Chapter 4
Mitsuru, Aigis and Chidori left with a pair of men who arrived in an ambulance. I was faced with the curious and concerned expressions of my friends. "I have no friggin' idea how I'm supposed to explain this whole mess..."
Fuuka raised her index finger. "Actually," her quiet voice broke the silence. "it's been quite a long night. We've all been through a lot. Maybe we should go over this tomorrow, when we're all here."
Everyone was tired from the battle with the Hermit shadow as well as Chidori. I myself was still recovering from the numbness of my arms. "Alright, tomorrow's Sunday anyway. We'll talk about it over lunch, but I want to go see if she's okay," I explained, running the palm of my right hand over my aching forehead.
My friends shared various exhausted good-nights and retreated to their rooms. I fell sideways onto my bed, seeing the green digits in front of me: 1:14 AM. I stuck my left arm out to adjust the alarm. The numbers changed as I flicked the switch. Six, seven, eight... eleven AM would be fine.
The next afternoon, the lobby welcomed me with the aroma of stir fry, noodles, and chicken. Someone had actually been cooking. The dining table was just about full. "Hey", called Shinjiro across the room. He pointed to a bowl of noodles at an empty spot. "That's you." He was wearing an apron, which was weird for me. No one said anything about him cooking.
My stomach gave no objections when I landed in the chair and dug in. I stopped for a second and looked up at the chef, "This is real impressive, senpai!" He just nodded and moved to his place. Looking around, I saw that the others were well into their bowls.
"Yeah, guess me and Mitsuru kinda forgot to tell you guys about Shinjiro's cooking skills," Akihiko explained, "Don't expect this to be a regular thing, though. Appreciate it while you can."
I nodded and returned to scarfing down the delicious meal. Ken was attempting to eat without a look of urgency, Yukari sat back, apparently full. Koromaru sat patiently next to Akihiko, seemingly waiting for something to fall from the table. Just now, I noticed that Akihiko, Yukari and Mitsuru were all dressed for outside.
After some time, several bowls were empty and many of us, even Shinjiro, sat back with bloated stomachs. Fuuka cleared the table and Mitsuru sat forward, eyes on me. "So, will you explain what happened last night, Junpei?" she asked, eyes wide.
I took a moment to put it all together and sat up straight. This would be a long explanation. "Well, okay, a few weeks ago in August, I met Chidori at Port Island Station. I really had no idea that she had the potential. Every few days we'd run into each other and just talk."
Mitsuru nodded, and brought out a notepad that she occasionally scribbled into. "Way to put him on the spot, senpai," Minato joked, adjusting the headphones that hung from his neck.
She looked up at me and Minato. "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, Iori. This is just necessary in case some of the facts can lead to any new information, or if anything Chidori tells us contradicts what you tell us," she explained.
"No biggie, senpai," I cleared my throat and continued, "Anyway, she had always been drawing in that sketchbook of hers. One day, though, I found that her hand was bleeding – badly. She didn't seem bothered by it and the next time I saw her, there was no sign of the wound. I guess the healing was connected to her Persona or something. Later on she asks me about what I do to feel alive, so I... well, I kinda..."
Shinjiro's palm met his forehead. "This'll be good," he groaned.
Ignoring him, I went on with explaining my mistake. "Well, I sort of made a really big joke that maybe would have hinted at my involvement with the Dark Hour..."
Yukari sighed and uttered a single word, "Stupei..."
"What exactly did you say?" Mitsuru asked.
" I told her that I led the team of 'chosen heroes' to battle against the 'forces of evil' during 'the darkest hour'. But she acted all interested, like she believed me. I figured, no harm done if I tell one person who couldn't possibly have the potential, so I explained to her the Personas, Shadows and the Dark Hour. Looking back at it, that was a pretty stupid idea."
Ken gave an intrigued look. "How'd she end up at the dorm?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm getting to that. Sometime yesterday, I turn up at the dorm just before sunset. I saw Minato and Yukari leave with Koromaru and no one else was home yet. I turn around and, whaddya-know, Chidori's right there. She tells me that she followed me 'cause she was curious about where I lived. Then she mentions that she wants to see the sunset with me, so I take her up to the roof. Then she says that she has a gift for me and wants me to close my eyes 'cause it's a surprise. Next thing ya know, I wake up in chains and it's the Dark Hour."
"Was that when we busted in?" Minato quickly asked.
"Not yet, actually..." I replied, "She asked me to call off the mission since I said I was the leader of the group. But here's the real kicker: somehow, she knew exactly when you guys'd killed the Hermit. Anyway, after that you guys came in and... well, y'know the rest."
"Her Persona seems to have some very interesting abilities," stated Fuuka. She tilted her head in thought as her green hair bobbed. "I couldn't even sense her until we were at the dorm. She must be the one who was masking Strega's presence earlier."
"You have a thing for this girl, huh?" Akihiko asked casually, leaning forward on his elbows.
I stuttered, "M-maybe... Why do you say that?"
