Persona 5: Face Your Self
Disclaimer: I don't own any!
Chapter 1: The Unknown World
…At an automated car that is operated by A.I. … …
… Akira Kurusu is inside this car that is operated by an artificial intelligence invented and created by the brilliant minds who can see through the unknown path that is not easy to find; ' ' ; which is in route for Yongen-Jaya, where he is headed for his probation agreement, where after a while of debate, where he "assaulted", as they claimed, a highly positioned politician who used his position to arrest him even though he didn't do anything "wrong" … … if dictionaries are so reliable still nowadays, he didn't do anything "wrong" … … "sigh, this could prove to be a very long year … … " Akira said to himself. (Note: This AI automated device in a car is something of a plot element I got from EX-driver anime, I don't know why I put it in this story but it's just something I really just followed along a "flow-line" that I'm following in this story. In other words, I don't really know the full plot myself.)
…Akira listens to the radio of this car automated in an A.I. system, one can say it's in auto-pilot mode that is calculating data, where and when to stop, and it can even asked for a destination and it will estimate and calculate the data of the location in a given or provided map that is similar that is input in a smart-phone. "… … … " Akira, despite his composure, is very angry right now, people do not want to know the unknown yet they themselves do not know themselves … … if left unchecked, who knows what could happen … … " … … " The automated car stopped and it seems the A.I. is looking for a suitable parking spot, then, it found one – and it just parked to a designated spot that it chose. "… … … … " By the way, inside Akira's bag is an automated robot-service module contraption that is invented by his father who is into science and he's also the one who agreed to let Akira stay in an acquaintance's place … … or to be more precise, a place where that certain acquaintance work and it just happen to have an attic room where Akira can stay, where he's like an inmate that will stay there in prison for a whole year … … … … (Note: This robot cleaning service is something I got from the Sims robot thing, again, it wasn't really my intent on putting such a plot element of high tech in this story, just along the lines of a "flow-line" I'm following while I write this story.)
"… … " Akira, in normal clothes which consist of a black shirt and a jean pants, stand before a café named "Leblanc" and he stops to see at the "open" sign, to confirm if it's safe to look inside. He does so and found a middle-aged old man sitting by the counter seat with the t.v. on. It seems that middle-aged man is not noticing his presence yet. "… … … … Hm." Akira gave a slight sound to alarm the middle-aged man of his presence and he seems to be startled a bit.
"Oh, that's right. They said that was today." The man said, turning off the t.v. and put down the newspaper he was reading and trying to solve the puzzle-quiz words that he was pondering on and on about. "Welcome. …You are Kurusu Akira, right?"
…Akira simply nodded. "I was wondering what kind of unruly kid would show up. It turns out to be you, huh?" Akira raised an eyebrow, he knows that his parents know this man - - at least by acquaintanceship as in they go to his café when they were living at Tokyo before. "Have you heard? A man who is usually present here said that me and your parents know each other and they asked me to give some accommodation for your probation."
"…Not really."
"Hmph. I'm Sakura Sojiro. Your probation guardian from here onward. I'm inclined to report on your daily activities from now on. They said it's going to be for a year so if I were you, the first thing to come in mind should your grades. You know how people are, only caring about the intellectuals' needs and wants. Make one mistake nad you'll be sent strait to juvie. Come with me, I'll show you to your room." Sojiro beckoned, and Akira followed to the place upstairs, which is an attic room where Akira will be "imprisoned", as Akira himself would point out and Sojiro is the officer designed or scheduled to look after and guard his "imprisonment".
"This is your room.. it's not much, but at least it has a mat that can give you a dwelling where you can at least sleep somewhere comfortable. Oh, and those are your stuff over there. It was delivered here from your hometown. Hm? What's up? You look like you have something to say."
"…It's big." '…and messy.' Akira added in his thoughts.
"The rest is up to you to clean up."
