Friday - July 8th

Warm water rained over Lynn's head, making her sigh with relief. Her shoulders ached, her knuckles felt stiff, her head whirled and her legs were like jelly.

She massaged the water over her skin and took the time to enjoy the shower.

In the stall to her left, she could hear Shiho humming a quiet tune. To her right, Ann was grumbling profanities. On the other side of the fashionesta, Hifumi was silent, simply allowing the shower to knead her limbs and back. Makoto was humming along with Shiho on the girl's other side. Albeit not very in tune. A part of Lynn was seriously regretting her life choices. Another part was basking in the sense of accomplishment. However, one thing held constant.

"Ryuji sucks…"

"Amen to that, sister," Ann groaned in response.

"To be fair, Rin… you did ask for this…" Shiho muttered, giggling under her breath. "But yeah… he sucks."

Over the last few days, Ryuji had fully thrown himself into the role of the team's fitness coach. Handing out diet plans - much to Ann's fury. He almost didn't make it out of the movie theatre attic alive! - lecturing on different kinds of exercise, suggesting equipment and so on. Truth be told, it was the most focused any of the thieves had seen him in a while. It was clear that he was enjoying this. Not in a sadistic taskmaster way, but a genuine thrill of helping his friends improve.

When Lynn told him about the old gym she and Shiho frequented, he beamed with joy. It turned out he actually knew Big Benny. Ryuji's old Middle School coach was personal friends with the ex-boxer. So, it was silently decided that Benny's gym was now the official workout destination for the Phantom Thieves. And the old coach was more than happy to have so many young and aspiring athletes frequent his humble gym.

Over the days, Lynn and Shiho had boxed together more than a few times.

Without even noticing it, the two had developed a heated rivalry. Even going as far as to keep track of their wins and losses against each other. The others could only watch as the Silver Demon and the Bear of Shujin battled it out on a near daily basis.

As cathartic as that was, they also followed Ryuji's exercises along with the other thieves. Everyone took to it differently.

Ann would sometimes struggle with the more technical stuff, but handled the sudden intensity well. The girl was naturally athletic, it seemed.

Makoto was definitely on par with Shiho's level of stamina. The girl was tough and definitely enjoying the strain of it all. When Lynn glanced over to a topless Makoto earlier, she couldn't help but notice the already toned abs and deceptively strong arms. A surprise, but it made sense, given her preference for punching things.

Hifumi wasn't what Lynn would call an athlete. Even still, she had determination and drive. She tended to tackle things with a level head and preferred Ryuji to break everything down for her. She took surprising interest in the science behind everything and Ryuji was more than happy to flex his knowledge on a subject he actually knew a lot about.

Yusuke, however, was having trouble. His health already wasn't the best thanks to his mistreatment. As such, Ryuji tried tailoring his plan to suit the artist's lack of constitution. Recommending a lot of protein and giving him pointers to build up his muscles. The lanky boy wasn't all that interested in the program, but he was at least keeping up with it. If only to prevent everyone else from getting on his case. The results of his new diet were already noticeable. His cheeks were fuller, he had more colour to his skin and he didn't constantly look like he was about to pass out any more.

Morgana - Lynn gritted her teeth - didn't even try to play along. Granted, Ryuji admitted he had absolutely no idea how to coach a cat. It was frustrating, but Morgana got away with only a small cutback to eating tuna. The amount of moaning he did when Ryuji brought it up would lead someone to believe Ryuji was suggesting torture.

As for the V Team, the only one who really needed any actual coaching was Kerry. However, he brushed off Ryuji's offer saying that he could just hire a personal trainer back in Night City. The others were all in pretty good shape.

Working out wasn't the only thing on Lynn's agenda, however.

The past week was a busy one.

She spent time helping Iwai with the slander campaign on his store. Like he suspected, most of his regulars had returned and the rumours spreading online were quickly debunked. Despite that, however, Lynn didn't really know what was up, but something was bothering the grizzled store owner. He looked worried and seemed quite on edge. Yet, whenever Lynn brought it up, he brushed off her concerns and changed the subject.

Several developments had taken place with Takemi. Lynn's suspicion about Oyamada's claim of Miwa's death turned out to be true. The doctor had indeed lied about it. As to why, both Lynn and Takemi couldn't imagine a good reason. Pettiness? More than likely. Still, when Lynn presented proof that Miwa was still very much alive, Takemi went into overdrive. Toiling away at her development. The several appointments Lynn had with her over the week were grueling to say the least. Lots of tests and lots of drinking dubious liquids. Yet, Lynn didn't mind. It was all in the name of helping a little innocent girl. Spiting an asshole doctor was just a bonus.

Aside from a few false starts and aimless hangouts, Ann was slowly working things out with Lynn's help. A lot of what the fashionista was troubled by was a lack of direction. It was alarmingly similar to Lynn's own issues. Both girls had no idea what they wanted for themselves. At one point, Lynn accompanied Ann to a photo shoot and they ran into one of Ann's colleagues. A new model who was just starting out. The girl was friendly enough, but she seemed a little forced. Perhaps it was merely nerves working with Ann who was more experienced and comfortable in front of the camera. That short meeting left a weird taste in Lynn's mouth that she couldn't quite put a label on.

Whenever they both found the time, Hifumi and Lynn would also play Shogi together. During that time, they would chat about anything and everything. At least when Hifumi wasn't going full Queen Commander during a match. It was a much needed bit of relaxation for the both of them. With Kaneshiro still potentially after them, Hifumi had been quite stressed ever since the confrontation in the Palace.

On that note, there still wasn't any word about Kaneshiro.

The news occasionally reported another arrest of an Inoshishi group and sure enough, as the days progressed, Shibuya seemed to lighten up little by little.

However, the thieves couldn't breathe just yet.

Tomorrow was supposed to be the deadline and the day when Kaneshiro would supposedly kidnap them and sell them off into slavery. As far as moods went, the thieves tried to keep their nerves hidden. That said, it was obvious how scared everyone was. Which was why they had thrown themselves fully into their training.

It no longer mattered. Their fates had to be left to the powers that be.

After another five minutes of showering, the five girls started to dry themselves off and get dressed. However, when Ann idly checked her phone, she suddenly let out a shocked gasp. The others quickly looked toward her and tilted their heads.

"Oh snap…" she muttered, tapping a few times and focusing on the screen. "Full confession; Shibuya Yakuza boss comes forward…" she read aloud. "The pig actually confessed! He's in police custody right now. Huh…" she scrolled a little more and let out a snorting giggle. "After the incident across Shibuya, the Phantom Thieves denounced Junya Kaneshiro which led to a series of high profile arrests. Many believe the two events to be purely coincidental as Junya Kaneshiro was nowhere to be seen. That is until late last night - July 7th - when he turned himself in and offered his full cooperation in arresting the rest of his clan. No more details are available to the public at this time."

"Well…" Lynn whispered, not entirely sure what to think of that. "I… guess we did it."

"Yeah, I guess we did." Shiho quietly muttered.

They all fell into silence for a few seconds. It didn't seem real. Or rather, it felt a little unceremonious. Granted, Kaneshiro technically wasn't a public figure. Of course he wouldn't have some public confession on live TV or in front of a large audience. A target like him wouldn't have any such fanfare. It was amazing there was even this much. Some random article online. Still, Lynn couldn't help but feel a little conflicted. Part of her wanted to see his face when his change of heart took effect.

Either way, it was done.

"I guess you won't be reporting us to Kobayakawa, eh?" Lynn tried smirking at Makoto. The girl briefly recoiled with a look of hurt in her eyes. Then, she noticed Lynn was just teasing her. The council president grumbled and flipped Lynn off. Much to Hifumi's confusion. Speaking of which, Lynn glanced toward the shogi player with a soft smile. "Maybe now your mother can breathe a little easier."

"Hmm…"

The lack of a reaction caught Lynn's attention.

