Persona FEStivities

Author's notes: The pairings are pretty much non-existent at this point but there will be changes, though I don't want anything too predictable…what a dilemma.

Enjoy the chapter, by the way uploads will be rare due to the school year so just appreciate whatever there is to read.

So to answer some questions of why I did what I did, the first being the way that I designed the character…is he going to be the same old gritty protagonist that have been given a second chance at life? Well, I can only answer half of that question unfortunately but then again I will do my best to sate some but not complete curiosity. The protagonist is going to be surprisingly brighter without the whole mask thing coming up, at least that is the plan…he's not happy and sarcastic for a reason that I can think of when I was performing character design. I know it makes it boring somewhat but there are problems for him, the memory thing and the Velvet Room thing…yep those two.

So besides him being brighter, what else is there for him? Well, his abilities are classified for now…will be revealed or it already has been if you've read the chapters so far carefully. And because I want special abilities in the Persona lore to stay special, with only a rare few who signed a contract getting to receive it, and in my opinion Yuki (the protagonist of 3) is more than enough considering his role in the story but that doesn't mean that our new protagonist is completely helpless.

That's all I can say, forgive me if the answers are vague but that is the point of the story to say it. There will be a long time skip with some parts in the middle to explain certain things he experienced in the month of February…though I wouldn't go into detail as the adventure starts in late March and then goes onto the main storyline.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything by Shin Megami as it is rightfully Atlus and the Shin Megami fella…if he exists, so yea, I'll have to Wiki that.

4th February, Wednesday

"Screw you fever," the croaky voice of one Felice Armbruster chided and groaned as he lifted a weak finger attempting to check his strength only to wearily watch his finger and hand fall flat on the bed covers, the sight causing him to sigh in pain while a knock to the bedroom door alerted him to someone just as the voice simultaneously announced themselves into the room.

"I'm coming in," the feminine tone made Felice relax in the covers the warm towel on his bare forehead had run out of water to drip down his skin the teenager groaning when another round of throbbing sent him reeling, the sound of footsteps coming into the room stopping over his face blocking the sunlight that was seeping inside the room. "How are you feeling, better than yesterday?" The voice belonged to the daughter of the grandmother who owned the household in Iwatodai, one Ayaka Minami the mentioned mother of two children the night he first arrived and had gotten introduced to the subsequent day when he became first confined in his bed, the woman was full of authority the first time he met her when he had come down with a slight headache pinning him indoors almost rivaling that of a matriarch in terms of the feeling that she gave off. While a head shorter than him, the 28 year old woman was both motherly and yet stern to the point that she fussed over him when she found out he had fallen sick, though it wasn't overtly done which Felice could somewhat understand himself…in a country where women working single were the type to raise eyebrows and start unnecessary rumors according to stereotyped images of gender, suppression of presence and action was a tactic that many employ to keep themselves away from attention though to futility. Ayaka Minami was no different as being the target of ostracized comments and put downs, the weary bags under her eyes and the slightly ruffled dark hair with small strands sticking out were evidence of hours of slaving for minimum wage (he read it up in a few articles overseas and compared the treatment in his school) and being harassed verbally if her short temper was any indication of it.

"Like I just puked myself still," Felice answered almost bitterly as he recalled the first night when he arrived home and just threw up in the bathroom for thirty minutes straight, the answer gaining humorous approval as the blurry image then took their face away from his own as the cold touch of a palm left his forehead tilting his head to the side. "Well, I'm still fighting fit…just immobilized that's all. Thanks again for the care."

"I see, fight hard."

Felice's eyebrow twitched for a second but calmed down as he nestled the offending covers away from his steaming body, the fever had dried up even his sweat as he winced at the cold touch of the weather. "You know, that is kinda depressing the way you said it…now I don't feel so good again, like my health just took a kick when it's down on the ground shivering in the cold."

"That's what you get when you were up so late as well as worrying my grandmother, and what was with the scratches in your clothes? Did you get into a fight with the gangs around Port Island already on your first night here?" Ayaka narrowed her eyes at the sick boy while she retorted chidingly. Felice blinked slowly his eyes still heavy from sleep, the fever had dulled his senses and slowed his perception of time for the past three days now and he wasn't getting any better since then. His condition had worsened from a simple instance of upset stomach to that of a fever in three full days, as if a string of bad luck was following him wherever he went…now that he thought about it, he wasn't too sure what he did to deserve any of the crap that was happening him to him these past few days. He had been thrown into a world of strange since his arrival three days ago, with wacky fortune tellers and a weird midnight hour where blood and coffins littered the entire place along with being nearly killed, he couldn't exactly wrap his head around it all. Turning his head away from the window, he stared at the cupboard where the outline of a pillow being tossed on the floor was jutting up as if crawling against the wall the white fluffy head cushion giving him the idea of floating into the sky.

