Chapter Text
“Senpai, I beg of you… Let me live as Kasumi!”
“I… I can’t.”
“Why… WHY?!”
Ren shook his head sadly. “It’s not you, Sumire… You should understand that.”
Maruki shook his head. “She’s traumatized. I did this… I helped her live as Kasumi so she wouldn’t feel this much pain. I saved her. If you truly do care about her, you would let her live this way. She would be so much happier living as-”
“No,” Ren snapped. “It is because I care about her that I am trying to break her out of this… this delusion you put her under! You’re not God, doctor… You don’t get to decide people’s fates for them.”
“It’s not often that I wholeheartedly agree with Joker,” Akechi grumbled. “This is one case where I do.”
“Senpai…” Sumire spoke again. “Doctor Maruki helped me move on. I… I killed Kasumi! I can’t live with that memory… Just let me go back! We can- We can go do things together, Senpai! We could go to the aquarium for a date, we could go to Leblanc to hang out with the rest of the Thieves, we can even go to Destinyland together, just the two of us! Just, please…”
Ren squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out the tears that threatened to form. He took a deep breath to calm himself before he spoke.
“Kas- Sumire… I’d love to do those things with you. The time I’ve spent with you seems like a dream… But I have to keep my promise to you. The first one I ever made when we started dating, remember? If you were ever in danger, I would do anything to keep you safe. That ‘you’ I referred to was the true ‘you.’ I intend to keep you safe… I will not waver in my conviction.”
“That means…” Sumire whispered, a stray tear rolling down her face. “Senpai, WHY?!”
Sumire’s Metaverse outfit materialized, and inwardly, Ren called upon Arsène. Ren was barely given a chance to think before Sumire shut her eyes, thrust out her hand, and started casting spells.
“Kougaon!”
Ren was barely able to move out of the way of the blinding pillar of light that erupted at his feet. He drew his knife reluctantly, and readied himself for the next attack.
“Sword Dance!” Sumire shouted. Ren tracked the ethereal blades through the air, and when they stabbed downward, he rolled out of the way again.
“Sumire, please…” Ren implored. “I don’t want to hurt you!”
Sumire shook her head frantically, eyes still firmly shut behind her mask.
“I don’t want to do this either, Senpai… But I can’t go back! Sword Dance!”
Ren jumped out of the way this time, his breaths coming slightly heavier.
“Sukukaja!” Ren called, glowing green for a moment. He felt lighter, and as Sumire called out another Kougaon, Ren was able to dodge it with much more ease.
“Joker, what are you doing?!” Akechi hissed. “Fight back!”
Ren shook his head. “I can’t hurt her… I won’t hurt her. I just have to find a way to break her out of this delusion. I can do it. I know I can! I just… don’t know how.”
“Kougaon!”
Ren jumped out of the way again, his mind running a mile a minute.
“Sword Dance!”
Another roll, before Akechi began to yell.
“Joker, you are going to get yourself killed! ” Akechi roared. “You better do something before you actually die! ”
“I’m trying, dammit!” Ren yelled back. “I’m trying-”
“Kougaon!”
Ren rolled out of the way, breathing heavily.
“Vorpal Blade!”
…shit!
Multiple glowing light blue beams traced themselves through the air, indicating where they would strike. Ren desperately looked around, looking for an opening in the spiderweb of light. He spotted a decently sized gap off to the side and leapt towards it, but midway through, the effects of Sukukaja wore off, and his body felt heavier than ever.
“No,” Ren gasped, reaching out. The beams glowed white, and Ren cried out in pain as he received a slash to his legs and stomach, causing him to stumble and fall to one knee.
“Sword Dance!”
Ren screamed as the blades pierced through his body. He crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath, and letting out a pained groan.
“J- Joker?” Akechi whispered, disbelieving. “JOKER!”
At Akechi’s cry, Sumire’s eyes snapped open.
“No…” Sumire whimpered, seeing Joker’s prone form. “No, no, no, no…”
She started forward, but something grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. When she whipped her head around, she saw Maruki’s hand outstretched, a tentacle gripping onto her wrist. She jerked her arm back, but the bluish-green tentacle held fast, pulling her backwards.
