Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chat with: Ryuji Sakamoto

Nickname? Y/N

Enter Nickname: Fwend

Chat with: Fwend:

Yo! Dude, you seein' this?

No.

You so can! Ha!

What did ya think of that... Castle thingy?

I... My face still feels like I ripped it off.

Wait, shit! You really... Dude... Does... Does it hurt every time you use it?

...

It does, doesn't it?

No. I don't think so. Adrenaline makes it hard to tell. Hey, uh... I've got Stats.

"Stats." Like a game?

Pretty much.

Ok... Ah, shoot. Mom's home, gotta go!

Bye.

Akira smiled softly, and then heard Sojiro's cough.

"Why don't you get upstairs? As long as you stay out of trouble, I'm fine with whatever you're doing. Got it?" Sojiro said with a harsh look.

"Yes sir." Akira nodded, and flinched as he forgot to deepen it.

"... The hell?" Sojiro blinked.

"I sound more like mother when I speak normally. So I deepen it, to sound... Boyish." Akira said in his low voice.

"Ah. I see." Sojiro nodded. "Well uh... As long as I don't come back to you being a girl one day, I don't have a problem with whatever you're wearing or sounding like, kay?" He said, and tossed Akira the key.

"Thanks, Boss." Akira grinned, catching it in his hand.

Fwend:

Hey dude, uh... You're probably asleep, this was stupid. Sorry.

Go ahead. I'm wide awake.

Thanks... I uh... I'm scared of that place. But... Suzui... She... She needs us to help, to deal with shit. to... to make Kamoshida back off.

We will. tomorrow. Ok? Who cares if we're missing from school? I'm a criminal, and you're a delinquent. We could be in the Castle for a while, and they wouldn't care.

Fair. So, same Alleyway?

Sounds good Ryuji.

 When Akira and Ryuji exited the Castle... Palace, Arsene corrected. It's called a Palace. Akira immediately saw that Ryuji...

He was a runner, wasn't he? He knew how to calm down from Adrenaline. He... He felt that pain, is still feeling it.

"How about we get Beef Bowls? My treat!" Ryuji said, a big smile on his face, hiding a wince. Akira...

Akira smiled, and nodded. "Sounds good." He admitted.

"Heh. Come on, let's get goin' then!" He grinned.

"Wait... Ryuji." Akira didn't wince as his voice slipped, but didn't care. He needed the emotion and volume.

"Huh?" He turned back to Akira.

"Did... Did you BODY A SHADOW!?" Akira hissed at his friend, remembering what had happened previously.

"Oh~ Oh shit!" Ryuji blinked, then grinned. "I did, didn't I!" He laughed. "Ha! Take that you stupid cat." He then stopped smiling. "Hey man, I don't think I properly thanked ya for that." He said, turning to Akira with a grateful look. "You saved my ass."

"And you've saved mine, more than that." Akira said, with a smile. "You bodied a Shadow to try and save me, and told me to run. And now you saved me from some twin horned beasts. We're friends, Ryuji. We have each other's backs." Akira said, not even hiding his voice, and holding out a hand for Ryuji.

"... Yeah." Ryuji grinned, and grabbed the hand. "We do, don't we?" Akira felt time pause, and saw a card float in front of him and Ryuji.

"I am thou~ Thou art I~

Thou hast forged a new vow, the 

It shall form and strengthen the Wings of Rebellion, that Breaketh thy Chains of Captivity.

With thou's bond that shall transcend even the depths of hell, and highest reaches of heaven, you shall earn new freedom and power."

Chariot Arcana:

(Burning Artist on Tumblr)

🃏 UPRIGHT: Control, willpower, success, action, determination
🃏 REVERSED: Self-discipline, opposition, lack of direction

Rank: 1

Powers Unlocked: RUSH 'EM! (Physical attacks will be charged up quicker, and using a buff or healing skill will not use up his turn or remove the "Once More" status.)

Ryuji blinked, seeing that.

"I... That's a busted thing right there." Ryuji muttered. "Wait, I thought we did a turn based thing, what's it meanin' that I can charge attacks?" Ryuji muttered.

"Don't know." Ryuji blinked hearing Ren's voice. It... It was girlier than even Ann's! "But... Ryuji? I think this is a good thing. You got a busted looking bonus, and... I feel my connection with you growing."

"That's a weird way to say we're friends." Ryuji smirked. "Come on, Fem-Ren~ We better get that ramen, huh?"

"Oh shut up." Ren rolled his(her?) eyes. "Don't you start with that dumb name too." But he was smiling despite that. "Ryuko~"

"You jest, but that was the name mom was gunna choose if I was a chick." Ryuji grinned.

Ren smiled back, and Ryuji... Ryuji felt like they've been friends for years, not just a few days.

Yeah... He's got a friend, in this guy. Someone he could follow to the ends of the earth, and... he can go along with that. Because he knew, he just knew, Ren would do the same.

Chapter Text

Narukami: So, Who found Where the new Shadow World is? Or When?

Yukiko: Not in Inaba

Narukami: We sent Rise for there.

Yukiko: I stay with my wife.

Naoto: I can't get out of Inaba.

Narukami: Why?

Junpei: Because someone ordered a few hits on those that are either cops, or part of the government. I'm allowed to go where ever, because I'm a P.E teacher, and Chidori is a nurse.

T̸̢̗̺̩̤̈́ę̶̞̔d̸̙͚͍̗̺͐͝d̴̢̢͈̅̄̽ī̸͔̘̟̦͗e̶̥̫̰̔̎͆͌͘̚:̸̦̘̦̼̖͒ Ī̴̛͍͂̏̐̋'̴̧͍̤̝̈͋m̴̢͉̅̐̿͛̑̂ ̵̛̳̬͉̍̅̈́̾̋s̴͕̳̯̬͇̰̎ţ̵̦̹̻͙̎͆̅̿͌̈́͜ǔ̵̢̘͙̦̥͛̔̒̚̚͜č̶͎̗̿̍̓͠ḳ̸̃ ̷͕̯̖͑̊̚ͅì̵̗̺̘̒͆̀͝n̴̻̜̝͐ͅ ̸̡̗͉͈̫̹̈t̵̗̉̉̉̂̿͒h̷̹̥̽̈̐̓e̵̠̝̲͖̙̺̎̆ ̵̛̱̻̣̗T̶̛̛̬̼̈̅͊͝V̷̛͈̱̤͎̩̓

Aigis: My processors will not let me leave Gekkoukan property.

Mitsuru: I can come and go freely, thankfully. But none of the other Operatives can.

Narukami: Igor told me a new game had started, and that I was to not try and deal with it, as I would be breaking the game. I would get rid of the villain too early.

Kanji: So there's more than one villain?

Narukami: Apparently. They have been doing the mental shut downs for a while, meaning they'll be tough, well put together. And they will not hesitate to kill us should they have the chance.

Rise: So, they're strong, competent, and all Persona users?

T̵͚͐̕e̴̦̎̏d̷̯̯̅́̇̓̍d̶͔̠͉͆̄̐̌̍̍i̵̢̛̼͎̗̿́̃̈̕e̷͉͈̯͖͈͙͛́̓:̶͙͇͖̋̈́͝ ̷̼̳̘̟̻̓̈́͗́̕G̷̨̡͙͔̭̓͝ů̸̡̨̟̱̺̪̀̈́y̷̥̥̓̈s̸̪̗̮̩̉,̸̨͛ͅ ̷̘͍͖͉̾̽́c̴͓͕͚̳͐͐a̴̖̿̅̋̇̚̕ṇ̶̩̗̣̋ ̸̜̘͉̤͇͂̌̕ͅỷ̷̖̝̥͉̣̋̅̃́͜ọ̶̗͂͊͑͆͠͝u̷̫̯̹̩̠̽̉̆̑ ̶̪̳͈͎̙͛̈́̀̚͘͠h̴̡͇͓̪̓́̒̋̐̔͜͜e̷̢͔̲̜̹͖͗a̴̗̰̞̣̭͕͌̾͑͂͝ṛ̸͍̻̀͊̏͠ ̴͔̼́m̸̢͈͙͎͔̆̊͐͝e̴̳̜̒͂͋͝!̷̨̧̙̥͈͘?̷͍̼̰͕̀ ̷̖͍̪̇͊ͅỊ̵̬̑͌̅̂'̷̱͓͉̟͙̿̎̌m̷̡̥͋̉͝ ̴̗͋S̶͍̠͈̖̟̣̾͆͝t̷̝͂̈̀̔̕ū̸͉͙̺͐̿͗c̵̡̥̳̆͠k̴̤̯̳͑̈́͝!̶̛̘̥̍̀̉͑ ̸̣̘͖̖̼̈̐̍Ḩ̶̝͇̩̬̥͒ę̵̠̹͉͛̂̑̕͜͠l̵̨̝̯͚͖̃̾̐̈̅ṕ̴̦͍̬̑̒̊ ̴̟̗̂m̶̩̜̂e̵̙͆!̶̯͗̈̐̂͝

Marie: The Velvet Room has changed to a Prison, to hold the Trickster. Apparently, it's needed, to contain and strip away his powers, and not give him the proper powers, giving us a chance.

Narukami: Good. Remember. We do not hold back. All weapons, Items and Powers are permitted. Even Dyne level, or higher. I'll get my strongest Personae back, as will Aigis, so we can fight without issue.

Rise: ... I'm not going to help.

Yukiko: I... Neither. I want to stay home.

Yosuke: I'm sitting this one out.

Junpei: Me and Chidori too. We don't kill, Narukami. Shadows are not living in the first place. You're asking us to HUNT, a human. Even if they're the killer, why would we kill them?

