Persona: The Phantom Masquerade.

Stepping down from his room after cleaning up and getting ready, Ren took a seat at the coffee bar, the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee welcoming him. He let out a yawn, rubbing his eyes slightly to try to get rid of his drowsiness. 

Thankfully, Sojiro had already prepared a cup for him. So he was able to get his hands on the warm mug as his thoughts drifted to the previous night.

After Elizabeth had left, Ren returned to the group. They had all been waiting for him at one of the closest stores with towels. Though Ryuji was also wrapped in a few as he tried to dry off. Kasumi had looked at him, somewhat confused since he had stayed behind, but since no one else brought it up, she didn't ask.

Originally, they had planned to go to a few different places to try to salvage the day. But with two of them drenched, it was enough for their plans to turn to the simple "Get home and dry off." A plan that had been probably for the best since Ren had almost instantly fallen asleep when he dried up.

He had expected to be taken to the Velvet Room, with how quickly he had fallen asleep. But the next time he opened his eyes was daytime.

"Atchoo." Ren sneezed suddenly, surprising even himself.

"Did you get rained on yesterday?" Sojiro asked with a hint of concern, his brow furrowing slightly. "I can't have you getting sick, kid. The school will probably throw a fuss if you start missing class."

Before he could answer, Futaba, who had been sitting in one of the booths working on a laptop, chimed in without even looking up.

"Pretty much everyone else didn't bring an umbrella, so Ren passed his umbrella off to Shiho and Ann." She said before turning to Ren and giving him a thumbs up as if she had just gotten him out of trouble.

Sojiro paused for a moment after hearing Futaba, his frown softening into a smile as he nodded in understanding.

"Ah, I see… Can't really blame you much in that case then." He muttered, holding back a chuckle as he finished brewing himself a cup.

"Either way, I shouldn't really be able to get sick." Ren muttered under his breath, the words barely escaping before Sojiro delivered a light, yet firm, smack to the back of his head.

"The hell are you talking about, kid?" Sojiro's asked with a mix of concern and frustration. "Don't start doing stupid stuff because you think you're invincible. I used to think like that, and hoo boy, let me tell you. You don't want to be pushing your luck."

Ren chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as Sojiro sat next to him. However, he couldn't help but notice Futaba's chuckle in the background.

Before he could speak up, he felt his phone buzzing. 

"Gotta go." Ren announced after pulling out his phone and glancing at the screen. Without missing a beat, Mona who had been lounging on the couch next to Futaba, sprang to his feet and jumped into Ren's bag just before he slung it over his shoulder. "Though I'll keep the advice in mind for the future."

Sojiro grunted in acknowledgment, but he still gave him an encouraging nod.

"Good luck with your internship, kid."

As Ren headed for the door, Futaba also quickly stood up, downing the rest of her drink.

"Gotta go, too." She announced. "I forgot I was going to help erm… Takemi fix some of her computer issues."

She was going to keep an eye on Ren through his phone, making sure everything went well and standing ready to inform the Thieves if they needed to do an emergency escape into the Metaverse. Though Ren seemed to trust Naoto, she still wanted to take the extra precautions.

As he stepped outside, he took in a deep breath of the cool morning air before making his way down the street. 

It wasn't long before he spotted a sleek, black car parked on the side of the road. Beside it was Naoto, her usual composed expression giving way to a slight nod as she saw him approach.

"Good morning, Amamiya." She greeted as she opened the door. "Are you ready for today?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Ren answered, returning the nod before entering the surprisingly spacious car. Quickly being followed by Naoto.

The moment the two of them were inside, the engine purred to life. Before beginning to drive through the busy streets of Tokyo. There was a small window separating the driver from them, which acted as a form of privacy so that they wouldn't hear anything that was being talked about.

For a while, the only sound in the car was the hum of the engine and the muted rush of the city outside. Ren found himself gazing out the window, watching the familiar sights of Tokyo pass by in a blur. He was lost in thought, when Naoto's voice cut through the silence, her tone curious.

"If I may, why did you decide to name your team the Phantom Thieves?" 

Ren was caught slightly off guard by the question, but he couldn't help but chuckle as he heard her.

"Well, it was a group effort, really." He began, his mind drifting back to those early days of forming the team. "I originally wanted to call us the Persona Pals, but that was a bit on the nose. Don't you think?" Ren joked with a slight grin, though there was a hint of nostalgia in his voice as he thought back to the early days of their Metaverse explorations. 

Naoto's serious expression broke with a slight nostalgic smile of her own. Almost as if she had gone through a similar experience in the past.

"We had some slight variations, but Phantom Thieves just came naturally. It fits us." Ren added after shaking his head. "Why did you ask?"

"It's nothing; just a familiar name, is all." Naoto answered, her smile still on her face. Her eyes turning to look at the city once again.

Ren couldn't help but notice the slight tapping of her finger on the car door. He had seen it countless times before, so he could recognize exactly what was going through her mind. She was holding back questions, waiting for the right moment to ask. Though he could only guess that she was waiting until they met up with the mysterious "boss."