“Yoshizawa-san, don’t go there,” Maruki said quietly. “Stay here. I can revive him. I can heal him. Let me… Let me save him for you.”
“What you mean ,” Akechi hissed from across the room. “Is that you will kill him and create a braindead replica that follows your reality. You would be killing not only her boyfriend , but also the only person I somewhat care about in this cursed world, AND a hero. You can’t even give Yoshizawa-san a last chance to be with the man she loves; the man that you made her kill. Tch. Some therapist you are.”
“N- no,” Sumire cried. “It- He can’t be! Senpai can’t be dead! Senpai!”
She strained against the tentacle holding her, before Maruki pulled it back even further.
“Yoshizawa-san, please,” Maruki said. “If you go to him, it’ll only worsen your condition. It’ll only cause you pain.”
“Let- Let go of me!” Sumire cried, tugging at her hand. “Leave me alone!”
“Crow,” Ren choked out, gesturing in Maruki’s direction, before falling back to the ground. Akechi looked down at Ren, before looking back at Maruki.
“LOKI!” Akechi screamed. The striped persona appeared behind him, twirling an orange blade in front of it. “LAEVATEINN!”
The blade sliced down between Sumire and Maruki, cutting the tentacle in half and turning it to ash. Sumire stumbled forward, running towards Ren, as her Metaverse outfit crumbled into little blue motes of light.
“Senpai!” Sumire cried, falling to her knees next to him. She pulled him towards him as Ren let out a small groan. Sumire turned him over, and nearly threw up at the sight.
Ren had multiple holes in his coat, all of which were damp and dark red with blood. His eyes were closed, and his breaths came in heavy, shuddering gasps, his entire body almost shaking with each breath.
“Senpai…” Sumire choked, tears falling from her eyes. “I- I’m-”
She hunched over Ren, crying, her tears soaking into Ren’s coat.
“Don’t you see?” Maruki called. “It’s only going to cause pa-”
“Shut the FUCK up! You’ve lost every right to speak to either of them. Enough of your fucking savior complex. You’re no fucking savior, Doctor,” Akechi spat. “You’re a heartless fucking asshat that doesn’t care about others.”
“Senpai,” Sumire sobbed. “Wake up, please…”
Ren’s eyes fluttered open, and met Sumire’s tear stained eyes.
“Hey,” Ren said softly, reaching up to brush away a tear. “None of that, alright?”
“Senpai, I-” Sumire whimpered, tears falling even faster now. “I- I killed Kasumi when she was trying to save me, and now- and… and now I-”
“It’s okay,” Ren smiled softly. “I’m okay. Nothing… Nothing can hurt me anymore.”
“Senpai, no!” Sumire cried. “You can’t- You can’t die, Senpai! I- I- I can’t lose you, too!”
“You won’t,” Ren promised. “I’ll always be there for you. Through life and death…”
Ren closed his eyes and gave a forlorn sigh.
“If only… If only I could turn it all back, fix my mistakes, do better than before…” Ren exhaled sadly.
But you can, Trickster.
…?!
“What?” Ren opened his eyes, everything was in various shades of gray, and everyone was frozen. Akechi and Maruki’s mouths open in a heated, intense argument. Sumire’s eyes squeezed shut, her tears suspended in midair. And Satanael, in a smaller, but still huge form, towering over him. “What do you mean?”
You have the power to undo all this, Trickster. Do you remember that time in Madarame’s palace, when Panther got taken hostage?
“What…?” Ren uttered. He remembered that event quite clearly. It was in Madarame’s palace, fighting against a Koropokkuru. It knocked down Ann with a Bufu, then in a freak turn of events, leapt next to her and held her hostage.
It had asked for a bead chain, something which Ren didn’t have. In his panic, something happened. He didn’t know what it was, exactly. He heard the sound of shattering chains, and the next thing he knew, he was in a safe room. When he’d panicked, everyone else had asked him if he was okay, as if Ann hadn’t just been put in a life-threatening situation. When confronted about it, they’d treated him as some sort of nutcase, so he’d put off the event as some sort of freak hallucination or dream.
Now, however… he wasn’t so sure.
That is correct.