"I wasn't, like I told you the holes came from a bad fall, I was knocked off the stairs by some drunk who couldn't tell left from right," He insisted while silence answered his alibi the pause was enough to cause him to suck in some air before he blew it the breeze of cold wind irritated his pained forehead. "Please close the window I don't appreciate having cold freezing wind causing me more headaches than necessary…"

"*sigh* It's that or you stay in the bad air of fever dream…you'll feel worse if I don't, trust me," Ayaka walked over to the side of the bed and collected the pillow dusting it off before she tossed it back on the bed at the teen's legs, the mother of two walking towards the door before she paused in mid-exit inclining her head back to the bedridden teen. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you: the school faculty called us up yesterday while you were sleeping, they wanted to let you know that the day you were going to tour the facility was changed to the end of the month due to some quarantine for medical sterilization of the campus or something like that. Anyways, you have until the 31st to yourself until then so get well." Seeing that Felice had said nothing else, Ayaka moved out of the room leaving the door slightly ajar to allow more ventilation her footsteps becoming slightly distant as two loud thumps broke Felice out of his morning daze followed by loud voices.

"That must be the grandchildren…now that I mention it, I haven't met them yet." Felice wondered aloud before his brain throbbed, the pulsing pain forcing the teen into another fever dream, Felice grunting as he fell asleep again for the umpteenth time today, pretty sure that another day would pass as he groaned one final time just as he drifted off to sleep.

One more month…school tour. Oh joy of joys.

7th February, Saturday, kitchen

He was feeling much better now, the muscles that were once held down by illness weighing on him like a chain was unshackled as his body deemed itself functional and healthy as he chewed on his cereal, the crunchiness of the box being the only sound as he heard a shuffling noise from the doorway to the kitchen. Felice didn't have to wait long, the door opening to reveal the old woman whose expression brightened upon seeing the boy up and about as she approached him at the table, "Good morning Felice-san, I trust you are well?"

"Mmhm," Felice spoke as he chewed on the cereal placing his spoon in the bowl while he spoke with the grandmother leaning his head against the palm of his hand feeling the dullness go away slowly as his body fought back the remnants of the fever smiling lightly. "Yep, I feel like I can do a few things around the house since I can move now…uh, that is if you let me."

The grandmother smiled as she nodded in appreciation of his offer moving towards the kitchen pulling a few items from the fridge which were ingredients, gesturing to Felice as she did so and then at the stove while a grin was on her face. "Well then, can you cook?"

2nd March, 2009

It had now become a month, and that was the day that he was scheduled to go and visit his future school for the year on one of the final days of the school year just in time for the break which would descend at the beginning of March. He had been busy since his sudden strike of fever and stomach upset, the aftereffects in the days following the 7th were minimal at best and he was grateful for that one stroke of good in his recovery although during that period of time the school was unable to attend to him due to the small cases of a new illness that seemed to be affecting citizens though so far no source had been found. Since then the school had entered a bit of a quarantine period by which no one was allowed to attend school just in case of infection while medical teams were dispatched to secure the area and ensure it was healthy, Felice keeping a constant watch on the news due to the free time he acquired.

Since the little skirmish he had against the attendant he had noticed that he had changed, not in the physical sense anyways but in some aspects that he never thought possible. For example, he had been able to prepare old dishes which were from Greek cuisine without difficulty (though a few times he had burnt the kitchen stove and several items in one instance) and to further test it, began watching Greek shows on his laptop made him realize that he no longer leaned on the subtitles of English for it, instead he could watch raw episodes of shows despite having no prior experience in such a thing which would have been nice, though his cooking was still rather horrid despite the knowledge to do so. Rightfully worried for his health (as recognition of Greek had given him a scare along with being able to memorize old recipes that couldn't be cooked in the current time period of technology), he had searched up the name of that woman who had aided him in the battle and clicked on Wikipedia for the condensed version of the name's origins and what he discovered was more than enlightening for him and although it held no good for him in the academic sense, he felt his common knowledge get slightly better with the new facts.

