Warning: Spoilers Off applies to Moments pages.General
- Makoto being far less hostile towards people throughout the story than she was at the beginning of the original game allows readers to see her develop the first real friendships she ever had.
Chapter 1
- It is nice to know that the relationship that Ren and Makoto build throughout the story will eventually culminate in a Relationship Upgrade, and they’ll eventually begin dating.
Chapter 2
- Sae’s concern regarding Makoto after the train crash speaks for itself when she misses a meeting just to ensure that her sister is safe. Keep in mind that Sae usually puts her job above anything else. She even offers Makoto to drive her to school the following day, even if it means having to arrive at her job late.
Chapter 4
- Makoto and Eiko meeting for the first time. It's very sweet that they get to bond over Buchimaru in spite of being polar opposites.
- When Makoto asks Ren why is he even friends with someone like Ryuji after finding out how hostile he is towards her, Ren gives her an answer she can't counter: Ryuji was the first person at Shujin who treated him like a human being.
- Makoto and Ren start calling each other by the first names without realising, but she also realises that she doesn't mind it.
Chapter 5
- The scene at Leblanc:
- Sojiro telling Makoto that she doesn't have to pay for a meal as a way of thanking her for tutoring Ren (and confirming that Ren was telling truth about her tutoring him).
- Ren tells Makoto about the incident that landed him on probation and is surprised to hear that she believes that he got framed for it. Shortly afterwards, they officially become friends, being the each other's first real friends.
- Even if he is still a bit sceptical of her, Ryuji chooses to trust Makoto seeing how Ren trusts her.
- Makoto approaches Shiho and tells her to speak to her if she is concerned about something. Shiho not only appreciates her concern, but also tells Makoto to not listen to the other students that say that she doesn't care about them. After finishing her sentence, Shiho also says under her breath that she doesn't want Kamoshida to hurt Makoto like he is hurting her. Even with how much she is suffering, Shiho still thinks about the well-being of others.
Chapter 7
- Ryuji apologizes to Makoto for antagonizing her and they both decide to start over as friends. No one is more happier about this than Ren.
- Makoto finding out that petting Morgana calms her down when she takes the train. Considering the incident at the beginning of the story, it's nice to learn that she has found a way to not feel anxious when she gets on a train. She even convinces Sae to let her keep Morgana by telling her this.
- Eiko teaching Makoto how to be more social, and in turn Makoto teaching Eiko how to do better at school.
Chapter 8
- Ren and Ryuji showing concern for Makoto after she escapes from Kamoshida (who would have sexually assaulted her if it wasn't for Morgana), claiming that they'd rather be expelled than let him lay a finger on her. This moves Makoto to tears.
Chapter 9
- Despite how harsh she has been to Makoto throught the interrogation, Sae's Big Sister Instinct kicks in after Makoto tells her that Kamoshida called her to her office and locked the door. She may be interrogating her, but she's still her only sister after all.
- When Makoto tells the boys that she was talking to Kasumi, Ren says that he has spoken to her a couple of times and that she is a very nice person. Ren has made another friend off-screen.
- The group decides to steal Kamoshida's heart the following day. Makoto says "Watch me over, father" before going to sleep. It's clear that her late father means a lot to her.
Chapter 10
- Unlike the original game, the story addresses Makoto’s birthday. Furthermore, since she befriended Ren and Ryuji, she has someone to celebrate it with.
- The whole chapter is a bomb of Heartwarming Moments: The boys take Makoto to an arcade and then they invite her over for a meal in Leblanc, where Ryuji gives her a Yakuza movie, which they all watch shortly after, and Ren gifts her a Buchimaru plushie from the arcade. Not even Morgana is left out, as Ren prepares a bowl of milk for him. Makoto is, once again, moved to tears because of how nice the boys are to her, as she says that she hasn't celebrated her birthday after her father's passing because of how busy Sae is with her job.
- Makoto is concerned about her tastes including Yakuza movies, which Sae told her that they are not very "lady-like" for her, and plushies, which can come off as childish. Ren tells her that he doesn't care about any of that.
