Persona: The Phantom Masquerade.

After class, Ren parted ways with his friends, each with their own preparations to attend to, while he ventured towards the school library. To be fair, he had invited them to come along, but the thought of having to sort through countless books searching for even the slightest clue didn't sound that appealing to them.

Entering for the first time, he was greeted with a relatively small library. Though, it would be a good place to start. Most students had left for the day, leaving behind a serene quietness, save for a brown-haired girl engrossed in her studies, surrounded by a mountain of books.

Ren approached her, tapping her shoulder gently. Slightly startled, she looked up.

"Can I help you with anything?" she asked.

Flashing a friendly smile, Ren replied, "Yeah, sorry to disturb you, but I'm a bit lost. This is my first time in this library, and I could use some help finding books. You seem quite familiar with this place." he added, gesturing towards her impressive collection of books.

She began to direct him to the librarian's desk, only to find it unattended. "I guess she's gone for the day... Sure, I can help. What are you looking for?"

"Anything about cognition or psychology. Or something along those lines." Ren explained.

The girl gave an intrigued look before standing up and looking around.

"I think we should have some around here. What do you need them for?" She asked as she began to look through the library carefully, pulling books from place to place.

"It's just something that always interested me. Now more than ever, if I am being honest." Ren said as he helped her hold the books she was grabbing.

"Ah, sorry, I forgot to ask. My name is Ren Amamiya. And yours?" He said with a charming smile.

Makoto, momentarily taken aback by his name, recovered quickly. 

"Makoto Nijima, student council president. I'm sorry about what happened with Kamoshida. I wish I could've helped... If you need anything, the student council is here for you."

Ren, seizing the opportunity, asked.

 "Actually, since you're offering, I could really use a hand with these books.? I am looking for specific stuff, and it will take me forever by myself… you look like you have a hang dealing with lots of books." Ren joked as they walked back to her desk and set the pile of books down.

Makoto hesitated for a moment before nodding her head with determination.

"I have to keep up with my studies, but I guess this also counts as studying… Plus, studying psychology would probably help me in the future…" She said, lost in thought.

"IS that so? What are you planning on doing in the future?" Ren asked as he handed her over one of the books and opened one for himself.

She looked slightly embarrassed at the question as she answered.

"My dad used to be a police officer, so I have always been interested in becoming a detective… Though I'll probably end up studying to become a prosecutor like my sister." She said, letting out a slight hint of dejection and sadness.

Ren picked up on the subtle emotions in her words. 

"A police officer, huh?" he mused, looking intently into her eyes as if trying to gauge her potential for such a career.

Makoto, caught off-guard by his direct gaze, blushed slightly.

 "What are you looking at?"

With a thoughtful nod, Ren offered an encouraging smile. 

"I think you would make a good detective. Call it a gut feeling." He said with a smile before looking down at his book and starting his search.

Makoto's response was a warm smile, though it was obvious she was trying to hide it.

"What exactly are you looking for? I can stay a while longer to help out," she offered.

Giving her a general explanation of what he was looking for, the two began to comb through the books. As they spoke, Ren noticed how awkward Makoto truly was. She had probably spent most of her free time studying, so her social skills were not up to par with someone her age.

Makoto's attempts to feign knowledge in areas outside her academic expertise were endearingly clumsy. Which only made him smile even more when she saw how flustered she got with even the slightest compliment. And during their time, Ren noticed the familiar feeling of creating a bond with her.

Without noticing it, the two of them stayed in the library until one of the teachers walked into the library and gently admonished them for staying in the school so late after hours. As they left, Makoto actually grabbed a couple of the books to take home to keep on reading. Ren was going to do the same, but Makoto only allowed him to take one due to the school policy. 

'I wonder if she would be a good addition to the team…It would be good to have someone on the team that I can count on to help me come up with ideas…' Ren mused as he took the train heading to Shinjuku.

Though after thinking for a while, he couldn't help but sigh.

'Though I guess she probably wouldn't be able to keep the secret. I can tell she is a bit of a pushover, so if the principal or someone with any authority asked her, she would probably spill the beans.'

As he stepped into the vibrant heart of Shinjuku for the first time at night, the district unraveled before him like a neon tapestry, pulsating with the electric vitality of Tokyo's nightlife. The streets were ablaze with a symphony of glowing signs and energetic crowds. Each flickering light beckoned those who saw them to approach and enter the many bars and establishments.

"Now, if I were a fortune teller, where would I be?" He asked himself out loud as he began wandering through the streets.

As he walked around, a man wearing a black jacket and a facemask approached him before asking.

"Hey, are you interested in getting a good part-time job? We pay quite well, and the job is really simple. All it takes is a simple ten minutes out of your time, and we can give you a good paycheck. Enough for you to buy whatever you want. What do you think, kid?"