The Shogi player's lips thinned into an unreadable expression. However, a moment later, she shook it off and forced a smile. "I'm still quite confused about exactly how we did what we did, but I shan't question it too much. The foul man is in police custody. That's all I really care about." Even with that said, Lynn made a mental note to ask her about everything later. "I must ask, though. What exactly happens now? Shouldn't we follow this up and make sure Kaneshiro's other rackets are taken down?"

"That's already been taken care of," Lynn answered, slipping on a clean t-shirt. "Remember, we've had River and Ohya leak tips to the police. All the info we found in Kaneshiro's Palace isn't going to waste."

"Which is why the news channels are constantly reporting on Inoshishi arrests," Ann pointed out. "Slow, sure, but at least no one is sitting on their asses anymore."

"I hate that I have to agree with you. The police force has been… lacking… to say the least. Still, I'm glad we managed to bring justice to Kaneshiro. If nothing else, my dad's death has been avenged." Makoto nodded, slipping on her jacket. Everyone gave her a concerned look. However, Makoto gave them reassuring smiles. "I've had a lot of time to grieve over him, guys. I'm fine. Just happy to have some closure… though I wish I could tell sis without her wanting to ask how I know."

"I'm sure she'll find out eventually. Especially if she's involved with Kaneshiro's prosecution."

"Probably."

When they were all dressed, refreshed and ready to head back to Shibuya, they trailed out of the changing room and regrouped with the two boys.

Now that the day's exercise was out of the way, Ryuji had let himself slip back into his usual goofy self. He cracked jokes, teased Yusuke, playfully argued with Shiho and generally acted like he did before the whole Kaneshiro mess started. It was honestly refreshing to see. That said, his issues still remained and there were moments that Lynn caught his smile fading. He was still having difficulty with everything. How could he not? Still, Lynn silently vowed she'd do everything in her power to help him.

Shinjuku wasn't the busiest place during this particular time of day, but when the thieves left the old gym, they took in the slowly picking up foot traffic. With the sun low in the sky, it was probably time for everyone to head their separate ways for the day.

However, before Lynn could think of heading back to Yongen Jaya, she was stopped in her tracks by a hand gripping the hem of her t-shirt.

"Uh… Rin, could I… maybe… talk to you for a second?" It was Makoto, looking rather troubled.

Lynn perked her brow. "Sure, what's up?"

"I mean… alone."

Everyone gave her a curious glance. Even Morgana had poked his head out of his usual bag to see what was going on.

That was until Ann clapped her hands together and ordered everyone to disperse. Surprisingly enough, she shot Makoto an understanding look and made everyone leave the two alone. Even taking Lynn's bag - containing a confused Morgana - with her.

"Huh… well that… was efficient," Lynn laughed, suddenly alone with Makoto. "Hm… let's head over to that vending machine. I'm pretty thirsty." She gestured toward a small sheltered area with two vending machines and some benches. No one else was making use of the public rest spot, so it seemed like as good a place as any. Buying two flavoured waters, Lynn handed one to Makoto who quietly took it and sat down. "Everything ok? I know you're probably pretty relieved by everything… still though, can't be easy."

"Yeah… I'm still letting it sink in. The pig cut it pretty close to the deadline, huh?" She tried to chuckle, only to stutter and blankly study the bottle in her hands. "Sorry, this is kinda weird and out of nowhere. Uh… I think I might have put my foot in it, so to speak."

"In what?"

"Well, as part of my duties as student council president, I try to keep up with students and their needs. I had a few meetings with one particular girl who… well… isn't exactly a model student. At first, she was pretty abrasive and honestly not very respectful. However, she noticed my Buchimaru pencil case and - hey, not one word, Rin… - and surprisingly, we became friends over it." As Makoto explained, Lynn had to stop herself from snorting at the Buchimaru thing. Of course the brawler of their team liked a cute panda mascot.

Still though, she wasn't completely sure what Makoto was getting at.

"So you're friends with a delinquent? Or should I say another delinquent… should I feel jealous?" Lynn couldn't help but tease. Much to Makoto's chagrin.

"Rin, please…" the president whined. "Anyway, she's actually a really nice girl. Her name is Eiko and honestly, I think she's really smart when she wants to be. But… that's not the issue. I'm worried about her. When we were talking yesterday, she mentioned she had gotten a new boyfriend. Normally, I wouldn't see that as a bad thing… only, this boyfriend is apparently way older than her and works at a host club here in Shinjuku."

"Oh. That's… pretty bad."

"Dangerous, too…"

"Indeed. So, what are you wanting to do? I assume you don't want to ruin your friendship over this, right?"

At that, Makoto nearly choked on her water. For a brief second, Lynn caught a glimpse of a blush on the girl's cheeks.

"Well… you see…" she muttered, wiping a bit of stray water from the edges of her lips. "She sort of asked… if… I was seeing anyone… and… well…"

"... Please tell me…"

"I said I was your girlfriend…"

The silence struck between them was like the screams of the damned. A small vein throbbed on Lynn's forehead for a few moments. She then pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. "Makoto…"

"I panicked!"

"Ok." Lynn straightened herself out and made sure to dispose of the two empty bottles before continuing. "There's a few issues here. Firstly, I'm not into girls - tried it back in the UK, not my thing. Secondly, I didn't think you would be either."

"I've never put any thought into it… but, well… I've never really been interested in boys. Honestly… I have absolutely no idea what I'm into." The heat around Makoto's face only seemed to get worse as she struggled actually making eye contact. "I mean… it's not like I've had much time to consider romance in any form. But… I guess… uh." Her shoulders sagged and her brow furrowed as if she was trying to find some way to explain. Then she dropped another bombshell. "When… Eiko heard me say I was dating the terrifying transfer student… she sort of… asked if we could do a double date."

"And you refused. Right?"

No response.

"Makoto… please say you said no…"

"I said… no?" She was lying through her teeth and Lynn knew it. Glaring at the president, she narrowed her eyes threateningly. "Ok, I'm sorry! I said yes! Please… don't hate me."

Once again, Lynn pinched the bridge of her nose. She could feel a headache start to develop.

"I don't hate you…" she sighed, "if you came to me with this before you word-vomited it to your friend, I'd be more open to helping you." Her shoulders loosened and for a few seconds, she collected her thoughts. It wasn't like she hadn't noticed anything. Makoto was quite easy to read. Granted, Lynn never actually considered Makoto was into girls. Honestly, maybe V or Judy would be the better people to have that particular conversation with. Kerry at a stretch. "There's a lot about this that's pretty wrong, you know." She finally muttered.

"I know… I'm sorry…" Makoto hung her head, a downcast expression working over her face. "I can just cancel and tell her something came up."

After a full five seconds of awkward silence, Lynn let out another sigh.

"Let's talk about this before you do," she muttered. "If I understand this correctly, you're worried that your friend is being taken advantage of by a sleazy guy, right?" Makoto nodded. "So when you started asking about him, she turned it back on you and innocently asked if you were dating anyone. At which point you essentially had a crash and told her you - in fact - were dating me. Specifically Lynn Amamiya, the second year transfer student with a criminal record." Another nod, Makoto looking more and more glum as Lynn spoke. "And as a result, she wanted to go on a double date - which you agreed to because… apparently taking a second to think about things isn't your thing. Have I got that right?"

"That… pretty much sums it up…"

There was another short pause. Makoto's shoulders tensed more and more.

"... Makoto, are you actually an idiot?"

The girl let out a quiet whine. It was almost pitiable. Almost. Like Makoto was a puppy getting scolded by her owner. Still, Lynn had to take a step back. No, Makoto wasn't an idiot. She was - academically speaking - almost a genius. That said, when it came to being a person in social society, she was like some extraterrestrial being. A little like Yusuke in that case. Only, Makoto clearly cared about what others thought of her.