'…As part of my probational activities.' He thought, like how inmates in juvie would be tasked into manual labor for their "reform", and Akira is now pretty much into that kind of daily schedule from here onward.
"I pretty much got the gist of your situation. You protected a woman from a man forcing himself on her. He got injured and he sued you, right? You did assaulted and injured him, yeah?"
"Huh. Maybe." He does admit that he intervened and caused the man in question to slip and get injured.
"Huh. That's what you get for sticking your nose into adult business."
"…I don't know what wrong means in a dictionary anymore." Akira retort.
"… … " Sojiro seems to have been taken aback a bit. "Just follow the law. If you wanna stay-in line without sticking out."
"… … " Ah yes, people fear what they cannot see, yet cannot see themselves. If left unchecked, what could happen? A paranoid thought, there is a saying, "Fear is a disease. Hope is its only cure." And now, Akira ponders on what to do, well, clean up this room for once.
"I'll leave you here to your activities. Oh, but if something goes missing, I'll report you to the cops, got it?"
"…Do what you want. I have no means to influence your actions."
"…Hmph. Well, just behave yourself and nothing will happen for a whole year. Make a mistake, however, then your life is over."
"…Like you care."
…Sojiro felt offended but it seems like Akira is not being hostile whatsoever. "…I was asked to take care of you and I just … happen to agree with it. I've been paid for it, too."
"…Do as you want. I'm onto my own problems and no one will care. So leave me to my own problems, or figure it out yourself."
"… … " Again, Sojiro felt offended. Akira's saying that people only cares for their own problems, so he's saying to just leave him to his own problems then. Sojiro doesn't consider himself heartless, so he felt a sense of guilt there. "…Just behave yourself and don't do anything that will make things complicated." He said, and left Akira to his space.
"… … " Akira decided to clean this place up, so he set up Proxy, as he's given the robot-service module contraption that he brought with him a code name, and it started processing information. Akira decided to keep that robot a secret from Sojiro for now, and he started packing up the books that are scattered all over the corner which makes you wonder how did they get scattered and cluttered anyway. Akira started picking them up while Proxy and Akira have started to clean this room up with Proxy bringing out one of its cleaning tools that is stored in its module part where its keeping all of its cleaning tool appliances and the one he brought out is a duster and it started to remove the dusks all the dusts all over this room. Akira started to open the box that is lying on the middle and decided to pile his clothes to the nearby closet, after Proxy cleaned it up.
The A.I. is a bit cold, well, in a manner of putting it. As in it just step asides anything or anyone that is on its path and proceed cleaning, as it just passed through Akira.
Akira himself decided to fix the mat sheet that he wonders to be his own bed in this room.
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…Later … …
…Akira's robot tool have started to revert to its standard mode where its head, arms and legs are all kept in the torso module and would only appear again should Proxy become active. Akira puts him inside his bag and he hears footsteps coming, it seems Sojiro is coming. "Heh. I heard a ruckus over here, and to think you were really cleaning your room." …Akira just really mopped the floor and kept things away while Proxy is the one doing all the dusting off around this room. Sojiro inspects the room from left to right and nodded in approval. "Well, I suppose it's only natural that you'd like to keep your room tidy and clean. Well, anyway. Here." He hands over a small notebook. Akira takes it. "It's a diary. Your probation officer asked me to report on your daily activities. It's a pain in the ass as it is, so don't make me write even more crap."
"… … " He njust nodded, Akira, that is, and Sojiro decided to go home.
"I'll leave you to your leisure. Just don't make a ruckus and wake the neighbor." He said as he left Akira to his space.
Akira himself decided to call it a day as he sat by his bed sheet and decided to write something on his diary. After a while, he decided to go to bed.
