Kasumi and Ren chatted until Kawakami started class. She had both of them go up to the front of the class for introductions, Kasumi winced as she saw the look on Ren's face as she introduced herself with her deadname and presenting as a guy. She hoped that Ren was able to show her true self to the world soon. She then went to the front herself:

"Hello everyone, I am Yoshizawa Kasumi, I hope to have a great year with you all!" She took a quick bow and started to head back to her seat, only to be met with unexpected chatter:

"Isn't she the delinquent?"

"Yeah I think she stabbed someone!"

"Nah she probably seduced a bank teller and then robbed them!"

"Or maybe she killed her BF!"

Kasumi was confused, it wasn't until she confronted Kamoshida about Suzui-San that news of her criminal record leaked to the school, that and she rejected Kamoshida when he made a pass at her that day as well. Kamoshida also spread the word that Kasumi was gay thinking it would also tarnish her reputation, but it luckily had the opposite effect.

'Things are already way different, I also haven't been to the palace with Ryuji yet, I should take Ren there too today, get our bearings.' Kasumi tried to work on a game plan during all of the morning classes. She was so confused when it was time for lunch because she hadn't even noticed she got through multiple sessions. Ren followed Kasumi over to eat with her but was called over by Makoto for an update on her doctor's visit. Kasumi didn't eat alone for long, eventually Ann Takamaki walked over to her and gestured at the empty seat right next to her.

"Hey Kasumi-Chan good afternoon! Would you like some company?"

Kasumi beamed. "Thank you Ann! I would appreciate it!"

Ann sat down next to her and tried to make small talk until she couldn't hold her biggest questions in anymore.

"Ok so... What were all those kids saying about you being a delinquent, it spread like wild fire before the teacher was even able to start the session today."

"Yeah so, something happened a few months ago that was the reason I had to leave my town and transfer here, but its nothing alarming, I just thought it wouldn't get out, at least not this sudden."

"The only thing that makes sense was a teacher spilling the beans, like that prick Kamoshida!"

Ann and Kasumi turned around to see Ryuji holding his lunch tray in one hand and a piece of bread in the other.

"Sorry for butting in, but got room for one more?" Ryuji gave a sheepish grin and Kasumi smiled and nodded. Ryuji sat on the other side of Kasumi. He took a look at Kasumi's lunch and gasped.

"Yo Girl, that''s a lot of food, you gonna eat all that?!"

Ann gave Ryuji a death stare. "You can't say that to a girl Ryuji! Apologize right now!"

Ryuji scratched his head. "Jeez, it's not like I called her fat!"

Kasumi giggled. "It's alright Ann, I don't mind. I actually don't eat as much as I used to. Back when I was in gymnastics, I needed about twice this to have enough energy to keep going. I still do exercise to keep in shape, but not at the level of when I performed."

Ryuji looked stern. "I don't know how you feel about this, but my advice would be to stay retired at this school, I heard that asshole Kamoshida say that he'd be willing to start the Gymnastics team back up if someone as good as you were to join. I'm sure that dick is buying some binoculars to 'coach' you."

"Ryuji!" Ann had a look of terror on her face. "Not so loud!"

Ryuji frustration only grew. "Why should I? Everyone one knows that Kamoshida treats this school like he's the king of the castle!"

Kasumi had a feeling that the conversation was going to lead to that phrase being used, so she had her phone behind her back ready to kill the app as soon as she heard those ominous dings from the meta nav application that had appeared on her phone a couple days earlier. There were too many people for the three of them to enter the metaverse immediately, but Ryuji and Ann did hear Kasumi's phone.

Ann chimed in: "Hey Kasumi, what was that noise just now, it was from your phone right?"

Kasumi nodded. "Yeah... it's uhh, hard to explain, tell you what, meet me and another friend on the roof after school and I'll explain it all to you, just make sure you have a bit of free time as well."

Ann and Ryuji looked perplexed. "Ummm, I guess that would work, lot of suspense just for a weird phone thing but whatever."

They all finished their lunches with various amounts of small talk and then went back to the second half of classes for the day. Kasumi went through in her head how she was going to take them into Mementos, she wondered if she should find a way to exclude Ann, but she decided against that and just to take her into the palace.

Once classes ended Kasumi turned over to Ren.

"Hey, so I'm headed to the roof with Ryuji and Ann, are you coming?"

Ren let out a faint smile. "I appreciate the offer, but I want to nip a certain problem in the bud. The good old student council prez. Living with her is gonna make it easy for her to figure things out and we don't know if she will do something with that information in this timeline. I should hang back until its time for her to join the group, unless you want to try to rope her in now?"

Kasumi's heart ached, she so badly wanted to restart her friendship with Makoto now. However, this new timeline was already throwing a lot of hurdles her way. She knew that having this many members early could quickly become a problem. Starting with just Ryuji and Ann might make things a bit more manageable.

"No, as much as I would love to see her again, I'm willing to wait, just make sure she stays safe, and I'll keep you posted on our progress."

Ren beamed. "I'm probably going to hit Mementos every once in a while in order to stay in shape, and of course if things in the castle get out of hand I'm more than willing to step in and help. I think I'm going to enjoy this break from the Phantom Thieves though, come back to the team as Ren proper!"

"That sounds like a plan!" Kasumi exchanged contact info with Ren, she also felt the power of the fool arcana grow slightly within her during this. Kasumi made sure to exchange contact info with Ren.

"Take care Ren-Chan."

"You too Kasumi-Chan, I'll give Makoto a hug for you!" Ren walked away, leaving Kasumi's cheeked a bit flushed at the thought of hugging Makoto. Kasumi took a deep breath and walked towards the roof where Ann and Ryuji had already made themselves at home.

"Took you long enough! You really are hyping whatever this is!"

"Not enough I'm afraid, look I have to say before we get started, that things are going to get strange, but I'm sure you both are sick of Kamoshida, right?"

Ann nodded, with clear pain behind her eyes.

"Hell yeah, we hate him, he's such a condescending piece of shit! Forcing Ann to act all flirty with him, and never mind what he did to my leg..." Ryuji instinctively reached over to the leg that Kamoshida once broke.

Kasumi understood Ryuji's pain perfectly, having an event completely remove you from the hobby you loved and dedicated your life to, it was tough.

"Alright, so this is hard to explain, it's better if I just show you, if that's alright."

"um, sure?"

"Let's see this already!" Ryuji was more than done waiting."

"Ok, sorry to have to do this one last time, but follow me." Kasumi led them to the entrance of the school and finally sent them into the palace.

"Beginning navigation."

The world distorted around them until they found themselves facing a massive castle. Both of their jaws dropped as they attempted to comprehend what was happening.

"What- where are we?"

"Ryuji, you said it yourself, Kamoshida sees himself as the king of a castle, and you couldn't be more right, this is another world where Kamoshida's desires have become twisted, will you two help me fix that?"