Narukami: Then turn in your Evokers and Glasses.

Mitsuru: YOU DO NOT GET TO DECIDE THAT! You may lead your Investigation Team, Narukami. But they are Shadow Operatives now, and I hold leadership over them.

Narukami: Fine.

T̸̛̙̝̔̌e̴̮̦̝̘̒͋ͅd̸̞͍̜̦͚͛̎̌d̵̲͒̓̇̄̂͘i̸͎̟̲̪̩̔̾͗̿̈́ë̷̳̹̫̙́̈:̶͙̦͈͎̺͛̾͗̂̕ ̶͍̟̻̟̆̓̆ͅȀ̸̭̒͐́͛n̸̡̩̅y̸̤̓͑̃͗̾͝ỏ̵̻͉̫̺̀̉̓̕͘ͅn̵̻̟͙̠̳̏̐̄͗̕̕e̶̥̟̪̞̪̬͛͐̏́̊̚?̸̰̟̥͎͖̉̓͠ ̴̼̐̇͂̿̔͆P̴͔̙̰͈͗͒̈́ḽ̸͙͍͎̲͈̊̂̿͝ẽ̸̛͔̩̐̀͠á̵̛̺͊̋̕s̴͔͑̓̇̕ȩ̸̝͒͑͝?̸̮͙͇̅͋͘ͅ

Chapter Text

"Hey, Akira?" Ryuji asked in a hushed voice.

"Yeah?" Akira hissed back.

"What was the dude's name? The one that got you arrested? Ms Prez over there." Ryuji jerked his head at a Senpai that had short brown hair and a braid headband. "Got a... It's either mom or sister, is a lawyer, so they could plead your case maybe?"

"... I don't think it was on the paper."

"Effin' what." Ryuji's voice was low, and calm.

"It wasn't-"

"I heard you. Yo! Ms Prez!" Ryuji called over to the Senpai that was talking to another student from her year. "Can we get a sec? Or do we needa number?"

"I... Can spare a few minutes." The Diligent-Looking Student said, walking over. "What were you needing, Sakamoto-Kohai."

"Oh, right. Your uh... Mom? Is a lawyer, right?" She blinked confused. And then nodded, with a small blush. "Well, this guy needs some legal help."

"Amamiya-Kohai?" Ms Prez blinked. "Why?"

"For one, my name is Kurusu. Kurusu Akira." Akira corrected.

"..." Both blinked in surprise. "Wait, your name isn't Ren?"

"Nope." Akira shook his head, voice low and boyish. "Fake name I gave to the cops... They took it as fact."

"... Well, looks like Sae is having one hell of a day." Ms Prez muttered, pulling out her phone, and walking away.

"Dude, are you being serious?"

"Yep." Akira nodded, dropping the boy voice. Honestly, he's comfortable letting Ryuji hear it.

"So I should have called you, Femkira, huh~?" Ryuji teased.

"Shuddup." Akira laughed.

Ms Prez walked back. "She said she can meet with us after today, that good with you two?"

"Yep."

"Sure thing." Both nodded and agreed.

"Good. Now, behave." She glared.

"Yeah, uh... have you met me?" Ryuji snarked.

"... I realise what I said." Ms Prez sighed. "And I regret it."

"At least you realise it." Akira smirked.

Sae blinked as the two boys sat down, and Makoto took a seat next to her.

"So... You're Amamiya?"

"Kurusu." Kurusu said.

"Is this Amamiya then?" She asked, looking at the punk.

"Nah, I'm Ryuji Sakamoto." The punk boy said with a grin.

"Then who is Amamiya?"

"Me." Kurusu said.

"What." She turned to Makoto who giggled nervous.

"Fake name given to the cops, which was sketchy at first, but then it turns out that's the name they used for the arrest, and sent him to prison with that name." She explained. "And apparently, Kurusu-Kohai was never told the name of the person that sued him, as they barred him from viewing the file, and tried him as an adult. He is sixteen."

What the fuck. "That's Illegal. Very fucking illegal." She spat. "I'll pull up the case file, and get it dismissed really fas- Wait, a fake name?"

"Yeah."

"Then we don't need to do anything." Sae smirked. "If it was never filed under Kurusu's name, then he never needs to say that he's been arrested. And if it doesn't list the man being drunk, or that the woman seemed cororsed, then it can be thrown out no matter what."

"So, I'm safe?" Akira asked.

"Pretty much." Sae nodded.

"Thanks." Sakamoto said, rubbing his nose. "That's a weight off my conscious."

"Yeah, it's a relief. Thank you." Kurusu nodded in thanks.

Makoto leaned on Sae a little, and Sae had to stop herself from pulling Makoto closer. It's... Been a long time since she's done that. But, Sae noted something... "Sakamoto-kun?"

Sakamoto just gave a acnologing grunt.

"Why did you say that like it affects you as well?" Makoto asked, finishing Sae's question.

"Ah." Sakamoto shrugged. "He's my pal. And kinda the only person that's even nice ta me anymore, part from my mom." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "So, it matters to me that his life won't be screwed up after this."

Sae and Makoto blinked. So, looks like a punk, but is more of a golden retriever. Sae... Well, there's worse people for Makoto to interact with.

God, she sounds like a mom.

"Hey, uh... What's this thingy?" Sakamoto asked, holding out a piece of paper, Sae had been looking for for an hour now.

"That's the case I'm currently working on. It's about whether or not we should give the maximum sentence to a man who had killed a man he had been sued by, in self defence, as the man had allegedly broken into his house."

"Oh, the shit-head all over the news? People are sad about his death?" Sakamoto asked confused.

"... Uh, why you calling him that?" Kurusu asked.

"He was a pissed-off angry-drunk. He often yells at people, hit on women, and has snuck into the women's bath-house more than once." Sakamoto spat. "He tried to hit on my mom, and even followed her home once." Ah.

That's not good.

"We were not made aware of this, do you have-" Sakamoto was already writing some names down.

"These are the ones that tried to tell the cops, but couldn't as the man was a politician." Sakamoto explained. "I think I got the kanji right."

"Thank you, I shall interview them." Sae nodded. "If he really did those things, then breaking into the man's house, and trying to kill him, means that we won't push for the maximum sentence." She said, nodding, then flinching. "His family won't be happy."

"Then they're shit-wipes too." Sakamoto scoffed. "If it's all for the money, and prison time, not the truth." Sae blinked.

Morals. Strong ones. For someone so young? That's rare. "Well, thank you for this. You may take your leave."

"Yeah yeah. See ya, Ms Niijima." Sakamoto waved as him and Kurusu got up, and walked to the door. "See you at school, Niijima-Senpai." He said, causing Kurusu to give a shit eating grin, and Makoto to go bright red, and become a stuttering mess.

Chapter Text

Joker and Skull sighed as Panther fell over trying to rip the mask off a Shadow.

"Take this!" Skull shouted, slamming it into the gut of the armour, before it could slash Ann. And then they were in a battle.

"Panther, you good?" Skull asked pulling Panther to her feet, before getting back in line.

"Thanks for that." she said, wiping the side of her mouth, before calling upon Carmen.

"Agi!" She called, hitting the flying pumkin thingy, but it just laughed, and looked healed. "What's with this thing!"

"Jack-O'-Lantern. Absorbs Fire." Ryuji explained before hefting his shotgun... When did he pull that out? "Stick to your gun, Panther."

"Yessir." She muttered, before grabbing her Tommy, and unleashed the hellfire of bullets into the punpkin, causing it to burst into blood.

"Yuck!" She cried out. "Yuckie yuckie yuck yuck!" She wiped it off her mask and face.

"Oops, sorry. Shoulda warned'ya." Joker's voice sounded from behind her, and the woman smiled gently. "You ok, Panther?"

"Mhm." Ann nodded, hoping her blush wasn't visible behind the massive red cat mask she's wearing. She doesn't know why Ren turns into a woman, but she's HOT~. "Thanks."

"Come on, Panther's almost at a level up, so we should get that done before we're out of here." Joker ordered. "Arsene, lend me your sight." She called, before looking around the room, and grinning before grabbing at a vase, and a...

Well, that's just crude.

"Iwai really buys this crap?" Skull asked.

"Yeah."

"why?"

"No clue." Joker shrugged, before grinning. "Ready to blow the crappy joint?" She asked.

"Yeah yeah. Come on, the Dungeon should have a Shadow A- Panther can beat on her own." Huh?

"Mhm. Let's get goin'." Joker agreed.

"Don't I get a say in this!?" Mona yelled, her voice also high and cute. Aww~ Lil' cutie is such a Tsunde-girl~.

"Sorry, Mona." Skull flinched. "But is it cool with you?"

"Yeah... Yeah." She nodded. "Lead the way, you guys."

Akira grinned, as Ann ripped the mask off a Shadow successfully this time, and saw two mandrakes.

"Any tips?" She asked.

"Burn 'em like you do your steak." Skull teased.

"Urgh. That was one time!" She yelled, before pulling off her mask, hitting one, and then the other.

"This is a hold up!" Panther giggled, holding her Tommy Gun to the side, Skull pointed his Levisan behind the two plants, and Mona held his?her? slingshot in a way that showed a single slip of the finger would hit. And Joker pulled out his pistol.

"You held me as a mask once... Why did you destroy me?" Mandrake asked, sounding heartbroken, causing both Mona and Panther to look at Joker confused. Skull just huffed.

"Yeah? What else was he supposed'ta fuse. You know what would have happened." Skull hissed, low that the two wouldn't hear, but made the closer Mandrake shiver in fear.

