A/N: HellO! I gotta say I really want to replay this game again, although I'll wait until after I publish all of it onto this website. Re-reading some of the parts here reminds me of why I liked the story so much! Anyway enjoy this block of:
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~Persona 3 Portable~
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Block III: Midnight Summer's Dream
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Date 11: Ya-Ku-Shi-Maaaa!
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Dark Hour. She sensed someone's presence and woke up.
"Its good to see you again." Pharos spoke at the foot of her bed. "How long has it been since we first met? Time seems to flow rather quickly."
"Indeed it does." She stretched her arms and sat up in her bed.
"So, how is life as a Persona-user?"
"Good! But, I still feel like something's missing."
"I wonder what… I hope you'll find it soon."
"You don't know what it is?"
"No, but maybe my knowledge will ease you a bit. I remember something else about the coming of the end… It all goes back to an occurrence that happened many years ago. Fourteen years ago, to be exact."
"How..?"
"Hey, didn't your parents pass fourteen years ago?"
"Yes, they did… but they weren't on this island when they died. They weren't even employed by Kirijo, though they had been before that. That's why I came here. My parents worked as scientist for Kirijo, but they left before Mitsuru's grandfather started the experiments…"
"I see…"
"It feels like too much of a coincidence, though. I'm still missing some thing."
"A Persona is like a mirror. It reflects our deepest thoughts and memories and power."
"Are you a Persona?"
"I'm not sure… Regardless, I will stay with you."
"Why?"
"Because we're friends."
"Oh," she smiled. "Right. I guess true friends stick together no matter what…"
"Good night." Pharos disappeared. She went to bed to prepare for her exams the next day. It seemed the closer she got to the truth herself, somehow Pharos was there to remind her of something.
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She had walked alone to school, but Junpei actually spoke to her at the school gates that morning.
"Hey."
She was probably too excited to see him talking to her. "Hey!"
"S-so you been studying for exams?"
"Oh, yeah, of course. Have y-?"
"Seriously? Like I care."
"Junpei…" He walked up ahead of her in a faster pace. She wasn't as prepared for exams as she had been before. Thankfully it was Literature that day in their homeroom. She had been paying attention in Ms. Toriumi's class quite a bit, so the questions seemed to be a breeze. Since there were no clubs that day, she went to an awkward event happening at the dorm.
It seemed everyone was trying to save money, but everyone was gathered in at the kitchen table, as there had been a smorgasbord of food Fuuka had heated up for everyone to eat. The table was quiet.
"Come on, aren't you guys hungry?" Akihiko tried to lighten the mood. He was scarfing down his food.
"N-not really." Yukari grumbled. Silence filled the room. Ezi herself was about to open her mouth, but Fuuka filled in.
"What are everyone's plans for the summer vacation coming up?"
Junpei brightened up first. "I wish I could go to the beach! Hot sand, cool breeze, and babes in bikinis! Man, that'd be awesome! Somewhere nice, where the water is crystal clear. We have exams first though, what a drag."
"You'll be fine." Fuuka assured. "I would want to go someplace beautiful too, like Okinawa."
Ikutsuki buzzed into the kitchen. "Well, it's not that, but how about Yakushima?"
"Mr. Chairman," Mitsuru stood up. "I didn't realize you were here."
"I was close by, so I thought I'd tell you my schedule for next week. Mitsuru, your father is will be vacationing there in Yakushima during the break. You'll all have some time off after exams, right? Why don't you go and pay him a surprise visit?"
"Seriously? Beaches and babes, here I come!" Junpei seemed more like his regular self, but then again, he wasn't talking directly to Ezi.
"Men." Yukari sighed.
"How about it, Mitsuru?"
"But… My father is a busy man. I wouldn't want to ruin his vacation."
"Don't worry. No father would be upset with a daughter who came all the way to see him. You've all done a great job and deserve time to relax, too."
"I don't know…" Mitsuru said quietly. Ezi stood up as well with her hands on the table.
She pictured waves, waves of particular familiarity, on a small island, and the calm whoosh they made across the silver sand—
"YAKUSHIMA!" She yelled suddenly. "Sempai, he's right! We do need a break!"
"Come on, sempai, I'm beggin' ya!" Junpei raised his hands up together, like he was praying to her.
"…Alright. I guess everyone needs a break now and then. Let's do it."
"Whoohoo!"
Akihiko scratched his chin. "The beach, huh? I should design a special training regimen."
