Chapter 2: One can only dream
Friday, April 1st
Karosu had arrived at the dorm, and as he walked inside found only one person to be by the living room. ''Oh, you're home…'' said a girl's voice. She was a very short girl, much shorter than Karosu. She had short pink hair and bright red bow on her hair, along with a bunch of colorful bracelets on each her arms. She stood up slowly, and walked towards Karosu, looking completely serious. ''I'm Akane.'' she said, not changing her expression.
''I'm…'' Karosu was stopped before he could continue. ''I know who you are. Well, I came home early to say, wel…'' she looked down at the ground before she continued. ''Welcome.'' She finally said. ''Thanks'' said Karosu, having to look down at her.
''Well, that's it. I'm going upstairs.'' She replied, running up the stairs. ''…'' Karosu stood silently, wondering who she could be. He shrugged it off, and since he had nothing to do headed for his room. He watched some TV before going to sleep, and so the day went by.
Saturday, April 2nd
It was a beautiful day, not a single cloud in the sky. It was Karosu's second day of school and he was greeted by Yoshio at the front gate. ''Hey, man. Remember, this afternoon I'm showing you around, alright?'' he said, sounding somewhat…proud. Karosu smiled. ''Oh! Did you meet Akane, yesterday?'' said Yoshio. ''H-how do you know?'' said Karosu, confused.
Yoshio chuckled. ''You must've been sleeping by the time I got home… See, we live in the same dorm! I found out yesterday, when Akane told me about you. She's been really excited for your arrival, you know…'' said Yoshio, trying to make Karosu blush. ''What the hell are you talking about, Yoshio?'' said a girl's voice from afar. ''Whoops! Gotta go get ready for class, haha.'' Said Yoshio, running off.
Karosu eventually realized the girl was Akane, and she then stood in front of Karosu. ''Hey, don't listen to Yoshio… I was only being nice. You know, it's something called manners, so don't go jumping to conclusions.'' Said Akane, already walking off. Karosu tilted his head, confused. ''W…well…'' whispered Karosu.
After the boring classes, school had finally ended, and Karosu walked outside the classroom with Yoshio. ''Oh! By the way! I should warn you, there's some nasty rumors about the basement of this school to be haunted…'' explained Yoshio.
'' 'Course, it's only rumors, but I'd still stay away if I were you, even the teachers are afraid of it. Anyways, enough about that. Let's go have some fun!'' shouted Yoshio, walking outside with Karosu. They walked until they reached what seemed like a shopping district. It was filled with people and the streets seemed endless.
''Well, this is Central Center. It's a shopping district, but everyone comes here for the main attraction… the movies. A place to hang out with your buds, to hit on your girl, to have air conditioner blasting on a hot day… It's the ideal place to go.'' Explained Yoshio.
''But there's a lot of things to do here, besides that. You've got fast-food places, cafés, ramen shops…'' Yoshio sounded really excited, explaining this to Karosu. He looked around the district in awe, bumping into several people. ''Oh! Then there's the arcade… Oh, man, the arcade! That's where me and my friends usually end up, although most people go there to play Ultimate Realistic Fighters X, there's also a lot of other games.'' Yoshio said, whilst pointing at the arcade.
''We should probably get something to eat. You must be used to American food, so let's get some sushi, yeah?'' asked Yoshio. Karosu nodded in approval, and they went over to a small sushi bar.
While they were waiting for the food they began to talk. ''So, dude, little fact. Central Center is called like that because see, it's right smack in the middle of the central island, so in all essence: it's the central center!'' said Yoshio, laughing. Karosu smiled, as the waiter came and gave each of them a plate.
''Oh, man! I'm starving!'' said Yoshio, who already started eating. Karosu was eating calmly while Yoshio seemed to be rushing to finish up quickly. From time to time, he would speak with his mouth full, making Karosu struggle to understand him. Eventually, they finished having lunch, and after paying they headed outside again.
They spent a nice evening together, as Yoshio showed Karosu around the island. A voice suddenly ringed in Karosu's head…
Thou art I…and I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond...
It brings thee closer to a new life…
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Magician Arcana.
