Hello! Updated once again! I just finished Persona 5 after I finished writing this chapter so I thought it was time. This chapter might be a little boring, but it does lead up with what will happen next. Enjoy!

Chapter 14: Riddle Solved?

Date: Tuesday, September 5th

[Background Music: Persona 3 OST: Want To Be Close]

"Morning Alex!" Ember called out as she ran up to Alex in front of the school.

"Morning!" Alex waved. "Did you watch the computer screen last night?"

"I did, and after rereading the calling card after seeing it… Well, let me just say that we can all meet up after school and talk about it. Why don't you text Jax and Rayna later about it?" Ember asked.

"I can do that. Where should we meet up?" Alex asked. "Oh wait, how about the park?"

"The park sounds like a good place to meet." Ember agreed. "I don't want to keep going to food places to meet up anyway."

"Me neither, we need a better place to meet. I will text the two when I can." Alex chuckled as he and Ember walked inside of the school together.

[Background Music: Persona 5 OST: Is it Boring?]

While Alex sat in Calculus as Mr. Salvador was lecturing a lesson, Alex felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. It was a text from Jax.

So… we meeting up to talk about the computer screen stuff later? -Jax

It won't be at lunch as Kaylen and Owen will be there. -Rayna

I talked to Ember when I came to school, we're meeting up at the park after school. -Alex

At the park? Sounds good! -Rayna

I'm up for that! See you guys at lunch! -Jax

See ya! -Alex

"Gerdelman! Get off your phone!" Salvador barked, which caused Alex to look up and put his phone away.

"Sorry!" Alex shouted.

"If you can answer this question correctly, I won't take your phone away." Salvador narrowed his eyes at Alex before pointing to a word on the white board. "What is the definition of a derivative?"

"Uhhhh..." Alex sweatdropped, he looked through the section of his text book and looked for the definition as Salvador crossed his arms waiting for an answer. After a few seconds, Alex found it and answered with, "It is a function that gives the slope of a curve."

"Hmm..." Salvador slowly nodded. "You got out of trouble this time. Keep your phone inside during class from now on, you hear?"

Alex sighed as he kept his eyes focused on the front of the class, with Salvador continuing on with the lesson.

[Background Music: Persona 4 OST: Your Affection]

Once school was over and he got everything out of his locker, Alex walked out of the school looking down at his phone. He was checking to make sure the team was actually going to meet up at the park. As he was checking however, he bumped into someone.

The person he bumped into was a girl wearing a white skirt, baby blue shirt and matching sandals, and she had straight medium length black hair and green eyes. Due to Alex not looking, he bumped into her which caused her to fall and her stuff to fall out of her backpack.

"Oh crap!" Alex looked and saw his mistake. He quickly bent down to help her. "I am so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!"

"I hope you had a reason for staring down at your phone." The girl said in a bit of an annoyed tone.

"I did, but I should've watched. I am sorry." Alex said helping the girl put her things into her backpack.

When it was all packed up, the two stood up and the girl sighed, "Sorry if I sounded mad at you right there, it's just it was my first day here and I'm really nervous."

"No wonder I didn't recognize you, you're new as well." Alex pointed out.

"What do you mean as well?" The girl asked.

"I'm new too… well I have been since school started back up." Alex scratched the back of his head with a chuckle. "I know how it feels being a new kid."

"Guess I'm not the only one." The girl chuckled. "I'm Brittany Rosser, I just transferred here."

"I'm Alex Gerdelman, nice to meet you, Brittany." Alex smiled as the two shook hands.

"I'm glad to meet someone that seems nice." Brittany smiled.

A honk from a car was heard and a voice was heard calling out, "Brittany!" The man was African American with some facial hair from what Alex could see.

"Oh! That's my dad! I hope to see you again, Alex!" Brittany waved before she ran towards the car.

"See you, Brittany!" Alex waved back. At first he was confused on how that man was Brittany's father, but he wasn't one to judge. He turned and made his way out of the school yard and towards the park.

[Background Music: Persona 4 OST: Reasoning]

At the Roseberry Park, the four sat at a park table underneath a roof. After Ember got each of them a lemonade from a nearby stand, the meeting began.