"Training? Dude, I'm stoked!"
"I'll need to buy a swimsuit." Fuuka realized.
"Me too." Yukari said. "Hey, Ezi-chan… want to go shopping with us for one sometime this week?"
"Yeah!" She felt relieved.
"I've got one you can borrow, Fuuka!" Junpei teased.
"Nice try, man." Akihiko said.
"Are you going with us to swim too, Ikutsuki-san?" She asked.
"No. I'll turn to ash if I'm exposed to that kind of sunlight."
"Whoa, that was a joke, right?" Junpei was worried.
"Of course it was…" Akihiko seemed disappointed in Junpei for not understanding the joke.
Everyone chatted about the trip. Yukari decided to go apologize to Mitsuru in the hallway for getting carried away before, and Mitsuru forgave her. She felt enlightened, and better with herself.
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The week of the exams went as the other one had. The next day, she was in Edigawa's health class, answering questions about ancient types of magic, like Shamanism and dowsing. The next day was science, about marine biology and the Japanese diet.
History class with Mr. Ono was a little more difficult, trying to remember the names of most of the Samurai establishments, like the Minimoto no Yoritono.
Then, of course, English class was a breeze, since she knew it so well already. It had been back and forth, forcing herself to study after each exam to prepare for the next one on the coming day.
On the last day, Junpei walked by her again in front of the school.
"Hey."
"Hey!" She said unusually cheerily. Even if they were fighting, it was nice to see him.
"Thank god it's the last day of exams. I can't wait for summer."
"Me too! I'm exhausted…" They both were silent as they walked into the building. "Um, how have you been?"
"Don't ask." He said. "But man, I can't wait to blow some steam off on vacation."
"Y-yeah, me too."
On the last day of exams, her pen was flying off the paper, filing the essay questions with details of extravagance; there was no way she was doing poorly today. Even after everything…
When the day was over, she gathered over to Yukari and Junpei.
"I'm done baby!" He cheered. "The dark times of exams are over!"
"How'd you do?" Yukari asked.
"Check it out! I aced PE." He said brightly.
"That basically answers my question."
"A real man doesn't dwell on the past! I'm looking forward to Yakushima."
"Oh yeah! We still have that to do." Yukari sounded un-amused. "Ezi, are you ready?"
Ezi perked up hearing Yukari talk normally to her. "Oh yeah, you know it! But, I don't have a suit."
"Well, I should get ready too. Wanna go somewhere after this?"
"Y-yeah. That would be nice. We haven't hung out in a while."
"I can go too, ladies! I can help you pick out swim suits!"
"Yeah, right." Yukari snapped. "I'll go invite Fuuka too… girls only! And I need to get my gym bag." Yukari left, leaving them alone in the room. Junpei wasn't in a hurry to leave this time either looking at her with an agape mouth. He started off by rubbing the back of his neck under his cap.
"I guess… um, I'm sorry about the way I've been acting. I was just in a bad mood and I took it out on you. I know it wasn't too cool of me."
"It's alright…" She smiled. "I'm actually kind of happy about it."
"Huh? How is my treating you badly make you happy? You a sadist or something?"
"No, but the fact that were comfortable enough to be upset with me and then share your issues with me makes me feel better. If we weren't close, you would have just stayed mad at me and not made an effort to fix it, right?"
He shrugged. "I guess so."
"See? Junpei, we're friends, right? So, you can tell me anything."
"I know. I just needed some time to think. Thanks." He grinned. "Let's go back to how things used to be between us, okay?"
"Well, I don't know if we can."
"Huh? Seriously?"
"No, I'm joking." She chuckled.
"Oh, damn you! Come on, let's get out of here.
Everyone met at the front gate, and Akihiko told them big news: Ikutsuki-san was waiting for them, and he had information about a new candidate to join them in Tartarus. Fuuka went back to the grounds to meet with Natsuki when she appeared, asking for help on some homework. Then, the Chairman appeared.
"Hey guys! I guess I should introduce you to him now."
A young boy, probably Maiko's age, was walking towards them behind Ikutsuki. He had short brown hair that flailed out on the bottom, and wide eyes; he wore an orange vest over an elementary school white uniform with a ribbon and pants.
"Hello." He said.
Ezi was standing next to Akihiko, and he seemed to shutter. She wondered if it was because it was just a small boy, this new candidate? She wasn't happy about it either.
"Oh, hey Ken-kun, what's up?" Yukari said.
"You know him?" Akihiko asked.
