Piece Quatre – The Specialized, Extra Curricular, Execution Squad
[The next day, May 16th 2012, in a jail cafeteria.]
"Cabbage soup! Oh man! It's gotta be my lucky day! Hahaha!" Adachi laughed as he stepped up to the window with his tray. The scruffy inmate with his afro in a hairnet put the bowl of the strange smelling soup on his tray.
"Thanks!"
The inmate grunted.
"Man, I cannot WAIT to dig in.. Oof!" Adachi turned directly into another inmate, slamming his tray into him and spilling the soup all over his bright orange jumpsuit.
"M-my soup…" Adachi groaned. He looked up. The inmate whom he bumped into towered over him, scowling.
"S-sorry…" Adachi said with a nervous smile.
The inmate cocked his arm back.
"Here we go again…" Adachi said to himself.
I don't feel like killing this guy today.. Solitary will be even more boring than general population is…
The inmate threw a hard right punch. Adachi allowed the punch to hit, sending him reeling backwards onto the floor.
"Stupid bitch. You're lucky I don't cut you for that…" The inmate said. He walked away as a guard approached.
"This place… Is just so boring…" Adachi said listlessly as he laid on the cold, unforgiving ground of the prison cafeteria.
"Well, that's all for today I suppose.." The teacher said. The classroom was filled with a dull roar as the students chattered.
"Dude, I told you man. 2012. World's ending!" A rumor loving student said.
"Ugh, are you kidding me? I told you. Weeniepedia said it's all a big Junes publicity stunt." His friend replied.
"Oh really! Well you could always ask 'you know who' (he indicated towards Yosuke) if it's true. Besides, the Junes bear wasn't even seen at the last big fight—"
Yosuke shook his head.
"Sometimes I think people want the world to end…" He said to Chie. Chie didn't seem to hear him.
"Hey.. wasn't there supposed to be an assembly today?" She asked. Yosuke shrugged.
"I dunno. Man, I'm beat. These last couple of weeks have been pretty unforgiving…Not to mention I've been Dojima-San's personal slave lately…" He said and yawned.
"I wonder what it's going to be about?" Chie said.
"Alright everyone, it's time for the assembly. Head to the auditorium. And please be quiet in the halls? Please? Is anyone even listening…?" The teacher said as the students shuffled out of the classroom, oblivious to what he was saying.
When the students arrived inside the auditorium, the lights were off, and the stage was dark, and covered with a curtain.
"Whoa. What's with this set up?" Yosuke said.
"Yeah. Sheesh. It's almost creepy." Chie said, looking around. The students seemed extra chatty, the way crowds of teenagers always seem to be in a dark room.
"Hey, senpai!"
Yosuke turned around. "Kanji! What are you doing here?"
Kanji laughed. He had a bandage on his right cheek. "Hehe. I was raisin' hell y'know. So they let me out early." He scratched his head, grinning.
"Figures." Chie said with a smile.
"Good to have you back, Kanji." Said Yosuke.
"Ladies and gentleman!" A voice on the PA announced, "Please take your seats! The show is about to begin!"
"Eh? Show?" Yosuke said. "Oh crap, is this another one of those cheesy non-smoking PSA's!"
"Hey! Those are pretty funny!" Chie protested. "Remember that song! 'Don't kiss Butts'?"
She began to sing. "Don't kiss Butts! Don't kiss Butts! Cigarettes are bad so don't kiss butts!"
"Ughh…" Yosuke groaned.
The chatter settled down as the students took their seats in the very uncomfortable metal folding chairs.
"Kanji, we're bustin' outta here—" Yosuke whispered to Kanji. He nodded.
"Here's the plan—"
"Helloooooo everyoneee!" A girl announced from behind the curtain. Her voice was melodic and sing-songy.
"I missed you all ohhh soo much…"
Suddenly, fog from a fog machine off-stage spewed from behind the curtain, and all manner of lights and glowing lasers shot through the darkness.
"Whoaaa..." Kanji said.
The curtains slowly pulled back to reveal the dark silhouette of a girl on the stage. She had a mic headset, and wore a pop-fashion version of a school uniform. Needless to say, the teachers (particularly the female ones) disapproved of the suggestive direction the girl had gone with the uniform, short skirt, ripped stockings and all.
