A/N: Some of the chapters are too long, so I'm breaking them up into smaller parts! I originally had 30 chapters (5 for each block), but there will be more on here since them breaking them down into parts. This is the first one so just a heads up. Thanks!
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Persona 3 Portable
Date 4: The Social Links
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There was no denying it. She was fatigued when she got up the next morning. She had wished her body was as excited as her spirit was, but it felt drained, like she was on her period, or she had jogged a thousand miles.
Yukari had left early without her, so she took the train to school by herself. A few minutes into the train ride, she was about to put on her headphones when someone stood in front of her seat.
"Morning. I didn't know we were on the same train." Akihiko moved over and remained standing, holding the bar beside them.
Seeing him caused her to panic, for a moment.
"Oh, yeah… makes sense since we're in the same dorm I guess."
"Oh, right. Well, aside from you know what, things have been real crazy the past couple of days."
She smirked, thinking of her own situation. "No kidding? Tell me about it…"
And then, he proceeded to tell her about it. How he had to go to the doctor constantly to check up on his injuries—how he had to stay in boxing practice but he couldn't participate—tests coming up-the apathy cases on the news—She was surprised he could ramble so much.
"It must be weird to balance normal life also."
"You'll get used to it. Anyway, are you all right? You must be a bit confused too about this place since you just transferred here."
"I, uh, I'm alright."
"Seriously? You don't have to lie to act tough-"
"I wasn't-"
"But if I could I would take your position, but I can't. Man, I'm so bored I feel like I'm dying."
"Why don't you read a book or something?"
He scoffed. "Yeah, right. All I can think about is training."
"I suppose that makes sense when you have a one track mind."
"Heh, you sound like Mitsuru. Well, you're going to be leading for a while. The way you fought last night was pretty impressive."
"Seriously? I could have done better."
"Don't put yourself down, it was your first night."
"No, I mean it. Like, I know I've fought battles before, and I know I have way more skills I need to unlock, I just…" She noticed him glaring at her seriously.
"Sorry, that probably sounds odd. Anyway, I'll continue to do my best!"
He smiled. "Thanks." It was a small grin, but it was charming. No wonder the girls were so obsessed with him.
"Hey, you think I could sneak in on a fight?" He whispered.
"How?"
"I don't know. Maybe I could put on Junpei's cap and pass Mitsuru!" Then, he frowned. "Actually, no. The consequences would be worse than any Shadow attack."
They walked to the school and to the assembly amphitheater, a huge auditorium with dull colors, filled with all the students. The staff discussed some events and school spirit motivators… as well as expectations and upcoming tests. Also, Mitsuru was the last to present as president of student council, and she gave a rather intricate, thriving speech about working hard in school. It reminded Ezi that not only would she have to be successful in Tartarus, but in her academics as well.
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Mr. Ekoda was trying to bring interest to his students in his Japanese Literature class.
"Continuing our story on Ise, which I think is safe to say that you kids may consider, 'da bomb'…"
Her mind raced on checkered tile, Shadows moving across the maze full of wonder, and discretion.
"Hey! Are you kids even listening to me?" He asked again. His rambling was unprofessional, but thinking on the long run, Ezi knew she would have to stay focused in her classes. She needed to actually be considered as someone reliable, in and out of Tartarus. Was this what she had been searching for?
Despite this thought, she was too excited to study all day. She explored the halls after school, from the school rooftop, to the library on the second floor, to the gym beyond the long corridor passed the outside courtyard, where a large tree was blossoming. Yukari took her out to the Chargall Café in Paulownia Mall after school. They discussed their day, as they had before, and would continue to do in the future, and of course their reflection upon their roles in SEES.
"This whole thing must be crazy for you, are you sure you're okay?"
"Fine! Excited, really. But, I know how serious and important this is, too."
"Y-yeah…" Yukari tapped the cup her tea was in. "I'm sorry, you wouldn't have to go through all of this if I was such a coward."
"What do you mean?"
"I couldn't fight those Shadows the first night. You wouldn't have been pressured to lead if I had more guts. At first, I thought we were the same. Your parents died when you were little, right?"
It was a question Ezi had hoped to avoid, but because the tragedy was so far away, it also seemed like a simple question.