"He doesn't leave during the break because of his circumstances." Ikutsuki explained.
"Oh, I heard about that…" Yukari said weakly.
"It was only me and my mom, but she… she got in an accident, and she died. About two years ago."
Ikutsuki patted the young man's shoulder. "One of his distant relatives is paying for his school expenses. However, its not appropriate a boy his age be in the elementary dorms by himself, so I took the liberty of having him move into your dorm."
"Mr. Chairman-?" Ezi was uncomfortable.
"To our dorm? Do you really think that's a good idea?" Yukari added.
"Of course. He has the potential."
"You mean, he is the new candidate?" Akihiko roared.
Ikutsuki leaned down towards him. "Ken, would you call us a cab?"
"Y-yes sir. It was nice meeting you all." He bowed slightly and then went off to the curb.
"Yes, he's the new candidate. But as you can see, he's still a kid, so it is merely a possibility for now."
"Okay, so he won't be suddenly joining us in Tartarus?" Ezi pressed.
"Right. It would be best not to mention anything to him yet, either. He won't move in right away, either. Excuse me, I'll meet you at the dorms later." Ikutsuki joined Ken.
"Ken is going to be living with us in the dorms." Akihiko finalized.
"Looks that way. A-are you okay, sempai?"
"Uh, fine."
Ezi looked over to Ken. A small child, pulled into this? …It calmed her nerves to think about how they would be having a vacation soon.
For some reason, Akihik
Ezi, Yukari and Fuuka had gone swimsuit shopping on Sunday, at the Paulownia mall. The first thing Ezi got was a one piece with a shawl.
"No no no!" Yukari insisted. "You are cute, Ezi! You have to wear a two piece."
"B-but, I don't like bikinis! They're too revealing…"
"You've never worn one before? How do you expect to get a nice tan in a one piece?" She pushed her back into the dressing room and threw a red bikini into her. "Try it on! Trust me!"
"I've never bought a swimsuit outside of the school one for gym." Fuuka admitted.
"You have to get one too, Fuuka! Something that fits your slim figure!" Yukari decided.
Yukari was being wildly nice and exuberant all of a sudden. Ezi looked at her back in the mirror and sighed before walking out of the dressing room.
"See? You look adorable!" Yukari said. Was she blind? Ezi spun around. Surely, they would see it.
"It suits you, Ezi-san."
"Yeah, but, it shows too much…"
"It fits you just fine! It's not like it's a thong, it covers all your areas, and you look great!"
"Well, then thank you!" She looked at herself in the mirror again. She noticed she was more toned than she had been before she had come to the island, no doubt it was all the work they had done in Tartarus. They tried on more suits, until they finally picked the right ones.
Yukari nor Fuuka had said anything about the scar; the one slash that stretched on her back diagonally from her right shoulder to her left hip. Either they were being nice and not saying anything about the ghastly thing, or they really couldn't notice it… but how could you not?
"You're sure I look okay?"
"Heh, I've never seen our leader so timid before!" She teased. "You look beautiful, really!"
She'd have to take her word for it.
"T-thanks."
After shopping, Ezi left them for a moment to use the restroom… actually, to check on Theo to see if there was any requests she could do before they left. The three girls went to the Shrine to eat lunch, then said their farewells to each other to tend to their own responsibilities.
"I've got to grab some more supplies for the trip." Fuuka explained. "I'll see you two later!"
"Bye, Fuuka!" Yukari waved excitedly to her, and they seemed to watch her part before Yukari faced Ezi.
"Hey… I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was investigating the Kirijo group."
Ezi wasn't sure what to say yet.
"…To be honest, I thought since you took orders from the seniors so well, you might tell them what we were up to or something. But I know you just listened to them to keep the peace on our team and keep us safe in Tartarus; so, thank you."
"It's… you're welcome." She managed to say. "Yukari, my parents worked as scientists for Kirijo."
"Really? Mine too! I mean, my dad did before he…"
"I'm sorry to hear that. That's one of the reasons I came to this island to find some answers. My parents weren't working for Kirijo at the time of that explosion all those years ago, and we weren't even living in Japan apparently, but I still had to investigate since this was one of the last places they worked at before they went missing."
"Missing?"
"I know they're dead, but their bodies… were never found. They only found me on the streets back in America the night of the car accident they died in."
"Wow, that is mysterious…"
"Its one of the reasons why I was upset you didn't tell me. I really want to know what happened, and even though they weren't involved with Kirijo at the time, I can't just ignore this coincidence of our powers and finding the Dark Hour and using our Personas."
