Toggle Background Color
Chapter 70: 6/28-6/29: Salt The Earth (New)
Anon: Akechi-kun is right!
Early Morning
Music: Beneath the Mask (Instrumental Version)
It’s called “Confessions of Boy M: A Tell-All on the Kamoshida Abuse Scandal.” That’s gotta be Mishima, right?
Welp, RIP Mishima.
(Rowdy Student) I read it! It all sounds so horrible… It’s no wonder they consider the Phantom Thieves heroes. Kinda hard to bag on the Phantom Thieves after reading that…
You’re right. In fact, you might even call them superheroes.
That’s a little strong, dude.
It might be the perfect way to get the Phantom Thieves name out there. We should take advantage of this.
I want the Phantom Thieves to be famous for more than just my own selfish reasons. The bigger our name is, the more our targets will hear talk of us. Remember that reporter? If we give her the right intel, her articles could make a real difference for us in the Metaverse! Let’s go back to that bar in Shinjuku and get her to write more stuff about us!
It would be even nicer if the sky would clear though…
Early Morning → After School
Music: Tokyo Daylight
I’ll do it laaaaaaateeeeeer.
Let’s head into the Velvet Room.
Music: Aria of the Soul
We need a Priestess Persona at the moment for hanging with Makoto, so we’ll fuse this Isis from Eligor and Phoenix.
You are the one who rests on the throne of this world… My mask is proof of that fact.
Isis was a mother goddess in Egyptian mythology. She was worshiped as the ideal mother and wife (that’s not very hashtag girlboss of you, sister) and patron of nature and magic. She was also friend of slaves, sinners, artisans and the downtrodden, but she also listened to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats and rulers. I dunno, seems like those two things conflict a bit. Maybe she is a hashtag girlboss after all. Isis also helped resurrect her brother (slash husband, eww) Osiris after Seth murdered him.
Music: Tokyo Daylight
Nope, she starts that conversation just as abruptly on a school day. Odd.
Um, about our trip to the red-light district. Do you have time today?
Hell yeah, I’m always down to clown!
Great. Let’s meet up after we change out of our uniforms.
Good thinking, they’re not gonna let us do anything fun if we’re identifiable as high schoolers.
Priestess Rank 2: Part 63
Music: Alright (Elp Version)
Keep an eye out for any suspicious dudes with eyepatches. They’ll breakdance you to death before you can even blink.
Apparently this place was a hotbed for criminals and illegal immigrants before they installed surveillance cameras…
There’s cameras all over the place, gotcha. …Wait a minute. Did you just compare criminals and illegal immigrants? Makoto. Christ. This is why we all call you a cop.
You’re really the only one who does that, though.
Yeah, well, I do it enough for everyone.
Anyway, there were quite a few brothels around here too back then, from what I heard.
Brothels, got it. Let’s avoid those.
Oh, what happened to your cool-guy act?
Err… Don’t tell anyone, but I’m actually very repressed. Wait, did I already tell the cat that? Oh well… Where did you hear all this from anyway?
Well, I heard a great deal about it from my father… This is the first time I’ve actually been here myself though. Regardless, it’s become far safer now than it used to be. Of course, the surveillance cameras played a substantial role in that… But it was mainly thanks to the police efforts to clean up the area.
If you love the cops so much, why don’t you marry them!?
Even so, there’s no way to eradicate crime entirely. It seems the operations nowadays are only better hidden…
Well, let’s take a look around. I want to see the seedy underbelly of this city for myself.
Music: Wicked Plan
That guy was so persistent…
That’s just Fishy Hawker, you get used to his bullshit.
That scout for that hostess club was creepy. He kept talking about how “his girls” got paid a lot to wear cute dresses…
All I wanted was to ask if any Shujin students worked t here… but he nearly dragged me inside with him. If you hadn’t been there to rescue me, I…
Yeah, you gotta be more careful around shady types like them. Wait, shit, *I’m* a shady type like them!
You needn’t worry. I simply would have had to knock him out with my aikido skills…
Solving one problem by creating several more. I like it.
Hm, I guess that’s how they do it… I’ve learned something new today. Oh, and thanks again. It seems you have a knack for helping me out. I hope I can do the same for you someday.
