ANSWER TO THE LATEST REVIEWS:
Did I really cause a laughing fit? Aigis is more stalking here because she does it on purpose and is having fun annoying Minato. I guess I kind of overdid it with Mitsuru, because I can't stand how she acts in the first part of the game. I am not a type master; I am looking for a job. I quit school and only have a mini job on weekends, meaning lots of free time. I don't know if it is possible on the first playthrough (never finished the game, don't like the ending, found out through an LP), but yeah, Minato got Orpheus Telos.
My fav pairings? Minato x Nyx; Hamuko x Ken; Souji x Marie (I know those two don't appear here)
While we're at pairings: so far I have only one vote for Minato and Aigis. If this keeps up, I'll do that and my fav pairings. For the rest of the characters I'm actually pretty open (yuri yes; yaoi no; can't help it; am a guy)
Warning: lot of dialogue in the second part.
ENOUGH. Let's get going. Fuck, I'm hungry. (-.-)
Chapter 7
Minato POV
As it turned out the chairman needed to be hospitalized for a few weeks. MAYBE I should have told Nyx already broke his rips. Well, now she knew and when it came to the chairman the two of us got along, though none of us spoke it aloud.
Despite being tired, I was the second one to wake up. Thanks Aigis. She had nightmares in which I would fall asleep and never wake up again and I personally couldn't blame her. She decided to finally let go of my arm, but refused to leave my side at the dorm. As long as she didn't try to wash me, like in the first timeline, when I mentioned it between some lines, but decided to do it the next day.
What happened? 00:01 in the morning, I wake up in VERYY COLD WATER. Well, it had been the next day, right?
Forget it.
Aigis and I were the only ones at the table, me slowly munching down some melon bread and Aigis trying not to fall asleep. I was still not used to the fact that she actually needed food and sleep, like any ordinary human. I wondered how things would've turned out if she never sealed Death inside me, but someone else.
I shook my head clear. I was able to meet some great people, but...I'd never see them again. This was another world, another timeline. I couldn't just pretend they were the same. Somewhere out there were my old friends, thinking I was dead. Speaking of...
"Hey Aigis."
"Hmm?"
"What's the last thing you remember before waking up here in this world?"
She was confused for a second, before she thought about it. "Well...I was just falling asleep and the next day I was here. The last thing we did was retrieving my older sister."
I nodded. "Yeah, you told me about that. Hmm, hey she's in Yakushima, right? Let's go get her during summer vacation."
Her eyes lit up and next thing I knew I was hugged to death. "Aigis...need air..." I dramatically held out my arm.
"Awww, so cute~!" I heard a voice. I looked over Aigis' shoulder and saw Hamuko grinning at us. Suddenly her grin spread and I had a very bad feeling about it. Her eyes looked like those of a predator, watching its prey.
"GROUP HUG!" she announced. Oh hell!
...
...
After I regained consciousness, I quickly made my way towards school. Today was the day Junpei would join and afterwards it would be the first exploration.
Oh wait, the chairman was out. Meh, maybe we would still go? I could suggest it at least. Speaking of changes, now that Akihiko wasn't injured, how am I going to show him the pills Shinji is taking, without acting suspicious? Maybe I should steal them or kill Strega immediately.
I should consider my options, when no one's around. Maybe Aigis got an idea?
When I arrived at the school gates, I saw Hamuko, Yukari and Junpei chatting among each other. I could hear the excitement in his voice through my headphones. I decided to avoid them and walked straight into the classroom. I still needed to catch up sleep.
XXX
Hamuko POV
For some reason no teacher noticed Minato-kun being asleep during the whole sessions. During lunch he kept himself shut from the others. He left class, bought his melon bread and walked to the roof. Heck, even I don't do that every day.
I decided to try and crack the ice. I needed to start these social links anyway. So far I only had foul level 1 SEES. Oh but I also had a finished social link already with Nyx, the death arcana. Doing some research I had found out she was supposed to be the queen of night. But I am getting of topic. Social link target: Minato.
I placed myself next to him. "Hey!" I cheered. He nodded mouth full of melon bread. At least he had manners. Okay how do I do this?
"So...what've you been up to lately?" I asked. Minato almost spit out his bread, but managed to swallow it. "That's exactly how I tried to start my first social link."
Arrgh, I forgot! Minato was a wild card too! Of course he knew about social links. He laughed at my expression. It was the first time I heard him laughing. Normally he was all depressed and tired and didn't like talking too much, though he did it more with me.
