I AM THOU
THOU ART I
THOU IS TO DEPART, TOWARDS A CHANGED HISTORY
THY SHALL EXPERIENCE A NEW REALITY
A NEW PRESENT
A NEW FUTURE
EVEN A NEW PAST
WITH NEW BONDS
AND THE DESTRUCTION OF A SELECTION OF THY'S CURRENT BONDS
THIS IS A NEW WORLD
WHERE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
YASO-INABA, DOJIMA RESIDENCE
THE LAST DAY
Walking up to his destination, he stared once again at the item in his hand. Staring intently at the blank, clear disc case, its only feature sans the actual disc inside was the small piece of blank white tape stuck on the cover with the words written in red ink, simply spelling out;
"The Truth"
"From The Man Who Sold the World"
He read those letters intently, focusing on each and every letter there. He could hear the celebrations beneath him, but he ignored it as he place the earbuds within his ears. Turning his portable CD played on, he clinked the disc case open and inserted the CD into the device, turning the machines volume to max, before the audio cut the silence.
"Now do you remember...who you are? What you were meant to do?"
PROLOGUE:
NEW TRUTH
April 2011 would forever be the month that changed the life of Yu Narukami
His parents had taken an overseas job, leaving him in the care of his uncle Ryotaro Dojima along with his daughter Nanako in the small rural town in Inaba
He attended school and became quick friends with Yosuke Hanamura and Chie Satonaka, all just days after a horrid murder shocked the small town. Mayumi Yamano, a young announcer for the local TV station was found dead, hung up on a telephone poll, just days after she appeared on the supposed "Midnight Channel", a supposed program that only appeared on rainy nights at exactly midnight.
Morbid curiousity got the better of him after Chie informed this of this phenomenon, and he ended almost eaten by his TV that night
Trying to explain this to Yosuke and Chie merely brought scoffs and laughter
And then they fell in a TV at Junes, entering into a completely new world and met a bizarre creature named Teddie.
A long bizarre incident occurred which involved a bizarre, eerie, bedroom and beings known as Shadows, Teddie sent them away before things got too hazy
And the next day, the body of Saki Konishi, the girl who discovered the body of Mayumi and a third year student at his school was found dead as well.
Yosuke, distraught by her death returned to the tv world the next day. In this world, they find a pathway to an area resembling Inaba. There, in this realm created by the true feelings of Saki, Yosuke's repressed feelings of how he was not really liked by Saki, whom he harbored a deep crush on, manifested into a clone-like figure of himself.
Yosuke's inability to accept the clone's claim that he did not enter the realm for Saki's death and it was for the sense of adventure allowed it to become Shadow Yosuke. A dark manifestation of Yosuke's repressed thoughts
But at the same time, Yu Narukami awakened a gifted power
A Persona
After defeating the clone with his Persona, Izanagi, Yosuke accepted his true feelings, allowing the Shadow to manifest into Yosuke's very own Persona, Jiraiya.
Eventually, a shadowy figure began to appear on the Midnight Channel, which was feared by the group to be Chie's best friend Yukiko Amagi, though she was still present in the real world. However, Yukiko was indeed kidnapped eventually, and afterwards clear and vivid images of her appeared on the Midnight Channel.
With Teddie giving analytical support, Yu and Yosuke decide to venture into the TV World and into a new area known simply as Yukiko's Castle and use their Persona's to fight. They both warned Chie that she shouldn't enter since she lacked a Persona, though she ignored the warning and ran ahead.
The two eventually caught up with Chie, whose own thoughts and emotions manifested as Shadow Chie; it battled the pair of Persona users but after its defeat and acceptance by Chie, it became Chie's own Persona, Tomoe
The team, now having three Persona users, rushed to the top floor of the Castle. Confronting Shadow Yukiko, the trio defeated her and the Shadow manifested Yukiko's Persona. Konohaka Sakuya.
Giving her some time to recover, the team asked Yukiko about the circumstances of her kidnapping, only for her to have no memory of the event. Nevertheless, she agreed to help them in the their cause to find the true culprit behind the murders of Mayumi and Saki
It was now April 21...
