8/10 Tuesday
Days until the Cleanse: 11
Soon after she had woken up, she got a call from Ryuji.
"Yo, Makoto, you wanna get some trainin' in?" Ryuji asked.
"Training? Like at Protein Lovers?" she asked.
"Yeah, exactly. I'm getting a little impatient waitin' for Futaba to finish… whatever it is she's doing." Ryuji replied.
To be honest, she felt the same way. It wasn't that she was blaming Futaba, but rather that she didn't like having to just sit around and wait, even though it was all she could do.
"That sounds good. I'd like to take my mind off of this myself." she admitted.
"Great! I'll see you there!" Ryuji shouted.
"Yeah. See you." Makoto said.
Makoto ended the call and made her way over to Protein Lovers.
The two thieves went through an intense workout session.
Well, not so tough for her.
"Damn… you're insane, Makoto." Ryuji panted. "How the hell did you get so strong?"
"I don't know… I'm not sure if I'm that strong…" Makoto humbly said.
"Seriously?" Ryuji groaned. "You're the strongest one out of all of us! You're our leader, strategist, and you're able to control all of those different Persona! You're way stronger than the rest of us!"
"I suppose…" Makoto trailed off.
"And look at Ren." Ryuji frowned. "When we first started out, he was the only one who wasn't an athlete, but now he's your number two, huh?!"
"Ryuji…"
"I mean, he's really good at tactics too…" Ryuji muttered. "He really managed to do a number against Wakaba when we were up against her. A hell of a lot more than I could do…"
"Ryuji, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself." Makoto said. "You're doing fine."
"No I'm not!" Ryuji snapped. "If I was strong, you'd be putting me on the front lines!"
"I-I don't mean to-"
"Save it." Ryuji sighed. "I was the first one to get taken out against both Kaneshiro and Wakaba. I was too weak to make much of a difference."
"Well… that's why we're here, isn't it?" Makoto asked. "To get stronger."
"Yeah… I guess you're right." Ryuji admitted. "Just gotta keep training…"
"Maybe after summer is over, we could train at school again." Makoto suggested.
"Nah, that won't work." Ryuji said, shaking his head. "The guys from the track team would probably want to keep using it."
"I suppose you're right." Makoto admitted.
As the two of them passed by an alleyway, Ryuji did a double take at what he saw.
"Hey, isn't that…" Makoto began.
"The track team!" Ryuji exclaimed. "The hell are they doin' to Nakaoka?!"
"Looks like there's some trouble." Makoto frowned.
The two of them ran into the alley, seeing the track team surrounding another Nakaoka."
"Takeishi, what the eff's going on here?!" Ryuji snapped.
"We're just asking Nakaoka here a few questions." Takeishi scoffed. "It's none of your business."
"Asking him questions with your fists?" Makoto asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Ain't three-on-one kinda cowardly?" Ryuji frowned.
"The only coward here is Nakaoka!" Takeishi snapped. "All the shit Kamoshida put us through is his fault!"
"You seem determined to blame everyone for Kamoshida's actions except for Kamoshida himself." Makoto bluntly stated. "But please, go ahead, tell us why Kamoshida abusing you somehow isn't Kamoshida's fault, but someone else's."
"You wouldn't be so smug if you knew what he did! Takeishi snapped. "He was telling Kamoshida secrets about us behind our backs!"
"What?! There's no way that's true!" Ryuji snapped.
"The track team is coming back, isn't it?" Makoto asked. "So why do you still feel the need to fight amongst each other?"
"S-Shut up!" Takeishi snapped. "I'm telling you, this piece of shit sold us out! How do you think Kamoshida found out about your parents?"
"He's gotta be a snitch!" Another track team member yelled.
"H-Hold on!" Ryuji shouted.
Ryuji quickly got in between Nakaoka and Takeishi.
"Out of the way, Sakamoto. We'll be the shit out of you too if we have to." Takeishi warned.
"If you really wanna try, then fine… but beating up people who can't fight back makes you just as bad as Kamoshida." Ryuji glared.
"Kamoshida is gone now, so wouldn't it be for the best to just put all of this behind you?" Makoto reasoned.
"We can't keep people around if they're gonna try and undermine the team." Takeishi argued.
"But… I didn't do anything." Nakaoka insisted. "I wasn't working with Kamoshida. No matter how many times you hit me, that won't change."