She struck a dramatic pose with one hand covering her eyes, the other placed on her chest. The tight blouse of her school uniform was partially unbuttoned at the top, revealing the top of her black lace bra. The cotton cardigan clung loosely to her arms, revealing her shoulders.
An upbeat, electronic pop beat began to play, and the girl began to dance. The students cheered.
She swayed her hips, and blew kisses to the audience with a wink as her auburn hair bounced about. A pink spotlight shined down on her, and she began to sing:
I face out; I hold out;
I reach out to the truth of my life
Seeking to seize on the whole moment, yeah—
The sound of an electric guitar tore through the auditorium as another spotlight shined down on the guitarist.
"Whoo!" The girl exclaimed during the guitar interlude, "Helloooo everyone! My name is Risette! …And I looooove Yasogami High!"
She blew more kisses to the roaring crowd, winking as she flashed the peace sign, and began to sing again as she walked across the stage, high fiving the crowd.
Now I face out; I hold out
I reach out to the truth of my life
Seeking to seize
On the whole moment to now break away
Oh God let me out , can you let me out?
Can you set me free from this dark inner world; Save, me now
Last beat in the soul—
The song came to a finish after another catchy electronic pop interlude, and the crowd roared with cheers and applause.
"W-wow! That was amazing!" Yosuke exclaimed, fanning himself like a diehard fan girl.
"W-whoa…" Kanji said, sniffing.
"EW! Is your nose bleeding?" Chie exclaimed, shoving him.
"Risette! Risette!" The crowd chanted. Even some of the male teachers joined in on the chant, pumping their fists.
"Thank you! Thank you! I love you all!" Rise shouted to the students. "Here's another one from my latest album!"
The music picked up again, this time with an almost erotic, pulse pounding beat. Rise began to dance, running her willowy fingers down her neck, to her collarbone, and down over her slender body which curved in a slight "S" shape as she swayed her hips back and forth.
I'm sorry; can you make the music louder?
I'll be the girl of your dreams—
She flashed a cute, seductive look to the crowd, biting her bottom lip.
"Wha- I specifically told her agency NOT to perform that one.." The flustered principal could be heard saying.
After the surprise mini concert, the students were dismissed, and, after waiting for the crowd of autograph and picture mongers to subside, Rise skipped over to Chie, Yosuke, and Kanji, who were waiting in the back.
"Yosuke-Senpai! Chie-Senpai! Kanji-Kun!" She exclaimed happily. "I'm so happy to see you guys again!"
She tackle-hugged them.
"Kanji?" She asked suddenly, "What's wrong?"
Kanji slunk to the floor, presumably passed out.
"…Oh, don't mind him." Chie said. "I'm glad to see you too! That was awesome!"
"Oh man—", Yosuke said dreamily. "That was awesome. Like, really, really awesome."
"Uh, I just said that?" Chie said, raising an eyebrow at the blushing Yosuke.
"Aw, thanks you guys!" Rise replied, bouncing up on the tip of her toes and back down gleefully. "I just had to throw a little surprise concert for everyone! Where's Yukiko-Chan and Naoto-Kun?" She asked.
"That's right." Chie said, "Yukiko had to take care of things at the inn, and Naoto didn't come today."
"Oh yeah! That's right!" Rise said. "Naoto called me. She wants us to meet up at Junes after school! Just let me change out of these clothes and I'll be right back, 'kay?"
"Y-you don't really have to…" Yosuke said, half dazed. Chie smacked him on the back of the head.
"We'll wait right here." She said.
The arcade was abuzz with the electronic symphony of sound effects and music coming together in chaotic discord.
"Continue-?" The creepy voice said as bloody numbers counted down from ten on the screen.
"Oh, I lost—"
"Heh, just watch how ol' Junpei does it!" A boy said taking the red, candy colored light gun from the girl's hands. He pulled down his cap and put some coins into the machine, then pressed the brightly lit "Start" button.
"This gun's always busted, so you gotta aim a little to the left!" He said, shooting up the horde of flesh eating zombies. The demure blue haired girl he was with hid behind him.
"S-scary…"
"Take that! And that! Oh crap—it's the boss!"