APRIL 21 2011
"Heads up!" Kou yelled as he leapt up into the air, Yu having to dodge so Kou's chest wouldn't collide with his face
As he avoided the impact, Igor's words echoed through his head
The stronger "Social Links" he forms, the stronger his Persona's can become
However, he did not join the Basketball team solely for this reason, he joined a club out of yearning for something other than solving murders, Kou and Daisuke Nagase, the captain of the Soccer team, had become his true friends in the short time they had known each other.
"Yo, you two still here?" Came Daisuke's voice as he entered the gym "The bell rang like five minutes ago"
"Oh, that would kinda explain why everyone left..." Kou let out a soft chuckle "I thought they were all jealous of me and Narukami"
"I barely did anything today" Yu notified him
"Oh yeah, sorry, I was kinda hogging the ball" Kou laughed "Well if we're done for the day, let's go grab some grub"
"I'm down for some Aiya!" Daisuke piped happily "You comin' Narukami?"
"Sure" The Silver haired boy nodded
"Alright, let's get changed an-...ah, crap" Kou sighed "I just remembered, I can't"
"What're you talking about?" Daisuke asked with a raised eyebrow "You down on money? I'll treat ya if-"
"No it's not that, I just remembered I got some personal stuff to take care of" Kou informed them as he began to leave "You two go on ahead, see ya!"
"Ah...that's right" Daisuke mumbled "Today's the day he's going before the honorable house of Ichijo"
"The house of what?" Yu questioned
"Hmm...guess it wouldn't be too out of line to tell you, Kou seems to trust you after all" Daisuke smiled at him "Maybe you can actually help me out..."
"So-" Daisuke began as he and Yu arrived at the diner "About Kou..."
Yu gazed at him as the two sat down, noticing an unusually serious face on Daisuke
"It's kinda shitty of me to do this behind his back...I wonder if you could help him out" Daisuke said sadly, rubbing the back of his head
"Sure, what do you need me to do" Yu replied in his usual deadpan manner
"Wow, you really don't waste any time..." Daisuke chuckled before getting serious once again "It's about Kou's family...he lives by himself but his parents place is like, right next door...and every week he drops by, like today. His family is...what's the right word here...distinguished"
Yu raised a quizzical eyebrow at this
"Traditional, strict...you'd never know this by looking at them though" Daisuke continued "Kou's grandmother is the head of the family...everything she says is practically law...and the problem is that the old bag doesn't want Kou playing basketball, says it's barbaric or some shit"
"I see" Yu nodded "She really feels this away about a sport?"
"According to her, there are proper sports and those that...aren't" Daisuke sighed once more "Kou's had to give a lot of things up for the old crone, ever since he was kid, but basketball...it's way too important for him to give it up...So I want you to help out, come to practice whenever you can"
"Leave it to me" Yu said with a small smile
"I knew I could count on you" Daisuke smiled back "So you're coming to training on Saturday?"
"No"
"Huh?!" Daisuke blurted
"I have to work this Saturday" Yu explained
"Oh yeah, that's right" Daisuke remembered, Yu had brought up his part time job as a daycare assistant a few times "Well...whenever you can"
"I will" Yu nodded once more, feeling his relationship with the pair had deepened slightly
"I'm really glad" Daisuke smiled before pulling out his wallet "Now come on, order anything! It's all on me, my treeeeeee-oh crap"
"What's wrong?" Yu questioned
"I-I already used up this weeks allowance..." Daisuke sighed "H-Hey about some Zha-cai, those are pretty cheep"
"I'll pay" Yu stated as he pulled out his wallet "Order whatever you want
"R-Really? Thanks man!" Daisuke laughed, slapping Narukami on the back "I owe you one, I was just about to starve!"
APRIL 22 2011
"Friggin' rain" Kou sighed as he and Daisuke lounged around on the second floor
"I dunno why you're so worked up" Daisuke droned "You don't even practice on Friday's..."