"Yes."
"My dad died when I was little. My mom and I aren't exactly on good terms. I already knew about your past from your records. It didn't seem fair I knew so I thought I'd share mine. Since you passed out that night I felt terrible… I wanted to tell you when you woke up, but I didn't have the guts to."
Ezi smiled. "I don't think you're a coward. And you can tell me anything, Yukari."
"Thanks…" She sighed in relief. "Well, sorry for the melodramatic sharing. Let's do our best tonight."
"Yeah, let's. Tea's getting cold!"
After the café, the girls were going to head back to the dorm. However, after having tea, nature was calling. They went to the restrooms that were in the back of the mall on the first floor, behind the centered fountain. Yukari didn't see the blue door that was out of place on the back wall when she rushed to the bathroom on the right wall. The door was practically glowing moonlight, and there were no signs around it, so to lack of her surprise she was able to walk through it.
"Welcome back to the Velvet Room." Theo, the servant, bowed slightly to Ezi across from the elevator room. "How may I assist you today?"
"What the-WHAT?"
Theo stammered. "Pardon?"
"H-how are you here? In a mall?"
"Ah, yes. Even outside of Tartarus, we will be able to assist you with your personas. This is the only other place you will find the Velvet Room in your world for you to enter through."
"At least I know this isn't all a dream then. Or, maybe I am going insane…"
"I'm afraid I cannot assist you with inferring if this reality is true or not." Theo stood up tall with his arms folded behind his back as he always would. "Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
"Um, no. Thanks, Leo."
"Theo."
"Right, I just said that. I-I'll be seeing you."
"Before you go," Igor spoke rather loudly from his lounge chair, "I would like to tell you my true purpose and how I am meant to help you on your journey."
"Oh, I thought your true purpose was to sit there and confuse me more."
"I am here to assist you in managing your Personas."
"Plural—What? What does that mean?"
"If you are unsure, perhaps you will find out the next time you use your power. But, I will help you organize and understand their powers."
"Okay, thanks. Are you sure your job isn't to be more confusing?"
"You can come here anytime you like from your world. Farewell for now." Igor laced his fingers together and propped his chin on them.
"Alrighty… goodbye, then." Ezi waved to the supernatural team and left the room. Yukari stepped out of the bathroom.
"There you are. Did you go yet? It's getting late on us." Ezi thought about telling Yukari what she had just seen, but it appeared Yukari and the others couldn't even see the Velvet Room anyway.
"You're right, let's go."
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They returned to Tartarus; the lime collared halls, with scarlet dripping from the walls.
Junpei, Yukari and Ezi marched on. Even though Mitsuru was instructing them, this all seemed more than natural to Ezi. Using a weapon to fight, summoning a being with elemental powers, fighting the darkness in a foreign world; it rang truths that had yet to make a full circle.
This night, they were able to take the flat stairways up to higher floors. Yukari seemed more confident in summoning her Lo, and Junpei, excited and ambitious, never hesitated to swing his sword or summon Hermes. They fought several of the same monsters at first, from the Magical Hands to the Cowardly Maya blobs, and then more began to appear the higher up they approached.
"There are three strong enemies on the next floor," Mitsuru had managed to sense the power of the Shadows using her own Persona, a creature Ezi had yet to see.
There were three magical hands stopping them from reaching the next floor, and Ezi realized she had not tried to use Orpheus's magic on them yet.
She felt sadistic—picturing the moment Orpheus would wave her gloved hand fluently in front of her to cast Agi, a fire spell that would ignite and burn the Shadow to a crisp in a matter of seconds. Yet, when she did this notion on the hand Shadow in the middle, the fire did something unexpected.
"Why didn't that work?" She yelled. She jumped away, watching the fire twirl into the palm of the hand as it continued to float towards her without any whims. It began swatting at her, and she barely hopped away before its heavy fingertips made contact.
"Leon-san, did you get that?" Mitsuru was yelling in one of her ears.
"Sorry, what?" Junpei charged after one of the hands, but he had to stop and block using his blade when it shot fire at him.
"—Shadow's arcana—"
"What?"
"Fire is its power, so fire won't work on it!"