''W-what the?'' said Karosu, suddenly. ''Is something wrong?'' asked Yoshio, as they walked towards the dorm. It was already pretty late. ''I..It's nothing.'' Said Karosu. They eventually reached the dorm, and there was nobody at the lobby. ''Well, it's pretty late, man. I'm off to sleep, and you should go to sleep too.'' He said. Karosu walked up the stairs and in his room, ready for a good night's sleep.
But, again, something strange happened that night… He found himself in a completely white universe. There was nothing. Suddenly, a man wearing a mask approached him.
''I welcome thee. My name… is Philemon.'' Said the man, taking a bow. Karosu looked at him, asking himself what the hell was going on. ''I trust you have already met Igor… He will guide you in your journey, remember that. You, like everyone else, have a purpose in this world…'' Philemon said.
''Remember that. At a time, everything will seem dark and hopeless… but do remember that in every dark situation, there is light…'' Philemon said. But then he whispered something that made Karosu feel uneasy. ''And viceversa…'' he had whispered.
''But that is not the reason why you are here. I am here merely to remind you that I will always be there, watching you. It is now time for you to wake up, but before doing so you will be shown visions that'll make you feel uneasy…Please make of them what you will, and remember the contract you've signed.'' Explained Philemon.
Suddenly, images were flowing through Karosu's mind. He would see a blue butterfly flying around school grounds, and the picture would become distortioned, only to show a very dark hallway at the end of which was a purple-ish door. The butterfly flew towards it, and suddenly…everything went white.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing….Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing…
It was Karosu's alarm clock…
Sunday, April 3rd
There was no school today, so Karosu woke up a little late. He quickly changed and walked downstairs, finding only Yoshio at the living room. ''Oh, hey there dude. Everyone already left to do their stuff and… now that I think about it, you don't really know anyone in the dorm except me and Akane, do you?'' said Yoshio, putting his feet on the coffee table.
Karosu shook his head, and took a seat next to Yoshio. ''Well, there's only one more person living in this dorm… I know it's kind of funny… A big building and so little people living here, haha.'' Explained Yoshio. Karosu smiled. ''By the way! I had the strangest dream last night…'' explained Yoshio. Karosu then felt uneasy again. ''What did you dream about?'' asked Karosu, nervously. ''It was really weird… It was all white and there was this guy, his name was uhh… Ph… i… Salmon? No, that's not it…'' Yoshio was struggling to remember the man's name.
''Philemon?'' Karosu said. ''Holy shit! How'd you know? What the hell, man... You're creeping me out.'' Said Yoshio. ''I… I had the same dream.'' Said Karosu. ''…I'm waiting for a just kidding…'' said Yoshio. However, Karosu looked at him with a serious face.
''No way… you did? Even with the visions of some dark room and a butterfly?'' asked Yoshio, to make sure. Karosu nodded. ''That's pretty messed up, dude. Bah, we're worrying too much, though.'' Said Yoshio, exhaling. ''Anyways, I'm gonna go catch a movie. I'll see you tonight, yeah?'' said Yoshio, standing up from the couch. Karosu nodded and stood up too. They each walked out the dorm and went their separate ways.
Karosu was confused as to where he should go, since he was new at the city. He simple decided to go to Ressha Station, and from there go to Central Center.
He boarded the monorail and found a man that caught his attention. There was a man sitting at the back of the wagon, wearing worn-out clothes. The man was reading a very thick book. Karosu decided to approach the man, and maybe try to start up a conversation.
''What do you want?'' said the man, not looking up from his book. ''Umm…Nothing, really…'' said Karosu, looking around. ''Then be off, kid.'' Said the man, grumpily. Karosu turned around and was already about to leave, when the man stopped him.
''Actually… I'd rather you stay.'' Said the man, closing his book. Karosu turned back around and sat next to the man. ''It has been so long since I last had a proper conversation with someone… Who would want to talk to a homeless man like me?'' he said. ''The people that talk to me mostly do it out of interest, or to poke fun at me…'' he explained.
''But you're different…'' said the man, eyeing Karosu. ''That's bad, boy. You won't get anywhere like that. At the end of the day, if friends could screw you over and step on you, they would.'' Said the man, suddenly.
