Requiem of the Trickster

By FeaganofLegends

CONTENT WARNING: This chapter briefly mentions topics of suicide, SA, and depression. If you are not willing to read such things...I'd recommend skipping this chapter. Wanted to give y'all a heads up.

My re-imaginging of Persona 5 Royal! Enjoy!

Story Legend:

Locations- Bold/Underlines

Thoughts- Italics

Normal Text- Actions

"Normal Text in Parenthesis"- Dialogue

Bold and Italicized- Persona-related dialogue

Chapter I: Meet Kamoshida

Part V: Shiho's Act of Desperation

Weeks later

Locker Room

Shiho closed her locker and let out a sigh. The problematic school year and the pressure of the investigation were taking their toll on her.

The other girls and boys had been giving her the cold shoulder. Coach Kamoshida…well…he was being extra rough on her. He pressured her to stay quiet and sleep with him. As stubborn as she was, this was taking a toll on her mental health. Everything seemed hopeless. She shook her head and leaned her head against the locker. "What do I do?"

Suddenly, Mishima called out for her, "Hey Shiho…" She turned to him and immediately felt her stomach drop. He looked at her with a defeated expression. His face was beaten up, and there were bandages on it. "Coach Kamoshida needs you right away."

She sighed in exasperation. She was tired…so tired…of practice…of trying to find justice… and of living in general. She spoke in a low tone, her eyes glassed over. "I'll…be right there."

Mishima just nodded and walked off without a word.

Shiho sighed as she stared at her locker. "I'm sorry, guys. I can't hold on…"

PE Faculty Room

Later that day

Shiho sighed as she walked into the room. "You wanted to see me, Coach?"

Coach Kamoshida grinned at her. "Yes. Shiho. Have a seat, please."

Shiho sighed and sat down, wrapping her arms around herself.

Coach Kamoshida grinned sadistically. Looks like easy pickings today. All the more for me. He then stared her down, drinking in her figure. "I'll get to the point, Ms. Suzui. You and your friend Ann have been causing a lot of trouble…. I've overlooked it for weeks, but it stops now."

Shiho looked up at him and then away from him, saying nothing.

Coach Kamoshida grinned again. "It's simple. I have the power to ruin your future. Your career in gymnastics…your academic future…everything. The same goes for Ms. Takamaki and the rest of your band of delinquents... I could have you all expelled with the snap of a finger."

Shiho turned to him with fear in her eyes. Granted, she didn't care about herself or her future, but her friends were an entirely different matter.

Ann was her best friend. Shiho wanted a future for her.

The blonde was bubbly, bright, and kind to her.

Ryuji was decent. He was a loudmouth, sure, but he was a good guy. So was Ren. She cared about all of them. She shook her head. I have to protect them at any cost. She then gathered her courage and faced the man. "Coach Kamoshida, please don't expel my friends. I'll do anything."

Coach Kamoshida nodded coldly as his mouth formed into a slight smirk. "That's what I like to hear! Glad you're a team player!" He then leaned in with a smirk, "I'll make this easy for you. I've been pestering your bitch of a best friend to give me a shot. I even asked her to give me her number." He growled. "Even so…She hasn't been very receptive to my advances! I'm also not pleased with all the trouble you and your friends have been causing!"

He smiled as he licked his lips, "You aren't as...developed as she is, but you aren't bad looking. My request is simple. You come home with me and do what I say. No backtalk…and I'll consider forgiving you and your friends for the trouble you've caused me." He then crossed his arms. "Agree to this…and I won't expel you and your friends." He growled, "Refuse…and you can all kiss your futures goodbye."

Shiho shivered underneath her school uniform, and her knees shook. Tears ran down her eyes. She stood up, staring down at the floor. "I'll…do it. Whatever you want."

Kamoshida grinned as he nodded, "Yes, you will."

Days later

Shujin Academy Rooftop

Ryuji scowled. "Damn it! I ain't got shit, plus we haven't been able to meet for weeks! People are being tight-lipped about what Kamoshida's doing! Every time I try to ask someone…they run away or come up with a lie!

Ren just crossed his arms glaring, "Yeah…" Ryuji, "It's so damn frustrating!"

Ryuji looked around.