Fire didn't work for some reason? It was the only magical power Orpheus had. Yukari had summoned Lo and shot the wind power, guru, up from the ground and shattered the other hand.
She would have to use something else. She wouldn't be able to use her Naginata all the time, this was clear from how dangerous proximity was with most of the Shadows. A new power—
The evoker to her head. Something needed to be released, something cold—Maybe Orpheus could—
It wasn't Orpheus that materialized, but a slender figure in white, with icy blue skin. One arm was up like a ballerina, with the relaxed wrist inward to her body, and dark indigo hair was twirled up onto her head with white beads.
"That's…" The name came as naturally as her own, "Apsarus."
Apsarus thrashed her wrist down, and a cold burst filled the room, and a shard of ice dropped onto the magical hands head. It was vanquished.
So this is what Igor was talking about… more than one Persona.
"Dude! What Persona was that?" Junpei and Yukari raced over to her with the Shadows gone.
"Um, a new one, I guess?"
"But, what about Orpheus?" Yukari wondered.
"She's still there… I can feel her." Ezi tightened her fist. "I just needed a new power I guess."
"My, what a realization…" Mitsuru sounded amused, "its rare to find someone who can control more than one Persona. I'm impressed. Still, you should be careful how you use your power. But, I think as you become stronger, so will your Personas."
"Wait! No one else has more than one Persona?" She was still looking at her open hand. "How can that be? I can't be the only one…"
"Well, Ikutsuki-san said it wasn't unusual if someone could control more than one." Mitsuru continued. "However, it is rare. All the more reason for you to be leading at this time."
"Ah, right." She couldn't help but grin. "We should fight these larger Shadows, then stop for the night."
After fighting the three large birds with black wings on the next floor, it was apparent they were all becoming quite adjusted to fighting. The birds soared around them in a circle like vultures, and they could reach them, so they relied on their Persona's magic to knock into their wings and cause them to crash. One of them tried swooping down to grab Yukari with its claws, but Junpei managed to thwack his blade down and cut off its wing. Lo used guru to blow the birds back into the wall, and the remaining two crashed.
"Here's our chance for an all out attack!" Yukari yelled. The three pounced on the birds like raging children, stabbing and sticking their equipment into the Shadows like a dog pile, until it dissolved.
"Excellent! You three are getting the hang of this." Mitsuru complimented. "Let's stop for tonight. Great work."
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Much to her surprise, Junpei invited her out to the ramen shop at the strip mall after school one day. She was exhausted from the previous night's battling, as was he, but her stomach had been growling all day.
The ramen shop was a small, wooden space—flyers of events covered the walls, and you could see the frying template from the bar, which is where they sat.
"Man, I just gotta get used all this in still, you know?" Junpei was like a jittery bug, tapping his knuckles on the table.
"Yeah, it still feels strange, but exciting!"
"I agree—Hey, we'll have two specials!" The quiet, overweight chef nodded, as he seemed to have their bowls out already.
"Specials?"
"Its all you're gonna need—its awesome! Pure, awesomeness."
It was indeed delicious. Her perception of Junpei was to assume he was some sort of flirt, yet she decided to eat with him anyway. Had they not both been in SEES, there was no way she would have gone out with him alone.
"Still," He seemed to continue bantering, "guys and girls in the same dorm together…. Doesn't sound like a good thing."
"Stop smirking like that!"
"I can't help it! You know its true. People are already talking about how the new girl is in the same dorm as Akihiko Senada."
"Like I care." She slurped the last of her ramen. "So good. I needed this, thanks!"
"Well, Yukari told me how you defended her the first night you got your powers. She also told me you ended up in the hospital. Take it easy, y'know? We still need you in Tartarus."
She blinked a few times at him. "You… invited me out because you were concerned?"
"Well, yeah. I wasn't sure about us all working together in this situation, but we gotta make the best of it, right?"
"You have very high spirits."
"Thanks?"
"No, really! It puts me in a good mood too, so… thank you. I wasn't sure about going into Tartarus with you guys either, but, we've held our own so far, haven't we?"
"Yeah! Cheers to that!" They clinked their glassed of water together, and Ezi decided she had made a new friend.
"Oh! You gotta try the sweet bean bun they have here too!"
