Disclaimer: Persona series belong to their rightful owners. The only thing I own are the OCs.
I yawned as I walked the familiar path.
Same day as always. Wake up. Eat some ramen. Think about my life here and then reluctantly go to school.
Oh wait.
There was something different.
On my left hip was an Evoker.
My Evoker.
It was Yukimura's but I guess the 'you snooze, you lose' thing was real after all.
"Kazuma-san!"
A voice broke me out of my thoughts. I sighed. I knew that voice.
Mioda Sayaka.
I knew she was familiar that night.
Most popular girl in school.
Decent grades.
Decent persona.
And I guess decent personality.
"Good morning." She came and bowed near me. I noticed she wore the academy uniform. All parts of it in addition to a purple scarf tied to her waist. I just blinked and shrugged her off. Amazing how she could just spring back up after her parents' gruesome death.
Heh. Maybe she was just fucked up in the head.
Or maybe these things just didn't faze her.
"Are you alright?" she asked me "Ayasara-san said not to overextend yourself. You should rest."
"I got enough rest." I sighed out. Seriously. She was getting on my nerves.
She smiled as I spoke. Guess that's a rarity, go figure.
"The bags under your eyes say otherwise." She teased and took my hand "C'mon. You can rest during class."
I sighed again.
I'm starting to regret befriending this girl.
A crash sound was heard and time stopped around me.
A voice began speaking.
Thou art I. I art Thou. You have strengthened the Sun Arcana.May its radiant shine pave your way.
You might be wondering what that was.
Igor and Eliza explained it to me a few days ago.
Who are Igor and Eliza you ask?
Well…
Flashback!
"Welcome…to the velvet room."
Okay. This is weird.
"Do not be alarmed. Though you are wide awake here, you are sleeping soundly in the real world." The long nosed man smirked.
"My name is Igor. This is my assistant, Eliza." He gestured towards a young woman with pale skin, short silver hair and yellow-golden eyes. She wore a blue dress and blue high heels.
She nodded.
"Greetings young guest." She bowed her head slightly.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This is the Velvet Room." Igor explained "It is a place between reality and the dreaming world."
"Alright. That answers a whole lot." I muttered "Why am I here?"
"You have awoken your power. The power of the Wild Card is rather…intriguing with you."
Wild Card? Me?
Ha. That's a laugh.
It's impossible…
And yet. I thought having a persona would be impossible.
Igor arranged the tarot cards on the table before flipping one.
The Moon Arcana. Upside.
"Hmm. You are confused. And you do not know what you need to do."
He flipped another.
It was the Tower.
"There will be a conflict both inward and outward where you will be caught at a crossroad."
He continued as he flipped another card.
It was the World. Upside down.
"Will you hold the weight of the world? Or cast it aside?"
The final card. Devil, upside down.
"In the end, the choice is yours to make and no one elses."
A contract appeared suddenly in my lap.
A single paragraph was written there.
'I choose my fate out of my own accord.'
Below it was a space to sign my name.
I took a pen and wrote it.
'Kazuma Naoki.'
"Marvelous." Igor smiled before a blue key floated into my pocket "The next time you shall come here will be out of your own accord."
"Before you leave." Eliza spoke up "Make bonds with people. As these bonds may strengthen your persona. Good bye."
I nodded and darkness took me.
A hand kept waving in front of my face. It didn't take a genius to know whose hand that was. I caught it by the wrist and glared slightly. She glared defiantly before I let her hand down. She giggled and fter that awkward interaction the two of us went to our first class.
Combat Practice.
"Hey did you hear? Mioda-san and that reject guy walked here together." a young man asked.
"Really? Never took her for the charity type." Another continued.
"She did lose her family overnight. Maybe she just lost it." The guy laughed before he was hit on the head by a young woman.
Tall, red haired, grey eyed with a shapely body and a mean attitude. She wore the academy uniform with a slightly longer black dress and a band on her arm. Her hair reached the middle of her back and was straight.
This was Kirijo Aoi, student council president and daughter of Kirijo Mitsuru. Some people say that her father used to be a Wild Card but those were just rumors.