Ann rushed up the stairs. "Ryuji. Ren. Have you two seen Shiho?"

Ryuji glanced at her and shook his head. 'Fraid not, Ann."

Ren grunted. "Sorry. No dice."

Ann then nodded as she bit her lip. " Dammit. She's been getting called into Kamoshida's office for weeks now. I've tried calling and texting, but it hasn't worked. I even tried going by her house. Her mom tells me she's just been busy with practice. I'm getting worried."

Ryuji sighed. "I don't blame you."

Ren nodded as he sighed. "Well…I've made a new friend." He then set his bag down. "Okay, Morgana. You can come out now."

Morgana pounced out and stretched out, meowing happily. "Finally! I was getting claustrophobic."

Ann blinked as she put her hands over her mouth. "Oh my gosh! What an adorable little guy!" Morgana smirked at her. "Hello there, beautiful girl! Good to see you again!"

Ann picked up Morgana and held him in her arms. Then she turned to Ren and smiled, "Where did you find him?"

Ren smirked with crossed arms. "I found him on my way home! I thought I'd take him in! Boss agreed!"

Ann hugged the cat to her chest. "Oh, he's adorable! What a cute cat!"

Morgana glared at her as he tried to get out of her grip. "Hey! I'm not a cat. W-Well, at least not in reality. T-This is just my form temporarily!"

Ann laughed, looking the cat in the eyes. To her…Morgana's words sounded more like angry meows. "Aww. Are we getting grumpy?"

Ryuji blinked at the cat. Wait, is that…. It can't be! He whispered to Ren, "Hey... is that the crazy cat thing that led us out of the castle?"

Ren turned to him and whispered, "That's the one. Not kidding. I found him waiting for me outside Leblanc."

Ryuji eyed Morgana and then turned to Ren, "Freakin' weird man."

Ren nodded. "He's cool."

Ann then asked the two boys, "What's his name?"

Ren turned to her and nodded. "His name is Morgana."

Ann beamed at him and then laughed, "Morgana…I love that name!"

Ren eyed her as he turned red. There she goes again…taking my damned breath away. He then forced himself to look away from the blonde as his heart skipped a beat.

Ann then set Morgana on the ground. "Okay, Morgana. I've had my fun. I'll let you be free."

The cat glared at her as he rolled his eyes. "Finally!"

Morgana then rushed over to Ren.

Ren picked him up.

Morgana jumped on his shoulder and found his way into his bag. He then sighed contentedly to himself as he purred. "Finally safe."

Ann then heard her phone go off. She answered, "Yes?" Suddenly, her eyes went wide with shock. "Shiho…Oh, thank God…I've been so worried…I…." The blonde touched her heart as tears began rolling down her face. "What…no…you can't do that….Let's just talk about this…Let's just…" Her hand started to tremble, and her face went pale. "W-Wait! Don't…" She stared at her phone, quickly put it in her bag, and glanced at Ryuji and Ren. "I..I'm sorry. I've…got to go." She then ran off down the stairway.

Ren and Ryuji turned to each other with shocked looks. Ryuji's jaw dropped. "That don't sound good! We need to go after her!"

Ren nodded. "Way ahead of you, man!" The two boys then followed after the blonde.

Sometime later

Ann was running as fast as she could. No….Shiho….Don't do this! She took a look around. She said she was headed for the courtyard! I have to get there fast!

"Hey Ann! Wait up!"

Soon, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, holding her in place.

Ren then turned her around, looking her in the eyes. "What's going on with you? Why'd you run off like that?"

Ryuji stopped and caught his breath, nodding. His ankle was acting up again. "Yeah…What gives?" Grrr. There's no time to explain! I have to save her! "Let me go dammit!"

Ren glared as his grip got tight; his tone was warm yet authoritative, "No! Not until you tell me what the hell is going on! Talk to me!"

Ann glared back, "I..It's about Shiho, okay? She called me! She's going to kill herself! I have to stop her!"

Ren glanced at her and then at Ryuji.

Ryuji gave him a nod. "We gotta do somethin', Ren!"

Ren nodded. "I agree." Ren held Ann's face as he spoke calmly, "Hey. Ann. Look at me."

