That evening, the command room. I knew this was coming for a while, and I felt prepared for what would come next.
"Where and when did you acquire those...Revival Beads, Yuki?"
Mitsuru had called me to the command room to question me on the origins of the Revival Beads. Ikutsuki and Akihiko were there as well alongside her.
All the while, Junpei and Yukari were busy helping Fuka get settled into her new room. So, none of them could help me. It was all up to me and my wits.
The question was, were my wits up to the task?
"...I..."
Alright, Yuki. You can do it...come on. Think. You've lied before. You've pulled it off before. You can do it. I know you can. Do it. Do it. Do it!
"I—"
"Do take note, Yuki," Mitsuru interrupted me, "that I am fully aware when someone is lying to me. I've been trained to take note of people's expressions and verbal tics whenever they make use of subterfuge. Like it or not, I can tell. That's what comes with the privilege of being the heiress of a company as massive as the Kirijo Group. So if you're going to lie, try to make it convincing."
And that just completely ruined everything. Something in her eyes told me she wasn't bluffing. Should have expected her to have that kind of skill beforehand. But I was now neck deep into the thick of it already.
But what should I tell them? That I'd enter a blue room stuck in a realm between dream and reality? That I'd meet up with a hunchbacked old man who could fuse my Personas together and would regularly give me advice when the situation would call for it?
"If I told you the truth," I began, "I doubt you'd believe me. For one thing, it makes no sense and may only pile on more nonsense into what is an already out-of-control situation."
"Can I interject?" Akihiko said. "Spare us the you wouldn't believe me excuse. "Do you honestly think that after everything we've seen and been through, there's something that we think isn't possible? If anything, we might be the only ones who'd believe you."
And he had a point there. Mitsuru and he didn't seem very keen on letting me stall the truth any longer. "What if I told you that someone gave the Beads to me?"
Mitsuru's eyes widened for a moment, then she raised her hand.
"...Does he happen to have white hair?" she asked.
What?
"Young-looking, tall, long white hair. Wears an elaborate white robe. Has a very relaxed personality," she described a person who sounded like they came straight out of a fantasy story. Nothing of that description fit Igor, so I shook my head. Mitsuru sunk into her seat, looking disappointed.
"It's not him, then... Sorry, Yuki, continue. Do we know this person at all?"
"No," I replied. "No, you don't. He only speaks to me. He only ever speaks to people like me."
"What do you mean, people like you?"
"People who can control multiple Personas. He calls them Wild Cards."
"Interesting," Ikutsuki said. "What is this person's name?"
Something plain. Something believable. Perhaps something typical?
"...Akira—"
"I told you to make it convincing." I underestimated Mitsuru's lie detector skills. "What is his real name?"
"...Igor." While Akihiko and Ikutsuki looked at me incredulously, Mitsuru seemed...curious. She nodded at me as if to say continue, so I did. "His name is Igor. He lives in my mind, in an elevator with this young woman named Elizabeth, and together they allow me to fuse my Personas together and they give me items to help me on my 'journey' or whatever they call it—"
Ikutsuki chuckled a little, putting a hand to his mouth and smiling ear-to-ear.
"Mr. Chairman," Mitsuru exclaimed. "This isn't the time."
"I-I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...mmph..."
"I told you that it was unbelievable," I said over Ikutsuki's continuing chuckles.
"I'm very sorry about that, Yuki," Mitsuru apologised, though I didn't see why she was apologising. "Please, tell us mo—"
"Mitsuru...," Ikutsuki said, clearing his throat and facing her plainly. "I think we should believe him."
"...Excuse me?"
"Huh?"
"Mr. Chairman?"
We all looked at him with more than a little concern; even I couldn't imagine what must have led him to accept my statements as truth so quickly.
"I-I mean...," he breathed in deeply, "well...would anyone in their right mind make that up? Would anyone be so desperate as to make such an explanation up out of thin air?"