"Alright, let's think this through…" Lynn groaned, allowing her brain to start working through the issue. "We could probably use this date to confirm if the guy is a scumbag or not. Two girls dating? Prime bait for a sleaze-bag. That's to say if he is a sleaze-bag." She held her chin between two fingers. Her friend needed help and, honestly, Lynn felt the need to help consume her. Even if the situation was a little weird and self-inflicted on Makoto's part. "Ok, I'll play along…"

"W-wait… you're saying you'll…"

"I'll be your pretend girlfriend…" suddenly, Lynn felt like she was going to regret this. "However, we need to make a few things absolutely clear."

"R-right…" Makoto squeaked.

"I'm sorry, Makoto, but I know how these things tend to go. Call me presumptuous, but an actual relationship is off the table. Like I said, I'm not into girls… but if you find out that you are, we can work through that when we come to it. Secondly, this… really needs to stay between us. If this Eiko girl hasn't already spilled the beans, I would really like to keep rumours to a minimum. I have enough of them going around and… honestly, I don't want you to be dragged into them for your own sake."

"I asked her to keep it a secret and she agreed… so… hopefully she's good at keeping secrets."

"My hopes are not high," Lynn shrugged, internally groaning at just how low her faith in humanity had become. "Finally, if this guy turns out to be dangerous, we make an excuse to end the date early, take Eiko with us and get the hell out of dodge. We just took down one gangster. We really don't need more coming after us."

"Yeah…"

"After that, we'll go from there."

"Thank you, Rin. I'm… sorry I'm so stupid when it comes to this stuff. Is there any way I can make it up to you?"

A thought suddenly sprung to mind. "Perhaps there is. You study Aikido, right? Would you train me? I'm learning to box with Shiho, so learning Aikido from you will only help me when it comes to fighting Shadows." She had already started to implement some of the things Big Benny had taught her. Lynn was becoming quite the hand-to-hand fighter.

"Is… that all?" Makoto asked in wonder. "I mean… yes! I can do that! I can train you!"

With that, a pulse of warmth throbbed in Lynn's chest. A pulse that she had somewhat expected.

And then came the gentle voice.

I am thou, thou art I.

Thou hast acquired a new vow.

It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity.

With the birth of the High Priestess Persona, thou hast attained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power.

Finally, after everything, Lynn settled down on her bed. There were still quite a few hours until she had to turn in for the night, but for now, she merely wanted to collect her thoughts.

Morgana hopped up onto the bed beside her and curled up, giving her the odd glance.

Honestly, she couldn't help but giggle to herself. Technically speaking, she was now dating the student council president. Even if it was only a pretend relationship that she made clear wasn't going to be anything more than that. As funny as the thought was, she had to admit that she felt somewhat frustrated. She cared about Makoto just as much as she did about her other friends. Despite their relationship not starting on the best note, the president had made up for her shortcomings. However, when it came to thinking of the girl in a romantic light, Lynn just didn't see it. As she had said to Makoto, she had already experimented when she lived in the UK. Sure, her brief relationship with Jamie - a girl she had several classes with - was a fond memory, but again, there wasn't any attraction there. Only platonic friendship.

She frowned slightly.

Makoto was probably going through something similar.

Back then, Lynn had been confused. She felt scared whenever Jamie would come close and her heart would beat. The implications alone felt like something may have been wrong with her.

Yes, homosexuality was starting to become more accepted by the mainstream, but there was still one hell of a stigma behind it. A stigma that the assholes in her old school made sure to exploit. Which partially fed into her hatred of being called cute or adorable. Either way, that relationship did prove one thing; Lynn wasn't into girls.

But that didn't mean Makoto also wasn't.

The president was probably confused, scared and incredibly embarrassed. Problems like this were incredibly delicate and complicated. Lynn really didn't like being presumptuous, but the idea of Makoto developing a one-sided crush on her worried the hell out of her. She didn't want to hurt Makoto's feelings by rejecting her if that became the case, but she also didn't want to hurt Makoto's feelings by agreeing to a real relationship that Lynn didn't actually want. Both outcomes seemed just as bad to Lynn.

Honestly, this could get messy incredibly quickly. It could only end in tears. Needless to say, she regretted agreeing to it the second they separated for the night.

"You've got that frown again, Rin. What's wrong?" Morgana purred, lifting his head to peer up at the girl.

"Hm?" She glanced down and grunted, pushing herself up into a sitting position. "Just thinking of how dumb I am. As soon as someone expresses a need for my help, I basically fold like a wet napkin."

"Is this about what Makoto wanted to talk to you about?"

She nodded and gave a short laugh. "I'll figure it out. No need to worry."

The cat narrowed his eyes and idly curled his tail. However, before he could call her out on her fretting, Lynn's phone buzzed.

GECKO - Yo kid

GECKO - Got somethin for u

GECKO - You free?

RIN-TIN-LYNN - More shady shenanigans?

RIN-TIN-LYNN - I guess I don't have any plans.

GECKO - Alright.

GECKO - Untouchable.

GECKO - 1 hour.

GECKO - Try not to be late.

"Speaking of folding like a wet napkin…" Lynn grunted, staring at her phone. "Damn it…" she had to let a sigh escape. Glancing down at Morgana, she shot an apologetic look. "Sorry, think you can entertain yourself for a few hours? I'll bring back some sushi."

Unamused, the not-feline looked like he was struggling to resist the allure of sushi.

"Just… don't be out too late. You need to sleep!" Morgana huffed and gently patted the bed with his paw. "Tomorrow was the original deadline, after all! I know Kaneshiro's already confessed to the police, but… well… someone from the Inoshishi might still try to collect!" That particular thought lurched something uncomfortable in Lynn's stomach. She hadn't thought of that possibility. Still, as long as it wasn't the big man himself, they could probably handle it if someone did try coming for them.

With that, Lynn quickly got her things together and headed for the stairs.

She gave Sojiro a wave and promised not to be back too late, like she usually did. She might have a key to the place, but she still didn't want to cause Sojiro any more stress than necessary.

Within the hour, Lynn arrived at the familiar store. Untouchable.

Pushing the door open, her eyes quickly fell on Iwai as he was tending to one of the many shelves. "'Sup, kid. Sorry for the short notice," his growling voice was filled with tension. He looked back over his shoulder and tried giving her a grin. The lollypop stick pointed up in his teeth, but the very slight shake gave away his nerves. Still, Lynn gave him a dismissive wave and immediately waltzed over to help him sort the shelf out. By now, she had learned his unorthodox way of sorting his stock, so she could easily do the entire shop without any input from the man himself. "I got a favour to ask. Don't worry, it ain't nothin' dangerous…"

"Double negative. Go on."

"... Right," he laughed, "seriously, I just need you to keep someone company for a couple of hours. My son to be specific. He's younger than you, gonna graduate Middle School this year."

V did mention Iwai had a kid. Still, it was surprising the grizzled ex-gangster was a dad.

Not that Lynn would actually say that to him.

"Ok, I assume there's a reason you can't do it?" She asked with her brow raising slightly. Knowing Iwai, there was more to this than he was letting on.

Frowning, Iwai glared down at her. Only for a few seconds, though. He let out a sigh as he passed her a display box of BB bottles so she could place it with the other brands. "While you're doin' that, I'll be chasin' down a few leads. Tsuda's up to somethin' and it ain't anythin' good."

He trusted her with that much, at least.

"So… I just stroll up to the kid and… what? Take him on a date? I don't even know his name."

"Rin, you even try to date my son and I'll bury you under my store's foundation…" even with the threat, he couldn't help but grin and let a small laugh escape. "His name's Kaoru. He's a pretty quiet kid and doesn't have many friends. All I'm askin' is you occupy his time for two or three hours. Take him to the arcade. Go see a movie. Get somethin' to eat. I don't care. I'll pay you back what you spend. Just… y'know… don't go gettin' anythin' too expensive."

Before Lynn had a chance to reply, the store door swung open.

A short boy wearing a plain black hoodie and jeans wandered in, giving Iwai a curious look. Iwai himself gave the kid a nod and a brief smile.

