The director's welcome speech droned on, and Ren suspected he wasn't alone in tuning out. For some reason, it's almost like the welcome speech was meant to make you sleepy. If attendance weren't mandatory—or out of politeness—he'd bet nine out of ten students would've skipped it.
While he wasn't someone disrespectful, if he wasn't lacking sleep, he would have followed it with all his attention. Even here, at Japan's "most prestigious" school, half the crowd was already looking past the stage, eyes wandering to phones or the ceiling.
Classes marched in single-file lines: A and B stood at rigid attention, faces solemn and focused. C and D…well, D might as well have been on another planet. After the classroom spectacle, none of them could muster more than half an ear for speeches.
By the time the student council president wrapped up his speech, the audience broke apart like waves on the shore. Students scattered—some heading to the dorms, others already grouping up and talking about where to grab lunch or what parts of the campus were worth exploring.
Ren slipped his hands into his pockets and stared up at the sky.
Should I go to the dorms now…? No, better take care of a few things first.
There were still essentials he needed to grab. Food, coffee, maybe something sweet to take the edge off. The convenience store would do for that.
But there was another item on his mental list.
Based on what Maruki said, if Shadows are slipping out from Mementos into the real world, I can't afford to walk around unarmed. The gun stays with me.
His fingers brushed against the familiar shape of the grip in his bag.
But it makes too much noise. If someone hears it during a fight, things could get messy.
A silencer, but where could he find one? As long as it is looks real, it should work well due to cognition. It shouldn't be that hard finding one… a toy shop or a cosplay shop; based on how this school looks, there is no doubt that it has a drama club and due to how high class it looks there is no doubt the cosplay shop is mostly a high-end one.
The shop is also most likely in the mall.
First the shop, he decided. Then the convenience store.
He pulled out his phone and checked the campus map, setting his route. As he began walking toward the shopping center—
"Amamiya-kun!!"
Huh?
Jogging toward him, a little out of breath, was a man with messy hair, lab coat, glasses slightly askew. Maruki Takuto. Former school counsellor. Former reality-warping god. Now… back as school counsellor once again?
"…Doc?"
"Uhm…"
They both slowed to a halt.
Silence. Awkward. Heavy.
"I…"
"I'm glad you're alright, Doc," Ren said first, offering a small smile.
Maruki's expression softened, though guilt still lingered in his eyes. "I should be the one saying that."
"I guess after the palace collapsed, we both woke up in the world huh."
Maruki nodded and glanced around quickly, then lowered his voice. "This world… it's not the real world. Everything and everyone here… they're cognitive beings. That's why your powers still work—no app, no Metaverse access. It's all part of the same space."
Ren's brows furrowed. "You mean like a dream?"
"I think so," Maruki said. "A shared one. I believe time in the real world is frozen. When we leave this place… it'll be February 2nd again. As if none of this ever happened."
February 2nd…
Ren's chest tightened slightly.
He looked away for a brief second.
"At least we know the others are safe," he muttered under his breath.
"Amamiya-kun…"
"Yeah."
"I am sorry."
"For what?"
"It's due to my fault, we are both here. If I-"
"Stop." Ren's voice was quiet but firm. "I told you before, didn't I? I'll help you shoulder that guilt. As many times as it takes."
Maruki's eyes widened slightly. "Amamiya-kun…"
Ren extended his fist. "Let's find a way back to our original reality. Together."
For a moment, Maruki didn't move. Then he gave a short laugh, bumping his knuckles against Ren's.
"…Sometimes, I think you were the real counsellor at Shujin Academy. Well… you certainly gave better advice than I ever did."
"So," he added on, "heading somewhere?"
"Yeah. The cosplay shop. I need a silencer or something that looks like a silencer."
Maruki blinked. "A what?"
"You know," Ren said, "for my gun. Just in case a fight breaks out. I don't want to draw attention."
There was a beat of silence.
"…Only you would say something like that on the first day of school."
"Not the weirdest thing we've lived through."
"That's… depressingly true."
Maruki walked beside him in thoughtful silence. Then said, "You know… you probably won't find something like that in a cosplay shop, even at a school like this."
"You sure?"
"Pretty sure," Maruki replied. "But… I can help."
Ren blinked. "Help?"
Maruki stopped and looked at him. "This whole world is made of cognition. That means we can shape it, too. I can't use my Persona anymore… but you still have yours. You've always been in tune with this kind of stuff."
Ren frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You don't need to find something, Amamiya-kun. Just believe it exists. Picture it clearly. If you can do that, the world will fill in the blanks for you."
Ren blinked.
…He hadn't thought about it like that. But now that Maruki said it, it made sense. Since it's a cognitive world, it can be manipulated.
Is that why I've never seen people attacked outside of Mementos? Because deep down… I believed they'd be safe?
"So… you're saying," Ren started slowly, "if I imagine the silencer, really focus on it… it could actually appear? Like, the world would just create it for me?"
Maruki nodded. "Exactly. It's all about how strong your will is. The cognitive world reacts to what you believe is there."
Ren swallowed hard. The idea was wild, but it fit. It explained why he could instantly access Palaces before, without the nav.
Ren's fingers instinctively brushed the grip of the gun in his bag again.
