Heartwarming / Persona 5 Strikers

aka: Persona 5 Scramble The Phantom Strikers

Despite working to save Japan from more corruption and control, the Phantom Thieves always have time to warm our hearts and put a smile on people’s faces.

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General

• The inclusion of police investigator Zenkichi Hasegawa/Wolf:
  • He's the first heroic, adult Persona user in the Persona 5 series can be seen as a nice call-back to the Persona 2 Duology. It’s also a way to show that in a world where several adults are corrupt, there are still plenty of honest and trusting individuals, and Zenkichi joins the likes of Sae, Sojiro and the rest of the adult Confidants as trusted allies of the Phantom Thieves.
  • Throughout the story, Zenkichi frequently refers to himself as a public servant, and shows pride whenever he can help people. Unlike most of the officers in police force in the Persona universe, he’s a genuinely good police investigator and lives for the people, not himself.
• In general, the change of heart for the Monarchs feels more gratifying. Because there are no treasures to steal, the Phantom Thieves work hard to convince them to give up willingly. Although difficult, the Monarchs understand what they did was wrong and promise to atone for what they did. Compared to the Palace rulers, they make good on their desire to make amends:
  • All of the adult Monarchs willingly confess their misdeeds in conferences to the public, showing genuine remorse and taking a first step to atoning.
  • Ango Natsume promises full refunds to those who bought his book, and vows to Yusuke he’ll make a real, non-plagiarized novel.
  • Mariko Hyodo visits the memorial of the child who was killed in the ice sculpture incident, where Haru gives her a comforting hug. The child’s mother (who had at a point blamed Mariko for the death of her child when the Thieves reached the Cage) tells Mariko to keep running for mayor despite the incident, reminding Mariko how she was there for the mother in her lowest moments, and even cried with her.
    Kaho's Mother: "That's why you can't give up. You need to start over and become our mayor again!"
  • Shadow Akane admits that she’s always loved her father, and dearly missed how they used to be. After the battle, Zenkichi stays by her bedside until she wakes up, whereupon he and Akane reconcile.
• From her appearance alone to her cute robotic like actions, Sophia is the walking, talking AI of wholesomeness. Her learning more about humans and bonding with the group is a sweet treat to watch.
  Sophia: Praise Accepted.~🎵
• Although no specific details are brought up about what happened after he left Tokyo, it seems that Joker was able to return to his hometown without many issues, giving a hopeful vibe that he's doing alright despite his previous record weighing his chances down.
• While it's mainly a way to excuse them from appearing in-story, if the fact that Iwai is able to take a break from work, and likely spend time with Kaoru, while Takemi is able to be requested as a speaker for a medical conference is any indication, it's that Joker maxing out his Confidants (and by proxy helping them with their problems) is canon, and one can only imagine how the others have been doing but it's likely more hopeful than where they were back then.