"I... understand." She nodded. "If I give you money, will you let me go?" She pleaded. Panther's eyes grew softer.

"Depends." Skull muttered, and blinked at the Ten Thousand Yen that she held out. "Yeah, you can go." The Mandrakes jumped away.

"Damnit." Mona hissed. "I thought Joker was leader, not yo- Jesus christ, is that Ten Thousand!?"

"Yep."

"I take back my comment." Mona admitted. "Christ. That's a lot of moola."

"Hey, uh... Skull?" Ann said, holding out half to him, and half to Akira. "I have a really, really well paying job already, so... You guys get the money?"

"Thanks, Panther." Skull grinned. "Mom's not gunna worry 'bout bills for a bit."

Dear fuck, that was a Crit to her heart.

"Golden Retriever." Joker smirked.

"Harlequin." Ryuji shot back at the woman.

"Ouch. You wound me." She laughed, placing a hand over her heart.

"If you're done." Mona drawled, as they entered the Safe Room. Ann felt her head spin, and she noticed that the room looked slightly different. Not much, but... Something was off.

"Come on, we better get through at least the hallway." Akira ordered. "Let's go." She said, and opened the door... To the area right outside the kitchen, what the hell!?

"Yeah, Fast Travel. Useful, huh?" Ryuji grinned, and Ann couldn't even argue.

Yu grinned as the team all entered a place called Mementos. Thank Igor for allowing him to have this new app. He should be able to find the villain now.

"Narukami." Mitsuru ordered. "Careful." She aimed her Blaser, and hit the mask right between the eyes, causing the Shadow to twitch, and become something else.

Three Lying Hablerie, and Ten Burning Beetles.

Ten. Fucking. Ten.

"Can you Mabufu all of them?" He asked.

"No." She shook her head. "I cannot. I only have Bufu, and it's only a matter of time before I miss, and you only have Izanagi right now, and it Nulls Physical." She spat.

"Shit." Narukami hissed, before grabbing a small canister of Dry Ice. "Hope this works." He threw it at the cluster, and everything was knocked down. "All out, or Mabufu them?"

"I'll Mabufu them, get them Dizzy, and deal more damage." She decided, and Narukami threw another Canister, before Mitsuru used Artemisia's Mabufu, destroying all of them.

"Level Seven." Narukami chuckled, looking at his card. Mitsuru shot her head, and saw that she was also Level Seven now, coming from being level one.

"Odd." She muttered. "I still have my innate abilities, but... I'm lower level than when I even first joined SEES on the field."

"Izanagi-No-Okami is not allowing me access to his power, meaning I am actually only at level Seven, and cannot fuse him yet." Narukami waved a hand. "He's at level Four, and has Zio, and Cleave. Oh, and Stagnant Air." Narukami just shrugged. "Don't know why he gained that."

"..." Mitsuru hummed. She had an inkling, but wasn't willing to share. "Perhaps we should leave, and tell the others how dangerous it is in here."

"Yes Ma'am." Narukami nodded.

"... I-" Skull opened his mouth, held up a finger, then put it down, and grabbed the Shotgun. "If it's got wings." He said, closing his eyes, and aiming. "Better take the Shot."

"Little to the left." Panther muttered, and Skull twisted a little. "Right on target." He fired, and the Zealous Messenger fell down.

"This is a hold-up!" Panther yelled.

"... The one touched by god." The woman said, with hope and... longing in her voice, and the flap of wings moved to Ryuji's right, meaning she was in front of Joker. "Please, allow me to be your mask."

"Uh... Sure?" Ryuji blinked open his eyes, and saw a mask, glowing a soft heavenly white, fly over Joker's normal.

"uhh..." Mona backed up, and Panther seemed... To see something different.

"... Is something wrong?" Joker's voice asked, but... It was WRong. WRONG. WRONG.

Ryuji grabbed Akira's mask, and tapped it twice. "Arsene!" He ordered, and suddenly both Ann and Morgana relaxed. "Ok dude, maybe, we don't use that Angel thing for a bit."

"I... Better swap around the Personae." Joker said, shaking his head. "Skull, you mind keeping everyone in the Safe Room while I deal with it?"

"Sure thing leader." Skull nodded, and they all ducked in, and everyone but Joker sat down. "Take your time, honestly, I haven't got anything to do after this, and I thought we could all get somethin' to eat afterwards."

"Oh, sounds great." Panther smiled. "I'm in."

"Heh, I think that is a good plan." Mona grinned.

"Welcome, to my Velvet Room." Igor said, as Akira stared at him. He shook his head, wondering why Third Eye can't work in here. It worked even in the Real World, so why not here?

"Inmate! Give us those masks now!" Caroline ordered in fear, and horror, and Joker ripped off all but Arsene. When Caroline grabbed them, she winced.

"Finally a good thought Inmate, keeping Arsene. If you hadn't, then your brain would have been fried!" Justine chided.

"Caroline, stop the act. Explain, calmly." Caroline breathed out, as she placed all the Masks into her Clipboard.

"... Sorry, sister." Justine sighed, and looked back at Akira. "Inmate, using so many Masks, that go against your very being, is not a good idea. Arsene is, in fact, a foil to many of the Shadows you shall meet. As they are a CURSE, and GUN element. For a Personae to have GUN as an Element, you must have a very, very grey look on the world. You know not everything is black and white. This is why you can use the damaging CURSE skills, and not just the Instant." She explained.

"Quite." Caroline breathed heavy. "Had you not returned to Arsene so fast... Your mind would not have survived the experience. A BLESS Persona, is the opposite to Arsene, and she is weak to both CURSE and GUN, she was... Overrding your very essance, as well as the fact that she is two levels higher than you. She was an... You would call it, Overpowered Shadow, I presume?"

"Uh, yeah..." He tapped his wrist. "Level Fourteen, right?"

"Correct." Justine then spat to the side. "Could have shattered your mind... We can't see into those places, how did you gain her?"

Joker thought about how it said, 'Touched by God.' What an odd phrase. "... r- My Chariot," He spoke calmly. Thye hate him suing names. "Shot her with a shotgun while his eyes were closed, and she begged to come along with me."

"That would do it." Justine snorted.

"Oh Shuddup!" Justine snapped. "I use the Chainsaw on two enemies, one time!"

Akira just looked exasperated at Igor, and as their eyes meet, for the first time ever, they were on the same thought-path. 'These two are CHILDREN.'

"Sorry." Caroline sighed. "But, to explain more? The reason why you can't Fuse a Persona outside your Level, is it has a... chance, to overtake your mind." She said gently. "It... The results, would not be pretty. Your body could change, your very mind will change to accommodate the new thoughts... In essence, you would be dead in mind and soul, but not in body... But it would change."

"Identity Death." Akira hissed, and the two blinked, or winked? How does people with one eye closing it work?

"That... Is a simple, but effective term." Justine nodded.

"Hmph. Who came up with that Inmate?" Caroline asked.

"The internet."

"A mistake in many ways, but useful in others." Justine admitted. She looked down sadly at the Clipboard, "I, apologize for being so crude and so apparent with my fear."

"It's fine, really." Akira promised. "Now, how about some fusions?" He grinned.

"Sounds... Good, Trickster." Justine said gently. Igor's head snapped to her.

"What was that?" He asked, his voice not even raising.

"She called me Takeba. Sorry, i think she got confused, cause I'm often doing Pink Argus comic Dubs on Youtube, or for Fan-Translations for American only games, ya know?" Akira grinned, dropping the fake boy voice.

"Inmate?" Caroline took a step back, in slight fear at the voice, while Justine caught on fast.

"That is correct, I apologize if I worried you, Master." Justine said softly.

"No matter. I believe doing some fusions and then leaving, is a good idea." He said, and Akira nodded.

"Yo, welcome back." Skull grinned. "What you got right now?"

"Mermaid!" Joker grinned, as a woman with a fish tail, and fish scales covering her waist and... letting her chest be modest, appeared behind him.

"Damn." Skull grinned. "What's her Element?"

"I am good with Ice and Water skills, Pirate." The Mermaid said to Ryuji softly.

"..." Everyone stared in shock.

"Yeah, she does that." Joker shrugged. "Shall we get those Eyes now?"

"Eyes?"

Chapter Text

"So, how do we go about this?" Ann asked.

"We need to send him, a Calling Card." Morgana grinned.

"... Ryuji." Akira turned to his... his BEST FRIEND. Ryuji was possibly Akira's best friend, in his whole life, to be honest. "I'm trusting you."

"For- For real?" Ryuji asked.

"Yeah, we're counting on you." Ann said, with a grin. "You can do it!" She said, with a thumbs up.

"Make it good, Ryuji!" Morgana agreed.

Ryohime came home after a long day of work, and sighed. Long, long day. Honestly, being able to see Ryuji after all is said and done? The most rewarding thing there is.

She smiled softly, as he was asleep on the couch, and giggled softly, seeing all the cut up newspapers, and sat down to read one of the notes he's clearly photocopied.

He's wearing gloves... She saw a little note he must have wrote to himself on a bit of paper.

"They're counting on me.

I can do this.

Find the right words.

Don't give up.

Found them.

Printed...

Hope it doesn't sound too childish...

They're counting on me.

Maybe they should have done this instead...

Who cares... It's my turn." She read the message on the card.

Sir Suguru Kamoshida, the utter bastard of lust. We know how depraved you are, and that you put your twisted desires on students that can't and won't fight back. That's why we have decided to steal away those desires and make you confess your sins. This will be done TODAY, so we hope you will be ready. From, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts

It's... Simple, effective, and... And so Ryuji, it pains Ryohime that her son has to do this so people would even notice. She gently placed a blanket around him, and kissed his cheek.