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…Later, at midnight … …
…While Akira is asleep, he suddenly wakes up in an unfamiliar environment, he's on a bed that is not his as far as he could tell, and he seems to be … … on a different room as he can tell, too, and there's … … rain outside. Looking at the surrounding, this seems to be … … a luxurious room like it's a mansion's room or something. Then, he decided to look outside the room so he opened the door and finds that the entire place is like a mansion here. He's on the second floor and is by the balcony deck of the second floor. From here you can see the entire first floor that consist of various sofas with designs on them. Also, is this like some sort of gathering place as there are sofas surrounding each other in a square-like position as if a lot of people are to be expected here.
Suddenly a spot-light is shown on someone – a long nosed old man who is sitting on a comfortable seat with his hands on his chin. "Welcome to my Velvet room, Trickster." He said, regarding Akira's presence. Suddenly, all of the lights are turned on, revealing this place to be a velvet colored room. "Right now, you are in a state where neither thoughts nor physical matter can be inferred and it's reflecting your own heart, I am the master of this place, Igor. Remember it well."
"… … " Akira regards him, and looks around, this is like a detective's house.
"As you can see, this is a residence that is reflecting of a thinker's dwelling place, think of it as your own seclusion as you ponder about the things that are not yet known to you. It reflects your own heart, you are someone looking for truth, as you live a life of sham of like … … say, you go to school, yet you are going to be expelled, nay way. A lie, is it not? That's why, you must investigate on this and shed light to your own psyche. To do that, you must pass through the dense fog outside."
"Outside?"
"Yes. Look," He pointed to the direction in front of him, Akira could see … … dense fog about outside, and it's … too thick for him to see through. "Something you cannot see. Do you know? All deceptions have the means of usage of invisibility, something that prevents you from seeing. So how will you see things? You must lift this fog to see or find a means to see through it? Think you can go through it?"
"… … " Akira looks at this "Igor" person, then back to the door that leads to the dense fog outside. He decides to go through it, so he goes to the front door and opened it. It's definitely thick as he can't see past through it, but, he can see through a bit and goes there where he can see. It's getting thicker as he proceed through, and he can only go through the spot or places where there is no thick fog and he proceeds through … … … …
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…The next day, at Akira's attic room … …
…Akira dressed up in his school uniform. (Note: The Persona 4 DLC uniform came to my mind in this plot-making of this story and so I decided to put it here. As it will not be Shujin Academy in this story but a place called Aigami High School.) A black uniform with black pants, Akira's shirt is open and he's wearing charade glasses as he put it, and it seems Sojiro came to check up on him. "So you're actually going to school."
… Akira didn't say anything and just picked up his bag and passed through Sojiro. "Whoa, wait up. I got breakfast ready, so hurry up and eat your plate before it gets cold."
"… … " Akira does as he's told and he goes downstairs to find a plate of curry ready by the counter table. "What are you waiting for, hurry up and eat your breakfast."
"…Curry?"
"What's that reaction for? You don't like curry?"
"…." Akira decided to just eat the breakfast he's been prepared for. The news he's on and it's about a subway incident where 40 people were injured and had to be hospitalized and it just occurred to Akira that it might affect his timestable, too. " … … " Akira keeps watching the t.v. and all the while, he continues to eat his breakfast.
…The news says that it seems many are complaining to the police as well as the train employees for letting an accident happen. Akira himself is listening attentively but is not getting the full picture himself. After a while, he managed to finish his breakfast, which is fast as he could tell, and much to his own amazement, too. "Thanks for the meal."
He said as he pack up his things and stepped out through the door, the A.I. controlled car is nearby so he wonders if he should use it for now as the train timestable might still not be resolved and he'll be late for his first day in school.
"…Sigh, I guess I'll go by car for now." His father told him to just use the car whenever he needs it as last resort, due to how the fee for the usage of the A.I system cost, the A.I. is actually connected to the internet and it can be limited in service and you'll have to pay it, much like you paying the internet bills, for the service to continue.
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…Later … …
…Akira, inside the A.I. controlled car, looks through the window of the car, he can see many people by Shibuya station and it seems there are a lot of protesters among them.