"Kaoru, speak of the devil."

"Hey dad, I finished my studying."

So this was Kaoru. Lynn gave him a cursory glance. He didn't look like much, quite plain and honestly nothing like Iwai. There didn't seem to be an ounce of family resemblance. Which, if Lynn were being honest, wasn't any of her business.

"This, here;" Iwai motioned to Lynn "is Amamiya. Why don't you two kids get acquainted?"

Kaoru stiffened up and let himself glance toward Lynn. If the brief description Iwai gave was true, it was probably wise if she took the initiative and led the conversation. "Hey. Don't worry, I don't bite," she probably could have gone with something less cheesy, but there was no taking it back. She wandered over towards the boy and gently patted a hand on his shoulder. This, of course, just made him stiffen even more. Amusing as it was, she resisted the urge to tease him. "You said you finished studying? You must be getting ready for entrance exams. Something I never really got to experience. I went to school in the UK until about a few months ago!"

"The UK? Is it… different over there, senpai?"

"Just call me Rin. Everyone else does." Not that she minded. She was used to being referred to by her first name. "Anyway, yeah. It's a little different, in that only Grammar Schools have entrance exams. At least in my experience. I didn't do it, though. Regular old school for me!"

As strange as some random girl approaching him to hang out was, Kaoru at least didn't resist all that much when Lynn began leading him out of the store.

She caught him giving Iwai a confused look.

Kaoru seemed a little suspicious, but when they arrived at the nearby arcade, he was slightly more relaxed. Or at least, he stopped questioning the situation as much.

From there, they played a few games together, briefly encountering a young Elementary school student with a baseball cap. He was apparently a big deal in a certain competitive shooter circuit. Though neither Lynn nor Kaoru had heard of him. Still, they enjoyed a few rounds getting their asses handed to them by the little kid.

They also made fools of themselves on the dance machines, earned a few points on some rhythm games and won a small snowman figure from a crane game. The kid was actually quite witty once he had relaxed. Competitive, even. During a heated race on the motorbike game, he even threw out some trash talk. Lynn was more than happy to respond in kind. Though she managed to sneak out a win in the end, the boy was laughing.

After that, they stopped by the electronics store to browse and chat about random stuff. Favorite movies, games, music and the like. Surprisingly - or perhaps not given who the kid's dad was - he was pretty into punk rock and classic glam rock.

Finally, they found themselves sitting in a booth in Big Bang Burger. What Ryuji didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

That, however, was when the kid's mood shifted. His smile faltered and his mild joking banter trailed off when they sat down to eat. He grumbled and gave a few side glances, as if Lynn had done something to offend him.

Munching on his meal, Kaoru let out a long sigh. "I know what you're doing, Rin. I'm not dumb…" he muttered with a look of weary sadness in his eyes. Sadness that didn't particularly belong in someone so young. "Dad's doing something dangerous and you're my babysitter. It wouldn't be the first time he's done this kind of thing."

"Well… I guess I can't deny that," Lynn shrugged, feeling a lot of sympathy for the kid. "I won't apologize, though. He's only looking out for you in his own disgruntled way."

"Whatever…"

He fell into silence, poking a fry into a small cup of ketchup. Abscently, he stirred it around and grumbled as he ate it.

"Kaoru, I know you're probably frustrated. Honestly, I would be too if I were in your shoes," she tried to sound assuring, but honestly, what could she even say? He was completely right and had every reason to be annoyed. Iwai was - in the kid's perspective - pushing him away without telling him anything. Even if it was for a decent reason. From context alone, Lynn had gathered Kaoru had no idea about Iwai being an ex-Yakuza. So to find not only that fact out, but to find out he was getting involved with it again? Who knew how he'd react. "That said, I can guarantee that he wants nothing but the best for you. That's why I'm here! I thought we were having fun!"

That at least got a reaction out of him. His face flushed slightly as he stole several split second glances at her.

"I… I mean, yeah… tonight's been… fun. But it's not like you want to be spending time with a Middle Schooler. You're only here because my dad is probably paying you. Which - in case you didn't know - is damn insulting."

"Oh for sure it's insulting," Lynn nodded sagely, "but I'm not actually being paid for this. If I didn't want to be here, I would have just told the old man that and said no. Truth is, I'm curious about you. You're preparing for entrance exams, right? Do you have a specific school in mind?"

For a few moments, Kaoru glared at her, trying to see any hint of a lie.

The truth was she was genuinely curious. Sure, the night started out as a mere favour for Iwai, but spending time with Kaoru in the arcade had made Lynn admit that she liked the kid. He was quiet and hesitant, but he had a dorky side that came out when he was playing a game. His mannerisms were adorable in a little brother sort of way. That said, now that they were talking, it was clear that he was incredibly perceptive too.

Finally, he shrugged.

"A few months ago, I would have told you Shujin… but I saw the news about that creepy Volleyball coach. It kinda poisoned my opinion of the place."

"Don't blame you. Shujin is… not very student-friendly…" she shuddered at the memory of Kamoshida. However, Sadayo came to mind too. "Though not all the faculty are bad. Oh, right, I should mention I go to Shujin."

"I figured."

"So if not Shujin then…"

Kaoru hummed for a few seconds. "Kosei, maybe. Though that place is more geared toward creatives. I'm no artist."

"What are you passionate about? What sort of thing would you like to do for a career?"

At that, his cheeks reddened slightly. He huffed and tried avoiding eye contact. "It's… dumb. You'd probably laugh at me."

That only earned a raised eyebrow.

"I very highly doubt that. Try me."

"I… want to be a pediatrician," he finally answered, looking almost ashamed of himself. For Lynn's part, she took a second to take that in. She tilted her head in confusion.

Only one question was on her mind. "Why would I laugh at that?" She frowned and sensed that she had stumbled onto something a little more personal than she had anticipated. "That's an amazing goal to aim for. Seriously." She couldn't fathom why he was so embarrassed by admitting that. One would think he admitted to wanting to be a clown or a Yelp reviewer. At her reassurance, he shot her a wary look.

"Tell that to the other kids at school."

"Pah! Who cares what those assholes think!" Lynn's suddenly boisterous tone gave Kaoru a start and he gingerly jumped a little in his seat. "You should be proud of that ambition. Can I ask what made you want that?"

A brief moment of hesitation caught Kaoru's words in his throat. He grumbled and gave Lynn a studious glance. He debated with himself for a few seconds before finally slumping and sipped at his drink. "Well… you probably guessed that I'm adopted. My dad isn't my biological dad. I… don't know who my biological parents are and probably never will. I don't really care, though. Dad is my dad." He grunted with a certain adamant gesture. "That said, I was apparently a pretty sick baby. I don't remember any of it for obvious reasons, but according to my doctor, I was born addicted to several drugs."

"... Oh… shit…"

"Yeah. I still have to go to regular appointments, but I'm more or less ok now," he quietly chuckled as his gaze wandered around the fast food joint. "That's why I want to be a pediatrician. Without my doctor, I wouldn't be here. I want to be there for other kids like me. Help them through the crap they have no control over."

Listening to Kaoru's story, Lynn felt her chest tighten. For a kid to go through something like that, it took real strength to still see good. And his ambition to become like his heroes? Lynn felt a huge amount of respect for the kid.

"Those kids making fun of you are just ignorant. Don't listen to them because if you ask me, you're amazing."

"T-thanks… honestly, I don't know why I'm telling you all this. I just met you two hours ago," at that, the two laughed. "You're pretty weird, y'know? Most people would take the paycheck from my dad and just throw me at a movie or something. I know you said dad isn't paying you, but still… sorry for being a dick about it earlier."

"Oh, I'd be the same. No hard feelings," she grinned and subconsciously patted him on the head. "Listen; if you ever need someone to talk to, you can shoot me a text or give me a call. As… long as it's not during class. Y'know… I'd rather not get chalk thrown at me."

"Wait… the teachers throw chalk at the students in Shujin?"