Tomorrow was another day, and it was going to be Ryuji's.

Meanwhile, in the very depths of the Universe.

"The Trickster causes Problems, even when contained in a cell." A woman's voice spoke.

"Quite, perhaps if I was out of this Seal, I would be able to deal with it Personally." A genderly ambiguous voice said.

"Patience, sisters." A deep voice ordered. "You shall have your chance of freedom, and of revenge later. For now? We shall let the Game Progress."

"We ready?" Skull asked, as the group were about to exit the safe room.

"Yeah. We are." Joker nodded, and Skull pushed the doors open, and the Phantom Thieves walked towards the Treasure Room.

"Huh... Is it bigger?" Panther asked, looking around the room.

"Maybe. Dunno why though." Mona admitted.

"Thieves! Scoundrels! Go, our glorious King!" Voices rang out, as Kamoshida walked in from the Treasure Room, his Crown on his head.

"Damnit." Skull hissed. "Joker, who's with'ya?"

"Arsene, Mermaid, Agathion, Silky, Succubus and Harpy." Joker hissed back.

"We're fucked, aren't we?" Panther asked.

"Most likely." Mona mewed worried.

"DOWN WITH THE THIEVES!" One of the Knights yelled, and slammed it's sword onto the floor, and... Well, it became a Silky, but so many more Knights and other Shadows appeared, more than what would normally happen.

"Crap." Skull hissed, taking a step back. "I don't think It's turned based anymore!"

"Oh no." Panther whimpered, and grabbed her Tommy Gun, before gasping. "Guys, the Ammo!"

"Huh?  Oh shit!" Skull grinned, hefting his Shotgun. "I'm up to 8 shots!"

"Hmph." Joker nodded. "I'm at Twelve." He stated.

"I'm at 30!?" Mona said shocked.

"Must be multi shot." Skull muttered.

"Probably." Panther shrugged. "I've got 80!? The hell?"

"Spray and Pray, but better?" Skull shrugged. "Who cares? Start wailing away!" He grinned, and slammed his pipe into the Shadow closest to him.

"I like the way you're thinkin'." Mona laughed, and in a poof, a small little girl with long black hair in twintails, and a black bandana mask. Her outfit was a black top, with black pants and white gloves and boots. She had a yellow Bandana around her neck, and a Curved Sword on her back with a Slingshot at her hip, and two pouches on either side of her. She looked at herself in fear and confusion. She whimpered, and clung to Panther's leg.

"What... What happened?" She asked.

"I... Mona, you still able to fight?" Joker asked.

"Uh... Yeah?" Mona then blushed a little. "I uh... I think I'm a little bigger, why?"

"Start slashing away. Panther, Skull, keep an eye on her. We'll deal with this later." Joker explained.

"Yessir!" Both responded with a nod, and Mona grinned, and slashed her sword.

"I'm So~ Going to love this!"

Joker grinned as he heard music pick up, and Slashed a simple Shadow coming his way, and then dodged around a Bufu.

"Arsene!" He called in instinct and his Persona sent back an Eiha without cost.

"Nice one!" Skull laughed, as he slammed his Pipe into the side of a Incubus, splattering blood all over a Silky, who started to try and clean herself out of disgust. "Huh..." He attacked three times, and then crossed his arms, and held it for a few seconds, and then pushed them out, and a Mazio struck the ground in front of him, knocking down the Silky.

"Sweet!" Panther laughed. "All out?"

"Sounds good!" Mona agreed, and all four rushed around the Silky, destroying it, and damaging a large number of Shadows.

"That's all She Wrote!" Skull laughed out, holding up a Devil's Horns, as everything exploded into blood behind them.

"Urgh." Kamoshida scoffed, as he walked forwards. "If you want something done right..." He started to twist and contort, his skin peeling and crawling away, revealing muscles that grew as fast as they were covered.

And then a Dragon made out of Blue Lightning, and fangs of gold.

"YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT YOURSELF!" He roared before biting at Joker.

Joker held up his arm, and felt teeth sink in, before ripping away.

"JOKER!" Mona yelled, as she and Panther rushed over, staring at the now one armed teen.

"Dia, Dia... Dia." Panther commanded her Persona, and green light covered the bleeding stump, as Mona joined in.

Joker's arm was regrowing, but... It was slimmer, and weaker looking than before. The arm of his coat regrew in a slimmer and more fitting way, and the glove looked a little more futuristic.

Everyone turned back to Kamoshida, as they heard a chomp onto metal.

Ryuji was holding him back, with only the metal pipe.

"You. Hurt. My. Friend." Ryuji growled, the Mask sparking with fire and gold lightning, and his eyes glowing like golden rings. "YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" He yelled, before slamming it into one of Kamoshida's teeth, and summoning Captain Kidd.

"TARUKAJA! BASH! HEADBUTT! ZIO! BASH! HEADBUTT!" Ryuji yelled, using the skills back to back.

Kamoshida was dodging around most, but the last Headbutt hit, and made the Dragon flinch, leading to Ryuji slamming his Hammer into it once, and then holding his hammer at his side with both hands for a few seconds, a flash of Purple, and he gave a massive Slam downwards, hitting both the Dragon and the ground, making some wood splinter and go flying.

"Oof." The dragon grit out, before cirling around Ryuji's neck, and firing off a massive Zio, that seemed different than the normal kind.

"URGH!" Ryuji yelled, as he was let go, as he was Shocked.

"Isn't he resistant..." Panther asked.

"That was a Ziodyne." Mona said with a hiss, her teeth still little fangs. "It's a much more powerful variant..." And then gasped, as Ryuji started moving.

"Not. Going. To. Work." He grit out, and pushed his arms out to the side. The blue lightning that was stunning him, turned yellow before being absorbed into him, his Health and SP going back up to full. "I'm not your punching bag, Kamoshida... I never was!" He yelled, as he grabbed his pipe off the floor, and rushed at the Dragon in a sprint that would have made even the most professional of Runner's jealous.

"TAKE THIS!" Ryuji yelled, landing a very heavy hit with his Pipe.

"Holy shit..." Joker muttered, taking a look at Kamoshida's weird Green Heart HP thingy. It went down a lot.

"He... Oh god." Panther breathed in looked scared. "Skull... He's not just mad. He's Vengeful." She muttered.

"Why's that a bad thing?" Mona asked, hugging Panther's leg.

"I've only seen him like this once..." Panther muttered.

"He was only this mad when... Shiho..." Joker trailed off.

"When Kamoshida talked about..." Both looked at each other, before flinching.

"He's not holding back." Both said, as Mona's cat ears plastered against her head, as Ryuji called down a Zio, then a Headbutt.

With Kamoshida on his knees, fearful for his life, backing away from a Ryuji that had glowing gold eyes, and a Captain Kidd that had his canon pointed at him.

"It's your move, Skull." Panther said, and Ryuji took a deep breath, before Kidd turned back into his mask.

"I ain't gonna kill ya." Skull spat out. "We won't kill..." He breathed in, then out. "We ain't taking your treasure either."

"Huh!?" The other three thieves turned to look at Skull.

"Because you're going to live with those desires. All of them, but you're going to feel guilt, every glance you take. Every second you spend breathing, you're going to regret. You'll feel like dying, but you won't. You'll suffer through life, taking whatever punishment the Police give you. You'll go back to the Real Kamoshida, and make that Shit-Head feel guilt for everything he's ever done. Understood!?" He growled out.

"Yes... Ye-Yes, Saka-" He got cut off by a punch to the face.

"And keep my Family's name out of your mouth, you sick son-of-a-bitch." Ryuji said, turning around. "Come on guys, let's get goin'." He spat, as Kamoshida faded away in a flurry of red sparks.

Kamoshida's new Form, It's hell to paste from a Wiki

My thoughts on this, was that it almost seems the opposite to Ryuji, as Ryuji is Lightning and Physical Focused, and Kamoshida is meant to be the opposite or bad foil to Ryuji, not Ann. Most people seem to make that mistake, so I made this guy essentially Ryuji, but worse!

His main attacks are Physical Based, but he has quite a number of both Wind and Electric skills, and a few Fire and Ice. He isn't immune to anything, but Resists both Wind and Fire.

The New Gloves for:

Akira:

These are Impact Protection Gloves. Due to Akira now having a stronger connection to the group, he's got upgraded gloves. Everyone has golden eyes now, it's just Ryuji that got the biggest highlight.

Skull's New Power:

Drain Shock - Drain the Shock Ailment from yourself or an Ally.

New Compendium Entries:

Mermaid

Half-Woman, Half-Fish inhabitant of Salt-Water-Oceans. Males are called Mermen, and rarer. Mermaids are often considered unlucky omens by many fishermen, often foretelling severe storms or poor catches. Legend says they use their voices to charm men causing ship crashes, but those were most likely Sirens, not Mermaids, people often confuse the two.

Strong: Wind, Light, Dark,

Immune: Ice, Fire,

Weak: Electric, Psy, Nuke

Skills:

Marin Karin - High Chance of Charm to one Foe (4SP)

Dormina - High Chance of Sleep to one foe (4SP)

Bufu - Low Ice Damage to one foe, Small chance of Freeze (4SP)

Freeze Boost - Increases chance of Freeze by 25% can stack

Freeze Amp - Greatly increase chance of Freeze by 50% can stack

Harpy

Lala The Harpy Image cause Fandom is a Hellish Site to post Images from and we need more from DevilChildren!

A Harpy that comes from another realm. She's known for being soft and sweet, and acting forever five years old, despite being in Hell for centuries.