"You know, you should laugh more often. It's better than your depressed self." I commented smiling. He smiled back, sadly.
"That's just not me. I'm just not a bright person in general." He let out another sigh.
I looked up at the sky. "You know, I've been like you, when I was a kid."
I could feel his eyes resting at me. "You? Like me?! I don't belief you." he snorted. I laughed a little. "The other kids called me a demon because of my red eyes. So I closed myself out from everyone else."
I made a pause. "It all changed after the accident. I remember my mother's last words: always keep smiling, my dear."
"...I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's not like you could have done anything."
There was a silence between us afterwards. I looked at him and he was looking into the sky, all depressed again. He was involved in the accident too. Maybe he changed like me after the accident, only the other way around. Maybe we're not so different.
"Hamuko."
"Yeah?"
"Don't die, no matter the reason." he sounded a bit too serious for my taste. He stood up and looked down at me. "Belief me, it's not worth the pain." he said.
Before I could ask him what he meant, I heard the sound of glass shattering and a card appeared in my mind.
"Universe Arcana?" I stuttered aloud. When I snapped back to reality, Minato was gone, but other students were still on the roof. I looked at my watch: it was still lunch break.
'Universe, I don't remember this card being part of Tarot.' Nyx mouthed to me.
'Minato must be special in more than one way.' I mouthed back. 'Universe...I don't get it.'
I walked back to the classroom where I found Minato asleep again. Rolling my eyes, I went back to my seat. The rest of the day was rather uneventful.
After school Yukari-chan told us sempai wanted to see us at the dorm, so we went straight home. Minato seemed to be completely off the whole way back, like his thoughts were somewhere else.
"What's up with him?" Yukari asked in a not so friendly tone. I gave her a glare and she was silent. I kind of understood Minato's behavior now. I wanted to talk to him further, but I didn't want to hurt him.
We walked out of the bus and straight towards the dorm. Mitsuru-sempai was waiting for us. Aigis came walking downstairs. We all placed us on the couch, with Minato-kun leaning against Aigis!? Despite the situation being hilarious, isn't she made of metal?
Sempai eyed them for a second before telling us why she called all of us.
"Starting today, we will explore the tower known as Tartarus." she said.
"You mean that tower that only appears during the dark hour?" I asked. Mitsuru nodded. "It can be considered as the nest of all shadows."
"Shadows and their sexual life, I always wondered about that." We all ignored Minato's statement.
(While we're at it, did you notice all shadows who take human form are perverts? I mean Ryoji, Teddie?)
"So we're gonna explore it tonight?" I asked. Mitsuru nodded. "We're just waiting for Akihiko. He's bringing a new member-"
"Junpei."
Everyone looked at Minato. "Explains his overexcitement today." he said before yawning. "He was 'not supposed to tell anyone.' Sounds just like you." he said to Mitsuru. He really had a grudge against her keeping secrets. But wasn't he doing the same thing?
"W-w-wait. JUNPEI has the potential?! For real?!" asked Yukari.
"You're saying this like it is something bad." I told her.
The door opened and Akihiko-sempai came in. "Sorry it took us so long. Hey hurry up!"
"Hold your horses, this thing is quite heavy."
Junpei came in with a big suitcase. "Hey, what's up?" He cheered.
"Oh no, this must be a bad dream." Yukari groaned.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" he asked.
"That you're loud, annoying and overall stupid." Minato replied/translated. I guess you can put it this way. At this Aigis stood up.
"Whoa, a robot-girl!?" She put up her arms and opened her finger-guns. Oh, oh...
"H-hey! What did I do!?" Junpei frantically held up his arms.
"For the displeasure of Minato, you will be eliminated!" she shouted.
"WHAT!?"
Minato stood up and put a hand on her arm. "He displeased Yukari-chan, not me. Sorry about her...you can drop your arms Junpei."
After explaining to Junpei Aigis was slightly malfunctioning, he got overexcited again as Minato put it and got some dirty thoughts, I could see it on his face. "Junpei, if you don't want to witness Armageddon that early in your life, you stop that train of thought." Minato threatened.
While we waited for midnight to come, everyone did what they usually did, except Junpei who was getting his room ready.
Minato-kun was fast asleep, Aigis was watching TV, Akihiko was making protein shakes, Yukari-chan was reading a magazine and Mitsuru tried to read a book, but had difficulties.