…Akira decided to just ignore them for now and focuses on the path. He just mentioned the name of his school to the A.I. upon asking for a destination and it searches on the map provided for the route to be found, all the while acquiring the necessary data, after that, the A.I. begins driving the car and should the A.I. gets out of control, there is a specific police team that deals with such things as part of the system for this driving system that is introduced. )Note: A reference of the Ex-drivers, if you watch it, you can tell I suppose.)
…The car is going along the other cars, unlike some drivers who just used to pass by cars that they couldn't afford to wait as in to make a turn, the A.I. is doing things in an orderly passion as in instead of doing that, it waits for the car going for a detour to do so before it drives through, which is making things much safer. The same can be said for passing citizens as the car just slows down whenever a citizen is crossing the street, making traffic accident less nowadays.
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…Later on, at Aigami High School … …
…Akira finally arrives, upon being spotted, however, he's whispered at by various students who seem to know of his criminal record as he passed by them. (Note: The school uniform of Aigami is similar to that of Yasogami as I mentioned that before.) "… … " '…Great, my life is over here, too.' Akira thought to himself sarcastically as he pretty much braced himself for anything that may happen.
…On the second floor, he finds someone dressed in an PE instructor uniform talking to the bald-headed principal who seems to be explaining why he enrolled Akira to his school, while the PE instructor, who is called Kamoshida-kun by the principal, seem to be annoyed for some reason.
…Akira, who adjusted his glasses charade, seem to notice that he's putting on a mask himself, Kamoshida, and he's doing a good job at that as he just bid farewell to the principal.
…Then, Akira's homeroom teacher, Sadayo Kawakami, approached the labelled student, Akira. "Oh, you've come. I'm Kawakami Sadayo, your homeroom teacher. I'm sure you've already received your student I.D. from the principal, right? Sigh, well, follow me. I'll show you to your classroom." Akira just adjusted his glasses charade and decided to follow his teacher.
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…Later, at Class 2-B … …
…Akira stands in front beside his teacher by her desk. "Alright, alright, be quiet, now! I would like you to get to know this transfer student who has just arrived at our school. He's someone who has just transferred here so be nice to him and try not to poke into his own personal problems too much."
"… … " Akira can't tell if that's an insult or concern, as in leave him to fend for himself as delinquent or a labelled student or just let him be to his business.
"Now then, please, introduce yourself."
"… … … … I'm Kurusu Akira." He just said and started walking to an empty desk to which it alarmed Kawakami but then she realized where she's going at if she talked about his record so she'd just let him sit down.
"Okay. Let's begin class. Well, I'll just introduce you to some of the basics of literature and we'll be getting to know each other for the whole period, given this is the first day of class. So try to behave yourselves. Anyway, let's start with the introduction. Let's see, now … … Let's begin with Oyamada … … "
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…Later, After School … …
"…All right. That's all for today. Normal lessons will start tomorrow." Kawakami declared as class just ended and no one wants to get involved with Akira whatsoever, as he'd expected, he has to fend for himself during his stay here in this school. That much he already braced himself, with his Academics being as its highest stat point right now, if you can view it in a game stat manner, he doesn't have to worry about exams.
He started heading out of the classroom. With his open shirt and tough-looking attitude in appearance in regards to his school uniform appearance, everyone seems to think he's a delinquent or an undercover yakuza now.
"… … " Akira keeps hearing all sort of weird rumors like how someone like him is wielding a knife … … or that he assaulted someone and nearly killed them … … everyone seems to think that he's quiet demeanor is just a façade of sort … … he really could care less. Everyone seems to mind only their own problems, so he'll do just the same. Mind his own business … … as in to be fair, I'll leave you to your own problems, then.
…Akira went downstairs to the first floor where he met up, by accident, with Kawakami. "Oh, it's you. Well? Are you doing well?" The passing students whispering, well not really whispering as they can be heard aloud, which either by intent or they just don't know how to lower their voice, which pretty much answered Kawakami's question. "…Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
"… …Who knows. And besides, you won't care." Akira pretty much went straight to the point there as he decided to just head home.
