Part 198: 12/24: The Audacity Of Mope

Part 187: 12/24: The Audacity Of Mope

Music: Aria of the Soul



Please find them… Save them… This is something only you can do…



Well, let’s get to this. We’ve got seven team members to find, which if I know anything about JRPGs or this game in particular, probably means I get to edit a bunch of repetitive one-on-one conversations.



Here’s the “prison” we’re navigating.



Oh, hey Futaba! Uh, wait, I decided to do these in order, so can you just hang out for like ten minutes? Thanks!



First up is Ryuji, naturally.



Looks like we’re both somehow still alive and kickin’… But… where at?



Music: Regret



And remember how Shibuya was all effed up just now? But like, nobody was seein’ any of it… No, it was more like they didn’t wanna see any of it… What the hell…? So even all them people who were sufferin’, and cheerin’ for us to come and help ‘em… In reality, they would’ve rather just had everything stay how it was…? Did what we were doin’ have any meanin’ at all…?



Haha, you’re so freakin’ tough… Y’know, back when I thought we were gonna die without learnin’ the truth about all this… I kinda felt for the first time that maybe we hadn’t been doin’ the right thing… That maybe we deserved to lose… You get me?



Now that I’m thinkin’ about it, I started all this’cause of how pissed off I was. Maybe it’s never been about winnin’ or anything like that… Maybe all I was doin’ was just continuin’ my own defiance…

Gah! So whiny! Get your head in the game, man!



It’s… fine…?



I get it now… We’re doin’ this to make sure people don’t gotta go through the same crap we did. It doesn’t matter if they think we’re just or not. We gotta do what we believe in!




Music: Swear to My Bones





Yeah, and this is the last time I’m bailin’ you out, man. I can’t afford much more of this.

Thanks… Y’know, it’s kinda embarrassin’ to say this, but I’m real glad I met you. All right, I’m done gettin’ my ass kicked! That shiny bastard acts like it’s some kinda god… I ain’t gonna feel good ‘til we deal with it!



Music: Aria of the Soul




Maybe they’re stuck in the same rut I was… You go save ‘em, OK? I’ll stay here while you do. It don’t seem like there’re any enemies around so I’ll be fine. And I dunno how to put this… but I’m kinda thinkin’ you should go see ‘em alone…

Thanks for the support, bro.



Next, we find Ann.



Thank goodness you’re safe…



Oh, yeah…

Music: Regret



Yeah, we definitely all went to hell.

That means the hell that Shibuya turned into was all real… …… ...I’m so weak. When I thought I was gonna die, I… started trembling. I was just so scared. At hat moment, nothing mattered. The justice of our actions was the last thing on my mind.



Joker… You kept going even through a plan that might have ended up killing you. Yet look at me. I’ve always said I’m doing this for other people, but that didn’t get me far… Haha, it’s no wonder we lost. Maybe I should’ve just behaved myself and stayed out of all this…



Holy shit, I was wrong! Shiho does get mentioned after the Hawaii trip! It’s only been like forty hours since then, and the game’s almost over!



Ann is equally shocked to find out that Shiho is at all relevant at this point in the game.



...You’re right. I could never abandon her. If I whine like this now, I’d just be betraying Shiho… No, I’d be betraying myself!



I… I never want anyone to have to go through what I did! I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to keep looking forward. Things like dying or losing aren’t important now. All that matters is that I don’t return to my old self.



Music: Swear to My Bones





We have successfully played the role of Motivational Cat Poster to two of our party members. Hooray.

I seriously treasure being able to be a part of your team!



Gotcha, Joker! It would be a disgrace to the #Millennials name if we didn’t take such a big Treasure!



Music: Aria of the Soul



*explains*
OK… I’ll wait here. Please go save everyone else… It’s something only you can do…



Whatever. Let’s do Yusuke next.



As I expected, you appear to be safe… However, where exactly are we…?



Velvet… Room…? I’m not sure I understand…

Music: Regret



Considering the state of the real world… it is hard to say that we were even remotely helpful… This situation… Can we truly handle such horrid circumstances? All the Phantom Thieves can do is change the hearts of others. However, the world outside has become a veritable hell. Nothing within our power can fix that…



...I’m merely acknowledging how powerless I am. The people of this world desired their enslavement. That isn’t all… They screamed at us for attacking the Holy Grail, defended it… Even the criminals whose hearts we changed became meek followers of the Holy Grail because of us. Were we truly that foolish, risking our lives for a result nobody desired…?




...That’s right. It wasn’t just for recognition from those we were helping. My purpose lies elsewhere…



I will forever treasure what you did for me. ...Very well! Just as art is meant to break boundaries, people should be saved even if they frown upon it.



Music: Swear to My Bones





Please don’t. I’m like halfway done with this shit and I really don’t need it to take any longer.

Being by your side truly gives rise to the greatest ideas!



Ah, yes! We cannot afford to leave reality in the hellish state it’s currently in. I will make use of my role as an artist and paint over the distortions of society!



I’ll witness with my own two eyes that this world isn’t bound by some Holy Grail.