"Heh… one of 'em does. I've gotten pretty good at dodging it though." She smirked, albeit a little guiltily. "The guy sitting behind me… not so much."

Humble brag aside, after Lynn's insistence, they exchanged contact info and decided to cut it off there. It was getting late and Morgana was probably half an hour away from trying his best to call the cops. As such, Lynn walked Kaoru back to Iwai's apartment and headed back to Untouchable. The man himself probably wanted to know Kaoru was back home safe and sound. The kid's story was still swimming around in her head as she pushed the store's door open so she didn't notice the front was empty at first.

"Poor kid…" she muttered before eventually picking up on muffled voices.

"Your store's pretty impressive!" One low, rough voice boasted. Even more rugged than Iwai himself. However, it immediately set Lynn on edge. Despite the compliment, there was an edge to it. "Seriously, you could start a war with these realistic models."

"That's… real nice comin' from you, Tsuda. Thanks." The second voice - unmistakably Iwai - grunted. At that, Lynn's heart stopped.

Tsuda?

As in the active Yakuza that Iwai had been spying on?

Here?

Suddenly, Lynn was quite thankful she had taken Kaoru home instead of back to the store. However, before she had time to fully digest what was going on, someone stepped out from the back. His large frame oozed authority as he strolled casually through the door. His pinstripe suit and round sunglasses screamed suspicious, but Lynn would not be caught dead saying that to the guy's face. Tsuda was large. Very large. He wouldn't look out of place in a sumo ring. Granted, he wasn't on par with Kaneshiro's sheer muscular enormity, but he definitely had the same energy.

His eyes locked with Lynn's and beneath his glasses, a brow perked curiously. "Hm?"

Iwai was right behind him, however. A brief flash of horror caught Lynn off guard. However, when Iwai didn't see his son anywhere in the store, he silently sighed in relief. Then, he put on a neutral scowl and stepped behind the counter.

"Welcome. I'll be right with you." He addressed Lynn.

The message was received loud and clear.

She ambled over toward the back of the store. Specifically, the section dedicated to magazines and maintenance manuals. Far away enough to not draw suspicion, but close enough to hear what was going on.

"I'll take one of everything you showed me tonight, Iwai," Tsuda spoke, less as a request and more as an outright demand. "How long will that take?"

Iwai took a second to run some calculations in his head. He then sighed with exhaustion. "Depends on how fast some shit gets here. Most of it has to go through customs and… well… those assholes always like to take their sweet time. I got no control over that."

A sudden shift in Tsuda's posture set Iwai on edge. His shoulders subtly tensed up and his expression tightened. As for Tsuda, the Yakuza merely shook his head in disappointment.

"No good, Mune…" he growled. From where Lynn was standing, she couldn't see his face, but the restrained dread on Iwai's painted a pretty clear picture. "What was your son's name again? Kaoru?" Iwai's shoulders slumped and nodded in affirmation. "Well, it'd be a shame if he was to find out your little secret. I wonder how an adolescent would react to their dad being an ex-Yakuza? Though… I suppose if I did tell him… I'd have to sell him."

"Fine. I'll put a damn rush on it. Happy?"

"For now."

With a self-assured nod, Tsuda adjusted his suit jacket and promptly left the store. Almost immediately after the man left Iwai's eyesight, the store owner slammed a fist down onto a display shelf behind the counter. Several items tumbled to the ground and Lynn was quick to rush in and help him pick it all up. "God… damn it…" Iwai mumbled, his face twisting in both anger and dread.

Lynn wanted to ask about the last thing Tsuda said, hoping she had merely misheard, but now wasn't the time.

"I hope you and Kaoru had a good time, at least?" He grunted, shelving a few of the fallen items.

"He's a good kid. Strong willed. He knew you were just trying to distract him from something, but it's obvious he does care about you." Though it probably didn't help, she gave the man a brief squeeze on the shoulder. "I gave him my number in case he wanted to talk or wanted to ask for advice."

"Hah! Bet that got him to redden like a damn tomato."

"And then some. Seriously, he's a good kid."

"That, Rin, is a huge understatement." They fell into silence for a full two minutes as they cleaned up the last of the fallen items. Thankfully, nothing had broken in the fall. Not that Iwai would care all that much right then. After the last item was placed back in its spot, he let out a long sigh. "Sorry you had to see that. Tsuda's… changed."

"What happened while I was with Kaoru?"

"I poked around and followed up on a few leads. I'll spare you the gorey details, but there was a huge hundred mill deal around New Years. It involved the Hong Kong mafia and I'll eat my hat if Tsuda wasn't involved. The big bastard was braggin' about some huge score around that time. So… we'll see what I can dig up on my own."

At least Lynn wasn't the one doing the poking around this time. Still, at least something came from Iwai's leads.

However, Iwai's slight grin faltered for a second.

"You… probably want to know what that shit about sellin' Kaoru is about…"

"I won't deny I'm curious…" Lynn nodded, but shot him a sympathetic smile, "I'm not going to ask, though."

"Right…" he let a relieved exhale deflate the tension in his shoulders. "Well, thanks anyway. Got receipts for tonight? I'll pay you back."

"Don't bother," Lynn lifted a hand and shook her head. "Go give that kid a damn hug, you grumpy old man." At that, she shot him a playful smirk. He responded with a short glare before he had to let out a chuckle. "Seriously, I don't need a payback. Just pay me back with access to your workbench and tools."

"You use them anyway! Even when I say no…"

The banter continued for another few minutes before Lynn checked the time. She really needed to get back to Leblanc now. So, she excused herself and made a mad dash for the train station.

Morgana was probably going to lecture her when she got home.

Especially considering she didn't have time to get him any sushi now.

Saturday - July 9th

Classes seemed to completely fly by, leaving the thieves somewhat conflicted. Meeting up in Shibuya as usual, Ryuji had thankfully said today's training was canceled. For obvious reasons.

Today was supposed to be the deadline for their debt.

Kaneshiro might have turned himself in and the Inoshishi was slowly being dismantled by the police, but that didn't mean they were completely clear just yet. So, with the idea of safety in numbers, the thieves grouped together and decided to keep a low profile for the day. Which meant acting like regular teenagers hanging out after a half-day at school. Even still, there was definitely a lot of tension in their actions.

As they walked through the underground mall - a favorite spot for a certain blonde fashionista - they browsed the various stores with cursory glances.

Yet, they were barely paying attention to anything that was on offer.

Even Ann wasn't all that excited to see a brand sale in her favourite boutique.

Someone had to break the tension, and soon. Otherwise, their whole hanging out cover would just be a waste of time.

Finally, Makoto let out a short huff. Finding a small alcove in the corner of the mall, the thieves took their seats on a series of benches. "Finals are coming this week. I hope everyone's taking their studies seriously."

"Oh no…" Lynn squeaked.

Before she could bolt for the nearest exit, she felt a strong hand grip the collar of her shirt from behind. Shiho's face had suddenly darkened, yet a smile remained etched into her jaw. "Where do you think you're going, Ms. Amamiya?" Her voice was sweet like sugar, but sharp like a knife. Sweat suddenly beaded on Lynn's forehead. But it was too late. She was at the mercy of the Bear of Shujin.

"To… the… bathroom?" She stuttered out weakly. She quickly shot a glance at a small sign on the other side of the mall noting the restrooms. In the complete opposite direction Lynn had tried running.

Both Makoto and Hifumi - and Yusuke to a lesser extent - watched the scene with confusion and curiosity. Seeing Lynn actually terrified of Shiho was clearly a shock to them. However, both Ann and Ryuji could only giggle to themselves. Slowly, Shiho dragged the whining team leader back onto the bench and clamped her hand on her shoulder, preventing her from trying to escape again. "We're not making excuses, are we?"

"Am… uh… are we missing something?" Hifumi pondered as she looked at Makoto and Yusuke.

"Indeed. It appears there has been a shift in tone," Yusuke added.