"Oh yeah?" Takeishi sneered. "Well, we've got proof! Yamauchi told us all about it!"
"…Yamauchi?" Ryuji gasped.
"C'mon Takeishi, we gotta get out of here. It'd be really bad if anyone else showed up here…"
"Fine." Takeishi relented. "Just remember, Nakaoka. Shit like you isn't welcome on our new track team! Remember that!"
The track team members walked off in disgust.
Ryuji walked towards Nakaoka, a concerned look on his face.
"You ok?" Ryuji asked. "What's this all about?"
"Just stay out of it, you two!" Nakaoka snapped. "This has nothing to do with you guys!"
"But I…" Ryuji trailed off.
"When you hit Kamoshida, you were really hitting all of us who tried so hard to endure his bullshit." Nakaoka accused. "It only made things harder for us…"
"But you ain't gotta deal with Kamoshida anymore!" Ryuji argued.
"That doesn't mean things can go back to normal." Nakaoka frowned. "What if I told you that they were right about me? About how I was telling Kamoshida about them?"
"That… that wouldn't matter." Ryuji insisted. "I think it'd be better if we just left the past in the past."
"There's no way you actually believe that." Nakaoka frowned.
"If he didn't believe it, he probably would have joined those track team members in beating you up rather than trying to stop them." Makoto pointed out. "You blaming Ryuji for what Kamoshida did is exactly like what the other team members are doing to you."
"… Fine, I get your point." Nakaoka grumbled. "But still, it's not like things can go back to normal. Not right now…"
Nakaoka walked away, mumbling to himself.
"You at least get what I'm tryin' to say, don't you, Makoto?" Ryuji asked.
"I do." Makoto nodded. "But I suppose it's not that simple for some people. It's hard for them not to dwell on the past…"
The entire situation bothered her. First Shiho, and now this… it made her wonder if this was just a problem of society as a whole. Victims lashing out at each other because they were acceptable targets then the people in positions of power that abused them.
The more that things went on, the more that she realized that improving things wasn't as simple as exposing people's crimes.
"Yeah, it was even tough for me too." Ryuji admitted. "Till' I met you guys anyway."
"It's good that you've been able to move on." Makoto smiled.
"Yeah… still kinda sucks that they're taking this out on me and Nakaoka. I'd like to see the looks on their faces if they knew that I was one of the Phantom Thieves that took down Kamoshida!"
"Ryuji!" Makoto chastised.
"I know, I know." Ryuji grumbled. "All I'm saying is that it'd be nice to get a little bit of fame and praise for everything we're doing, you know?"
"I suppose… but that's not why we're doing this." Makoto pointed out.
"I know, I know." Ryuji sighed. "Anyway, thanks for helping out with Takeishi and the others. I appreciate it."
"Of course. Anytime." she replied.
She felt a little closer to Ryuji.
CHARIOT CONFIDANT: RANK 6
She talked to him for a bit more before going home, but a part of her couldn't help but feel a little concerned about Ryuji…
8/11 Wednesday
Days until the Cleanse: 10
While they had just finished off some major targets, she had no idea when another one would pop up.
After their near defeat against Wakaba, she wanted to be as prepared as possible.
So she decided to head to the Velvet Room, hoping to fuse together some stronger Persona.
When she arrived at the entrance, she saw that the twins were already waiting for her.
"Inmate!" Caroline snapped. "We have another job for you!"
"Where do you want to go this time?" Makoto asked.
"It's good to see that you're beginning to catch on." Justine smiled.
She was surprised at how used to the twin's antics she was at this point, when they had put her on edge at first…
"Justine, you do the honors." Caroline grinned.
"Listen closely." Justine requested. "The next place we wish to go to for your rehabilitation is… a present-day Tower of Babel."
"It looms high into the heavens." Caroline elaborated. "So high that humans on the ground can no longer be seen."
"Such a grand structure would be far too dangerous for humans… we find that we have a duty to investigate." Justine added.
"That must be… the Skytree in Asakusa." Makoto realized.
"So, it's called the Skytree." Caroline said. "That's pretty impressive sounding! It's no Tower of Babel, but still, quite fine!"
"Indeed. The boldness of the moniker makes it seem quite promising." Justine agreed. "Let us head there at once."
She led the two of them to the Skytree, the twin wardens gasping at the view.
"So this is the present-day Tower of Babel!" Caroline exclaimed. "Incredible!"
