Chapter 11
Friday – April 24 – Gekkoukan High – morning
Today class was being taught by a teacher who was actually normal. It was Ms. Ounishi, the science teacher. (A/N: I know these teachers haven't been teaching on the exact day as I've been writing. Don't judge me.)
Friday – April 24 – Gekkoukan High – after school
While coming to school early that morning, Nagito heard from some students that the sports teams were accepting new members. He was never a big sports fan, but he thought if he could get the
exercise, it could help him endure more forays into Tartarus.
Since his new friend, Rio Iwasaki was in the tennis club, he chose to join the tennis team.
"Alright everyone, we actually have the first boy to join the tennis team in a long time. This is Nagito Ishikawa, the new kid. Please give him a warm welcome." The team adviser said to everyone. Her name was Emiri Kanou, a teacher who taught 12th grade physics. The only thing he knew about her was that Kenji Tomochika, a student in his class, was always talking about how hot she was.
"You're the captain, right Rio-chan?" Ms. Kanou asked.
"Yes ma'am." Rio said.
"I've got something to do, show him the ropes if you'd be so kind." The teacher said, walking away.
"I'm glad you decided to join the tennis team, Nagito-kun." Rio said with a friendly smile. "You don't have to worry about the girls here. They're all Akihiko fangirls."
That made Nagito sigh with relief.
"We have practice on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. We don't practice at all on the week before exams. Anyway, you can just watch for today. I'll have your suit for you the next time you come. It's good to have you aboard." She extended her hand again and Nagito shook it.
Time froze again
Thou art I
And I am thou
Thou hast strengthened thy bond
Thou shall be blessed when creating Personas of the Chariot arcana.
Nagito watched the rest of the team practice. He noticed that most of the girls weren't that motivated and that Rio was a strict and passionate team captain.
Friday – April 24 – evening – dorm
After returning back to the dorm, Nagito was greeted by Yukari.
"Oh, hey!" Yukari greeted.
"Hey, Yukari." Nagito greeted back.
"I was curious. Have you any sports teams, Nagito-kun?" She asked.
"Yeah, I just joined the tennis team today." He replied.
"That's cool. You seem to be talented at a bunch of things." Yukari said.
"You're on the tennis team? Pffft..."
"Is something funny, Iori?" Mitsuru asked in a cold threatening tone that immediately shut him up.
"N-Nothing." Junpei stammered, returning to reading his manga.
"Just ignore him." Akihiko said. "Tennis isn't only a woman's sport. I think it's a good thing you joined the tennis team. It can improve your accuracy and reflexes. Try to go to practice as often as you can. It may be a little difficult to do it everyday, but you'll get a lot out of it if you do."
Friday – April 24 – Dark Hour- Tartarus
The team decided to take on the strong presences on the 5th floor. They were giant black birds with empress masks on them. There were three of them.
"Be careful. These shadows are stronger than you're accustomed to." Mitsuru warned.
"Senpai, can you scan them for weaknesses?" Nagito asked.
"I've been trying to, but for some reason, I can't scan these. They may have some sort of ability that prevents them from being scanned."
"No problem! We'll just keep hitting `em with stuff until something works!" Junpei exclaimed.
"Come on Hermes!" Junpei exclaimed, putting his Evoker to his skull and summoning his Persona. "Burn those suckers alive! Fusion Blast!" He ordered. Hermes' bladed wings were engulfed in flames and charged at one of the birds, but it dodged it.
"The little bastard's fast!" Junpei exclaimed, annoyed.
The bird retaliated by flapping a gust of wind, knocking him down and hurting him.
"Junpei! Are you all right?!" Nagito asked, concerned.
"Y-Yeah, I'm good..." Junpei muttered, staggering to his feet.
"Yukari, can you heal him?" Nagito asked.
"Roger." Yukari replied, using Dia on Junpei.
"Sweet!" Junpei exclaimed in relief.
"I'm counting on you, Orpheus!" Nagito put his Evoker to his temple and summoned Orpheus. "Incinerate them with Agi!" He ordered. Orpheus played a melody on his harp and shot a fire ball at the birds. Two out of three of them dodged, and it appeared the one that got hit didn't take much damage.
Two of the three birds blew gust of wind at Nagito and Junpei, sending them flying and hitting the walls. The third one flew at Yukari at high speeds and slashed her with its talons, severely injuring her.
"Ishikawa, Takeba, Iori! Those shadows are too powerful for you! Retreat at once!" Mitsuru ordered.
Damn, are we going to lose? Nagito thought to himself.
"It is not over yet."
What? Who said that? Nagito asked.
"Such a silly question to ask. We are you." Another voice said.
Suddenly, Nagito found himself in the Velvet Room, but Igor or Elizabeth weren't there. Instead, his Personas Orpheus and Apsaras were sitting beside him.
"What? I can communicate with you in my mind?" Nagito asked.
"Yes, that is right. Other Persona-users can communicate with their Personas as well." Orpheus said with his voice booming through the speaker in his chest.
"But what do you need to speak to me about?" Nagito asked.
"We are here to tell you that you can call us both at the same time." Apsaras said.
"At the same time?" He asked.
"Chanting the word Cadenza will help you defeat the Shadows." Orpheus said.
"Alright." Nagito replied. Nagito was then returned to reality with the bird Shadows looming above him.
Nagito struggled to get to his feet, and put his Evoker to his temple. "Cadenza!" He exclaimed. As soon as he chanted the word, both Orpheus and Apsaras appeared at the same time.
Mitsuru was watching through her persona with shock and awe. Impossible! He summoned two Personas at once?! Mitsuru thought to herself, completely shocked.
Orpheus played an enchanting melody and Apsaras beautifully danced to it. After their performance, everyone felt their wounds heal. They also felt faster.
"I don't know how you did it, but I've got my second wind, baby!" Junpei said.
"You're gonna pay for tearing my cardigan!" Yukari stated angrily. The birds charged at them again, but they easily avoided their attacks due to their enhanced speed.
Yukari shot an arrow at one, it dealt a fair amount of damage and knocked it down.
"Nice shot, Yukari!" Nagito complimented.
"Thanks!" Yukari replied. The other two birds turned their attention to her. One of them blew a gust of wind at her. It her, but barely dealt any damage due to her Persona's resistance to wind. Another one tried to get her with its talons again, but Yukari avoided it. She then loaded two arrows into her bow and hit them, knocking them down.
"Now's are chance for an all-out attack!" She said.
"Yeah, let's get `em!" Nagito ordered.
They all charged at the downed birds at once and a cartoon style smoke appeared around them. When it cleared, all the Shadowd dissipated.
"Yeah! Take that you bastards!" Junpei said, pumping his fists in the air.
"I thought we were going to die there for a second..." Yukari muttered. "But you saved us using that move. Thanks."
"N-No problem..." Nagito was about to collapse, but Junpei caught him.
"I gotcha, buddy!" Junpei said.
"You all right?" Yukari asked, her voice filled with concern.
"I-I'm fine, it's just doing that move took a lot more out of me than I thought..." Nagito said.
"Everyone, please return to the entrance." Mitsuru ordered.
"Roger." Nagito replied.
Everyone called it a night and returned to the dorm to rest
Chapter 11 end