"…I asked, didn't I? Don't get yourself into too much trouble. You are already given fair warning by the principal, so, I won't be able to protect you if you caused trouble. That WAS the promise, any way."
"…Leave me to my own problems then."
"… …You're just saying that because you think you're right. Everyone has burdens, try to mind what we're going through."
"…You should talk."
"Huh?"
"Between those who are facing extremely difficult problems now and those who don't yet, what's the difference?"
"…That's why you should listen to our advice—"
"I refuse."
"Huh?"
"You got a problem, then. Leave me to my own problems."
"You're the one with a problem! You can't just - - "
"Then leave me to my own problems then. If you do not want me to be your problem."
"If you cause more trouble, it will risk all of our reputations!"
"…Then don't let me be of any concern to you, so that I won't be a problem to you any more. And leave me to my own problems, or figure it out yourself."
"…!" Kawakami is taken aback by that and Akira went straight out of the entrance/exit of the school building without even hearing out what Kawakami has to say. "…Leave you … … so you're saying, I don't care about anyone's else problem… …?" Kawakami felt a stab of guilt there, she's just doing something a teacher should advise their students, yet, the students do not agree. And they tell you to just leave them to their own problems then and if they just find the student themselves to be a problem, then just leave them be to their own problems then so that they won't be a problem anymore. "…You're saying I should just leave you be so that you won't be … … Why won't you agree to our methods, then? Because, it's … …wrong?"
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…Later, outside Leblanc … …
…Akira goes through the same route he took yesterday before arriving at Leblanc, and he just entered the mentioned café with him passing by Sojiro by the counter table. "Hey. You actually went to school, right?"
"… … … … " Akira didn't answered and just went straight upstairs which made Sojiro groan.
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…Later, at Shibuya … …
…Akira, dressed in normal clothes, accompanied Sojiro here where they buy ingredients for the food served in Leblanc, as well as various coffee beans and powder for the coffee being served there. With Sojiro's own personal coffee being the favorite of the customers there, the usual ones, according to him. "Don't forget to buy some salt and sugar, too. Oh, and don't forget to add soy sauce, too." Akira does as he's told as they went shopping. The shop by the streets of Leblanc was closed for some reason, so Akira and Sojiro decided to buy here in Shibuya. Using Sojiro's own car at that, since the trains are still not properly running by the timestable of their designated running schedule.
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…
"Damn. It's not running at all." Sojiro groaned at the traffic pressure. "Well? How was school? Think you can manage?"
"…Eh, we'll see."
"…Look now, don't cause any trouble. If you made one stupid mistake, trust me, your life's over."
"Huh. Leave me to my own problems then if you don't want to get involved with me."
"…Look now, tch, then why don't you just step on out of here, huh!? Come on, get out! Get out! Out!" … … Akira, scared by Sojiro's strictness, stepped out and it seems he sped off immediately, leaving Akira be on Shibuya's Central Street. "… … … … " …Now, he's pissed and mad, too. "… … Huh. Oh well." He decided to find a way to get to Leblanc at Yongen-Jaya on his own.
…He hears a lot of whispering as he passed by the passing people who keeps saying about the incompetency of the government for not getting any details on the subway accident.
…Speaking of subway, Akira just went underground where a lot provisional officers are present to stop any citizens from entering the crash site of the accident yesterday.
"… … " Akira looked around and finds that a lot of people are complaining about being late for their job and that the trains should be running now. Which annoyed him at best, so he decided to leave. … … Going to the other side of the place he was at just now, he now finds himself at the Station Square where a certain politician is giving speech - - "This country is twisted! Various accidents that is shed light and various people suffering from poverty! Suicide rate is increasing in a vast pace of haste, no matter how you look at it, it's because the ones governing the ruling party are corrupt! So don't just give in to anything they demand and say, for not thinking for yourself just means you don't care for other's own dilemma." Akira seem to find comfort in his speech - - but figured he should leave for now.
