The Doctor's Elixir.

As they left the Palace, Ren scanned the surroundings with a puzzled expression. His eyes briefly glowed as he activated his third-eye skill, but he saw nothing unusual despite using it.

"Is something wrong?" Ann asked, noticing his distracted look.

Ren simply shook his head in response. They had been cautious while selecting their infiltration point into the Palace, and he reasoned that his sense of being watched might have been Igor taking a look at their progress since they had just entered a new Palace.

As dusk began to settle, Ren suggested visiting Leblanc for some food since it had been a while since their last gathering there.

By the time they arrived at the cafe, it was just closing up. Sojiro gave the group a thankful look as they saw Futaba walking in with them.

"How was your trip? Did you stay safe?" Sojiro inquired, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he tidied the counter.

"Yeah… we got to see a lot of art." Futaba replied with a light chuckle, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

That's good to hear," Sojiro responded warmly, grabbing his jacket. "I'm off to restock some ingredients for next week. Let me know if there's anything special you'd like me to pick up," he added, turning to the group. "That goes for all of you, too. I'm planning to make curry, but I'm happy to cook up anything else you're craving."

After exchanging grateful goodbyes with Sojiro as he departed, Ren slipped into the kitchen to start preparing food for everyone.

"Oh, Shiho!" Ann exclaimed as she sat down on one of the tables, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Guess what? I spotted this adorable Buchimaru plushy while I was on my way to a shoot a few days ago. I bought it for you, so remind me to bring it next time, okay?" 

-

Makoto, who had been quietly sitting nearby, looked up, her interest piqued.

"Buchimaru?" she asked, with some curiosity and surprise.

Shiho's face lit up with a nostalgic smile.

"Yeah, my grandma used to spoil me with Buchimaru toys when I was younger. They're kind of a comfort thing for me now," she admitted warmly. "Wait, don't you have a Buchimaru pencil case, Makoto? Are you also a fan?"

Makoto smiled warmly, her fondness apparent as she reached into her bag and pulled out a keychain adorned with a tiny panda.

"Yeah, I guess I am." she admitted with a soft chuckle.

"That's adorable! You have to come with us next time," Ann exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable. "Shiho and I often visit this cute little shop near Junes. It's a plushie haven. We could even grab some surprises for everyone else!"

Meanwhile, sitting at the bar table near where Ren was cooking, Ryuji, Mona, and Futaba were engrossed in their own worlds. 

Futaba playfully scratched Mona behind the ears while peeking over Ryuji's shoulder at his phone screen as he played the mobile version of "Innocent Sin Online 2." 

"You're still stuck on that level? Let me give it a shot," she chuckled, reaching for his phone with a grin.

"No way," Ryuji retorted, playfully batting her hand away without taking his eyes off the screen. "I'm about to beat this boss; just watch."

"Wait, why is your gear so crappy?" Futaba frowned, noticing his struggle.

"I'm not spending money on loot boxes. It's not my fault the free ones never drop anything good," Ryuji grumbled, focusing intensely on dodging the boss's attacks.

"You know…" Futaba began, her voice dropping down to a whisper. "...the game's servers aren't exactly Fort Knox... We could possibly help you out with better gear and characters…"

"For real?" Ryuji's attention flickered, leading to a fatal distraction in his game.

As Ren finished preparing the meal, everyone gathered at a table to enjoy the food. After they had finished, Makoto asked the question that had been on her mind.

"It seems sensible to expand our group if we're going to keep splitting up for these missions, but are you sure about inviting Kitagawa? You don't know him that well, do you?"

Ren nodded his head, acknowledging her words.

"That's true, and honestly, the idea only really solidified after seeing that statue in Madarame's Palace. From what little time Shiho and I have spent with him, I feel he might fit in well. But I'm not just going to hand him an invitation outright."

"What do you mean?" Ryuji looked puzzled. "Are you planning to test him or something?"

Nodding his head, Ren affirmed.

"That's right. Depending on how he reacts, I'll decide whether or not to extend the offer. But first, we need to wait until Madarame makes a move on his painting. Given how dedicated he was to painting it when we modeled for him, he probably already finished it, so it should be happening any time now."

Shiho furrowed her brows, her voice tinged with concern.

"Yusuke seemed so proud of his work... I wish we could help him before Madarame claims it."

"That might be tough," Makoto interjected. "Madarame could very well claim it as early as tomorrow. But once we change his heart, even if he's taken credit, the work will rightfully return to Yusuke."

"Still, shouldn't we focus on integrating the doctor into our group now?" Ann chimed in, her voice bright but hesitant. "We're still early in our infiltration of the Palace. It'd be a perfect opportunity for her to learn the ropes, and depending on her awakened Persona, she could help us balance the teams."

Futaba nodded, adjusting her glasses. 

"I'm a decent navigator, sure, but I'm no fighter like Mona. If we had two teams of four, with me navigating from a distance. Necronomicon can somewhat camouflage, and since I have a pretty good range, I might even be able to support both teams from the distance."

Makoto's tone held a note of concern as he turned the conversation. 

"Speaking of the doctor... have you heard from her yet? She wouldn't reveal our secrets, would she?"

Ren shook his head as he glanced at the clock, his expression neutral but eyes sharp.