Today though was a special exception to his daily life, the boy found himself standing in front of the school which was to be his future academic teacher while wearing a grey shirt with a crimson shaded pocket covered by a blue windbreaker, the waterproof material flapping in the air while the sky blue hood stayed on covering his head protectively from the cold weather a hand on his right sleeve where a watch laid strapped to his wrist sat staring up at him.

"Hmm, the welcoming committee should be around here somewhere…right?" The boy said hesitantly as the cloudy weather blotted out the sunlight from coming through and warming his body, the jacket was doing its job of deflecting the wind from passing through his body though the chill was getting almost ridiculous. Pulling his watch out, the teenager checked the time to make sure he was on time only to frown at the numerals on the digitized screen before he groaned out loud, the empty courtyard being the only witness to his plight as he looked back at the open gate with disdain.

10:45am

"This isn't funny man, this isn't funny at all…" Felice said in regard to the time as he felt almost cheated. The schedule was said to take place after school which was around 10:30am today due to the last day of term, however for the last fifteen minutes he had been standing in the courtyard watching trickles of students walking by him while he felt absolutely lost. The stares didn't help either, and the fact no one actually helped him to locate the faculty office was a detrimental experience to the supposed high academic institution that promises to be aware of the needs of their students. Felice looked to the campus and back at the gate as the last of the small crowd of students wandered off elsewhere to grab their lunches, the minutes of standing around and waiting was beginning to be ridiculous before he made a decision storming for the entry doors to the school, murmuring under his breath a string of complaints about time.

Gekkoukan High shoe locker area

"Why didn't I think of this before? Could have saved me some lost warmth," Felice spoke as he looked around the boring interior eyeing the shoe lockers that laid in rows, Felice looking down at the wooden platform before he stepped on it the teen shaking his head out of irritation. Grabbing his headphones which had no music playing, Felice grabbed his player and pressed play placing the headphones on his ears allowing the track to play the boy smiling a little as he decided to walk to the right the occasional student giving him a stare as he walked down the hallway though he was deeply immersed into the song at this point to care.

I got more tail than that PetCo, you faker than some Sweet'N Low
Yeah, you got some silverware, but really are you eating though?
Are you eating though? Nigga, are you eating though?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner's for beginners, you ain't even know
Never catching cases, why they faces look so e-m-o?
Watch a hater hate me, wanna play me like a piano
My architect know Japanese, yo' girl, she jocking me
No hands like soccer teams and y'all fuck boys like Socrates
You niggas ain't copping these, niggas ain't looking like me
Nah, I ain't checking I.D. but I bounce 'em with no problem
Tell 'em, Problem (Problem!)

"I wonder if I could still remember…" Felice said as he gave a small spin to the chorus his heels making a squeak as they rubbed against the smooth tiles of the school floor, the teen noticing a set of double doors on his left the prospect of entering becoming appealing to him as he followed his interest. Opening the doors, he was greeted by the cloudy weather once again the boy changing the song and lowered the volume as he wandered down the long open aired walkway his eyes turning left while he came to a halt spying a tree planted in the middle of the large lush green garden which made up the space of the center, plants and flowers were placed in a uniformed line that stretched in a semi-circle around the tree with a small path cut out in between with bricks laid inward to lead to the other walkway giving it a surreal feeling as Felice walked over to the tree placing a hand on the bark.

"What a well-grown tree…the gardener deserves praise," he said as he walked around it his eyes were in slight fascination of the tree's prominence before leaving the area, moving into another section of the school which stretched to two stories high. Entering through Felice found himself greeted by a small group of ten students in the main hall who turned to stare at him, their eyes in wonder and interest as Felice looked around the room ignoring their stares while he walked eyeing the white design of the hallway as whispers trailed behind his back when he had gone a certain distance from them.

"Who's he?"

"He doesn't look like a student…"

"What is this guy doing here?"

Felice eyed the main hall before he moved on up the stairs, the students in the main entrance didn't stop him as he reached the second floor the boy removing his headphones as he turned off his player looking up at the small plates which dictated the name of classrooms for senior-year students Felice blinked as he scanned each nameplate for nothing in particular, the teenager intent on continuing his exploration in the empty hallway.

