Persona: The Phantom Masquerade.

The classroom was in absolute silence. Pencils scribbled on paper as students continued to work silently. As all things do, exams had finally arrived, and they were now in the middle of exam after exam.

As Ren sat down at his desk, he couldn't help but tap his pencil on the desk. Letting his mind wander as he looked at the questions. No matter how good he might be at fighting shadows, that skill didn't quite translate to his greatest enemy.

[Explain the origin of baozi.]

History.

If he was being honest with himself, he was just being stubborn. He could have memorized all of it, at least long enough to pass the exam before promptly forgetting it. A simple brute forcing of information, but his mind simply refused to learn it.

He couldn't help but smile as he thought back to their study sessions. If it weren't for Makoto, they probably wouldn't have gotten any actual work done. Falling asleep or goofing around after just some time of sitting down to study.

Lifting his arm, he saw a small bracelet and had to hold back a laugh in the silent classroom. After one of their study sessions, they went to the arcade, and Makoto got it from a claw machine. Its main distinguishing feature was a small panda.

"Alright! I did some research, and I have an idea. Wear this every time you study, and only when you're on the exam can you look at it and try to remember. It's from one of our psychology books." Makoto had told him with a confident smile.

After that, every time they studied, he would subconsciously glance at the small bracelet with Makoto beside him, trying her best to help him. It was honestly fun to tease her from time to time while studying. Her serious expression would soften into a gentle smile, and he found himself looking forward to those moments more than he expected.

"Ah, what a mess…" He muttered with a smile as he picked up the pencil and began to write the answer.

— — —

As the exam ended and the bell rang, they all packed their things and prepared to head out of the school.

"Ren! I need a break! I want to go eat some snacks." Ann complained as she held her head, gently crashing onto Ren for support. "I did better than before, thanks to Makoto, but after enough time, all the questions began to blur together…"

Chuckling gently, Ren gently caressed her hair before speaking in a joking tone.

"Explain the origin of baozi." Ren asked, using his best teacher voice.

Ann looked slightly confused before bursting out laughing.

"Ah, I guess you had it rough, too. Don't worry, I'll treat you this time with all my actress money." Ann played along before suddenly jolting as if she remembered something. 

"That's right! I forgot to tell you, but the director and the other actresses complimented me for the acting! They told me that it was a bit rough at first, but once I got comfortable, I became good! So I have to thank you for our acting classes. They are finishing up working on some set right now, but the filming should start pretty soon."

As the two of them walked out, they saw Ryuj ruffling his hair as he paced.

"Was it a Snow Crab? Or a King Crab?" He asked, running up to them.

"King Crab." The two of them answered at the same time, causing Ryuji to let out an annoyed groan as he kicked the ground.

"For real? Dude, I actually had that test! I can't believe the effin' crab question messed me up." Ryuji complained. "Well, eff' it. I still did better than before."

After a few more moments, Shiho arrived, looking just as tired as the rest.

"I think we need to stop taking naps after studying… after the second exam, I was ready to fall asleep. Honestly, if it wasn't for Ryuji, I probably wouldn't have made it." Shiho said, letting out a yawn.

"Huh, me? What did I do?"

"You make weird faces when you're concentrating, so I would try to copy your face during the exams, and that kept me awake. Also, chewing on pencils isn't good for your teeth, Ryuji." 

Ryuji looked slightly embarrassed for a moment, but after letting out a few awkward coughs, he shrugged it off.

The last one to join was Makoto, who looked exhausted.

"Sorry for the delay… I had some things to deal with regarding the student council. Some students were complaining and well… I probably shouldn't talk about it in the school. How did everyone's exams go?"

One by one, they all began to answer, with Ryuji going on a small rant about crabs. But when it came to Ren's turn, he simply lifted up the bracelet.

"I survived." 

Makoto smiled warmly as she heard the answer before subconsciously fixing her hair slightly. 

"Alright, we better get going. The day after exams end, I usually have a big dinner with my sister, so I can only hang out for a bit."

Shiho nodded in agreement.