After another short moment, Ren decided to break the silence by asking a question that had been in his mind for some time.

"So, Detective Prince. How does one go about getting that title?" 

"It depends from person to person. But it is mainly a publicity stunt." Naoto answered, causally dismissing her title. "I got it mainly because I come from a line of detectives. So, since I was young, I have carried on their legacy. I caught the attention of a few news outlets, and after that, the title sprouted."

Ren nodded, though that did make another question sprout in his head.

"What do you think of Akechi, then? He's one of my friends, and from what I saw on air, you two seemed to clash."

Naoto's smile returned, this time with a surprising gentleness that Ren hadn't expected. She shook her head dismissively, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.

"That was all to get the attention of the Phantom Thieves. It was part of the game we were playing at the time, nothing more. If anything, I'm glad that the title lives on through someone else."

She paused for a few moments, carefully considering her words.

"Akechi is a strange case." She continued. "He appeared out of nowhere, solving cases that had stumped even the most seasoned detectives. It was almost as if he was too good to be true. But at the same time, we share a lot in common."

Naoto's arms crossed over her chest, a smile still lingering on her face as she reflected on their interactions.

"He's talented, no doubt about it. But unlike me, he didn't have the legacy or the connections to back him up. He earned his title purely through his own skill and determination. In that sense, he's beaten me."

There was no real bitterness in her voice, just the simple acknowledgment of Akechi's abilities.

"Either way, I've moved on to more important things. The titles and publicity are just distractions in the grand scheme of things. What matters more is the work we do and the lives we change. Until Akechi learns that lesson, he is in for a rough ride."

For the rest of the ride, they continued talking about random yet small things. That was until they pulled up to a large building on the outskirts of Tokyo. It was close enough to the city to be able to reach it in a relatively short ride.

It was a large building that went up five stories high, which while not crazy in terms of buildings found in Tokyo, for a building this far from the main city it stood out like a sore thumb.

Just like the sports center the Kirijo Group owned, the building in front of them was extremely well built. Every single detail was in order, from both the outside, and the inside. It was meticulously clean as they walked in. It was as if the building itself was a testament to the Kirijo Group's dedication to perfection.

Ren even activated his Third Eye skill to try to notice if anything was off, but there wasn't much on the surface. Just a simple receptionist desk that guarded access to the rest of the building, blocked by a series of gates that required clearance to pass through.

Though, he couldn't help but notice the cameras monitoring every single inch of the entrance.

The receptionist, a woman with a warm and professional demeanor, greeted them with a smile as she unlocked the doors, clearly expecting their arrival.

"Interesting place." Ren said quietly, his eyes still taking in the details.

Naoto, leading the way, chuckled slightly.

"You don't know the half of it." She answered, stepping into the elevator which closed behind them and began moving up without having to press any buttons. Almost as if someone was monitoring them.

When they reached the top floor, Naoto led the way down a corridor that ended at a large, imposing office door. She knocked once, a firm yet polite gesture, before opening it and stepping inside. Ren followed, his gaze immediately drawn to the woman waiting for them.

She had striking crimson hair that drew your attention, along with her extremely beautiful appearance. She wore a stunning black outfit tailored to perfection, with a white fur coat draped over her shoulders, exuding both power and sophistication. 

As Ren and Naoto entered, Mitsuru lowered a delicate teacup onto her desk, her sharp, discerning eyes instantly locking onto Ren. Other than her appearance, the one thing that caught his attention was the trace of warmth in her eyes.

"Ren Amamiya, the current leader of the Phantom Thieves." Naoto introduced, moving to the side and leaning against the wall to observe what would happen.

The crimson-haired woman nodded before standing. She moved towards Ren with a commanding precedence filled with countless years of experience. The only time Ren had felt a similar presence before was during his time with his old boss and mentor, before Igor had brought him to this world.

There was an undeniable aura about her, a sense of danger. Even with her graceful movements, Ren couldn't help but feel on edge.

"I am Mitsuru Kirijo, owner of the Kirijo Group." She introduced herself, her voice soft yet powerful. However, as if noticing his tension, she let out a warm and gentle smile. The feeling of danger instantly vanishing.

Yet, rather than relax him, this sudden shift put Ren even more on edge. The fact that Mitsuru could so effortlessly control the atmosphere around her, shifting from formidable to welcoming in an instant, spoke volumes about her capabilities. Judging by the Devil Arcana card floating above her head, Ren felt like he was in for a wild ride.

If he was being honest with himself, he had really hoped the strange boss behind Naoto would represent the bright Sun Arcana. Yet now that he was standing face to face with her, he would follow through with his decision.

Letting out a slow breath, Ren relaxed his body before giving her a warm smile in return. 

"It's nice to finally meet you, Miss Kirijo." 

"Take a seat." Mitsuru instructed, her tone leaving little room for argument as she gracefully turned and made her way back to her seat behind the desk. "We have some matters to discuss before we can proceed."

