Chapter Text
FADE IN:
INT. KOSEI HIGH SCHOOL. HALLWAY. LUNCHTIME.
Yusuke and Hifumi Togo are eating together and talking.
HIFUMI
How are you doing in math?
YUSUKE
I am ashamed of my current failures. If Kosei would let me just take my art classes, I would be doing fine.
HIFUMI
If you need any help, I’m happy to be of service.
YUSUKE
That would be most helpful, Hifumi-san.
A person bumps into Hifumi, but is gone in the crowd before they can tell who it was. Hifumi has a letter sitting on her meal.
HIFUMI
What is this?
She opens it, and turns to Yusuke with a concerned look. She reads it aloud.
HIFUMI
“Hifumi Togo - We have all the information we need. In three days time, the school board will know of your crimes. If you do not want your fabricated grades to be brought to their attention, leave 500,000 yen by the tree in the Kosei courtyard by midnight in two days. We will be watching”
YUSUKE
What the-
HIFUMI
I don’t know what they’re talking about? I don’t have any “fabricated grades”.
YUSUKE
I wonder if they fabricated it themselves.
HIFUMI
I… I can’t pay this! And even if it’s fake, I can’t gamble with my class placement if the school board sees it…
Hifumi looks deep in thought, but then has an idea. She pulls out her phone.
HIFUMI
Yusuke-kun, can I tell you a secret?
YUSUKE
Of course.
HIFUMI
You have to promise you will not tell anyone. This person could be in deep trouble if you do.
YUSUKE
I promise.
Hifumi takes a deep breath, then whispers.
HIFUMI
I am friends with one of the Phantom Thieves.
Yusuke has a slight smile, then instantly changes to shock when he realizes she doesn’t mean him.
YUSUKE
Oh… oh? Oh! You are?
HIFUMI
Yes. He helped me a great deal when everything was happening with my mother… I should see if he can help.
INT. SHUJIN ACADEMY. LUNCHTIME.
Ann and Ren are sitting at their desks eating lunch together.
REN
How’s Shiho doing?
ANN
Every day she’s a little better. Still recovering.
Ann pauses for a second, then remembers something
ANN
You know, it’s actually the fourth anniversary of our friendship. I’ll have to call her. I mean I call her anyway.
REN
Wow, I didn’t realize you’d been in Tokyo that long.
ANN
Yep! She was my first friend, I had been living here for a while before then actually.
Ren’s phone goes off. He pulls it out.
ANN
Who is it?
REN
Hifumi Togo.
ANN
That Shogi player from Kosei? Oh yeah, you guys are friends, right?
REN
Yes.
ANN
She’s kinda cute, huh? You just surround yourself with pretty girls, don’t cha?
Ren looks embarrassed and doesn’t reply to the comment. He reads the text.
REN
She wants the help of the Phantom Thieves…?
ANN
Well why would she…
Ann’s voice trails off as she connects the dots.
ANN
(flatly)
She knows, doesn’t she?
Ann shoots Ren a look of disgust.
REN
(very serious, comedically so)
It was only when it was absolutely necessary.
ANN
Sure it was. Is that how you flirt with girls? Just say “hey, I’m a Phantom Thief, can I steal your heart?”... Don’t tell Ryuji, he’ll actually use that.
Ren laughs at that.
ANN
At least it was another student. Not like she could do anything. If you told, I don’t know, Ms. Kawakami, then that’d be a problem.
Ren anxiously looks away, sweating metaphorical bullets.
REN
What? Why? Kawakami?
ANN
Although, she could be cute too, so maybe she is the kind of person you’d tell. Maybe pull her hair back, oh, like in pony tails! I feel like that’d work for Kawakami.
Ren is completely broken, avoiding Ann at all costs.
REN
That’d be crazy Ann!
ANN
Yeah… that’s why I said that.
Beat
REN
Yes. Right. So, the message…
ANN
Oh yeah! What does it say?