Akihiko gave him a blank stare, while Mitsuru raised her eyebrow.
"Besides," the bespectacled insane man continued. "If he's desperate enough to concoct such a ridiculous lie...then he must have a very good reason to keep it a secret from us, doesn't he?"
Everyone gave me an ominous sort of look, and I gave that same look to Ikutsuki himself.
He and I shared something in that moment, a glance of sorts that I wasn't too keen on returning. The glint in his glasses gave way to some unapproachable void in his eye, and I couldn't even imagine what lay inside.
*SMASH!*
Excuse me, what!?
"Thou hast established a new bond..."
Oh, come on! I don't even like the guy! What is up with these Social Links...?
"Thou must take heed of the danger of the bond thou hast forged..."
Huh?
"...for, from this moment onward, thou shalt be cursed with the darkness of the Jester Arcana..."
...I need to talk to Igor about this.
Mitsuru looked towards Akihiko and asked, "What do you think, Akihiko?"
"I...don't know," Akihiko said, shaking his head as he placed his hands on his hips.
Ikutsuki smiled, the glint in his glasses shining ever brighter.
Mitsuru and Akihiko had both seen the truth in his words. I was sure of it. But I was also sure that they were too dumbfounded to go on. I'd be, too, in their situation... At least, I thought they were.
"Now, it's getting late," Ikutsuki said. "You all have school tomorrow. I suggest you all tuck in for the night."
"...First, I'd like a word with Yuki in private," Mitsuru said, her tone and the look on her face challenging Ikutsuki to defy her. The Chairman nodded quickly, probably seeing that this wasn't the time to be pushy. Akihiko and Ikutsuki left, leaving me alone with Mitsuru.
She was silent for a few seconds. I wondered what it was she wanted to speak to me about, but I found my answer very quickly.
"The Chairman seemed to be under the impression that I didn't believe your story," she started. "On the contrary, I do."
I took my previous thoughts about Ikutsuki and applied it to Mitsuru. She believed that? The look on my face probably asked her exactly that, because she nodded.
"Like I told you, I'm able to tell when people are lying. You weren't. Since you told me the truth in the end, I'll forgive you trying to lie to me before... But, make sure it doesn't happen again."
I nodded quickly.
"Now, the next time you see this Igor, I want you to ask him something."
I was, admittedly, a little nervous about what kind of question she wanted to ask him, but I wasn't in a position to refuse.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Ask him, and this Elizabeth, if they know the person I described to you earlier."
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
I committed the description of this person to memory. Tall, young-looking, long white hair. Elaborate white robe. Easygoing personality. Wasn't that hard to remember.
"Got it."
"Thank you, Yuki." She stood up. "Now, it's getting late. You wouldn't want to be late for school tomorrow." She made her way to the door. As I stood to follow, she turned back and said. "Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, I was able to tell you lied last night. Regarding what happened when you found Yamagishi."
She left the room, leaving me struck speechless and frozen in place.
The Strangeness of the Mundane
"Who is it?" Fuka asked in response to the knocks on her door.
"It's Makoto," I told her.
"Yuki-kun?" Fuka opened the door, smiling a little once she saw me. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"I just wanted to make sure Yukari and Junpei did a good job with helping you settle in," I told her. "Sorry I couldn't help sooner. Our senpai and the chairman had some business with me."
"Oh, it's alright," she said. "I understand."
I looked around at all the boxes in her room, and asked with my hands on my hips, "Do you need help unpacking?"
"Oh no," she replied, "I'll do it myself. I told Yukari-chan and Junpei-kun the same thing. I don't want you all to trouble yourselves on my account."
"It's no trouble, I can assure you of that," I told her. "We're all willing to help you. Especially with what you did for us last night."
"Oh...alright then," she replied, nodding. "A-anyway, Kirijo-senpai told me that in the case you'd want to go to Tartarus, you can just ask me and we'll be off."
"Really?"
"Yes," she replied. "I'm ready when you are."
