The students of Shujin High unanimously vote for Akechi to appear as a guest speaker at the culture festival. Despite the clear danger to this, Makoto follows through with it to gain more information. On the day of the festival, Akechi reveals that he knows of the Phantom Thieves' identities, explaining that he awakened his own Persona while up against the man in the black mask. Offering to help clear their names, Akechi asks for the gang's help in triggering a change in Sae's heart with the group to disband afterwards.