"It appears that we've underestimated the current extent of human technology…" Justine trailed off.
"It is very impressive what we're able to accomplish together, isn't it?" Makoto smiled.
"… I suppose." Justine admitted. "But that metal box that we were in was so loud I thought that I might faint."
"Hey, what's that over there!" Caroline yelled. "Is that an airplane? Those people must be so cramped!"
"This is quite the view." Justine smiled. "It's almost as if we could crush all the people below like ants."
"Justine over there!" Caroline shouted.
"So loud…" Justine sighed. "What is it, Caroline?"
"There's a hole in the floor over there!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Hmm… it must be a trap." Justine assumed. "Any passerby that nears it is surely doomed."
Makoto frowned. "I don't think-"
"By the way, Inmate." Justine interrupted. "I've heard that this Tower of Babel has a path that leads us even higher than we are now, all the way to the heavens…"
"What?! Is that true?!" Caroline gasped. "Take us there now!"
"Well… it doesn't really reach all the way to heaven, but it is pretty high up." Makoto admitted.
She led the twins up to the higher floor.
"The view's even better than before!" Caroline grinned.
"Yes, we can see well beyond the city from here." Justine observed. "Almost to the ends of the Earth."
Makoto let out a smile at their antics. At times, they really did seem like little kids… just with very advanced vocabulary and powers.
"However…Caroline, are you backing out of this?" Justine asked.
"H-Huh? What do you mean?" Caroline stammered.
"Caroline… are you afraid of heights?" Makoto asked, concerned. "We could go back down…"
"D-Don't be ridiculous!" Caroline yelled. "I'm not scared of anything!"
"So then why don't we get even closer to enjoy the view." Justine suggested.
"I-If you want to see so badly, you go and look!" Caroline snapped.
"Come on, no fighting you two." Makoto scolded.
Their argument drew the attention of a few other viewers.
"Are those kids ok? Where are their parents?" a lady asked.
"Aw, they're just playing around, see? That older girl's probably their older sister or something." A man said.
Older sister? Did they look that alike…?
Then again, Sae did have white hair too…
Well, actually, Sae insisted that it was silver, but close enough.
"Great, now we're part of some humiliating misunderstanding… All because you were making such a scene, Inmate!" Caroline glared.
"What a burden." Justine sighed.
Makoto shook her head. "Well, did you at least enjoy this trip?"
"Yeah, it was pretty nice." Caroline said. "Looking down from up here really makes you feel like a God. Human desire really knows no bounds."
"I suppose… but that's not always a bad thing, is it?" Makoto asked.
"… Maybe not." Justine whispered.
Caroline glanced over at her before nodding.
She felt the bond between herself and the twins grow a little bit stronger.
STRENGTH CONFIDANT: RANK 6
They watched the city from above for a bit longer before they returned to the Velvet Room, fusing some Persona and then excusing herself, going home for the day.
8/12 Thursday
Days until the Cleanse: 9
Soon after she woke up, she could hear her phone buzzing.
"Makoto?" Yusuke said over the phone.
"Hello, Yusuke." Makoto greeted.
"I needed to speak with you." Yusuke told her. "It's about that favor you asked me to do."
Makoto's expression grew serious. "Continue."
"Let's meet near his family's restaurant." Yusuke suggested.
"Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can." Makoto promised.
She immediately left her house to meet up with Yusuke.
She found Yusuke standing just a block away from the restaurant that belonged to Naoya's family.
"Yusuke… did you find anything out?" Makoto asked.
"A few things." Yusuke told her. "When I went there the other day, I saw that he was very bruised."
"I see… so it's just like in Hawaii." Makoto muttered.
"There were bruises on his face." Yusuke explained. "But when I asked him about it, he insisted that it was simply an accident while he was practicing kendo."
"I see… do you think that's true?" she asked.
"He seemed very nervous when he told me, so I'm not sure." Yusuke admitted.
"Maybe I should talk to him." Makoto said. "I want to see if that really is the case."
"That wasn't the only thing." Yusuke brought up. "He told me that someone is still stealing from the restaurant."
"Still?" Makoto questioned. "I thought that we took care of the thieves…"
"Perhaps there's another one?" Yusuke suggested. "Or maybe one managed to slip under your radar?"
"That's possible." Makoto admitted. "I'll try to talk to him about it. Thank you, Yusuke."
She said goodbye before she went into the restaurant, ordering a small meal for herself.