"...You seem rather eager to go back into that place," I noted.
"I do...? Well...it is my duty as a new member, after all," she said, attempting to sound proud of herself. "I'll do my best to help you and the group during your battles." I chuckled. "Wh-what is it?" she tilted her head, curious.
"I just remembered...after Yukari and Junpei's first time in Tartarus, it took a while for them to come around and decide to fight again. Even then, I had to bargain with them.
"You had to bargain to get them to fight the Shadows?"
"Yes. Can't say I blame them for how they were acting, though."
"I wouldn't blame them..." An ambiguous look crossed her face before it snapped back to normal. "Never mind them though, when would you like to go back to Tartarus?"
"Well...obviously, tonight wouldn't be any good. We still need our rest, after all. How about Tuesday?"
"Tuesday?"
"Yes. I think by then, we'd have already fully recovered. It seems to be our best bet."
"Alright, then. Tuesday it is. I wish you and the team the best of luck, and I promise to help you all to the best of my abilities."
"I know you will," I chuckled, as I turned back out the door and muttering under my breath, "it's all we can ask of you." Then I felt her eyes on the back of my head, and I turned to find that she was holding her gaze to me. "What's wrong?" I asked then.
"It's just...," she turned to one of the boxes in the room, but I knew she was just looking for an excuse not to face me. "Do you remember what happened to you...?"
"You mean...when I fought him?"
She nodded. "Your whole body turned white. Your eyes turned yellow. And he blew you up, but you...you fixed yourself. Do...Personas have that kind of power naturally?"
"Mine do," I said simply, not wanting to get into further details.
"And do the others know?" she asked then. "About what you...about what happened with you? Is it something that happens normally or...no, it couldn't have been." She turned to face me. "Yukari-chan...she wouldn't have tried to heal you if she knew you could just...they don't know?"
I shook my head, deciding against lying to her. "No. You haven't told them?"
She shook her own head, "No, I just...it didn't seem like it was my place to tell them. Why keep it a secret?"
My lips pursed as I sheepishly stated, "We'll deal with it as it comes."
She frowned at me then, before coming right out with it. "Are you just afraid of what they might say if you told them about it?"
And she hit the nail right on the head. "Yeah."
"You bargained with them to get them to follow you into that tower, but you're just going to keep the rest of what's going on with yourself a secret?" she asked then, folding her arms together. "I'm sorry, but that's not fair of you."
I never liked the idea of death. Nor had I ever liked the idea of talking about death. And personally, the idea of explaining the deal with Thanatos was just made me even more queasy. It'd just lead to too many questions with too little answers. Answers that I didn't quite have yet, answers I didn't quite care to know at the moment.
"I'll tell them when I'm ready," I said to her.
At that, she exhaled, turning back to her boxes. "Alright...don't say I didn't warn you."
"They don't need to know right now," I said weakly in response. "It's not necessary information."
"But they're your team. We're your team. They have a right to know about these kinds of things," she said disappointedly. "Aren't you supposed to trust them?"
I stared at her, as she opened another box and got to setting up a corner of her room close to her closet. And before I left, I said, "I do."
But this isn't about trust, I wanted to say but didn't, as I shut the door and left to my own room, washing off the bad taste in my mouth with some sinkwater. Her Social Link was gonna take a while. And that was just fine with me.
Once the school day was over, I marched over to Paulownia, heading straight for the Room.
The fight with the Emperor and Empress, along with Hamuko's intervention, managed to set some things straight and yet at the same time throw me completely off-kilter.
I had to plan ahead. Bigger and eadlier Shadows were going to storm Iwatodai again in a few weeks, according to the lunar cycles. I needed to become stronger by then. I needed more power. And I couldn't wait for my Social Links to progress far enough to give me that power. I needed a faster solution.
And so, I decided to have a word with Igor about all this. As I casually strolled into the Velvet Room, however, my Personas—almost routinely, almost like it's a habit—tried to get in my way.
