Persona: The Phantom Masquerade.

— –Ren– —

Hearing the soft piano notes echoing in the air, Ren instantly recognized where he was. He struggled to open his eyes for a few moments, and then, as if a weight had been lifted off from him, his eyes fluttered open.

"Ah, Trickster… It's been too long." Igor said with a chuckle, his deep, resonant voice filling the room. His massive grin was spread wide with some amusement.

Returning the smile, Ren ran one of his hands through his hair, fixing it slightly as he stretched.

"I agree. I gotta say, I was starting to miss you, old man." Ren said with a chuckle, to which Igor began to chuckle along with him.

"I am thou, and thou art I, Trickster. Your theatrics are as amusing as ever, but there is no need for pretense here." Then, with a snap of his fingers, Caroline and Justine stepped out. "Since our last meeting, much has transpired, has it not?"

"Something along those lines." Ren admitted, looking at Igor's bloodshot eyes. "Any chance you could give me some answers? It's starting to get a bit confusing." Ren asked, his tone becoming more serious.

"I have nothing but answers, Trickster. You simply haven't asked the right questions. But before we proceed…" Igor answered before reaching up his hand and gently grasping onto the thread of fate connecting both of them. "Allow me to mend what has frayed."

Then, with a simple twist of his hand, the tangled thread loosened. Then, for the first time in his life, Ren saw the floating card above one of his confidants turn. The reversed Fool became upright once again, fixing their strained bond with just a simple motion.

"Good." Igor murmured, his unnervingly bloodshot eyes locking with Ren's. "Never forget, Trickster, your bonds are your true strength. Cherish them, for they are the foundation of your power. It is only by achieving The World that you can show your true potential as a fool."

Ren nodded, taking in the words and thinking back to Elizabeth's own warning. Then just as he opened his mouth to ask about the new path in Mementos or even the Kirijo group, Igor spoke up. 

"Our time is limited, Trickster," Igor interjected, his grin sharpening. "It always has been. Forces beyond this room conspire to keep us apart, to blind you, to strip you of my guidance. Yet, such are the rules of this game."

At his gesture, Caroline and Justine approached, presenting a small, ornate blue book adorned with intricate golden accents. Their expressions looked somewhat tense as they passed on the book, yet they gave Ren a reassuring smile as they did.

"Through your bonds, you have forged an unyielding strength," Igor continued. "You have rebuilt what was thought to be lost, mended the Tower, and allowed it to ascend to its true heights. This is the power of connection, the strength of the heart."

"I am thou, thou art I…" Caroline added softly, glancing at Justine for her to continue.

"Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath. Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion and break the yoke of thy heart." Justine finished, and as she did, a bright crimson card appeared in front of Ren, and as it did, the book in his hands opened.

The crimson card descended slowly, gently embedding itself into an empty slot in the book. Ren's eyes traced the vibrant image it displayed—the unmistakable Tower, now upright and imposing. He didn't need to be told its significance; he felt it resonate in his very soul.

"You have a long journey ahead of you, Trickster," Igor said, his grin widening, the gleam in his eyes sharper than ever. "Twenty-one Arcana await you, yet as the end draws nearer, there is one you have yet to find—your Sun."

Ren's brow furrowed slightly at the cryptic remark, but before he could speak, Igor continued, his voice laced with an eerie amusement. 

"Truly, a wonderful play you are putting on, Trickster. Yet, as all performances do, ours too must eventually come to its conclusion. Before you depart, I will leave you with one final message."

The Velvet Room darkened as heavy velvet curtains began to close in around them. The soft piano that had lingered in the background faded, leaving only Igor's voice to fill the void.

"If you ignore my warnings and continue down this path, you will bring harm to those closest to you." Igor announced, his grin unchanging, yet his words carrying a palpable weight. "There is but one future where all of you thrive, and as the end of our game approaches, the choices you make will hold unalterable consequences."

— — —

Opening his eyes, he found himself back inside the clinic, resting awkwardly next to a hospital bed.

"Did you rest well?" Shiho asked as he groggily rubbed his eyes.