"Sweets?" She exclaimed. "My favorite! You're some sort of Magician, aren't you? You know me too well already!"
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One morning to school, Yukari walked with Ezi. A loud student was talking to another student about the Apathy Syndrome her creepy neighbor had, and that the athletic clubs were now accepting new members. This would be her opportunity to stay in shape, outside of Tartarus!
She had a bit of homework in every subject, but she applied herself to join the basketball team in the gym right after school. Anxiety struck her for a moment, but then she remembered her favorite past times—playing against the boys on their outside court with her friends- and somebody else—
The girls were stretching in the center circle of the gym. Ms. Kanou was the "coach", and she stood there with perfect straight hair in her pencil skirt suit and heels. She was a rather young-looking and slender woman, but apparently she taught in the day too.
"Have you come to join? Splendid! You are a junior, yes?"
"Y-yeah. I'm Ezi Leon." She did the customary Japanese bow. "Nice to meet you all!"
A keen-looking girl with ebony hair, pale skin and dark eyes stood beside Ms. Kanou.
"Rio is our Junior team captain. She'll show you the ropes today!"
"Oh, I don't have to try out or anything?" Ezi asked.
"Well, hopefully you're good," one of the girls giggled, "we're desperate!"
Ezi chuckled… This was going to be a piece of cake.
"Leon-san, right?" Rio shook Ezi's hand firmly. "Thanks for joining. Get dressed, we'll be doing basic muscle drills today."
"Oh—I don't have clothes!"
"Just wear your gym suit, silly!" One of the girls said. All of them obviously had those on. It was a bit gratifying and revealing, but Ezi did not like the Japanese gym clothes for girls. They had to wear a pale top shirt over their sports bra, long socks, and bloomers around their waist that resembled saggy underwear. Ms. Kanou left, having no idea how to coach basketball, and Rio instructed everyone on what to do.
As they did lay-up drills and ground exercising, she analyzed the other girls in their skill on basketball; Rio seemed to be above the rest, though everyone was at or below amateur, to say the least. There was only one tall girl other than Ezi, and she was thick and mumbled rather than speak her intentions.
It had only been drills, but Ezi could feel her desire to gasp for air—she was indeed out of shape. It had been a few months since she had played basketball, however the thought of her preparing to fight in Tartarus gave her some bursts of energy. Despite her lack of thrill, Rio still gave her praise for her work.
"Wow, I can't wait until the big trip game now! We're gonna kick butt with you on our team!" Rio said at the end of practice.
"Heh, I'll do my best! You're pretty good too."
"Thanks! I take my work very seriously." The atmosphere of the girls seemed positive, despite their lack in skill, and Ezi had made more acquaintances in her new club team. Even without Ms. Kanou, Rio seemed to guide the team like a leader on a Chariot, as she lead the rest of her team forward like horses.
Before she went home after practice—the dorm—she went to bookstore, as her homeroom teacher insisted on changing their books mid semester. The only authentic bookstore in town was called Bookworms-Used Books, and it was crammed in the corner of the strip mall east of the stairs.
She saw an older woman, as grey as a cloudy day, groaning and staggering down the road like she was drunk, passed the bookstore. One of the Apathy Syndrome cases. Perhaps, she would become this depressing carcass if she couldn't find answers soon, about her new powers, about her past…
She walked into the store only to be greeted with an energy she had no choice but to match. Their books weren't much in order, stalked on tables and shelves, but she did manage to get the book she needed, and the old man mentioned a Persimmon tree that was at her school somewhere.
That night, they went to Tartarus again. Junpei and Yukari were becoming more accustomed to their skills, and so Ezi had them split up on two floors to search the area and fight some Shadows alone.
Suddenly, the days blurred together—a whole week had gone by with this routine, and it didn't seem to wane. She was so busy with her basketball, homework, and Tartarus, she felt as if she would remain loyal to this agenda, almost forgetting her original purpose for having come to the island in the first place—
A few more days went by; Ezi played basketball, went out for Hagakure Ramen with Junpei, unwillingly shopped for dresses at the Paulownia Mall with Yukari, and of course…
Lead the SEES team through Tartarus. The past couple of weeks had been some of the busiest in Ezi's life, without a doubt.