"Hello, Master."
"Hey," I said to Orpheus.
"Congratulations on your victory," he told me. "Considering the circumstances, it went about as well as one could hope... However, that Shadow we encountered, that Furiae... It makes me nervous."
"You're not the only one...," I grimaced. "I'll have to speak with you later. I need to have a word with Igor."
"Alright, but I think you should say hello to Angel first. She has acquired the ability to speak now."
"Has she?"
"Yes, Master," Angel said, floating behind me with an elegant, royal air about her. "I've been able to speak for quite some time now, but I was just never able to find the time to converse with you."
Remembered Chihiro and manga recommendations and long talks on the way home. Guess the Link had advanced far enough.
"Sorry, but I got to go talk with Igor. I'll be happy to speak with you after, though."
Angel nodded, "Very well."
Remember why you were here, Yuki. Remember your mission. Remember why—
"Master!" It was Pixie this time. "I'm so sorry for not being there to heal you that night! I-I don't know what came over me, I..."
"It's alright, Pixie," I told her. "You're forgiven."
"R-really? Thank you so much!" She then pecked me on the cheek with very small lips, lips so small I could barely even feel her kiss. "I promise I'll do a better job of healing you next time!"
"I'm sure you will," I said. "Now—"
"Hiya, Master!"
"Hiya, Master!"
The Jack Brothers. Of course the Jack Brothers.
"Way to go, hee-ho!" Pyro cheered, shaking and rattling in excitement. "You're more of a monster than I thought!"
"Yeah!" Frost interjected. "Remember when you got blown up and then got better and then tore that Shadow to shreds!? That was awesome! Ya gotta do that more often, hee-ho!"
Honestly, these two were like children. Which was good. I had a soft spot for kids.
"Calm down," I chuckled. "I have to talk with Igor right now, sorry."
"Aww, come on, Master!"
"Don't be such a workaholic! Spare some time for us, would ya?"
"Sorry, but not right now."
"Pipe down, you two!" Forneus roared. "The Master is trying to have a conversation! Do not hinder him from his duties."
I nodded to Forneus in mild gratitude, as I walked over to my seat and sat down.
"Greetings, Master Yuki," Igor chuckled after having bore witness to my interactions with my Personas, "what brings you here today?"
"I...I need your help with something."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"I...need to establish a firmer connection with my Personas. I can't afford to wait for my Social Links to give me that sort of connection." I said. "I...have a plan that could work in regards to it, but...I need your advice concerning it."
"Tell me of this plan," Igor said.
"Could you... I can't believe I'm saying this... Could you directly implant my Personas into my psyche?"
All my Personas looked at me as if I'd gone mad. They said nothing. Their dropped, hanging jaws did all the talking for them. Igor just eyed me, his grin covered up by his gloved hands.
"Look, let me explain," I said. "I don't quite know how to properly say this, but...okay, Igor, you once told me that I have an imperfect connection with my Personas, in contrast to normal users. Normal Persona-suers have a more natural connection with their Personas. They can talk to them directly, converse with them, etcetera. But I can. Not in the real world, anyway."
Igor clasped his hands. "Continue," he said.
I did so. "The thing is...I'll need to be able to talk with them in the real world, especially since the Shadows are just going to get stronger and stronger. I have a time limit to work with now. Stronger Shadows are going to keep on coming and if I continue doing what I've been doing, mainly just advancing Social Link after Social Link, I'm going to end up behind in terms of progress. I need to be able to converse with my Personas during combat to help come up with better strategies and tactics. So that I can use their skills to my advantage."
"And so, you want me to implant them into your psyche directly, even though your bonds with both your Social Links and your Personas haven't fully developed yet."
"...Is that dangerous?" Of course it is, you idiot. Why else wouldn't he have done it sooner?