"No, I don't think she would have reported anything without first speaking to me… Though, weirdly, she hasn't contacted me… It's not too late yet, so I might stop by her clinic to see if she is still there."

"Do you want us to tag along?" Ann offered.

After a moment's contemplation, Ren shook his head.

"It might be best if I handle this alone. Most of you have met her, but I'd prefer to introduce everyone formally once things are more settled."

After talking for a bit longer, Ren made his way to Tae's clinic, where a sign reading "Temporarily Closed—Call in Case of Emergency" hung prominently on the door.

Hesitating, Ren pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

"Ren!" Tae's voice, tinged with unexpected enthusiasm, rang through the phone. "Great timing. Are you nearby?"

"I'm actually right outside," Ren replied, only to be met with a sudden click as the call ended.

Moments later, the clinic's door swung open, revealing Tae, looking both exhausted and enthusiastic.

"Get in here. I'm onto something interesting," she beckoned with a wave of her hand.

Guiding him in, she walked him into the building, past the small patient room where she usually conducted her examinations, and deeper into the building. Ren's gaze drifted over the chaotic array of medical supplies and machines. Yet, it was the assorted pots of flowers that truly captured his attention.

Some blooms were ordinary, reminiscent of those found at Rafflesia, but others were peculiar, mirroring the flora Jose had introduced in Mementos.

"These are the flowers from Mementos. Did you go in by yourself?" Ren asked with some concern.

With a lively smile that contradicted her fatigue, Tae nodded. 

"Yes, but I only skimmed the entrance to collect samples. I'm not a botanist, but I've started some preliminary tests. These flowers exhibit mutations akin to yours," she explained, stifling a yawn.

Ren watched, fascinated, as Tae shuffled through a pile of scattered notes and charts, each densely packed with observations and theoretical models. Her fingers traced lines of data, her expression serious and focused.

"These mutations," Tae began, tapping a graph that showed a series of irregular peaks and valleys, "they're not just random anomalies. There's a pattern here that corresponds with the physiological changes you've experienced, Ren. It's... fascinating, really."

She glanced up at him with a spark of genuine excitement in her eyes. 

"If I can decode the underlying mechanism, it could revolutionize how we think about human adaptability and recovery. I could save so many lives with this medicine. There would be no more kids like Miwa. No more people whose lives get taken before they even get to live it. You have no idea how many people I have seen die because there was no cure, but now there is… or there will be."

Ren nodded, impressed and slightly overwhelmed by her passion and depth of knowledge.

"This… You were able to figure out all of this in a week?" Ren asked with some shock. "How?"

"Not a week, months. It's based on the treatment and data we've compiled with your assistance. Initially, since you were my only subject, my hands were tied. But now, with more diverse samples, I'm making much more progress."

Tae continued, pulling out a small vial containing a light blue substance. 

"Using the essence extracted from these Mementos flowers, I've developed a prototype serum. It's still experimental, but the results so far are promising. It appears to accelerate cellular regeneration significantly."

She paused, her gaze meeting Ren's. 

"I need to conduct more tests to ensure it's safe and to understand its full potential. That's where I could use your help, Ren, not just as a subject but as a partner in this research. You also mentioned that the flowers become more different the deeper one goes, right? You know more about the Metaverse than I do, so with your help, I will be able to fully understand the medicine I am creating. "

Her tone was earnest, a rare glimpse into the depth of her commitment to not only her profession but also to making a real difference. Ren could see a mixture of tiredness, excitement, pleading, and hope in her eyes.

It was strange since her eyes had been somewhat dull when he first met her. She would go through the motions and even joke around, but it was clear that she was slightly closed off. And now, even with the exhaustion evident on her face, she looked the most alive she had ever been.

Ren couldn't help but chuckle slightly as he nodded his head.

"I believe I've said this before, but consider me at your service, Doctor. I'm ready to be the Igor to your Frankenstein," he declared with a playful bow.

Takemi let out a brief laugh before her voice softened.

"My guinea pig…" She paused, then shook her head, smiling. "Alright, let's prepare for a preliminary test."

However, Ren held up a hand, stopping her. 

"Sorry, but you need some rest first. It looks like you haven't slept properly in days. And given how draining awakening a persona can be, you would probably pass out or worse if we took you to awaken."

Takemi looked slightly conflicted for a moment before she nodded her head. Then, holding the urge to slap himself in the head, Ren asked the question he had originally come here for.

"Tae, I want you to join the Phantom Thieves. I explained the Metaverse to you, but there is still a lot more that I can't tell you. If we had your help with our mission, it could really make a difference." Ren said.

"Well, I can't really refuse when you put it like that," Takemi responded, managing a tired yet genuine smile. "You've helped me immensely, and all I've offered in return are some basic medical skills. So, if you need my help... then, how did you phrase it? I'll be the Igor to your Frankenstein."

~Confidants~

Tae Takemi (The Death) Rank 6

(Ya'll… I have some fun stuff planned for the Death Confidant… I don't want to spoil anything, but it is very fitting for the symbolism of the Death Arcana. Little perks of just going with the flow because originally I had an entirely different plan for Takemii.

Also, since Ya'll gave me permission to yap, here is a hidden detail. Ryuji doesn't really say fuck; everyone knows that; he says eff and its variations. But the two times I have had him say it in this story was when he got kicked in the leg. Cuz, ya know, that was his broken leg, so he is still more protective of it.)