"Huh?" Felice suddenly felt a disturbance in the peaceful air of the school, the boy sensing Letho stirring to life within him the woman seemingly searching for something that he couldn't see, the boy swirling his head left and right while he muttered out in the midst of the quiet air. "What is it, Letho? Did you just sense something?" The muttering of Greek was all he could hear as he turned around, the boy narrowing his eyes towards where he had just ascended his mind processing the words which were spoken by his Persona the boy sighing as he leaned against the window closing his eyes in thought before he thanked Letho Felice placing his headphones onto his ears once more turning on the music player, the boy standing around for a while before he pushed himself off the window and walked back the way he came.

"Of all the times where I figured I could just lean back and take a long break this happens. Ah well, another Persona user huh…this should be a most interesting experience for me I guess, but this smells like trouble already if nothing else."

A little while back, Second floor Student Council Room

"Well, that is it for the term…you're all dismissed. And enjoy your well-deserved break everyone. By the way, Hidetoshi I need you to come with me for one last business before you can go."

"Of course Mitsuru-senpai," a boy with combed slicked hair to the back of his head and a yellow armband around his black school jacket replied giving a small tilt of acknowledgement towards a girl dressed in an elegant white blouse with a large red neck ribbon around the front of her blouse and black skirt with buttons around her waist, her red flowing hair giving off an air of superiority as she gave a nod towards the remaining council members who were packing their bags eager to leave for the school break, the two taking their leave first closing the door to the Student Council room before heading towards the stairs on the right. Once they were alone, the girl named Mitsuru turned to Hidetoshi who was frowning to himself while his eyes cast down in thought about something as the redhead spoke to him with a light hint of concern, "What's on your mind, Hidetoshi-san?"

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing important…I was just reviewing some of the suggestions placed by students regarding our school attire, and they were most unhelpful." Scowling, Hidetoshi folded his arms as the two Council seniors walked down the stairs to the main hall. Mitsuru gave a light nod the topic of discussion a few minutes earlier was still stuck a little in her mind as she shook her head at the various suggestions that the school loosen the regulations regarding uniforms, opting for casual wear instead of a uniformed appearance the redhead sighing. "Oh that, I was surprised by the amount of growing support it had gathered when you brought it up just then…though I have to agree, there isn't much time for students to complain about things like a change in uniform when their studies should take precedence."

Hidetoshi seemed to agree as he brightened up considerably, the opinion of the redhead giving him a smile unfolding his arms. "I am pleased to know that, you aren't our President for nothing Mitsuru-senpai," Hidetoshi spoke with praise and it was well-deserved for the redheaded president. Since coming to the school, Mitsuru was the one president who took over a very inefficient student council when the seniors left the position open, in fact Hidetoshi recalled when he first arrived to Gekkoukan High it had been a mess with a relaxed enforcement of school protocols allowing small punishments to go mostly unnoticed by the council especially the discipline committee. When Mitsuru took over, she recruited him due to his efficiency over his 'by the book' attitude and he had owed a lot to her for giving him both the seat on the council and providing him with an area of school life he enjoyed best. Suffice to say, Hidetoshi held respect towards Mitsuru for her careful recruitment of talented individuals and delicate understanding of the school's inner workings to make the student council a more respectable force.

"Speaking of which, Hidetoshi…about our last matter of business, it is regarding a new student that has come to us in February this year on a short notice. We are supposed to be showing him around the campus today and introducing him to the year schedule, I was planning to take the Treasurer with me but with Chihiro being easily nervous around guys still," Mitsuru paused as Hidetoshi nodded grimly frowning as he understood what she was getting at the stern boy keeping silent his facial features relaxed slightly when silence came between them, pulling his sleeve back to look at the watch on his wrist reading the time before pausing. "Mitsuru-senpai, what was the time that we were supposed to meet up with the new student again?"

Mitsuru paused as she took a second to think before she replied, "I think it was after school." Hidetoshi's earlier attitude turned to a mini scowl as he looked at Mitsuru's back with a bit of concern in his tone while he shoved the watch back in the confines of his sleeve. "It's been close to twenty minutes, nearly 11am."

"What? We're late?" Mitsuru turned back with a gasp of surprise to see Hidetoshi having his scowl back on his face, the stern boy looking at the entrance before he looked back at Mitsuru with a shrug not wanting to jump to any conclusions. "Perhaps he is just waiting outside the school for us, though I imagine that he would be very impatient now that we're running late in meeting him."

"Perhaps…we should go check the meeting spot near the gate, that's the first place to start." The two walked out into the main courtyard of the school where the gate laid and found no one standing at the designated meeting spot, the redhead having a bit of concern while Hidetoshi was already frowning further as Mitsuru looked a little distant. "Where is he?"

