Opening Author's Notes
Time for that response…rap, anyone?

Warning
True Ending spoilers

I knew what Yosuke had been thinking and doing because of two things. First, he was and is my best friend, meaning we talked about it not too long afterward, and second, the phone belonged to me.
At the time, I was a Filipino-American 15-year-old senior at the American School in Japan (ASIJ for short) in Chofu, Tokyo. I was born on the Upper West Side in New York and raised through kindergarten in North Carolina (first Durham and then Greensboro) before my parents' medical careers took them to Tokyo and I set ASIJ's elementary school ablaze, going into 3rd grade as a six-year-old (Author's Note: I really was that young when I entered 3rd grade!) and proving myself an honor roll student despite my youth.

Even though I spent an extra year in 5th grade to get used to a full honors curriculum after graduating elementary, I was still a year younger than the class average, but I didn't let it show as I balanced basketball, leadership training and tearing it up in the classroom through 10th grade, at the end of which I learned that my parents had been asked to come back to the Philippines for a year to help with a slew of new and existing hospitals.
Neither my parents nor I felt comfortable with the prospect of me living alone in Tokyo for a whole year at the age of fourteen, so I had spent that year with my uncle Ryotaro and my cousin Nanako in Inaba and had transferred for the year as well to Yasogami High. I hadn't been apprehensive about moving from the city to a more rural/suburban area—I felt comfortable there thanks to my mother's upbringing in Pampanga and also the bit of time I had spent in Greensboro—but I definitely had felt apprehensive about being an American student at a real Japanese school for the first time. Thankfully, I managed to handle it well to say the least, as tons of things happened to me over there to say the least—I became a better person and friend, a terrific actor, an even better guard and small forward, even more of an academic luminary and a better leader, labeling some in town to call me a legend (which turned my face beet red) before I returned home.

Incredibly, even that didn't tell the whole story, as I had three huge secrets from my time in Inaba. First, I had discovered my powers as a Persona-user and found that I was different even there because I could call on multiple manifestations of my inner self in a fight or some other tight spot thanks to the Fool Arcana. Second, I had become someone who had defeated a goddess, as I had helped defeat the goddess Izanami in order to solve the Inaba serial kidnapping and murder case (although no one knew it except me, my friends and a select few others.) The third and last was that I had done what at least half the red-blooded teenage boys in Japan wanted to do—have Rise Kujikawa as a steady girlfriend.

With my parents' return and Izanami's defeat, however, I had had to return to Tokyo and to ASIJ and had been starting AP classes as well as preparations for the SAT, as I planned to return Stateside for college. I was glad to be home and back with my parents and old friends and had been doing well both in the classroom and out, but I had felt like I was faking it when I tried to be happy as I tried to bury my feelings for Rise with the thought that God would have made me come back to Tokyo only if he had a better girl for me. Just over a month after coming back, though, I had not succeeded, and hearing Rise's verse using Homecoming after downloading it from iTunes let me know I just couldn't do it—not when I heard her singing with such emotion and felt a massive stab in my heart as I realized she'd been talking both about me and to me.

"Hey, Carlo, did you hear Rise's new song?" Yosuke said, once I'd answered the phone in my room in our condo in Minato.
"I'm listening to it right now." I replied, my voice betraying how stunned I was. "I can't believe it…I thought she'd be over me a month later."
"I'm sorry this is coming up like this, but I'm also really happy for you, man…she really is a special girl—no, make that a special woman." Yosuke said sympathetically but also, I imagined, with a smile.
I smiled, nodded and took a moment, then heard a note of fondness come back into my voice. "That's Rise…even in a situation like this, her love amazes me."
Yosuke laughed on the other end of the line. "I tell you, even though you aren't together officially at the moment, I gotta say Chie and I look up to you guys—and my guess is Yukiko and Kanji do as well."
"Thanks." I replied.

"I was also wondering…was there a line that really jumped out at you?" Yosuke asked.
"Yeah. It was 'and that you've found a girl better than me'. I was like, 'My God, Rise, thanks…but I should have known that if God meant to have a better girl than you for me, I'd be with her right now!'" My voice conveyed my gratitude towards her, but also the hint of self-loathing that had hit me at that realization.
"What's important is that you do know now." He replied. "Have you figured out how you're going to respond to it?"
"Not yet—I'm still in shock a bit." I said, realizing what I had to do. "I'm definitely going to have to do my share of thinking to figure out."
"Just remember—if anyone can figure out how to handle something like this, it's you." Yosuke said encouragingly.
"Thanks." I said with a smile.