"You're right. Something still doesn't feel right about all of this, even though we know it was Kirijo that created the Dark Hour with their experiments, there is still more to be found out." Yukari nodded. "Let's find out together, okay?"
"Yeah." Ezi sighed. "I know Mitsuru may have been forced to use her Persona, but I still feel like her not telling us this before may cause a twinge in our trust in each other."
"You may be right."
Yukari left after their much-needed conversation, and Ezi searched for Maiko there, the little girl who had sent her a distressing text. She was wailing and sniffling and crying on the swing set, so Ezi sat on the swing beside her
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"My father hates me! He hit me!"
This concerned Ezi greatly. "What? How mean of him! Does he do that often?"
"N-no… but he did it because I asked him why they were getting a divorce!"
"Oh, I see…"
"What if they stop liking me the way they stopped liking each other?"
"They can't. It's a different kind of love they have for you, one that can't be turned off."
"But, everything's falling apart! I know, I should run away for the summer! Then maybe they'll miss me!"
"I don't think that's a good idea, honey."
Despite this, Maiko began a plan to do so. Ezi insisted she just stay at home, but Maiko wouldn't run away for a while, she said, since she would have to plan it out. Perhaps it was just a silly idea from a child's imagination, because she went home after they discussed it.
"I'll see you later, Ezi-chan!" Maiko waved to her as they stood on the path, then she waved to someone else sitting on the benches.
"Good bye, Mr. not sick guy!"
The thin young man with dull greyish-brown hair waved back to her. He had on a long sleeved grey shirt with vertical blue stripes, and black pants. He looked like Pharos for a moment.
"Hey…" Ezi approached a bit, staying on the path, but standing in front of him. "You know Maiko?"
"Yes. You're the friend that plays with her? She's told me all about you…"
"Really?"
"Yes. You have the energy of a child, and bright eyes. Your soul must be burning brightly."
"I'd like to think so." For some reason, she wasn't startled by his odd way of speaking—it actually intrigued her. This guy was probably in the same age range as her anyway, not some creepy man at all.
She walked closer. "Are you okay? It's a bit hot out here to be wearing that."
"The me I see reflected in your eyes, and the real me—if there is such a thing- How far apart are they?"
"Uh… Three light years?"
"Yeah, that's about right… A long, sad distance to travel."
"It could be sad… or, it could be sad, and have a meaning of sorts to discover, despite the journey."
He furrowed his brows. This boy was truly sad.
"Your words… I wish I could write them down, but I don't have a pen."
"You're a writer?"
"Yes… I've always used my fountain pen, but I can't find it—it has red ink, blood red. Without it, my screams are silenced."
"Damn. If I can find it, I'll surely give it to you."
"Thank you." He nodded gently.
She decided to leave the mysterious, harmless boy be. She thought about his odd presence, and weak demeanor all the way to the strip mall. She went to buy some manga—light reading adventures and romance for their trip to Yakushima—and then she went to feed the cat. This time, she had the cat food in a small jar in her purse, with a bowl.
"Here kitty, kitty…" She had wandered all over until she was in the outskirts. The thin kitty was sitting behind some boxes, out of the hot sun.
"Aww, c'mere." She tapped the bowl the food was in, then slid it gently towards the cat. It limped over to the bowl and started eating it quickly. "Poor, thing, you must be starving. Why didn't Theo ask me to do this sooner?" She stayed crouch down in front of the bowl, watching the cat scarf the food down.
"You'll get sick if you eat that fast! Relax, kitty." She pondered everything that had happened up to this point. "I guess we both have our own challenges, huh? I don't know what to look for anymore… "
"What are you doing?"
She stood up and turned towards the gruff voice. "Oh, it's just you. I'm talking to a cat, what does it look like I'm doing?"
It was the tall figure, Shinjiro, Akihiko's acquaintance.
"You had better be glad it's just me. Didn't I tell you kids not to come back here again?"
"I can handle those thugs, alright?"
"Are you serious? Leave, now."
"I'm busy, mind your own business and leave me alone, will ya?"
He grumbled. "Sorry, I can't do that. You have to go, before those punks show up."
"What is your deal? Trust me, if they show up again, I'll kick their asses!"
"What is wrong with you? Do you just blindly go into dangerous places like this?"
She didn't know how to explain to him she could fight better than five idiots in a gang… especially if she didn't understand the ability herself.