Chapter 11
- After forgetting about Makoto's birthday at the end of the previous chapter, Sae leaves some money on the kitchen counter as a way of apologizing. Makoto lets out a smile.
- Sojiro once again tells Makoto that she doesn't have to pay for anything as a way of thanking her for tutoring Ren.
- After Kamoshida's change of heart, Mishima apologizes to Ren for leaking his record to the students, although Ren knows that Kamoshida forced him to do it, and promises to make it up for him someday.
- Sae joking around with Makoto when she asks her if the friends she has made are boys. Given how cold and harsh Sae usually is, it's very sweet to see that she also has a playful side.
Chapter 12
- Makoto visits Shiho at the hospital. Not only is Makoto reliefed to hear that she'll be making a slow but full recovery, but Shiho also tells her that is not all her fault like she thinks it is. Shiho is also glad that not only Kamoshida won't be able to hurt her anymore, but that Ann won't have to suffer because of him either. The scene ends with Makoto promising Shiho that she'll visit her again.
- We're Back in the interrogation room, and Sae pleads Makoto that she cooperates with her with the first thing she asks her not being related to the Phantom Thieves, but if Kamoshida tried to do anything to her while they were in his office. Makoto begins crying and tells her how he almost raped her. Sae only clenches her fists in anger as an answer, an anger that is not directed at Makoto, but at Kamoshida.
- This is all a Heel Realization of Sae's part. She is finally starting to understand why Makoto would be motivated to be a Phantom Thief, and even takes back what she said in chapter 1 about Makoto losing any right to call her a sister.
Chapter 14
- Seeing Tachibana getting excited about helping the Phantom Thieves she admires so much. If this is not Adorkable, then we don't what it is:Tachibana: "Well, I still think it's really cool how we're teaming up! "We're like this awesome crime fighting duo, exposing criminals left and right!"
- Naoya reveals that his family's restaurant gives meals to people who can't afford them, among which Yusuke is included.
- Ren taking Makoto to the Batting cage. Very nice of him to teach her how to play. Mood Whiplash ruins this bonding moment and turns it into a Tear Jerker, however.
Chapter 15
- Seeing as Eiko is struggling with her studies, Makoto promises to treat her to sweets regardless of what her final marks are in order to encourage her. Eiko gets pumped up by this.
- Sojiro asks Makoto about the perfect gift for the daughter of a friend of his. Given that the fic assumes that you have played Persona 5 Royal beforehand, it's obvious that he is talking about Futaba.
- In the interrogation room, Makoto tells Sae that the reason the Phantom Thieves targeted Madarame is that it wasn't fair for him to get away with what he did to his pupils.
- Sae is filled with nothing but anger when she hears about the principal guilt-tripping Makoto into investigating the Phantom Thieves (which could've been very dangerous for Makoto in case she wasn't part of the Thieves), or else she'd get no letter of recommendation for college and it would reflect badly on Sae. She is so angry that he even refers to him as a bastard.
Chapter 18
- Ren convinces Sojiro to make some food for Yusuke and even offers to pay for him. Better yet, not only does Sojiro agree to make some curry for him if Ren cleans up the dishes that night, but he wants to make sure that Yusuke eats the whole thing up due to how skinny he looks.
Chapter 19
- Shiho's concern of Makoto regarding Kamoshida, and learning that he thankfully didn't do anything her. In exchange Makoto learns that Shiho is recovering slowly, but with no problems whatsoever. Shiho also expresses concern for Ann and asks Makoto to look out for Ann.
- The third will seed shows Madarame's memory of seeing Yua finishing the Sayuri, and her reason for painting it: she knew that her illness wouldn't allow her to live much longer, and she wanted Yusuke to have something that expresses how much she loved him even if she is not around anymore. She had zero intention of making a profit out of the painting.
Chapter 20
- The chapter is called "A Mother's Love", and the ending lets us see that it's worthy of that title. Yua appears before Yusuke and tells him how happy she is to see him again after so much time has passed, and also thanks the rest of the Phantom Thieves for taking care of Yusuke. She gives him Madarame's treasure, the real Sayuri, hugs him, and tells him that she will always love him. In turn, Yusuke promises to make a painting that will be just as good as the Sayuri to make Yua proud. D'awwwwww....