Once the conversation was over, I knew I had spent too much time dodging the issue and couldn't wait another day without having a worthy response ready. This time, though, I felt like I had to talk to someone other than Rise's and my close friends from Inaba about it. I then thought and realized, however, problem is, though, I don't know how to respond and I don't feel like the time is right to discuss this with family or any of my ASIJ friends, so how can I deal with this?
A thought then suddenly came to me. Hey, why not talk with them? The other voice in my head said.
I never thought about that…it's worth a try, though. The first voice replied.

I didn't keep the Persona deck containing my 12 favorite and most important Personae everywhere in case someone happened to know who I really was and stole it, which would leave me very vulnerable indeed. I did and still do always keep one card on me, though, just in case—Titania.
I pulled the card out of my left pocket and tossed it lightly into the air. It hung in the air, revolved for a few seconds and glowed blue, then appeared to shatter, making a noise like glass breaking. I fell back on the bed with my feet still on the floor, felt something catch me, and recognized that my head was now in the lap of the Persona I had just summoned.
It made me feel like I was seeing a therapist—only the therapist was a young, beautiful fairy queen just a little smaller than me with golden brown hair, ruby red eyes and a gold-trimmed long-sleeved green dress that showed her legs, making her look both attractive and dignified. I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed, then asked the question that seemingly everyone around me had asked me throughout my year in Inaba.

"What on earth do I do?" I could tell at that moment just how hard I had been hit when I heard how weak my voice was.
"Oh, Carlo…you really do love her, don't you?" She asked, sounding concerned as she knew my answer.
"Yeah…" I said fervently. "So much…but I just can't figure out how to respond to this…" It certainly didn't help that the last time Rise had struck me dumb like that had been the last time I had seen her and been with her—when I had been about to board the train that would take me back to Tokyo.

"N-no more Senpai from t-tomorrow on…" Rise said, her voice cracking in front of us.
She then broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably and crying openly.
The others were visibly stunned. They knew how close Rise and I were and knew as well as we did that our goodbye would be the hardest, but I guess they had still never really expected this. I couldn't blame them, because neither had I.
"Hey, quit crying…! It's way too soon for that!" Kanji Tatsumi had said, looking scared—and that's saying something, because it takes a lot to scare him.
"But…but…" Rise was unable to speak coherently and dissolved back into sobbing.
"Sheesh, th-that stuff's kinda contagious, y'know…" Kanji said, still sounding and looking scared. Then he found a little firmness in his voice and told her, "You gotta put on a good face for Senpai…"
He and the others looked at me, but I was already moving. I put my backpack down beside my rolling suitcase for the moment, went over to her, and embraced her tightly, allowing her to cry on my shoulder. At first, I was unable to talk as I felt my throat tighten, so I just held her for a while.

"Rise…" I said when I felt my throat unclench enough. "Rise-chan, can I ask you a couple of favors?"
"Anything." Rise said, moving her head back enough so that she could look me in the eyes and emphasize what she had said.
"Thanks. First, please stop calling me 'Senpai', because I'm no longer your senior. Just use my name." I said, smiling wistfully.
"Okay, Carlo…-kun." She said with the best smile she could muster. Seeing her both smiling and crying and also knowing I might not see her again made me unsure of just how to feel to say the least. After a moment, she added, "You said 'a couple of favors'—is there something else you wanted to ask from me?"
I took a moment and then replied, "Yes…could I please have one more thing to remember you by?"
I never said it expressly, but she knew what I my last plea was. Bringing her arms up over my shoulders, she pulled me closer and kissed me.
I could feel her put everything she had into it, and I responded in kind by funneling all that I could muster into it. I felt my cheeks moisten as her fresh tears met my face, and then I, who had never cried despite everything we had gone through in the past year, felt my resistance fall away and my face get wetter as my tears mingled with them.

Kanji really had been right when he said that crying was contagious…I thought sadly.
"Well, she did take time to make a song to send to you…so why don't you try and reply in kind?" Titania suggested, stroking my hair slightly but soothingly.
I thought for a moment. Another talent I have is rapping, having gotten hooked on hip-hop as a freshman. My ability to work and feed off a crowd, remember lyrics, and maintain flow had seen me become one of the best karaoke MCs in all of Tokyo—but the operative word was "karaoke", as I, though I had performed well in front of good crowds before, had never before written my own lyrics.
Ready to change that? One of my inner voices asked.
Yes. I found my other inner voice as firm as could be when it answered.

I looked over at Titania to find her smiling. I smiled back, then rose and looked at my laptop screen.
I did always think Kanye's second verse could have used some work…I thought with a grin. My expression then became serious as I went over, opened a Word document and started trying to put my feelings and my message into 16 bars.
In my attempts to suppress my pain and try to move on, I had forgotten how love can make people do things they normally wouldn't do. I got a good-sized reminder right then, though, as it was the work of less than two hours to write the verse. Once I had finished I went to a local recording studio where you could pay for time in the booth and put some money down in order to record my verse so that I could memorize it better. The reason for that was that there was a big urban music (mainly hip-hop and R&B) talent show at the ASIJ Ricketson Theater (or RT for short) the next night that I was already going to perform at.

