#version 2.1.2

Part 1 (Summer! Swimsuit! Sea Time!)

Wonder sees a billboard at school for an upcoming school event: "Seaside Teaching". He notes that while he's "obviously" never participated, something about it makes him feel happy and nostalgic. The students participating are supposed to meet at Shirosato Beach.

Wonder describes it as "a small but well-known beach", and "one of the best places to spend a hot summer day".

The scene then cuts to Wonder arriving at Shirosato with Shun, Ruferu, Riko, and Motoha. Motoha excitedly exclaims they're finally here.

She shouts "ocean!" out at the water, and Wonder is given the choice to do the same. If he does, Motoha gets even more excited, and Shun smiles and comments that even Wonder's excited about this.

Ruferu's mind is elsewhere- he expected there to be more people at the beach, even if this is a school event.

Riko agrees that although Seaside Teaching is voluntary, they've had as high as 90% of the student body attend the event in past years. Motoha is shocked to hear this statistic, and wonders why almost no one came this year. Wonder guesses that maybe it's related to people losing their desires, and Ruferu agrees, but adds that the beach itself also has a strange atmosphere, possibly related to the Metaverse. He thinks they should investigate it, and Riko suggests they start with the stores on the beach.

As Wonder goes to follow the rest of them, Merope catches his attention, and walks over.

If Wonder asks when she got here, she replies that it was probably a little after he did, as she saw him picking up some garbage. She explains that, as his receptionist, it's her duty to support him wherever he goes to deal with Metaverse threats, and there seems to be something here that's connected to the Metaverse.

She says she'll cheer for him, and very casually (compared to her usually formal, poilte tone) says "Do your best!", which Wonder seems to be either slightly exasperated or embarrassed by. She then chuckles to herself and comments that that should've doubled his motivation, so it seems her plan was effective.

Merope starts to walk away, but quickly comes back, and apologizes for forgetting to give Wonder something. She hands him the red sunglasses that complete his summer outfit.

She explains that she heard prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause an illness called "heat stroke", and these glasses should help reduce his exposure a little. She also reminds him to drink lots of water, before leaving for real this time.

Wonder puts the sunglasses on his head, and then Motoha calls out to him, asking what he's doing, and he runs after her.

He catches up with the others in front of a large stand. Riko comments that it's not really the same as the other shops, and Motoha reads a sign calling it "Water Gun Battle". She guesses that it's one of those games where you shoot a water gun at targets, but Shun points out that no one else is here, or even seems interested in it. Ruferu adds that they won't be able to question anyone if there's no one here.

The game stand's owner approaches them out of nowhere, speaking in a low voice. He apologizes for startling them, and says it's been a long time since he's had a customer. Riko asks him about this, and he confirms that the entire beach has had a lot less foot traffic recently. At this rate, he's going to have to close his stand.

Wonder and Ruferu both identify this as a sign that desires are being stolen. The shopkeeper continues to lament that while the other shops at least see a few customers, he hasn't had any, so he'll have to give up.

The shopkeeper leaves, and the group steps away from the game stand. Ruferu says that if things continue like this, even his desire to go on living may be stolen. Motoha, determined, says they have to do something... but what? Even the other beach visitors seem to have lost their desires. Riko says they'll have to stimulate the desires of the beachgoers again, and suggests they start with playing at the stand, to get the attention of others.

Shun's concerned that this would just be false advertising, but Riko assures him this is within the scope of the original intent of Seaside Teaching, which is apparently "Experience the diversified life at the beach, temper your inner heart, and learn the spirit of helping others". Shun relents that this would be helping others, and then decides that if the game is actually fun, there's no problem. Motoha excitedly agrees that it does look pretty fun. Ruferu says it might help them train for the Metaverse, too. Riko reminds them that once they can draw more guests to the stand, they should question them.

Later, the five of them sit on the beach chatting.

Riko determines based on the information they got from the shopkeeper and the guests that later came to the game stand that there's definitely something affecting them. Motoha asks Ruferu what he thinks, and he confirms that the strange atmosphere he senses here is similar to the Metaverse, though far less powerful. Beaches are already a place where a lot of human desires come into play, and it's not unusual for a simple pocket of the Metaverse to form somewhere with a whirlpool of human desires like this.

Shun and Motoha agree this sounds correct; Shun always wants a bowl of ramen after he swims, and Motoha feels a desire to eat every dish on the beach shop's menu. Riko starts to add that she also- and then gets a bit sheepish. Ruferu tells them to stay focused, and asks Wonder to try using the MetaNav here.

Sure enough, the MetaNav reacts, to their surprise. Ruferu is less surprised- it's not as distorted as Mementos, but it's still having an impact on the public's cognition here. Motoha says that... in summary...

For one reason or another, the Metaverse is here, right?!

Riko agrees that, yes...

For one reason or another!

Shun says he gets it now...

It's for one reason or another!

Ruferu, exasperated, asks why they're all emphasizing that it's for "one reason or another". Wonder responds that they're doing it for one reason or another, to Ruferu's further annoyance. He brushes this aside, and tells them to enter the Metaverse and deal with the shadows there.