Strong: Wind, Bless, Curse

Weak: Gun, Elec

Skills:

Green Wing - Increase Wind Attack Range by 50%

Breath of Relief - Miniscule Wind Damage to a large area of Foes, light chance to sweep foes away. Light Healing to friends (6SP)

Breath of Fear - if inflicted with Fear High Wind Damage to Large Area of Foes (8SP), Unusable otherwise

Comforting Wings - Protect your friends from incoming damage by reducing all attacks by 25%

Chapter Text

"Ryuji..." Akira muttered, seeing said boy just roll his eyes at another teacher yelling at him.

"He's seemingly more calm. Something happen?" Niijima asked.

"Don't know." Ann shook her head. "It's odd though... Usually he'd be yelling back or-"

"Look, if I asked for your crappy opinion, then I'd give a shit. As of now? I don' wanna hear your shitty voice, got it?" Ryuji snapped, before walking away.

"... He's had a rough few weeks." Akira said simply.

"Rough couple of years." Ann muttered.

"Rough life." Makoto stressed.

"I..." Kawakami sighed. "I'm not even going to try and defend Ushimaru."

"Hey, Ryuji?" Akira asked after ranking up the Confidant to Rank Two.

"Yeah dude?" He asked. "What's up?"

"You got an upgrade. A heavy one." Akira said, and looked up at the sky.

"Yeah... Didn't you too?" Ryuji asked. Akira looked at the arm that looked almost normal, but a little too skinny to be exactly like his other.

"Kinda." Akira shrugged. "I'm just... The gloves are cool, but... the fact that I had to lose an arm for it." He shivered. "I... If it wasn't for Mona and Panther using all their SP on Dia's..." He trailed off. "I might not have this thing anymore."

"Yeah, they're great ain't they?" Ryuji smiled.

"... Ryuji, if you didn't take on that Dragon yourself?" Akira laughed without humour. "We'd be dead. Morgana agrees."

"Oh yeah, where's that cat anyway?" Ryuji asked.

"Uh.. She's still human." Akira said, rubbing the back of his head, lying down. "She's got a cap with cat-ears, and a fake tail out here, but... Well, she's real now, and Ann is looking after her." Joker explained.

"... So Ann's got a kid now?" Ryuji snorted.

"... Kinda?" Akira shrugged.

"I'm a little confused bout all this shit... But if they're cool with it, then that's cool." Ryuji shrugged back. "Hey man?"

"Yeah?"

"... Thanks. For being my friend." Ryuji grinned, and Akira saw the Rank go all the way up to Five. "I'm glad we're friends, ya know? Ah... I'm crap at this word thingy. Better get home, see ya dude."

Minato felt something was... Off in his room. Elizabeth was gone, but that made sense. She was even more heartbroken over Minako being dead than Theodore. Minato always assumed there was something with those two. It was still an Elevator, but it had stopped.

"Welcome, to the Velvet Room." Igor said with a smile, his voice the same as always. Minato felt himself relax. Somethings will never change,

"Welcome. I am Melpomene. I shall be your Attendant from now on." She said, bowing. Her eyes a golden hue, and hair a platinum silver.

"Due to the nature of what is happening, much like Narukami, you shall gain access to Personae outside your adventure. You shall have Norse, Greek and Roman ones, while Narukami shall have ones from Asia. Understood?" Igor said.

"Yessir." Minato grinned. "May I see 'em?"

He looked at the list, and smiled. "Orpheus. My sister's one please. And Thanatos, as well as Diana, the one with the Bow and mask hat thingy." He said, "Oh, and Persephone."

"I am Persephone. I walk both the realm of the Dead, and of the Living. I shall help you walk the path you choose." She said, and bowed. Giving Minato a very... LOVELY Look down her... middle.

"I am Thanatos. I shall help you once more, my old friend. Be not afraid of my domain, you shall be safe with me." Thanatos promised. Minato smiled at his old friend.

"I am Diana. Call upon me if you want I guess. I don't care." The... Female teenager said, with a scoff, before fading into Minato's mind.

"I am Orpheus, the one that shall be the Messiah. I shall help you, you monster." Her voice was toneless, sharp, and to the point. Minato blinked, as he felt hostility from her. But she faded into his mind all the same.

That was... odd. But hey, strong Personas, who cares?

Narukami smiled as Margaret and Marie were in his Velvet Room. He knew that logically, it was still a Limo, and just received an Explanation from Igor.

Same high-pitched voice.

He summoned Wuzhiqi.

"I'm Wuzhiqi! I'm you're Card, cause you're a Monkey too!" It laughed. "Call upon me, to flood your enemies into their grave!" It laughed in the two gendered voice.

"Perhaps... A calmer one next?" Narukami asked Margaret.

"Of course." Even Igor and Marie looked put off by that thing.

"I'm Enku! We're alike, Mr! We both have an insatiable Greed for more than we had! Don't be going hungry now!" It laughed, before vanishing into a card.

"How about... I choose one?" Marie said, with a disturbed look.

"I am Gozuki. We shall make sure to keep those that deserve their punishment, in their Prisons. I am honoured, to be your card." It said while bowing. Then it was a card.

"... Well, uh... It was better than the previous two?" Marie laughed gently.

"Quite." Margaret nodded. "Perhaps one more."

"Much like you, I am known to take the life that isn't mine. I am Kugutsu. We shall claim what is not rightfully ours, and make it out life." The broken doll smiled, with it's cracked head tilted too far to the side.

Everyone looked at Narukami. Igor with a satisfied look. But Marie and Margaret with horror.

Akira rolled his shoulder as he came out of Untouchable. He honestly couldn't really tell you why he even went in, but he sold some of the Treasure he had left over from Kamoshida's Castle, before he had a thought.

Could he go back? Into the Castle? He hadn't tried but...

He pulled out his phone, and pressed the little button that instantly took him to different places. This time, to Shujin.

Joker grinned as he found himself in front of the Castle yet again. He looked at the Shadow waiting in the Entrance Hall, and saw that it was Red. Guess everything got an upgrade here.

"Joker, yes?" A beautiful voice asked.

"Umm... Mhm?" He turned towards the Velvet Room, and saw a woman there with a kind smile, and non-golden eyes. In fact, they looked like his. A grey that could be mistaken for metallic.

"Oh my. The two were right, you are quite feminine for the "Hero", when the "Heroine" would suit your looks more." She giggled. "Come inside please, I wish to speak to you."

As Joker walked in, he noticed that the Room had changed a little. His 'Bed' was now cushioned instead of just being a slab. He didn't have his hands chained, but his leg still had the ball and chain. He looked out, and saw the Twins sitting on a couch, as if waiting for something, and the nice lady behind the desk now.

"It had come to our master's attention that you were requiring more attention than he could give, as he now has more tasks to do. So, I am now the one to Guide you, and the new bond of the Fool Arcana." She said with a soft smile. "I am Merope. I feel honoured, to welcome you to the Velvet Room, Trickster."

Akira smiled. He doesn't feel as much danger now. "Thank you, Merope-San."

"Oh please, I'm Greek. We don't need those formalities here." She chuckled lightly. "Now, Carol-Tan, Juti-Tan, please let the Trickster see the Registry, as you reading off the list, is very limiting on him."

"Of course, Mistress Merope." Both responded with a soft nod, and a softer look than normal.

"Here you are, Trickster." Justine said, as Caroline just scoffed from the side. "Perhaps we had been a little too harsh before."

"I still think it was right."

"Little one." Merope warned.

"Sorry." Caroline flinched. "It's just... He told us."

"HE, seems to have lost touch with humans." Merope scoffed. "This is why I left my world, to help The Trickster. Perhaps it's best I took over, if this is how you think people are treated normally." She said, voice getting slightly harsher, in a motherly scolding tone.

"Sorry, Merope." Both said sounding like daughters getting scolded by their mother.

"Hmm... This is quite the odd one." Merope said, looking at a page that flared onto her desk. "A Persona from the Sea, allowing you to summon them for free."

"Hold on, is that even possible?" Caroline asked.

"This is... New." Justine said, looking at it. "Perhaps, if the Trickster is willing, you could take it as a mask?"

"Alright." Akira nodded, and watched the Page turn into a Persona.

A robotic girl with red and black body, silver joints, and a black heart harp with spikes and roses on it appeared. Her head was was white with pinkish red hair, and a scarf that looked like the Shujin pants or skirt, that covered her neck, and went over her ears to the other side.

"I am Orpheus Picaro. I am to become the mask of the Trickster?
That's fine, I shall help you clear your name." She then smiled, in a very human way. "I am honoured, to help you, Hero."

Akira gasped, as much like Arsene, she didn't take up a slot. She was... She just was.

"My my. How unique." Merope smiled. "Perhaps a Fusion or two would help?"

"Dude." Skull seethed, as both Mona and Panther were standing beside him as Joker exited the Velvet Room. "A little warning next time. You're lucky our phones gave us an Alert."

"Joker, seriously." Panther sighed. "We're a team, ok? If it was just for... Whatever it is you do when you stand in one place, then ok. But I'm worried it was for more than that."

"It was." Joker nodded. "All the Shadows in this place got stronger."

"Stronger..." Skull glared at the castle. "Hey, Mona? Still got that nose on ya, or is it human now too?"

"..." Mona shuffled a little, her ears twitching. "I can't smell anything, but I can smell stronger Shadows." She admitted.

"Huh." Skull nodded towards the hole in the wall. "How about a challenge?" He grinned. "We'll have a timer. We'll go to the first Will Seed, and back without any Shadows catching us. We can fight, but it has to be an Ambush. Then, we come back. How bout it? The Timer will time whoever is the fastest?" He tried.