"I know it is, but… I promised someone I would feed this cat, and I wouldn't say I could protect myself if I didn't mean it. Please don't worry about someone like me."
"Hmph, I'm not. But if you get hurt here, Akihiko might get mad at me."
"You jerk! If that's all you care about, then go!"
"What? Come on I didn't mean it like that—"
"You did too! Now I appreciate your help before, but I don't need it now."
He rubbed his forehead and grunted. "Why the hell are you so stubborn?"
"Am I giving you a headache? Then shoo!"
"Shoo?"
"You don't need to look out for me, I am the leader of SEES after all. If I was completely stupid, I would be dead by now!"
"Is that so…" He seemed to be pondering something, then his grey eyes turned to her face, and she didn't move. Her eyes remained locked with his. He was angry, calm—His dark gaze caught her off guard, and she couldn't breathe.
"Huh. Alright, good luck then." With his hands in his pockets he shooed off.
He was unfathomable, that one. She exhaled.
Shinjiro… he had given her the same look in the hospital room, when she had met him for the first time. She shook off the chills she had and waited for the cat to finish eating. She saw three lost souls with Apathy Syndrome at the station on the way home. The next day, they would embark on their trip to Yakushima. Everyone in the dorm was buzzing and preparing for the exciting trip. They all agreed to go to Tartarus when they returned from their relaxing vacation, hopefully feeling replenished to fight the monsters of the impossible night again.
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Inside the Yakushima-bound ferry, the SEES team sat together in the front of the ferry, soaking in the sun and ocean breeze. The green forested island was bundled like a curly head sticking out of the blue, clear sea, and white clouds bore behind it from the sky.
"There it is! YA-KU-SHI-MAAAA!" Junpei darted forward to lean over at the front of the helm.
Ezi noticed Yukari and Mitsuru were not talking to one another, still. They docked and carried their belongings to the Kirijo mansion, near the top of the island on its own private property. The entrance was dazzled with white marble walls and pillars, with fichus hanging from pots on the ceilings above them. The mansion was truly extravagant.
Maids that escorted them further into one of the many living rooms, where an impressive looking man seemed to be waiting for them, greeted them. He had on a suit, brown hair, and seemed to age well, with sharp cheekbones. He had on his right eye, an eye patch—probably from being the only survivor from the Shadow experiments.
"…Its good to see you." Mitsuru dropped her bag and bowed slightly forward to the man. He took a moment to scan all of them, then he went to another room.
"Was that..?" Fuuka whispered.
"Her father?" Yukari finished.
"Dude, talk about scary! I hope he doesn't make us walk the plank!"
"Junpei!" Ezi disapproved.
"Don't be stupid." Akihiko added. The maids escorted them to their rooms upstairs, and they didn't hesitate to prepare to go the beach, probably because Junpei was demanding they go like a little, excited child. As she changed, Ezi decided she would try to look her best in the suit she had bought with the other girls—maybe Akihiko would—Well, never mind.
"Junpei's gonna be an idiot when we get there," Yukari said first. She, Fuuka and Ezi walked ahead of Mitsuru, per her request, in their suits and sandals and towels, on the path down to the beach.
"This place is so green! All of these tropical plants, too." Fuuka analyzed.
There was something unsettling about being out in the trees to Ezi. It made the day seem darker than it was with all of the shade, and the roots and spiraling tree trunks made the place alive, as if spirits were watching them.
"…I wish we had a beach ball! We have to play games or something when we get there!" She decided.
"Games?" Yukari scoffed. "What are you, eight?"
"Maybe!"
"Sometimes, you sound like Junpei… We can get a beach ball at one of the shops."
"Yes!"
"We should try going to a few places here!" Somehow, Fuuka had a pamphlet. "There's a museum, some small shops and waterfalls… I heard this place even inspired that anime movie…"
They went to the shops on the western side, near the beach. Ezi bought her beach ball, and it was easy to find Akihiko and Junpei talking on the beach when they arrived.
"I got sand between mah toes! YAKUSHIMAAA!"
"Could he be any louder?" Yukari placed the sunglasses on her head over her eyes. "Yikes, what's with Akihiko-sempai's swimsuit? I can feel my face getting red just looking at it."
It was definitely not appealing. He was practically naked, and the only thing covering him was the black panty-like trunks he had on. At least Junpei was wearing shorts for his trunks.
