Shibuya Station – 9:13 AM
It began with a viral livestream.
A popular street magician was performing illusions when her eyes went black, and she screamed as her shadow tore itself free. People panicked as dozens of civilians began hallucinating—visions of past sins and shattered selves.
The Phantom Thieves had only just arrived when four familiar faces stepped into the chaos.
Sadayo Kawakami was still in her maid disguise, dragged there by a worried student she'd been tutoring. But when one of the illusions clawed toward the child—
Her body moved on instinct.
"You're not hurting any of my students."
A shimmer of light, and her Persona burst free: Domina Lacerta – a snake-bodied goddess in an apron and steel stilettos, wielding chains made of lesson plans and laws.
Nearby Rooftop – Chihaya Mifune
Chihaya had seen the chaos in her crystal days before. The readings were vague—"the fool's descent," "the star's eclipse"—but she hadn't expected it to be this real.
Her cards blew from her hands, swirling in a spiral.
"I—I can't just divine anymore. I have to intervene."
Her Persona manifested: Sibyl Fortuna – a many-eyed veiled seer in a shifting dress of constellations, wielding a staff that rotated planets like a roulette.
Underground Shogi Café – Hifumi Togo
Hifumi had just finished a private lesson when the walls melted into ink and her opponent's shadow-self roared: "You'll never stop playing! You don't know how!"
The board shattered.
But Hifumi rose, calm, focused.
"Then it's time for a new opening."
Her Persona exploded onto the scene: Bishop Arcadia – a winged shogi queen, pieces orbiting her like floating daggers, each representing sacrifice, silence, and ambition.
Back Alley – Ichiko Ohya
Ohya had been chasing a lead. One minute she was tailing a shady psychic influencer, the next she was sucked into his dreamworld—a warped courtroom of truth and lies.
Reporters surrounded her. Cameras blinded her. The voice whispered: "You wanted the truth. Here's ALL of it."
"You really think I can't handle the truth?" she growled, lighting a cigarette in the middle of the illusion. "Watch me."
Persona: Kali Spectra – a multi-limbed, smoky-eyed avatar of ink and rebellion, holding pens like daggers and flashbulbs that blind with revelation.
Post-Battle – The New Recruits
The Thieves helped pull the four from the chaos.
Makoto looked at Kawakami, stunned. "You awakened... willingly?"
Kawakami looked pale, but stood tall. "There wasn't a choice. Not anymore. The city's screaming."
Chihaya clutched her glowing tarot deck. "The future has fractured. We need to reshape it—together."
Ohya gave Ren a sardonic wink. "Guess you'll need a press secretary for this whole 'societal revolution' thing."
And Hifumi nodded, quiet as always. "Then let me be your strategist."
Ren exhaled, smiling faintly.
"Welcome to the Phantom Thieves."