"No idea, we should go to the faculty office and ask his guardian if he's skipping," Hidetoshi retorted with a bit of haste as he power-walked back into the school building Mitsuru following the boy as she kept her eye out for anyone along the way. As they entered through the glass doors, Hidetoshi immediately left her side to walk towards the faculty office intent on following up with his own suggestion letting Mitsuru stay behind in the shoe locker area muttering as he disappeared down the hallway, the redhead staring to her right.

I should go look for him than stand around, perhaps he may still be in the school, Mitsuru thought as she walked towards the club rooms keeping an eye out for the sign of the student the sound of her feet clapping against the tiled floor being the only companion as she stared ahead turning the corner of the hallway before a male voice caught her attention to its presence as the sound rebounded against the walls of the school filling it with life.

Do you know where the wild things go?
They go along to take your honey, la, la, la
Break down, now weep,
Build up breakfast, now let's eat
My love, my love, love, love, la, la, la

"What is that?" Curious to this new development, the redhead heard the thumping of a piano the unnatural sound attracted her to a distant beat from one of the club rooms, Mitsuru deciding to check it out as she reached the music club's official room the student council president about to open the door before she heard a few voices speaking behind the sliding door which she could identify as the members of the club as they were planning to have practice today.

"Whoa, he's really good!"

"Where did he learn to play like that?"

"His hands are rather fast!"

Mitsuru slid open the door stepping into the music club, keeping her presence a secret from the rest of the room's occupants as she heard the piano playing in a rhythmic and upbeat fashion the echo of the instrument filling the room while she heard the voice singing along with the piano's keys thudding and letting out chords.

Muscle to muscle and toe to toe
The fear has gripped me but here I go
My heart sinks as I jump up
Your hand grips hand as my eyes shut

Aaah, aaah, aaah…

The piano came to a halt as Mitsuru politely entered the ring of awestruck students, the ring erupting into applause as Mitsuru approached the piano ignoring the change in the air as the students' attention shifted from the piano player reacting to her presence with whispers and a sudden calm on the earlier commotion, Mitsuru not missing a heartbeat as she went around the large grand piano to come face to face with a teenager with short muddy blonde hair dressed in a windbreaker jacket and a music player loudly playing the song which had been stopped by his finger on the pause button staring up at her with his prominent red eyes, the glimmers in them showed her a look of energy not seen in many people in the school. "Hello there, I was attracted by the sound of the music room so I came here to enjoy myself…I trust I didn't cause you too much trouble," the boy spoke to her before he paused putting a finger to his chin tapping the skin looking at her with a second glance. "Uh, you are the student council right? The escort that was supposed to show me the campus at the gate this morning, aren't you?"

Mitsuru paused looking at the man's music player which he collected and placed into his jacket pocket while he asked, the headphone wire hanging loosely at his waist with a smile on his face staring at the redhead who decided to take this small hiccup in stride. "Yes, I am sorry that we were so late in noticing you had arrived. The fault should lie with me, I was too busy doing student council work to notice the time that we were supposed to meet you." Felice almost groaned closing the piano with a little force as he looked exasperated by the apology there were times that the manners of Japan were humbling and all, yet at some points in time where Felice really didn't understand the meaning behind numerous apologies for something that wasn't so serious like being late for a student tour around the school grounds. Waving his hand flippantly, Felice dismissed her apology with a lighthearted tone the boy yawning as his eyes began to tire slightly, "No it's fine to be honest. I was enjoying myself before you guys came along, you didn't ruin any experience for me by being late…"

"Mitsuru-senpai, if I may have a word!" One of the male students approached the Council President with confidence gesturing to Felice who had gone over to another section of the music room exploring the instruments with a small following of students behind him, the display of his musical prowess catching their attention again while he picked up a set of sticks and played with the xylophone the sound of high keys echoing through the room in a melody. "I was wondering, since the new student is well-versed in music if I could apply an early entry into the club. It's been too long since we've been getting any new talents to add to the roster so…"

Mitsuru looked thoughtfully before looking at the club president. "Well, I cannot exactly approve of that…you already have a date by which you can invite new members over do you not?"

The club president nodded though slight disappointment was evident at the possibility of not acquiring such rare talent, "Yes of course…I was simply thinking if I could invite him over to some of our meetings for a trial run when the new semester rolls by. Well, thanks for listening." The club president spoke politely as he walked over to the new student, Felice had by this time moved on to the drums and was experimentally tapping different areas of the drums with his hand hearing the different pitches before he felt a hand on his shoulder distract him.