Social link target. In school I found out she was interested in intellectual type of people. Well my studies were good, but I wasn't a genius. So instead of overwhelming my head, I tried to take a different approach.
"Something bothering you sempai?" I asked and placed myself next to her.
"Hmm? Oh no, nothing you need to bother yourself Arisato."
Hmm, she's pretty closed up. "Hey, can you come with me for a second?" I asked. She looked at me confused but nodded. I lead her into my room. Maybe she would be more open when no one was listening.
I placed myself on the bed, while she took the chair.
"It's Minato-kun, isn't it?" I asked. Her eyes widened only a split second, but she was calm again. "And on what assumptions do you make it?"
I smiled. "I may not be as good as you or Nyx, but I know it's him."
"Nyx? Speaking of her, Arisato said she can take over your body."
I nodded. "Yeah, she normally does it when I am in a pinch or in case of Minato, he pissed her off."
Her eyes widened. I raised a hand before she could say anything. "I'm used to it, really. Besides she never does anything bad. She only beats people up, when they try to do something on me. Oh and sorry about the door, she's not a morning person." I said with a sheepish grin.
Mitsuru just gaped at me, but she quickly picked up her jaw. "How long has this been the case?" she asked with real concern.
"I guess it happened after my parents died."
"Your parents' death?"
"Well I was a kid and I think I was so shocked, that my I got a split personality."
"Split?" she asked. I nodded. "And thanks to the dark hour, she became a personality of her own completely. That's my theory. Enough of my problems." I slammed my hands on my bed and gave her my biggest smile.
"I want to help you!"
"Me? But-"
"Ah, ah!" I interrupted her, pointing my finger in the air, waving it a little. She looked at me dumbfounded.
"Let me give you a little advice about Minato."
She titled her head. "I don't understand."
"Of course not silly." I laughed. "You need to listen sempai, listen." I emphasized. She looked a little angry.
"So, you know Minato-kun lost his friends, right?"
She nodded. "And here we come to the point. He's shaken by that experience and that's why he's so angry with you guys. He doesn't want anyone to die anymore."
"You think so?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, so don't take him too seriously. He's just concerned, even if he acts like a jerk. Must be hard, being the only survivor of a shadow massacre."
Mitsuru nodded in agreement. "I see. Thank you for the advice, Arisato."
"That's something we need to change too. Just call me Hamuko-chan, sempai."
"I-I can't possibly-"
I rolled my eyes. "I can't stand being called Arisato. Besides, it's confusing, because Minato-kun has the same last name. Okay and now we go shopping."
"What?"
"All part of the therapy, sempai." I just thought of it, but who cares. Besides she really looked like she didn't have that many friends.
"Therapy?" she asked. "Hamuko, what are you doing?" Nyx asked with my voice, surprising Mitsuru-sempai.
"I'm making friends with sempai, what else? So come on, we don't have all day." I took her hand and dragged her along.
"Arisato I don't think...I mean.."
I stopped in the hallway. "Sempai, if you close yourself out like this, no one is going to trust you. Besides, just 'cause you're a girl from a rich family doesn't mean you can have some fun me, right? And in the meantime" I came closer to her ear "we'll think of a way to take revenge on Minato-kun for being a jerk."
She stood there like I was crazy. "Arisato, I appreciate the offer but I have business to attend to."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you're still angry at Minato, no one recovers so fast. You won't be able to work efficiently that way. Have you ever been shopping before?" I asked.
"No, I haven't."
"Oh god, emergency. A girl that never shopped in her life. Come on, it'll be lots of fun. Just today, okay? I promise I'll never drag you against your will again. Pretty please?" I hugged her and gave her my puppy dog eyes.
She chuckled. "Well if you put this much effort into it, very well."
"Great! You won't be disappointed! We still have time until the dark hour, so let's not waste it."
"This doesn't make any sense." she said.
I think Yukari gave us a strange look, when we walked out.
As it turned out, Mitsuru didn't even know half of the stuff they sold in general. She couldn't identify candy, didn't know what belonged into takoyaki the list is endless.
Books that were more her specialty, although I could see her glance over to a manga every so often. I bought it in secret to surprise her.
I ask her about her favorite clothes, but she didn't have any. "Are you dressed like a secretary every day?" I asked in a deadpan. I forced her to try some dresses, maybe a jeans.
"Okay, forget the jeans or the guys will keep staring at your ass."
