Chapter 10
ARC GO!
Arcana Zero: If you're reading this then you know that changed but don't worry, I have a few ideas for everyone's Persona to keep appearing (as someone they can talk to just to be clear).
ARC ends
And with this chapter the fic has reached double digits, do you think it can reach triple digits?
And I have over double the amount of favs/follows, and almost double the reviews; thank you everyone
Anyway, let's get on with the chapter.
Disclaimer: I will put it in fireworks –presses a button and a bunch of fireworks pop up writing 'I don't own Persona' in the sky-
-Dojima residence (Yu POV)-
I slowly open my eyes when I hear my alarm clock and shut it off with a grunt.
Have school… got to get ready… so tired.
I manage to get up, change and go to the bathroom; I can feel the bruises I got from last night but do my best to ignore them.
Nanako and I are eating breakfast now; my uncle probably went to work already.
"Are you okay?" Nanako asks me suddenly, I swallow a piece of egg before answering.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"You seem tired". Was she always good at telling if someone is tired?
"I just didn't have a good night of sleep". I'm not lying to her, I honestly did not I'm just not saying the reason for that.
"Oh, okay". With those words the conversation seemed to end… and I don't like that.
"You're really good at cooking you know?" I compliment her grabbing another piece of egg.
"Thank you, but I can only cook sunny side eggs and toast bread; I always buy dinner".
"Would you like me to make dinner then?" I ask as I take another bite, she looks at me for a second seeming surprised.
"You know how to cook?"
"Yeah, I can teach you too if you want".
"I'll think about it".
We talked some more about other things before we had to go to school, I find the Arisatos on the way both of them listening to their headphones.
I go to them and pat Minato on the shoulder to get his attention, he looks back at me and pokes Minako's arm before they both take off their earphones.
"Morning". I say now that I got their attention.
"Morning".
"Good morning". Minato and Minako answer me, the latter yawning after saying it.
"You are tired too?" I ask while the three resume our walk to school.
"Yeah and I feel like I have bruises in places that don't exist". Minako says yawning again.
"We'll have to get used to that if things like last night are gonna be a regular thing". Minato says massaging his neck. "At least next time we won't have to try and awaken our Personas".
"Yeah, that reminds me I need to have a word with Izanagi after school". I answer a bit annoyed. "Since we're on the subject, Mochizuki said that those 'portals' won't always appear in the same place, maybe we should agree on a meeting place for tonight onwards"
"I agree, last night we just happened to be together because Igor called us". Minato agreed with me.
"What do you think would be a good spot Yu?" Minako asked, I think for a second before answering.
"The shopping district is probably the best place; not only it has the new Velvet room but is in the middle of Inaba from what I've seen and remember".
"Sounds good, let's meet there if possible before the Dark Hour, from now on". Minato answers.
"I may have some trouble with that due to my uncle but I'll make sure to go there as soon as the Dark Hour starts if I can't sneak out before". I answer them.
"Ok, let's do our best, kick those shadows then find Erebus and send him back where he came from!" Minako says with a grin and raising an arm.
Minato just shook his head as if saying 'you'll never change' while I nod and a grin; at least until I hear a 'crash' sound, time stops and my surroundings lose their color, a card then appears in front of me.
Thou art I and I am thou
Thou hast found a kindred soul
They will aid you to protect those you hold dear
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooseth to create a Persona of the World arcana.
I see a faint blue glow around me before time suddenly starts again and the color returns, the three of us stop in our tracks and look at each other.
"You heard that too right?" I ask the twins, they both nod.
"Apparently you are our bond for the World". Minato says her sister nods in agreement.
"And you two are mine" I say back before we start our walk again. "Now that I think about it, I didn't have a World social link before".
"We neither, maybe it can only be stablished with another wild card?" Minako says with a finger in her chin.
"If that were the case, we would have made one with each other". Minato countered.
"Hmm, I don't know but now we have a social link and given the arcana maybe we get a Persona that stops time".
Both of the twins gave me a deadpan look before saying in unison.
"That would be ridiculously overpowered".
"Yes, yes it would but a man can dream".
After that we made some small talk till we got to the school and went to our respective classrooms, classes went by fast probably because I was too tired to really pay attention to them and just kept spacing out, luckily no one, specially not King Moron, realized that.
At lunch I met up with the Arisatos and Mochizuki and the four of us went to the rooftop to eat the lunches we bought.
I always wondered why no one ever comes here to eat; it seems like the perfect place to do that.
"So, Ryoji told us something interesting before lunch". Minato said. "Apparently there won't be a 'portal' appearing every single night".
"Really?" That's surprising, also a relief if it means we won't need to fight every single night.
