~~~ Let me just explain how I'm going about writing this, before you begin. This fanfiction is going to be... for the most part, the same as if you are playing Persona 3 Portable from the fmc's perspective. The main difference, though, is that I am giving the main character my own image, name, and personality. I am also going to elaborate on aspects that don't get as much attention in the game and make it feel more like... well, a story. A lot of events in persona 3 are pretty mundane and get very little attention. My goal is to spice the story up a little bit, as well as give the mc more of a relatable personality. I am literally playing through the game as I write it... so this is taking a while to write. I'm trying to be as accurate with dialogue and events as possible, while still saving room for creativity. I don't know if this is going to be enjoyable to anyone but myself (I'm really just writing it for me) but just in case, I figured I'd go ahead and upload it... So, thanks for checking it out, and I hope you enjoy! (this should be obvious, but there will be spoilers, when it gets far enough into the story... since it will follow the same plotline.)

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING. I can't even really completely claim the main character, sooo... yeah. This is just for lulz. Enjoy!

Monday, April 6th, 2009

I'm not afraid of being alone, but... if I haven't got my headphones on, I feel extremely vulnerable. I've never really understood why, but I've come to accept this as fact. I clipped them onto my ears as I waited to board the next train... the train to Iwatodai.

I'm moving there as a transfer student; I'll be attending a high school called "Gekkoukan" as a junior, this year. I was originally from Port Island, but... 10 years ago, my parents died, and I went to live with my aunt and uncle... they live in Osaka. I was happy enough living with them... but, deep down, I'd always longed to come back here.

Things seemed so much simpler back then. Maybe I was just lonely, and missed my parents. Maybe I just wanted to... reminisce. Whatever the reason, I'd finally convinced my aunt and uncle to let me go to school here and stay in a dormitory... and I was very excited for the coming year.

Meanwhile, elsewhere ...

A young girl is sitting on the floor, gasping. Her head is in her hands as though she is in extreme pain...

"I just... put it to my head... And pull the trigger... No chickening out..."

She, slowly, raises a gun and positions it in the center of her forehead. She takes several shaky breaths before dropping the gun to her side in frustration.

"No... I can't!"

...

Inside the New City passenger train "Anehazuru"...

"Due to a malfunction in the switching system, today's rail schedule has been greatly altered," the train conductor announced. "We apologize to any customers who were in a hurry. The next stop is Iwatodai."

The train shook noisily as it made its way down the tracks to my new home. I took out my cell to check the time: it was getting close to midnight, already. I sighed and began flipping through songs on my mp3 player, in search of something that fit my current mood...

There isn't much that I find more peaceful than a quiet train ride at night. It's always so nice to watch the scenery pass by in a blur, and to feel the gentle rattling of the cars as they carry you to your destination. I leaned my head back against the chilled window behind me and closed my eyes, contemplating what it would be like to finally return to my childhood home...

The train screeched to a stop at the station as an announcement was made over the PA. I quickly stood and slung my bag over my shoulder, careful not to bump into anyone as I made my way to the door.

"Iwatodai. This is the final train bound for Tatsumi Port Island. Please take care to board before our departure."

The train doors slid open at last. I stepped down onto the platform and headed for the exit. Thanks to the delay, I'd arrived about 2 hours later than anticipated... I had to hurry. There was no telling if anybody at the dorm would even still be awake, at this hour...

I stepped outside, on route to the Iwatodai Dormitory... but, something about the atmosphere seemed odd. All of the lights were out, and the city had a faintly green-ish glow to it... I decided not to ponder on it too much, but that it would probably be best to hurry to the dorm.

I wrapped my jacket more tightly around myself to keep out the freezing wind as I walked. But... as I looked around, I started to notice... the city was deserted. A chill ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold, and I suddenly stopped to take in my surroundings. The moon was nearly full, and it was eerily gigantic... There was blood everywhere... And there were... upright coffins? Fear began to rise within me and I hastened my pace.

"Am I going insane?" I murmured to myself, breaking into a run. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I shot a paranoid glance behind me every now and then as I ran, just to make sure nothing was behind me. According to the directions I'd been given, I was nearly there... just a bit further...

"This must be it..." I slowed to a stop in front of an intimidating-looking building with large, beautiful windows and double doors. A sign on the outside of it read "Gekkoukan High School, Iwatodai dorm"... This was definitely the dorm mentioned in my admission pamphlet. I inhaled deeply and made my way up the steps to the entrance.

The inside of the dormitory was pitch-black... but, then again, it was after midnight. I quietly closed the door behind me, grateful that it was still unlocked.

"Welcome."

My heart lept into my throat and I stumbled backwards out of fright, unable to even speak. Standing by the check-in desk was a little boy wearing striped pajamas. I opened my mouth, trying to think of something to say, and then closed it again.

"You're late. I've been waiting a long time." he smiled at me as he said this.

I swallowed, realizing that maybe he was the person who was supposed to admit me into the dormitory. I was late, after all... thanks to the train. "I'm sorry... th-there was a delay..." I stuttered, trying not to look too afraid.