"Yo! About time you guys got here." Akihiko said. The girls seemed to look down for a moment at him, then back up. "Something wrong, guys?"
Yukari rubbed her cheek. "That's a pretty small… swimsuit."
"Dude, you might as well be in girl's underwear." Ezi admitted. She should have been more impressed with his slim body, but he was so pale in the sun… and that damn suit…
"What, don't you know? Swimsuits like this reduce water resistance and—"
"That's okay, it doesn't need to be justified!" Yukari clarified. Junpei was gawking at them like he was charmed again. His cheeks were bright red.
She turned to him. "Why do you look dumber than usual?"
"Maaan, talk about a feast for the eyes. Yuka-tan's more of an aggressive model than I had imagined. Could her boldness come from the confidence that her club training has toned her bod?"
"What?" Yukari had on a pink two-piece with turquoise straps.
"And check out our leader! She's one cute mermaid herself!"
Ezi suit was a two piece with little frilly on the end of it, and a white and pink checker pattern. She turned red for a moment.
"Those curves she usually covered up are lookin' good! I can't tear my eyes away!"
"I don't know how I look like a mermaid… but, thanks?"
Fuuka looked around for a moment. "Is that umbrella and chair taken?"
"Ooh, and here we have the lovely Miss Yamagishi!" She had on her mint two piece with a shash around her waist. "Wow, Fuuka, I had no idea you were hiding such a beautiful body!"
"Geez!" She blushed.
"Oh come on, there's nothing to be embarrassed about!" He insisted, chuckling.
"Stop that creepy laugh, you perv!" Yukari snapped.
"What is this to you, a swim suit modeling competition?" Ezi demanded.
"Is something wrong over here?" Mitsuru stepped out from the forest. Her lovely cherry hair flowed perfectly with her white Bandeau two piece, complemented by the red zinna flower curled above her left breast on her suit.
"Wow, Mitsrur-sempai, you're gorgeous!" Fuuka said.
"Yeah, you're skin is flawless! Did you already put on sunscreen?" Yukari asked.
"Oh, n-no, not yet."
"10 out of 10!" Ezi gave her a thumb-up. "Love the flower!" Mitsuru probably was the most sophisticated and beautiful one out of all of them. Figured.
Junpei tried to whisper as he spoke to Akihiko. "Dude, level with me here… Which one's your type?"
The boys started whispering to each other, then Junpei jumped up.
"H-huh? Really? No way!"
"K-keep your voice down!"
"Man, really? No joke? That's almost too funny, because-"
"What are you smirking about now?" Yukari interrupted them, and Ezi secretly wondered what Akihiko had said to Junpei.
"Nothing." Junpei was still smiling wildly. "Uh, race you to the water for a swim, dude!" He bolted for the ocean.
"Whoa, I'm not letting you win that easily!" Akihiko ran after him.
She felt a shiver as the wind passed by, and she could hear the trees shaking behind them. She turned around to the empty nature. It was too quiet there, as if someone was watching them.
"Damn! Its cold water! But so refreshing!" Junpei kicked his feet up as he stood in the water.
The feeling subsided, and she sat down to get a tan for a moment with Yukari. Fuuka played with the sand, and Mitsuru had some light reading as she lay in the chair under he umbrella.
"I'm gonna go grab something." Yukari got up from her towel, leaving Ezi alone. She wondered if someone had been watching them in the forest earlier, and looked around, turning her head like a surveillance camera.
"Yo." Akihiko stood beside her, thankfully, with his red shirt on for the moment. "You okay? You seem paranoid."
"Uh, just a feeling." She didn't know what else to say.
He sighed. "Everyone seems to be having fun… that's a good thing, I guess."
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"All I want to do ever is train, but, our operations during the Dark Hour put a lot of stress on us. You should try to relax a little, and rest up."
"Say that to yourself! I'm okay…" She wasn't sure. "I guess I'm always on the alert!"
"Fighting does that to you."
"Meh, we can still have fun!"
After a while, the girls dipped their feet into the water as well.
"What are you two weirdos doing over here?" Yukari asked the boys.
"Yukari, look out!" Ezi stepped in front of her, before Junpei's splashing could reach her. "Ugh! I've been hit!" She sank slowly and dramatically into the water. "Good bye, cruel world! I shall be resurrected into a swan!"
"Seriously?" Yukari groaned.
"Yeah! That's one down!" Junpei cackled. "No one can resist splashing girls on the beach! I'm gonna splash more water on all of youuu!"
