It's been nine days since Michi summoned her Persona…and subsequently passed out. Akihiko had been banned (by Mitsuru) from attending Boxing practice, so he is bored out of his mind. He's walking around Port Island. It's almost Midnight. He wanted to get away from Mitsuru and her nagging about his injury (it isn't even that bad), and after promising that if a Shadow shows up he will not engage it and call her first, he is allowed to leave.
Again he tries to wrap his brain around what happened to Michi. She managed to summon a Persona without being taught how. That in it self is amazing, but what happened afterwards is the part that gives actual awe to him. Her Persona shattered and became another Persona. Quite a strong Persona in fact. How could such that small girl have more power than Mitsuru, Yukari, himself, and probably Shinji, combined? Then again, she passed out soon after using it, so maybe she isn't that strong. But, she summoned her normal Persona just fine afterwards to defeat the smaller Shadows. This is confusing.
Akihiko had visited Michi at the hospital. Well, he had been forced to stay overnight after obtaining his own injuries (only today was he able to go without the sling on his arm). She just looked like she was sleeping. Strangely enough, he found himself watching her sleep for a while. It was calming. It reminded him of when he was a kid, and watching Miki sleep. Michi's smile is very similar to Miki's…
…He shakes his head. No, Michi isn't Miki. Miki's dead. You don't need to be treating her like your sister. Akihiko puts Michi and his sister out of is mind and continues patrolling. He doubts he'll find a Shadow, but in the back of his mind, he would love it if a Shadow attacked him and he had to fight back. He wouldn't be able to call Mitsuru. No time. He smirks. Mitsuru would yell at him anyway, he knows this. The Dark Hour soon comes, and walking by coffins, he scans around for any Shadows. While he does hope he'll find something, if it's like the Shadow that injured him…
…He hears something. It's coming from a convenience store. Akihiko grabs his Evoker from his holster, and slowly walks inside. All that he can see are transmogrified people, but hears the sound again. Crying? Slowly sneaking up to the edge of a shelf, he peers his head around the side. Sitting against a row of shelves is a boy in a baseball cap. He's wearing a Gekkoukan jacket. He looks around Akihiko's age. Akihiko puts his Evoker back in the holster and walks up to the boy.
"Hey. You okay?" The boy looks up at Akihiko. Seems he was crying.
"W-What's going on? Where is everyone?" The boy seems frantic.
"I'll explain everything later. But, we need to leave; it's not safe to be wandering around right now." Akihiko helps the boy off the ground.
"I'm Akihiko Sana-"
"Yeah, I know. You're Captain of the Boxing Team. I'm Junpei Iori." Akihiko still isn't used to people he's never met knowing who he is.
"Junpei…I think Yukari's mentioned you." Akihiko begins to leave the store, motioning Junpei to follow him. "I'm taking you back to our dorm. After The Dark Hour ends, you can get an explanation."
"'The Dark Hour'? Wait, your dorm? Oh yeah, you live in the same dorm as Kirijo-senpai and Yukari? Oh, and Michi, too? Unless she was moved? But, man, you're lucky. Living in a dorm with only girls."
"Yeah, sure. Lucky." Akihiko doesn't think he's that lucky. They are near Moonlight Bridge now. Akihiko figures if this Junpei guy turns out to have a Persona, and Michi gets better (and actually decides to join), then they can finally explore Tartarus. Akihiko notices that the other set of footsteps stopped. He turns around to find Junpei facing something in front of him. Two red dots shine from the darkness.
"Shit, a Shadow! Run Junpei!" But Junpei doesn't run. Akihiko attempts to grab his Evoker, but his arm gives out in the quick motion. The Shadow begins to take form, and what looks like a walking hand appears. It snaps it's fingers and a block of ice hits Akihiko, knocking him back. While Akihiko wanted a Shadow to turn up, this isn't what he had in mind. Junpei can only stare at the Shadow.
"What the hell is going on? What is that thing?" Junpei falls back in shock. Akihiko manages to grab the Evoker from his holster finally, but the Shadow throws another ice block at him, causing him to lose grip. It slides to Junpei's feet.
"Take that gun, and shoot yourself in the head! Hurry!" Akihiko doesn't even think of how odd what is he saying would sound to Junpei, he's in a hurry. He is, however, praying that Junpei even has a Persona to begin with. Junpei looks at Akihiko in shock. Why the hell would you shoot yourself in the head with a gun? He grabs the gun, and tries firing at the Shadow. All there is a sound like shattering glass. What the hell?
"Goddammit, just shoot yourself!" Akihiko is on his feet again, hand at his side. Damn ribs. The Shadow summons a piece of ice at Junpei, whom manages to dodge it by rolling out of way. Now that he knows for sure that shooting himself in the head will not kill him, he decides to go on with it. He quickly places the gun to his temple before pulling the trigger. There is the glass shattering sound again, but something does indeed feel like it went through his head. Only it doesn't go clean through. It goes to the back of his head.
"I am Hermes, Messenger of Gods and Bringer of Fire. Thou art my other self. I shall grant thee my power."
Junpei could only stare. There is a weird…thing…above his head. There are large wings coming out of its feet. The Shadow stops moving towards Junpei. He looks forward at the Shadow, wishing it would just burn. Hermes moves its arms forward and a plume of fire appears in front of the Shadow, and then explodes. The Shadow is killed. Hermes disappears and Junpei feels something in the back of his head. He feels the spot, but there isn't anything there. Akihiko walks up to Junpei and helps him back onto his feet for the second time that night.
"Good job killing the Shadow."
"The what?"
"I said I'd explain when we got to the dorm."
Junpei learns that the thing he summoned is called a Persona, and the ability is very rare. It makes him feel special, like a superhero from a movie. Junpei is invited to live in the dorm the other Persona users live in, which he jumps on. His dad hasn't been the easiest person to live with since his mom died, and come on. A chance to live in a dorm with Mitsuru and Yukari. Who'd pass that up? He is informed that Michi also possesses the ability to summon a Persona as well, but is currently in the hospital. He does not know why. Akihiko tells Junpei not to say anything about having a Persona. Yukari doesn't know yet. Junpei figures he'll surprise her.
