Iwatodai Dormitory

September 7th

00:43

Minato flopped onto his bed, barely getting his sword and Evoker off his belt. Tartarus had been full of Shadows tonight, massive monsters that were constantly putting the team into danger. Minato himself, however, was almost always pulling them out of the situation, barely keeping himself safe in the process. They had just barely made it out of the tower before another swarm set in on them.

Their narrow escape led to a bloody Mitsuru, Yukari with a broken bow and busted lip, and a barely conscious Junpei. Tartarus had proven to be their match tonight. Minato was happy with the outcome of the events, though. He passed out on his bed, bruised up but smiling, knowing everyone was safe and sound…

01:34

A massive explosion woke Minato from his unconscious state, causing him to stumble from the bed, landing violently on the floor. He shot up, looking outside of his window, trying to find out where it came from. Nothing outside even showed something happened. "Was it all just a dream..?" He had been having weird nightmares lately from all the trips to Tartarus, so it's possible-

Another explosion happened, causing Minato to stumble. His stomach churned when the reality of the situation hit him: The explosions were real and they came from downstairs.

Grabbing his sword and Evoker, Minato bolted downstairs. Half the team was injured and if the dorm was under attack, the outcome could end badly…

Minato reached the end of the stairs, looking around the common room. The doors had been blown completely off, the sounds of fighting carrying on outside. Hopefully everyone was alright-

His hopes were shattered as his eyes connected to a body on the floor. It was Junpei. Minato ran over to check on his bloodied friend. "Junpei!" He was breathing. Minato relaxed a bit more. Junpei was completely knocked out cold and cut up, but he was alive, that's what mattered.

A shriek came from outside. It sounded like Fukka. Minato, Evoker in hand, charged out the door, ready for anything. What he seen, though, would infect his nightmares for the rest of his days…

Right outside the door, Aegis was laying on her stomach, one of her arms completely ripped off. Mitsuru was propped up onto a wall a few feet away, her wounds from the fights in Tartarus bleeding again. Her eyes were glazed over, unconscious like Junpei. Another shriek came from further down the road. It sounded like Yukari this time!

"Yukari!" Minato bolted down the road, seeing his friends all unconscious; Akihiko, Ken, Koromaru… They were all bloodied and unconscious on the ground. Then he stumbled onto another: "Fukka!"

Fukka was awake, holding her neck with one hand. Bruises had formed there in the shape of a hand. Her shoulder seemed to be dislocated as well.

"Fukka, are you okay? What happened, who did this?"

Fukka couldn't speak, seemingly still in shock from the whole experience. Then, another shriek. "Minato! Help!" It was Yukari again. Minato charged down the road again, following the cries of his girlfriend. He rounded the corner, freezing in place.

He found a silver-haired boy holding Yukiko in the air by her throat, smirking at Minato evilly. "So, Mr. Wild Card, I finally get to meet you." His voice was dark, insane.

Yukari struggled, only making the boy squeeze her neck harder. "Minato… Help…" Her voice was barely audible from her captor's hand.

"Put her down!" Minato placed his Evoker directly against his skull, eyeing the attacker. "Now!"

The silver-haired boy laughed as he dropped Yukari. Before she hit the ground, though, he kicked her completely out of the way into a nearby building, laughing even harder, a sick smile on his face. "Oops, I guess you didn't like that much, huh?" His smile grew larger, making Minato's stomach tie up into knots.

"What do you want?" Minato's Evoker was still on his head, but he was looking at Yukari, praying that she was okay.

The attacker put the hand he choked Yukari with in his pocket. That's when Minato noticed a massive sword in the other hand, point resting on the ground. "Easy. I want you!" He shifted his hair out of his face. "I want to prove I'm the best, but see…" His sword dragged along the ground as he walked closer to Minato. "I need to beat the best to be the best, and what I've heard about you shows that YOU are the best." He kicked the point of his sword, causing it to spin up and land on his shoulder.

"So, what? You want to fight, is that it?" Minato didn't even want to waste any time summoning one of his Personae. He just wanted him dead and he wanted him dead now. "You got it!"

Minato charged, sword in hand, swinging violently at the attacker. It was blocked with ease, however, as he thwarted the attack with his sword, blocking with the massive sword with only one hand. The strength of this opponent was fascinating in a horrific way. Then, without warning, a kick to Minato's head knocked him down, almost knocking him out cold.