"... I like this idea." A woman's voice spoke from behind Joker, and- Ok, very nice looking lady.

"Joker, who's that?" Panther asked.

"Mrr..." Mona looked at the woman like she knew her. "You..."

"Oh, hello little Morgana." The woman laughed softly. "My, you've grown." She patted the small catgirl's head, and then looked at Panther. "I take it you're looking after the little one?"

"Uhm... Yeah?"

"Good. That's good. Thank you for doing that." She smiled. "Honestly, little Elpis needs someone to look after her."

"My name is Elpis?" Mona asked.

"Why, quite my dear." She chuckled softly. "Any how, to that challenge, I love that idea." She then frowned. "Oh, dear me, I have introduced myself, have I? I'm Merope. It's a pleasure, Phantom Thieves." She smiled gently.

"... She's from the Velvet Room." Joker said. "It's the Room I go to when I'm just standing there, I'm actually in that place."

"Oh, cool." Skull nodded. "Well, let's get to the challenge." He grinned, stretching his arms.

"Tie." Marope said with a soft smile.

"With who?" Joker asked as all four of them were sitting outside the doors.

"Four way." She explained. "And as such... A gift for all of you." She held out a book.

"Uh..." Skull took it, opened it, and had wide eyes. "Holy shit! It's like one of those thingies... Uh... What was it called again? Plokydox?"

"You mean a Pokedex?" Panther sighed. "How do you forget that Skull?"

"I only watch the Anime, ok Panther?" Skull hissed back. "I don't exactly have the money to play 'em." Everyone got real quiet at that. "Uh... Sorry."

"Don't... Don't apologize for that." Merope said shaking her head. "Now, to answer your question, it is... Sort of. It shall allow you to view any Shadow or Persona you have either gained or faced off against." She explained. "You may also show others what they look like, using this book."

"Oh, sweet." Skull grinned. "That's actually pretty cool. Thanks Ms Merope."

"No problem. Now, go home." She stressed.

Velvet Attendants:

Akira: Justine, Caroline, Merope.

Narukami: Marie, Margaret, Igor.

Minato: Melpomene, Igor.

Social Links:

Narukami: All Maxed, Magician Broken, Hunger Maxed, Aeon Maxed,

Minato: All maxed, Death Maxed, Aeon Broken,

Joker: Still making bonds.

Persona users active as of now:

SO: 56

PT: 4

???: 13.

Gods in the Game:

22

Enjoy the game~

Chapter Text

"Can you get Hatsune MIku as a Persona?" Ryuji asked upside down in the Booth in Leblanc.

"Wait, can you?" Ann asked from where she was currently putting so much sugar in her drink that it could be called a crime against Coffee.

"... Hol' up." Akira pulled out his phone and pressed the button on the MetaNav that took him to the Velvet Room, but instead a message popped up. "Apparently... Yeah?" He blinked. "Merope says that it's possible, but she's a really high-level, so I'd be like, either the Biggest Miku Stan, or Miku herself if I gained her."

"..." The other three thieves just stared at Akira with a blank look, before sighing. "Only you, Akira."

"Hey, wanna look at the weirdest shit we've fought, and talk 'bout it?" Ryuji asked.

"... I'm game." Akira admitted, grabbing the book from his bag.

"I'm so in." Ann agreed.

"Heh, of course." Morgana nodded.

Arsene: 001 (The True Phantom Thief)

"A being based off the main character of Maurice Leblanc's novels, Arsène Lupin. He appears everywhere and is a master of disguise. He is known to help law-abiding citizens."

Honestly, Probably your strongest one Akira. He's the one that saved me too, so I got a little bias. - Ryuji.

I love the wings! It's like, so cool! Plus all the fire makes you think of him being an Agi user or something, but nope! He's Cursed. - Ann.

He's something. Smells... Odd. Like Brimstone, and nothing mortal. - Morgana.

"Wait, he doesn't smell mortal?" Ryuji asked. "Does Kidd?"

"Yeah, actually." Morgana nodded. "He does. It's weird though." She said swinging her legs as she sat on the stool. "Arsene is the only one that doesn't smell mortal. Well, except for Angel and Succubus." Mona corrected herself.

"... So, Arsene smell like the literal Demoness of Desires, and the Angel of Heaven?" Ann asked gently patting Mona's head. "That... Seems scary."

"Yeah..." Mona started to purr at Ann's pats. "Little to the left please~" She asked.

"Of course~" Ann giggled, moving her hand slightly, and Mona started to purr more.

"... What was that about you not being a cat?" Ryuji teased.

"... Shuddup." Mona hissed. Then purred as Ann started to pet her again.

"... You know what?" Akira said. "Skull, you up to fighting a few shadows?"

"Hell yeah. In that Mementos place, right? Oh yeah, probably help me get home too, right?" He grinned. "You two cool finding your own way?"

"Yeah, we'll catch a cab. See you two tomorrow." Ann and Mona waved.

Skull grinned as he slammed his Pipe into a Pixie, and it fell down.

"All out?" He asked.

"Sounds good!" As they rushed around, and defeated all the Shadows.

"Woo!" Skull laughed, rolling his shoulder. "Nothin' like a good fight to get your blood pumpin' right?"

"Yeah." Joker nodded. "Hey, find any chests?"

"Nah. A few weak walls though. I could bust 'em down if you're willing. But~ That might attract some unwanted attention. And while I'm all good for a fight, I'm not wanting to fight our way out of here." Ryuji explained.

"Hmm... Almost dying due to fighting hoards of Shadows with underpowered Weapons and no quick way to the Velvet Room, or finding new Weapons that could upgrade our stats." Akira hummed.

"... So the first one I found is over here." Skull grinned, jabbing a thumb at a wall with a giant crack down the middle.

"Sweet." Joker grinned. "Hit it." Skull wound up, but paused, as he felt something cold, sharp and... REAL.

"Who are you." A woman with dark red hair asked. She had a rifle on her back.

"... We should be asking that." Joker said, his pistol on her neck.

"Touche." She sighed, and snapped her Rapier to her side. "I am-"

"NO REAL NAMES!" Skull hissed.

"... Why not?" The woman asked.

"You knwo how getting Doxxed on Twitter is a thing?" Joker said.

"Yes...?"

"It's that, but five times worse." Skull said. "People will just... Know what you look like, and if anyone is aware of a Metaverse or Personas, they will know you're here. Like, exact location, Navi Persona or not." He said with a tone that meant no middle ground.

"Jesus..." She shook her head. "So, what should I call you then?"

"Skull."

"Jo-"

"Well~ Well~" A harsh and cruel voice sounded from behind the three. "If it isn't the Phantom Fucks~" It laughed. "How's Mementos treating ya~?"

Skull and Joker dropped back next to Scarlet.

"Friend of yours Scarlet?" Joker asked.

"... No." She said, pointing her sword at it. "Truce?"

"Yeah. We'll need one." Skull admitted.

Battle Start:

Allies: Joker, Skull, Scarlet

Enemies: ???, ???, ???

"Careful!" Scarlet said, as she held a finger to the side of her head. "I sense these things are more powerful than anything you've faced before."

"Yeah yeah." Skull rolled his shoulder. "Let's get to it!" He said, grabbing his Pipe, and getting ready to swing. He then paused. "Hey, Leader. I don't think these things are immune to Gun or Physical." He said. "I can use those if need be."

"Right. For now, let's focus on seeing what they're weak to. Scarlet, do you want to give commands, or are you ok with me doing so?"

"I am quite fine with you doing so." She said nodding. "Lead the way, uh... Leader." She said looking back at the Shadows.

"Right. Arsene!" He called out, ripping off his mask. "Ravage them!" He called, using Maeiha. It hit all three, but only the Flaming Demon was knocked down. The Multi-Armed Warrior was resistant, and The Demonic Jester reflected it back with triple the force.

"Ow." Joker hissed, clutching his side.

"Are you alright? Don't push yourself!" Scarlet warned, but gasped in awe, as Skull and Joker High-Fived, and Skull was now having a turn instead of Joker getting a once more. "What?"

"Baton passed." Jester said, tilting its head. "Odd, not many can do that." It's grin grew. "This just got interesting." It admitted. It then yelped in pain, as Skull used Headbutt on it, and it Crit.

"That's another down! Scarlet, you're up!" Skull yelled, holding up a hand walking towards her.

She slapped her hand against his, and felt... Strong. Stronger than she ever had in her whole life.

She raised her Evoker to her head, but stopped.

"We're not needing to Rebel against Death, do we? It's a close friend now." Her inner voice said. "What do we Rebel against, my darling?"

"I know. We rebel against those that wish to do harm to others. That don't even take a moment to listen."

"LET US REJOICE IN OUR UNION!"

"COME! APATE!" Mitsuru called, ripping a mask off as blood flew, but she's been fighting Shadows for so long, pain was an old friend. "Mabufu~!" She cried out.

The Multi-Armed Warrior went down, and they all held out their guns.

"Nobody move!" Skull yelled. "This is a Hold-Up!"

"All out?" Scarlet asked.

"Let's do it!" As they rushed around, slashing and bashing, Skull fired off a shot or two, Joker opened fire, and Scarlet dropped down before firing three well placed shots. She then holstered her gun, and flipped her hair.

"Urgh..." Jester growled. "You're stronger... Stronger than I gave credit for." It then laughed. "Very well." It snapped it's fingers, and the two... Personas, turned back into people, with Featherman Masks on their faces. "I concede. I, am Joker." It said, bowing. "A being from another Dimension cursed, to be in this one due to a 'Good' God."