Once they enter, Closer exclaims that there really is a pocket of the Metaverse here, but it does feel a little different from Mementos. Wind speculates that because it's tied to the beach, it makes sense that the public's cognition of the beach would be prominent here. Soy agrees, then, shocked, realizes they're all still wearing their swimsuits.

Cattle suggests this may be due to the public's perception that you have to wear a swimsuit at the beach. Closer worries that this means they won't be able to fight, but Cattle reassures her that, just as he switched to his Metaverse form, their swimsuits should still function like their Metaverse outfits, and they should be able to summon their Personas. Soy still isn't totally sure he gets it, but basically, it's for one reason or another, right? Cattle, annoyed, doesn't respond, and Wind points out that some shadows are headed their direction.

After this first fight, the player unlocks various other shadow fights within the beach pocket of the Metaverse.

Part 2 (The Fireworks of Blooming Memories)

The Phantom Thieves, back in the real world, see that there are now many customers at the food shop here on the beach. Motoha tries to decide whether they should start with getting shaved ice, or hot dogs, or yakisoba. Shun very seriously addresses Motoha, and Riko starts to agree that they're actually here for- and Shun cuts her off to forcefully insist that because they're at a small shop on the beach, they have to eat ramen! Ramen first! Then sweets!

He points to his ramen necklace- apparently a gift from Yamagoshi- and says that ramen is always his first choice. Motoha, matching his energy, says he convinced her, she wants ramen too! The two then head to the shop to order some.

Riko, surprised, tries to call after them, but they're already gone. Ruferu suggests that they might as well follow the two of them, even if they're not getting anything.

As Motoha looks at the menu, she's welcomed to the store by Tomoko, who seems about as surprised to see them here as they are to see her.

She explains that she's here working part-time, and refers to herself as "the part-time worker passing by chance, Tomoko Noge!". If Wonder asks about that "title", she says she wants to feel cool sometimes, and points out that with all the part-time jobs Wonder's worked, he also has that potential. Ruferu mutters, wondering who would want to have that potential.

Tomoko asks if they're here to order, or maybe here to work? Shun says they're not here for work, but Riko realizes this might be a useful information opportunity, and asks how many open positions the shop has. Tomoko briefly leaves to ask the store owner, then returns to let them know there's one open position. Wonder has two response options, which both immediately express interest in this job. Riko thanks him for agreeing to work, and suggests the rest of them split up to gather information elsewhere.

Tomoko admits she didn't expect to get a chance to work with Wonder here, but she's happy it happened. She then explains how the stand works.

Later, the Phantom Thieves regroup on the beach.

Motoha wonders if defeating the shadows in the Metaverse means more people will come to the beach, but Ruferu says it might not happen all at once, and it'll be up to the stores here to draw customers, too. However, it's likely more shadows will come here as well, as more desires gather at the beach again. Riko points out that they can't keep coming to the beach to steal back people's desires, so she hopes the beachgoers can hold onto their desires better this time. Shun similarly hopes that the game stand owner will regain his desires and keep his stand running.

As they chat, Wonder feels eyes on him- Merope. He tells the others he'll be back in a bit, and walks over to her.

Merope congratulates him on "restoring peace" to the beach, and says his battles were very exciting. She takes a bite of her shaved ice, then asks if he experienced anything strange in the Metaverse here. When Wonder mentions the swimsuits, she nods, and says that Wonder, like her, has applied cognition. This is the result of Wonder honing his desire, as part of her plan. She takes another bite. He'll now be able to choose to be in his swimsuit in the Metaverse regardless of what part of it he's in.

Wonder thinks to himself that he should try that sometime, as Merope takes a third bite of her shaved ice, then shakes her head a bit. Chuckling, she says this must be the fabled "brain freeze". She then informs Wonder that this food she's holding, called "shaved ice", is said to taste the same regardless of its color. She believes it's necessary to test this by comparing the various colors, and asks Wonder to help.

When Wonder eventually rejoins his friends, Motoha welcomes him back, and says they were planning to check out the rental shop next to the food shop. Shun adds that banana boats seem to be one of the options there, and Riko said she's never seen one before but is interested. Ruferu says he wants to try the hot dogs at the other shop.

Riko claps her hands together, and says that, since they're usually too busy with Metaverse activities to have fun, this is a rare opportunity, so they should all enjoy the sea before they leave. Shun asks which thing they should do first- Wonder gets to pick- and then Motoha asks if she can invite Tomoko to join them. Tomoko's been addicted to working lately, and Motoha wants to play with her, too!

The others have no problem with this, so Motoha runs over to get Tomoko, while they check out the other stuff.

The short animation of the six of them playing together on the beach then plays.

Elsewhere, Merope is troubled that she can't figure out what a "Blue Hawaii"-flavored shaved ice is supposed to taste like, just judging from the name.

She decides she'll have to try it.

Later, Wonder talks to Motoha in front of the shop, and she mentions that there's going to be a fireworks show here in a few (real-world) days, so they should all get together again to see it!

(At least one in-game day does seem to pass between Motoha telling Wonder about the show, and the characters going to the show, but it's a bit unclear.)