The silver-haired boy laughed again, grabbing Minato's collar and pulling him up so they were eye level. Minato winced as the mysterious boy spoke. "Oh, I do wanna fight. But…" The boy's gaze showed pure insanity in his eyes. "The question is… Do you want to fight? Do you want to kill me?" He pulled Minato closer, noses almost touching. The boy's eyes now seemed colder, deader. "Then come and kill me. Tomorrow in a small town called Inaba. I'll be at the shrine…" He smashed his head into Minato's, splitting his forehead clean open." If you aren't there, I'll come back and kill everyone here. Get me?"

Minato simply nodded, then the boy dropped him, laughing as he walked away. "Hope to see you soon, Minato…" The sick laughter continued as the boy walked out of sight. Minato laid there for awhile, letting the events of the night sink in…

05:58

Yukari had finally woken up and called the authorities, Officer Kurosawa responding first to the scene, helping to hide Aegis out of sight until the Kirijo Group picked her up. She would definitely be out of the action at least a week.

Ambulances had taken away all the members of SEES except for Minato, Yukari and Fukka, since they were the only one who were awake and able to answer any questions. Fukka was quickly taken away, though, due to the psychological trauma and the possible neck injuried believed to be inflicted upon her. Officer Kurosawa continued his questioning with the young lovebirds.

"So the culprit was about 17, was about your height, and had silver hair and grey eyes, correct?"

Yukari nodded. "Exactly, he looked crazy, too. Like he just broke out of a nuthouse." She held her ribs, which were bruised severely according to paramedics. "He was strong too…"

Officer Kurosawa looked at Minato. "You were the last one assaulted, correct? Did he say anything else that could point us in the right direction?"

Minato looked down, avoiding eye contact, the stitches in his head hurting. "No…"

Yukari looked over at him. "Minato, you're hiding something…"

"Is there something you aren't telling me?" They both looked at Kurosawa, as if they both seemed to be hiding something.

Minato sighed. "Inaba… He told me to meet him at Inaba…"

"I see…" Officer Kurosawa began to reach for his radio before Yukari stopped him. "Ms. Takeba?"

"Officer Kurosawa… I think this is a SEES matter…" Yukari sighed. "I need to talk to Minato… We'll be okay."

Officer Kurosawa looked at both of them, then nodded. "I understand. I'll make sure I report your friend's conditions back to you later. Until then, I'm here if you need me."

The young teens thanked him as he left, then they went inside, sitting down, simply holding each other.

"Minato, I'm sorry…"

"What for..?"

Yukari's eyes began to well up. "I couldn't warn you…" She started crying. "He was a Persona-user…"

Minato sighed, wiping her tears. "I figured he was… No one's that strong for no reason…"

"Minato, I know what you're thinking… But you can't go fight him. He'll kill you…"

Minato held her close. "He only got the jump on us." They both looked at each other, trying to stay calm. "I won't underestimate him next time."

07:45

Minato spent some time alone with Yukari before preparing for the fight of his life. A rogue Persona-user… Minato pondered on the situation as he walked to the train station, a small limp slowing his pace. Was he working with Strega? No, he didn't seem like he was. Strega would've killed him on the spot if it was them. Who could it have been, though? Who's sick enough to beat him to a pulp then let him regain his strength..?

His mind continued to wonder about his attacker as he boarded the train. As he sat down, a text popped up on his phone. It was Yukari.

Officer Kurosawa just came over. He said everyone will be fine, only a few major bruises and cuts. Please be careful. I love you…

Minato quickly replied, then closed his phone, laying his head back. Who was he...?

11:26

Minato had fallen asleep on the train, his memories of the night before haunting him as he slept. No random call from Igor offering help or assistance. The door to the Velvet Room seemed to even be locked when he stopped by yesterday. What the hell was going on...? Is there more to this than meets the eye…?

Minato shrugged. After everything he's seen the last several months, he really shouldn't be surprised by anything. Finally, the intercom rang out throughout the train. "Now arriving, Yasoinaba, now arriving."

Minato walked off the train. The town was truly small. After asking a nearby train station attendant for directions, Minato set off on his mission to find this silver-haired boy and kill him…