And they were about to get heavier.
It was the end of April now, and Ezi was eating her lunch in homeroom—she had a paper to write.
Mitsuru appeared behind Ezi at her desk.
"Leon-san… do you have a moment?"
Did she have a choice?
Even if she was the leader on the SEES venture, Mitsuru was in charge, period.
"Of course, what is it?"
"I am aware of your busy schedule and fluctuating endeavors, however I am in need of your assistance with something that requires an irregular amount of responsibility. I don't trust this with any one else."
"…Does it involve fighting Shadows?"
Mistsuru chuckled. "I'm afraid not. I'm sorry to be in a rush, but I will discuss details with you on it after school."
"Uh, but-!"
"Au revoir."
…Without a doubt, she was curious. It bothered her all day, even in math class during Ms. Mayahara's lecture.
The rather lanky, afro haired woman asked Ezi a question:
"Do you know when numbers were invented?"
She hesitated, feeling the eyes of every student rest on her.
"6- no- 4… 6,000 years ago." She nodded.
"You got it, magnificent work! Someone's been studying!"
Some students whispered, and she grinned pleasantly to herself. Whatever Mitsuru wanted, surely she could handle it.
She met Mitsuru in her classroom after school.
"I apologize for making you wait."
"No problem!"
"Long story short, I want you to join student council. Would you be willing to participate within the constructs of the club?"
"Y-you want me to-?" Ezi had absolutely NO interest in politics, and student council was a check on someone's resume searching for a job in that area. "Um, why me?"
"…It's because of your leadership ability. This past month, I haven't seen anyone on campus yet with the potential you possess. You're the most qualified for the job, and I could really use the extra aid in student council. You would not have to participate every time, only when you have the time. What do you say?"
Again, did she really have a choice? For some reason, she wanted to please Mitsuru, the longest running member of SEES.
"Roger! You can count on me."
"I thought as much. Talk to Ms. Toriumi as soon as you get the chance, then meet for student council after school tomorrow afternoon."
"Yeah, sure. I'm on it!"
"Then, I will see you later." She left without another word, her graceful footsteps clanking against the tile.
"…Just perfect."
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"What?" Junpei yelled. "Mitsuru wants you to join student council, too?"
Ezi slurped her ramen up. "Yup. It should be… interesting."
"Maaaan, you girls know how to keep busy." He pointed out. "Now I really think you should reconsider that leader position."
"What, and give it to someone like you?" She teased.
"Hey hey, I'm just sayin'," He reverted, changing the subject, "Hey, I don't want to be weird, but some of the guys at the school are pretty envious of us hangin' out, and being in the same dorm and all."
"Well, I'm sorry I stole you from them."
He snorted out an abrupt laugh.
"Nah, but seriously, they talk."
"Well, that's their problem." She slurped her noodles, louder than before.
"Heh, I guess so, huh? By the way, you're not even interested in any guys at the school, are you? I mean, you've already been here for almost a month, and you don't seem to be—well, I'm not assuming all girls are boy crazy, but—"
"Seem what? Interested in guys?" She grinned. "Maybe I'm not into guys."
"Hey, whatever floats your boat," He shrugged.
"No hun, I like guys." She assured him. "I'm just, busy."
Conversations with Junpei seemed to pry this way; he'd gossip about drama, and even though she said it bothered her, it pleased her that she didn't have to bring it up herself.
"Awww, come on! There must be somebody—hey, what about Akihiko-senpai? Oh-ho! You should totally try to get with him!"
Upon hearing this, Ezi froze.
"W-why?"
"The new girl swooping in and taking the popular guy, it'd be like something from a manga!"
"Eh, I'm not interested."
"Oh, w-well not like I would make you go out with him just for kicks and to make a scene," He clarified.
"I know, but it does sound interesting, in fiction."
"Heh, well I get if you're too busy to be into guys, anyways, but you should consider it!"
"If you say so, Junpei." She frowned. "To be honest, I don't see how girls like him. I mean, I get he's captain of the boxing team, but he's just so rude sometimes. He treats us like we can't do anything on our own, like we're kids."
"Eh, guy's probably got some nerve from all the attention he gets." Junpei decided.