"Maybe if you studied and trained more rather than gossiping you two wouldn't be competing for some of the worst scores this academy has to offer!" she growled at them.
They started sweating up a storm. I guess they heard about how her mother used to 'Execute' people.
3,2,1-
"If you don't train harder I'll execute you!" they quickly ran past me and into the school gym. That's where Combat Practice takes place.
Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
"What are you looking at?" she asked me "Do you wish to be executed as well?"
I just shook my head before making my way to the gym.
We all stood in seven lines. I looked around trying to see if I could find someone interesting.
In the front row stood Shinohara Hajime along with Kirijo Aoi.
Two rows behind them Mioda Sayaka stood while avoiding some boys' looks.
To the rightmost of my row was a girl. She had white short hair with deep blue eyes. She wore the academy uniform alongside a long white scarf around her neck. On her right hand was a simple black glove only covering her little and ring fingers.
Some don't wear the academy uniform. It's not a very strict rule.
Take me for example. I got grey eyes and short black hair, although about a quarter of it is white. I wear a high-collared double-breasted black coat with a tattered end, blue pants and black shoes. Things I managed to buy after a long time of saving up money.(A/N: Seth from Under Night In-Birth ) But it was worth it.
So yeah. It's not prohibited to wear something else. Or make adjustments to the uniform.
In any case.
Back to the girl.
Pretty average in my opinion.
Except for one thing. If I wasn't looking straight at her I could swear she wasn't even there.
She suddenly glanced at me and I awkwardly looked away just as our teacher started talking.
He was proctor from that other day. Again. I liked him. He was fair to everyone.
He never told us his name though.
"Alright class. Starting today we'll have a mock tag team tournament between us. That's to develop teamwork and to get a feel of eachother's abilities. Now no arguments about who partners up with whom. Names are in the hat." he quickly added "If two damaging types get paired up they get another draw until they pair with a sensory type."
Again.
He was fair.
I noticed that Ayasara-san was also present. Probably to heal anyone that got hurt during the fights. She saw me staring and smiled at me. I simply turned my attention elsewhere.
First was Shinohara. He got an average looking guy that was happy about the easy win.
Next was Mioda. She got a shy girl. Never talked much with her.
Then again I didn't talk much with anyone.
I waited my turn before I went there and got a paper slip. The teacher waited for me to say the name.
"Kirijo Aoi." I muttered loud enough to be heard.
That sparked some amusement from everyone.
"The dead last with Kirijo Aoi. Wow."
"Never thought I'd see this day. A yomawushi with one of the best."
The woman in question simply walked next to me before we went into a more private corner to talk strategies.
"So I assume you are a damaging type…?" She left the phrase hanging. She was fishing for my name.
"Kazuma. Kazuma Naoki." I responded "And yes. I am a damaging type persona user." Damn it felt good to say that.
"How come, seeing as you don't have a persona?" She asked.
Why that little…
"Well we're about to see that aren't we?" I asked sarcastically.
"Maybe." She narrowed her eyes before the teacher yelled at everyone to get ready.
"First fight will be-" he fished around for some names "Kazuma Naoki and Kirijo Aoi versus-" he got another slip "Shinohara Hajime and Noboru Haru."
Shinohara smirked "Wow. Handing us a freebie like that? Feel bad for Kirijo-san." He got off the wall he was leaning on and made his way to the arena as the others cleared out.
The tag team duel worked like this: the sensory types would stay back and try to get a read on the opponent's next moves and weaknesses while the damaging type persona users would attack the enemy.
It was an unwritten rule that you don't attack the sensory type.
It wasn't illegal but it was frowned upon.
"Wow Dobe. And I thought you had enough after our last fight." Shinohara spoke as we went to choose our weapons. He chose his short sword. He always chose that. I didn't need to choose anything. My rusty sword was on my hip.
"3."
"You're gonna lose again yomawushi."
"2."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." I couldn't help but smirk.
"1."
"I'll beat that smirk off your face dobe."
"Start!"