"My sleep paralysis demon showed up again, but he was nice this time. Even gave me a gift." Ren joked, causing Shiho to let out a giggle. "How about you? How's everything after using the Theurgy? Any weird feelings?"

Shiho shook her head as she heard the question, thinking for a few moments before speaking.

"I think it just takes a lot out of you. At least I wasn't fully prepared for feeling so tired, which is probably why I passed out. But after waking up, I felt fine; it was just a bit of a headache. I could have left the clinic to go back home yesterday night, but I just wanted to stay here. I would have felt bad if you woke up and I wasn't here."

"I'm supposed to be the one that was worried." Ren answered with a smile. "You could have just woken me up."

"Yeah, but you look so cute when you sleep. It would have been a crime to wake you up." Shiho joked as she stood up from the bed. "Well, I would have loved to stay here and talk some more. There's actually something new that happened with my persona, but… my parents are freaking out. I had to ask Tae to tell them not to come so it wouldn't turn into a whole scene over here. So I should probably leave it for later when we can meet up with everyone."

"Hm? Something new?" Ren asked with some curiosity.

"It's uh… well, it's hard to explain, but Circe evolved? She spoke to me last night, and then, after saying her goodbyes, she turned to Selene. I don't fully understand it, but my persona is Selene now."

Hearing her, Ren's eyes widened in surprise. 

"Huh…" That was all Ren managed to say. He wasn't quite sure as to the explanation, yet as he activated his third eye skill to look at Shiho, he could see golden and crimson thread binding them together. 

Unlike the faint threads he had with other confidants, this one was bright and looked sturdy. Even the card above her head, signifying her arcana, appeared brighter than ever. 

"Alright, I have to head out." Shiho said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "But I'll try to send you a message about when we can regroup. But judging by how long it has been, Madarame is bound to reveal his change of heart soon. So we would be meeting anyway for that."

Giving him a quick kiss, Shiho gave her final goodbye before stepping out just as she got a phone call.

"Yeah, I'm heading there. Doc just wanted to check a few more things." Shiho answered as she stepped out.

Being left by himself, Ren shook off the last of his tiredness before stepping out to try to talk to Takemi. Yet, he could overhear her speaking to a patient, so after leaving a small note as thanks, he left the clinic.

Checking his phone for messages, he saw one that stood out.

[Akechi]: I am bored. Are you?

[Ren]: Hi bored, I'm Ren.

[Akechi]: …

[Ren]: Get it?

[Akechi]: Yes.

[Ren]: Alright, alright, I get it. You have a bad sense of humor. Where do you wanna meet up?

[Akechi]: There is a little hole-in-the-wall sort of place in Kichijoji that I enjoy. It has nice food and drinks. 

[Ren]: Got it. I'll be there soon.

— — — 

The soft hum of the jazz club enveloped them as Ren followed Akechi inside, the warm ambiance of the room contrasting with the crisp air outside. The faint clink of glasses and subdued conversations added to the intimate charm of the place. Akechi glanced back at Ren, a smile on his face.

"Ah, there you are." Akechi said smoothly. "Come in. I've saved us a seat."

Ren followed him to a private corner booth, tucked away from the main floor. The space was cozy, the dim light casting soft shadows across their faces. Akechi greeted a few of the servers with polite waves as they walked past, his demeanor friendly but reserved.

"Come here often?" Ren asked casually, his eyes scanning the room before settling on Akechi.

"As often as I can." Akechi replied, sitting down and gesturing for Ren to do the same. "This is one of the few places where I can truly relax. It's almost like a second home to me." He chuckled lightly, the sound more genuine than Ren had anticipated. "Come to think of it, you're the first person I've ever invited here."

Ren raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a small smile as he took his seat.

"I'm honored."

The club was quiet, with only a handful of patrons scattered throughout. Ren guessed the relative emptiness was due to the early hour, most of its regulars likely still tied up with work or other obligations.

"So…" Ren began, leaning back slightly. "...is there a game this time?"

Akechi shook his head, glancing to the side as a well-dressed woman stepped onto the stage to begin singing.

"No, not today. I simply wanted to come here. Though…" He paused, a playful glint in his eye. "If you're feeling competitive, we could stop by Penguin Sniper afterward."