"Half dangerous," was Igor's simple reply. "In regards to the positive outcomes of this...yes, you will be able to directly speak to your Personas and they will be able to aid you in the real world, especially during conflicts with the Shadows." Yes, but— "But there are many dangers to this as well," he continued. "Recall how, when your Personas had been stricken down in battle, you'd felt the exact same pain they had felt."
"...What about that?"
"Now, if I fulfill your request, you will not simply be limited to just feeling their pain," Igor said, with a warning tone of voice. "The wounds your Personas will receive in battle, you shall receive as well; in correspondence to the wounds of your Personas, your body will receive physical wounds. Actual, tangible wounds. You will bleed. You will feel your flesh rip apart. In short, your body will be permanently linked to your Personas along with your psyche."
Of...course. "...Why?"
"Your bonds with your Personas, while not fully developed as of yet, are strong enough for you to at least feel their pain when they receive injury. However, if I were to implant them directly into your psyche without them having fully developed their respective bonds with you yet, I would have to link them to your physical form as well to grant them the strength needed to cooperate with you as per your conditions. Can't you imagine the risk?"
I shook my head then, "Alright," I said. "Don't do it. It's far too much of a gamble."
Igor then said, "Do you have another request?"
"Just a question...I established the Jester Social Link last night," I told him. "What does that mean? The Jester is the reversed version of the Fool. So...what does that say about Ikutsuki?"
"...Do not advance that Link," Igor said. "A Link with a reversed Arcana will bring you nothing good, I assure you. Do not advance the Jester Link, and do not trust the person who holds said Arcana. I implore you."
"Alright," I nodded in affirmation.
I always knew there was something up about Ikutsuki...
"It's good that you heed my advice. Now then, do you have any more questions?"
"...How about a new Persona?"
"Splendid."
A ferocious lion appeared before me, not unlike the one that I'd encountered in Tartarus. However, it was different in that, as opposed to dragging a massive ball-and-chain around, it had the shaggy, frazzled head of a goat sprouting out from its back, with a green-scaled serpent for a tail.
"From this day forth, I shall be you, and you shall be me," the beast growled, bowing down to me like a pet to its master. "From the sea of your soul, I join the hunt; I am Chimera, Animal Offspring of Horrors."
After a couple more fusions, I decided that was all I needed.
"Wait!" Elizabeth suddenly exclaimed as I announced my intention to leave. "Pardon me for asking...but I have a request for you, Master Yuki."
"Another one?" I asked, genuinely curious. I saw Igor close his eyes in exasperation as Elizabeth drew closer to me.
"It's just...," she held her hands behind her back and swayed childishly from side to side, as if trying to figure out exactly what to say, "I've been interested in seeing more of the wonders of your world. If I could be so bold...I would like you to take me there again."
Oh. "I can do that. Where would you like to go?"
Elizabeth's face immediately brightened up at the sound of my approval.
"How about...the place you call 'Iwatodai Station'?"
"Sure. When would you like me to take you?"
"...As soon as possible. Perhaps..."
"Perhaps tomorrow?"
"T-tomorrow?"
"Yes. Tomorrow, Tuesday."
"A-are you certain I'm not taking up your time in doing so?"
"Oh, it's no rush," I assured her. "It'll be fine. I don't have that tight a schedule."
"...Thank you." She smiled the most adorable smile. I bid farewell to the two of them before making my way to the door. At least, I would have, if I hadn't suddenly recalled Mitsuru's request.
"Oh, one more thing, Igor," I called out to the old man sitting behind the table. "Do you or Elizabeth know a certain someone? Tall, young-looking, long white hair. Elaborate white robe. Easygoing personality."
"Hmm... I can't say that I do, Master Yuki," Igor replied with a shake of his head. "How about you, Elizabeth?"
"No. I don't know anyone like that either."
Expected as much.
"Alright, was just curious." I placed my hand on the handle but stopped when Igor called out to me.
"Does this question have anything to do with Mitsuru Kirijo, I wonder?"