"It's the same here. My parents want to have a small celebration at home, so I also can't eat either. I'd love to invite you guys to meet them, but they're inviting my grandparents, and they are a bit… unique."

"Ah, that sucks. My mom planned a small celebration for getting into the Kirijo Track Team and making it through the exams. I was gonna ask you all if you wanted to come. She said the more, the merrier." Ryuji added.

"I don't really have anything going on; my parents are still out, so I was just going to grab some snacks and have a movie night. So I am down to go. I haven't seen your mom since we were kids."

"Neither do I. I think Sojiro was willing to open the store for us, but I can call and tell him not to worry about it. We could talk on the way to the train and then split up. We are all gonna be meeting up for the firework festival, so we can fully catch up then." Ren suggested, earning a round of nods from the group.

As they began to walk through the crowded cities full of students celebrating the end of their exams, Makoto let out a tired sigh.

"You wouldn't believe the amount of people complaining about Yoshizawa. They had to move up her exams a week from now because of a gymnastics event. I'm actually a bit worried since other students seem to have it out for her because she has a few extra benefits from being a gymnast." Makoto began, causing Ren to raise an eyebrow.

"Really?" Shiho asked. "I would have thought everyone would love her. I met her a few times while I was still on the volleyball team, and she was a nice girl. If anything, she was a bit too nice, but that's not a bad thing." 

"Yeah, I have had to step in a few times to try to stop some rumors from spreading." Makoto added, letting out a tired sigh. "Honestly, poor girl. She already has enough on her plate."

On their way to the station, they saw a politician trying to campaign on the side, and though he continued to get heckled, he stood his ground and used his own words to fight back.

"Huh, that guy is still there." Ryuji muttered before promptly ignoring him and continuing to walk.

Sparing only a glance, the rest of the group made their way to the station, saying their last goodbyes before splitting up.

— — —

Unlike the lively dinner happening over at the Sakamoto household, the Nijima sisters were experiencing a far quieter evening. The clink of cutlery and the low-volume TV where the only sounds breaking the silence.

Sae sat in silence, methodically cutting her food, her mind clearly elsewhere. Her usually sharp eyes were distant, clearly lost in her own thoughts as she tried to find a good way to breach the somewhat awkward topic she had in mind without ruining her relationship with Makoto again.

Makoto, noticing her sister's distracted state, attempted to start a conversation several times but received only short responses in return. It felt as if the small progress they had made towards mending their relationship had all but collapsed in these few moments.

After a few more moments of uneasy quiet, Sae finally spoke up, her voice breaking the silence with an awkward hesitance. 

"Makoto… I noticed you changed your wardrobe. Could there be any reason for that?"

Makoto looked up, slightly taken aback by the question. 

"Ah, that? Do you remember the doctor who helped me the day I passed out? I went over there to thank her, and we actually started to get along. One thing led to another, and I'm actually volunteering with her on some of her research. During one of our days off, we went shopping, and she suggested some clothes for me. I really like them. They fit me."

Sae paused, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as she processed this new information. Eventually, though, she let out a relieved sigh.

"I see…" She muttered, her eyes briefly meeting Makoto's before looking away. "How did your exams go?"

Makoto's face brightened at the change of topic. The tension in the room seemed to ease as she felt a small window of connection opening up between them. 

"They went well. I've been tutoring some of my friends, which helped me refresh a lot of the lessons in my head. I'm pretty sure I aced all of the exams." Her smile widened, and she added with more enthusiasm, "You know how I've been into researching psychology lately? They actually have a few neat tricks to help remember stuff. It's both interesting, and it's giving me a head start for when I become a detective in the future."

A faint smile appeared on Sae's face as she saw her sister light up.

"Psychology? How long have you been studying it?" Despite her reservations about Makoto's career choice, she couldn't hide her pride in her sister's dedication to learning.

She had been so lost in her own job that she hadn't gotten the chance to connect with her for some time. 

"It's been a few months now…" Makoto's eyes sparkled with excitement as she delved into her new passion. "I found this fascinating book on cognitive psience, and it's been eye-opening. There are so many techniques to improve memory and understand human behavior. It's amazing how much it ties into detective work, too."

