The things you'd do for fun...
Shin walked out of Kaneshiro's hideout, and he put the things he used for his disguise back in his bag.
'What to do now...'
As he looked around, searching for anything to appease his boredom, he spotted a certain ashen-haired lady walking down the street. He immediately powerwalked right next to her, before saying.
"Hey, Sae. Where are you going?"
"Hm?" she turned her head to look at him. "Oh, Shin. I'm heading to a courthouse for some business."
"I see. Is it just a normal case or is it Phantom Thieves-related?" asked the teen, walking alongside Sae.
The woman frowned for a moment.
"Why do you think that I'd be investigating the Phantom Thieves?" she asked.
"Akechi was pretty clear on that in his interview a few days ago." shrugged Shin.
"Huh. So you saw that."
"I was there. Who do you think was the mysterious Shujin student that had a debate with Akechi mid-interview?" said Shin.
"I take it you're a supporter of the Phantom Thieves, then."
"As any kid my age would be. Well, most would be."
"But they are most likely criminals!" exclaimed Sae.
"People tend to have a thing for the 'underdog that somehow manages to prevail in the end' story. They'll just keep cheering for the Phantom Thieves even if they don't know how they're doing this."
"Public opinion can be very fickle."
"That it does. But you're forgetting one thing, Sae." said Shin. "They'll have something to put their hopes into. The fact that the Phantom Thieves' methods are unknown just makes them 'cooler'."
"Do you support them for that same reason?" inquired Sae.
"I feel wounded if you think I really am that shallow." said the black-haired boy, dramatically putting a hand over his heart. "I really think that they're doing the right thing. I've seen what Kamoshida was doing firsthand. If they target people like him, scum of society, then I see no reason to be against the Phantom Thieves."
The boy put his hands in his pockets, and the two continued to walk in silence for a few more seconds.
"But that's enough about my opinion. What about you?" asked Shin
"I think that forcing people to change is both illegal and immoral." came the immediate response.
"No. I asked for your opinion as Sae, a member of society who can think for herself, not Sae, the prosecutor who is practically obliged to think of the Phantom Thieves as criminals." said Shin, pointing at her face. "I don't want to hear that same stale and overused reply that apparently everyone on that side of the law uses."
At that, the woman paused.
"I... If their methods were legal, then maybe I'd support them." she said.
"Attagirl!" exclaimed Shin, patting her on the back. "But I think I'll have to stop here."
"What? Why?" asked Sae.
"Because I don't have any business inside the courthouse." he said, pointing at the building. "Unless, of course, you'd rather have me stay with you."
Sae coughed in her hand a little to get rid of her embarrassment.
"I'll see you later." she said, hurrying inside the courthouse.
'Those pants really don't do her rear justice.' thought Shin.
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This chapter's additional info is on... Zaou-Gongen.
Zaou-Gongen, also known as Vajragarbha, is one of the most important mountain deities of Japan's syncretic Shugendou sects. They are a diverse tradition of mountain ascetic practices associated with Shinto beliefs, Taoism, magic, supernatural powers and Esoteric (Tantric) Buddhism. After the arrival of Buddhism to Japan in the mid-6th century, the native Shinto Kami were soon considered manifestations of the imported Buddhist divinities. Zao serves as the protector deity of sacred Mt. Kimpusen Japan's Nara prefecture and is considered the local Japanese Shinto manifestation of three Buddhist divinities: the Historical Buddha, Kannon Bodhisattva and Miroku Buddha, who serve respectively as the Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future. This makes Zaou perhaps the most powerful local divinity of religious mountain worship in Japan.
Zaou-Gongen is the ultimate Persona of the Strength Arcana. Despite learning Cripple, a move that increases the damage of Gun skills by 50%, he doesn't learn any Gun skills naturally and needs to be supplied with one to take advantage of the skill.
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Confidants:
0. Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2
I. Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3
1. Takuto Maruki (The Councillor) - Rank 1
II. Makoto Niijima (The Priestess) - Rank 2
IV. Yusuke Kitagawa (The Emperor) - Rank 3
Odd man - Rank 1
V. Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3
VI. Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 7
VII. Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 7
VIII. Goro Akechi (The Justice) - Rank 1
IX. Futaba Sakura (The Hermit) - Rank 3
XI. Caroline & Justine (The Strength) - Rank 10
XIII. Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 5
XIV. Sadayo Kawakami (The Temperance) - Rank 3
XVIII. Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 2
XIX. Sho Minazuki (The Sun) - Rank 2
Toranosuke Yoshida - Rank 1
XX. Sae Niijima (The Judgement) - Rank 2
Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 8