Main Story

• The whole premise of the story is that the Thieves are reuniting to spend an entire summer vacation together. As soon as Joker comes home, the others throw a surprise party and go on about how much they all missed each other.
  • Everyone looks content with their lives, especially Futaba, Makoto and Haru. The former is finally in high school and breezing through, and the latter two are enjoying their college experience.
• Although she’s concerned about Joker returning as a prisoner, Lavenza is happy to see him again, and his determination makes her smile.
  Lavenza: That is the Trickster I know so well.
• Ann sympathizing with Alice’s plight, who was horrendously bullied and humiliated as a student. She reminds Alice that the latter wanted to be a light for people who are in the same situation as she was. This helps convince Mad Rabbit Alice to calm down and willingly repent.
• Exiting from Shibuya's jail on the Calling Card's day will unlock an optional conversation with Sojiro. The Boss will reaffirm his trust in the Phantom Thieves and he will ask Joker to watch over Futaba on his behalf.
• After Alice surrenders, the Phantom Thieves admire the beauty of desire “diamonds” raining down from the sky. Sophia is seen gleefully jumping up and down with her arms out like an excited little kid.
• When you're preparing for the start of your road trip, you can talk to Ryuji and go with him and Ann for some ramen. Ryuji will reminisce on how the Phantom Thieves first started.
• If you check out the “Sayuri” picture at Leblanc before your leave, Morgana will mention they should say a prayer to Yusuke’s mother for safety.
• If you go to Shibuya before leaving, You can hear one of the people express how they feel bad for Alice and hope she is alright. Even after her public confession, there are still people who show concern for her wellbeing.
• Yusuke empathizing with Natsume to an extent where he implores both his Shadow and real self to continue pursuing their dreams through more genuine means, providing Natsume the one thing he needed most; validation for his hard work and the knowledge that someone believes in him.
• In Sendai, you can have an optional conversation with Makoto, who notices that there is a Tanabata festival taking place. She shares a story of when she and Sae were young: Sae had protected her from the crowd, but she accidentally dropped her candy apple in doing so and almost cried until Makoto shared half of her choco banana with her.
• The Phantom Thieves get to participate at the Tanabata festival in Sendai and therefore get to properly hang out at a summer festival after the one they attended in Persona 5 had been canceled due to the rain. Furthermore, Futaba and Haru get to join the fun this time.
• Talk to the skeptical woman before leaving Sendai, and she will tell you how she was impressed by Natsume confessing to where she expresses willingness to look over his book. Not only that, but talking to Ann reveals that there are plenty of people supporting him for his confession. His reputation is ruined, yet like with Alice, there are people hoping he can find the redemption he seeks.
• Makoto drove for 12 hours to get to Sapporo, and by the time the group arrives, she is exhausted. Everyone is very kind to her, asking her to relax or coming up with ideas on how to comfort her.
• Upon arriving in Sapporo, the team will run into the third target, Mariko Hyodo. Despite her corruption, she’s thrilled to see Haru, and likewise Haru is determined to help Mariko. It’s clear that, unlike President Okumura, Mariko never lost sight of her loved ones, and Haru still holds her friend in high regard.
• While her motivations are primarily revenge-based due to EMMA's corruptive influence, Mariko still feels incredibly guilty about her accidental oversight that led to the young child’s death in the ice sculpture accident. The most she wants out of using EMMA is to ensure no one in Sapporo suffers again.
  • After her heart is changed, Mariko initially plans to never again run for mayor, until a pep talk from the mother of the deceased little girl convinces her to start all over and become mayor again to honor the child's memory.
• The Phantom Thieves defend Zenkichi when the latter runs late to meeting up with Akane at her mother’s grave.
  • Akane herself apologizes for acting out once the situation is explained.
• Following the events at Sapporo, Zenkichi offers to drive the kids to their next destination, since Makoto has been driving non-stop and hasn't fully recovered yet. Along the way, Zenkichi and Makoto have a heart-to-heart talk regarding Makoto's choice of following her father's footsteps of becoming a police officer. Though Zenkichi tries to discourage Makoto from choosing the wrong career path, Makoto's heart is set to be one.
• The gang helps make dinner for Akane, which she absolutely loves. Afterwards, they help her with homework and watch her Phantom Thieves livestream. Akane is overjoyed with the positive interactions. The Phantom Thieves themselves are flattered by how much she loves them.
• Makoto sternly telling Akane not to hate her father. She knows that, despite Zenkichi being flawed, he loves his daughter and is a good man, and she wants to help them reconcile.
• The group enjoying the day at a beach in Okinawa. They get to enjoy a real break in their adventuring, and get to be teens having fun for once.