"Yes, it's not that easy to open one of those, I can't say an exact time between two 'portals' opening but there should be at least 3 to 4 days before the next one".
"That's awesome; I still need to rest after last night". Minako said happily and taking a bite of her lunch.
"Me too". Minato agreed. "By the way Ryoji, can more than one portal open at once?"
"…" The fact that he is remaining silent is a bit unnerving; I bet we won't like the answer. "Yes it can".
"Of course it can". I say with a sigh. "Oh well, let's just worry about that if it actually happens".
The three of them nod and for the second time today.
CRASH.
Thou art I and I am thou
Thou hast found a kindred soul
They will aid you to protect those you hold dear
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooseth to create a Persona of the Fool arcana.
Two social links in a day, not bad.
"You two heard that?"
"Fool social link?" Minato asks taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Fool social link". I confirm. "By the way Mochizuki, the Persona you summoned, where did you get it?"
"Well, you could say that's actually me or rather my true form". He answers. "Why do you ask?"
"When I went to get them down from that door I fought a shadow that was exactly like your true form". I explain. "Was that you?"
Me and the Arisatos look at Mochizuki waiting for the answer.
"Well, yes and no, it was a part of me I left when I had to go, you know because I'm 'Death' and all that". I see a pang of guilt in his face when he says that but it goes away as soon as it appeared. "I'm guessing that part of me still wanted to protect them and that was the only way it could do it, sorry about that".
"Don't worry it's not your fault". I answer shrugging.
The bell rang signaling the end of lunch time and we all went back to our classrooms.
Again, I just zoned out till classes were over, once they were I packed my stuff and I was thinking of going home and rest, that idea was discarded when Yosuke approached my desk.
"Hey Narukami".
"Hey Hanamura". It feels a bit weird to not call him Yosuke like I'm used to. "What's up?"
"Not much, how about you, you getting used to this place yet?"
"Kind of, there are still some places where I think I would get lost if I tried to go". I should try and see those places later, aside from been useful to be familiar with the area in case a 'portal' opens there, I'd like to get to know this new Inaba.
"Yeah I hear you, don't worry though you'll get used to it after a few weeks".
"I take it you're not from here then?" I'm really starting to feel like I should have gone to the Drama club in the previous world.
"Yep, you know the local Junes branch?" I nod. "My dad is the manager so the whole family got sent here".
"I see; it must have been tough having to move here".
"Kind of yeah but you get used to it after a while". Yosuke shrugs. "So wanna go grab a bite? My treat, think of it as thank you for saving me from Chie's wrath yesterday".
"Sure, where do you have in mind?" I say getting up and grabbing my things, I'm still kind of tired but it would be nice to spend some time with Yosuke, and hey it's a free meal.
"Have you been to Aiya's yet?" Yosuke asks while we leave the classroom.
My friend I am the master of Aiya's… but I can't answer that.
"Not yet, but I think I saw it, it's that restaurant in the shopping district right?"
"Yep, it serves great food".
"Then we know where to go". As we were leaving I see the Arisatos and Mochizuki with other two students, they seem kind of familiar for some reason… are those Junpei-san and Yukari-san?!
I kept a poker face while thinking that to hide my surprise, it's a bit weird to see them so, well young but that's something to think about at another time.
Yosuke and I made some small talk about different things like some manga, the town, some of the different stores in Inaba, and so on.
We finally reached Aiya and took two seats on the counter.
"Hey, two of today's special please". Yosuke says to the owner.
"Coming right up".
After we talk for a while our meals are delivered and we start to eat
"Dude, how did you do that?!" Yosuke asks me out of nowhere.
"Do what?" I honestly don't know what he means.
"That, how did you finish your bowl that fast, I haven't even had a bite yet!" I look at my bowl and it's true it is already empty; I think doing the mega beef challenge conditioned me to always eat really fast when I'm in this place.
"I eat fast". I answer with the most straight face ever; Yosuke just looks at me for a while before shrugging and going back to his food.
We spent the rest of the day there, even ordering seconds; I made sure to not just swallow everything in one go like before this time.
When it was getting dark we paid for our food and walked part way back home till we had to go our separate ways.
Before I went home however I went to the riverbank and after I made sure no one was around I called him.
"Izanagi, you there?" I ask in the phone.
"Do you need anything?" I jump a bit at the sudden voice coming from behind me, when I turn around I see Izanagi.
"Not really, I just wanted to complain". I answer putting my phone away; he raises an eyebrow in confusion. "Why didn't you tell me that I needed to awaken a Persona?"
"…I thought you knew"
"How would I know that?!"