I'm gonna have to try this.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, picturing the silencer clearly in his mind — its shape, the way it attaches, the matte black finish that doesn't shine in the light.
When he opened his eyes, the space in front of him shimmered faintly. His breath caught.
A sleek, black silencer hovered there, just inches from his hand.
It wasn't heavy, but it felt solid. Real.
Maruki smiled gently. "See?"
Ren reached out and grabbed it, the grip fitting perfectly in his palm.
He turned it over a few times, testing the weight.
Maruki chuckled. "You'll want to get used to this. We might be stuck here for a while."
"Anyways Amamiya-kun, do you want to go have a lunch, it's all on me. "
Ren let out a small laugh, the tension easing from his shoulders for the first time in what felt like forever.
"Thanks, Doc," he said, tucking the silencer carefully into his bag. "I could definitely use a break."
Maruki's smile was genuine now, the weight of their situation softened just a little by the simple offer of a meal.
They walked side by side toward the mall, then the food court, the air around them filled with the chatter and laughter of students enjoying their freedom. Despite the high-end setting, the energy here felt a lot more alive than anything from the formal orientation earlier.
Ren noticed a few eyes on them. Whispers.
People probably wondering what a first-year was doing walking so casually beside the school counsellor like they were old friends.
He didn't care or at least he was used to stuff like this.
After ordering at a small soba stand, they found a quiet table tucked in a corner, away from the crowd. The place was packed, but somehow their spot felt insulated from the chaos.
The soba was good. Not amazing, but warm enough to loosen the tension in Ren's shoulders. Neither he nor Maruki spoke much while eating—just a few glances, nods, or faint smiles. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. It didn't need to be filled.
When they were done, Ren gave a small nod. "I'll pay next time."
Maruki smiled. "I'll hold you to it."
Stepping back into the mall, they strolled at a relaxed pace. Students were everywhere—window shopping, snacking, checking out stores with wide eyes.
Most of those shop looks like it cost money just to look at, is this how Yusuke used to feel?
That's when Ren noticed the crowd.
A group of students had formed in front of a small pop-up kiosk in the center of the mall. Excited chatter floated through the air, and a bright, flickering neon sign hung overhead.
"Huh?" Ren narrowed his eyes.
Maruki followed his gaze. "Something going on?"
They moved closer, weaving through the curious students.
The display hit him like a punch to the gut—though not in a bad way.
Red. Black. Masks. Capes.
Joker merchandise.
Figurines modelled after his Phantom Thief look. Plush toys. Shirts. Gloves. Badges. Even replica calling cards—some artistically reimagined, others copied with unsettling accuracy. A massive banner stretched above the display:
"JOKER: The Phantom Thief – Limited Edition Collab!"
Ren stared.
…Wasn't this school strictly against stuff related to him? Then why?
He reached out and picked up one of the figures. It wasn't exactly identical to him, but the craftsmanship was impressive—close enough to be recognizable, clearly made with care.
Figures of me. Bet Futaba would've had a field day with this.
Maruki leaned in, adjusting his glasses as he took the figurine from his hand and studied it.
"…Do they usually exaggerate your jawline this much?" he murmured softly.
Ren blinked. "What?"
The counsellor tilted the figurine side to side like a curator inspecting ancient art. "I mean, it's very… angular. Sharp. Like they crossbred it with a chiselled statue."
Ren deadpanned. "I don't think that's how figurine work."
Maruki turned the doll around, holding it up like a crime scene exhibit. "And look at the expression. That smug little smirk. It's like 'I just stole your heart and your student loan debt.'"
"…I can't decide if that's disturbing or flattering."
"Both," Maruki said, nodding solemnly. "Definitely both."
A few students nearby giggled at the sight of a grown man in a lab coat turning a Joker figurine upside down like it might have secret compartments. Ren exhaled quietly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"They really nailed the cape, though," Maruki added before returning the figurine to him.
"Excuse me, sir!" a cheerful voice called out behind the counter. A girl in a bright vest waved at him. "Are you interested in the figurine?"
"Uh…"
"That's actually the last one we have here. These sold out really fast!"
"How much is it?"
"Sixty thousand points."
Ren coughed.
Sixty thousand yen!?
He glanced down at the figure again.
"…I see. Well, it's definitely… detailed."
The shop attendant smiled brightly. "If you buy one, you also get a limited edition Joker plushie! They're super rare!"
"Plushies?"
"Yes! Hold on, I'll show you!"
She disappeared into the back and returned with a surprisingly large plush doll—an oversized, chibi Joker, complete with cape and mask. It had a tiny, smug smirk stitched onto its face.
"This usually goes for 10,000 yen," she added, "but we're giving it away as a bonus item today!"
Ren stared at it, then slowly set the figurine back down.
"…It's alright."
He stepped away.
Even if someone was a huge fan of Joker… there's no way people are actually spending that much money on a figure of me.
But just as he turned to leave—
"Ah! I'll take it!"
"Me too! I saw it first!"
Two hands lunged for the figurine at the same time. One belonged to a familiar-looking girl—the gyaru from Class D. The other hand belonged to a girl with strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Wha—hey! I had it first!" the gyaru snapped.
Ren blinked.
…You've gotta be kidding me.