Ren exchanged a quick glance with Naoto, who remained by the wall, her expression unreadable but clearly attentive. With a nod, Ren followed Mitsuru onto the free seat.

"Care for some tea?" Mitsuru offered, lifting her teapot and filling her own cup before retrieving another from a polished silver tray.

"Yes, thank you." Ren answered, watching as she carefully poured the tea. Judging by how carefully she poured her tea, Ren could tell that she took great care in even the smallest of tasks.

As Mitsuru handed him the teacup, Ren couldn't shake the strange feeling that washed over him. On the one hand, there was a genuine warmth in her gesture, as if she truly cared about making him feel welcome. But on the other, he couldn't tell if it was an act, a carefully constructed facade meant to disarm him. She was one of the hardest people to read he had ever encountered.

Taking a sip of the tea, Ren was met with a delicate, refined flavor that matched the elegance of the room. He set the cup down, his attention fully on Mitsuru as she began to speak.

"Naoto has told me a good amount about you." Mitsuru began, her tone even and measured, "but I prefer to verify things for myself. I hope you won't mind if I ask you a few questions."

"Of course." Ren answered. "Ask away."

Mitsuru's eyes softened slightly as she offered him a warm, appreciative smile. It was a subtle shift but one that made her seem all the more approachable.

"Could you explain to me how you became the Phantom Thieves?" 

"One day, after school, I met with another student. Out of nowhere, we were suddenly transported to another world. The Cognitive World." Ren began, being intentionally vague in trying to protect Shiho. "Somehow, we found ourselves inside a castle."

Mitsuru listened intently, her expression unreadable, yet her silence spoke volumes. She didn't press for details about the other student, which confirmed to Ren that she likely already knew more than she was letting on.

"A castle… am I right to assume that this was the Cognition of Suguru Kamoshida?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yes." Ren confirmed. "At the time, we were confused, but we were able to escape with our lives after awakening our Personas." He saw no reason to hide the truth, especially since Naoto had already mentioned Personas during her initial offer.

Mitsuru nodded along, yet she didn't speak, her silence urging him to continue.

"We felt like we needed to look into it." Ren continued. "So we recruited some more help before diving back into his Palace." He quickly explained the concept of a Palace, noting how it was a manifestation of someone's distorted desires. "Inside, we were able to see how he tortured and took advantage of his students."

As Ren spoke those words, Mitsuru's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing with a barely concealed fury. The aura in the room shifted, becoming heavier, more oppressive.

"I read the records of what Kamoshida confessed," Mitsuru said, her voice low and controlled, though Ren could sense the simmering rage beneath the surface. "The simple fact that a school would allow such a thing to happen under their watch is unforgivable."

For a brief moment, the oppressive aura intensified, allowing Ren to finally recognize where it came from. This was the aura of a Persona, one that was probably strong enough to force him to use the scalpel to survive. However, the simple fact he could feel her persona so clearly in the real world was alarming in itself.

"Yes." Ren answered. "We couldn't let him continue hurting people, so we dived through his distortion until we eventually stole the very source of it, executing our first change of heart."

Mitsuru fell silent, her gaze distant as she processed his words. After a moment, she nodded.

"I see… so by diving into their cognition; you can steal their distortion. And once stolen, the subject finds remorse in their actions. Their distorted view of the world returns to that of a regular person, the guilt of their actions driving them to confess…"

Ren barely managed to contain his surprise as Mitsuru perfectly explained the process. Yet maybe it was to be expected with someone like Naoto under her wing.

"Suguru Kamoshida's mental shutdown—did the Phantom Thieves cause it?" Mitsuru asked, her eyes searching for any sign of deception. "I won't hold it against you or your friends. Everything must have been so new to you that mistakes were bound to happen." She continued, her tone turning warmer, aking to understanding which bordered on pity. "I myself had my fair share of mistakes in the past."

"No, we didn't cause the mental shutdown." Ren answered, still unsure as to what to make of her.

She would turn from an oppressive figure to a nurturing one. Both pressuring him to be honest while also coercing him with her kindness. They both felt genuine, yet at the same time, neither did. If he hadn't been paying such close attention to her actions, they might have even slipped by unnoticed.

"That's good." Mitsuru answered. "But I am sure there must be a reason why you are so confident. Do you know who is behind Kamoshida's mental shutdown?"

"After Kamoshida had a mental shutdown, we went into the Metaverse, the collective unconscious. In there, we saw Kobayakawa, and after interrogating him, he revealed that he sent a person known as the "Black mask" to get rid of Kamoshida before he could speak out."

Mitsuru took a moment to process the information before a soft smile appeared.

"Good." She said, standing up and giving Naoto a nod. "I have confirmed what I needed to. Follow me, I have something to show you."

~A/N~

Hopefully, you enjoyed the chap! Thanks for being patient even with the slow updates! I still hope to be able to post this more regularly, but it's hard. Imma start the next chap rn, I was originally gonna make this a massive chap but since I didn't want to leave everyone waiting I decided to post part 1 cuz we were already at 3k words.

As always, feedback and comments are always appreciated. 

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