"... Joker, huh?" Skull muttered. "Hey, Leader-"

"Not me." Joker shook his head. "Call me Picaro." He said waving a hand.

"... Understood." Scarlet nodded. "Now, uh... Joker? Why did you come here?"

"... We were called." It said, eyes glowing. "All of us. From other worlds, other realities, other Timelines."

"Why?" Skull asked.

"To Kill The Trickster." Joker said, looking at Picaro. "To kill, you." It then laughed, as it and the Featherman Masked people all faded out of sight.

"... We need to leave." Scarlet said, holding two fingers to her mask. "I can sense DEATH is on it's way."

"Shit. Come on!" Picaro gestured for them to follow him.

Mitsuru sighed as she collapsed into a booth, and leaned on the table, as Skull did so at the counter. Picaro was making some Food and Coffee.

"Eff~" Skull groaned. "Hell, I'll take a cup of coffee."

"Soda." Picaro said placing a can of something that cannot be healthy.

"Hell yeah~" Skull gave a weak fist bumping the air. "Thanks man."

"Mhm." He placed a plate of Curry in front of Skull, and a cup of Coffee and another plate in front of Mitsuru. "Here you go."

"Thank you." She said. "Did you make this, or is it leftovers?"

"Made it." Picaro shrugged, before grabbing his own plate and coffee. "So, now we should talk."

"Quite. I am Kijiro Mitsuru. I work with a group of Persona Users working to protect the world from threats of Shadows." She explained. "We are currently trying to find the culprits of the Mental Shut-downs." She offered.

"Well, that's..." Skull and Picaro shared a look. "... Ya know what? You do that." Skull said shrugging. "Promise we won't mention what happened in Mementos to your group?"

"Alright."

"We're the Phantom Thieves." Picaro stated. "We're a group of Persona users that just took down Kamoshida, and are now going to try and help out the rest of Tokyo, so we can make the city a better place in ways the laws can't reach. We recently got our powers."

"Oh? How recent?" Mitsuru asked.

"... The twelfth." Skull admitted. "For me."

"The day before for me. And then Panther, another of our members, got it on the Fifteenth. Mona's had it for as long as I have, but we don't know how she got hers. She's got Amnesia." Picaro explained.

"Understood." She nodded. "May I please get some names?"

"... Sakamoto Ryuji." Skull said.

"What one do you want?" Picaro snarked.

"Just tell her both." Sakamoto drawled.

"Amamiya Ren if you're looking for my record. Kurusu Akira is my legal name." Mitsuru held up a finger. "Blame the cops." She lowered the finger.

"Understood. That mask and outfit were..." She blushed a little before rubbing her arm.

"They're pretty cool right?" Sakamoto grinned. "It's our power. The Power of Rebellion." He said with a grin. "The Masks help hide who we are. You saw how our faces turned black when we take off our masks, right? Apparently, this means that unless we trust who it is, we can't be seen or heard like we are in the real world. Apparently it doesn't work as well when the person comes with you into the Metaverse, as they 'see' you change. That, or it's because Panther new me from Middle School." Sakamoto shrugged.

"You're... Very knowledgable about this."

"We're half convinced Mona is a goddess trapped in a human body... Because she used to be a cat." Kurusu said with a snort.

"What."

"She used to be-"

"No, I heard you. It's just..." She sighed. "Konomaru was a special case when he got his, and we gave him an Evoker to help summon it without much affects on him." She started.

"Kono- Ken-kun's dog!? He had a Persona!?" Kurusu said, stars in hi- her!? eyes, as she moved her whole body towards Mitsuru. She honestly thought that Kurusu was a boy, even in the Metaverse, she seemed to have a boyish tone and manner of moving, despite how feminine she seemed... Here, now she knows this is a teenage girl.

"... You know Ken?" Mitsuru smiled sadly. "How long have you known him?"

"Oh, he used to baby-sit me back in-" Kurusu paused. "Wait... Ken has a Persona?" Kurusu asked.

"Quite." Mitsuru smiled sadly. "Nemesis."

"Revenge." Kurusu spat. "Of course. You get him out in Dodgeball, and somehow your desk is glued to the ceiling and you're blamed for-" She paused at the shocked and horrified looks that both Sakamoto and Mitsuru were sending her. "That's... Not normal, is it?"

"Dude... Do you just like, get blamed for everything?" Sakamoto asked.

"... Kinda?"

"Well, that's shit." Sakamoto seethed. "First that Shitty Asshole got you arrested, and apparently it's been your whole life."

"Mom's pretty cool." Kurusu admitted. "She's the only person to have believed me."

"Yeah, moms are the best." Sakamoto nodded. Mitsuru felt very out of place with this conversation.

"... I mean, my family were kinda fucked up. My mother was the only normal one, because she didn't know about Shadows." Mitsuru explained.

"Huh." Sakamoto leaned back on the counter. "Hey, 'Kira? How'd you figure that it was the Same dog?"

"Oh, right." Kurusu shrugged. "Lucky guess." She shrugged. "Anyway... It was nice to meet you Kijiro-Sama."

"Yeah. You're not a shitty adult, so I'll at least be someone nice." Sakamoto grinned. MItsuru could see him getting along great with Junpei and Yosu- With Akihiko.

"Quite." She then smiled. "It was a pleasure. I should be going now... Sakamoto-kun." She turned to him. "Do you need a ride home?"

"Please..." He sighed.

Apate, Mitsuru's new Persona.

Still mostly Ice Skills. A few new ones too.

Strong: Ice, Bless

Immune: Non.

Weak: Fire, Curse

Skills:

Bufu: Weak Ice damage to one foe, chance of Freeze.

Mabufu: Weak Ice damage to all foes, chance of Freeze.

Freeze Boost: Increase chance of Freeze.

Snipe Shot: Weak Gun Damage with a very High Critical Chance.

Chapter Text

Mitsuru hummed as she waiting outside a shack for Kurusu and Sakamoto. She wasn't sure why they said to meet up here.

"Yo." Sakamoto said waving as him and Kurusu walked into view. Along with a teenager with long blonde hair that's done up in a simple ponytail, and a little girl with black hair and glowing blue eyes. Reminding  her of a certain type of Vel-

She shook her head, rubbing it. What was that thought?

"Oh, is this the woman you met?" The older girl asked. Probably Panther, if the cat themed socks were anything to go off of. That means...

"You're letting a four year old fight?" Mitsuru asked.

"Hey!" The little girl hissed, Mona. "I was a cat-creature thingy before this!" Mitsuru blinked. Ok then.

"So, why are we here?" Mitsuru asked.

"Cause we found a... location yesterday." Sakamoto said simply. "Come on, the Keywords are in, and we needs to show you the shit we delt with."

"Understood." Scarlet nodded, as she felt reality crumble around her and then rebuild, but instead of the Wrong Feeling, like her body was working to keep from being turned into something else, but the outfit was protecting her.

"I am quite liking this outfit." Scarlet admitted. "It's... Comforting." She said at last.

"I know right." Skull said nodding. "Honestly, you guys got it lucky. I look like a thug."

"Or a Pirate." Scarlet said patiently. She then looked over at the Museum. "So, whose Palace is this?" She asked, before scanning towards the doors.

"Madarame." Skull said rolling his shoulder. "It's more of a hunch, rather than a one to one knowing." He sighed and sat on the boot of a car. "It's just... One of the reports said something about Abuse or Neglect..." He turned away slightly.

"Hits too close to home?" Scarlet asked. Skull nodded, and Panther looked on with worry. Were they siblings? Possible.

"Preposterous!" A boy's voice sounded, as he moved from behind a car. "This is not how Madarame is!"

"..." Everyone looked at each other. "Ok, who forgot to do the Area Check?" Picaro asked.

"Uh... Me." Panther admitted blushing. "sorry..."

"It's fine." Skull shrugged. "Picaro." The other two looked confused, before Picaro nodded at Ryuji. "How far do you think we could take this normal guy?"

"First few rooms." Picaro hummed. "Possibly, if he stuck close." He paused. "Uh, give me a minute."

He walked over to a part of the area and just... Stood there.

"So... Uhm..." The boy with blue hair stared at Picaro, who just... Stood there. "Does this... Happen... Often?"

"Eh." All the others shrugged.

"You get used to it." Scarlet admitted.

"Trickster." Merope smiled. "Welcome back. Due to you being in this Palace so early, we have given you access to two different things." She smiled.

"Listen up I- Idiot." Caroline caught herself. "Anyway~ You know have access to The Electric Chair!" She giggled a little, before calming down. "Uh... Sorry."

"It's fine." The what?

"Oh dear." Merope shook her head fondly. "Sorry, Trickster. It's used to turn masks you don't want into Items, either for defence, offence or something to power up a mask or a friend." She explained.

"Oh, sweet. That's dope." Akira nodded. "And the other things?"

"All your Personas, and your Friends' Personae also gained Traits. Traits are like Auto-Skills, but without taking up a slot, and some Personae have unique traits they can't give to others, and would benefit from them keeping it." Justine explained.

"Oh, cool. Thanks, Juti-Chan~" Akira said with a grin.

"... It's ok.." Justine said with a slight blush. "You best be going back Trickster. You are needed."

"Sorry 'bout that." Picaro said rolling his neck. "Hey, everyone. We got an upgrade." He grinned.

Skull smirked. "What is it?"

"I'll explain later. Come on, uh... Kitagawa?" Picaro asked.

"Yes... How do you know? I thought you were spaced out when I said it." Kitagawa said, pulling a bit at his hair.