And with that yell we both dashed at one another. Our swords clashed but it was obvious he was gaining ground. I smirked before leaning out of the way and kicking him towards my side of the field. I briefly glanced at Kirijo's persona.
It was definitely female and somewhat human in appearance. She had a red suit with a white masquerade mask tied to a stick held in her left hand. Her hair was long and flowing. Like a river. A red river. In her other hand was a thorny rose with its stem long. Like a whip. On her head was a crown made out of red and white roses.
I shook my head as my opponent got up.
He growled and raised his left hand. A card floated in front of his face. He smirked and slashed it into pieces "Persona!" he roared and it appeared.
Kagutsuchi.
A large four legged creature made out of red, black and orange flames. The only way to discern the eyes were their brighter color, same as its teeth.
It hissed once before fire was sent towards me. I dodged this time and started running to the right.
"Dodge!"
I listened and stopped before backflipping away from the pillar of flame that appeared. That was an 'Agilao' spell. Way too strong for a student here.
"No time to think. Got any ideas how to win this?"
"That Noboru kid is reading my moves way too well. I'll need to distract him somehow."
"And how do you propose that?"
"Kirijo-san… I got the perfect plan."
"I'm all ears."
"Just try and distract Shinohara."
I smirked as I dodged another 'Agi' spell. I looked at Noboru and flooded my mind with thoughts.
He blushed suddenly before his nose bled and recoiled.
Yes! Works every time!
With that out of the way I went back to dealing with Shinohara. I turned around and fire engulfed me.
"NO!" Mioda yelled from the sidelines.
"Ah finally. Nice try Kirijo! I knew what you were about to do from the start." He smirked as he dusted himself "I think this battle is done teach. Unless you want the Dobe to bur-"
"PERSONA!" I yelled and pulled the trigger.
The fire that previously engulfed me disappeared in a spiral of wind as Tsukuyomi appeared behind me. The Evoker was smoking while at the temple of my head and I smirked.
"Garuda!" I yelled and with a flick of his wrist Tsukuyomi summoned a small tornado of compressed wind at Shinohara's position. He dodged but I was after him while Tsukuyomi handled Kagutsuchi. I raised my katana and slashed. It was blocked albeit barely. I smirked as a black flame started engulfing my sword. Seems Tsukuyomi had more tricks up his sleeves.
I pressed down as I had the advantage.
"What the hell are you!?" he yelled.
I didn't answer. I just grinned ferally.
I cut through his short sword before grabbing him and throwing him in the other side of the arena. I smirked as Tsukuyomi did the same with Kagutsuchi. I nodded at him and we both set into the same stance.
We closed our eyes and concentrated.
"Kirijo-san. Give me the locations where he'll strike!"
"On it."
"Celestial Scar!"
We opened our eyes and dashed at our respective opponents.
Growling, Shinohara ordered his persona to send more 'Agilao' spells at us.
"Left." I dodged left "Another left." I did so again "Right. Straight ahead. Watch out. He's going to make a wall of fire in front of him."
I smirked and went straight past him. I hit the wall and propelled myself back and slashed at his back.
He yelled in both mental and physical pain. Kagutsuchi was cut in half and was slowly vaporizing while Shinohara was writhing on the ground. I smirked and looked at Tsukuyomi. He looked at me.
I smiled and he gave out a triumphant roar before disappearing back into my soul.
I looked at my hand and clenched.
I got the power to strike back.
Finally!
"How the hell did you get that strong!?" Shinohara got up and glared at me. Seems he got over the pain rather quickly.
I shrugged "Stuff happened."
"You gotta be shitting me. I got beaten by the dead fucking last." He glared at the ground "And since when do you have a persona?"
"As I said. Stuff happened."
"Yeah fucking right. You did something and I'll find out what that was. And then I'll get stronger than you!-"
Crash.
Time stopped.
Oh God no.
Thou art I. I art thou. You have established the Emperor arcana. May its boundless ambition be your guide.
I'm strangling whoever said that.
"-And then we'll see who's the strongest!" he growled.
Regardless. The two of us shook hands and walked away.