A giant axe wielding zombie crashed through the wall, and ran towards the player character.
"Time for my special technique! Junpeiiiii rapid fire!" Junpei roared. He stuck out his index finger through the trigger guard of the light gun and began to shake it back and forth, pulling the trigger in rapid succession.
He landed multiple shots to the giant zombie, but it hurled its giant axe at the player nonetheless, killing him anyway.
"What the! How friggin' cheap!" Junpei exclaimed. He put the gun back in the machine's holster and shrugged.
"Dang… Just a couple hundred tickets more and I coulda got you the giant stuffed rabbit you wanted, Fuuka-San…"
The teal haired girl smiled, blushing.
"I-it's alright Junpei-kun… we can always come back…Besides, I'm having fun!"
Junpei scratched his head, blushing sheepishly. "Y-yeah…"
He looked at her; into her clear, turquoise eyes, then at the pink lips that curled back into a warm smile. Her lips looked really soft…
Junpei jumped suddenly as he felt a vibration in his pocket.
"Whoa!" He picked up his phone and looked at the screen. "The heck?"
"Who is it?" Fuuka asked.
"It's… Mitsuru…?"
He flipped the phone open and put it to his ear, plugging his other ear with his finger.
"Yo!" He said.
"It's Mitsuru. Mitsuru Kirijo." The voice on the other line said.
"Y-yeah I know who this is… What's up? It's been awhile.." Junpei replied.
"Please meet us at the Okina University Girls' Dorm, room 657, tomorrow night. It's regarding the recent appearance of Shadows on the news, so, needless to say, it's urgent. I'll be calling the others as well. Goodbye."
She hung up.
"Whoa… that was… weird." Junpei said.
"What happened?" Fuuka asked. Her phone rang.
"That's probably Mitsuru right now, calling to tell you about it herself…" Junpei said.
The familiar Junes jingle played leisurely on the PA as Kanji, Yosuke, Chie, and the now decently dressed Rise arrived at the Junes food court.
"There you are." Said Naoto, sitting at their regular table. She was already with Teddie and Yukiko.
"Naoto-kun~!" Rise squealed, hugging the smaller girl tightly.
"Ooh… did your breasts get bigger, Naoto-kun?" She said lowly, however not low enough for the rest not to hear.
"W-what!" Naoto replied, flabbergasted. Her face was beet red.
"Rise-Chaaaan!" Teddie exclaimed, running to her with his arms wide open. She ignored him, greeting Yukiko instead.
"Yukiko-Senpai! I missed you!" She said, hugging her, too.
"I'm f-forever alone…" Teddie said, hanging his head.
"Aw, I'm just kidding Teddie!" Rise said, hugging the rotund bear. "You'll always be my favorite bear."
"F-favorite bear…? Ooohh…Does this mean I scored..?" Teddie said.
"Seriously, that again?" Yukiko groaned.
"Kanji-Kun, I'm relieved to see you're okay." Naoto said. Kanji grinned.
"Heh. Thanks. No way some loser shadow is gonna keep me out of the game for long!"
"Indeed." Said Naoto, "Anyway, we were discussing a pattern we discovered in the appearance of the Shadows in Inaba."
"Oh yeah? What'd you guys discover?" Yosuke said.
Teddie chimed in. "Funny story! Yukiko-Chan said something about it being rare that the moon was as big as it was last night, and I said, 'I guess you could say it happens only… once in a blue moon'! And that's when Naoto-kun realized the shadows only appear on nights with full moons!"
"…Once in a blue moon? Seriously?" Chie asked, shaking her head.
"That was pretty bad dude…" Said Yosuke.
Teddie hung his head.
"The point is," Naoto said with a laugh, "I think we may have pinpointed when the shadows will appear. It's going to be a huge advantage knowing when to prepare."
"Yeah. Definitely!" Said Yosuke.
"Um, one thing I was wondering…" Said Yukiko. "How come it's only lately that we can summon our Personas outside the other world?"
"Eh?" Said Kanji. "Come to think of it, yeah, we had never summoned our personas on this side until now.."
"It just seemed to come natural when I did it the first time a shadow appeared…" Said Yosuke.
"I was wondering the same thing this morning." Naoto said. "So I conducted an experiment."