"I know, but what if it doesn't clear up by tomorrow?" Kou grumbled
"Relax, so you miss one day of practice" Daisuke shrugged "It's not like the entire team's going to disband"
"Don't joke about that" Kou sighed as a familiar face began to approach him
"Yo, Narukami" Daisuke greeted
"Hey" Yu waved back, another person trailing behind him
"C-C-Chie-san!" Kou stuttered
"Oh boy, here we go" Daisuke quietly mumbled, well aware of his friends crush on the girl with the bowl cut
"Oh hey, Ichijo" Chie smiled
"What's going on, you two going on a date?" Daisuke asked "'Coulda picked a better day than this though"
"W-What?!" Kou screeched "YOU TWO A-"
"No" Chie laughed with a small scoff "I convinced Narukami to come by to Aiya to try the Rainy Day Bowl Challenge!"
"Geez, that damn thing is a portal to the meat dimension" Daisuke shuddered "Good luck, you're gonna need it"
"You two wanna tag along?" Chie questioned "Yosuke and Yukiko are coming too so-"
"S-S-Sure!" Kou nodded happily
"Can't, I have to train" Daisuke explained
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Yu questioned "It's a Friday, plus it's pouring outside"
"They booked the field for the track team on Saturday a few days ago, so Soccer practice was moved to today at the gym" Daisuke informed them "Just as well too..."
"Ah, sorry, were you waiting long?" Yukiko apologized as she popped up "Ah, Ichijo-san, Nagase-san, are you joining us?"
"Me, yes, Daisuke, no" Kou smirked
"Ah, that's good, the more the merrier" Yosuke laughed as he too pulled up "Though if you don't finish, you're paying"
"Will you reconsider, Nagase-san?" Yukiko questioned him
"No thanks" He waved her off as he began to depart "I have stuff to do"
"Are you sure?" She asked him as she placed her hand on his arm "We-"
"Hey, I said no, damn it!" Daisuke roared
The shout startled all of them, as well as the annoyed glare Daisuke was shooting before he angrily stormed away
"D-Did I do something?" Yukiko stuttered as Chie angrily burned holes in Daisuke's back with her eyes.
"The hell is his problem?" Yosuke spat loudly enough to make sure Daisuke could hear, Yu standing in front of him to ensure Yosuke lead after him
"Oh boy" Kou sighed "Don't worry Yukiko-san, that wasn't your fault"
"But, what-" She began
"I'll explain at Aiya" Kou nodded
AFTER-SCHOOL
"Daisuke...has a thing about girls" Kou began to explain to the group at the table, he himself sitting up on a stool at the counter
"A Thing?" Yosuke questioned "You mean...he likes dudes?"
"No, no" Kou said with a shake of his head as the group gave Yosuke a look "I'll tell you this because I trust Narukami and you guys are his friends, so I'm trusting you to keep a lid on this..."
They all nodded on unison
"Alright...see, Daisuke used to talk about girls the same way every other guy did...but back in middle school, Daisuke started dating someone" Kou began "But they never even held hands or anything...they..."
Kou sighed as he rubbed his temple
"He got dumped pretty badly...she made a whole big scene and she even slapped him...ever since then, he avoids girls...goes on about how he doesn't know what it's like to like someone anymore, so what happened before wasn't your fault Yukiko-san, that's just how he is..."
"I see" Yukiko stated as she hung her head down
"But still, that was way outta line an-..." Chie began but drifted off when she say Aiya was bring over their order
"That's five rainy day beef bowls" She confirmed as she set down the orders "You have two hours to finish the whole thing, it's 300 yen for each bowl not finished"
"Alright!" Chie squealed happily, Kou blushing at the adorable expression on her face "LET'S DO THIS!"
At the end of a long, beefy war. Only Chie emerged victorious. The others had given up within the first hour, prompting a mocking scoff from the girl
"Amateurs" She spat
APRIL 23 2011
"Hey Narukami, you comin to-" Kou began as he spotted his friend in the hallway "Oh wait, you gotta work today, right?"