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…Later, at train headed for Yongen-Jaya … …
…Akira is amidst the crowded space of this train car and he finds that everyone is pretty much trying to keep themselves very tightly here, and he can only groan at this situation. "… …This is really getting on my gut nerve … … " …Suddenly, however, an earthquake occurred. "Ah, huh?" Akira is completely taken by surprise here.
…The earthquake begins to become stronger which made the train shake violently and everyone braced themselves. It didn't helped, however, as the train becomes too unstable and it went out of place in the tracks and crashed with everyone screaming in terror, except Akira who felt that his end may be coming now … … with a very mild terrified expression on his face as death comes here … …
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…Akira, with blood pouring out of his forehead and him being crushed by the train car, lies on the ground with his own blood pouring out of his body. It seems he was thrown out of the window out of the terrible impact and the train car came running to fall on him.
"Urgh, ugh …. … Urgh… …Ugh… Agh… … I'm … … …dead…? … … … … " …Akira didn't really mind dying at some point as it might be worse than that, like living a life of a lie … … a lie, huh … … people fear the unknown, yet they themselves do not know themselves … … quite rhetorical actually. If one want specific, say, let's say, you want to know what the future holds … … you can see it in your present action, like if you're doing terribly right now, you can't hope for a bright future ahead … … but … … with the human cognition being too fickle. It may be the best question to ask is that … … can you answer all the test questions in life … … Questions … … what is the truth… …? Something that is true… …? Or … … one will find that many of the "truths" that one cling to actually varies on the human cognition … … but, without cognition, can one see reality for what it is … …
…Question, like how you cannot afford to leave any test questions unanswered since it might affect your grades when it comes to being a battle of wits, you cannot and must not dodge the questions in life for you, if one doesn't believe that, then … …
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…Velvet world … …
…Akira, surrounded by thick fog, lies on the ground with his blood no longer present, that is because this is no longer the physical realm, but rather, the one thing that separates imagination and that of physical matter, the Velvet room … … the last time he was here was that he stepped out of the mansion of that "Igor" person … … and it seems he has met his end … … the fog … … a rail road that is filled with thick fog … … without knowing the direction, you cannot know what lies ahead … …
"…Yeah, I didn't know … … " …There was danger on this direction, but with the fog blocking any visibility, it seems Akira has met his own demise since he didn't know it was there, all along … …see? Questions, don't ignore them. Amidst this dense fog, it prevents one from seeing … … Akira was walking amidst the fog and he couldn't see his upcoming demise, so yeah, the question here is … … do you know where you are going? Do you know what lies ahead, they say death may come at any time and that you should enjoy your life … … but, how, exactly? You know not that death may be near, and yet, you say to enjoy life as if knowing that death is still far, so how can you enjoy your life without knowing when your death might come … … ah, indeed, do not ignore or avoid the questions in life … … if you do, then you are fearful of the unknown and not even know yourself.
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"… … … … " …Breathing heavily … … Akira cannot help but grimace his situation, there are questions remained unanswered … … someone mentioned this, that life's greatest question is found by someone … … a lone soul who found the Answer to life's greatest question, and he gave his life for those who are still yet to answer the question themselves … …
"… Life's … …greatest question … … " Akira himself cannot answer that. … …see? Don't ignore the questions in your life, which direction you are heading, what lies ahead, is death near … … if you don't know that, like ho you don't know the direction of the place you're going, you won't get anywhere … …
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…Akira could only ponder what to do from here onwards, like … … what will happen from here … … "…Ugh … … what … now … … … "
"…What's wrong?" A voice asked.
"…Do you still yearn to get out of the fog?" The voice asked.
"… … … "
"…You are confused. The fog is much vast and dangerous than any mortal may think, and in your case, do you believe death is an escape?"