Yosuke laughed. "Our little detective. Always on the ball with things." He grinned.
Naoto blushed. "Err.. well… anyways, Teddie, if you could please, try to summon your Persona right now."
"W-wait! Here!" Chie exclaimed, looking around. Naoto nodded.
"It'll be fine." Said Naoto. "Please, continue."
"Uh.. okay…" Said Teddie. He stepped back, and took a deep breath.
"Come, Kamui!"
Nothing happened.
"H-huh…?" Said Teddie. He tensed up, growling.
"Grrrrrrr! Personaaaa!"
Again, nothing happened.
"As I thought." Said Naoto. "It seems that we can only summon our Personae outside of the T.V. world at certain times… However, as to what conditions must be fulfilled, I do not know. "
"Hmm… maybe a shadow has to be around?" Rise said. Yosuke nodded.
"That or we can only do it on full moons…?"
"Both theories seem plausible…" Said Naoto. The group fell silent, contemplating.
"Oh, and another thing—" Yukiko said. She took out a small golden skeleton key.
"The Shadow we beat dropped this."
Naoto picked the key up from Yukiko's outstretched palm.
"A key…?" She said.
"Yeah… but a key to what?" Chie said. "Wait, does this mean the first one we beat dropped one too?"
"Oh man!" Yosuke exclaimed, "I don't remember it dropping one but… we high tailed it outta there so quickly that we didn't have time to exactly stop and look around…"
Suddenly two children ran up to Teddie, who was wearing his bear 'costume'.
"Aren't you El Bear-On Guapo?" One of the kids exclaimed, grinning. He was missing a front tooth.
"W-will you sign my Teddie Doll?" The other child, a little girl asked. She held up the fuzzy Teddie doll to him.
"…Teddie doll?" Yosuke exclaimed. "When did we start selling those?"
Teddie looked to Kanji, who immediately started whistling innocently and looking away. Yosuke put his palm on his face again.
"They're selling like hotcakes!" Said Teddie, signing his autograph on the doll. He gave it back to the little girl, who gave him a tight hug and skipped away as the boy chased after her.
"Wow! Nice signature, Ted." Chie said, surprised.
"Still… should you really be revealing your identity like that…?" Yosuke asked, shaking his head.
"The Ted-Meister never turns down a fan." Teddie replied smugly.
"Snrk…" Yukiko giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
The fit, snow-haired young fighter sat on the stool in his corner and relaxed, his eyes glazing over as he looked up into the bright lights which hung high over the boxing ring.
"Aki, take this fight a little more seriously, wouldya? Win this, and we've got a shot at the Qualifiers!" The coach said as he passed a bottle of water to the young man sitting in the corner.
"I would, if I had gotten a tougher opponent." The cocky young man said before taking a quick sip of water from the straw inside the bottle.
"Ah.. well…still.."
The bell rang, and the young fighter stood up, smacking his gloved fists together as he made his way to the center of the ring. The coach picked up the stool and made his way out of the ring, shaking his head.
"That damn Akihiko," He said to another staff member in his corner. "He's good, but…you'd think he'd at least keep his hands up…"
The two fighters met in the middle of the ring and touched gloves.
"Ready? And, fight!" The ref said before removing himself from in-between the boxers.
From the get go, the young fighter named Akihiko danced, circling his opponent clockwise. His opponent threw a series of cautious jabs, which Akihiko dodged with ease.
"Damn it Akihiko! Quit playin' around!" The coach yelled. Akihiko scowled over at him.
"If you say so." He said with a casual shrug.
His opponent threw a useless right hook, which Akihiko dodged by deftly leaning back. He rushed forward and landed a hard straight punch with his left hand. His opponent's head snapped backwards, then suddenly hunched over and fell to his knees, holding his stomach. He promptly vomited before passing out.
"W-what the hell just happened!" A spectator cried out.
The referee briefly checked on the fallen fighter, and waved his hand, signifying the end of the match. The bell rang again.
"A-and.. winner by K.O…? Akihiko… Sanada…?" The announcer said, confused.
"D-did he follow up with another punch…?" Another spectator asked his friend.
"Maybe he threw the fight…?"