Makoto, however, was starting to put two and two together. A flash of recollection dawned on her and her expression also darkened. The same sweet smile crossed her jaw and she glared deep into Lynn's soul. "This doesn't have anything to do with Midterms, does it?" She asked, the sharp, sugary voice now dripping from Makoto as well. "Because I seem to recall a certain transfer student's controversial performance."

"For the last time! I still passed, didn't I!?"

"And you think that makes it ok?" Shiho growled. Honestly, Lynn was dreading the coming week for this precise reason.

"I think I know what we're doing for the rest of the day," Makoto added, her smile only somehow growing more innocently threatening. "Shiho, shall we?"

"We shall."

Ryuji's quiet snort earned the gaze of both girls. Their smiles not changing in the slightest which prompted the boy to realise his fatal mistake. Makoto's hand shot forward and grabbed a fist full of his t-shirt. In an identical fashion to Lynn, he had suddenly tried bolting to the exit. Both underperformers were ensnared. Slowly, Makoto and Shiho begun dragging their victims away. It left Ann, Hifumi and Yusuke alone in a state of horror, amusement and sympathy.

"Well… that was… terrifying," Ann muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "We… should probably go with them, honestly. Shiho can be a… harsh tutor so Lynn's probably going to need a shoulder to cry on later."

"I assume that's an exaggeration, Ann?" Yusuke asked, a small hint of sympathetic hope in his tone. Only, it died when Ann's only response was a pointed silence and a look of complete seriousness.

"Oh dear…" Hifumi shuddered.

[SCENE BREAK]

"So that's what Hell looks like…" Lynn rambled to herself, prompting Takemi to raise an eyebrow.

"Your heart rate's a little faster than usual. Did something happen? I'd rather not get my data all messed up at this stage." The doctor went about writing down several notes as she conducted her routine tests. The newest batch of her medicine barely registered as Lynn chugged the liquid. She was too busy experiencing a thousand yard stare. "Uh… Rin?"

"So cruel…"

"And I've completely lost her…" Takemi groaned and tapped her clipboard to her forehead. "What the hell happened?"

"I'm sorry. I'll get the next one right…"

"Y'know, I thought we'd do something different today. Maybe I'll have you run a couple of marathons back to back. Physical fitness is always good." No change, the teen was still zoned out. "Or perhaps I could perform a live autopsy on you. I've always wanted to do that." Still no actual response. After another few seconds, Takemi finally got fed up and smacked Lynn's forehead with her clipboard. Finally, that seemed to jolt her out of whatever episode she was going through. "Back with me? Good. Now, focus. We're in the final few stages so I can't afford you messing up my data."

"R-right… sorry about that."

Lynn shook herself out of her stupor. She was, of course, being dramatic.

Shiho and Makoto may have been strict, but they were great teachers in their own right. It was just the combination of the two and the unexpected authority they could both muster. Or rather, unexpected from Shiho. The girl's assertiveness and aggression was a known factor, but it always managed to surprise Lynn when it boiled over. As for Makoto, maybe it was the fact she sounded so much like a certain merc from the future, but whenever the president even slightly raised her voice, Lynn immediately felt intimidated.

It had turned into one hell of a study session and after the fact - despite wanting to cry on Ann's shoulder for a few hours - Lynn did actually feel accomplished.

More so than she usually did when studying alone.

Her knowledge definitely bumped up a few pegs! A small trilling tone danced across her mind at that thought. If only personal attributes were like a video game.

"I'm fine, it's just Finals are coming up."

At least Takemi seemed to understand a little. She merely shrugged and went back to the EKG readings. "Whatever. Your vitals are all normal now. Hm… feel anything strange?"

"No. Not even a little rumble in my stomach."

"Alright…" Takemi scribbled more notes down and ran a few more tests on Lynn. A simple motor function test. A brief eye exam. Some more physical examinations and lastly, taking a vial of blood for later testing. She seemed satisfied after that last part and instructed the girl to put her shirt back on. "It looks like I'm almost done. A few more back end developments, then I can send the formula off to the board. If all goes well, I should be able to apply for Miwa to receive the new treatment within the next few months."

The mention of the little girl brought a bitter sweet smile to Lynn's face.

"Any word from Oyamada?"

"None… which honestly is a little concerning," Takemi's lips thinned as she turned to her computer. She typed away for a few seconds, sighing. "I made a few transfer requests for Miwa behind his back, but he hasn't even made a - wait… what?" She cut herself off as she leaned closer to the screen. To Lynn, it looked like some sort of log in screen or request form. However, Takemi quickly scrolled through and clicked several icons. "I should be…" she muttered before her eyes widened. "That bastard!"

"Oh no…"

For the second time in just as many days, Lynn saw an adult briefly lose their temper. However, instead of slamming a fist into a shelf, Takemi scowled and yanked a small object from a draw. A rubber figure that resembled some sort of jester with a black and red outfit. She then began continuously squeezing it, causing its eyes to pop out then shrink back in. As well as a tiny, strained squeak as if it was yelping in agony.

"He's put an embargo on my clinic! That snake! Doesn't he care that I can actually help Miwa now!?"

"An embargo?"

Takemi's squeezing quickly increased in speed, making the strangled squeaking almost constant. "I'm completely cut off from my suppliers…" she hissed, "right when I was just about to finish development! It's like he's trying to kill Miwa himself…"

They fell into silence - save for the squeaking. Lynn tried to focus her thoughts and make sense of Oyamada's actions.

However, she couldn't.

It was like whatever he was trying to do was twisted.

She then let out a sharp gasp. Twisted was the wrong word. Distorted. "There might be something I can do. Or rather…" she looked down at the stress doll undergoing its torture, subconsciously feeling as though she was the one being squeezed repeatedly, "something Joker can do."

That, at least got Takemi to stop her squeezing.

She glanced at the doll in her hands and after a moment, let out a half amused groan. "I forgot about you and your extradimensional… stuff. Though I'll have to decline. I have no idea what you even do to your targets, so I can't ethically ask you."

"I mean… you don't have to ask. Hypothetically, if you were to let Oyamada's first name slip in idle conversation, you would be none the wiser."

"Sneaky." Takemi sniggered and placed the doll down on her desk. The dull beady eyes stared up at Lynn as though it was judging her. "Well, I suppose Shoichi has won this round. There's not much I can do with my suppliers blocked off. Anyway… thanks for today. Try not to get banged up out there, kid. I still need you in good condition after all."

Lynn nodded with a smile before getting up to leave.

The Phantom Thieves had a new target. Shoichi Oyamada.

Sunday - July 10th

"So this fucker puts a block on Takemi's clinic because she's close to finishing her research?" V surmised with a twitch in her eye.

"Pretty much. It sounds like a case of wounded ego turned up to eleven." Lynn nodded in reply. The V team and a few of the thieves - excluding Ann and Shiho - were sitting in the movie theatre attic discussing what Lynn had found out last night. "He's putting a kid's life in danger because… well… I don't actually know why. I already checked the Nav and he definitely has a presence in Mementos, so all we have to do is go in and deal with him."

The other members of the V team glanced at each other.

All of them were definitely disgusted by Oyamada, but there was something else in their expressions. Exasperation? Annoyance? A knowing sense of boredom?

Before Lynn or any of the thieves could say something, Judy aggressively planted a foot on the makeshift coffee table, growling. "Shit like this happens all the fuckin' time in NC. Some gonk who thinks they're the shit wants to hog all the cred while stompin' down all their competitors." Every one of the V team nodded, mumbling under their breath. "Rushed drug development, shitty logistics, bloated egos. Fuckin' bullshit is what it is. About four years ago, there was a massive Biotechnica leak. Some painkiller called Securicine. Bastards knew that the drug caused neurodegeneration. They were fuckin' renderin' people brain dead and knew it. Did they pull the pill? Nope. It was makin' them eddies, so they just classified the side effects."

