[He shrugs, pulling open the van’s rear doors with a gesture of invitation for Kotone to climb in. The back half of the van is bare floor, but it’s clean, and there’s more space than the bench seats in the front can offer. Ren can also keep a better eye out for danger through the back, should any decide to approach.

He has been through a lot, but sympathy, though appreciated, wasn’t the point of telling her everything he has up to now. It’s necessary context for the rest of his story.]

It wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. [Ren takes a seat in the doorway of the van, slouched with his legs dangling over the edge.] I did form bonds, and they made me stronger, not just my Personas.

[He smiles wistfully, fond fragments of memories with his friends flashing through his mind. The church with Yusuke. Ramen with Ryuji. Crafting lockpicks with Morgana in his attic bedroom. The rooftop of the school with Ann and Shiho. Makoto throwing herself at Kaneshiro’s goons in Shibuya. The jazz club with Akechi.

Sitting in chains on the floor of his Velvet Room cell, listening to the twins rattle on about his “rehabilitation” tasks.]

I was told that the state of the Velvet Room reflected the state of my heart. Were you told the same?