---
"So this is the last one?" Ryuji said as the group entered another room sealed with vines.
"Hopefully... I don't want to fight another... slime... thing..." Ann shivered as Shiho rapidly nodded.
"Slime penis?" Ren asked classlessly. "Totally getting him as a Persona."
"DO NOT!"
Ryuji picked up the last Will Seed and briefly inspected it before tossing it over to Ren.
"I don't get what the big deal is with these things."
"Better take them than leave them here—"
Interrupting the conversation, all three Will Seeds took to the air and started spinning. Faster and faster, until a flash of light shone to reveal that the three seeds had merged into one crystal-like artifact, each of the three seeds aimed outward, displaying what looked like a face screaming in agony.
"This place really does get worse and worse. What the hell is that thing?" Shiho frowned. "Put that away, Joker. It's making me uncomfortable."
"Me too," Ann said seriously.
As Ren was shoving it in his bag, Ryuji piped up with a shrug. "Eh, really? Just looks creepy to me."
"Joker and I will take a look at it later," Morgana said, turning to Ren and nodding.
"Sounds good."
---
After finding a safe room, the team started to wind down. They were beginning to get tired and were currently drinking energy drinks and canned coffee. Ann was eating Sweet Tarts.
"Didn't Dr. Takemi tell you to eat better?" Ryuji eyed Ann.
"Nope, she said check for diabetes! This is so my blood sugar doesn't drop again!"
"At this point it might be too high now," Ren muttered. "Seriously though, go get diabetes ruled out. It seems like a pain to manage."
"Ah, how sweet of you, Joker! I'll be fine!—"
"Needles."
Ann stopped talking and put her candy away, grabbing a handful of baby carrots from Shiho's bag and pouting.
"I'm going to head to the Velvet Room to do some fusions," Ren said suddenly.
This caught the group's attention.
"Will you be okay?"
"Yes," Ren replied. "I'm just going to get it over with..."
"Looks like there is no fast travel button, but there was a way in at the entrance..." he continued as he looked at his phone.
"Let's head over there and check then!" Ryuji exclaimed. "I wanna give those guards a piece of my mind."
"Good luck, brave soul," Ren sighed with a chuckle before pressing the button on his phone.
The team vanished, quickly appearing at the entrance. Thankfully, they were beginning to get used to the feeling of teleportation, though it still felt unnatural for the most part.
Looking around, the team saw nothing at all.
"Joker, there is nothing here."
Pointing forward toward the ethereal blue door with the twin wardens standing outside, Ren said, "You seriously don't see that?"
"Don't bother, Inmate! They don't have a contract with the room! They won't see it!" Caroline called out with a laugh. "You just look crazy!"
"Yeah dude, I don't see anything," Ryuji said as he squinted his eyes to make sure he didn't miss anything.
"Well, I'll be right back," Ren gave up and approached the door.
To his friends, it looked like he stepped forward a bit and then completely zoned out.
"It's just like before!" Shiho said.
"I gotta see if he's actually drooling," Ryuji said in excitement, approaching Ren.
Ann and Shiho also approached and took a look at Ren. It almost looked like he was sleeping while standing.
Ann poked his cheek.
"He isn't reacting."
"Should we mess with him?" Ryuji asked with a mischievous grin. "Does anyone have a marker?"
Suddenly Ryuji jumped back with a yelp.
"Ouch! What was that?!" he yelled as he looked around, finding nothing.
Morgana, who had silently been watching Ren, turned to him and asked what happened.
"I don't know, man. I felt like I was being whacked with a stick across the stomach," Ryuji revealed as he looked around.
No one could see that Caroline was tapping her baton against her palm.
"No one messes with the Trickster but me!" she mumbled.
---
Leaving the Velvet Room, Ren turned to look at the group. To the others, Ren looked like he had just snapped out of a daze.
He was about to call for their attention when he noticed that Caroline was chasing Ryuji, hitting him with the baton constantly.
"JOKER! HELP! INVISIBLE SHADOW!!!!!"
"I'M NOT A LOWLY SHADOW!" Caroline roared ferociously. To Ren, she just looked like a bristling cat. Especially when he ran up and picked her up from behind to stop her.
Kicking her feet and struggling, she said, "Inmate! Put me down!"
"No," Ren flatly said as he carried her over to Justine, who had a pleasant yet terrifying look on her face.
"You're in for a world of punishment!" Caroline threatened.
"Funny, I could say the same to you," Justine said with narrowed eyes.
"I don't know why she was beating Skull, but now I have to tell him to stop being an idiot or an invisible girl will beat him up."
"Don't treat me like a child! I'm at least sixty times your age! Ouch!" Caroline declared before being smacked on the head with Justine's clipboard.
"We are twins. Want to try that math again?"
"Twenty times?"
Meanwhile, the team was watching Ren seemingly struggle to hold and carry something, then talk to thin air. It was... unnerving?
"But it's kinda cute too?" Ann said as she watched Ren jump around and yell at nothing.
"Agreed," Shiho nodded with a smile.
"Yeah! Get 'em, Joker!"
"IMMA KILL HIM, JUSTINE."
---