"I remember that," Kerry added, going slightly pale. "It was all over N54 news for like a week. My doc recommended Securicine for my migraines before it all came out. Thank fuck I didn't listen to him…"

"The case crossed my desk, too." River grumbled, his frown twitching in annoyance. "I was politely told to drop it. Back then, I was a little less eager to go against orders, so I ended up leaving it in the cold case files."

As the V team talked, the teens all looked absolutely horrified.

And apparently things like that were a common occurrence? "Please say this Biotechnica company isn't in busi-"

Lynn wasn't able to finish her question. The tired look all of the V team were giving her answered it for her.

Of course this Biotechnica corporation didn't go out of business. Lynn felt dumb for even hoping that was the case. Hell, things like that also happened on this side of the Metaverse, too. Groaning, Lynn brought things back on topic. Shoichi Oyamada. "Anyway… without those suppliers, Takemi's pretty much stuck at the finish line but can't step over."

Morgana hummed and looked around toward the gathered members of the thieves.

It was a pain not having Ann and Shiho present, but it was hopefully a safe bet to assume they would agree to targeting Oyamada.

"So, I assume it's as unanimous as we can get, right now?" The not-cat asked, his ear twitching at the immediate round of agreement. "Alright, seeing as Rin's already found his Seedling in Mementos, we should probably see to it as soon as possible. Or… maybe we should wait for Lady Ann and Shiho?"

Ryuji cleared his throat and shook his head. "They're both gonna be busy all day. Ann's doin' her whole modellin' thing and Shiho's got therapy, which always takes her out'a commission for at least a day. Gotta recharge those mental batteries, y'know? I'll be textin' her later with Ann."

"I suppose it can't be helped…" Morgana muttered.

"Huh," Panam's brow perked in curiosity. "I did not know Ann was a model. I guess she does have the body for it."

For some reason, Makoto quietly mumbled under her breath. No one heard what she said, but judging by her body language, she really didn't want anyone to ask.

"Anyway, I owe Takemi a whole fuckin' lot, so I can at least help with this much." V stood up from her seat and wandered over toward the workbench area set up in the far corner. "So, we going to shoot some gonk doctor ass, or we just going to sit around talking?"

That - Lynn supposed - was V's way of saying they should hurry up.

"Wait… what about your arm?"

"My new chrome's chipped and ready to break in," V replied, moving her arm around and flexing it. Notably, the cybernetic markings along the forearm were different to the old one. "Got the other replaced, too. As preem as Monowire is, sometimes, you need to switch it up. Keep the gangers guessing." Sure enough, both arms looked distinctly different. Curious, Lynn wanted to ask for more details, but alas, they had a job to do.

Everyone would probably find out sooner or later, anyway.

Clearing a path through several layers of Mementos proved far easier than expected.

Most of the Shadows that lurched at the group were dispatched quickly and without much mercy. Most of the time, they didn't even need to leave Mona's bus form. Which - somewhat amusingly - had grown several feet longer in order to accommodate the larger group. With both the thieves and the V team present, they damn well needed it.

Ryuji and Kerry had taken to leaning out of windows on each side of Morgana and were firing at Shadows like sentry turrets.

The rhythmic banging of their guns serving as a strange beat.

In the driver's seat, V was concentrating on driving through the tunnels while Judy navigated. The Mona-Dar pinging every so often to indicate where Oyamada's Seedling was.

Meanwhile, the rest of their group were conserving their strength. Occasionally, gunning duty switched between them, but aside from that, they were busy keeping track of spent ammunition and other supplies. The whole formation was a well oiled machine as far as Lynn was concerned.

In record time, they had delved into the lower parts of the second layer of Mementos and shortly, they came upon their target.

The ominous vortex that led to Oyamada's Seedling lay waiting at the end of a long tunnel. But before V drove closer, they came to a stop and let Morgana's engine rumble to a stop. "So, we got a plan? Do we know much about this gonk?" V asked, leaning over her seat to look at the group. "Or are we just gonna burst in like jumped up 'Dorph-Heads?"

[You say that, V… but ain't that precisely what we both did at 'Saka Tower?]

Without anyone asking for his input, the form of Johnny Silverhand flickered into being, sitting with his leg already resting on the back of Lynn's seat. The scent of cigarette smoke immediately permeated the air. All V could do was sigh while Judy gave her a pointed glare and a slight grin. "Yeah, yeah; I'm a crazy gonk with a fuckin' death wish. I get enough of this from Vik. Do you have anything actually useful to add, or do you just want to talk shit?"

Johnny laughed and glanced at her over the top of his aviators. [Me? Shit talk? I'm offended!] Though he waved his cybernetic hand placatingly when most of the V team gave him a hard glare. Even Kerry, though his gaze was accompanied by an amused smirk. [I'll be real though, this fucker you're after? People like him are fuckin' cowards of the worst kind. Ain't like that Kaneshiro asshole at all. At least that fucker was honest. Nah, I bet a thou' that he folds quicker than a Jig-Jig Street Joy-Toy. Spineless bastards piss me off.]

Lynn pressed her thumb to her chin as he spoke. The rockerboy was right about that. From what she had experienced of Oyamada, he talked a big game and relied mostly on his authority to stamp out his opposers.

In terms of the Metaverse, however, that could translate to something very real.

His self image of his authority could manifest in any number of ways. Perhaps he had command of a small army of Shadows.

Or maybe it would be represented by empowered physical strength.

Hell, there was even the possibility that Oyamada could fundamentally change things in his Seedling to suit him better.

"All we really need is his treasure. Seedling Palaces are pretty tiny, so finding it won't be that difficult." Morgana added to the conversation. He grumbled a little in agitation, causing the cabin to vibrate slightly. "So, Joker, like Samurai asked; what's the plan?"

"Three teams. Combat, Search and Support," Lynn began to explain. With a group this large, she had a lot of options at her disposal and she was determined to make full use of it. "Skull, Samurai, Rider and I will engage with any Shadows and Oyamada himself if he does show up. While we're keeping the Shadows busy, Fox, Rocker, Nomad and Badges, I need you to search for the treasure. Queen, Mox and Mona you're on medic and supply duty. One of the Combat team gets hit, I need you to run healing. We run out of ammo, I need fresh supplies ASAP."

[You expectin' this to be some kinda full scale war?] Johnny asked, shifting his feet around on the back of Lynn's seat.

The teenager felt a small pang of irritation tighten in her chest.

"No, I'm not," she replied, shooting him a deadly glare, "what I'm expecting is a lot of things and I'm trying to prepare for as many as I can."

[Hey, I'm all on board. Just a little fucked to see a kid talk like a soldier.] Something in the man's voice caught Lynn's attention. It sounded a little like concern. Or perhaps sadness. [Some offense.]

She could have done without that last little friendly jab, but she admittedly understood.

Not that it mattered anyway.

After that, Lynn ran through the plan again and before long, they headed into the vortex to enter the Seedling.

As reality shifted and warped around then, the familiar squeezing in the gut took hold.

Moments later, they were standing on ceramic tiled flooring and the sterile scent of bleach filled their noses. As with the other Seedlings they had explored, this one also consisted of large motes of land floating in an endless red and black abyss. The main island held fragments of pale blue walls around its perimeter and everything was pretty much sparkling clean. Medical posters spotted a few of the wall fragments, but mostly, things were relatively plain and clinical. Much like an actual hospital.

That was - however - not the case for the main floor.

Three large conveyor belts were spread across the room, trailing out from a non-descript machine to another identical machine on the other side. The belts were rumbling along at a slow, consistent pace and on each conveyor, strange figures were sat slumped over. Lifeless doll-like figures. Like the sort used in medical training.

Standing on either side of each belt were Shadows. Tall, gangly individuals with white lab coats draped over their thin shoulders. Each one doing various tasks with the dolls. Checking heart rate, moving a limb, looking at body temperature, testing reaction times. It was a continuous, repetitive, never-ending line of the same exam no matter what. It was dystopian in nature and Lynn felt sick just thinking about it.