The boy held a piece of paper out to me. "If you want to proceed, then please sign here. It's a contract... There's no need to be scared. It only binds you to accepting full responsibility for your actions." I blinked, starting to feel unbelievably tired. 'Contract...? Oh, it must be a mandatory check-in proceedure.'

My shoulders were grateful as I set my bag onto the floor and picked up a pen to sign the contract. It contained only the following: "I chooseth this fate of mine own free will." Below was a blank to sign my name.

"This is a pretty... unique contract..." I squinted to make sure I wasn't missing anything in the dark. I was hesitant due to the strange wording on the page... but I was becoming so tired that I was eager to get settled and go to bed. I decided it couldn't hurt anything, at least.

Somewhat sloppily, I wrote my signature in the blank provided: Emiko Arisato.

I pushed the paper back toward the boy, hoping that that was all I'd have to do. "Very well," he nodded, taking the contract. "Time is something no one can escape. It delivers us all to the same end. Wishing won't make it go away... And so it begins..."

I stared at him uneasily. "Umm... What?"

But he didn't respond. The boy disappeared, as if melting into the darkness...

I shook my head, certain that I must be losing my mind. "I need to get to bed..." I picked up my bag again and peered into the darkness, trying to decide how to find my room... I hadn't thought to bring a flashlight...

"Who's there!" a female voice shouted from the darkness.

I stumbled backward in suprise, again, nearly dropping my belongings. "Umm... I'm the girl who's supposed to move in...?"

The girl approached me. She looked to be about my age, so I assumed she lived in the dorm as well. She had short brown hair and was wearing a pink cardigan. Her expression, however, was one of mixed suprise and fear.

"How can you be...? But it's...! Don't tell me..." she stepped away from me and lifted a gun.

"Wait!" another girl jumped in, suddenly, startling both of us.

At that moment, the lights in the dormitory all turned on. My eyes had gotten so used to the dark that the sudden light made them burn a bit. I blinked several times, hoping to help them adjust. I looked over the two girls in front of me; the new arrival had long, flowing, red hair. They were both very pretty.

"The lights..." the girl in pink let out a sigh of relief as the red-haired girl addressed me with a faint smile.

"I didn't think you'd arrive so late. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo. I'm one of the students who live in this dorm."

The brown-haired girl turned to Mitsuru in confusion. "...Who's she?"

Mitsuru absent-mindedly brushed a lock of hair over her shoulder. "She's a transfer student. It was a last minute decision to assign her here. She'll eventually be moved to a room in the normal dorm."

The other girl bit her lip, a look of concern flashing across her face. "...Is it okay for her to be here?"

Mitsuru chuckled slightly. "I guess we'll see... This is Yukari Takeba," she motioned to the girl in the pink cardigan. "She'll be a junior this spring, just like you."

"...Hi, I'm Yukari." Yukari smiled and bowed her head slightly.

"It's nice to meet you both," I bowed my head in response. "My name is Emiko Arisato... Umm... Isn't this a normal dorm?"

"Huh! Oh, uh... of course it is!" Yukari laughed, nervously digging the toe of her shoe into the carpet.

Mitsuru, however, frowned slightly. "...Not quite. It's a co-ed dorm, for one thing, and there are other differences as well... I'll explain later. It's getting late. You'll find your room on the 3rd floor. Your things should already be there. I suggest you tuck in for the night."

"Oh... I'll show you the way. Follow me." Yukari picked up my bag and looked at me, expectantly.

"Thanks!" I replied with a nod, following her up the stairs to the 3rd floor, where I would finally be able to rest. My room seemed to be at the very end of the hallway, on the righthand side. Yukari unlocked the door and turned to face me.

"This is it... Pretty easy to remember, huh? ...Since it's right at the end of the hall. So, any questions?"

I thought, for a moment, about all of the strange things I'd seen since arriving in Iwatodai... So many questions were stirring in my head. "Umm... I signed a strange contract when I got here..."

Yukari looked perplexed. "Huh? What's this about a contract?"

I thought about explaining what had occurred, but decided against it in favor of cutting our talk short. Bed sounded so good... "Nevermind..." I sighed.

Yukari nodded. "Um... Can I ask you something? On your way here from the station, was everything okay?"

'Could it be she knows something about the blood and the coffins...?' I wondered. But, then again, if she didn't... well, she'd definitely decide I was insane. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I- ... Nevermind. It seems like you're alright. Well, I'd better get going..."

She began to walk away and then turned around again. "Um... I'm sure you still have other questions, but let's save them for later, okay? Goodnight." I nodded. "Goodnight, Yukari."

"So, this is it. My new home." I turned the handle and let myself in. It was a small room, but it would definitely work. I sighed, relieved to see that my belongings had all made it here safely. Part of me wanted to spend some time unpacking and organizing, but the part of me that wanted sleep overpowered the other one completely.

I tossed my pillow onto the futon and fell, face-first, into it.