I can sense a quiet resolve from Makoto…
Even though this is a shopping district, there are absolutely no students around here.
Well, besides us.
And definitely no Shujin students… though I guess they wouldn’t come in uniform either way. Well then…
I’m just going to turn around to leave, in no way expecting to see the very thing I came here looking for…
Hm…?
Music: Suspicion
That was… I used to be in the same class as her! But why is she here…?
And right after you said Shujin students probably wouldn’t come here in their uniforms… She must be a real idiot. Like Ryuji!
The sign above the entrance says “The After School Salon”…?
What the hell does that mean?
I’m not sure… but it seems suspicious.
The plot thickens!
I’ll have to ask her about it. Oh, and I’d like you to be there too, as my witness. Would that be okay?
Sorry, I have a thing that day.
I didn’t even tell you when!
Well, we’ve spent quite a bit of time here. Let’s head back to the station. Thank you for today.
That was the first time I’ve ever had to deal with a barker. I didn’t know they could be that persistent… Today was exhausting, but I also learned a lot. I guess nothing beats practical experience.
I also plan on looking into that Shujin student we saw there.
After School → Evening
Music: Beneath the Mask
(Pro Shogi Player) Ah, yes, I’d have to say Hifumi Togo. She does a very good job of balancing offense and defense. Not to mention, she’s very pretty.
(Interviewer) Yes, I’ve heard she’s started doing some modeling work recently.
All right, keep it in your pants you fuckin’ creeps.
And that Ohya-san? She’s the devil incarnate! It was horrible!
Yeah, sorry about that, Mishima.
She’s pretty, but super scary too. Though the drag queen she hangs out with is even scarier…
I am no longer sorry.
But anyway, I did my best to promote the Phantom Thieves! Remember that when you’re reading a glowing article about you guys, okay?
I buy another Mega Fertilizer so I don’t run out any time soon.
Well, time to start the eighteen-step CHIHAYA ACTIVATION SEQUENCE. Each one of you readers has a key, as do I, and we all need to turn them simultaneously to unlock Chihaya’s Confidant, as well as input the codes I carry on my person at all times into the football my assistant is carrying.
I’m obviously being facetious, it’s just kind of absurd it takes a full four days plus a Mementos visit to get Chihaya to Rank 1.
Oh, hellooo! Please take a seat.
Chihaya Rank 0.25: Part 55
Music: My Homie
Anyway, my name is Chihaya Mifune. I will be reading your fortune today.
Hey, how’s it going? I don’t think I believe in any of this crap, but I’m also extremely gullible, so… might as well, right?
You may begin by telling me your name.
Huh!? I thought you were psychic! What a rip-off!
Sorry… Do you want me to tell you your own name? That’s not really how this works, but I can try if you’d like… Hmm… Is it Ozai… Or maybe Skips? …Trickster?
Eh, close enough. Maaku Hamiru, at your service.
Ah, Maaku Hamiru-san…. I see. Your name is quite lucky. That aside, what type of consultation can I interest you in today?
Listen… you can trust me. Just tell me the truth. This is all a scam, right? How do you do it?
Huh!? I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you want a Holy Stone they’re a bargain at only 100,000 yen.
I’m onto you, lady. You’re gonna predict bad times in my future if I don’t pay you and then hire a guy to jump out of the bushes on my way home, yell “OOGA BOOGA” and break my kneecaps, right?
Huh, never thought of that one before. Might be worth considering… But anyway, settle down and let the tarot cards do their work.
O divine power… Bring forth this boy’s fortune!
Hmm… It seems your home will be a source of new wealth! Go home immediately and you will receive five thousand yen!
That’s really specific! Thought you charlatans were supposed to make your promises more vague and open-ended…
Fate is absolute!
But… that’s not all… *flips over tarot card revealing a dude who looks exactly like Maaku flying a hot air balloon into power lines*
Is that good?
How strange. Hamiru-san, the general flow of your future seems to indicate… Ruin…? And an inmate, locked away in a lonely cell… You seem to be a good person, Hamiru-san… but are you perhaps mixed up with the wrong crowd?
How could you possibly have guessed that everyone I know is an idiot!?