''It matters not who your friend is, or how close he is to you, if he has the chance, he'll step all over you. That's why you have to step all over them, first… Unless you wanna end up like me.'' Said the man. ''You remind me of me when I was younger… so nice, and naive.'' He explained.
''But remember what I just told you, okay?'' asked the man. The monorail stopped, as it was already in the second island. ''Hey… if you don't mind… Could you visit me again some time?'' said the man. Karosu nodded with a smile, and walked off.
As he walked around the district buying some things for himself he was thinking about what the man had told him, and that same voice rang in his head again…
Thou art I…and I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond...
It brings thee closer to a new life…
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Hierophant Arcana.
''What the hell does this mean?'' whispered Karosu, scratching his hair a bit. It was already getting pretty late, and so Karosu decided to return to the dorm. He arrived at the dorm just in time for dinner, and after eating decided to go to bed.
Karosu slowly fell asleep, excited for a new day of school. However, it was another one of those nights…
He found himslef at the so-called Velvet Room once again. ''Welcome back.'' Said Igor with a mischevious smile. ''You again?'' responded Karosu, with a firm look. ''Ah, sorry, it is not my intention to be a pain. As a matter of fact, my purpose is to help you achieve your purpose.'' Claimed Igor.
Karosu sat silently, looking at Igor. ''I see you've met my master, Philemon.'' Affirmed Igor. ''And thus, that brings you one step closed to the awakening… I can hardly wait.'' Declared Igor. Karosu was looking around the room for some reason. Rose, just like the other time, seemed to almost be about to cry.
''As you have already discovered, your friend also had a similar dream to yours the other day. However, I will remind you your friend is not able to enter this zone… So I'd like to kindly ask you refrain from talking about our…''meetings''. '' Igor explained.
Karosu simply nodded. ''But your friend Yoshio isn't the only one with the strange dreams… you will soon come to find others with the same potential as yourself.'' Chuckled Igor.
''Please, the visions you have seen and will see are of utmost importance… do not take them lightly.'' Said Igor, this time with a straight face. ''Well, I shan't keep you here any longer. But before you go, I am obliged to give you this.'' Explained Igor, as he layed a dark key over the coffee table. ''Use this next time you wish to visit the Velvet Room.'' Said Igor, and before Karosu could reply he saw the same visions as the other day... with the butterfly and the dark hallways.
Monday, April 4th
''What the hell is going on with me?'' said Karosu, rubbing his eyes. He stood up from his bed to get dressed, but something caught his attention by the window...
It was a blue butterfly, the same color as in the dreams. ''W-what the...?'' Karosu whispered, approaching the window. As he did so, the butterfly flew away. ''P...Probably just coincidence...'' he deduced.
After arriving at the front gate, Karosu was approached by Yoshio. ''Hey, dude. It's the start of a new week.'' He affirmed. ''By the way... I had that strange dream again. This time there was nobody, all I saw were like, images of a hallway and a bunch of crap.'' He explained.
''I... I had the same dream too, again.'' Said Karosu, looking surprised. ''What the hell is going on?'' he wondered as he spoke to Yoshio. ''Woah, man... that's just beyond strange already... you sure you're not trying to scare me, right?'' Yoshio asked, to make sure.
Karosu shook his head, looking serious. ''Well, let me just say this then... I spoke to Akane a few minutes ago, turns out she had the same messed up dreams, too!'' he explained, smiling as always. ''Akane, too? This can't be a coincidence, can it?'' asked Karosu, looking around.
''This is getting very strange... and luckily, I know just who to see about this!'' said Yoshio, with his chest forward. ''We're gonna have to go see Kyoko Nana... she's into that paranormal kinda stuff.'' Continued Yoshio.
Karosu looked at him in disbelief. ''Dude, it might seem like a load of bullcrap but... dude, there's just something mystical about her. Besides, it can't hurt to try, ammaright?'' said Yoshio. Karosu shrugged.
''Alright then, I'll go tell Akane. Meet me in class 2-D after school, okay?'' said Yoshio, running off to tell Akane.
''What the hell is going on? I... I don't understand anything...'' said Karosu. Things were getting outright weird, but Yoshio seemed convinced Kyoko could clear things up...