Situated in the middle of the dilapidated shopping district in Inaba is a newly renovated and opened bakery, called Wiping All Out. Inside is a pristine counter and racks of sweets gleaming under the lights, ovens and baking tools scattered about and a series of small tables milling about the floor. Working there is a woman with brown hair and piercing red eyes, rolling out sheets of dough when Yu steps inside. She's only been in Inaba for a few weeks and is already fitting in well to the town - making friends with Yosuke and Chie and already steeped in a murder investigation. She's been trying to find information on Amagi-san when she wanders inside on a nice afternoon, walking up to the counter and clearing her throat. The woman working the counter - more a girl, maybe a few years older than herself and with pins that show XXII, turns around and walks towards the register.
"Welcome! What can I get for you?"
"Uh...what's good?" Yu stumbles a bit, confidence lost, before regained, "I'll have whatever's fresh, miss, uh...?"
"Minako Arisato! I'm the owner and baker here at Wiping All Out. You'll have to excuse me, we just opened."
"Thanks, Arisato-san. I'm Yu Narukami."
"No, none of that now, Yu-chan! You'll make me feel like an old woman. Call me...senpai."
"Understood, senpai." Minako giggles and busies away to grab a cupcake, frosted with vanilla and large sprinkles laying on top.
"Here you go!" The numbers pop up on the register's display and Yu hands over the yen, dropping the remainder in the tip jar.
"Thank you for your business!" Minako chimes and leans against the counter.
"So," Minako starts, "What brings a school girl like yourself here?"
"I'm looking for someone. Did Yukiko Amagi ever come in here?"
Minako rubs her chin with her finger, flour smudging. "I think she came in once a few days ago after we opened, to see if we could start a partnership. But other than that, sorry, Yu-chan."
Yu nods and finishes off the pasty - supremely delicious by the way - in a few seconds and bids goodbye. As she leaves, a blonde brushes past her and apologizes, quickly moving towards the counter. As Yu turns to look, she sees Minako vault the counter and crush the blonde in a hug, lips swiftly meeting. Yu smiles and shakes her head, heading towards Junes. She's got plans to cook dinner tonight.
After that, Yu heads to the bakery more and more often. Townspeople come and go, some raving about Minako's great desserts and baked goods, but they hardly go more often than once. Yu sits at a table with Yosuke and Chie, talking quietly. The two locals think they're spies, whispering to each other.
"Teddie said we're near the top of the castle. Only a bit more until we're at the top and to Yukiko!" Yosuke says, getting progressively louder. Chie moves to stomp his foot and he yelps out, face almost slamming into his slice of pie.
"Guys, focus." Yu chimes in, "You're getting loud. Not that there's really anyone here..."
"Heeeey!" Minako yells from across the store, looking up from frosting a line of cookies, "You're gonna make me and Aigis feel bad!"
Yu looks up the two owners and partners of the bakery, the blonde staring impassively. She notes Minako's lack of honorific for the blonde, and decides not to look into it.
"But still," Minako moves to the table and pulls up a chair, looking through her eyelashes at Yu. "What're you talking about?"
"Nothing!" Chie and Yosuke say at the same time, Yosuke flushing to his eyebrows.
"Well," Minako says, eyes darkening, "Be careful, alright? These sorts of things...have a way of getting to you and taking more than you'd like."
But then she instantly brightens, "I read that somewhere. Cool, huh? I'll grab your trash for you guys, ok?"
Yosuke and Chie mumble thanks and they leave the restaurant, Yu deep in thought. Right now, they've got to get back in the TV and save Yukiko.
But of course nothing was simple, with Minako's words ringing through her ears and Yukiko's shadow being more of a problem than Chie's. She rolls her head from side to side and lets Izanami's fervor burst through her veins.
"PERSONA!" She shouts as she charges forward, katana dragging just above the ground. Izanami forms behind her, lightning caging. Izanami shrieks and strikes Shadow Yukiko solidly, Chie moving in to cast Bufu a moment later. It connects and the monstrosity goes down, and once the dust from the All Out Attack fades, the Team stands ready again.
It doesn't end until Yukiko's shadow dissolves into its original form and Chie wraps a comforting arm around Yukiko's shoulders, Konohana Sakuya rising from the ashes.
The next day after classes, Yu returns to the bakery and takes her usual spot at, well, her table. Minako brings out a slice of cake and drops it on her table, "free of charge!"
"Minako-senpai - "
"Yes?"
"You're - well, you're a Wild Card, aren't you?"
The older woman stiffens and laughs, stress easing from her shoulders.
