Phantom Thieves of Hope - A Danganronpa X Persona 5 Story.

Chapter 77: The Redemption of the Hermit

Mementos [Middle Layer] - Persona 5 Royal

[THE NEXT DAY...]

The dimly lit depths of Mementos echoed faintly with the chatter of the Phantom Thieves as they took a break at one of the desolate, empty platforms. The air was thick with the smell of dust and the distant hum of the train tracks.

As it turned out, what Kyoko had been talking to Byakuya about yesterday was a certain informant who had worked with the Steering Committee in the past. The Togami family had a lot of info on him from before, when he worked for their conglomerate, but after he'd moved on and made a name for himself, he'd become untouchable.

Makoto summoned the Thieves to Mementos to find the man's Shadow, and interrogate them for information, but that wasn't the core concern right now, as the Phantom Thieves' leader sat cross-legged on the ground, eagerly tearing open a bag of chips.

"I'm telling you, these are the best snacks for missions!" he declared, holding the bag up like a trophy.

"No way," Highwayman shot back, grinning as she waved a chocolate bar in front of him, "Chocolate bars are the ultimate fuel for Phantom Thieves! Lots of uh...whatchamacallits in 'em."

"Oh, sure, because that narrows it down," Leprechaun rolled his eyes, "You could literally be talking about ANY ingredient in chocolate!"

"Wrong," Sandbox chimed in, her eyes glued to her portable console as usual, "Energy drinks. They keep you sharp and focused. Late-night gaming sessions have proven that to me."

"I'm with Chiaki on this one. I need the boost to deal with all of you," Lab-Rat chuckled, shaking his head.

The argument escalated quickly, with Shuichi trying to mediate between them while Kaede and Kyoko remained mostly silent, watching the scene unfold with amused expressions. Usami, meanwhile, was jumping around, trying to offer everyone carrots she'd packed herself.

Amidst the noise and laughter, Toko sat quietly, her back against the wall, holding a small sandwich in her hand. She wasn't really paying attention to the argument.

A picnic in Mementos of all places was a little strange, but the Thieves had decided to take a break from the search for their informant. Plus, with how busy everyone had been lately, it was a good opportunity for them to relax and have some fun.

The chaos and excitement were something she'd always enjoyed, and yet, despite her surroundings, her mind drifted to yesterday, when her old crush was revealed.

She had thought it would be easier, after finally letting go, but the wound was still raw.

But that was the thing with wounds. They healed.

X

However, as she went to take a bite of her sandwich, Toko froze in place.

A strange noise was coming from nearby her, a strange sound she had never heard before, echoing down the tunnel.

It wasn't the usual hum of Mementos. It was something different. Something eerie and out of place.

Toko stiffened, her senses sharpening. She glanced around, but no one else seemed to notice.

The noise came again, a low, grating sound like metal scraping against stone, followed by a quiet whisper that sounded...uncannily like it was calling her name. Toko frowned, her curiosity piqued, and before she could think twice, she rose to her feet. Without saying a word, she began walking down the tunnel, moving toward the sound.

The others were too absorbed in their snack debate to see her slip away, the darkness swallowing her as she ventured deeper into the unknown.

Razor stepped off the platform, her footsteps echoing softly as she ventured deeper into the dim tunnel of Mementos. The strange noise had disappeared, leaving behind an eerie stillness.