"…No. It won't get me anywhere."
"…You do not avert your eyes from questions … … like how you would stare at something, the fog is deterring you from seeing, so … … do not rely on sight, there are things that sight alone cannot accomplish by itself. Why, let's say there's a vast wasteland in front of you, it's all you see … … all you see, thus, sight will not help you find something you cannot see … … then, why don't we find out what we can."
"…How?"
"Ask questions." The voice said and amidst the fog, a figure that like someone with two black wings, wearing a magician hat and certainly not human by shadow figure, appeared and the wings he bear removed the fog … … revealing someone who is clad in red color or skin and their face is … … hard to describe, it's like a mask that is having a face that can be interpreted through moving flames … … "…I am Arsene. The other you that clings to the questions in life … … life is like a maze that keeps changing forth directions, like how you see something but can you actually say it's the same scenery? Do not rely on sight alone, as you cannot find something that is so small and more importantly, do not know where it is. Your sight will not help you there. So, in this case, do you know what fate that awaits you? See? Your sight will not help. So, let us set out."
"…Ugh… …Ugh…" Akira felt his body becoming light, and all of the sudden, he's covered by the wings of this Arsene and everything soon became bright.
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…Later, at Shibuya Station Square … …
"… …Huh?" Akira is in total disbelief, he finds himself standing amidst the crowd that is in a panic as they realized that the train Akira was on crashed due to an unexpected Earthquake just now. Akira himself is not noticed and it seems he was teleported here by that Arsene person … … and Akira cannot tell right now if this is real or not … … "…Did I … … teleport here…"
"A question. Good. Do not ignore them." A blue flame is lit up behind him, and everything is surrounded in thick fog. Or more specifically, at the realm that transcend physical matter and imagination, Akira is surrounded by thick fog and a blue flame is emanating behind him that soon disappeared and as Akira turned to it, he sees his own face, albeit, it has golden eyes like demonic eyes … … "…Akira Kurusu, who are you? You may tell the truth, but, the truth is unattainable … … it will always be shrouded in fog … … let's say, from your own knowledge, and honesty, you tell the truth. But, the surrounding people around you cannot tell if it's the truth … … or a lie … … two things, one, they do not wish to see the truth. The other, they cannot answer the question before them, is it real or not, is it truth or a lie … … Let's say you do speak the truth from your own knowing, but, the truth is unattainable … … those who listen to you cannot tell if it's truth or a lie … … so, how do you find something you cannot see?"
"…I don't know. But I'll see where the path takes me."
"…Even if it takes you to take a lot of pain?"
"…What choice do I have? There is no escape."
"…Valid response. Very well, the contract is done."
"Huh?" The other Akira disappeared in a flash of light with a tarot card replacing it in its position and it floats above and transforms into Magatsu-Izanagi, the one who hails from chaos, and it goes to Akira and it has entered his psyche.
"… … … " Back to the physical realm, Akira is still surrounded by people who are in a panic, others are in a hurry to get to the crash site to help anyone who may be trapped there. Others are questioning what happened. "… … " Akira decided to go home by using a taxi, he still has enough money for that any way.
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…Later, at Yongen-Jaya … …
…Akira is on his way to Leblanc with him following the map on his phone. And soon enough, he finally found his way to the backstreet that he's familiar with. And he decided to go back to Leblanc.
…
…
…At Leblanc … …
…Sojiro is by the counter table and he seems to be angry … … "Hey, mind explaining why you were late."
"…Train accident." Akira simply said as he passed by him. Though the bewildered Sojiro is even more bewildered with him acting emotionless and composed.
"Wait, what? Train accident?"
"…Yeah. The earthquake made the train I was in crash." …Oops. Good thing he didn't heard him say that. That kinda slip. "There was an earthquake." This time, Sojiro heard him. "The train crashed at the subway station so I had to wait for a while and took a taxi to get here."
