April 9 (Ren's Perspective)
Ren woke up on the train to Tokyo, but something felt off. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, and why was she headed towards Tokyo? The last thing she remembers is Maruki's palace crumbling, and then she woke up. She quickly pulled up her phone and scrolled through her messages. All of the phantom thief chats were gone, and her display name was set back to Akira. She looked down and sighed, she was wearing masc clothing. She then looked at the date on her phone and it finally hit her:
'I'm back at the start, all of that work just out the window.' Ren felt herself starting to panic so she took a deep breath. 'OK, but I don't have to worry about cracking since I already did that, I know the Phantom Thieves and Yoshizawa will be reliable friends and allies. As for the Phantom Thief work, she knows who the targets are, and the only tricky one will be Maruki, because if there's some sort of fail-safe in his palace that sends them back to the past, then they just have to make sure they don't trigger it.'
Ren had another realization: 'Was she the only one that got sent back? Or was her whole team here?' Ren pondered messaging one of the thieves whose number she remembered, Ann or Ryuji, but she figured if they weren't sent back in the past, it would do more harm then good.
Ren continued to scroll her phone for clues while the train arrived in Tokyo. Eventually she noticed a chat between her and a number she didn't recognize, as she pulled it up and scrolled through, she realized who it was: "Sae Niijima"
April 8 7:59 PM: Good Evening Akira, here is our address... If you can arrive before lunch my sister can give you a tour of the place. I'm looking forward to meeting you.
'Does this mean I live with Sae and Makoto? Then who is living at Leblanc? Am I not the trickster this time?' Ren at least was comforted in the fact that she will probably see the Velvet Room tonight, and that would answer if she is going down the same path she did the first time.
Ren figured that someone else might be at Leblanc, maybe another Ren, so she would go check out Makoto and Sae's place and spend the next few days investigating. She also needed to figure out what they were going to do about Maruki. Ren's eagerness to help Maruki come up with a solution might have been what caused his palace and action to evolve the way that it did. She might be able to slow Maruki down to avoid this problem at least until the new year.
Ren kept going through scenarios in her head as to how things could go differently this time, until she found herself right in front of the complex that the NIijima's live at. She took a deep breath and walked up to the door and knocked.
"One Second!"
Ren was beyond glad to hear Makoto's voice, she was pretty sure that Makoto hadn't travelled back in time with her, so there was the issue of having to reintroduce herself to Makoto, and come out of the closet again as well.
Makoto opened the door and gave a faint smile.
"Hey, I'm Makoto Niijima, Sae's younger sister, I also go to Shujin High so it will be easy to show you around the place and get you there in the mornings."
"Thanks! I'm Amamiya, thanks for taking me in."
"Don't worry about it Akira-Kun, I'm sure things must be tough with you parents having to be overseas for a year, but good thing Sae knew them, I'm sure you'll find lots to keep busy here in Tokyo too."
Ren smirked. "Yeah, I think I'll find plenty."
Makoto showed Ren around the place and eventually left Ren in her room in order for Ren to settle down. Ren spent the day organizing her stuff, she enjoyed the new space that she had to work with, but the coziness of the attic was pretty nice. Sae eventually arrived home and welcomed Ren herself, and the three had an uneventful lunch. Makoto seemed glad that the Dinner table was a bit more lively than usual, and that made Ren happy as well. Ren eventually retired to her chambers and quickly fell asleep after a long day.
...
"Wake up Inmates!"
Ren was awakened by the swinging of a pipe to a metal bar, and without even looking at her clothing she knew exactly where she was. She was glad that at least one thing hadn't changed about her timeline. Though something still felt off about the Velvet Room. She quickly stood up and walked up to the bars, she then looked ahead and was staring directly at Goro Akechi, with Igor right in the middle of the two.
'Akechi was sent back too, this is not going to end well.'
Ren was internally freaking out, knowing that she had to deal with Akechi, who might possibly know that she discovered his true self, and could do his best to take her out. She had to hope that he is trying to lay low for the time being.
Ren looks around the rest of the Velvet Room and realizes that there is one more occupied cell. She notices Yoshizawa-San, directly across from Igor, and seemingly the focus of the Velvet Room. A lot of puzzle pieces start to click in Ren's mind.
'The trickster, is her.. Is she Kasumi or Sumire? She's probably the one that lives at Leblanc, and she probably has my criminal record as well. She could be from a different timeline, and Akechi as well...'
Throughout the whole time that Igor was giving them the whole 'Ruin vs Rehabilitation' speech, he was focusing on Kasumi, while one of each twins were watching over Akechi and Herself. On the topic of Akechi, he seemed utterly confused as to the room he was currently in, but Kasumi seemed to know exactly what's going on.
Ren grew both excited and hesitant. It seems that there were three tricksters in this timeline, which would make all of the missions in mementos much easier. Though, she wondered why she was enough for the events in her timeline. There was a possibility that things would be much more chaotic this time. Ren pondered on this until the twins sent her back to reality.
