"So Adamant... Rather than accept a life in cinders... You'd strive towards splendor-- you know the risk... Well, if those really are the shoes you've chosen... Then we'll dance to the end. I am thou, thou art I... Accept this contract... The spell cast upon you."
Cendrillon is the French adaptation of the classic folk tale Cinderella. Charles Perrault was one of many authors to adapt the story, which began as a Greek folk tale. His novel became the most famous version, as it was the first to introduce the iconic "glass" slippers, as well as featuring the pumpkin carriage and a fairy-godmother. Perrault's adaptation lead to several operas such as Cendrillon, scripted by Jules Massenet and Henri Caïn.
The tale of Cendrillon follows a kind, beautiful young woman who is forced to be a maid for her wicked stepmother and two equally vain stepsisters. A ball is held by the kingdom's prince to find a bride and her stepfamily sabotage her chances to attend the ball. Her fairy godmother then appears and grants her a beautiful dress, allowing her to go, but warns that her spell lasts until midnight. At the ball, she attracts the prince, but is forced to leave just before midnight as the spell begins wearing off. She leaves behind one of her glass slippers in her haste and quietly returns home before her stepfamily can find out she left. Having found the slipper, the prince travels the kingdom to find her. He has every maiden he visits try on the slipper, but none are a perfect fit. Arriving at Cendrillon's house, the slipper fails to fit on the stepsisters but it fits perfectly on Cendrillon. After producing the other slipper as proof, Cendrillon marries the prince and lives happily ever after.
Cendrillon is not her name, but a nickname from her stepfamily as she was often covered in ash (cendre) when sleeping next to a fireplace to keep warm.
"The French name of the titular heroine of Cinderella, an oft-retold tale of great renown a mistreated waif gains luxury, beauty, and a single night’s dance with a prince through the power of magic."
—Cendrillon Compendium information
Cendrillon is the initial Persona of Kasumi Yoshizawa. It specializes in Bless and Physical skills. Later on, after the truth of Kasumi was revealed and this Kasumi being exposed as a cognitive overlay on top of Sumire Yoshizawa, Cendrillon was forcibly removed and driven berserk by Takuto Maruki as a warning against the party for accepting the pain of reality. As it constantly absorbs the Byakhee Maruki summons, the protagonist and Goro Akechi were no match against it, only for Ryuji Sakamoto to block the finishing blow from it and the Phantom Thieves who were snapped out of Maruki's spell helped the duo in defeating it.
"Such Tenacity... It seems to fit you better than ever before. The glass slippers are the icon of glory. Not just for you, but the other girl within you as well... I am thou, thou art I... Are you prepared for your debut? The ball awaits."
—Cendrillon, Persona 5 Royal
The old Cendrillon was destroyed and during the next infiltration to Maruki's Palace, Sumire begins to have trouble with her Persona, as her costume appears and dissappears, during an encounter with multiple Shadows, Sumire tears off her mask again and calls her Persona, with the soul of the real Kasumi Yoshizawa becoming Cendrillon herself and fighting in place of the old one. Cendrillon would become the Persona of Sumire Yoshizawa while retaining the same stats as before.
This is a three part fight that occurs right after rejecting Maruki's deal. Before going in, make sure the protagonist has a persona with Mediarahan or other reliable recovery, as Akechi has no healing skills and the other party members will not join until the third phase of this fight. It is also advised to avoid fighting excessive amounts of enemies or very powerful Shadows on the way to the Dais if possible for the same reason. While the Velvet Room is inaccessible, Takemi Medical Clinic re-opens prior to confronting this boss encounter, so stock on items if necessary.
The first phase will involve the protagonist fighting Sumire alone. Sumire has relatively low endurance and will go down after a few hits, although she has a high agility stat. In order to allow the protagonist's attacks to land consistently, debuff her using Debilitate or Sukunda. Sumire attacks with Sword Dance and Makougaon and moves twice in a turn. When her HP is low, she uses Brave Step to increase her critical hit rate. She can also cast Nocturnal Flash, which when accompanied with her high agility, will make the protagonist have trouble targeting her, so be prepared to cure it as it successfully lands. Despite this, she does not attack using anything but Physical or Bless skills, so a persona that nulls both will be able to take her down effortlessly.
The second phase involves the protagonist and Akechi facing a berserk Cendrillon while Maruki summons a pair of Byakhee, which she periodically feeds on to recover her HP. Cendrillon attacks with Makougaon, Swords Dance and Vorpal Blade, so Akechi would be in a risky situation as he merely gives it free one mores. The Byakhee can also cast Heat Riser on Cendrillon, so remove it if possible via Dekaja (removes all Kaja buffs) or Debilitate (Lowers Atk/Def/Agi/Acc). This phase is unwinnable and will end after a few turns, so try to survive.
In the final phase, the protagonist and Akechi will be joined by the other Phantom Thief members. Two random members from the last party that fought Yaldabaoth before will appear on default, so if one wishes to use other party members, swap a party member with Makoto since the Biyarky are weak to Nuke. Yusuke is not recommended as the Byakhee have Agidyne. All targets can be downed, although an All-Out Attack cannot be initiated as Maruki is considered a part of the enemy team and not a background object, even though he cannot be targeted in any form or way. Focus on removing the Byakhee as Cendrillon might absorb them for 600 HP and they might cast Heat Riser on it. Since Cendrillon only absorbs the Byakhee's remaining HP, it might also be wise to keep them at low HP so Cendrillon doesn't gain much from them. They are weak to Ice and Nuke, making Makoto effective in removing them. The fight ends after Cendrillon is defeated, regardless of other on-screen targets.
Cendrillon is the second Persona formed from a dead acquaintance of its user. The first one is Yamaoka, which is formed from Kei Nanjo's butler.
Cendrillon is also the only initial Persona of the Phantom Thieves that is neither a criminal nor a fictitious villain.
During Sumire's false awakening in the Japanese version, Cendrillon calls "Kasumi" useless and refers to the awakening as "choosing to live in false glory then to be covered in ashes," while the dub says that there is a risk to a seeking a life in splendor instead of one in cinders. This again foreshadows "Kasumi" is in fact, a fake.
Cendrillon and Arsène both share the same "Kick" melee animation.
If the protagonist has activated Hifumi Togo's confidant abilities, the party option is available during all phases during the Cendrillon boss fight, although there are no party members to switch in at all during the first two phases of the fight, and Akechi is removed from the party when combating Sumire.
Cendrillon's first phase cannot be defeated at all; if a party member deals lethal damage to it, the battle ends and shifts to the second phase instantly.
Edit