"A-Another accident?" To confirm this, Sojiro turned on the t.v. and sure enough, the news about what Akira just said is on. They both watched the news with Akira sitting by the counter table.
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…
…
…Later, at evening … …
"Another accident? Another train crash? But this time, it's due to an earthquake, and … … were you there?" Sojiro asked Akira.
"…Yeah."
"…!" Now Sojiro feels guilty, it was because he told Akira to leave the car. "…W-Were you all right?"
"… … … … " Akira's blank expression was the only answered he gave,
"…Geez, hey, are you listening to me?"
"… … … … " He's still giving a blank expression while not looking.
Sojiro pulled out a plate of curry. "Sorry. That was … … my fault. I shouldn't have never told you to get out of the car. And told you to go home on your own. Here, this here is my apology." He said offering the curry as apology. "And, uh … … sorry. You said to leave you to your own personal problems, it's like you're saying kid that I don't care for anyone else problems, even if they are criminals … … like how I don't care if they get hurt very badly or something or that … … sigh, no, never mind. Here, why don't you eat up and rest for the rest of the day?"
"… … … " Akira started eating without giving a reply though the air around him says that he will do as Sojiro instructed. The news is still on. And it seems this time, it's 50 people who are victimized, and worst, they are dead.
"50 people died!? Ugh, what a terrible accident. Or more importantly, what an awful society we're living. They can't tell when an earthquake is going to happen and people are dying without them knowing it will happen!" Sojiro said as he tend to the shop. More customers soon came and Akira just kept eating at his seat.
…
…
…The news continued on and on with the newscaster saying that many are protesting to the police for the lack of progress and explanation for the first accident. Suddenly, however, it's suddenly showing someone who is bald and wearing shades of glasses, under the name Masayashi Shido. "This terrible occult-like accident is indeed a tragedy! But something like this should be taken care of immediately. As part of the party that is responsible for the safety protocol of the citizens in this nation, I am ashamed and also feel like this country is not secured and is lacking of any safety protocol and efficiency in handling emergency situation like this. That is why … … "
"…?" Suddenly, Akira feels light-headed, like he's heard that voice before … … like from that time when he was arrested. "…That voice … … Is it … … hm … … " Akira continues eating … …
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…
…Later, before midnight … …
…Akira is getting ready for bed and he's thinking of all the things that transpired today, it's like … … too much to comprehend all at once. Well, not for someone like him, any way, despite his knowledge stat. "… …Hm?" Looking at his phone, a weird app appeared. It's like a red-eyed icon that is growing big. Akira tries to enter it to no avail. "…What is this?"
…He tried to delete it, but it wouldn't, it just keeps popping back. "Huh?" He does it again, only for the same thing to occur over and over, over and over. "Huh? What is this … … " Akira ponders, but decided to go to bed for now.
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…
…Velvet room … …
…Akira finds himself sitting on a comfortable sofa with someone in front of him, someone who is shrouded by the darkness … … the lights turned on, revealing a velvet colored room, and the one in front of him is Igor … … "Welcome to my velvet room. Oh, it seems you gained some progress in your investigation for truth. So, have you received the navigational app that I sent you?"
"…It was you?"
Igor nodded. "It seems you're sharp. Good, that will keep you in shape as you will about to embrace that world that is the shape of the thing that haunts the human soul … … Fear … … … …It is only then that you lift the fog of fear that the true path can be illuminated. So, in your case, those around you do not wish for you to be seen … … to be together with."
"…You mean at school? Yeah, my life is a lie there. No one wants me, and moreoever, they may find an excuse to expel me."
"Indeed. So then, why don't you first start your investigation there?"
"…At school?"
"Yes. That app shall be your guide, as well. I do not know when it will activate itself so please try to remain vigilant as possible. Unexpected things or cruel realities may come clashing in without you knowing or expecting after all."
…Everything becomes dark … …
End of Chapter 1