  • At the end of the day it is possible to have an optional conversation between Makoto, Yusuke and Haru. The group reminisces about their beach day with Futaba and their trip to Hawaii from the year before, leading them to wonder where they will be the following year. Depending on the player's input, the other thieves will reassure Joker about his fear of losing touch with the others, either they will comment on each other's Character Development, or they will decide to have a summer trip all together every year from that moment on.
• When they reach the Okinawa Jail, a voice identical to Sophia denounces her worthless and a "bug" of an AI. Ryuji then calls out the voice, saying that Sophia is an amazing friend and not a glitch at all, even telling the disembodied voice to "shut the fuck up!" for insulting Sophia. Ryuji may be flawed, but he will always defend the people he loves.
  • Morgana tells Skull that such language is not allowed in the Phantom Thieves... except for that very moment, and proceeds to denounce the voice as an idiot alongside Ryuji. One of the very few instances where the two agree on something and get along.
• As a "thank you" for all they've done, Zenkichi allows the gang to stay at a very familiar looking Hot Spring Inn for the night. The Thieves learn that it costs 40,000 yen a night (roughly 374 US dollars) and that he's covering the costs, the teens are utterly grateful for his kindness and warm up to him even further. Although, the moment is ruined, then...
• Zenkichi taking the fall for the teens to protect them from the police, showing how much he’s come to care for them.
• By the time of the Kyoto Jail, Zenkichi has only had a little experience in the Metaverse and isn’t a Persona user yet. But when he hears Akane was taken to the Jail and the Thieves were kidnapped, he's determined to save them both, Shadows be damned.
• Zenkichi, after revealing the truth of the blackmail threats and fear for his daughter’s life, is told off by Shadow Akane as a coward. The Phantom Thieves immediately defend him; Futaba passionately tells him he’s a good father and he is not a coward for protecting his daughter, nor to blame for what’s happened. The encouragement is enough to help awaken his Persona, and vow never to let another criminal escape.
• As twisted as it is, Konoe helping people with their issues through the EMMA app. He might have done some very unsavory things, but ultimately he used the app because he empathized with those who went through trauma and hardship based on his own experiences, and doesn’t want them to feel oppressed again.
• Sae's entire intervention to save Zenkichi. This time, she doesn't walk into an interrogation room to interrogate a suspect to advance her career, but to save someone from Police Brutality and unjust accusations, showing that she's better off in her new career as a defense attorney.
• The conversation with Sae after the Kyoto Jail, in which the Phantom Thieves make it clear that by saving Zenkichi from custody and enabling him to enter the Jail, Sae saved them all. The conversation concludes with the Niijima sisters showing how much their relationship has healed since the original game.
  Makoto: Sis... Thank you so much.
  Sae: (smiling) ...Stay safe, Makoto.
• The Phantom Thieves finally get to see a fireworks show with no interruption, this time with Futaba and Haru who weren't members at the time.
  • Joker holding Morgana in his yukata, and showing an excited Sophia fireworks for the first time, is absolutely wholesome.
• Sophia, using words alone, managed to convince her creator Ichinose to repent. Remember that Ichinose is the de facto culprit who kickstarted the game's events with the EMMA app, ditched Sophia for personal reasons in favor of said EMMA, nearly wiped out the Phantom Thieves and briefly brainwashed Sophia to attack them. Sophia convinces Ichinose to actually reconsider humanity and also convinced her creator that she might very will be better than the EMMA-Demiurge, and is not a failed prototype. In fact, when she does this, Ichinose at one point, breaks into tears, which is something that she haven't had before.
• Related to the above, the lyrics to Counterstrike. While it first plays against Konoe, it also plays in the fight before Sophia awakens to Pandora... and if you listen to the lyrics, they're about Sophia finally finding herself, while also describing Ichinose's Heel–Face Turn. Making it even better, the first chorus is in 2nd-person, representing the Phantom Thieves encouraging her, while the second is in first-person, now from the perspective of Sophia taking their words to heart.
  Time to listen to my heart
  Oh I'm ready to start
  I have seen what is inside
  No more straying through the night

  (I decide what’s right!)
  Finally I got it right
  I am here, ready to fight
  Bring it on, my counter strike
  Will burn down ev'ry foe ahead

  (I want to dream on!)
  I'll never forget to show my true colors
  I'll never forget to question destiny
  I will be more than a puppet
  I'll never be just a doll

  I can feel
  The rhythm
  So vivid
• The Phantom Thieves and Zenkichi team up together to bring Owada to justice, eventually giving Japanese society and especially Zenkichi the justice they deserve; a justice that could not have been done for the last 3 years due to Shido and Yaldabaoth's reign of terror. With this, The Conspiracy is taken down for good, never again to rise up.
• The final shot after the post-credits scene, displaying a silhouette of Ichinose holding hands with Sophia. Despite how badly she treated Sophia before, Sophia still treated her as if she were her first friend, and both parties do genuinely consider themselves companions with each other after the end of this ordeal.