We were about to exit the shop, when I found out they sold alarm clocks for cheap to get the stock empty. I bought the rest.
"Why did you buy so many alarm clocks?" sempai asked. "Do you remember the door?" I asked. She nodded. "What happened?" she asked.
"Well, I told you Nyx was not a morning person, right? Well, she has a tendency of destroying my alarm clocks."
We walked out of the shop. It was already evening and the air was getting chilly. Both of us had a bag in each hand. It looked kind of alien, Mitsuru-sempai carrying bags. We entered the bus and placed ourselves in front of each other.
"So, sempai. Was it that bad?" I asked.
"Actually...I fell a little relieved. Thank you Arisato."
I hung my head. "You're never going to drop the Arisato, are you sempai?"
Well, I got the empress social link.
XXX
Minato POV
We were waiting in front of Gekkougan for the dark hour. I was listening to my headphones, blocking out the excited chatter amongst the others. I was the first one to enter Tartarus. Inside Aigis tapped on my shoulder.
"Your headphones are not supposed to worke."
I gave a silent 'oh'. I quickly shut down my mp3 before anyone noticed. The rest followed us immediately. I was mainly focused on Hamuko who had a nostalgic look on her face. I frowned a little, but shook my head. The same happened to me.
"So how are we doing this?" I asked. "I am NOT going to lead them." I said directly. I wouldn't be able to handle it.
Junpei looked confused, while Yukari spoke up. "Why not? You already lead a team."
"And they're all dead now." I spat back. Yukari cringed.
"D-dude, seriously?"
"Am I looking like I am joking, stupei?" I spat at him.
Mitsuru cleared her throat. Everyone turned towards her. "Akihiko will lead the exploration. Arisato and Aigis will stay here."
"Fine by me."
"Acknowledged."
"What about that door?" Hamuko asked and pointed at the door towards the Monad Block. "So far we were not able to open it."
"I know how to." Now everyone looked at me again. I sighed." I've been here on vacation. And the shadows behind this door are 1000 times tougher than the shadow that attacked the dorm."
Now they had a good impression of the block. The group led by Akihiko walked upstairs and through the clock door. "I should have brought a manga." I muttered and sat down on the stairs. I looked around at the lobby. I had this feeling inside my chest, but I couldn't identify it.
I thought of playing rock, paper and scissor with Aigis, but with her special eyes, she would always win anyways.
I watched Mitsuru using her equipment in order to use her powers properly. I listened half heartly until one statement caught my attention.
"That's not the persona you used earlier Arisato."
I took out my own communicator. "Looks like fate has dealt us a wild card."
"Wild card?" Mitsuru asked.
"Persona users with more than one persona."
"You-" She stiffened. She looked franticly at her equipment.
"Sempai?"
"Get out of there! I sense something strong approaching!" Mitsuru yelled.
"Shit!" I cursed and ran into the labyrinth.
"Sempai, where are they?" I asked.
"They're cornered by the reaper. They can't get past him, but luckily he didn't notice them. Arisato I know you have ten years of experience, but are you even aware who the reaper is?"
"I know him too well, sempai. Just tell me the directions and then you better shut down your equipment."
"Huh?"
"Do you remember my Armageddon statement to Junpei?"
I originally wanted to keep my true powers hidden, but when dealing with the reaper, you're better safe than sorry.
The shadows avoided me, because of my overwhelming strength. However I was totally not used to how dark it was in Tartarus. Also the green light was more intense and getting on my mind.
I soon heard the rattling chains and the dark voice. Then screams. "Shit!"
"Up ahead, second left!" Mitsuru shouted. I followed her instructions and found myself in a spacious room. The one who screamed had been Yukari. A bullet hole was next to her head.
"Persona!" The others summoned their personas, but it did no damage to the reaper, who casually reloaded his gun.
"Hey douche!"
He turned around. I channeled every last bit of my sp.
"Helel! Satan! Armageddon!" I announced.
The entire tower was shaking when I let the energy out, causing huge destruction to the entire area. The drawback was I was totally exhausted afterwards. I supported myself on my legs. Looking up, the others stared at me in horror.
"Let's get the hell outta here."
After we found the exit, Aigis supported me immediately.
"Arisato, you..."
I laughed. Mitsuru's entire equipment, including her bike was busted.
"Told you...to shut down...that stuff..."
"You summoned two different personas."
"Yeah, I'm a wild card too." I said before passing out.