"Oh, Ezi-san!" Fuuka said. "Don't worry, I'll avenge you!" She took off her skirt and ran into the water, splashing the boys.
"Oh, you're all being silly!" Yukari said. "But I can't let Junpei splash me first! You're gonna pay for that, take this!"
They all ran into the water, splashing and kicking through the waves. Mitsuru took out the beach ball, and Ezi showed them how to play TIPS for a while, then they tried to catch some high waves to surf on their bellies.
Yukari and Fuuka began pouring sand onto Junpei from the neck down, turning his body into a naked mermaid. Mitsuru and Ezi did the same to Akihiko, but they tried morphing the sand into a body builder.
"I've got sand everywhere." Akihiko carped.
"Just wash it off in the ocean. Baby." Ezi teased.
"I got a picture of both of them in the sand!" Yukari declared. "Too perfect. I could use it as blackmail when they decide to do pervy things!"
"I don't know. I think my mermaid side is my best side." Junpei nodded proudly.
The sun was setting when they all decided to return to the mansion. Ezi showered first and got out to explore the mansion, and something pulled her to the entrance. She stepped outside and noticed Kirijo-san talking to someone.
"…to trust others, Mitsuru. There are things in this life you cannot accomplish alone, no matter how many sacrifices you make…"
Ezi froze, Mitsuru was in a white turtle neck, speaking with her father on the bottom of the steps.
"Oh, s-sorry!"
He gave her a wry look. "That's alright. Come here, young lady."
She pulled herself down the steps. "N-nice to meet you, sir."
"You're Elizabeth Leon, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Interesting." He turned to Mitsuru. "By the way, that's another thing. Why didn't you just ask me directly, rather than go behind my back and search through our databases for information?"
"I… didn't want to disturb you, father."
He sighed, disapprovingly. "I have no intention of hiding the truth from any of them. Takeba is in the group too, correct? And she has the potential as well… I wonder…"
There was a pause.
"Sir? Mister Kirijo—"
"I'm not sure what your direct involvement to all of this is, Leon." He said. "Your parents were scientists, that I know—but they were not with us when we began the Shadow experiments. I'm sure you've already seen their records—it must have said they were employed by Kirijo, correct?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"But, they were really working with the Nanjo Group: the company we were partnered with for years before we went on our own. Our Kirijo section did most of the hiring, so it makes sense that their files say that they were with us, however, they had nothing to do with the Shadow experiments."
She grimaced.
Had she come to Port Island for no reason?
"Oh, I see."
"I hate to be forward, but may I ask of their passing?"
"Father-?"
"No, it's okay." Ezi answered. "Car accident. Apparently, I was in the car, but I don't remember any of it. They found me on the street, and I guess the car went flying somewhere else."
Mitsuru had a pained look on her face.
"I-it happened when I was very little, though! About 14 years ago."
"I see… They had nothing to do with the Shadow project, and yet, here you are… with a potential even greater than my own daughter's."
They must been talking about her quite a bit. She couldn't help but wonder what this meant in terms of her journey for the truth, now—
"I'll be inviting everyone to a meeting tonight after dinner." He walked back in first. "See you there."
They were all gathered by a surprise invitation in the reception room. Everyone sat on the yellow couches, surrounding a projector screen, where Mr. Kirijo was standing.
"Good evening," he said.
"G-good evening sir!" Junpei replied the loudest. "Man, this guy's creepy." He whispered to Ezi on the couch.
"Shhh!" She nudged him.
"I take it Mitsuru gave you the short version… It's all true. We adults are to blame. I wish I could atone it with my life. Now, I have no choice but to rely on all of you."
No one said a word as he continued.
"My father wanted to create a time manipulation device. I can imagine he wanted to shape the future to his liking, and stop catastrophic events. After things like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the government began funding science groups like ours for a solution to counter such attacks before they even happen."
"Damn, that's insane." Junpei commentated.
"However, my father's madness for this power strayed the project from its original goals." He turned the light switch off, and the projector turned on.
"This is a recording from the incident 14 years ago. It's the only footage found from the wreckage by a scientist that worked on the project."
"A film?" Mitsuru didn't seem to know what it was either. Everyone wiggled in their seats as he turned on the TV and a fuzzy, shaky video began.
"I pray this gets in the right hands!" The man on the screen said. It was too scratched to see his face just yet. "This is all of my fault, my employer has pushed the experiments on the Shadows, and they have gone completely out of control! All of the experiments and tests subjects, my colleagues and friends… they are all gone."
