Yukari and Minako walk out of the Wild-duck Burger. Yukari stopped when she heard her phone go off. She fished her phone out of her pocket and she checked it to see it was a message from Akihiko. "It's from Senpai. It says, everybody already there and they're waiting for us."
"Okay, we better hurry up." Yukari nodded as she went to cross the street, Minako noticed a car speeding the same street as Yukari. Minako's eyes widen in fear, she quickly reached out and grabbed Yukari and pulled her out of the way. They both fell on the sidewalk as the car sped off. Minako picks herself up and she looks at Yukari who looks like kind of shocked. She reached out to help her up, Yukari took her hand and she helped her up. "Tha... Thanks..."
"No problem."
Yukari felt a small amount of blood on her hand, she wiped it away thinking it might have been hers. Yukari noticed nothing wrong with her hand and she looked towards her rescuer. "Minako, are you hurt?"
"Hm?" Minako looked at her hand and she noticed she skinned her palm a little, it wasn't anything major, it was something that could be easily fixed. "Oh, it's nothing."
"Why... Why'd you help me!? What were you gonna do if you died!?"
"So, is it okay if I let you die?" Minako said as she started to feel a little anger rising up.
"That's not what I meant! I mean... I mean, you're... you're our leader-"
"No!" Yukari gasped in surprise, she never expected someone like Minako who's usually calm and collected to have such an outburst. "I will not let anyone else precious to me die!"
"Minako... what was that-"
"It's fine! Don't worry... I'm sorry for that outburst." Minako apologized. "I'm... I'm going on ahead..." Minako walked ahead of Yukari and she stood there watching Minako leave. She tried to gather her thoughts together to figure out why she acted that way.
"You're Fuuka Yamagishi, right?" Ikutsuki said.
"Y-Yes," Fuuka answered nervously.
"Relax, there's no need to be nervous. Why don't you have a seat?"
Fuuka nodded as she sat down on the coach, Ikutsuki smiled as he waited for the last two members to arrive. "We're just waiting for that last two members to arrive and we'll begin."
Everyone heard the door behind them open and Ikutsuki looked expecting the twins to be at the door only to find Minato was the only one there. "I'm sorry, but Minako said she's not feeling well, so she can't make it."
"I guess we'll have to begin without her," Ikutsuki said. "Oh, the person who couldn't make it is a student from Gekkoukan High. She's a second-year student, just like yourself. Her name is Minako Arisato, she's the one who leads everyone when we conduct our operations. Anyway, everyone, let us begin. I have to say you all did a good job of uncovering the truth. I also wanted to let you know. The three girls have all regained consciousness."
"What a relief..." Fuuka said.
"From what I understand, they each came to school around midnight and waited for the security guard to leave. They were attacked by Shadows near the gate, as the Dark Hour began... However, the facts became twisted because of rumours concerning a ghost story." Ikutsuki said.
"I knew right from the beginning that it wasn't a ghost," Yukari said.
"It's all my fault," Fuuka said blaming herself for the incident.
"...Are you kidding!? You were the victim!"
"But, I made so many people worry..."
"Hey, don't think like that."
"We would have lost that fight if you weren't there. You saved our lives. You should feel good about yourself. You have a special power that could help others." Mitsuru said.
"A special power...?" Fuuka said.
"We call it "Persona". You could be a tremendous help to us. Will you lend us your strength?" Mitsuru asked.
"Are you asking me to join...?" Fuuka asked as Mitsuru answered with a nod.
"You know, we're not trying to pressure you, so if you need some time to think about it..." Yukari said.
"I'll do it... I'll help you!"
"A-Are you sure!? If you join you'll have to live here..." Yukari said.
"That's fine. I'd rather live here than at home anyway..." Fuuka said which confused Yukari a little since she didn't really understand what she meant.
"We really appreciate this. We'll have the school talk to your parents, to resolve any issues." Mitsuru said.