- The most interesting part about this is that Yua here is a cognition of Madarame, meaning that he knew how much she loved her son and, to a lesser extent, that he did care about Yusuke deep down despite how despicable he is.
Chapter 21
- Makoto telling Morgana to be nice to Ryuji after he insults him. Given how Morgana never got called out for his treatment of Ryuji in the original game, it's nice to see that Makoto wants all the members of the team to behave propertly and get along. This won't be the last time she does it either.
Chapter 22
- Sae has gotten Makoto a Buchimaru plushie as a reward for doing well in her exams. Given that the Buchimaru merchandise was discontinued long ago, Sae must have done the impossible just to get Makoto the plushie.
- Makoto and the boys playing darts in the Penguin Sniper in Kichijoji.
Chapter 23
- "Thank you, Makoto." "I don’t know what I’d do without you or Ann."
- Ann accuses Makoto of covering up Kamoshida's crimes and ignoring the students and Shiho's problems. Shiho tells both girls to stop it and lets Ann know about everything Makoto has done for her and how Kamoshida tried to abuse her too, knowing that she cares and that she can trust her.
Chapter 24
- Ren makes it clear to Ann that he never believed the rumors about her when Kamoshida was around, and that she shouldn't believe the rumors about Makoto either.
- Mishima and Tachibana bonding over their love of the Phantom Thieves and her telling him that the website he created was impressive. A potential partnership might be about to begin.
- Makoto bonds with Haru after she sees that she has been isolated due to her social status. Makoto tells Haru that they are not so different with how both of them are overshadowed by another member of their family. Haru appreciates that, which causes the Confidant Link to begin months before it would in canon.
- Ann apologizes to Makoto for putting her name on the Phan-Site. The whole scene is a cross between this and Tear Jerker.
Chapter 25
- After awakening to her Persona and briefly knocking out the Hecatoncheires that took out the boys and injured Makoto, Ann heals her and extends her hand to help her stand up, all while smiling.Ann: "Come on." "We promised to protect Shiho and the others, didn't we?"
Chapter 26
- Ann decides to join the Phantom Thieves she looks up to so much.
- Morgana encouraging Makoto to have more confidence in herself and telling her that she makes a great leader.
- Makoto stands up for Ryuji when his former track team temmates come to verbally attack him for what happened with Kamoshida. She even tells them that even if Ryuji hadn't snapped, Kamoshida would've still have found another way to get rid of the track team. After they leave, Makoto and Ryuji high five.
- Joker and Queen's dynamic, which Panther finds it surprising given what she has heard about both of them so far, to what Skull reassures her that they are always like that.
- Skull tells Panther that no one in the team blames her for antagonizing Queen or investigating them, claiming that is all in the past and that she should get to know everyone better. Panther wants to start off with Skull, given that they haven't formally talked to each other in a long time and that she wants to catch up.
Chapter 28
- Chiaki saying that she can't be a chaperone in Hawaii because she has to take care of her three younger siblings. She also smiles to Makoto and tells her that she is counting on her to handle the situation. Seems like Makoto has Defrosted The Ice Queen
- Makoto and Ren joking with each other before their fake date with Eiko and Tsukasa.
- Takemi tells Makoto that she should confess her feelings for Ren as soon as possible, otherwise she may end up regretting it later.
Chapter 32
- Makoto finally realizes she is truly in love with Ren.
Chapter 60
- Ren and Makoto's Relationship Upgrade at the Summer festival.
- Ann asking Ryuji out, with his response, "FOR REAL?!", implying that he feels the same.
Chapter 61
- Ren and his mother reconciling, after she apologises for not immediately believing him about his arrest.
Chapter 80
- Since Makoto was able to prevent Black Mask from killing Kunikazu Okumera's shadow, Kunikazu has a change of heart without immediate complications. When Haru purchases tickets to Tokyo Destinyland for all of the Phantom Thieves to celebrate, he goes out of his way to reserve the entire park for them. It's a nice Pet the Dog moment from him, even in spite of the narrative confirming that he still ends up dead at the hands of Black Mask.