"Tempting, but I think I'm fine with just hanging out for now." Ren answered with a smile as he glanced down at the menu. "You know, it's funny—I've known you for a while now, but other than our talks about 'justice,' I don't think I've ever gotten to know the real Goro Akechi."

Akechi tilted his head, his smile tinged with curiosity. 

"The real Goro Akechi? My, that's quite the request. But… perhaps you're right." He answered calmly. "Fine, I'll indulge you. Though I suspect you'll find me far less interesting than you imagine."

The waiter arrived, and Goro ordered his usual drink without hesitation. Ren, lacking a preference and intrigued by Goro's choice, nodded and ordered the same.

"There's not much to say about me. I don't do much besides work, eat, and sleep. It's a fairly monotonous life, if I'm being honest." His tone was nonchalant, but a faint bitterness underpinned his words. "Though, I don't mind it. It's the path I chose for myself, after all."

Ren studied Goro's seemingly earnest expression, his own face neutral but his thoughts swirling. Every time they had met in the past, it had been their own game of cat and mouse. But it seemed as if Goro had dropped the act, at least for now.

Unless this was part of his trap?

In his eyes, Goro's actions were all calculated and deliberate. But now? It felt like a trap, but at the same time, it felt as if Akechi himself just wanted to hang out with him, just like he would with someone like Ryuji.

"I'm sure being a detective must bring some interesting cases, no?" Ren asked, causing Goro to chuckle and shake his head.

"I thought we weren't going to talk about justice?" His smile faltered slightly, and he continued in a quieter tone. "No, it's all a farce. Being a detective is mostly paperwork. Sure, I've solved a few cases here and there, but they don't let someone my age handle anything significant. I'm just a pretty face for the cameras, a symbol for the public to latch onto."

As he spoke, an edge crept into his voice, and his expression darkened. Ren watched as the calm facade cracked, revealing a glimpse of the frustration bubbling beneath.

"To be honest, the only way for me to bring justice is to grit my teeth and latch onto any case I can. I want to see past the cases I have and look at the best way I can bring justice through them. The one I have been assigned to now is the Phantom Thieves. They have me chasing ghosts. But… well… you already know what I think of them."

Ren raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by Akechi's sincerity. He'd expected deflection, perhaps another thinly veiled jab at the Phantom Thieves, but this felt… genuine. Akechi, sensing Ren's surprise, broke into a quiet laugh.

"What?" He asked, a playful grin curling on his lips. "Didn't expect the truth? Neither did I, honestly. Color me surprised."

Their drinks arrived, interrupting the moment as the waiter set the glasses on the table with practiced ease before slipping away silently. Akechi took a small sip of his drink, the tension easing from his expression as he leaned back into his seat.

"Well, since I've bared my soul." He said, his tone lighter but his gaze sharp, "I think it's your turn. I've been curious myself, what's the real Ren like?"

Ren hesitated for a fraction of a second, masking the pause with a slow sip of his drink. Akechi's question hung in the air, both innocent and probing. There was no denying the subtle undercurrent of their conversation, the unspoken knowledge they both shared yet refused to openly acknowledge. Still, Ren met Akechi's gaze with a small, enigmatic smile of his own.

"Are you much of a reader?" Ren asked, deciding to play into Akechi's game.

Akechi blinked, surprised by the question but quickly recovering. 

"Some would say that." He replied smoothly.

"Have you ever read Tartuffe?"

Akechi's eyes widened slightly as he heard him before a soft smile appeared on his face.

"Tartuffe, eh?" Akechi muttered. "You see yourself as a hypocrite?"

"Apparently." Ren answered with a chuckle. "Though the impostor bit suits me better."

At that, Akechi went silent, his gaze narrowing as he mulled over Ren's words. The faint smile on his face began to grow, and Ren could see the gears turning in his mind. Then, abruptly, Akechi laughed, a sharp, genuine burst of laughter that cut through the quiet hum of the jazz club.

The sound was so unexpected, so unrestrained, that it drew the attention of a few other patrons. Even the singer on stage faltered midsong, her eyes darting toward their corner before hastily recovering.

"I didn't think it was that funny." Ren mused as he raised an eyebrow, his amusement barely concealed. 