"Akira! Breakfast will be served in half an hour, and then we're taking a tour of Shujin!"
"Sounds good Makoto!"
Ren decided to give herself two tasks: Go meet Yoshizawa-San and set plans, and come out of the closet to Makoto. She told herself she would try on the way to Shujin, but despite all the small talk she couldn't bring herself to do it.
The tour of Shujin was pretty similar to the one she had initially, minus the fact that she had a record and would be watched over thoroughly. Kawakami introduced herself and said she was glad to be her teacher, more than another student who was arriving. Near the end of the tour, as Makoto was finishing up describing what all the important areas of the school were, Ren noticed Yoshizawa-San with Sojiro heading out of the complex.
Many thoughts went through the head of the young woman: 'So she really did replace me in this timeline, but why did I still end up in Tokyo, will the Phantom Thieves- no, the world, really need 3 wildcards? Why is Akechi part of our Rehabilitation plan also?'
Ren was too busy in her thoughts that she didn't even notice Makoto trying to get her attention, until she saw Makoto's hand in her face.
"Yoo-Hoo, Akira?"
Ren snapped out of it: "Ah, sorry just was a lot to take in, I'm good now."
"Sounds good, lets head home."
Makoto and Ren took the subway back to their home. Once they arrived, Ren debated going over to Leblanc to talk to Kasumi, but she figured that Kasumi might be tired after her trip to Shujin, so instead she would undertake the other hard task: Coming out as trans to Makoto... again.
Ren called Makoto to her room after dinner. Makoto seemed confused but slightly intruiged.
"Yes Akira? I do have a good amount of Student Council President duties to work on, but I can take a second."
"Thanks, so um... I guess I'll just say it." Ren takes a deep breath as Makoto looks confused. "I'm... a trans woman, my name is Ren."
Makoto took a second to process. She had made sure to study gender identity in case a student at Shujin was trans and went to the student council president for advice, but she still didn't expect her new housemate to come out to her though, it made her feel special that Ren chose to tell her, and so soon after meeting as well.
"T-Thanks for telling me Ren-Chan. Hmmm, you would probably need a doctor's note before the school allows you to start transitioning. Would you like the number of the place I go to? I think they should be accepting of you."
Ren beamed and fought back some tears, even knowing that Makoto should be an ally, it was still terrifying coming out to her again.
"Thank you, but I have a place I looked into in Yongen-Jaya, would it be alright if I went there early tomorrow morning to get things started?"
"Of course Ren-Chan, have a good night." Makoto started to take her leave but was met by a surprise hug from Ren.
"Thanks again..."
Makoto was sincerely surprised. Usually her assistance was never met with such gratitude, it was unexpected, but she didn't mind it. She went back to her room to work on student council duties with newfound vigor.
Ren felt better than ever, this was the first step to bringing back the group that she found herself in. Even if her role in the group was going to be different, she knew she would still be useful and accepted. She went to bed ready to take on the next day.
Ren woke up early, made herself a sandwich, and waved bye to Sae and Makoto as she went to Yongen Jaya to talk to Takemi, Sojiro, and Yoshizawa-San. She knew those trains like the back of her hand, and she was early enough that she got to Yongen Jaya before the sun had even finished rising. It seemed that Takemi had just opened up for the day. She seemed a bit tired and reluctant to be there, which made sense, Takemi didn't strike her as a morning person. Luckily Ren was the first person at the clinic so she could get this taken care of fast. Takemi noticed her and beckoned her over to the front.
"Hello there, what can I help with?"
"Hi, umm… I was wondering if you did gender affirming care?"
Takemi smiled, "Yes, follow me."
Ren was given the same Questionnaire that Takemi did the first time Ren came out to her, the only concern was that Ren came out to her after she had already started visiting her for Phantom Thief stuff. Though, Ren wondered if she could still be the one to be in contact wit Takemi for medical supplies and not Yoshizawa-San.
Takemi finished her questions and put down her clipboard.
"So Ren-Chan, I'm glad you decided to take those first steps, I can't imagine they were easy. Give me a few days, and I'll get started on HRT and a Doctor's note for you. Let's say… Saturday?"
Ren Beamed. "Sounds great, thanks so much! Hey, so if you ever need an assistant, I'm willing to help."
Takemi tilted her head in confusion. "I guess I do have some clinical trials I might need a hand in but… I'll let you know kid, stay safe."
Ren walked on over to Leblanc and stood in front of the entrance, taking it all in. As soon as she walked in she was met by the smell that she grew to know as home. Coffee Beans being grinded for some incredible Coffee. Sojiro stood at the counter preparing early morning food. He looked surprised when he saw Ren approach the bar.
"Ah a high schooler this early? Color me impressed, what can I get ya kid?"
Ren smiled and asked for a coffee and some curry. She decided to hold the small talk with Sojiro until after she became acquainted with Yoshizawa-San. While Ren finished up her meal, she saw the Phantom Thief she was waiting for slowly walk down from the Attic and yawn, something she never thought she would see someone else do.