Ann just looked him in the eyes. Even in her moment of pure fear, she found his gaze and presence very calming, almost like a warm blanket. It managed to calm down her ferocious temper.

Ren then spoke gently, "We'll save her, okay? Don't worry. It's going to be all right. But we're doing it together. We're your friends, Ann. We're not leaving you high and dry." Unable to hold back, Ann hugged him and cried into his chest, "Okay…Okay…Thank you, Ren. Thank you, Ryuji. Thanks for being here for me."

Ryuji nodded. "Don't sweat it, Ann! C'mon! We don't have much time!"

Courtyard, Shujin Academy

The three friends quickly found their way to the courtyard, pushing and bumping through the crowd of students around them.

Ann screamed out, "Shiho!"

Ren and Ryuji were close behind. "Shiho! What are you doing?" "I'm sorry, Ann! He was going to ruin your modeling career…ruin your life…He was going to hurt all of you...I had to do it!" Ann was howling. "Do what?"

Shiho looked down at her, sighed, and shook her head. Then she began to tear up again. "Forgive me, guys. I'm sorry. But I….don't want to live with the pain anymore. It's too much." She then jumped off the roof.

Ann felt her heart stop. "No! Shiho!"

Ren grunted, No!

Ryuji cursed, "Damn it!" Ann rushed to the other side of the building where Shiho had jumped. Ren and Ryuji were in close pursuit.

Courtyard, Shujin Academy

Sometime later

The situation was chaotic.

Students were pulling out their phones and taking pictures.. Others were just staring in shock.

Teachers were barking orders, "Get back to your classes! I repeat! Get back to your classes!"

The paramedics rushed out of the ambulance and got Shiho on the stretcher.

Ann was at her side, sobbing, "Shiho…why? Who did this to you?" Shiho tried to speak. Her voice was pained.

Ann leaned in.

Shiho spoke in a low whisper, "Kamoshida…"

Ann blinked and eyed her. "Kamoshida? What'd he do to you? Tell me, Shiho!"

Shiho tried to speak again. "He…made me sleep with him. Told me…that if I didn't….you'd lose everything."

The brunette then caressed Ann's face with a hand. "I'm…sorry." She then fell unconscious." Ann gasped as her eyes widened in realization. Her hands balled into fists."N…Nooo! Shiho! That bastard! That pig! He assaulted her…all because I wouldn't put out! She then hugged Ren and began sobbing in his chest. "Oh…Ren…." Ren just held her. "I'm so sorry, Ann…" He blinked as righteous anger revealed itself in his eyes. Shiho was a friend. Kamoshida had just crossed the line, Kamoshida! You piece of fucking shit! I'll make you pay for this!

Ryuji growled, "Kamoshida's gonna pay for this!"

Sadayo gasped as tears ran down her eyes. She had been watching the whole debacle from afar. A suicide! How horrible! This is just…horrible!

One of the paramedics called out, "Is her teacher here? Can anyone accompany her to the hospital?"

The teachers all looked at each other, frightened. "Not me!" "Not me either!" "I think we should let Principal Kobayakawa take care of this!"

Ann then broke herself away from Ren, stood up and faced the paramedic with a serious look. "I will!"

He gave her a nod, "Okay, miss! Let's go!"

Ann turned to Ren and Ryuji, gathered herself, and hugged them. "Thanks for the backup, you two. I..I've got her from here."

Ren and Ryuji nodded and hugged her back. "Take care of her, Ann." "Yeah, what he said."

Ann smiled back at both of them, "I will, Ren. I'll text you two later. I promise." She then hopped into the ambulance as it drove away in a hurry.

Ren and Ryuji glanced at one another.

Ryuji grit his teeth. "We have to make him pay for this, Ren! Shiho nearly died!"

Ren nodded, "Way ahead of you, man! I…just don't know what! We tried getting people to talk! That didn't work for shit!"

Morgana then popped his head out of Ren's bag and glanced at them. "I've got a better idea!" The two boys turned their attention to the cat sitting in Ren's bag

Ren nodded. "Let's hear it!"

More coming soon!

Stay tuned!

Writer's note: I tried to write respectfully about what happens to Shiho in the game without being too graphic or explorative. I hope I did a good job. I felt that would be in poor taste and unnecessary.

Kamoshida's Palace...coming up.