REN
She said she got a suspicious letter and thinks it is… our problem.
ANN
I see…
REN
She wants to meet in person so she can show me the letter…
ANN
Oh! Do it at Leblanc. No one is ever there. I'll tag along!
REN
Sounds good. Ryuji is free, let's tell him.
ANN
We can't bring everyone!
REN
Haru and Makoto have a study for their admissions test, so they can't come. And Futaba has her weekly workout.
ANN
Oh, so, you just know everyone's schedule?
Ren once again feels extremely uncomfortable. He sends the invite, and gets a response right away. Ren gives a surprised look.
ANN
What is it?
REN
She asked if she could bring her friend Yusuke Kitagawa.
Ann bursts out laughing
INT. CAFE LEBLANC. NIGHT.
Ann and Ryuji are sitting at a booth together. Sojiro has already closed the shop for the night, but Ren is making coffee. Morgana is on the bar, walking back and forth. There is a knock at the door, and Hifumi and Yusuke are there. Ren gets the door.
HIFUMI
I’m really glad you could meet me so soon.
REN
Anything for you, Hifumi.
Yusuke walks in the door. They share a knowing glance.
REN
I don’t believe we’ve met.
YUSUKE
(nervously)
Ah, no, we have not. I am Yusuke Kitagawa. And you are?
REN
I go by the name “Joker”. That over there is “Panther” and “Skull”.
Ren motions for them to sit down at the booth. He goes to get coffee from the machines.
HIFUMI
Codenames? That is a very clever idea.
YUSUKE
Yes, very much so. I’m sure if you had a member that went by “Fox” he would be most charming.
Hifumi gives Yusuke a bit of a look but says nothing.
MORGANA
Leaving out the most important member, of course!
HIFUMI
Your cat sounds very offended.
REN
Yes, he thinks he is part of the team.
Morgana lets out a loud hiss. Hifumi and Yusuke take a seat. Ryuji, Ann, and Yusuke all exchange glances.
ANN
Hello. Hifumi and… I’m sorry, what was it?
YUSUKE
Yusuke.
ANN
Ah, yes, thank you stranger.
Ann is sitting a little too straight, clearly putting on an act, acting poorly. Hifumi picks up on this.
HIFUMI
Are you… alright?
ANN
Totally, totally.
Ren arrives with the coffee.
REN
So, can I see the letter?
Hifumi pulls it out of her bag and places it on the table. Ann and Ryuji both stare intently at it.
REN
And you don’t know it’s origins?
YUSUKE
No, um…
REN
Joker.
YUSUKE
-Joker, we do not. This has, however, been happening at the school for some time now.
REN
It has?
HIFUMI
Yes. Multiple students have gotten expelled for similar issues, all insisting they didn’t do anything. And even more have talked about paying the fees.
ANN
Togo-san, I think we can solve this.
HIFUMI
Oh? Really?
RYUJI
Yeah, we can. Can we hold onto this?
HIFUMI
Here, I made a copy.
Hifumi hands them a paper with a perfect copy of it.
HIFUMI
Anything else?
ANN
No! We’re good! We need to talk this over privately. Thank you, Togo-san.
HIFUMI
And you as well.
Ren walks Hifumi and Yusuke out.
ANN
This is definitely Shinji Yamamoto.
RYUJI
Without a doubt.
REN
Who’s that?
ANN
It’s… better if we just tell everyone at once.
REN
I’ll send it out.
INT. REN’S BEDROOM. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER.
Ann and Ryuji are facing each other on Ren’s old game system. Ren and Futaba are watching, with Futaba giving advice and criticizing mistakes. Haru and Makoto are comparing notes. Morgana is on the table. Yusuke walks in.
YUSUKE
I had to take the train with Hifumi-san back to Kosei, and then right back here! I hope you understand that I cannot afford this.
HARU
I can always cover your fares for you, Yusuke-kun.