“So I really can undo everything?” Ren smiled. “I’d like to do that. Fix my mistakes, and hopefully come out with something better.”
The farther back you go, more and more events may spiral out of your control. Satanael warned. You are chosen, of course, so you will still play a role in the False God’s ‘game,’ regardless if you turn back the clock. The events, however, may differ completely. With this in mind… Would you still choose to turn it back?
“I am thou, thou art I,” Ren remarked, a slight twinge of humor in his words. “You should already know my answer.”
Very well. I shall give you a moment to say goodbye to your friends.
The gray faded from the world, Akechi and Maruki’s yelling once again reached his ears, and Sumire’s tears hit his face. Ren sighed again, more happily this time, with the knowledge that he could redo everything… to fix everything.
“Senpai…” Sumire cried softly, again. “I- Don’t go, please…”
“Hey, don’t cry,” Ren gave her a small smile. “It’ll be alright.”
“How can you-” Sumire choked. “How can you say that? I- I killed Kasumi, and now- now I’ve killed you, too! I’m- I’m a murderer, a killer… I don’t- I-” Sumire broke down again, and Ren pushed himself into a sitting position. Surprisingly, his wounds didn’t hurt anymore, but it’s not like that mattered now. He pulled Sumire into a hug, with Sumire grasping weakly at his lapels, her tears soaking through his uniform.
“Sumire… I need an honest answer to just one question,” Ren said, his voice impossibly soft. “When did Kasumi die?”
Sumire sniffed and mumbled something into his coat, something that he didn’t catch.
“What was that?”
“March 20th,” Sumire mumbled. “Why do you need to know, Senpai?”
Ren pulled away and tilted Sumire’s face to look up at him. Sumire looked up reluctantly at him, still finding it in herself to somehow blush, despite their circumstances.
“I promised that I’d go marching through hell and tearing through heaven to keep you safe,” Ren said firmly. “I’m going to turn it all back. I’m going to save everyone that I couldn’t before. Kasumi, Goro, Shiho, maybe even Okumura, God willing. All I ask you to do is remember. Remember the times we spent together, the bond we created. Remember everything that happened here. Can you do that for me?”
Sumire opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. When she spoke, her voice was shaky, but Ren could sense the resolve behind her words.
“If that’s what you require of me, Senpai…” Sumire began. “Then I’ll… I’ll keep your promise to the bitter end.”
“Thank you… Sumire,” Ren smiled. Sumire nodded, eyes shining with newfound hope.
“Hey, Goro,” Ren called. Akechi turned to him, eyebrows furrowed.
“What?” Akechi sounded surprisingly non-aggressive.
“I don’t intend on breaking our promise,” Ren smiled. “Either you will be the one to defeat me, or I will be the one to defeat you. Neither of us will fall today.”
“Hah… I’m glad to hear that,” Goro smirked. “Whatever you plan you have up your sleeve, I won’t forget. That’s my promise to you.”
Very well. Satanael’s voice boomed out over everyone in the stadium. Now, thou who has been blessed by Chronos… Break free from the chains of time and remake your world as you see fit!
“NO!” Maruki yelled. He thrust his hand forward, and greenish-blue tentacles rose from the ground, leaping at the giant Persona. Satanael responded by slashing them to pieces with the edges of his rifle, which, as it turned out, were extremely sharp. “YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME!”
“But I can, and I will,” Ren responded. “You’re a good man, doctor… Just severely misguided. I’d like you to see that. Sumire, Goro… Remember.”
“I understand, Senpai!”
“Understood, Joker…”
“Then, this is goodbye for now… But I’m certain we will meet again.”
Ren raised his hand high up in the air, gripped something that no one could see, then swung his arm down. The sound of shattering chains filled the room, and Ren suddenly found himself in a very familiar cell.
“Welcome back, Trickster,” Lavenza smiled at him.
“My, my… You certainly have exceeded my highest expectations.”
“Igor…” Ren bowed. “And Lavenza.”
“You have certainly done very well,” Igor said through the perpetually large smile he had. “You are certainly deserving of the title ‘The Truest Trickster.’”