"You were always able to tell which Personas you had with you, the feeling should have been different and let you know that it was just the potential to awaken not having one all of the sudden".
I raise a finger for a counter argument but I just end up opening and closing my mouth a few times.
"Now that you mention it… yeah that was my bad". I concede with a defeated sigh. "But let me ask you, is there anything, anything at all, that I should know about?"
Izanagi puts a hand on his chin and stays silent for a few seconds before answering.
"The cake is a lie?"
"…"
"…"
"Did you just really say that?"
"You would be surprised at how much free time I have". So an all-powerful God of creation… likes to play videogames.
"Whatever; and that cake won't be a lie if I make it" We talk a bit more and then I go back home while he disappears.
-Minato, Minako and Ryoji's classroom (Minato POV)-
The three of us went back to class after lunch was over, I let myself fall asleep as soon as I sit in my desk, I don't know why but no teacher ever notices when I'm sleeping in class.
"Minato-nii wake up!" I hear my sister yelling in my ear making me wake up with a jump.
"Don't do that Minako, I was having such a peaceful sleep". I complain with a yawn and rubbing one of my eyes.
"Yes I'm sure you were, now get up".
"All right". Rubbing the sleep away I get my things and get up.
"You shouldn't do that Minato-nii, sleeping in class isn't good"
"You're just jealous because when you try it you're immediately found out". I see her flinch at my comeback and Ryoji chuckling.
"A-anyway, paying attention to the class aside it can't be good to your back to sleep in a school desk".
"Sure, sure, whatever you say". I grin and I don't even need to see her to know she is pouting.
"Hey you three". We both stop and turn to see Junpei. "You two going to the dorm, want to go together?"
"Sure". I answer with a shrug.
"Oh, hey Yuka-tan" Junpei greeted Yukari who approached from his right.
"Hey, are you bothering the new guys again?" Yukari asks with half a glare.
"Wha-I'm just been friendly, you hurt me Yuka-tan". Junpei answers acting as if he was in pain.
"I'm just messing with you, you guys going back to the dorm?"
"Yeah, want to join us Yuka-chan?" Minako asks.
"Sure, I don't have club today". With that the five of us went to the entrance, I see Yu going with someone with orange hair and earphones around his neck, we just waved at each other when he was leaving, that's probably one of his friends from the previous world.
"You guys want to stop somewhere before going back to the dorm?" Junpei asked, I was about to say yes and ask where when two people walked in front of us.
"Oh, Sanada-senpai, Aragaki-senpai". Yukari greeted them.
"Hey, are they the new students?" Akihiko asked, but I lost track of the conversation when I looked at Minako.
"Sorry, I just remembered I have to do something". Minako said quickly and was already running away before she finished talking.
"Huh, what's wrong with her?" Shinjiro asked looking in her direction before turning to me.
"She… you remind her of someone". I give the best answer I can in this circumstances. "Sorry, I'll go after her".
"Let's go somewhere another day". Ryoji added before we both went after Minako.
It wasn't that hard to get to her, she never really left my sight and when we reached her she was sitting against a wall with her knees against her chest and hiding her face there.
I sat beside her and waited till she calmed down, Ryoji decided to wait nearby and give us some space, there wasn't anything I could really say to her right now, after all we saw Shinjiro die once and then we see him again without any problem, I know they had something and I think one night… I better not remember that or I may want to kill him myself but if I was in her position maybe I couldn't have go away before collapsing.
After around 10 minutes she finally talks.
"Minato-nii". I make an 'hmm' to let her know I'm listening. "Is it wrong that I'm happy we got sent to this world now?"
"Are you happy right now?" She nods still not showing me her face. "Then I don't care if it's wrong".
"You're spoiling me". I put an arm around her back and draw her closer. "Thank you".
After around another half an hour she finally calmed down.
"Are you okay?" Ryoji asked when we went to him.
"Yeah, I'm okay now". Minako answered him with a small smile, I thought I saw Ryoji frown for a moment but he seemed fine at the next.
"Let's go rest for today". I say, the two of them nodding and we walked together part of the way back.
-A completely black space-
"I see; I'm not surprised they are still trying to interfere". A sinister voice said the sound coming from everywhere around. "Let's see if they can still do that after this, you". The voice said to someone else in the space.
"Y-Yes?" Someone else in the room asked.
"Prepare your portal; it's time to teach them a lesson".
"U-understood". Making a strange sound as they walked away they left to follow the voice's orders.
"You truly are fools mortals; let's see how you deal with this". The voice let out a maniacal laugh at its own thoughts.
Ok, I'm stopping here.
I didn't get an idea for Qmake so I'll just end this chapter now.
I hope you guys liked it, until next time.