Persona 5 Royal AU

Chapter 46 - Rest and Confidants

Thankfully, we didn't have to go far to get to a safe room. I winced as the new markings on both legs burned. Ryuji helped me sit down and I dug through the bag for the pills that the twins gave me to reduce the pain. I took two pills and had to wait a bit for the pain to recede.

"Can you stand Joker?" Makoto said.

Ryuji helped me stand up but since the medicine was just now kicking in, standing with the pain made my legs lock up and I couldn't move.

"Ngh!"

"That's a no." Ann said with a sigh.

Ryuji and Yusuke helped me sit down on the floor. Once the medicine kicked in, I relaxed and slowly stood up with Ryuji's help.

"Oracle, can you help him get back to Leblanc?" Ryuji asked.

"I can try." Futaba said.

"On second thought, I'll help. He might get too heavy for ya. Y'know?" Ryuji stated.

Once we left. Futaba and Ryuji helped me get to Leblanc. Thankfully, Sojiro was out smoking so he didn't see us walk in. Ryuji helped me lay down. I had to rest the rest of the night so that the pain in my legs would go away.

At school the next day, I had to take a few days to recover. We have twenty-one days to complete the mission. So, we have the time. Dr. Maruki wanted to see me. We went to Leblanc, so I made him a coffee. As we were chatting, I nearly stumbled because of my legs.

"Are you okay Ren?" he asked.

"Yeah, sorry. I hurt my legs yesterday." I said. "Anyway, you're talking about helping all people? All hearts can connect Dr. Maruki."

He looked like he hit a realization.

"You're right...! My god, you're right! That's it, Ren!" he said excitedly.

He seems to grasp the concept about the collective unconscious since he was studying cognitive pscience. I had to tell him to calm down as he got very excited. After a while he left. I looked at the time. I had time to meet with the others who messaged me.

I hung out with Ryuji, today's the day our confidant level finishes. We both went to get Ramen.

"Your legs better man?" he asked.

"Yeah a bit." I said.

We both ordered ramen and sat down.

"Ahhhh, this is a perfect way to refill after training." he stated.

I smiled as he told me that the track team is back up and running now that Yamauchi was taken down by Takeishi's mom. Turns out she's head of the PTA, so she objected to the plans.

"That's great to hear." I said smiling.

"I think they'll even go far in the meet." he said.

"We can't lose either. Remember Ryuji, I'm counting on you." I said. "There may be a day I need you to help me if I get lost in the dark."

"Hell ya!" he said. "You know you can always count on me, Ren." Ryuji stated. "No matter what happens, if you do fall, I'll run right to you and pull you out!"

We ate our ramen and Ryuji told me how he felt when he had messed up in the track team, how he felt like he lost his place. Ryuji then said he made it through because I was there helping him through it all.

"So yeah, thanks a lot man." he said smiling.

With that, we forged a bond that can't be broken easily. Thanks to that, Ryuji's persona must've evolved to be stronger than it had before. We soon left and I smiled, maybe I can have my friends become stronger should they end up having to fight me. I hope that doesn't happen.