"Well, you wouldn't have done all that if you didn't. Maybe you can help us get some answers from her in the hospital later," he answered. That last sentence piqued my interest.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm up for that," I excitedly replied.
Yukari folded her arms and didn't look very impressed. "Girl seems pretty useful," she muttered, "Maybe if Junpei was a bit more charming she'd be working with us instead of against us."
"H-hey, I heard that!" I protested.
Ken raised his voice, "What if she really killed you? Then what?"
Minato spread a neutralizing look. "What's important is that we got her," he said.
"Regardless", Mitsuru piped up, "What were you thinking, Junpei? You know the risks of telling our secrets. You can't just go around trying to impress people with the truth of the Dark Hour."
"There's like a one in one hundred chance of having the potential," I defended my point, "And how was I supposed to know she was working with Strega?"
"Well, for one thing, there's that getup..." Yukari remarked.
"Hey, you can take some tips from her yourself, Yuka-tan!" I shot back.
"Oh yeah, 'cause you know how gothic lolitas are in style nowadays, Stupei."
"Well while you go follow whatever's popular, people like her can be original. I ain't even-"
"You two done yet?" shouted Shinjiro, who was sick of our shenanigans. "Shit, this a dormitory or a daycare?"
"Well, I think it's about time we visit our new friend at the hospital," Mitsuru stated clearly.
"You coming, Junpei?" Akihiko asked, heading for the door.
"You're damn right I am!" I replied as I started up the stairs.
Akihiko sized me up. "Well, you look like you're gonna be awhile. Mitsuru, Yukari and I will go there now. Just ask the receptionist about Chidori and they'll point you in the right direction."
In about half an hour I was ready to leave. Most of the others were about to head out, as well. I caught Minato at the front door. "You wanna come along?" I asked, adjusting my cap.
"Nah, got stuff to do," he answered.
"That so? Where ya going?"
"Gonna see this guy, Akinari. He's got this terminal illness, so I'm trying to help him see the good thing about life before, well, y'know... Anyway I only see him at the shrine on Sundays, so I can't skip out on him," Minato explained.
We stepped outside. "Sounds rough", I replied, "You're heading to the shrine? Alright, well we split ways here. I'll see ya later."
"Alright, then. Oh, and we're probably gonna go to Tartarus tomorrow night. Don't forget!"
Hospitals were never a welcoming place for me. The way the fluorescent lights bounced off the pearly walls and floor tiles stung my eye, and the scent of a million chemicals in one place created an uncomfortable atmosphere. The fact that the safest place in the city is also a place of death was no help.
The front desk directed me to Chidori's room. Yukari was standing in front of the door, and she looked surprised when she spotted me running... in a hospital... why was I running? Well, okay, it may have been uncalled for.
"Wait, Junpei, you can't go in y-" she protested. I didn't hear the rest of it over the sound of me going through the newly opened door.
Chidori was sitting upright in the bed with her sketchbook opened in front of her. Mitsuru and Akihiko stood at the opposite side of the room.
"I'm going to ask you again – are you a part of the group called Strega?" There was a hint of frustration in Mitsuru's voice. The artist gave no response as her pencil was busy on the paper.
"Chidori, I'm here." I alerted the room. Her eyes met mine, and Mitsuru turned to me.
"She's not exactly co-operating," Mitsuru sighed, "Maybe we should confiscate her sketchbook, too. She didn't seem to like it when we took her Evoker."
Chidori's attention was immediately shot at Mitsuru. "Medea... Bring back my Medea!" she desperately begged.
Akihiko took a step forward, but I stopped him. "Hold on, senpai. That won't do any good. Let me try to talk to her."
Mitsuru uttered an agreement and the two left the room. I took a seat next to Chidori's bed and leaned over her. "How ya been?" I quietly asked, observing her condition.
"Please," her voice was shaky, "Make them bring back Medea..."
"I can't do that," I answered, trying to keep my voice soft, "I'm sure Mitsuru-senpai will return her if you answer her questions."
"I won't," Chidori quickly responded, her hands clutching the book in her hands. "She is not here to help me."
"Why do you think that? I mean, it's simple. You answer her questions and you'll be out of this place. Then you and I can hang out like before."
It didn't seem like she was in a mood to talk. "If only I could believe you."
I sat with her for a while, but we didn't really talk about anything. "I have to get going. I'll visit you tomorrow." She nodded. "But, uh, think about what I said, alright? I don't want you to be stuck here for too long."
When I left, I made sure to tell Mitsuru to try and make Chidori comfortable. Her condescending attitude was not helping her get her answers any faster. Mitsuru, Akihiko, Yukari and I left together.
I crossed paths with Minato on the way to my room. "How'd it go?" he asked, removing his headphones from his ears.
"Not so great. Mitsuru can't get a word out of her and she's really attached to her Evoker."
He nodded, "I see. Well, at least she's got something to take out her anger on."
"After being tied up and emasculated, I wouldn't mind some Shadow time myself."