Music: Aria of the Soul



*explains*
I see… As I thought… In that case, I will remain here on standby. I ask that you go save the rest of our teammates.

It’d be kind of nice if like, even just one of you guys came with me, you know! It’s dark and scary in here!



‘Sup, Makoto.



What a relief. You’re safe…!



Huh…? I, um…

Music: Regret



Could this mean that the will of rebellion is no longer within me…? …… ...That may be true. We have to fight that Holy Grail again, correct? Could you imagine defeating it, Joker…? That monster has the support of the masses, and with it, nearly an infinite amount of power… I… No matter which way I approach the subject in my head, nothing points to our victory.



I think I finally, genuinely understand the pain my father and my sister were burdened with… Victory against a single criminal is meaningless… The true enemy is society itself.

Great things to hear from someone whose goal in life is to join the police force!

And even against that foe, you still have to try to somehow emerge victorious. I don’t know what to do…



YOU GOTTA BELIEVE



Believe… in myself… Hm… *chuckle* You got me.

Please don’t treat this like some deep, trenchant insight. I’m basically a walking fortune cookie at this point.



But even if there is no clear solution, I’ll just have to make one… with my own two hands. Before you guys came along, my life was defined by someone else, set on a path of someone else’s choosing… But only a true loser would live such a rigid life! I… I will win…



Music: Swear to My Bones





Good, because I’m really getting sick of this bullshit from everyone. How many more of these do I have to do?

I want the people of the world to see what you’ve shown me!



Right!



Shall we go? We can’t let our last big job end in failure!

Music: Aria of the Soul



*explains*
I knew it… OK, I’ll wait here. I ask that you go save the others. There’s no doubt they’re in need of your help…



Next on the docket is Futaba.



I’m relieved… Looks like we’re both still alive.



Am I really safe though…? Shibuya… What happened…? And… where are we?



I see… I guess my fears turned out to be true… The real world is a scary place… Pain like this can never reach you if you keep yourself cooped up indoors…

I know of a place
Where you never get harmed~
A magical place
With magical charms~
Indoors
Indoors
Indooooooooors!

Who am I to think I can tell the people what to do? I mean, I used to be a shut-in myself… Dammit… I just wanna go home…

Music: Regret



Giving up would be too painful. You know, I think… I’ve changed. I don’t know when it happened… But I can’t… I can’t let people suffer like this, even if I don’t know them personally.



Grown…? Honestly, this all seems like a bit too much… But… But…



…… ...Nn-hm. I’ve known the right answer from the very beginning.



I ran from my mom’s death for so long… I misunderstood it… Everything was just too painful for me to handle. But… I never want to be left in the dark again! ...That’s probably why my Persona is a little bit special. Because I want to learn the truth. That’s how I really feel!



Music: Swear to My Bones





Atta girl.

...Thanks. I’m so happy. Like, so much that I can’t even express it in my normal words! Anyway, we’re going up against a god. I couldn’t even leave my own room before, but now we’re gonna beat a god. I’m so pumped! And wait a sec… I just noticed I got out of here on my own!




Whoa, you’re quick to act! That’s what makes you dependable! All right, time to get back at it!

Music: Aria of the Soul



*explains*
I knew it… I was getting some signals that felt like them… Anyway, I don’t sense any Shadows in here, Joker. You’ll be fine even without my navigation. So, I’ll be staying right in this spot for now. You gotta go save everyone else.

I’m so lonely…



Haru! My girl! How’ve you been? Dead? Well, we’ll fix that right up!



You are safe…! Oh, thank goodness…!



R-Right…

Music: Regret



Although, it seemed like we were the only ones able to see it… You know, the moment I disappeared, I honestly thought I was about to die… But… part of me wasn’t afraid. I knew that was all I could do… and looked forward to apologizing to Father face to face…

First off, why would you think you would have to be the one apologizing to him? Second, why on earth do you think you two would go to the same place?

Honestly, I thought I had changed, but I realize now that I still have no control over my life… It makes me sick…



I’m sorry, I know you don’t want to deal with my whining…

To be honest, not only is your whining a breath of fresh air compared to everyone else’s whining, it’s kind of my job as your boyfriend to deal with it.

You’re going to try and defeat that thing again, aren’t you? Don’t push yourself to get me to come along. You can always leave me here if I’ll slow you down…

Oh, don’t say shit like that. You have a goddamn grenade launcher, you’ll be fine.




...That’s right. I was foolish to think you should abandon me.



I’ll never stop fighting for you, or our team!

That’s the spirit!

...I won’t give up anymore.



Music: Swear to My Bones





And Noir is back in business. Good to have you.

Before I met you, I had great admiration for the Phantom Thieves of Justice…

That is not something that we have ever been called before in this game, but okay.

And… it’s turned out you were exactly the person I always imagined you would be.



I’ve secretly longed for a situation like this.



We haven’t lost yet.

Music: Aria of the Soul



Now then, please gather in this room at once.
Hm…? What was that voice…? Joker, have you already rescued all the others?

Oh yeah, you were last. Uh, sorry.



Huh? You couldn’t find Mona-chan? But why…?

Where could Morgana be…?