ignoring what's happening around him, Yusuke decided to let his anger loose. For the first time in his life. "To cloud myself from this horrible man!"
And at that exact moment, inside Hifumi and Yusuke's heart. Deep inside.
Their true self responded.
"That is the spirit I was waiting for, my dear princess."
Eyes widened, Hifumi clutched her head tight as a sudden wave of pain exploded inside her head, her shaking legs slowly losing the strength to hold her body together.
"Have you finally come to your senses?"
Just as the voice spoke to him, Yusuke felt like his head was going to split in half. All these years of lying to himself… it ends now.
"We are not doing this for anything else, just our wish to save the one who held the dearest within our heart."
"You're right…" Hifumi murmured, her eyes turned toward the stunned Mitsuyo and her other self, resolved clear behind her emerald-like eyes.
"Ur.. urgh…" At the same time, the cognitive Hifumi also clutched her head in pain, mirroring her other self's action. But on a closer look… it looked like something was leaving her.
Meanwhile, Mitsuyo just kept her eyes widened at her daughter. After all this time… she finally grew up, she was no longer the star who followed her, but the star that guided others, the star that shines the brightest. Behind the fan, she found herself smiled.
"So... this is how the awakening here works…" Trailing off, Raven tightened his grip on his sword cane, his eyes landed back on Jester and Swan. And they were stunned. For now, the world seemed to only consist of Hifumi herself.
"We made our resolve, our vow. Now, it is our turn. Let's make our first move, shall we?"
"Yes!" Hifumi cried, somehow found herself still barely standing on her two feet. But a new source of strength emerged.
"How foolishly you averted your eyes from the truth…"
With a cry of pain, he fell to the ground on his hands and knees. As his finger cruelly scratched the ground, leaving behind four trails of blood. However, Yusuke couldn't feel it amidst all of the pain in his head.
Eyes widened, the shadow Madarame couldn't do anything but watch, to see his last pupil stood against him… It was ridiculous! How could someone like HIM oppose the great Madarame?!
He couldn't do anything but watch, as the shadow guards around him weren't brave enough to even take a step forward. And all Madarame could do is watch, as Yusuke slipped away from his fingers, as his final works rebelled against him.
However, on the other end, Joker felt a genuine smile crept up, just as the same as his teammates. "He's doing it..." Mona said, eyes widened in surprise.
"A deplorable imitation indeed. Best you part from that aspect of yourself!"
"Right..." Muttering through the pain, Yusuke felt like a new source of strength emerged from inside.
"Good, let us forge a contract, as the new vow, guiding us to our victory!"
Her gaze back onto her mother, Hifumi could feel something on her face. A mask, a crimson wood mask covering the top half of her face, with two horns poking through reassembling an oni. Leaving her eyes covered by the shadow cast from the eye holes.
Let us now forge a contract…"
With a bizarre sense of calmness, Yusuke looked up with a white fox-like mask, materializing with a blue flame. "Very well..." He answered, standing on his two feet.
"I am thou, thou art I…"
We will stand tall against our fate, be the single piece that turns the tide! Victory is ours to take!"
.
"The world is filled with both beauty and vice… it's time you teach people which is which!"
"Come, Odani-dono!"..."Come, Goemon!"
Hifumi gripped the edge of her mask, her hands shaking from how much force she put into the grip. It hurt, it hurt to do it, but she knew it was the only right thing to do, for her mother, for herself. And with a cry, she ripped it off, with the blood covering her own face turning into azure flame.
As the fire covering Hifumi formed into a tornado, the flame burst outward and covered the entire hall. And in the middle of blazing flame, Hifumi stood tall with her Naginata, with her Persona floating right next to her.
And her uniform was no more. Instead, it was a red kimono-like jacket covering her chest. And a black cloth-made knee-length coat on top of it. And below that was a pair of leather pants with multiple flowers sewed on them. And a pair of red gloves on her hands.
Right beside her, Hifumi's Persona, Odani-dono was wearing a red kimono with a knee-length skirt. And there were clear steel pieces protecting its elbow and knees. However, on her face, was a white mouthless noh mask. Her eyes were covered by the shadow cast over them, and her hair was tied to a hair braid, and multiple used as accessories.
However, for the thieves, one thing stood out from Odani-dono herself…
It's how similar it was with Cognitive Hifumi.
"So you're finally awake, huh?" Still heeling the phantom pain from what happened, Cognitive Hifumi raised her swords, pointed right at her other-self. "Then… fight me."
"You said that you're better than us, than me, right? Show me," Finally stood straight, she turned her head back, and glanced at Mitsuyo's shadow. "Mitsuyo-sama, let me handle this. After all… I don't think I can stay like this for much longer."
"Hifumi…"Trailing off, Mitsuyo nodded. "I'll let you handle this, and… thank you for staying with me for this long."
"M-Mitsuyo-sama…" Eyes widened, the cognitive princess nodded to herself. "Good, then… come at me. This includes you all too, Phantom Thieves."
"Let's see if your resolve is strong enough, my other self."
Gripping the mask with a graceful arch of his arm, the young painter continued. With a graceful movement, he tore the mask off from his face, droplets of blood landed around him, then a chilling whirlwind blew from him. Forcing everyone else to shield their face with their arms, their clothes blew harshly through the wind.
As the wind died down, the members of The Phantoms finally could have a good look at Yusuke. And… it looked different, not just in the outfit, but also how he felt.