Giving the man a glance up and down made it obvious what this was. He had dealt with quite a few people like him in the past, so he already knew the gist of what he wanted.

"Lemme guess, all I need to do is deliver a small package?" He asked, earning a chuckle from the man.

"I guess you must have done this before. That's even better. So what do you think? We are looking to expand our business, so a younger guy like do will be perfect for what we need. We'll even give you a bonus for your first delivery since you have some experience."

Ren resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the salesman-like voice the older man had. All it would take was one picture of him holding the envelope, and he would go from a high-paid delivery man to a slave. 

"I'll think about it. I'm a bit late for a meeting, so I'll have to leave that for next time."

The man didn't stop him as he walked away, only letting out a small chuckle before walking over to a group of two other younger-looking dudes. Glancing back, he couldn't help but to raise an eyebrow in recognition. He had seen the two of them walking about in his school. Lettin gout a shrug, he continued walking in his search.

'Honestly, if they fall for it, they kind of deserve it…'

Not so long after parting ways with the shady salesman he found a younger woman with a small desk set up in one of the quieter corners of the district. Her distinctive appearance, marked by purple eyes and long blonde hair adorned with a navy blue headband, made her stand out. She wore a necklace with a red teardrop jewel, adding to her mystical aura.

Waiting for his turn, he sat down on the chair in front of her before giving her a charming smile.

"Ah, is this your first time getting a reading? I don't usually get younger people at my table. My name is Chihaya Mifune, and I will be reading your fortune today! Let's start with the basics. What's your name?" She said in a cheerful tone as she began preparing the cards in front of her.

"Ren Amamiya. And, actually, in addition to reading, I was hoping to learn a bit from you."

Chihaya's eyes sparkled at the prospect of teaching.

"Ah, it's been a while since I have taught a class. I can certainly give you an introduction to Tarot, but it will cost extra."

Ren's smile twitched slightly before he nodded his head. He was going to leave this place broke, but at least he would know more about the powers Igor had granted him especially since he would be entering the Palace again the next day.

"That makes sense. I read the prices on the ad, so I brought enough for both of them." 

Chihaya's smile brightened as she answered.

"That's great! In that case, let's get started."

Chihaya's performance added a dramatic flair to the tarot reading, her voice resonating with mystical intonation. 

"Oh divine power, bring forth this boy's fortune!" she exclaimed, flipping the first card with a flourish, though her expression soon faltered.

"The reversed death… This card signifies change, unfinished business, or a forced transition. It represents transformation, a phase ending, and another beginning, albeit reluctantly.."

Ren listened intently, struck by the accuracy of her words. He never really believed in things like Tarot before, but he may have underestimated its accuracy.

"For the present, the upright Fool!" Chihaya continued. "This card, also known as the Trickster or the Jester, symbolizes beginnings, potential, and adventure, yet cautions against naivety and mistakes."

Ren nodded, the relevance of Igor's title for him, 'The Trickster,' suddenly clicking into place.

"As for your future…." Her expression shifted once again into one of uncertainty as she spoke."The reversed Hanged Man…"

Closing her eyes, she thought for a second before speaking once again.

"The hanged man often represents a period of indecision and feeling trapped in a situation. In the reversed position, it means you will soon reach a point where the passivity of hanging in limbo will no longer be sustainable. This card urges a break from old patterns and a refusal to remain a victim of circumstances…You have a choice ahead of you…"

Suddenly, Chihaya winced, her concentration breaking. She opened her eyes, apologizing.

"I'm sorry, that is all I can see… From my interpretation of the cards, I believe you must have moved to Tokyo recently, have you not?"

Earning a nod from Ren, Chihaya smiled before continuing.

"That explains the fool. In this new situation, you are a blank canvas. You must have just started forming friendships with others, so just like the fool, it is important that you learn from them in order to grow. As for the Hanged Man, you're going to be given a choice in the future that will decide the rest of your life. Though it must be quite far since I was not able to see much into it."

"I see…" Ren muttered as he thought of what his choice might be before putting that in the back of his mind as he heard her speak.

"Now, as for your first class. Is there anything in particular you want to learn first?"

Ren got lost in thought as he tried to decide which one of his questions was the most important. As Ren pondered, a delicate blue butterfly landed on the table, settling on The Fool card. Its ethereal presence seemed almost symbolic, capturing Ren's attention and guiding his choice.

"The Fool's Journey, could you teach me about that?"

~Confidants~

Ren Amamiya/???????? (The Jester) Rank 1

Makoto Nijima (The Priestess) Rank 1

Chihaya Mifune (The Wheel of Fortune) Rank 1