There was a loud siren blaring in the back, and the red lights were flashing all over the screen, with faint screaming behind it. The man had moved the camera so it had stopped moving and it was focused on his face, which they could see now. Yukari gasped.
"I had to stop it, or the world would have paid a terrible price! Listen! What we have done here can be undone! In order for this nightmare to end, you MUST defeat the Shadows that dispersed from here! You must do it! Otherwise, it will be the end of everything! Please! It is my last request… this is all my fault in my promise for success… I'm so sorry…"
The video ended after a loud explosion. The lights came back on into the room. Everyone was silent.
"…Dad…" Yukari whispered. Ezi was sitting to the left of her, and she could see a tear had fallen from her cheek.
"What? That was, your-?" Ezi was speechless. Perhaps that's why Yukari could fight during the Dark Hour, because her father was directly involved.
"His name was Eiichiro Takeba, talented, and head of research. But, we were the ones responsible. We pushed him to continue the research. The Kirijo Group is to blame for his death."
"My dad caused it all? The Dark Hour, Tartarus, the deaths?"
"Yukari, are you okay?" Akihiko asked. Ezi tried to comfort her, but she stood up and turned to Mitsuru.
"So that's why you were hiding all of this? Because you felt sorry for me? Is that it?"
"No, Takeba, I-"
"I don't want your pity!" She ran out of the room.
"Takeba!"
The room fell silent again.
"Ezi-san?" Mitsuru said. "Would you please, go after her? You'll have more success in bringing her back than me."
"Uh, sure." Ezi got up and ran after her.
Surely, Kirijo wasn't lying to her about her parents if he was so able to tell the truth about Yukari's dad. He had no reason to lie to Ezi about her own.
She had her flip-flops on and was annoyed she had to drag through the forest with them on, until finally she found Yukari sitting on the beach.
The water was dark, and the waves splashed against the girl's toes against the pale moonlight.
"Ezi? Leave me alone!" She had her knees up and her head in between them, covering her face.
"It's not safe to be out here alone, Yukari." Ezi sat in the same position next to her.
"All of this time, I believed in him… but, because of his death at the explosion, people were suspicious of my mother and I, we always had to move because of it."
"…I see."
"All of this time I thought he would be proud of me, but he's the reason we're all doing this! And even so, I'm still mad… it was the Kirijo Group that originally started the experiments, so why? Why was it just my dad? I'm so jealous of Mitsuru, y'know… she's not poor, and fatherless, like me…I almost wished… it had been Mitsuru's father instead… I'm horrible, aren't I?"
"No, that's not true-"
"Stop acting like you have all of the answers!" Yukari yelled. "You make everything seem easy, you and Mitsuru! Mitsuru has the life I could have had, but because my father died, my mother and I were abandoned, and she took her frustration out on me! It's not fair, I…" She wiped her eyes. "I'm really useless, especially compared to her, here or in the Dark Hour…"
"Yukari…" Ezi sighed. "Its not easy, but its how you face the challenges that matters."
"I'm sorry. I should be used to it by now. But you understand… your parents died too. I guess you're right."
"I'm sorry you found out the truth, but are you just going to give up, then? Don't you want to do right, regardless of the circumstances? We need you, Yukari…"
"Ezi…" She hugged her, a motion Ezi hadn't expected. "Thank you."
"….Heeeey, Yukari! Ezi-chan!" Junpei came running from the forest. "There you are! Come on, it's almost Dark Hour! 'Can't have you girls out here all by yourself."
"Oh, that's right. I forgot that no matter where we go, the Dark Hour will be there." Yukari said. They got up, dusting the sand from them. "You know what I was thinking? Once you release your Persona in the Dark Hour, you remember everything that happens. It's like losing your innocence—In exchange for power, you can no longer look away from the things you don't want to see."
That confirmed it for Ezi. "I was looking for answers, and the search for the truth brought me here—I couldn't give up on them now. We still need your help!"
"…So I guess, I'm stuck with you guys, huh?"
"Yep!" Junpei said. "Now that that's settled, let's head back!"
Ezi walked behind them. There was that feeling again that there were inhuman eyes watching them through the thick green of the island. She shook it off, and they returned to the mansion for the night.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: How did the protagonist of p3 not know the end of the world was coming? I mean I thought Pharos was pretty clear... anyway I hope you liked this part! More drama on the beach in the next chapter: Aigis! Review please!