Akechi waved a hand dismissively, struggling to stifle his laughter as he leaned forward slightly. 

"Oh, Ren." He said, his tone both amused and admiring. "I knew it. I knew there was something about you. To be honest, I had the strangest dream last night. It left me… uncertain, conflicted. That's why I called you here."

Ren's gaze remained steady, though his curiosity was evident. 

"And what conclusion did you reach?" He asked, his voice calm but laced with subtle provocation.

Akechi's eyes gleamed with something sharp, almost manic, as his smile widened. 

"We are one and the same." He said, almost in a whisper.

Ren leaned back slightly, his smile turning playful. 

"Are we?" he asked, the teasing tone daring Akechi to elaborate.

"Yes." Akechi said firmly. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Ren said nothing, letting the silence linger as he watched Akechi carefully. There was a momentary hesitation in Akechi's demeanor, a flicker of vulnerability that quickly gave way to resolve.

"You asked about the real me, didn't you? Let me give you a better answer. I am… Robin Hood." Akechi said, at last, the name escaping his lips like a confession, his tone a mix of pride and bitterness.

Well, there it was. The cat was out of the bag.

They both had revealed they knew. Or, well, at least they had revealed that they knew that they knew. 

The cat and mouse game was over. Their unspoken rule had been broken.

"The Phantom Thieves." Goro began, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Are they responsible for the mental shutdowns? I've been investigating them for as long as they've existed, but… it doesn't add up. They don't strike me as the type. I would like to hear your… unbiased opinion."

The question caught Ren off guard, though he didn't let it show. Akechi's piercing gaze didn't falter, as if daring him to lie. Ren glanced around the room, ensuring the distant patrons weren't paying attention, before meeting Akechi's intense stare once more.

Was the game actually over?

"No." Ren answered without hesitation. "They don't strike me as the type either. Maybe they are a bit of a red herring."

"Good." Akechi said, letting out a sigh of relief as he relaxed in his chair. "If I am being honest… the reason I am so against the Phantom Thieves and their justice… it's because of my mother. So hearing you say that is a relief."

"Your mother?" Ren asked. The only mention of her that he could remember was when Akechi talked about his eye color. And back then, he had said he had been proud of his eyes. "Did something happen to her?"

"She died." Akechi answered, the smile fading slightly. "The reason I became a detective… it was to bring the ones who hurt her to justice. And I believe that those behind the mental shutdowns are related to her death."

"And what will you do when you find them?" Ren asked, noticing Akechi's smile become more genuine as he heard the question.

"Justice." He said simply, the word laced with venom. "Real justice. Not the kind they glorify on TV."

"I thought you hated that type of justice?" Ren asked with a slight smile. "The justice of the Phantom Thieves."

Akechi chuckled softly, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table. 

"I did say, didn't I? We're both impostors and hypocrites." His voice carried a strange mix of amusement and self-awareness. Then, his smile faded as he stood up. "But, I've said too much."

After smoothing out his jacket, he took some cash out of his wallet, placed it on the table, and gave Ren one final look with a smile.

"It's about time I go back to work. Otherwise, Sae is going to start calling me, and I know better than to have an angry Nijima on my case. I look forward to our next meeting, Ren. Perhaps there is a future where we can work together. Who knows?"

With that, he turned around and walked away, leaving Ren to sit alone in the dimly lit Jazz Club. As he took another sip of his drink and sat back, Ren couldn't help but smile.

"Robin Hood, eh?" He muttered.

Akechi felt nothing but genuine during their entire conversation. But when he looked into Akechi's eyes, he could tell that there was something else hidden beneath the surface. 

Anger?

No, that wasn't quite right. If anything, he looked like he was having a blast. He had practically admitted he had access to the Metaverse, but he hadn't said it outright, which meant he wanted to keep it hidden.

So what was his goal?

Justice?

A future where they can work together?

In what way?

To get revenge for his mother?

Finishing his drink, Ren stood up and began to walk outside, only to find out it was raining.

"Hm…. I really need to start carrying an umbrella with me."

~ Confidants ~

Goro Akechi (The Justice) Rank 5

https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK