The Lightning Bolt
As Ren strolled through the bustling streets of Tokyo, snippets of conversation about the Phantom Thieves floated to his ears. The public opinion was divided; while some admired them, others feared them.
"Did you hear that? Apparently, a bunch of the requests for the Phantom Thieves were fulfilled," a man in a suit commented nearby.
"Yeah, my boss suddenly confessed to embezzling funds from the company. It was wild. You should have seen the confrontation. It was awesome!" another older businessman chimed in.
"I dunno, man, that's scary as hell. I honestly would rather die than spill all my secrets. I think Akechi is right. The Phantom Thieves should follow the law." a younger businessman countered.
"Oh really? What are you hiding? Maybe I should put a request to change your heart?" The older businessman joked, causing the younger one to get slightly annoyed.
As Ren continued his walk, he could think back on all of the different reactions. The public didn't fully accept them yet, but at the very least they were starting to increase their precense in the public.
He arrived early at the meeting spot and was checking his watch when suddenly, a pair of hands covered his eyes.
"Guess who?" a familiar voice giggled from behind him.
"I dunno, Ryuji, is that you?" Ren joked, playing along.
"For real?" Shiho laughed, releasing him and stepping into view, imitating Ryuji's tone.
She looked him over, whistling appreciatively.
"Looking good, Joker."
"Enchanting as always, Siren." Ren replied with a wink,
As they began their walk through the lively city, their conversation naturally drifted from topic to topic until Shiho spoke up.
"So, I've decided to join the volleyball team again," Shiho revealed suddenly. "I've been thinking about it for a while, and I'm ready to give it another shot. But this time, I won't let anyone push me around."
"Oh really? When are you planning to rejoin?" Ren asked, intrigued by her sudden determination.
"Next school year. I'm taking this year to just do my own thing. Actually, I've started getting into art. Bought some supplies and have been practicing every day since that class we had. My drawings aren't great yet, but you know, baby steps."
"That's awesome. Maybe I could ask Kitagawa if he'd give us some extra lessons in exchange for being his model. His class was surprisingly fun. He might be up for it," Ren suggested thoughtfully.
"I don't know, wouldn't that be a bit awkward after we...you know?" Shiho delicately hinted, referring to their future dive into Madarame's Palace.
"Well, we'll find out soon enough. He seemed like a decent guy the last time we met, though maybe a little eccentric. Would you like to come along for the session? It might be a good test to see what he's really like, and I could always use an extra pair of eyes."
"Sure!" Shiho agreed with a bright smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and determination.
Throughout the day, the two of them wandered from place to place. They stopped by a small restaurant for a meal before heading back to a temple that Shiho had introduced to Ren some time ago. Ren remembered she had told him that this place meant a lot to her in the past, so eh thought it would be special to visit it again.
The temple grounds were serene, mostly deserted, except for a few monks maintaining the quiet sanctity of the space. This solitude allowed them to converse more openly, without the usual concern of being overheard.
As they approached the shrine, Shiho's curiosity surfaced.
"So, what kind of Persona do you think Kitagawa would have?" she pondered, her gaze thoughtful. "I'm leaning towards something like Apollo, given his connection to art."
"Hmm… I don't know." Ren replied, thinking about the idea. "Personas aren't usually that straightforward. They are meant to be representations of our 'true selves,' so it would probably be harder to guess unless you really know someone well."
"You might be right. I mean, Carmen doesn't seem to match Ann at first glance." Shiho agreed, nodding thoughtfully as they reached the shrine. "I stumbled upon a book about her character at school, and initially, the pairing seemed odd. But by the end, it made perfect sense."
Shiho then made an offering and closed her eyes in prayer, remaining in silence for an extended period. When she finally exhaled deeply and opened her eyes, Ren noticed a shift in her demeanor.
"You know…," Shiho began, her voice trailing off as her bright expression momentarily faded.
"What's wrong?" Ren asked, his concern evident.
"It's nothing," Shiho quickly replied, attempting to steer away from her thoughts.
"You can tell me anything. I promise I won't judge." Ren offered with a reassuring smile.
Encouraged, a faint smile returned to Shiho's face.
"It's just that, most of the time, I manage to keep my past memories at bay. But occasionally, they all come rushing back. It feels silly to get upset over it now, considering how much has changed. I'm happy, I have a new life, but…" She paused, taking a deep breath to gather her thoughts.
"About two weeks before everything happened with Kamoshida's Palace, I came here to pray… And coming back to this shrine today, it just reminded me of what I had hoped for back then."
Ren noticed Shiho's downcast expression and stepped forward, wrapping her in a reassuring hug. This gesture was the final push she needed to fully open up.
"I usually avoid talking about it because I don't want to be seen differently, but you should know," Shiho began, her voice faltering, "what Kamoshida did to the other girls... he did to me too. He never actually... you know... but he still..." Her voice trailed off as she struggled to meet Ren's gaze.
After a pause, she continued with a newfound determination.
"I've been really trying to express my emotions openly, and it feels incredible, really. That day we went to the art class was one of the best days of my life. But sometimes, I hear this voice telling me I don't deserve it. I feel dirty, and no matter how much I try to clean myself, that feeling doesn't wash away. And I feel that as long as I am still 'dirty,' no one is going to love me."
As Ren held Shiho close, his hand instinctively stroked her hair, offering silent comfort.
Finding the right words was difficult; he wanted to help but wasn't sure how, so he simply listened, providing a supportive presence.
"It's ridiculous... back then, I—I wanted to die. The last time I came here, I prayed for a reason not to go through with it. Or, just for a reason to do it and get it over with." Shiho confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
After saying that, she returned Ren's hug tightly.
"I'm sorry." Ren finally whispered, his own voice thick with emotion. Though he wished he could say more, it seemed to be enough for now.
"You know…. You are perfect as you are. I'm glad you are here with us." Ren said as he stroked her hair. "You don't have to worry about anything anymore. We are here– I am here."
As Shiho heard him, she tightened her hug for a moment.
"I know."
After a few more moments, Shiho gently pulled away from the hug and wiped her eyes. Chuckling slightly, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"Sorry, I guess I brought the mood down, huh? But it felt good to get it out... I haven't even shared this much with Maruki during my sessions. Futaba wasn't kidding when she called you an 'emotional support human.'" she said with a small, grateful smile.
As Ren and Shiho wandered through the peaceful temple grounds, they found themselves beneath the very tree where they had sat during their first visit. Sitting under its expansive branches, Shiho released a sigh, this one carrying a sense of release rather than burden.
"Feeling a little bit lighter?" Ren asked gently as he saw her relax against the tree.
Shiho nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and vulnerability.
"Yeah, it's strange how saying it out loud makes it feel... less heavy. Like I'm not carrying it all by myself anymore." She admitted, looking out towards the gently swaying branches. "Though I am proud I didn't kill him, I am still happy he is dead."
"May he burn in hell." Ren said as he raised an imaginary glass, causing Shiho to chuckle.
As they sat together, Shiho leaned her head against Ren, prompting him to drape an arm around her shoulders. They chatted about various topics, the conversation flowing easily until Shiho sat up, turning to face Ren with a thoughtful expression.
"Hey, Ren…" Shiho started, her voice dropping to a soft murmur. "I've got a secret for you. Come closer."
Echoing the playful words she had used at the end of their last date, she couldn't suppress a blush that rose to her cheeks.
"Oh, really? What's the secret?" Ren asked, drawing in slightly closer.
"I love you," Shiho whispered, her voice barely above a breath. She leaned in, sealing her confession with a tender kiss. It was brief, charged with a tumult of emotions, and cut short as Shiho couldn't contain the smile that blossomed on her face.
"I love you too." Ren whispered back, his eyes looking directly at Shiho's
What Shiho had confessed to Ren carried more weight than just the words spoken; it was a test of her deepest fears and insecurities. She was terrified that once she revealed her true feelings, Ren might not reciprocate them. Part of her, perhaps subconsciously, even hoped he wouldn't. If he didn't return her feelings, it would validate her lingering doubts that she was somehow fundamentally unlovable.
However, Ren's heartfelt response struck like a lightning bolt, the same bolt that strikes The Tower. A blinding flash that shattered illusions. Once she fully laid her heart on the line, revealing her deepest insecurities, she found acceptance and warmth rather than the rejection she had feared.
The Tower that Shiho had built around her heart had long been crumbling, and she had been painstakingly clearing the debris, preparing to rebuild from the foundations up. Ren's words acted as the final strike that demolished the remaining barriers she had built around her heart.
"Goddamn it, Ren!" Shiho exclaimed, her attempt to hold back a smile failing miserably. "Why do you have to do me like this, eh? I was feeling all down a few minutes ago, and now I feel like I'm about to burst. My poor little heart can't handle all this!"
Ren couldn't help but smile lightly as he saw her, yet his smile only served to make Shiho more lively.
Off in the distance, a monk paused in his duties, observing the young couple with a knowing smile. As a single, almost ethereal butterfly fluttered nearby, the moment seemed to hold a particular kind of serenity.
"Ah… I had almost forgotten what it was like to be young. Good for you, Suzui." the monk murmured to himself with a gentle chuckle before he returned to his tasks.
~Confidants~
Shiho Suzui (The Tower) Rank 7— Rank 8 ♥
~A/N~
(The tower, eh? A card that represents danger, crisis, destruction, yet ultimately, liberation.
Shiho's chapters are always a bit rough to write, but in the end, they are pretty positive. Funny how things turn out.
If anyone here is interested in learning more about the meaning of each arcana or the fool's journey, I would recommend the YouTube channel "Kippi's Kwest." They have a great animated video about the fool's journey that is super enjoyable to watch, and they also have individual videos about each arcana. They have really helped me take notes whenever I am doing a chap like this.
This story would probably not have been as it is if it wasn't for their channel. Primarily since I mainly use the arcana as a reference for the path of each confidant.)