"Oh, are we going for the tour?" Seeing the student council president nod, Felice removed his hands from the drum and turned to the club president with a smile. "Your instruments are in good condition…I might just drop by sometime."

"R-Really, that would be great if you could come over! I wouldn't mind if you observed us in late April." The club president spoke with energy as he shook Felice's hand, the transfer student nodding as he joined the student council president at the entrance and waved back at the music club before the sliding door obscured his view. Sighing in contentment, Felice covered his mouth as another yawn escaped his throat the boy stretching his arms while hearing the girl address him.

"So you're Felice Armbruster? The transfer student we were getting from Inaba?" Felice nodded in confirmation as he jutted his arm out towards her. "Yep, but I rather much like introductions that involve both parties knowing who the other is."

Mitsuru blanched, aware of the loss of courtesy as she closed her eyes and stretched it out to meet his in a light shake. "Mitsuru Kirijo, Student Council President and third year student to Gekkoukan High School, Armbruster-san." Felice had to gag on his saliva, this woman was way too classy for him as he nodded dumbly before he felt nervous as if his body was going into a reserved mode when he came into contact with her hand noting the care and slight callousness which led him to believe she wasn't as fair skinned as most people believed from her face which radiated perfection, the transfer student unable to help himself as he blurted out the next words.

"So Gekkoukan High has its share of intellect and beauty along with class…reminds me of home already," Felice noted how the professionalism from Mitsuru's face enveloped into a light red flush at the comment, the teen noting that down in his personal memory bank regarding her. Mitsuru-senpai, third year in Gekkoukan High School and a high class female of possibly 18 years…flushes at special comments made to her person, check. "So uh, when are you going to let my hand go?" Felice snapped out of his brief profiling as he released the grasp on her hand, his hand still lukewarm from the cold touch lightly freezing his fingertips which were growing numb turning his head to the side to avoid eye contact due to embarrassment.

"Oops, we should start the tour I suppose." He said as Mitsuru nodded, her professionalism returning instantly while he followed her back to the main hall hearing a string of Greek in the back of his mind, the boy barely hearing it but the message was clear as day.

Do not trust.

Twenty minutes later, school gate

"So how did you find our school?"

"I would have to wait and attend the school semester before such a judgment can be passed," Felice replied towards Hidetoshi the disciplinary president which he had been introduced to when they arrived at the main hall, the boy had apparently thought that Felice had ditched the entire tour and played hookey but that changed when he saw him tagging beside Mitsuru. To summarize he spared himself a potential scolding on his first day, however further interaction led him to believe that he had just only escaped the first half of the torture session. Hidetoshi's expression was stormy throughout the tour and it wasn't his frown but more of his picking words apart whether intentionally or unintentionally judging by the looks he gave him whenever a comment about Inaba or comparisons were given between the two schools and he would interject. It was only with luck for Hidetoshi that Mitsuru was there to act as the buffer between both of them, stepping in when she could sense the tiniest bit of apprehension from Felice.

Hidetoshi smirked at his reply. "I'm glad that you think that way, so I expect you'll be on time in April?"

"Oh yes, definitely…the first right?" Felice asked as Hidetoshi grinned, happy that he remembered that particular detail. "Yes, that is the date. Well I need to get home soon to help my mother out with some chores, so I will take my leave…enjoy your semester break, Felice-san, Mitsuru-senpai." Felice watched the boy walk away from the gate down the street on the left, his smile giving way to a neutral look as he relaxed the tense muscles in his shoulders that he unknowingly held from speaking with the disciplinary council member.

"Exhausted so quickly?" Felice blinked as he registered the other presence beside him shaking his head. "Not really, I was thinking about visiting the city for a while before I even head back…there must be something to do here, it's a city after all."

"Have you not managed to explore the city?" Mitsuru asked curiously as Felice nodded the two walking out of the school gate. "Not exactly, I just arrived and fell sick almost immediately when I was coming home on my first day and spent the first month just moving around the residential area. I haven't really touched on the cityscape." Not to mention the big freaking tower that comes up at midnight, that kind of makes you very avoidant from the city itself.

