Working With Phantoms

Snooping Shibuya

October 1st

Madran had completed the exam week, with the Saturday being filled with people simply catching up to the majority of those who had finished their tests. As was usual with days like those, most of the action happened in the lunchroom, starting with Madran arriving at her seat and finding that Sheila and Akira were already there.

"Hey, guys, what's going on?"

"Good question. Akira's been trying to get out something about this guy he met, but, well, he's been stumbling over his words for a bit."

"I can't quite get into words how confusing this exchange was."

"Who'd you meet?"

"Well, that Akechi dude. Y'know, the one who decries us but likes you all."

"Wait, really? I've met him too. Uh, this might be a little sudden, but I think he may be a persona-user like us."

"Um... ok? Is it just speculation, or do you have proof?"

"When he and I locked eyes, that weird effect thing happened."

Akira looked confused, and Madran elaborated.

"Ok, so, whenever you run into another persona-user and lock eyes, this weird event happens where the world's color distorts and you see a vision hinting towards their persona."

"Really? I've never had this happen."

"That's ok. Trust me, don't worry about that. I only really learned of this when I first ran into Maya, and that happened to us. Whew, that was, like, March or something."

"So... you have reason to believe that, because he and you had that moment together."

"Hey, you don't have to word it like that!"

Akira chuckled and Madran continued.

"Also, us running into each other seemed... planned, on his part. I looked this up later, and the detective agency or whatever it's called is nowhere close to where the school's station is. What about you, Akira?"

"Well, I was hanging out with a gal pal of mine-"

Sheila got a grin on her face and opened her mouth, but a stern look from Akira silenced her.

"And, well, after she left, I was heading back to the station, when Akechi walked up to me."

"What happened next?"

"Well, we locked eyes, and that thing you described happened. The reason as to why I was confused was, well, I thought it was a coincidence, the way you described it, but no, it wasn't."

"Ok, that's interesting. Go on, please."

"So, next, he and I, of course, expressed surprise at that occurrence, and struck up a conversation."

By now, everyone else had arrived and was quietly listening in on Akira's story."

"So, he acted all normal, being like, 'wow, I can't believe the election is coming up in just a few months. Who're you rooting for,' and stuff like that."

"He brought up politics? Yikes."

"Yeah, I know, right? Anyways, I just say that I'm not a fan of any of the candidates, which gets him to start talking, of course, about the Okumura mess. Oh boy, what a nightmare that's been for us."

"Did he, like, act suspicious at all?"

"Well, he got a bit squirrely when I voiced my concerns about, well, what if The Phantom Thieves didn't actually kill Okumura, and instead, there was a third party who wanted Okumura dead, so they caused him to die like that."