"We now call this meeting to discuss the viewing of last night's computer screen!" Jax announced in a dramatic voice.

"...Why did you have to say it like that?" Rayna deadpanned.

"I thought it would sound cool… it apparently didn't." Jax slumped his shoulders.

"Anyway..." Alex started. "We all watched the computer screen last night, right? ...Anyone have any idea on who the victim is?"

"I couldn't figure it out." Jax shook his head. "I looked on the screen and read the card over and over, nothing. Or maybe it's because I'm stupid."

"No, I couldn't figure it out either." Rayna sighed. "Although I'll say this, the gray jacket looks familiar."

"I thought the same thing." Alex said before turning to Ember. "You got anything, Ember?"

"I think I do." Ember said. "I watched the computer screen last night and I read the card, I may have figured out who the next victim will be..."

"Of course you'd figure it out, you're the smart one." Rayna laughed slightly. "Well, who do you think it is?"

"...I think Jayden might be the next victim." Ember said as the other three looked surprised.

"Jayden…? You mean, the mayor's son… and the school's sex object?" Jax asked.

"I think that's the only Jayden we know." Alex said. "Wait a second… he does wear a gray jacket most of the time, does he?"

"Yeah he does, he wears it almost all the time." Ember said.

"Hang on a minute." Alex took out his phone and looked at the picture of the card. "Let's reread this and see if we can link it up to Jayden. "Hated by men, adored by women"."

"Oh yeah that does match him all right." Rayna said. "Guys hate his freaking guts while girls lust over him because he's hot, sexy, and apparently really smart."

"The second part… "Family was once loved, but now is despised". I'm guessing that's because of his dad becoming mayor from what you guys told me?" Alex asked.

"Exactly." Ember said. "When Dwayne was in office, the Anoa'i family was one everyone respected. But then when Joe became mayor, everybody can't stand them. Or at least the family always gets talked down upon even if they're just family."

""Doesn't matter the words, no one will listen"." Alex read the third line. "Guessing this is about the family as well."

"No matter what the mayor says, everyone either heckles him or ignores what he just said. It's the same for Jade and Jayden." Ember said.

"And the last part… "Puts up quiet exterior, hates everyone deep down"."

"That one I am unsure about." Ember said. "Jayden doesn't seem like someone who hates others."

"He has been really quiet since this crap started happening with him." Rayna said.

"What if… the killer or whoever this person is, knows what Jayden is hiding?" Jax asked. "Maybe it's a side of himself he's keeping away?"

"That could be possible." Alex said. "But while this could fit Jayden, we won't know for sure unless he gets put into the Dream World."

"Too bad there isn't a way we can prevent him from going in if it is him that's the next victim." Rayna sighed.

"Well… we got two week, why don't we just tell Jayden to not go to sleep on any rainy night for the next two weeks?" Jax asked.

The other three looked at Jax with confused looks. "...Really?"

"What? If he's not asleep on a rainy night, the killer can't get him, right?" Jax asked.

"Jax, we can't just go up to him and tell him he can't go to sleep when it rains for the next two weeks, he won't believe it." Alex said.

"We don't have to tell him what for! We just should tell him he can't for the next two weeks!" Jax said.

"Okay genius, after school tomorrow you're going to go up to him and tell him that. Got it?" Rayna asked.

"Huh? Why me? Why Ember or Alex?" Jax asked.

"Because you came up with the idea, a stupid idea. You'll tell him." Rayna said.

"Fine..." Jax huffed.

"It won't rain again until Friday according to the forecast, so we'll see then." Ember said.

"We'll see if it actually works." Alex said.

Date: Wednesday, September 6th

[Background Music: Persona 5 OST: Suspicion]

The next day after school the team met up with each other outside of the school and waited for Jayden to walk out.

"Remember Jax, it's your idea so you say exactly how you did before." Rayna smirked.

"Okay I get it! It was dumb, but I'll try to give it some sense when I tell him!" Jax rolled his eyes.

"Look, there he is right there." Alex said, pointing to Jayden as he walked out of the school.

