Part 27: 5/10-5/14: I Have To Take A Test In My Video Game?

Part 26: 5/10-5/14: I Have To Take A Test In My Video Game?

Music: Beneath the Mask




I get it, my life sucks, get off my case.



The high school where he worked and the board of education have been inundated with protests. Even in town and on the internet, many parents can be seen speaking out about their anger and unease.
They’re talking about Kamoshida again. Sounds like a lot of people have been complaining about him.



Let’s go talk to Yoshida again.



Hey, about Yoshida’s speech skills… We should make use of them when you negotiate with Shadows.



Right? You should ask him.
...Teach you how to give speeches? Why?



I’d love to help you, though… how shall I teach you? ...It’s time for my speech. Let’s talk about this later.



They lack jobs, security, savings… The next generation will lead us into the future and yet they have no plan for how to arrive there.



Music: Suspicion



This isn’t good...



Yes, let’s.




What is the point of bickering over such a trivial matter?
This is none of your business!
Yeah, seriously. Just shut up!
What’s with this guy…?

The two men walk away.



Together, we can create a bright future for the next generation.





As if anyone would actually vote for YOU! Are you planning to embezzle funds again? Or maybe criticize one of your constituents again? You criminal!

Wait, what?



Music: Break it Down (Elp Version)




I can’t do that in my situation. Regardless, whenever someone calls me “No-Good Tora,” I panic. I went through quite an ordeal 20 years ago.



...Let me explain. I used to be a member of the National Diet. I was elected during the rise of the “Kuramoto Children.” We were backed by powerful Diet members. This was about 20 years ago.

If you’re wondering what the “Kuramoto Children” are, the game seems to have made them up entirely.

I was very inexperienced back then, both as a politician, as well as a human being. That inexperience led me to be involved in a series of major political scandals.



The first was being caught missing a legistlative meeting to take a personal vacation. Then, I was accused of embezzling a large sum of money from the party… giving me two strikes.

I don’t know, I feel like “You likely stole a fuckload of money” should probably count for two at the very least.

Finally, I called a voter an idiot at an open forum, which resulted in scandal… and strike three.

Yeah, one of those seems way worse than the others, just saying.



I was out… and branded a washed-up politician. You said you wanted to become a member of the Diet. But do you see the man before you?



However, he has conviction and wants to change the world. Public speaking skills could be useful to the Phantom Thieves, so I’ll make a deal with him.
Do you really want to receive my guidance?



I’m happy to hear that, however… Everyone says I have no chance to get elected, so why come to me?



*chuckle* You’re doing a good job of cheering me up… ...But you may be right. The most important part about giving a good speech is believing in yourself. Perhaps one day, I will believe in myself… again. But you sure got me there. You’re a strange young man, Hamiru-kun. Very well. If learning how to give a great speech is what you seek, then I’d be happy to instruct you. In exchange, I would like for you to continue assisting me. Let’s get started, shall we?
I’ve made a deal with Yoshida...

Music: Interrogation Room




An adult—for example, someone talented enough to move people with words—perhaps they coached you. ...Isn’t that right!?

It’s kind of hard to parse what Sae is actually asking here. So… what? You think because we used calling cards that we had a coach? And not only that, they were skilled at using words? What? The two halves of this interrogation sequence have pretty much nothing to do with each other. I get what she’s saying, that we needed someone skilled with words to help us write the calling cards, but that’s not actually how it ends up working in the reality of the game, which adds to the confusion of the weird phrasing.




The Sun represents victory, positivity, and vitality, but also when reversed the very opposite, foreboding depression and failure.

Sun is, well... Sun is my favorite Confidant in this game. Hierophant’s close, but I think this one ultimately beats it. Tora owns and I won’t hear any bad talk about him. He’s the best.



Diet? What? Oh, yeah, sure, whatever.

...Oh my, we’ve been talking for far too long. Let’s call it quits for today. Well then, I shall see you again soon.



Anon: Thieves should be arrested!
Anon: Isn’t it just a prank?



Anon: It’s possible

Shoot, I haven’t studied at all…

I hear you, disembodied voice.

Have you heard what’s happened since then?
This sucks… I pulled an all-nighter last night.
Really? Did you get caught?

Music: Life Goes On



Oh boy, time for exams. Like in previous Persona games, we get no free time after school or in the evenings after exams. The clock will automatically jump forward to the next day. It sucks, hard.




That sounds about right.

I bet Ann can hear Morgana telling us the answers and is super pissed at us.



This looks tough, but let’s calm down and think it through.



If how they’re seeing things is different, it probably has to do with this kind of information...



Right. How you see something is visual information. What takes the visual information from your eyes and processes it is the, uh...



Right. The brain process visual information. So, the reason people see things differently is...



“How the brain interprets the same visual data—how one perceives the world—differs from person to person” Ooh, this sounds pretty good! You finished in time!
Time is up. Put down your pencils and put your hands under your desks.






That sounds about right.




That sounds about right.



Anon: thief! give it back! lol





That sounds about right.




That sounds about right.



Music: Beneath the Mask (Instrumental Version)



I ended up pullin’ an all-nighter once I realized today’s the last day of exams.
You? Staying up studying?
Nah, I gave up on the exam. I was playin’ some games, then before I knew it, it was morning.



Eh, it’ll be fine. Nobody’s expectin’ anything of me, so I don’t gotta worry about grades.

How lackadaisical.



Yo, look who else is yawnin’.
Exams are almost over, so I thought I’d make one last effort over the finish line.
Impressive, Lady Ann. You’re quite different from this stupid monkey I know.
Huh? Don’t gimme that crap. Your brain’s tiny compared to mine.
Size is meaningless if there’s nothing inside, you know.



Ugh, will you please shut up!? You’re gonna make me forget everything I memo--





What, you see a groper or something?
No, that’s not it. It’s… nothing.



Suspicious Person




As she gets off the train, Ann looks over her shoulder nervously.




Someone follows behind.



Isn’t this bad?



Ryuji stretches while yawning.



Fine...



Huh…?

Music: Suspicous Person









……?




Is there something you want?



Stalking you…? That’s outrageous.



That’s because...




So this is where your passion led. All is well that ends well.



Seems like this is all some kind of wacky misunderstanding!

But, uh, if this dude who’s been not-stalking Ann got out of this car and then boarded a subway, how did the guy in the car find him again?

...Let’s not think about it.