"You're probably right…"
"You uh, okay with everything else?"
She was tired. "I'm fine."
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The next day it was basketball practice again, and she bumped into Akihiko on the outside corridor. All she could think about was the conversation before with Junpei, and made her awkward as she was presented with his pale, sweaty body.
"Hey! You been working out? Heading to the gym?" He asked, panting.
"Yes… you're not pushing yourself, are you?"
"Nah, I was just jogging to stay in shape."
"Good boy."
He chuckled. "Don't exhaust yourself too much either. See yah 'round."
"Yeah, catch you later…" She turned to wave to him but she noticed the giant tree catching the afternoon sun's rays. It truly was the most magnificent spot. She fancied the idea of it being all to herself in some quiet venture, but there was already a school girl with short brown hair sitting under the tree, reading a book.
The book reminded her of the old couple she had met in the Bookworms bookstore, and she wondered if this was the permission—persimmon, or something of rather, tree they had mentioned. The girl told her it was the Persimmon tree, so she pulled a fresh leaf from it and went to practice. On her way back to the dorm, she showed it to the old man and woman at the bookstore in the strip mall, for some reason.
"Welcome again!" The old man had curly white hair, a hunched back and an ancient sweater. "How many will we be having today? Would you prefer smoking or non-smoking?"
"Uh, what? Non-smoking, I guess?"
"Really, dear…" The old woman came from the back behind the counter, "must you scare all the young ones away?"
"I think she thinks my jokes are funny!"
"Right, well, I just wanted you see this… the leaf from the tree you mentioned before?"
"No way!" The old man grabbed it from her hands in a soft, swift stroke. "The leaves are so big now! He'll be so happy to see this! You came here to show us this?"
"Um, yeah. It's a really pretty tree. I pass by it every time I go to practice."
"You see, Mitsuko? I told you she was kind hearted!" The old man slapped his thigh. "Most kids these days are so rude to old folks!"
"I'm sorry to hear that…"
"I'm Bunkichi! I think. And, this is my lovely wife for many years, Mitsuko!"
The tiny old, sagging woman had her hair slicked down on either sides from the middle of her head. She had grey eyes, aging spots on her face, and she wore an apron.
"Nice to meet you, dearie."
"I'm Ezi, nice to meet you both."
"Ezi-chan! Well, if you need a discount on schoolbooks, we will see what we can do. Sound good?"
"You're both too kind—thank you, really. Anyway, I just wanted to show you the tree is all-"
"Oh no you don't!" Bunkichi hopped out from behind the counter, dancing towards her. "You doing okay, kid? Most students would rather be out shopping or with their boyfriends or something—I mean I know I'm attractive, but my wife's here!"
She chuckled. "I-I'm okay. I've just been so busy. This place just kind of seems peaceful… even though it's, not completely organized in here."
"Ah high school!" Bunkichi raised the pipe in his hand. "Look kid, it feels like it's a big deal, and it kind of is, but you'll have to learn to balance your high school life and take it easy once and while! You still got your whole life ahead of you, but try to take in the now, y'know?"
She felt warm. "Yeah, thank you. I understand what you mean. I've had all this responsibility put on me lately, but you're right! I just need to breathe once and while and enjoy it."
"Atta girl!"
"Thank you for stopping by, dearie."
The nice couple gave her a manga book for free; some old, first edition version of an action/romance series called Retroman—and the old couples knowledge would eventually become her Hierophant.
After that, it felt like a dream when she visited the Velvet Room in the mall—Igor was perched in his chair, nose down, and Theo was standing behind his chair as the never-ending elevator room continued to spire under an eternal clock.
"Welcome back," it was Igor that spoke with his amused tone, "it would seem in a short time, you have created many new Persona and gained power with your social links—unwittingly you have grown inside and out of your life involving your Personas. I look forward to seeing how well you use this power… Until next time…"
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TO BE CONTINUED!
A/N: What are your thoughts on Ezi so far? I feel like as the leader, she can't be a completely unaware, but I did want her to be unaware of social statuses, or at least not care for them. I also wanted her to be lighthearted, but maybe its too early for an analysis... any way part 2 of ch4 is coming soon!
Thanks! Please R&R!