"There you go, go tell him." Rayna said as she pushed Jax Jayden's way.

"WHOA!" Jax almost tripped as he was pushed, gave a small glare to Rayna, and then made his way towards Jayden. "Jayden, wait up!"

"Hmm?" Jayden heard Jax as he turned around. "Oh hello, Jax. Something you want to say?"

"There… there is. And I know it'll sound stupid, but hear me out." Jax said.

"What is it?" Jayden asked.

"Jayden, for the next two weeks, on the nights it rains… don't go to sleep." Jax said straight out.

That of course earned a raised eyebrow from Jayden, "...Why exactly shouldn't I do that?"

"It's… difficult to say, but… we might think you may be in danger." Jax said.

"We?" Jayden looked over and saw the other three watching. "And how will me not sleeping on these nights keep me safe?"

"I mean, we don't know if it'll actually work, but please try for us!" Jax said. "I know it sounds stupid as hell, but do it!"

Jayden blinked a few times before shrugging a shoulder, "If you say so, I'll try it. This better not be a stupid prank though." And with those words, he began walking away.

"Wow, he actually said he'll try it." Alex said as he and the others walked over.

"If he really does is another story, but we'll see on the computer screen Friday if it works, if it is him that's next that is." Ember said.

"So we have until Friday night to see if it worked." Alex said. "What are we going to do until then? We wait?"

"That's what I think." Ember said. "I can't hang out today though, I need to study hard for the quiz in Geography tomorrow."

"You really do study too much, Em." Jax said.

"Says the one who's fine with a low C as a grade." Ember shook her head.

"There's too much homework!" Jax said.

Rayna looked over to Alex, "While those two do their thing today, you wanna hang out?"

"Sure. Where do you want to go?" Alex asked. "Want to get something to eat or shop?"

Rayna thought about it for a moment before smiling, "Actually… I got the perfect place to go." She then grabbed Alex's hand and nearly dragged him away from the school building.

"Where we going?!" Alex asked.

"On a bus! I'll tell you once we get there!" Rayna smiled.

[Background Music: Persona 3 OST: When The Moon Reaches for the Stars]

"Ta-da! Here we are!" Rayna shouted, leaping out of the bus with her arms out wide.

Alex was dragged onto a Silvercrest bus by Rayna and he ended up being on that bus with her for twenty minutes before they finally stopped in what looked like a completely new place. From the bus stop they stopped at, it seems this place was more busy and much larger than smaller Silvercrest.

"Where are we?" Alex asked as he walked down the bus steps and got out.

"This is Mirefield. Everyone from Silvercrest goes here when they want something more to do." Rayna explained. "There's more stores, restaurants, hang out spots, hell there's even a mall here!"

"This sounds cool!" Alex said in awe. "But… do your parents know you're here?"

"Please, I sneak here all the time after school and as long as I'm back before dinner they don't suspect a thing… except a few times." Rayna laughed. "Come on, I'll show you around the mall."

The two walked to the mall and looked around at the many stores. They looked around at a clothing store, music store, gaming store, and even an arcade. There was no way they were going to every single one in just one visit due to the amont of things to do inside.

Once Rayna showed him all of the stores she wanted to, the two decided to take a seat near the water fountain near the food court of the mall.

"Ready? ...Go!" Alex said as both of them threw a penny into the fountain while mentally making a wish.

"So what did you wish for?" Rayna asked.

"You think I'd tell you? It won't come true if I do." Alex chuckled.

"That's not always true." Rayna laughed. "But if that's what you think I won't tell you." She smiled as she looked around the food court. "Malls are always a favorite place of mine to go. When I was little my family would take me to one whenever I did something good; after I read a book all the way through, got a good grade on a test… They let me get one thing when we went to malls, whether it be a toy or a game or something."

"Seems you really do care about your mom and dad." Alex said.

"I do, they are my parents after all and they've raised me well." Rayna said, but then sighed. "I can't stop thinking on what my other self said in the Dream World though… sometimes I just want to do things without either of them telling not to do it."