Akihiko walked out of the ring nonchalantly and headed to the locker room as officials replayed the knockout combo on a TV. When slowed down to 3x slow motion, they could make out a blurred right punch to the body thrown by Akihiko.
Awaiting him in front of the door to the locker room was a familiar red-headed girl.
"You should have taken it easier, Akihiko…" Said Mitsuru, leaning cross armed against the wall. She smirked.
Akihiko shrugged, draping a towel over his broad, bare shoulders.
"I was trying to, but my coach wanted me to, 'take it more seriously'." Akihiko replied. "What brings you here?"
He subtly gave her the once-over before casually looking away.
"The Shadows in Inaba. I know you saw them on the news."
Akihiko smirked.
"So I take it you're rounding up the old group, am I right?"
Mitsuru nodded. "Wouldn't it be more 'fun' to beat up Shadows instead of people?"
"Well…" Akihiko looked over his shoulder. Paramedics were placing his downed opponent on a stretcher.
"Count me in. I was wondering when you'd show up anyway." He said, and went into the locker room. Mitsuru watched him go, smirking. Her smoldering ruby eyes glowed.
"You haven't changed one bit Akihiko." She said. "Well… maybe a little…"
She blushed.
"Well, that leaves just two left."
[The next day, May 17th 2012…]
"Let's see…" Said Ms. Toriumi, the composition teacher at Gekkoukan High School, "It's the 17th today so… Ken-Kun, let's see if you know this one."
"Huh?" The student named Ken stood up.
"Which of the following is an oxymoron: 'Pale like the moon', 'So tall he needed a giant ladder', or 'Thundering silence'?"
"Thundering silence." Answered Ken.
"Correct!" Ms. Toriumi said. "If you would have gotten that wrong I would have had to call you an oxymoron!" She said with a giggle.
No one laughed.
"Ugh… I hate this job." She said, resting her head in her hand. The door to the classroom slid open, and Souji walked in, handing Ms. Toriumi a slip.
"My, well hello…" Ms. Toriumi said, straightening up. She smiled at Souji, who simply handed her the paper and left without giving her another look. She sighed.
She read the paper, then looked up. "It's for you, Ken-kun. You're needed in the office."
Ken took the slip from her and headed to the faculty office where he saw a familiar face.
"Mitsuru!" said Ken. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Amada-Kun." She greeted. "I needed to talk to you. It's about the recent appearance of the Shadows on the news lately."
"Yeah! I was going to call you but—"
Suddenly, a commotion could be heard in the halls outside.
"Somebody grab that mutt!" A teacher exclaimed. The scuttle of four paws on the school's tile floor could be heard just before the echo of clumsy footsteps.
"Ah! Koro-Chan!" Ken exclaimed, "I told him to stay in the home-ec room!" He ran out the door, into the hall, where he saw a group of teachers and staff scrambling to catch a wily, white Shiba-Inu dog, who continued to evade them. He had a rice ball in his mouth.
"Stupid dog! That's MY lunch! MINE!" A teacher cried before slipping over a puddle of spilled water and crashed into a bespectacled student carrying a ridiculous amount of text books in a stack taller than him.
The books, along with the student and teacher fell to the ground with a thud.
"Koro-chan!" Ken yelled. The dog, thoroughly satisfied with itself pranced over to Ken, and swallowed the rice ball whole.
"Arf!" He said, wagging his tail. His floppy pink tongue hung lazily as he panted.
Mitsuru emerged from the faculty office.
"It's good to see you again, Koro-chan!" She said. Koromaru sat down, and nodded, as if to understand and reciprocate the greeting.
"Th-that's your dog…!" The bruised and defeated teacher growled.
"Uh… well…" Ken replied, stammering.
"Actually," Mitsuru interjected, "It's my dog. I trust that won't be a problem?"
"Bah!" Flustered, the teacher stomped off, muttering under his breath.
"Oh, oh I know!" Adachi said, sitting on the floor across from his cell-mate. "How about we make a game out of how many guards get piss thrown at them? Or no! We can make bets on whether they'll throw piss, spit, or other!"
"Oh would you please shut up already…" His cell-mate groaned. Adachi pouted.
"Fine…"
A guard came up to Adachi's cell and tapped on the bars.
"Inmate 111791." He said. "You've got a visitor."