"Kazuma-san." Kirijo said as we walked towards the sidelines.
"Kirijo."
"How exactly did you distract Noboru-san?"
Shit.
"Well you see…?" I looked at my watch "Would you look at the time?! I have to go!" I ran away, my left and right arm bare.
"I'll execute you!" she roared and ran after me.
Crash.
Oh come on!
Thou art I. I art thou. You have established the Empress arcana. May its relentless justice guide your heart.
After finally escaping Kirijo I managed to get back at the gym. It was Mioda's turn to fight.
The way she fought was elegant. Precise. She didn't have much strength behind her attacks but she knew how to use them properly.
After a well-placed Agi spell she won. She smiled before looking at me happily. I nodded with a slight smile before she thanked her partner and made her way to me.
"Kazuma-san! What did you think? About that fight?"
"You did good." I shrugged.
She beamed with happiness before looking down.
I raised an eyebrow "Are you alright?"
"Yea-…No." she sighed "It just. It feels weird to live at that place now."
Ah. I get it. She had survivor's guilt.
"I know what you're thinking." I started "And it's not your fault."
"Kazuma-san I-"
"No."
"But I-"
"Just no. It's not your fault that Yukimura killed them. You should look on the bright side of things. Their deaths let you live. You can live for them." Felt weird saying something like this. Then again it was weird that I was talking this much to begin with. Might as well go full weird.
"Kazuma-san…" she smiled with unshed tears in her eyes "Thank you." She grinned and hugged me quickly.
Crash.
Again?!
Thou art I. I art thou. You have strengthened the Sun arcana. Its radiant lights shall guide thee on the righteous path.
"Yeah…" I spoke up awkwardly "This is awkward."
"Oh. Sorry." She let go and looked at the arena "Huh. She's fighting?"
"Who's she?" I widened my eyes a bit. That girl from earlier.
"That's Atisuto Hana. She's a year above us and she's an enigma."
"How so?"
"She barely talks-like someone I know." She teased me.
"Ha-ha." I sarcastically laughed.
"And she never once showed her persona."
"So she's like me?"
"No. You awakened your persona on that night. She could use spells like 'Agi' and such ever since she came here."
"Then how does she use those spells?" Now I was curious.
"You'll see."
"Start!"
The fight started and the opposing team was already on the offensive.
That Atisuto girl started…drawing? She finished in a split second and tore the small paper off before she threw it at the oncoming attack. A large blast of fire was sent that way. The enemy was forced to dodge before another hit came. This time in the form of a lightning strike from above.
It connected and the fight was over.
Two moves.
She used two spells and it was all over.
And she didn't even move from her spot.
"See what I mean?" she asked.
"Yeah." I nodded and looked down.
I had a long way to go before I could get on that level.
I woke up suddenly.
That dream. It felt so real.
"Hey. You're alright." Mioda smiled. She was sitting down next to my bed.
Wait.
My bed?
Where was I?
I looked around. White.
Ah.
Hospital.
"You've been asleep for a whole day." She said.
A whole day? Wow.
I suddenly remembered.
I was probably having it better than her.
"You alright?" I asked.
She gasped.
"You…You talked!" she pointed at my face.
"It's a miracle." I sarcastically said.
She snickered before looking down "I'm not that good. My family's dead." She looked ready to cry.
"I see. You're lucky." I said.
"How is that lucky?!" she screamed "You got no idea how it is to lose your whole family and watch the psycho do it!"
I let her scream all she wanted.
"You're right. I got no clue how it is to lose family." I said as I stretched "But at least you had them to lose."
"Huh?"
"I'm an orphan. Never knew my family. They supposedly died in some freak accident."
"I'm sorry." I grunted and flicked her on the forehead.
"You didn't do anything. And I guess I was a bit of an ass." I scratched my cheek.
"Yeah." She sniffled once before laughing "You were."
"So. Are you alright?"
She looked down before grinning at me.
"I am now."
I smiled at her grin.
Thou art I. I art thou. Thou have established the Sun arcana. May its hopeful rays guide thee.
A/N: Yomawushi: Coward, Wimp.