"My shift doesn't start 4pm, so I can stick around for the first half of practice" Yu informed him
"Y-You're coming?! sweet!" Kou piped happily before taking off "See ya"
"What's going on?" Came Daisuke's voice as he approached Yu "I thought you were starting at 3:30 today?"
"I managed to pull a later shift" He explained "After the other day and what you said..."
"Thanks man" Daisuke smiled "I appreciate it, and I'm sure Kou does too..."
Yu have a small smile and a nod before departing
BASKETBALL PRACTICE
"Everyone, this is Ai Ebihara, the new manager" Mr Kondo piped
"The what now?" Was the collective response of the team as they gazed at the girl standing beside the teacher
"Now you guys won't have to take turns doing all the work anymore. You can thank me later!" Mr. Kondo beamed before turning to the girl "Go on, introduce yourself"
"Ai Ebihara" The girl said with an annoyed sigh "You already introduced me, moron"
"Great, take it from here guys, the TV crew should be here soon!" Kondo said happily before departing
"TV Crew?" Yu questioned
"Oh you didn't hear?" Kou asked excitedly "We're gonna be on TV"
"We're what?" Yu asked quizzically "Why?"
"Yeah, some news folk are going around the country interviewing school sports teams about being young athletes" Another player piped in "It's all to show the glorious athletes of the future or some tag line crap like that, the soccer club's in on it too"
"I see..." Yu muttered
"I don't know how you didn't hear, the notices were put out on the 17th" Kou noted
"That would explain why..." Yu confirmed to himself, he was so focused on going on the TV that day with the others...
"So your parents are okay with this?" Yu asked "Daisuke told me about-"
"Daisuke did?" Kou repeated in bewilderment "Yeah, I suppose he would do something like that...I told you about his problem and I guess he shared mine..."
Kou let out a sigh before looking to his friend
"My parents don't know anything about it, I'm hoping when they see me on the news tonight, they'll see how importa-"
"I'm gonna tell you guys straight up, I'm not lifting a finger for this team" Came the stern voice of Ai, cutting off Kou "I wouldn't be caught dead watching out for a bunch of sweaty guys."
"Wha-?!" Kou spat "Then why did you-"
"I've missed too many days of school. But they'll let me move up if I manage a team." She declared with a flick of her hair "But don't expect me to put any effort into it. For the most part, I'm not even gonna be here. And I'm definitely not sticking around for this interview thing today"
With that, she flung her bag over he shoulder and began to depart
"Well, see ya. Or not." She said with a wave as she exited the gym
"Great..." Kou sighed
"I should get going too" Yu noted "My shift starts in 30 minutes"
"Alright, see ya" Kou smiled as his friend began to depart "Make sure to watch the news tonight!"
EVENING
Yu sat down, slowly consuming the sushi Nanako had bought that day, the two sitting alone with only the background noise of the tv followed by a small question emerging from his cousins throat breaking the silence
"Is it good?"
"Yeah" he nodded with a small smile
"And now it's time this weeks special report, showcasing the young athletes in Japan, tonight we're in the small town of Inaba at Yasogami High School"
"Huh? Isn't that your school?" Asked Nanako's small voice, earning a small nod from Yu
"Tonight, we talk to both the basketball and soccer teams, about their-"
"Aren't you on the Basketball team?" Nanako asked before getting excited "Are you gonna be on TV?!"
"No, I had to leave before the news crew got there" He explained, causing a disappointed look to grace his cousins face
"Aww..."
"We're here today with Kou Ichijo and Daisuke Nagase, the captains of the Basketball and Soccer teams"
"Hey, I'm Kou!"
"Daisuke"
"Now then-"
"So they really are on TV" Yu muttered before he heard the familiar Pi Pi Pi come from his phone. Opening it up, he saw it was a text from Yosuke
"It's raining tonight, don't forget"
He gave himself a small mental nod and closed the phone
MIDNIGHT
Yu started intently at the small clock in the darkness of the room, ticking away the seconds until midnight, but the instant the clock struck twelve, his eyes drifted over to the blank TV screen
It remained inert for a few moments, but soon the familiar sound of static and bright yellow backgrounds came into view
And for the first time ever, two people appeared on the TV