"I do? Sweet!" Adachi said as he stuck his arms through the slot to be handcuffed before he was led out of the cell and into the hall towards the visiting area. He crossed his fingers as he went.
"Hot babe.. hot babe…" Adachi chanted.
To Adachi's disappointment, it was not a 'hot babe' but a pale, willowy man. He had long, disheveled gray hair. He smiled at Adachi.
"Hello."
"Make it quick." The guard said, and left. Adachi sat down.
"And just who the heck are you?" Adachi asked.
"My name is Takaya. I lead an organization called Strega. We're an organization of Persona users that…" He paused, searching for the right words. "Well, we specialize in performing… unique tasks for unique clientel…"
"Persona...?" Adachi said, his intrest thoroughly piqued.
"Indeed." Takaya said with sly grin, leaning forward and resting his chin on his interlocked fingers.
"Lemme guess." Adachi said, "You use your Personas to carry out assasinations, heists, kidnappings.. That sort of thing right?"
"I'll be brief. I know you can summon a Persona… So why not join us?" Takaya asked. Adachi chuckled.
"Sorry pal. I'm a changed man. I'm reformin' my ways y'know? Paying my debt to society…I lost my game. Gotta play by the rules."
"I see…" Takaya said. "I just thought you'd be bored in here, what with all the commotion going on on the outside…"
Adachi looked away.
"I thought you'd be interested in knowing that you can summon your Persona on this side, between 12 am and 1am." Takaya said, and stood up.
"How do you even know about me, or the other side?" Adachi asked.
Takaya smiled. "We have resources of course. Here's my card." He slipped him a thin paper card. It was blue, and contained a series of numbers on it.
Adachi looked at the card and smiled. "Ooooh. That's clever."
"Anyway, consider it won't you? See you around." Said Takaya, and left.
Yosuke groaned.
"Man.. how many floors does this thing have?"
"This has gotta be like the 50,000th floor…" Chie said. Down the hall, Kanji smashed a Shadow with his riot shield.
"Found the shiny thingy. What do you guys wanna do?" He asked.
"Let's go back for now. I'm beat!" Said Yosuke.
"Here we go—" Said Junpei, walking the halls of the dorm. "Suite 655… 54… eh? It goes down.."
"Here it is!" Fuuka called, waving Junpei over. The two knocked on the door. After a moment, it creaked open.
It was Aigis.
"Hello." She said.
"Aigis-Chan!" Fuuka greeted. She gave her a hug. "How have you been?"
Junpei grinned. "Good to see ya, Ai-chan!"
They entered the dorm, where Akihiko, Mitsuru, Ken and Koro-chan were already gathered.
"Hey guys." Akihiko said with a casual wave.
"Hello!" Said Ken.
"Arf!"
"Hello everyone!" Fuuka greeted. She knelt down in front of Koromaru, giving him a nice scratch behind the ears. "How are you Koro-chan?"
"Heeeeeey!" Junpei exclaimed. "Talk about nostalgia blast! Hehe. Where's Yuka-tan?"
"Probably with her new boyfriend…" Aigis said as she walked over to the kitchen licking frosting off of her finger. "Would anyone like a cupcake?"
"Boyfriend? Whoa.." Said Junpei.
"She'll be arriving soon." Mitsuru assured him.
"Doesn't… Aigis seem kinda different…?" Ken asked, watching as Aigis stuck her head in the fridge, looking for something.
Mitsuru laughed.
"I've noticed it too… She's become more… human over the years, I think." She said. Ken nodded.
"I like it." He said. Junpei grinned, and ruffled the boy's hair.
"I notice you've changed!" He said. "You got a lot taller!"
Ken looked up, wide eyed. "S-seriously?" He asked.
Akihiko grinned.
"It's as if we haven't been apart at all, isn't it?" He said. Fuuka nodded.
"Mhmm." She said. "Still, I really missed everyone!"
Aigis returned with a chocolate cupcake. She removed the thin paper wrapper delicately, somehow preserving its shape and put it on the table before proceeding to take a small bite.
"H-how did you do that…?" Ken asked. He noticed a pile of similar perfectly shaped cupcake wrappers on the table.