“But I didn’t win,” Ren shook his head. “I-”
“You are correct,” Lavenza nodded, cutting him off. “You didn’t win. But, any good warrior should know when to fight and when to run. I shouldn’t have expected anything less of you, my Trickster.”
“We brought you here to aid you on your journey once more. With my own eyes, I have seen your resolve… As such, I have no qualms about bestowing this upon you.”
Ren’s hands seemed to move of his own accord, and he cupped them in front of him, as if receiving something. Igor snapped his fingers, and a brightly glowing tarot card floated from the ceiling and into his hand. Ren couldn’t even look at it with how bright the card was.
“The Universe Arcana… One that I have had the pleasure of viewing only once before.” Igor explained. “I am unable to bestow the World Arcana upon you, as your journey has not yet finished… But the Universe would be much more fitting, would it not?”
“Indeed,” Lavenza explained. “The World indicates harmony, fullness, and the completion of a Fool’s journey. The Universe Arcana can either describe the ultimate end… or the power to bring about a new beginning. Its power is much greater than the World’s.”
“The only other to hold this Arcana faced his ultimate end, sealing himself away to prevent the fall of humanity. Now, it is your turn, to bring about a new beginning… for your journey and for the world.” Igor finished.
Ren could only gape openly during their explanation, but when they finished, he bowed to the both of them.
“I’m honored to receive this power,” Ren said. “I promise to use it wisely.”
“There is another subject I would like to speak to you about,” Igor said. “Would you care to listen?”
“Of course,” Ren nodded, facing Igor.
“The Metaverse Navigator was bestowed upon you by the False God,” Igor explained. “When you begin your journey anew… you may not be granted the Metaverse Navigator, as the False God may see you as a threat.”
“So does that mean…” Ren asked, dreading the answer. Igor shook his head and put up a hand, silencing him.
“However, upon his defeat, his power transferred into you, and after you decided not to take it, it then transferred into that strange counsellor.” Igor continued.
“But-” Ren tried to interrupt.
“But that isn’t true, is it?” Igor said with a smile. “A part of you, no matter how small, wished to continue doing what you were doing. You wanted to continue being the Phantom Thieves… You wanted to continue going into the Metaverse, you wanted to continue changing hearts, you wanted to keep changing the world. This desire, this want … No matter which part of you wanted it, that desire spoke to that god’s power within you. The power that flowed into the counsellor? That was the power to change beliefs, the power to change minds, the power he calls ‘actualization.’”
“But the other part of his power, his ability to control Mementos, his ability to fuse the Metaverse with reality… that went into you. The part of his power that allowed you to continue being a Phantom Thief. So, what I’m trying to say… You will no longer need the Metaverse Navigator to access the Metaverse. Accessing it shouldn’t be an issue for you. If you truly wished, you could quite possibly fuse the Metaverse with reality yourself, should you choose to do so. Although, I can’t say I envision a circumstance where that may come to pass.”
“So I can continue accessing the Metaverse and all? Mementos, and other Palaces?” Ren asked hopefully.
“Correct.” Igor confirmed with a massive grin.
“Thank you,” Ren said, bowing again. “Thank you so very much.”
“There’s another thing,” Lavenza said. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, looking down bashfully. “If you would permit it… I would like to go with you on this new journey. The Velvet Room would be inaccessible to me until I am reformed again… By then, I hope to have made many new memories with you and your friends, Trickster.”
“That’d be nice,” Ren nodded, smiling. “If that’s okay with you, Igor?”
“Of course,” Igor agreed. “It was I who suggested this idea, actually. It’s a sort of backup plan, where Lavenza will be able to retain all the memories of what’s happened thus far. Once she’s been reformed again, she will be able to restore our memories.”
“So she’s like a backup drive, sort of?” Ren asked.
“Precisely!” Igor acknowledged. “Now, keep a date in your mind. When you walk out of this door… You will wake.”
Lavenza transformed into a little ethereal blue butterfly and fluttered over to Ren, resting on his shoulder.
“Let us be off, Trickster,” Both Lavenza and Satanael spoke in his mind. “The universe awaits.”
“Thank you, Igor,” Ren said again, bowing. Igor waved him off with a merry grin, and gestured to the door.
“Well, then…” Ren smiled, snapping out his lapels.
“It’s showtime!”