"I was, mostly. I could still hear some things." He said, waving a hand. "Now, come on." He said, moving towards the wall. "We've got a Museum to plunder."

Yusuke could not... handle this wealth of information.

Palaces. Personas. Wildcards. The Room Velvet of a blue hue. And now this... Lurid Museum was apparently Madarame's? By the lord, how?

How could God allow this!?

Skull, as his codename was, was sticking close. Something about him going Rage Mode? the small child said something about it not being normal.

Oh yes. THERE WAS A THREE YEAR OLD WITH THESE DEMONIC CREATURES!?

Lord help him, he needs to be of legal age to drink. Or to have Jesus bless him the next time he grabs his water bottle. Either would be good.

"Hold." Picaro, the one with many masks, said holding up a fist. Skull let out a huff of air through his nose.

Picaro held up one finger. Then two. Then tapped the ground twice with the knuckles from her other hand.

"Shit." Panther hissed. "Who's on the team?"

"Scarlet, Panther, Skull and me. Mona, you stay back and protect Kiga from the back. Provide support." Picaro ordered. "We're doing one fight, to see if we need to train."

"Understood." The small little itty bitty child with a cat theme... Was Panther perhaps her mother? Said, before standing next to Yusuke. What an odd day.

"Now." Picaro moved. Oh, how Yusuke wished he could have painted or sketched this! It was so quick, so fast! It was like she was blessed to have an inhuman speed!

She jumped onto the back of the... Security guard? So, it really was a real Museum, and ripped off the mask. "I shall reveal your true form!" She shouted, and suddenly there was a... SHIFT. In his brain, and everyone was fighting four weird looking things.

Two were a fairy like creature, but with black hair on top of it's head, and blonde twintails. The other two were women like creatures with blue skin, and moving water around like it was nothing.

"Waterside Nymphs and a few Girl from the Hanging Tree. You'll be fine." Mona commented like it was nothing.

And what Kiga saw next, made him believe that it wasn't.

"Captain Kidd!" Skull called out, without order from Picaro. "Zio!" It hit one of the Nymphs. "Zio!" Another hit the other. "Baton Pass!" He grinned, holding up a hand to Scarlet.

"... A what?" Scarlet asked.

"You... Hold on, we did it when we were in... that location." Picaro said confused.

"I ripped a mask off my face, and I was concentrating on not being turned into a Bimbo-MILF. I don't think I was using my whole brain."

Yusuke was unsure if he imagined the flinch from Panther, or the slight turn that Skull and Picaro did at the word "Bimbo". 

"Right... Uh, just high-5 me." Skull said.

"... Fine. I've trusted you so far." She did so, and a flare of red surrounded her, and faded into her gloves. "What the..."

"Baton pass. I gave you my turn, and you got a boost."

"That... Seems broken." She muttered, as she fired off a spell that hit all four of the creatures, knocking down the Fae, but did minimal damage to the Nymphs.

"This is a hold up." Panther yelled, as the four were suddenly around the creatures, guns out and pointed.

"All out." Picaro commanded, and everyone went flying around. Slashes and gunsots were common, and when they stopped the four creatures floated behind them, and Scarlet walked forwards, and pointed a smaller gun, looking like a glowing water pistol at her own head, and said: "Death, granted."

He was... So confused, but damnit that was cool!

"That was..." He started before the others just paused. 

"Shh." Picaro commanded, and moved around around the corner. Skull covered Yusuke's mouth, as... Yusuke walked past the area, with an odd mask.

His outfit was... almost the same, but it shimmered in the light, ice grew from random places and the joints. His movements were like he was struggling to live, and his mask... A Blizzard Mask, if he remembers from that history lesson.

This... This was...

"So, Madarame is a bastard." Skull spat, as it moved through a painting, and it glowed with the image of...

Hanako!? She was perhaps the kindest adult Madarame took on... She had quit art after a bit, but she tried to keep in contact... Why did he stop again?

"..." He heard a growl, and realised... It wasn't his stomach, but his throat making that noise.

"Sensei..." He grit out.

"Come on." Panther said voice kinder than Skull's. "We're going to... The hall of Students."

"Where's MItsuru?" Yukari asked, looking around.

"Dunno." Chie shrugged. "Honestly, she hasn't been around the past few days."

"Hmm..." Fuuka hummed. "Perhaps she is training, or taking a rest." She tried.

"Maybe..." Narukami hummed. "I'm going to get some more Personas and a few Shuffle Times. Anyone in?"

"Me." Chie said.

"I'm game." Akihiko shrugged.

"I am happy to help too." AIGIS said nodding. "Minato?"

"Whatever." The man shrugged. "Let's go.

Yusuke stared at all the paintings... All the cognitions of his friends. His master's pupils... The people that actually cared.

"Madarame..." He sighed. "Please Sensei... Don't let this be your truth..." He pleaded to nobody.

"..." Skull stayed silent as the others were scouting.

"I... have to ask. Why is Picaro the leader? and why are you protecting me?" Yusuke asked.

"Oh, right. Picaro is the Trickster, or Wildcard. Meaning they can use different Personas. As for me looking after you? Even without my Persona, I could knock a Shadow on it's ass." He shrugged. "I'm able to take and dish out attacks."

"Ah." Yusuke nodded. "What type of Shadow? I doubt it was like these ones."

"... A Knight."

"A... Knight. Suit of armour, and sword and shield?"

"Yep. Didn't have chainmail either. Just straight up pure steel armour." Skull nodded, and pressed a button to turn off some of the Lasers that would sound the alarm. Yusuke didn't even see them.

"Crawl, not walk." Skull recommended, before sliding underneath without any build up of speed.

"This is... Quite odd." Yusuke said, as he crawled under it. "I did not know of these kinds of places existing."

"You should see the Castle or Mementos."

"You mean a memento?"

"No." Skull shook his head, and didn't clarify. Gee. Thanks.

"My God..." Yusuke hissed, seeing... A spring. A spring of... Something.

"Hey, you guys made it pretty fast." Panther said, Mona sniffing the statue like a cat.

"Eh, helped that the shadows stayed away from the parts we were going through. Besides, the one that did see Yusuke, might have thought it was the Cognitive one." Skull shrugged.

"Urhg, how you remember those terms are beyond me." Scarlet sighed. "And I've been doing this since I was Twelve."

Everyone turned to her at that.

"Oh yeah, the bastard that was a child experiment and a hitman, died when I was eighteen, right after killing my father, who was trying to fix the mistakes my grandfather made." Everyone just stared at her.

"What. The actual eff?" Skull sighed out at last.

"I... Have no words." Picaro breathed out, her face then broke into a grin. "Hey, at least Ken wasn't there during that moment, right?" Scarlet just stayed silent, and Picaro's grin fell, her lips an electric blue. "Ok, what the fuck? The kid was there? He was like, 10 at the time!"

"I know." Scarlet sighed. "I didn't want to bring him in. But it was safer as... he was summoning his Persona out of rage, in a dangerous way."

"... That's how he got those..." Picaro spat out. "Got it."

"... So this is how Madarame views others." Yusuke hissed, before something... Happened.

"Shit, open time." Picaro hissed. "We need to leave."

"What?" Panther hissed. "I thought it was night!?"

"Yeah? But it's day time, what kinda effin' Museum is closed during the day?" Skull shot back.

"That's fair..." Yusuke nodded. "We leave?"

"Yeah..." Picaro then sighed. "Yusuke needs to walk out, looking as normal as possible. We'll sneak out again, meet up in the parking lot, understood?" The woman asked, as her lipstick changed to a demonic red.

"Right." Everyone nodded.

Akira groaned as they all collapsed onto the ground outside the Shack.

"You know? Sometimes, I hate how the Cognitive World Works." He said.

"Yeah." Ryuji agreed, and Morgana just gave a pitiful meow at that. "Yeah..."

"..." Yusuke looked at them all. "I apologize for how I acted at the start... With how hostile I was."

"It's cool man." Ryuji shrugged. "Come on... Let's head to Lablanc. I think we're all tired."

"Yeah. Let's go." Akira greed.

As they all collapsed into different booths, with Ryuji and Kitagawa at the bar, Akira got to work with dishing out some food.

"Th- Thank you... Are you sure this is ok?" Kitagawa asked, as the sign said closed.

"Yeah, this dude lives here." Mitsuru assumed it was the gender-neutral version of dude... Right? "And the boss is pretty chill all things considered."

"Yeah... Huh." Akira paused after handing Ann and Morgana their shared meal.

"What's up?" Ann asked.

"I think Sojiro said Parents. As in, plural when I first got here."

"Hasn't it been almost a month." Ryuji asked with narrowed eyes. "Why did you just realise that."

"..."

"Akira... How long were you held..." Ann started.

"Three months. No contact with my mother until June." Everyone froze at that. "June 12th."

"The day of your check-in, and they could decide that you can't see her as you got better without her." Mitsuru spat.

"Yeah..." She sighed, and rubbed the back of her head. Mitsuru really, really wants to help her style that. "Just... yeah."

"... Thanks for the food." Kitagawa said, and grabbed a wallet, but Ryuji shook his head.

"No paying." Akira said not even looking behind her.

"How do you do that?" Ann asked.

"It's a skill." Akira shrugged before placing down some coffee for Mitsuru and some Soda for the others. And Milk for Morgana.

"..." Morgana looked at Akira with a harsh stare, but Akira just grinned. Morgana licked it like a kitten would, and then started to do it faster.

"No, no no sweetie, drink like a human." Ann corrected, gently lifting the glass for the younger girl.

"Well, this is... somewhat nice and fun." Kitagawa said with a smile. Mitsuru couldn't help but agree.