"Huh…" Lynn couldn't help but laugh, "he really does see his practice as a conveyor line… I thought Junichi was just being dramatic…"

"Who's Junichi?" River asked, slowly taking out his revolver.

"One of Takemi's patients. Not important." Lynn gestured toward the Shadows who were starting to take notice of the intruders. The conveyors stopped abruptly and the Shadows wearing lab coats turned their attention fully to the intruding group. "Combat team, on me."

With that, Lynn, Makoto, Ryuji and V all charged forward to engage the Shadows.

From there, the battle sparked to life instantly.

It wasn't just the lab coat Shadows they had to deal with. Smaller Shadows soon arrived to lend their support. However, with the four combatants being so aggressive right out of the gate, the Shadow presence had locked their attention onto them, leaving the other two teams free and clear.

Immediately, River took charge of his allocated team and quickly organised Yusuke, Kerry and Panam into a makeshift search line. With the Mona-Dar firmly in his hand, River got to work, following the signal and doing his best to avoid the conflict. Luckily, the signal was coming from the far side of the Seedling, skirting around the bulk of the place.

In a similar case to River, Morgana had opted to take the lead both Hifumi and Judy in their own duties. When one of Lynn's team called for ammo, Morgana was quick to dish it out. When one took a hit that sent them staggering, Mox was there to perform emergency healing. If one of them fell victim to some weird Shadow effect, Hifumi quickly dispelled it.

Before long, River's team found what they were looking for. Oyamada's treasure.

A framed, official looking document. It was hanging on the wall just to the side of an opening into the endless void. The glass covering the document shimmered with energy and sure enough, the Mona-Dar incessantly trilled like a manic kitten.

However, before they could take it, they were repelled by a sudden shockwave. Oyamada himself had suddenly lunged out from the abyss below. He snarled and snatched the treasure from its mounting, clinging to it like his life depended on it. [What are you doing!? Thieves! Stop harassing my staff, you thugs!] He bellowed, looking around at the battle. By now, the Shadow's numbers had dwindled almost completely. Much to the doctor's anger and - if River was assuming right - complete terror. [The board of directors will be hearing of this! My lawyers are the best in the business! I'll bury you under so many lawsuits, you'll be destitute within a week!]

"Wow… Johnny was right. Slimy." Kerry snorted. "He's worse than my old record company."

"I can imagine," River idly replied before changing to Japanese for Yusuke's benefit. "Hey, Oyamada, what's with the stone walling? Why are you so hell bent on stopping Takemi from helping the kid?" That managed to earn a scowl from the Shadow doctor. He stepped back and clutched his treasure and glared at River as though looks alone could kill.

[Because she gets all the credit! She's the genius, she's the successful one. Why!? I deserve my own success! I've been a doctor for far longer than she has, yet she's the one who the board loves. She's the one who gets all the accolades!] The vitriol in his voice was almost physically leaking from his lips. However, he sneered and straightened his back. [Not anymore. After her little misstep with Miwa's treatment. Now she's a disgrace and I'm the successful one!]

"Bullshit, asshole." Panam growled. She had been filled in on all the details and so had Kerry. Both knew exactly what happened to Miwa. "You are the one who fucked around while she found out. You talk as if it was all her."

Oyamada merely scoffed. [Do you think that matters? Takemi was in charge of Miwa's treatment at the time. Any complications or emergencies were her responsibility. And, like a good little doctor, she at least understood that much. After all, it was her experimental drug that I used.]

"Utterly disgusting…" Yusuke muttered under his breath. "To think this man is responsible for the medical care of children…"

The artist stepped forward and slowly unsheathed his sword.

The crackling of frost sent a strong chill across the Seedling. Yusuke lifted the blade and pointed it straight at the doctor, its frigid tip resting a few centimeters from Oyamada's nose. The Shadow doctor's confidence immediately vanished at the action.

Then, Yusuke raised his free hand to the kitsune mask on his face. He tapped its nose and allowed a gust of cold wind to reduce the mask to snow. At the action, his icy eyes glowed an angry gold.

Behind Oyamada, the huge, colourful form of Goemon rose to his full height. The Persona grinned menacingly and puffed on the large pipe, blowing frosted smoke down on Oyamada.

"You are outnumbered, my leader is slaughtering your troops and our supplies are barely diminished," Yusuke spoke slowly and with purpose. Even the members of the V team accompanying him shivered. And not because of the cold. "If you are wise, surrender your treasure peacefully. If not… Goemon will not be the only threat you will face."

As if to emphasize his threat, the sound of Captain Kidd's cackling, Arsene's sinister growling, the shredding of Johnny's guitar and the roaring of Johana's engine filled the air. Followed - of course - by the howling and shrieking of Shadows being slaughtered wholesale.

[What… what right do you have? Storming my practice with… with…] Oyamada faltered when Yusuke's blade began to steam with cold air.

While he struggled to keep what little of his composure he had left, he tried desperately to ignore the sight of Mithras materialising behind River. Nuclear energy coiled around the Persona's celestial blade, ready to strike at a second's notice. Behind Panam, Leanan Sidhe draped herself across the Nomad's shoulders, giving Oyamada a sultry grin. And as for Kerry, he was leaning against the haft of Lizzie's huge axe, back to back with the crazy Tyger Claw Killer.

[I… I…] the Shadow doctor's shoulders trembled before finally slumping. His expression twisted from fearfully offended to almost sorrowful. [I give up… I can't do this anymore.]

"Oh? Something to get off your chest?" River pressed, lowering his gun to his side. He didn't, however, holster it.

[I don't know what happened. I became a doctor to help people. But… but jealousy over Takemi's accomplishment started to cloud my judgement. She's so young and intelligent and she just kept reaching higher and higher.] His gaze turned downwards to his feet, trying not to give the sword or Persona too much attention. [I grew impatient. I just… wanted to be recognised. So… I went behind her back and stole some of her unfinished development. I wanted to be the one to discover a treatment for Crawford-Ende's disease. In my desperation, I almost killed Miwa… because of me, she was put into critical condition. I panicked, so I blamed Takemi. The board fell for it immediately and she became a periaha. I ended up being promoted to Chief of Staff and… I suppose the power has gotten to my head.]

Before long, Lynn's combat team had completely cleared out the Shadows, allowing the whole group to rendezvous at where Oyamada was being held up.

Now that he was legitimately surrounded by people willing to dish out a beating, his grip on the treasure finally loosened. He looked down at the framed document with a mixture of nostalgia and anguish. [This is what marks me as a qualified medical practitioner. I worked so hard over years of medical school, internships and residency. But… yes, you're all correct. I have no right to keep it. What doctor willingly puts their patient at risk for the sake of wounded pride? That's no doctor at all.]

With that, he held the slightly glowing document out and hung his head. Hifumi moved in to quickly grab it, as if he was going to change his mind at the last second.

"You'll lift that stupid embargo on Takemi's clinic and you'll turn yourself into the board. Set the record straight." Lynn ordered, narrowing her eyes, still keeping a firm grip on her knife.

[I'll be ruined.]

"You were ruined the second you put Miwa's life in danger."

That earned a short, weak laugh. [I suppose you're right about that.]

After another moment, Oyamada's body slowly began to light up. Wisps of energy flaked off from his form and with a flash, the thieves all had to brace their eyes against the light. When things calmed down, Oyamada's Shadow was gone.

Lizzie let out a bored huff and let a large bubble of gum pop back into her mouth. [Well that was lame. I didn't think he'd be that much of a limp dick… boring!] She sighed, picking up her axe and letting herself fizzle into sparks of electricity.

Before anyone could say anything in response, the Seedling started to collapse.

"Everyone out!" Lynn called, yet she hardly needed to do so. They were already sprinting for the exit. This was the part they all hated the most.

Yet it was the part that was most vital. It meant they had succeeded.

Miwa would get her treatment, at long, long last.