"Oh! Hello, Niijima-san."
Naoya walked up to her, a noticeable bruise on his face.
"Hello, Makigami-kun…" Makoto muttered. "Do you have time to talk?"
"Yeah, I do." Naoya nodded. "How's it going?"
"It's going well." Makoto said. "Um… what about you?"
"It's… been fine." Naoya murmured. "Just fine."
"That's… good." Makoto said.
She wasn't sure if she'd be able to beat around the bush much longer.
It was time she addressed the elephant in the room.
"But… your face…" Makoto whispered.
"I-It was just an accident!" Naoya said, a little too quickly.
"Oh, an accident? What happened?" Makoto asked.
"I, uh… oh… it was just… I just smacked my head." Naoya excused. "It's a little embarrassing."
"I see… you weren't hurt anywhere else, were you?" Makoto asked.
"No… not at all." Naoya answered.
"Makigami-kun…" Makoto frowned. "I heard that your back was covered in bruises a while ago."
"So… Kitagawa-san told you." Naoya muttered.
"That's not important." Makoto said. "What happened then… what gave you those bruises?"
Naoya said nothing.
"Makigami-kun… did anything happen?" Makoto asked. "If there's something going on…"
"It was just some intense training!" Naoya insisted.
Makoto frowned. "Intense training…"
"Yes. That's all that happened." Naoya insisted.
She paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to respond.
"Makigami-kun, have you heard about the former gym teacher at our school?" Makoto asked.
"You mean that Kamoshida guy… I heard about him on the news." Naoya mentioned. "He was…"
"Abusing students." Makoto calmly said. "The athletes at my school… they were covered in bruises. But they insisted that it was just training. But… it turns out that they were being abused by Kamoshida."
"I see…" Naoya trailed off. "But Niijima-san, I'm not really sure what this has to do with me."
"I was just worried." Makoto admitted. "Makigami-kun… if there's something going on…"
"Everything is fine!" Naoya insisted. "I… appreciate the concern, but really, there's nothing to worry about."
"Well, alright." Makoto said.
She wasn't quite sure that she believed him, but it was clear that he wasn't going to budge.
"But… if anything does come up, I don't want you to know that I'll be there for you." Makoto promised. "And if worse comes to worse, I'm sure that the Phantom Thieves would be willing to help."
"Y-Yes, of course…" Naoya mumbled. "Thank you, Niijima-san. I'll be sure to remember that."
She felt that Naoya trusted her a little more than before.
TEMPERANCE CONFIDANT: RANK 5
Not wanting to pry too hard, she said goodbye as soon as she finished her meal, heading home for the day.
Before she went to bed for the day, she felt her phone buzzing.
Ren: Futaba says she's done. We can check on her tomorrow.
Makoto: Understood. Thank you for the update.
She let out a sigh of relief, thankful that Futaba had managed to deal with Medjed so quickly.
With that load off of her mind, she found herself easily drifting off to sleep.
Makoto's Confidant Progress:
THE FOOL - Ren Amamiya: Rank 8
THE HUNGER - Igor: Rank 6
THE CHARIOT - Ryuji Sakamoto: Rank 6
THE MAGICIAN - Morgana: Rank 6
THE FAITH - Eiko Takao: Rank 6
THE TOWER - Chiaki Yasui: Rank 5
THE SUN - Shiho Suzui: Rank 7
THE MOON - Takayo Tachibana: Rank 5
THE HIEROPHANT - Sojiro Sakura: Rank 5
THE TEMPERANCE - Naoya Makigami: Rank 5
THE STAR - Hifumi Togo: Rank 4
THE DEVIL - Mitsuhide Matsuoka: Rank 2
THE HANGED MAN - Munehisa Iwai: Rank 2
THE DEATH - Yohei Kiritani: Rank 3
THE EMPEROR - Yusuke Kitagawa: Rank 4
THE EMPRESS - Haru Okumura: Rank 4
THE LOVERS - Ann Takamaki: Rank 4
THE STRENGTH - Caroline and Justine: Rank 6
THE JUSTICE - Goro Akechi: Rank 4
THE PRIESTESS - Kasumi Yoshizawa: Rank 3
THE FORTUNE - Phantom Thieves of Heart: Rank 4
THE JUDGMENT - Sae Niijima: Rank 4
THE COUNCILOR - Takuto Maruki: Rank 5
Are the Phantom Thieves just? Yes 42.3%