Sae smile turned warmer before becoming slightly awkward, yet after a few moments, she decided to just be straightforward and ask.

"I'm glad, though I am curious about something. By any chance, do you happen to be seeing anyone?"

Makoto looked slightly baffled by the question, her mind quickly picturing someone before she answered.

"No? Why do you ask?"

Sae chuckled, feeling some relief as she shook her head.

"It's nothing." She answered, Akechi had probably decided to tell her an outrageous story to try to get her to focus less on her work and spend a family night with Makoto. She would have to thank him when she saw him next time.

She was far too busy with her new research into not only the Phantom Thieves but also the SIU Director. Yet, since she had taken the afternoon off, she would spend it fully with Makoto, putting the research in the back of her mind for the day.

"You know, Makoto. Do you remember the movie nights we used to have before Dad died? How about we have one again today? We haven't done anything special in some time."

Makoto smiled as she heard the suggestion, instantly nodding as she stood up to get some things prepared.

— — —

In the Okumura household, they were having a lavish dinner. The table was adorned with an array of gourmet dishes, each more exquisite than the last. Yet, as delicious as the food looked, Haru didn't have any appetite. She mindlessly pushed the food around on her plate, unable to look up from her food.

"I can only assume the exams didn't go great?" Kunikazu, her father, asked while casually sipping some of his wine, his eyes not even bothering to meet hers.

"No…" Haru muttered, unable to look at her father in the eyes. It had been a few days since she had overheard him on the phone, and she still wasn't sure what to do. She had tried to listen in to her father's conversations a few more times, but he had been out of the house lately, leaving her alone with her troubling thoughts and the fragments of conversations replaying endlessly in her mind.

Okumura sneered slightly as he heard her answer, a flicker of disappointment flashing in his face before vanishing.

"I told you that you shouldn't waste so much time with that garden of yours. We have plenty of fresh ingredients here. If you only spent all that time you wasted studying, you would be able to pass your exams without problems."

Haru only felt more dejected as she heard him, her body subconsciously trying to become smaller as she lowered her head more.

"I was just speaking with Mr. Owada about how good you were at school. What am I supposed to tell him if he asks? I'm sure his son aced his exams without problems." Okumura continued, his gaze fixed on Haru before sighing, the disappointment evident in his tone.

"From now on, focus on studying. I will send someone to look after your gardens to make sure they don't die. I will see the results of your exams and decide your punishment then." He told her, his tone final, before standing up from the table, having finished his food.

"I have work to do, so I won't be able to go to the fireworks festival with you. I actually need you to be somewhere else during the festival. I need you to represent Okumura Foods during the event. I will send you along with Takakura. Just be quiet and look pretty. He will take care of the rest."

He looked at Haru, awaiting her response, but after not hearing anything, he simply left the room, eager to return to his work, leaving Haru alone in the dining room.

After being left alone, Haru stood up and walked to her bedroom, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallways. She hadn't eaten a single bite of her food. Once inside her room, she locked the door behind her, letting out a long sigh as she leaned against the door.

She moved to her closet and opened it, revealing a few bits of Phantom Thief merchandise hidden behind her clothes. Among the items, a simple mask caught her eye. She reached for it and placed it on her face before turning to face her mirror.

She looked on in silence, the reflection staring back at her a stark contrast to the poised and obedient daughter she was expected to be. The mask, though simple, symbolized a world where she could be free, where she could fight for what she believed in.

Lost in her own thoughts, she whispered to herself.

"I'm so stupid… Dad… what am I supposed to do?"

Gently taking off the mask, she moved to her bed and collapsed into it.

— — —

Makoto slept soundly, cuddled up on the couch next to Sae. The gentle rise and fall of her breathing brought a rare sense of peace to the room. Sae couldn't help but chuckle softly as she noticed a small drool mark forming on Makoto's cheek. It was an almost nostalgic moment that reminded Sae of when Makoto was younger.