The next evening, I was backstage at a packed RT about to perform. I had already told a friend of mine who was the DJ for the night that I wanted to stop the music after the first verse, but when I started to explain what it was for, he said with a grin, "That's enough, Carlo—I want to be as surprised as the crowd is."
When my turn came around, I was just offstage as I heard my friend at the turntables introduce me. "Next up is a cat who needs no introduction…"
Though I could hear the crowd getting excited, I didn't hear everything he said as I focused and thought, Rise…the last time I was with you, I found out what it looked like to see a heart breaking. If it's within my power to make it up to you tonight, then help me do it!
"From Minato, by way of North Carolina and New York City, give it up and welcome back Carlo Santos!"
As I took the stage and waved to the cheering crowd, Homecoming started to play. When I had written my verse, I knew that since Rise had used the track for her verse, it was the only track I could possibly set my response to. As I heard the familiar piano and bass combination, I closed my eyes and nodded my head to get in the mood and make sure my rhythm was right.
Another friend onstage started it off with the Chris Martin chorus:

Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
'Cause I'm comin' home again
Man, home again

I then kicked it off with Kanye's first verse. My delivery and energy were there, but my movements—both in terms of moving around the stage and talking with my free left hand—were more subdued than normal because I wanted to be solemn at first.

I met this girl when I was three years old
And what I loved most, she had so much soul
She said, "Excuse me, little homie, I know you don't know me
But my name is Wendy and I like to blow trees!"
And from that point I never blow her off
Tricks come from out of town, I like to show her off
They like to act tough, she like to tell 'em off
And make 'em straighten up they hat 'cause she know they soft

I could tell I was on track because the crowd was into it, which gave me a little more energy as I finished,

And when I grew up, she showed me how to go downtown
And at nighttime my face lit up so astounding
I told her in my heart is where she always be
She never mess with entertainers 'cause they always leave
She said, "It felt like they walked and drove on me
Knew I was gang-affiliated, got on TV and told on me…"
I guess it's why last winter, she got so cold on me
She said, "C, keep makin' that, keep makin' that platinum and gold for me!"

As I saw them let us hear it again after the verse ended, I stood there for a moment and then went for it, thinking, It's really go time now…
"Wait, wait—cut the music!" I said, motioning with my left hand.
"What's up?" My friend at the turntables asked as we heard him stop the track as a buzz ran through the crowd.
I took a moment to gather my strength and then said as I looked at him and at then at the crowd, "I've got to tell you guys about something that happened to me in Inaba. We're gonna finish this song, but we're gonna finish it with my own words."

I could hear gasps, cheers, and more excited chatter from the spectators. My friend the DJ seemed taken aback, as he said, awestruck, "Wow…how much are we talking about here, Carlo?"
"An original verse." I said, feeling fired up. "How's that sound?"
"Oh, snap!" He replied, and he turned to the audience and roared, "You heard it, people—an all-new verse, and you're hearing it here first!"
"Let's get it, people!" I yelled, working the crowd even more.
"You still got the chorus?" My DJ friend asked our friend who was doing the Chris Martin parts.
"Just put it back on—we've got this!" He replied brightly.
I noticed I was decidedly more animated, now actively backing up my friend on the chorus and also moving around better, and I had no doubt it was because I had finally decided to both state and reaffirm my feelings. The chorus started back up,

Do you think about me now and then? (Yeah)
Do you think about me now and then?
'Cause I'm comin' home again
Man, home again
Do you think about me now and then? (Uh)
Do you think about me now and then? (Come on)
Oh, now I'm comin' home again
Maybe we can start again

Another thing I did before I launched into my own verse was mouth a quick prayer with the mike still clasped between my folded hands.
Thanks for giving me the chance to do this, Lord…Rise, help me make you proud!
I then heard the chorus coming to an end and said, "Yeah, yeah, look here…"

Watch me and you know what's wrong with this picture
I'm home and gettin' dough, but you know that I miss her
I might tote diamonds, but I'm missin' a pearl
And even though I know that she's still in this world
It feels worse than if she was dead and gone
I once prayed and said, "I know she may not be the one
But whatever happens, Lord, don't let me let her down!"
So I try to keep my smile, but I feel like a clown

I filled those first eight bars with the pain and love I had felt in the past 48 hours and saw the crowd's eyes widen as they heard just what I was saying and how I was saying it.
I then looked upwards for the next two lines and then met the crowd's eyes for the rest of it as I finished,