YUSUKE
The money is not the issue, it's just the pure whiplash.
RYUJI
You could always tell her, ya know.
YUSUKE
I swore to protect the identity of the Phantom Thieves, so I will not reveal my face to a civilian. Unlike some of you.
Yusuke shoots Ren a glance.
MAKOTO
Can we please just get to the point of this?
ANN
Yes! Yes. So, Togo-san was given this letter during lunch today.
Ann pulls it out and shows it to Haru, Futaba and Makoto.
MAKOTO
This is horrible! Is Togo-san guilty?
YUSUKE
She says she is not, and I have no reason to believe otherwise.
REN
Nor do I.
MAKOTO
We can’t do anything without a name, though. Do you guys have one?
ANN
We do.
RYUJI
Shinji Yamamoto.
MAKOTO
How do you know it's him?
ANN
He… was my bully. In middle school.
FUTABA
You? You were bullied? Aww there’s no hope for me is there?
HARU
I did not know this about you Ann-chan.
ANN
I don’t like to talk about it. Back in middle school, between my looks, and not really growing up in Japan, I was bullied a lot. This was before I met Shiho. Shinji was merciless with me though. I kept asking my parents to help me change schools, or to move to America, but they never let me. But Shinji would write letters like this all the time, more just threats than blackmail. It has to be him. He moved right before I started at Shujin, he must live closer to Kosei now.
HARU
And you knew him too, Ryuji?
RYUJI
Yeah, he was a sprinter with me on the track team. I knew he was a bully, but I didn't know how bad it got. I could'a done something, but I didn't. If I had been closer to Ann at the time, I would've.
ANN
It's okay Ryuji, I forgive you.
MAKOTO
So Shinji is the bully, we have to find him in Mementos?
ANN
That's what we thought at first, but…
Ren holds up his phone, and speaks into it
REN
Shinji Yamamoto.
NAVI VOICE
Match found.
MORGANA
He has a Palace.
FUTABA
Exactly. And only one of us can get close enough to him to find out what it is. Inari?
Everyone turns and looks at Yusuke.
YUSUKE
What? Why?
FUTABA
You're the only one that goes to school with him!
HARU
I believe in you Yusuke-kun.
MAKOTO
You know the deal. Just ask around and find out what his distorted view is.
YUSUKE
I understand, I guess I just do not know where to start.
RYUJI
Yeah, but ya know me and Ann do.
ANN
I have a feeling Shinji hasn't changed much.
RYUJI
Just gotta ask around the track team. He'll tell 'em everything.
ANN
(Tersely)
Yep. I'm sure he did.
MAKOTO
Report back tomorrow, hopefully we'll be able to enter his Palace after school.
YUSUKE
This is a tall task but I am up for the challenge.
MAKOTO
Meeting adjourned then.
Beat as everyone but Ren and Morgana leave
YUSUKE
Haru… is the offer for my fare still available?
INT. KOSEI HIGH. BEFORE CLASS.
Yusuke enters Kosei and sees Futaba looking at a school bulletin board, wearing a Kosei uniform.
YUSUKE
Futaba?
FUTABA
Inari! There you are!
YUSUKE
Why are you here? How are you here?
FUTABA
I figured you needed my help. And you can buy anything off the internet, even old uniforms. I’ve got this and a Shujin one already just in case. The way I see it, I'm the only one that can help, the rest are stuck at Shujin! So let me help.
YUSUKE
As risky as this is, I concede that you are correct.
FUTABA
Alright! So Inari, what’s the plan?
YUSUKE
I… am working on it.
FUTABA
Boo! Do you want me to come up with a plan?
YUSUKE
Do you have one?
FUTABA
Of course I do! Like I wouldn’t have a plan.
YUSUKE
Alright, let me hear it.
FUTABA
So I’ve gotta be the one to talk to his friends, right? So you have to distract Shinji. And here’s how...
Camera cuts away.
END OF ACT 1