Beyond that… My… It seems… continuing on your current path will lead to your death.
Oh, I see. This is the part where the OOGA BOOGA man shows up, right? I’m ready, motherfucker! I bite!
You act confident, but remember… fate is absolute. Hm. If the divination is coming to me this clearly, the truth of it is simply undeniable.
Well… fuck. Guess I better get that will finished!
Although… Now that I think about it, there may be a way you can attempt to counteract your destiny.
All you need is… my special spiritual object: the Holy Stone! With its power in your control, you can avoid even the most unfortunate of futures… probably!
Sounding real confident there, aren’t you?
I typically only recommend this to my more experienced customers, but your situation is too dire to ignore. You see, the stone itself is imbued with an aura of joy that will sap away all the horrible energy surrounding you. All you need to do is keep it wrapped in cloth and be sure to recharge its power in moonlight every three days.
And as I mentioned previously, it only costs 100,000 yen! What a steal! Now, will you be paying with cash or card?
…No thanks. I’m not quite this stupid. At least, not yet.
I-It’s legitimate, I promise!
Does this scam really work on people? How many idiots are willing to drop 100k on a fortune teller they’ve only had one consultation with? Surely no one’s *that* horny!
So… you really don’t want it? What a shame it will be to see the flames of youth snuffed out so soon… Well, come see me again if you change your mind. I really can help you, if you’d like.
For a nominal fee, anyway!
Music: Break it Down (Elp Version)
Oh, you’re home. I’ve been waiting for you.
The chief seems strangely happy. I wonder what’s going on.
Hey Maaku, how’s your pocket money situation been looking?
I have 200k on me, fool. Wait, shit. Shouldn’t have said that. Uhh, I mean… I’m dirt fuckin’ poor, homes. Can’t lend you a thing, sorry!
Hahaha, you’re hopeless!
Here!
What? Is this… five thousand yen!?
I won some money from the lotto, so I don’t mind sharing my winnings.
Oh, cool. How much did you win?
Hey! Don’t worry about it!
Or what, is five thousand yen not enough for you?
From what I know about Sojiro, he definitely won a large enough sum that he’d feel bad not cutting me in, but it was also large enough that 5,000 yen isn’t gonna make a big dent in it. Heh, you damn old man…
Are you mad at the chief?
Nah, that’s exactly what I would have done.
Anyway, remember to close up the shop like always.
Fuck, now I have to believe in fortune-telling? I could handle mental pathologies turned into literalized metaphors and giant monsters representing human weakness and all that shit, but this is a whole new kind of absurd!
She even got the amount spot on! Maybe this Chihaya lady can seriously read into the future!
RIP me, I guess.
Oh, right! She said you were going to die! This is bad! We need to talk to her again!
And maybe I can have her read my compatibility fortune with—
Nope! Shutting this down!
It seems like Chihaya Mifune can actually see into the future… Maybe I should go back and have her read my fortune again… And there’s the Holy Stone too… She said it costs one hundred thousand yen…
Anon: of course not. done
Morning
Music: So Boring
A young woman wearing all brand clothing and an older man with gold accessories were arguing. Both were on their high horse, and even though they dressed fancily, it felt nouveau riche. Speaking of, the Japanese words for “high horse” and “nouveau riche” both originated as shogi terms. A lot of people aren’t familiar with shogi, but it’s good to know a little bit about it. So, Hamiru-kun. Have you seen this piece before?
I actually think I know this one! Hifumi kept muttering weird shit about gold whenever she promoted this piece!
That’s right. The lance and the silver general also have the kanji for “gold” on the back. By the way, it’s said that the “to” on the back of the pawn piece is a cursive form of “gold.”
If a knight crosses into enemy territory, for instance, they can promote—becoming mobile as a gold general. A weak piece like a pawn can become gold if you get it into the enemy’s camp, hence “nouveau riche.”
Maaku gains Knowledge +1.
By the way, nouveau riche like to wear expensive clothes because of a desire to be acknowledged. Once humans fulfill the basic needs of clothing, food, and shelter, our next desire is recognition. That’s why people try to make themselves seem bigger by flaunting their power through money.
Making yourself seem bigger… Reminds me of a frilled lizard.
Morning → After School
Back to the Velvet Room.