"...Wait a minute. Aren't we dragging her into this a bit fast?" Yukari said.
"Um, it's okay, really..."
"Now then... Those special Shadows showed up. We still don't know where they're coming from. But, Akihiko is right about one thing... Their appearances seem to coincide with the full moon. We'll take that into consideration from now on."
"So, they're kinda like werewolves then, huh?" Junpei said.
"It's a big advantage for us to know when to expect them. Now, on the day of the fight, we'll be ready to get in the ring." Akihiko said.
Shirakawa Boulevard: Dark Hour
Everyone stood ready for their battle with the powerful Shadow of the Hierophant continued. Junpei's Persona, Hermes, flew straight at the Shadow and slashed at it. The Shadow smacked Hermes away, and Minako noticed it started to move rather sluggishly. Minako placed her evoker against her head before she called out the name of the Persona and pulled the trigger. "Power!"
A blue light flowed around her while it appeared behind her. An angel in red armour floated there before it raised its weapon and pointed it at the Shadow. A green flash of light appeared at the tip of its weapon while a mass of green wind appeared under the Shadow and destroyed it.
Junpei let out a sigh of relief. "Man, that was little tiring."
"Good job, everyone. You succeeded once again! I'll be waiting outside." Fuuka said.
"Well, we beat the Shadow, let's get out of here," Minako said as she walked over to the exit. She tried to open the door, but no matter how hard she tried it wouldn't open. "Huh? It won't open."
"I sense another Shadow in that room! It isn't the one you just faced." Fuuka warned everybody.
"Well, you heard her, let's look and be careful." Everyone nodded as they walked around the room wondering where the Shadow could even hide.
Yukari walked around until she spotted a mirror. It gave her a really weird vibe when she walked over to it. "Huh?"
Everyone but Junpei and Akihiko noticed Yukari over at the strange mirror. "Yukari? What's the matter?" Mitsuru said.
"Doesn't this mirror seem a little strange to you?" Mitsuru, Minato, and Minako looked at the mirror. They all backed away a little when the mirror started to wrap. A bright flashed blinded them and then they all disappeared. Akihiko and Junpei noticed the bright flash and they pulled out their evokers when they noticed a Shadow coming out of the mirror.
"Shit! Where is everyone?!" Junpei said as he summoned his Persona.
"Fuuka!" Akihiko called out.
"Yes," Fuuka answered.
"Try to find the others while we keep this thing busy!"
"Right! I'm on it!"
Minako sat on a bed, her mind foggy and unclear, she slowly reached for her red ribbon tie and untied it. 'Huh? What was I doing again?' Minako tried to recall her memories, but her head was too foggy.
A sudden strange voice ringed inside her head. 'Embrace your desire...'
'What?'
'I am the voice of your inner self... Enjoy the moment... That which cannot be felt is merely a dream... The present is all we have.' The voice inside her head said.
'That's not true...' Minako answered.
'The future is but a fantasy, memory a fabrication... Let your desire free you from your shackles... Such is my wish...'
'I can't give in...' Minako shook her head trying to clear her head.
'Pleasure is what you truly want. You stand in the doorway to bliss. You cannot deny your instinct... Embrace your desire...'
'Now's not the time.' Minako felt her mind clear up and she stopped herself from unbuttoning her shirt any further than two buttons. She looked around and noticed she was still in the same hotel. Minako heard the sound of the shower turn off and she stood up wondering who could it be since she noticed it was still the dark hour. She walked over to the door and once she arrived the door opened. Yukari walked out and stood in front of her in nothing but a towel.
"Um... Yukari?" Minako noticed her eyes looked hazy like she wasn't there. "Yukari? Are you there?" Minako waved her hand in front of her eyes.