Standing up, she quickly made herself a cup of tea. She was preparing herself to go to bed, yet as she went through her bag, she saw the CD she had been carrying around all this time.

"Mm?" Sae muttered as she looked at the title Makoto had written at the top, Takuto Maruki's Lecture #002.

Thinking for a few moments, she decided to watch one last thing before going to bed. 

With a quiet click, she inserted the CD into the player and sat back down next to Makoto. As the video began, Makoto shifted slightly, murmuring something unintelligible before settling back into her dreams.

The screen flickered to life, revealing a brown-haired man who was awkwardly adjusting the microphone, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips. Finally, with a bright smile, he adjusted his glasses and began speaking.

"So… umm. Hello. My name is Takuto Maruki, and I am about to give a lecture on Cognitive Psience. I'd like to thank you all for coming today."

Maruki's initial clumsiness was quickly overshadowed by his passion and engaging presence. He quickly began by outlining the basics of Cognitive Psience, and as he did, Sae couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Cognitive Psience is about understanding how our thoughts and emotions shape our reality," Maruki explained, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "It's a fascinating blend of psychology and neuroscience, aiming to uncover the deeper workings of the human mind."

Maruki's goal with his research was to help those with trauma heal and to assist individuals with psychological issues in "fixing their cognition." Were it not for the recent emergence of the Phantom Thieves, Sae would have thought of him as a foolish optimist. But now…

"So, what if we were able to rewrite someone's cognition?" Maruki proposed, his tone earnest. "Imagine you went through a traumatic event, and your mind shuts down. No amount of therapy or counseling would be able to help you if you can't be reached. For someone to be helped, they need to want to be helped. But what if you could change their cognition of an event?"

Maruki continued, explaining and going as in-depth as he could.

"What about criminals?" he continued, pacing slightly on the stage. "Some of them are shaped by their trauma. What if they only commit crimes because of a tough childhood? If you could alter their cognition of their past, you might be able to alter their current behavior and perceptions."

Sae couldn't help but listen in uncomfortable silence, silently taking in all the information before the lecture promptly ended. Looking at Makoto with a conflicted look, she couldn't help but rethink some of the wild thoughts she had dismissed before, but she couldn't accept it.

After a few minutes of silence, Sae's expression became determined as she stood up and removed the CD from her TV. She wrapped a blanket around Makoto and gave her one last look before sighing. 

"Takuto Maruki…" She muttered. 

She now felt like she had the biggest piece of the puzzle, but that left her with a choice. If Maruki was indeed connected to the Phantom Thieves, then Makoto, by association, could also be involved. Incriminating him could potentially implicate her sister, which meant there was a chance her sister would also be sent to either Juvenile Detention Center or to Prison.

She hesitated to confront Makoto directly since she didn't want to know the truth. That might alter her judgment and cause her to stumble and accidentally reveal something.

Hiding away the CD in her bedroom, Sae's eyes became cold as she looked at her briefcase, opening it to take out her laptop.

"Shiryuu Daiko…" If she took him down, she might be able to usurp his position as the SIU director. However, the odds were that someone else would try to steal the credit for her work and get promoted instead. Something she had realized after starting her investigation on him.

It had happened before. The game was rigged, a mess of ambition and betrayal. But Sae had come too far to back down now. She was determined to see this through.

Slowly, the small cracks in her distortion began to heal, leaving Sae with a cold expression as she began her research.

~A/N~

(Yo, long time no see. Sorry about that. The next chap is the fireworks festival chap, and then the next investigation begins. My little easter egg for this chap is… 

Do you remember when I told you that someone knew Ren was a PT a while back and asked you to guess who? Yeah, I was referring to Haru. Surprisingly, nobody guessed her, but I have been dropping very subtle hints ever since. I even make an offhanded joke about "Trying to save the world" back in chapter 73. 

I was originally going to keep it hidden for longer, but Phantom Diaries go brrr so I revealed it then.

See ya next time, which hopefully isn't too far away. I kinda miss the daily uploads, but such is life. And just to keep you all filled with anticipation, the next chap is called "The Fireworks" and the one after should be "The Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad.")