Music: Aria of the Soul
We’re making Kin-Ki from Sui-Ki and Flauros. I honestly can’t remember why I’m doing this Fusion, all I really need right now is to resummon Phoenix so I can hang out with Kasumi.
If you possess the mask, I will grant you the power of an unyielding heart…
Kin-Ki means “Gold Oni.” It’s one of the four oni controlled by Fujiwara-no-Chikata, and its body is so strong that no physical weapon can pierce it.
Anyway, I resummon that Phoenix and get outta there.
Music: Tokyo Daylight
(Doting Father) Hahaha, it even looks completely different from the ones they sell at the nearby bakery!
I told you this one’s better! Thanks, Dad!
Do you have some time right now?
…Or, well, we’ll get there eventually… but do you want to get some food first? Can’t exercise on an empty stomach. And protein’s important, you know! Where can we eat…? How about the school cafeteria?
Oh boy, this should go well. Everyone at school just loooooooves me.
Now, Senpai! Let’s get going for real this time!
Music: What’s Going On?
Since our talk, I’ve been trying to think of things besides gymnastics that I’m really invested in… And I figured something out! It’s this!
You really need to regulate your diet in gymnastics, so I’ve been making my own food a lot. And so! Since I also wanted to thank you, I made you bento! This is actually my first time cooking for someone else besides my family… But I figured this would definitely help me get my confidence back! I made this specifically with your body type in mind, and knowing how much you exercise… Do you want it?
The chicken and eggs are to help you with fatigue. There are some beans in there, too, and it’s on brown rice. Weight control’s important for gymnasts, but we also need to make sure we’ve got energy and stamina too. So high protein, low-fat is usually what we go for. We also need iron to maintain stamina, and vitamin B for energy.
Wait… I’m getting all focused on the gymnastics part again…
Music: My Homie
…Why do you look so skeptical, Hamiru-senpai? I guess it might look like a lot, but this is actually a little less than my usual. Don’t worry, I’ve don the math on the calories. I’ll burn all this off at practice.
C’mon, Senpai! You’ll be done before you know it!
Hamiru-senpai? You okay? Your eyes are glazing over…
Heavy seasoning would probably be bad for you, so I went easy on it. Hmm. Was it too light? Excuse me…
I was trying to decide how to season these… And I figured, everyone likes curry! Right?
OH GOD
(I really like how this scene just basically confirms that Sojiro canonically only feeds Maaku curry, that’s very funny to me)
Not… quite the issue.
Or, wait—maybe you prefer the super spicy ones!
I’ll go get some kind of condiment to change the flavor! Once I fix it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it more! Should I get mayonnaise? Soy sauce…? Maybe miso? Do you think Dr. Maruki will have some salt!?
Oh, you’re right! I should just by something new you can eat right now!
Um, but…
That was an abrupt mood swing!
Music: What’s Going On?
Thank you for completely finishing your meal, Hamiru-senpai.
I came up with the idea of making bento, but I couldn’t decide on the flavor… Either way, I’m really sorry!
As opposed to the scenes in P4 where the girls are bad at cooking, which are honestly pretty unfunny to me these days, Kasumi’s bad cooking is an okay scene. I think most of that’s just how weird and specific the error is (why would you want every part of a meal to be curry-flavored?) in combination with the worst possible audience for it (the dude who eats curry for every meal already). The implied visual of her eating that massive bento all by herself is also pretty funny.
I’m so embarrassed… I though it was so great when I presented it to you, and now…
Next time, I’ll ask you what you like before I try anything too crazy. I’ll go buy that super spicy “Megido-sauce” for next time!
*giggle* …It seems like you’re always helping me find my way forward, Senpai. If I didn’t have you, I’d let my failures get to me and end up in some big pessimistic spiral again. …Maybe this kind of confidence can help me figure out who I really am.
Either way, I suppose all I can do is keep moving forward. Hamiru-senpai, I hope we can keep helping each other improve.
I can sense Kasumi’s passion…
I don’t mean to be too demanding, but I’m going to train you even harder than before! Make sure you keep up!
Thanks to Kasumi’s training, I feel like my stamina increased.