"I think they're just looking out for you, making sure you don't get in trouble." Alex said.

"I know that, but I'm smarter than what they think… I won't get myself into trouble, I even promised Mom that." Rayna said. "Guess with my dad being a cop he has to make sure he keeps me in line."

"At least you have parents who care for you. Some kids aren't that lucky." Alex said.

"True… guess I am." Rayna said. She looked at Alex. "Sorry I dragged you here today, I just thought it would be fun to show you this place."

"Hey, no problem. I think I like it here." Alex chuckled. That's when time stopped around him and the Star Arcana card appeared in front of him with a 3 underneath it.

As time went moving again, Rayna's cell phone rang and she answered it. "Hello? ...Hi Mom! I'm just hanging out with Alex right now. ...No, I'm not in Mirefield, why would you think that? ...I know I have homework! ...Um… okay, I'll be home by then! Okay, bye!" She hung up her phone and once again grabbed on Alex's arm.

"What now?!" Alex asked.

"We need to get home now! I'm so dead if I'm not home by dinner!" Rayna said, dragging Alex out of the mall while he sweatdropped.

Date: Thursday, September 7th

[Background Music: Persona 3 OST: Want To Be Close]

Last class of the day finished up and Alex walked out of the classroom to his locker. As he did the combination and opened it up to put stuff away, he realized he forgot something in the classroom.

"Oh crap! My binder!" He said to himself. He closed his locker and made his way back to the classroom to grab his binder of important school papers. When he ran back in and looked at the desk he was sitting in however… it wasn't there.

"Something wrong, Alex?" The teacher, Mrs. Elliott, asked.

"Is my binder still in here?" Alex asked.

"Did you leave it here? I didn't see one when everyone left." Mrs. Elliott said.

"There you are!" Alex heard a voice behind him and turned around. Standing there was Brittany, the new girl he met two days earlier and she was holding a blue binder. "Is this yours?"

"My binder! Thanks Brittany!" Alex smiled, taking the binder from her.

"You were out of the room before I was and I saw you left it there, so I decided to take it and try to catch up to you." Brittany said. "Since you seemed nice when I met you."

"Well thank you for that." Alex said as the two began walking out together. "So I know you've just been here for three days, but you like it so far?"

Brittany nodded, "So far I like it. People seem really nice." She then turned her head slightly. "Sorry if I seemed rude when we first met… I was just so nervous on my first day, being a transfer student and all."

"It's all good." Alex shook his hands. "As I said, I'm a bit of a new kid as well so I know how it feels.

Brittany smiled, "Thank you, Alex. You are officially my first new friend since moving here." After those words, the glass shattering sound was heard around Alex as time stopped.

[Background Music: Persona 3 OST: The Power of the Heart]

The Arcana card appearing before him had a picture of a crescent moon with a face on it and what looked like a scorpion above the moon.

"Thou art I… And I am thou…

Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the truth…

Thou shalt be blessed with a Persona of the Moon Arcana..."

"Another bond created, the bond of the Moon..." Margaret's voice was heard. "As your Rank 1 Moon Persona, you shall receive… Andra."

The Arcana turned into a Persona with a humanoid body, but with the head of an owl and the wings of an angel. Andra spread it's wings before going into Alex's heart and time resumed.

[Background Music: Persona 3 OST: Want To Be Close]

"Well, I better get going. Dad's probably already here waiting to pick me up." Brittany said.

"Hope to see you again, Brittany!" Alex waved as Brittany began walking.

"I will tomorrow! We're in some of the same classes after all!" She laughed and Alex went back to his locker to grab his things before leaving.

Social Link Progress:

Fool (Dream World Rescue Team): Rank 3
Chariot (Jaxson Devitt): Rank 3
Lovers (Ember Farrelly): Rank 3
Magician (Damien Richards & Edgar Edwards): Rank 3
Hermit (Kayley Jones): Rank 2
Star (Rayna Sullivan-Good): Rank 3
Hierophant (Sarah Gerdelman): Rank 2
Moon (Brittany Rosser): Rank 1

So Jayden could be the next victim? Is the team right? Guess we'll find out next chapter!