A/N: President Tanaka is my all-time favorite character. Playing through the game a second time, I was more excited to see his Social Link again. He is the GOAT.

Devil - XV

The arcana is the means by which all is revealed.

Slaves to their desires, mortals forge their own shackles in pursuit of fleeting pleasures. Can they defy that which they have always sought?

Many called him a devil, and they would be exactly right. He knew he was a devil. Devilishly handsome, rich, conniving, and he did not deny any of it. But, really, who's more at fault? The guy making the money? Or the people making deals with the devil?

President Tanaka was known as an honest businessman. It was impossible to go anywhere without anyone recognizing him. The fame and glory were suffocating, but as a man of his caliber, it was normal to be sought out by the less fortunate. Maybe that's why he liked his new "apprentice." Mako, or whatever his name is, was an enigma, unshaped by the world. For a teenager to readily have forty thousand yen, Tanaka knew the boy was good with money and finances. However, he was still too innocent in Tanaka's eyes. And, for some reason, that didn't sit well with the TV host. He couldn't care less what happened to the boy. At least, that's what he initially thought, but something changed in the devil's heart as he spoke to the kid.

Life, albeit a rollercoaster of ups and downs, was incredibly short. He knew that better than most. That being said, whenever he looked into the boy's deep blue eyes, he couldn't help but wonder.

Where was his fire? Why are his eyes so lifeless? He was more akin to a robot than an actual human being, his mind following one directive. He followed everyone else's orders but his own.

"Tell me something, kid. What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Mako, he still couldn't remember his name, looked thoughtful. Tanaka could tell he never gave it much thought. He was an outstanding listener, but a conversationalist was not his strong suit.

"You don't care, do you?" Tanaka continued.

The blue-haired boy shrugged, smiling a little. "You know me well."

It was enough to make the grown man sigh. "Listen, kid, with the amount of life advice I've given you, something should be turning in that head of yours. Do you know how many career plans I've made because of our talks?"

No, there was something else. President Tanaka could tell by the look in his eyes. He didn't notice the past few conversations, but Tanaka saw something now that things were quieter. It made him ponder again.

"You've got business to take care of before that happens, right?"

Mako's expression shifted, a fleeting glimpse of something deeper before his features settled back into calm. His composure impressed Tanaka more than he cared to admit.

"Something like that," the boy replied, his tone even.

And for the first time in years, President Tanaka felt a strange stirring in his chest—a curiosity that was more than just a business interest. In this boy, he saw both a mystery and a mirror, and as they sat there, he realized he was less the devil and more a man curious to see where this strange new path would lead.

"If I'm the devil, then you're a fool," Tanaka quipped, amused. He was taken aback, though, when the boy laughed—a genuine, warm sound that caught him off guard.

Raising an eyebrow, Tanaka looked at him. "What's so funny?"

The boy's smile didn't waver. "You have no idea how right you are." There was something almost cryptic in his tone. "Are you familiar with the Arcana?"

Tanaka scoffed, dismissive. "I don't believe in that spiritual nonsense. I shape my own destiny. These two hands of mine are all I need."

The boy—his name would come eventually—continued to smile, a calm settling in his eyes like the quiet after a storm.

"Would you humor me for a second?"

Tanaka let out a low chuckle. "What? Are you planning to read my fortune or something?" His words dripped with sarcasm, yet he was oddly curious about where this was going.

Mako held his gaze, unbothered by Tanaka's skepticism. "It's more of a perspective check than a fortune. What does the Devil Arcana mean to you exactly?"

Tanaka raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the question. He rubbed his hands together thoughtfully, piecing together his answer.

"Well, kid, the Devil means you're driven by temptation and limits," he started, voice low but full of conviction. "Human nature has two sides—a light and a dark—and let me tell you, I've faced both. I know exactly who I am, and I'm not afraid to admit it. You know I love money. Everyone knows I love money. But money itself? Pure temptation. It lures people in with promises of power, excitement, and freedom."

Tanaka's expression sharpened, and he stood up, his energy growing with every word. "But here's the thing—I don't bow to it. Money doesn't own me. I own it!" His voice carried, drawing the attention of bystanders around him. "I've seen people become slaves to their own desires, crushed under the weight of their own greed. But me? I've emerged from the depths. I've come back stronger. I took control of the Devil within, kid, and I came out on top!"

He clapped Mako on the shoulder, grinning like a man who'd just conquered a mountain. "The truth is, we can't run from who we are. To break free, you've got to face the truth head-on, and I did exactly that. Look at me now!"

With a triumphant look, he leaned closer, his voice dropping to an intense whisper. "Let me drop another piece of wisdom, kid. Are you familiar with the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?"

Makoto nodded. Who didn't know that saying?

"What if I were to tell you that the phrase no longer has any meaning?"

Now, the crowd, Makoto included, was confused.

"You see, kid. Lemons aren't naturally occurring. A lemon is a hybrid by cross-breeding a bitter orange and a citron. Which means life never gave us lemons. We invented them all by ourselves. The human potential is infinite, kid. So if there's something you gotta do, do it. Don't wait for anyone's permission. Don't wait for someone to show you the way—make your own. Does that answer your question?"

Frankly, Mako was stunned. He hadn't expected such an intense, fiery answer. For once, he had to admit—Tanaka really did have it all figured out. Unlike the other social links he'd formed, here he wasn't the teacher or the guide. This time, he was the one being shown a hard-earned truth.

Tanaka's words held the weight of experience, the kind that only comes from facing life's darkest sides and emerging victorious. This was the strength of an adult, someone who had wrestled with life's challenges and conquered his inner demons. Tanaka the Devil and the Elderly Couple of the Hierophant—these two, he realized, had seen far more than he'd imagined. They carried a power he had barely given them credit for.

It was a humbling moment, one that made him reflect on the journey ahead.

"That answers it perfectly."

President Tanaka straightened his tie. "Take that lesson to heart, kid. Now, I'm going to ask you again. What is your future goal, Yuki?"

Makoto Yuki, that was his name. He had plenty of choices: clothes designer, track star, dancing master. He discovered a passion for dancing during his friends' trip to Yakushima. But, he did enjoy his time on the track team, and with his special training, he was more physically capable than the other members. There were many choices for him to make.

"I don't know," he answered, his response now different.

"Better than not caring," Tanaka said. "That's progress. When you find your answer, give me a call."

The man checked his watch and bid the second-year student farewell. People whispered amongst themselves, unable to believe that the President Tanaka was chilling in the mall and giving life lessons to a student.

Makoto watched him leave before heading back to the dorm.

'What do I want to do? I still have time, but should I already try to narrow it down? I wonder. What would you do, Kotone?'

Next time, the Tower Arcana.