Oh… I guess we’re out of time. I guess we’ll end it here for today. Hope we can do this again sometime!
After School → Evening
Music: Beneath the Mask
(Young Male Customer) The server went down because it was attacked from somewhere, I heard.
I hope they get caught soon. They’re really causing a lot of trouble for us!
I heard they’re some kind of scary foreign organization. Our police wouldn’t stand a chance.
Internet service providers have announced that they were caused by illegal outside attacks. The perpetrators did not issue a statement, but they are suspected to be an anonymous hacker group.
Attacking as a group… It must suck to be on the receiving end of that.
Wouldn’t know a thing about that.
We’re trying to get Chihaya to the Mementos step ASAP so we can head into Mementos on the next day it’s convenient (preferably a day without a lot of Confidants available, like a rainy day). This means we’re still not unlocking Ohya or hanging with Kawakami, though both are available. We really, really want Affinity Reading as soon as we can get it.
Chihaya Rank 0.5: Part 62
I remember you… You had a very abnormal destiny, as I recall. Please, take a seat.
For that much, it’d better not only change your fate, but also give you incredible luck. If you do end up buying one, we should go home and test it out.
Remember yesterday when I told you I wasn’t dumb enough to buy one yet? Well, it turns out that today I am *exactly* stupid enough, gimme gimme!
Thank you very much. Here you go.
No refunds, returns or exchanges!
It’s the smart thing to do, considering this is the only way to avoid misfortune. It’s already charged with a happiness aura, so you’ll feel the effects right away. Don’t forget to recharge it with moonlight every three days. Please stop by again and let me know how your fate changed. Goodbye…
I should head home…
Music: Break it Down (Elp Version)
Oh, you’re home. I was just about to close up shop, but I forgot to turn the stove off. I guess you start forgetting things more the older you get…
I wonder what kind of luck we’ll have this time around. It should be awesome, right? I mean, we paid a hundred thousand yen for this Holy—Ow! What the heck!?
Uh-oh. I can feel a punchline coming, but I can’t figure out where it’s gonna hit me from. Brace for impact!
Hey, can’t you keep this thing a little cleaner?
No. I need all those loose thumbtacks for my collection.
I’m talking about all the gravel you’ve got sloshing around in here. It’s impossible for me to get comfortable! …Wait a second…
Music: Tension
What’s gotten into you?
So… Good news and bad news… The bad news is that the Holy Stone was a mound of rock salt. The good news is that I’m out of bad news.
Yeah, that seems about right. Somehow, I deserve this.
…Maaku? What’s going on?
You know that one taste? It’s on the tip of my tongue…
That’s a misconception, your taste receptors aren’t actually sectioned off onto different areas of your tongue.
I mean, what’s that one kind of taste called?
Uhhh… Umami?
Not that one… It’s the one you taste in your saliva when you’re in pain, or in bitter tears… Oh, right, *salty*. That’s how I’m feeling.
You’re salty? That reminds me, I was just about to head out and grab some salt for the shop.
Oh, by the way, would it be possible for me to eat something *other* than curry tonight? Lunch was… an experience, let’s just say.
No. If you’re sick, eat more curry. It’ll be good for your digestion.
I’ll be back in a bit.
It’s rock salt, so… maybe the Holy Stone is supposed to help you with cooking? No, wait, it was supposed to change your future…
That fortune teller tricked us, you fool. I knew we shouldn’t have trusted her! She wasn’t even a fancy fortune teller! Where was her veil or hat or crystal ball?
So that Holy Stone was really just a Phony Stone in the end!
Who ever could have seen this coming!?
That fortune teller’s name was Chihaya, right? She clearly has some kind of mystical power… but this is just unacceptable. …We need to go complain to her!
Cool, I’ll go call the rest of the team so they can go fish my body out of the bay after her hired goons are finished with me.
Do you really think she has hired goons?
Wouldn’t surprise me. She just scammed us for 100,000 yen, after all. We should just lurk near her stall and see how she does business. And then lurk more. Lurk all the time. And then when the time comes, *we* will be the goons!
What are you even talking about anymore?
Yeah, I kinda lost the plot there.
It turns out the Holy Stone I bought from Chihaya was a fake. I should go talk to her and try to figure out her true intentions…