But can I ask you a favor? Girl, shine your light
Baby, help me make you proud tonight
'Cause all I have is my heart and this one mic
But maybe Nas was right when he said that's all one needs to sustain life
Can see the crowd roaring as I take the stage
Glad they're feelin' me as I spit them this page
But you know I'd trade that in a second for
Just your smile, 'cause I know I'd be whole once more

I saw the crowd go nuts as I finished, as many were on their feet and cheering. Seeing them, I knew I had done my job.
Thank you, Lord…and thank you, Rise…I thought, feeling as if I had confessed lyrically at Reconciliation and had been forgiven. Meanwhile, the finishing chorus came:

Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
'Cause I'm comin' home again
Man, home again
Baby, do you remember when?
Fireworks at Lake Michigan
Oh, now I'm comin' home again
Maybe we can start again

The crowd erupted once more and gave a standing ovation as the music finished, and I felt both glad that we'd given them their money's worth and also like I'd been cleansed of something that had been plaguing me.
"Yeah…" I said with the energy I had left, managing a smile even though my voice was trailing off. I had enough left in the tank after that to bow to the crowd and slap hands with the two friends who had helped me, but the first thing I did when I got backstage was fall onto a couch. I wasn't about to faint, but I definitely felt emotionally drained for a few moments—although I smiled as I knew that was from the effort I needed to get how I still felt about Rise off my chest.

"Good God, Carlo, that felt so real…was that actually real? Did you actually meet a girl like that that you had to leave when you came back?"
Some rest backstage and a Coke had helped revitalize me a bit, and I was with a crowd of friends outside who were besieging me about my verse.
"Yes, it's true." I said, nodding. "I hate to sound disloyal, but I do often wish I was with her instead of here."
"Hey, dude, it's okay. Normally, yes, I would say, 'What's wrong with you?' But I think we all felt your pain and your love for her up there when you did that verse, so I don't think any of us would've done better in your place." The same friend replied.
"Thanks." I replied with a grin.
"You said she actually exists…who is she? Is she alive?" Another friend asked.
"She's alive…but I can't tell you who she is at the moment." I responded.
"She's not some slut or ho, though, is she? Can you tell us that much?" A third asked.
The question quickly reminded me of encountering and facing Rise's sexed-up shadow at Marukyu Striptease, but I just as quickly reminded myself, It's okay. I know that's a part of her, but it's also not a part of her that rules her.

I was thus able to reply firmly but with a smile, "Oh, no, she's not, don't worry. Far from it."
"Oh, good, 'cause if she weren't, I know that wouldn't be you, 'cause I know you always said even back then when stuff like this came up that you didn't plan on doing it until you were married." He said, wiping his forehead.
I nodded before another asked, "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
I smiled and closed my eyes. Yosuke had once said that idols had a glow about them that other girls didn't have, and while I hadn't just looked at idols, I had to agree. I had liked Rise's slender figure (not in the least her legs, because I will look at a girl's legs over her chest any day of the week) and her hairdo (I have to admit I do like it when a girl puts her hair in pigtails), but the light in her eyes and smile were what really made her attractive, making her positively lovable. That said, though, the look and smile that she often gave me when we were together was something else. It wasn't a smile for a special fan or a smile to cheer up a friend, but the smile that a ride-or-die woman (as we call them) reserved for her special someone, and that was when I found myself thinking, God darn, you really are beautiful…

I opened my eyes, still smiling, and said, "Yes, she is beautiful…inside and out." I was lightening up by now as I had started having some fun watching my friends trying to take what hints I was able to give and guess who my girlfriend in Inaba had been.
"Wow, Carlo…" A friend who hadn't spoken yet said. "She sounds like a wonderful girl!"
"She sure is." I said, feeling and likely also looking and sounding dreamy. "I sometimes felt like I was out of her league—as a matter of fact, I still sometimes do—but she'd always remind me that I wasn't."
"I think it's safe to say one thing—she must really be something if she inspired you to do your first original verse and make it that good…" Another said, making all the others nod and express their assent. I just nodded and grinned.

Listening to them for the rest of the conversation, I found it was funny how they knew enough to figure that my girlfriend was cool but still weren't daring to guess that it was Rise. I left them that night outside our condo building in higher spirits than I'd been in since I'd left Inaba, and once I got into my room, my phone went off again.
I pulled it out of my pocket and smiled as I saw who it was, then answered and said cheerfully, "Hey, what's up, Chie?"

Closing Author's Notes
Yes, that second Homecoming verse is indeed my own! Rest assured, there'll be no love triangles here. I also got the concept of talking to Personae from Yu-Gi-Oh (And yes, so sue me, Titania's my favorite so far! She does have Resist Fire, Invigorate 2, and Bufula in addition to her native skills, so that's based off my gameplay.) The next chapter will feature the start of Rise's set at Shiba Park and also the first OutKast song in the story (Any guesses?) Again, please read and review, but don't flame me just because you're not a Rise fan.