"You're going to gain weight eating that many cupcakes…" Akihiko chided, also noticing the pile. Aigis looked up, suddenly alarmed.
"R-really? But I…" She pouted, putting the bitten cupcake down.
"I see you're just as good with the ladies as ever Akihiko-Senpai…" Junpei said with a laugh.
"Huh?" Akihiko replied, oblivious.
The door opened, and Yukari entered the dorm.
"Heeeey Yuka-tan!" Junpei greeted.
"Yukari-Chan! How are you?" Fuuka greeted.
Yukari smiled, surprised.
"Whoa! Hey everyone! Was that meeting supposed to be today?" She said before joining everyone else at the middle of the dorm. She looked at the coffee table.
"Aigis! Did you eat all of my cupcakes?" She exclaimed. Aigis looked down guiltily.
"S-sorry… Shall I bake some more?" She asked. Yukari sighed.
"It's okay…."
"So Aigis here tells me you have a boyfriend now?" Junpei said, "'Sup with that?"
"W-wha?" Yukari looked over at Aigis. "Boyfriend…? What are you talking about?"
"I… Don't recall saying anything about that…" Aigis said looking up innocently.
Junpei laughed. "I see how it is…"
"Alright everyone." Mitsuru said. Everyone settled down. "Did you all remember to bring yours?"
Akihiko nodded. "Yup. Got it right here." He took out a shining silver gun and placed it on the table.
Junpei took out his Evoker and put it on the table as well.
"It took awhile to dig it out, but I found it."
One by one, everyone, with the exception of Aigis, Koromaru and Yukari took out their Evoker and placed it on the table.
"Oh, I'll get mine…" Yukari said and ran into her room.
She knelt down and opened up the bottom drawer of her desk and grabbed her Evoker. Right next to it was an old strip of photos taken in the Print Club machine inside the arcade at Paulownia Mall. She let go of her Evoker and picked up the old photograph.
In the first picture, a younger, laughing Yukari was sitting next to a blue haired boy who was making a funny face. One of his sleepy, steel blue eyes were covered by a fang of disheveled blue hair.
Yukari smiled.
In the second picture, Yukari was giving a mock-kiss on the boy's cheek. She was puffing out her cheeks like a goldfish and crossing her eyes.
Yukari shook her head, chuckling to herself.
In the final picture, the two shared a kiss.
Yukari's heart sank.
"Hey, Yuka-Chan… do that pose again." The blue haired boy had said. "I was going to do something funny."
"Like what?"
"Hurry! Just do it! It's going to take another picture!" He said.
"Okay okay!" Yukari said, and leaned in for another mock-kiss. This time, the boy turned and pressed his lips against hers. Her lips were soft, wet, and warm.
She closed her eyes.
He placed his hand along her jaw-line and ran his fingers down the nape of her neck, pulling her close. She felt a swell of dizzying warmth fall over her; her heart pounded in her chest.
The camera flashed.
The boy broke the kiss, putting his forehead against hers. He could feel her hot breath against his face as she panted.
"M-Minato-kun…" Yukari gasped. Her brown eyes, like shiny, molten molasses were soft and eyeing his lips before looking into his eyes.
"I love you, Yukari." He had said to her with a smile. "I always will."
"…Yukari?"
It was Aigis, who had come to check on her. She saw the other girl at the foot of her drawer, looking at the picture she had held gingerly in her hand.
"Are you alright?" Aigis asked, before kneeling next to the quiet girl. Yukari nodded.
"Y-yeah…" Yukari said. Her husky voice broke.
"Yukari." Aigis said softly, putting her willowy arms around the other girl. She held her.
"I'm... I'm alright." Yukari said.
"…But I'm not." Aigis replied quietly and continued to hold the other girl.
After a few minutes, the two emerged from Yukari's room.
"Took ya long enough." Said Junpei.
"Sorry!" Said Yukari. "I couldn't find it at first—"
She walked over to the table and placed her Evoker with the others.
"Good." Mitsuru said, eyeing the Evokers on the table. "Now, contrary to what you may all know, Aigis and I have been monitoring the appearance of the Shadows for awhile now. Without a doubt, the Shadows that have been appearing in Inaba are indeed the Arcana Shadows we fought and destroyed three years ago."
