It isn’t that Makoto doesn’t trust Akechi-kun, per se, but a feeling in her gut tells her that he may be hiding something from her. Takamaki-san’s evasiveness regarding anything to do with him, combined with that feeling, are what drive her to sink into the shadows, keeping her distance as she quietly observes.
There’s nothing immediately off, though through careful scrutiny, she notices the quick glances over his shoulder. She follows him to a street in Poor Town that she had intended to investigate because it’s known for its high volume of crime. It could be that he, too, had decided to inspect this notorious region of Fuckoville.
He says something quietly into his phone, and then, the world begins to shift. Makoto rubs her temples, fighting off the sudden vertigo. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself standing at the mouth of a large cave. She looks behind her, and realizes that she’s a little ways up a very enormous mountain.Â
Akechi-kun, for his part, has transformed. His classy attire has been replaced with gaudy white and gold and red; a long-beaked mask hides his face.
Because Makoto has learned a bit about the Metaverse from Takamaki-san, she  knows what has happened: they’ve just entered a Palace.
“Akechi-kun! Does this mean you’re a Persona User?”