"Bingo~" She shoots finger guns at Yu, a smile curling her lips. "Actually, both Aigis and I are. Or were. I'm not anymore, but I can use a Persona, yup. Aigis...well, she has my Wild Card, but doesn't really use it."
"What's this about a Wild Card?" The two turn to see Aigis in the doorway, head tilted in confusion.
"Oh! Aigis! I was talking to Yu-chan about being a Wild Card. Seems she is. Explains the weird feelings we've gotten from her and her friends, right?"
"I see," Aigis says almost robotically.
"So?" Minako asks, sitting down across from Yu.
"Got any questions?"
"So," Minako muses, leaning on her left hand while her right is entangled with Aigis's.
"The murders are all tied to the TV world? Those that go in die if they're not rescued?" Yu nods at this, digging into a slice of cake.
"Whelp!" Minako stands abruptly, dragging Aigis up. Apparently she was a robot? A human robot?
"Looks like you're not gonna see the last of us, then! Cause we're gonna help you!" Minako extends her left hand out in a v-sign, winking.
"Minako-san, wouldn't some proof be required before offering assistance? I know you want to help..." Aigis says, looking downturn.
"Oh come on!" Minako rubs their cheeks together before booping her nose with her own.
"She's a Wild Card!"
Yu hears the ringing bells of a new Social Link and it reveals itself as - the World?!
The next day, Yu gathers the, well, Investigation Team including Yukiko at the bakery with Minako and Aigis. Cue Yosuke and Chie falling out of their chairs at the revelations of Minako and Aigis, but, well. They had it coming. Yukiko takes it in stride, and they decide to venture into the TV world and meet with Teddie.
This time, they manage to all land on their feet, Minako somehow landing in Aigis's arms in a bridal carry. Minako blushes furiously at this and pecks Aigis on the cheek, apparently just because she can. She disentangles herself from the robot and stretches. From nowhere, she pulls out a massive naginata and deftly maneuvers it.
"Hmm. It's no Dark Hour, but I can feel my Personas well. How about you, Aigis?"
"Yes. Increased presence of nearby Shadows allows activation of Personas. Are you feeling well?" At this Aigis moves back to Minako and brushes her hand against her face, Minako-senpai leaning into it.
"I'm fine, Aigis. Come on. It's been a while. So, Yu-chan, take us somewhere! I want to test my abilities, since it's been a while!"
"Wait, Personas? As in multiple?" Yukiko asks, rubbing her eyes beneath her glasses.
"Haha! Spot-on, Yukiko-chan! We've got multiple. Remnants of your leader's Wild Card. Well, I've got three, and Aigis has the full range, but only uses Athena."
"Wow! Two bear-y attractive hotties! Sensei, can you help me score with them?" And of course Teddie has to ruin the mood.
"Detecting...unknown life-form. What are you?" Aigis levels her hand at the mascot, and it become visible that her fingertips have holes.
"I'm Teddie! And Teddie is Teddie is Teddie!"
"Don't bother, Aigis-san," Yosuke drawls, "He's just empty on the inside."
"Heeey! That's rude, Yosuke!" The bear pouts and Minako goes over to pet his head.
"Oohh! That feels nice! Can I score with you?" Yu smacks her face with her hand.
"Sorry, Teddie, but I'm already taken." It seems to Yu that the two gravitate towards each other, always going to hold hands or be touching.
"Now enough messing around! Let's go kick some Shadow ass!" Minako cheers, pumping her fists.
How can Yu refuse?
From what Yu can tell, they're strong. The rest of the team gets over their shock when Minako switches from Persona to Persona, but even with them, she remains strong. Aigis seems to strike the Shadows with physical attacks from her Persona, and she seems to weather attacks with no problem.
"Huh," Minako-senpai says after one of her Personas - Thanatos, by the name - finishes off a Hablerie with a fire attack, "seems weaker. Yeah, none of my Personas have their max-level abilities. Like...they're weaker than before?"
"Yes. Even Athena seems weaker than at our peak. Well, I thought I regained myself in the Abyss of Time, but it seems without adequate training, our abilities weaken..."
"Geez, you're starting to sound like Akihiko-senpai!"
"Next, will we be talking about protein?"
"Good joke, Aigis! Messiah!" Minako-senpai shouts as Yu and the rest of the team stare wide-eyed at the two women as Messiah bursts from Minako in a halo of white light, a blast of energy annihilating the Shadows. Shortly after, Orpheus Telos emerges and casts a fire spell, a faint melody echoing.
"So, Yu-chan? Need an extra hand with this? We're glad to assist!" Minako pumps her free hand, in an achingly familiar pose.