Minako gasped in surprise as Yukari pushed her towards the bed and pushed her down on the bed. Minako looked at Yukari blushing furiously as she climbed on top of her. Yukari lowered her head until their lips connected and Minako eyes widen in complete surprise. Her eyes slowly started to close as she started to enjoy the sensation of kiss Yukari was giving her. The kiss was just about to get deeper, but Minako's eyes shot open after realizing the situation she was in. Minako grabbed Yukari by the shoulders and pushed her away. "Yukari! Snap out of it!"
While Minako was keeping Yukari at bay she eventually came back to her senses before she did anything she might regret. "Huh? What's..." Yukari noticed she was on top of Minako in nothing but a towel. Yukari blushed furiously while she screamed and quickly got off of her.
"Thank god, you're back to normal...!" Minako felt a sting on her cheek from Yukari slapping her. "Ow! What was that for!?" By the time Minako looked at Yukari for an answer she was already back into the bathroom. "You didn't have to hit me! You had no reason to!"
Minako suddenly heard Fuuka's voice. "Oh, good! I can finally reach you. Is everything alright?"
"Y-Yes, everything is fine..." Minako answered.
"Thank god, you're okay," Fuuka said with a relieved tone. "Hurry! Junpei-kun and Akihiko-senpai are in trouble!"
"We'll be right there!" Yukari said as she walked out of the washroom fully clothed this time. They both walked out the door until Yukari suddenly stopped.
"...Don't tell anyone what just happened... and I'm sorry, for hitting you..."
"Don't worry, I forgive you."
Yukari and Minako left the room and followed the sounds of battle they heard. They both rushed up the stairs as fast as they can, but they came to a sudden stop when they saw both Minato and Mitsuru turn the corner. "Are you guys okay?" Yukari asked.
"Y-Yes! We're fine." Mitsuru said nervously.
"Uh, did something happened?" Minako asked.
"N-No! Nothing happened! Nothing at all!" Mitsuru replied hastily.
"O...kay? Let's go, then." Everyone nodded as they rushed to help Junpei and Akihiko.
Yukari opened the door and found Junpei attacking Akihiko for some reason. "Wait, what? What's going on?" Yukari said as Junpei momentarily stopped and ogled at Yukari mainly because her shirt revealed a little bit more of her chest.
"Yuka-tan... you look so hot!" Junpei chuckled as he charged her.
"Run! Junpei's in the state of..." Akihiko yelled out.
"Total creepiness!" Yukari ducked in time as Junpei swung his weapon and right behind her Minato slapped Junpei across the face. Mitsuru and Minako arrived in time to see Minato slap Junpei.
"What just happen?" Minako asked.
"It seems to be a Shadow adept at psychological attacks," Fuuka said.
"So he's the one who pulled that?" Yukari said with anger clear in her voice. Yukari blushed furiously as she recalled what happened just moments ago.
The Lovers Shadow went in for the attack and sent its tentacle wings at them. Minato quickly pulled out his evoker and summoned his persona. "Persona." His persona, Oberon, appeared in front of him and cut down the Lovers tentacle attack. Everyone quickly charged at the Shadow and barraged it with their attacks. Yukari drew her bow and shot an arrow straight at the mask of the Shadow. The Shadow exploded and quickly dissolved away.
Minako fell to her knees, her breath heavy. "Fighting two powerful Shadows is really tiring, I can't wait to get some sleep."
Everybody walked out of the hotel and met up with Fuuka. "I'm glad you're all safe."
"Thanks for your help. The enemy was sly, but you did well."
"I did what I could."
"And both of you, good job. For withstanding the enemy's mental assault." Mitsuru's eyes widen a bit after realizing what she just said. "I-I think we should leave."
Yukari stood right next to Minako and whispered to her. "Please don't tell anyone."
"If I don't get slapped again, then I'll take with me to my grave."
"Jeez, I said I was sorry."
"I know, I said forgive you, didn't I? I was joking."
"Yukari!" Fuuka called out. "About that thing you mentioned the other day."
Yukari ran up to Fuuka so they can speak a little before privately. "You found out something?" Fuuka answered with a nod. "Cool. Tell me later."