In the month that he had been spending with the family, he had begun to be more self-aware that there was something going on at night besides the obvious. The images of blood rivers and coffins after all were too sickening to just forget, and the fact that he spent every waking hour in the times he was sick wary of being possibly approached by anything creepy…soon after his recovery, he took the first steps out into this strange world of green and red filled with all sorts of symbolic meanings pointing towards death for the second time since his first disoriented adventure. It had taken courage for him to even step into the city area where the tower laid ominously over the horizon of the residential zones after a week of total avoidance, armed with no one but Letho at his side and a kitchen knife he took from the grandmother's collection on the rack alongside a bag with snacks and energy drinks to keep him fed during the midnight phenomenon.

"I see," Mitsuru said thoughtfully the two falling into silence for a bit before Felice decided to move the topic forward. "Well I guess that's enough about me, what about you? I was rather curious when I heard the name Kirijo, it sounded very familiar but I couldn't place it anywhere."

Mitsuru nearly tripped as she looked at him incredulously for a second. He had to be joking right? "You don't know about the Kirijo Group?"

"Can't say that I care or heard of this Kirijo Group. Should I be concerned with anything in particular?" Felice asked with a shrug of his shoulders the slight nihilism in his tone made him cringe inwardly as Mitsuru recovered not saying anything regarding his reference to the company before she turned her head to the side her long hair hiding her expression from Felice. "N-No, never mind then…forget that I said anything."

"Huh? Okay…weird." Felice said as he decided to follow her wishes, the teen filing that too in his profile before he felt the silence becoming dreadful to bear for both of them. "Actually now that I think about it…"

"Yes?"

"Are you free for an hour? I was hoping to get to a café to relax my tenseness and you look like you need a drink, but if you can't make it..." Felice proposed as he felt the discomforting air lift around them when Mitsuru replied hesitantly, "Well I was actually planning to do some study and other business that requires my attention…"

"Ah, I see. Well then, if you're that busy then I won't waste your time." Damn, I already got shot down huh? Well not that I was expecting her to open up so freely just by looking at her and especially now when we've just met.

"Well, this is my stop…" Mitsuru said bringing Felice back to reality as he looked to the left where the redheaded girl had left his side and moved up the stairs to a Western styled building, Felice's mouth turning into a small 'o' as he ruffled his muddy blonde locks nodding as he gave a tiny wave of goodbye watching the council president push open the door disappearing behind the door without so much a farewell. Felice stood rooted in the spot for a few more seconds before he shrugged, walking down the road towards Iwatodai station by taking another route the boy focusing on the next priority on his need to do list, pushing the day's events behind him.

"Now, about that café…"

POV change

"Where've you been, Mitsuru?" A boy with silver hair in a red vest over his school uniform lowered the men's magazine he held in his hands onto the table in the middle of an assortment of expensive couches and chairs, his eyes lighting up in greeting when he noticed Mitsuru walking through the door closing it behind her to let out a sigh, catching his attention. "So what's got you all tired?"

"Nothing, just having to deal with more work than usual from both school and work," Mitsuru replied with a bit of weariness in her body language as she sat opposite the boy, her eyes closed for a quiet rest as she felt some of the tension leave her body. "The number of cases are still small but rising in number week by week. The chairman will be coming along to the dorm soon in the evening while everything is being prepared."

"Hmm," the silver-haired boy hummed in thought as he brought the magazine back on his lap glancing at her while his eye browsed the magazine article but not completely paying attention to the content, the silver-haired teen listening to the silence before he spoke up. "Speaking of which Mitsuru, I'm thinking of going on active patrol again for the next few weeks until April to make sure there aren't any of them poking around the city until our new guest comes over."

"Akihiko…" Mitsuru wanted to start but the teen shook his head flipping over another page. "I know this isn't a game, but you have to believe when I say this month has been rather strange. Haven't you noticed that there aren't many of those things lately? To be honest I'm worried about what's going on, it's too quiet," the teen muttered as Mitsuru held her tongue her tiredness was holding her back from speaking to Akihiko about being careful the school council president opening her eyes as she rose from her seat. "Mitsuru!"

"Go ahead, I have to admit this is getting a little too suspicious but please keep yourself safe when you venture out…Takeba isn't that prepared and we need you around too." Mitsuru replied as she walked towards the stairs, her voice echoing over to Akihiko who fell back into his seat, the teen breathing a sigh of relief at her reply before he went back to reading the magazine though his mind was beginning to wander elsewhere while he skimmed over an article with his face on it.

"A new potential coming in April for the year…this will be interesting."

End