And now, instead of the Kosei uniform, he was wearing before, Yusuke was wearing a black high-collared puff-sleeved jumpsuit instead. And a Striped sash worn across his hips, white motorcycle boots, and a pair of light blue gloves.
And standing tall behind him was Goemon. And it looked similar to a traditional Japanese dancer with a blue robe, using a blue and white rope knotted around him as the belt. And a huge opium pipe in one hand.
"A breathtaking sight..." Yusuke said calmly, as his gaze scanned through every guard and shadow Madarame. "Imitations they may be, but together, they make a fine spectacle."
"Though the flowers of evil blossom, be it known..." trailing off, Yusuke retracted his arms, as Goemon mimicked the same movement.
"Abominations are fated to perish!"
Sweeping his arm, another wave of blizzard exploded from the Persona. And almost all of the guards were frozen and shattered. Leaving the lucky few survived.
"Whoa, this is impressive!" Mona remarked as he watched in wide eyes, as the cold wind poling on his fur.
"Holy shit! That's effin' awesome!" Feeling a grin formed on his face, Skull exclaimed in excitement.
"Hmph...Who do you think you are?! The price for your insolence will be death! Where are my guards?! Kill them all!" Madarame brushed the ice shard off his kimono, commanding as new shadows spawned within the room.
"I've seen enough dream and naive people being trampled upon," Yusuke declared firmly, unsheathing his katana and pointed at his former master. "All these dreams that you exchanged for riches, it ends now!"
"I will bring you to justice!"
Smirking, Joker walked up to his side, tightening his grip on his dagger. "Then let's see what you're made of, Kitagawa-kun."
And Yusuke only responded with a grin, as the newfound power kept pulsing under his skin. As it fueled the rage he had been suppressing for all this time.
"Very well! Bring it on!"
(To be continued)
Preview:
Free from her doubt, the chains that held her back, Togo Hifumi soared high.
As her other self demanded a battle, a battle to prove herself, she accepted.
Because from now on, she is not alone anymore.
Because from now on, she is going to prove her resolve.
And command the battleground on her fingertips.
Next Chapter:
"No Longer Worthless"
Stay tuned!
So uh... hi, I'm back. Extremely quick this time XD.
Anyway, chapter 27 is finally here!
And finally, Hifumi and Yusuke finally broke free from their own past, and awakened their Persona! And even though the version here is compromised, I think it still somewhat does the job of translating the 'happening at the same time' feel I wanted this awakening to have. So... I hope this works XD.
Anyway, the next chapter would be the fight between cognitive Hifumi (or shadow Hifumi) and the real Hifumi. And the showcase of Hifumi's true potential.
And don't worry, I don't think I'll have to do something like this after this chapter, so for all FFN readers, it's more just the special case for its specific chapter. I'll probably put them up when I wanted to, so probably not on every chapter.
By the way, here's the first Omake/blooper of this fic down below. I don't know where to put it and not make it awkward so... here they are XD.
Oh, and um... I didn't remember since I got so few review, but thank you Jake Hallow for the happy birthday XD.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story so far, and Reviews are definitely welcomed!
[Omake 1: Ryuji's love life]
After handling what's inside that door, Joker and Skull found themselves… weirdly bored out of their mind. With nothing to do but to wait for Ann and Morgana, the two friends decided to just sit down and talked.
"So…" Trailing off, Skull crossed his arms in thought. "How's your love life?"
"Nothing much happened," Joker shrugged without hesitation, before giving him a deadpanned look. "Wait a minute, we literally stuck together for the last month, of course, nothing happened."
"Oh yeah, we did stick together for the most part," Eyes widened in realization, the ex-runner only awkwardly averted his gaze to elsewhere.
"But to be honest, what about you and Ann?"
"Heh?! Where did that come from?"
"Boredom."
Rubbing the back of his head, Skull took a deep breath before opening his mouth. "So uh... we had a date back in Golden Week-"
"Woah, yeah!" Joker exclaimed while raising his arms in the air, surprising the ex-runner. "Yeah baby, that's what I've been waiting for!"
"That's what it all about, woahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."
Dumbfounded, Skull could only blink at the… bizarre scene before him.
"…What the eff is wrong with you, Joker?"
[Omake 2: Ryuji's staying behind]
Ryuji regretted it, like, a lot.
Standing outside of the shack with his arm crossed, he could only wait for Ann and Morgana to come out. "Is Ann gonna be alright…? with that… clothes thingy-"
"I guess I have to yeet myself to the Metaverse!" Bursting through the front door, Ann was holding out her phone, and the Meta-nav was opened. "Ryuji!"
"O-wait- Ahh eff it!"
Shaking his head, Ryuji felt the world distorted around him as he got into Madarame's palace. However, there's one thing. They were falling from the air.
"Ahh shhhhit!" Yelling at the top of his lung, Skull immediately grabbed Panther and held her in a bridal style. "Here, everything's gonna be alright-"
"What ISSSSS THIS?!"
The duo blinked at the sudden addition of two voices, and… it was Yusuke and Morgana.
"LADDDDY ANNN! HELLLLP!"
"WHAT IS THIS MONSTER!"
"I'M NOT A MONSTER! I'M MORGANA!"
"AHHH I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
Deadpanned, Ann and Ryuji just gave each other a glance before moving away from the two, if that's even possible.