"I thought that second one looked familiar." Junpei said. "It's the one whose ass we kicked on that monorail!"
He looked over at Yukari. "Man, we almost died back there! Good times right?"
Yukari rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I remember when you ran off like an idiot and almost got yourself killed.." She said with a grin. Junpei laughed sheepishly.
"Oh, to be young again..." He said.
"So anyway," Yukari said, "You're absolutely sure they're the same ones we beat before?"
Mitsuru nodded. "I saw them both with my own eyes."
"But.. why would they start appearing again?" Fuuka asked. She frowned.
The group fell silent.
After a moment, Akihiko spoke up. "I know we're all thinking it—So I'll just say it. It's possible that.. Nyx is coming back."
"…That would be the most logical conclusion… yes…", Said Mitsuru with a sigh, looking at the ground.
"So what are you trying to say? That 'it' really is coming back?" Yukari cried out. "How can that be! You all know what happened… the Seal.. He… Minato-kun…" She trailed off as her voice cracked.
"…It's too soon to tell." Mitsuru said. "But the timing of the appearance of these Shadows are fitting into the same pattern as the Shadows of the Arcanum that culminated in the appearance of Nyx…"
Koromaru whimpered.
"I-I refuse to believe he died for nothing." Fuuka spoke up suddenly, "But something is going on here, and we need to figure out what!" Her voice softened. "I've got to trust in him, that what he did was for the best…"
Junpei whistled. "Woo, Fuuka…Right on!"
"It… gets worse." Mitsuru said.
"Worse? How could it possibly get any worse?" Ken asked. Mitsuru took out a small golden key and placed it on the table.
"The hell!" Junpei exclaimed.
"That's-!" Said Akihiko, shocked.
"Yes. It's a key from the Abyss of Time.", said Mitsuru.
"No… No… You can't be serious—", Yukari said, backing away.
"I managed to obtain it during the appearance of the first Shadow." Mitsuru said. "I believe the Shadow itself dropped it. And if my theory is correct, that means each Shadow that will appear on the full moon from now onwards will drop one as well."
"Were you able to get a key from the second one?" Akihiko asked sternly.
Mitsuru frowned. "No… It seems the other group of Persona users were able to acquire it."
"The other Persona users…" Akihiko said. "Could it be Strega…?"
Junpei's fist tightened.
"I don't believe so…" Mitsuru replied. "Whoever they are, their purpose seems to be benevolent. Besides… you all so what happened to Takaya at Tartarus… He has to be dead…"
"Good guys or not," Said Ken, "We can't let them have all the keys! They have no idea what those keys are capable of unlocking!"
"That's right.", said Akihiko. "They may not know it now but.. What they're holding is a key to the Past… And if they mess with it… there's a chance they might undo his sacrifice…"
"There's no way I'm letting that happen! Ever!" Yukari exclaimed. The others nodded.
"We're the OG Persona users!" Junpei said, grinning. "Whoever they are, we'll kick their ass!"
"Arf!" Koromaru barked. His bright red eyes glowed with determination.
"Indeed." Mitsuru nodded. "The next full moon occurs on June 14th. That's when we'll confront them, defeat the next Arcana Shadow, and take the next key."
Junpei brandished his fist.
"Aww yeah! It's SEES vs. The Heroes of Justice! And they're going down!" He said.
"Umm… when you say it that way," Yukari interrupted, "Don't WE sorta sound like the bad guys…?"
"Eh..? Well yeah.. I… Guess you're right…" Junpei said, confused. Fuuka giggled.
"Good thing I've been staying in shape—", Akihiko said.
"But… how are we going to train our Persona's…?" Yukari asked. "It's not like the Dark Hour or Tartarus exists anymore…", Mitsuru smirked.
"I was wondering when someone would ask that." She said. "Fortunately, we have all kinds of simulation rooms at the Kirijo labs. We can fight all sorts of training battles there. We even have data on the 12 Arcana Shadows."
"Nice!" Junpei said. "Sure beats the hell outta the arcade! Right Fuuka-San?" He nudged Fuuka.
"B-but.. my rabbit…"
Now formally reunited, SEES resolved to confront the other team of mysterious Persona users, and gather the keys to the Abyss of Time...