I had questioned a few times to myself whether or not Igor was omniscient, and stuff like this only lends evidence to that theory. I turned back around.
"...Yes, it does," I told him. Little point in lying about it. "She's aware of you now, to a degree. She asked me to ask you whether you had any knowledge of this person."
Igor let out an amused chuckle in response to my words.
"How interesting. How interesting... Interesting that it would be her that would learn of us first."
"What are you talking about, Igor?" I asked directly, countering his vague words with a simple and to the point question.
"...In regards to her, allow me to teach you about another aspect of Social Links that you might not be aware of yet. It is possible for one to hide their true Arcana under the guise of another. For example, there was someone some time ago who presented themselves as the Jester Arcana, but in reality, he was the Lust Arcana."
"Lust?"
"Ah, allow me to explain. There are many different Tarot decks in the world, and sometimes there are differences between them. Aleister Crowley's deck, referred to as 'The Book of Thoth', is one such example. Traditionally, the Social Link system would use the Rider-Waite deck, but sometimes it delves into other decks in order to find the Arcana most suited to that particular person. The most common differences are the names. The Magician is known as The Magus in Crowley's deck. The Priestess is The High Priestess, Temperance is Art, Justice is Adjustment and so on. Incidentally, Strength and Justice switch places in the Thoth deck, and Strength is known as the Lust Arcana."
"I see..." I've already encountered different Social Links that use the Thoth deck, so the explanation comes at no surprise to me.
"There is also one other major difference between the Rider-Waite and Thoth decks, however...that Arcana is typically not obtainable by human hands."
I was silent for a moment. Although I was curious about what Arcana he was referring to, something told me not to ask.
"What does this have to do with Mitsuru-senpai, though?" I eventually settled on asking. Igor chuckled while placing a deck of cards on his desk.
"Your friend is someone who has many secrets surrounding her. Many of which she isn't aware of." With a flick of his wrist, the deck of cards separated into a six-card spread, two on the top, three in the middle, and one on the bottom. "Would you like to see a possibility?"
I didn't answer, but I had to admit, I was curious. Extremely curious. That curiosity led me to go back to my seat and nod. Igor pointed out the first card.
"This card represents your friend." He flipped it over. "The Empress, in the upright position. She may seem cold-hearted in personality, but she possesses a great deal of care for others. She perhaps cares for others more than she does herself. In this reading, however, it represents how much she cares for the one she thinks of the most. Whether it be love or otherwise... Do keep in mind what I've told you, however."
He pointed out the second card.
"This card represents the one she seeks." He flipped it over. "The Devil, in the upright position. Hmm... The one she seeks has a very dark nature to them. Perhaps they work with dark forces or is otherwise cloaked in shadow. They are a source of temptation to your friend and the possibility of her losing herself to her desires is there. However, the upright nature of the card indicates that they share a healthy bond."
He pointed out the third card.
"This is the card that connects them together." He flipped it over. "The Lovers, in the upright position. Perhaps they realise it already, or perhaps they don't, but their feelings are indeed mutual. Their commitment to one another is what brings them together again and again. It also indicates that they have, or will, come upon a decision and will have to decide what path to take.."
He pointed out the fourth and fifth cards.
"The fourth card represents their relationship's strength, and the fifth represents their weakness." He flipped the fourth card over. "The Strength, in the upright position. They both hold the inner strength to be a pillar of support for each other when it is needed. Giving each other the courage to move forward when they are lost."
He flipped the fifth card over.
"The Moon, in the upright position. This card represents...hesitation. Perhaps they are both hesitant about crossing that final gap? Or some outside force is preventing them from acting on what they want most."
He pointed out the sixth, and final, card.
"This card represents their future." He flipped it over. "Judgement, in the upright position... Sooner or later, their love will be tested. And it will be shattered if found wanting. They will be judged for the path they choose to take. However, if fate wills it, they will emerge from their trial free from the burdens of their pasts, ready to start a new journey together."
I sat there, silent as Igor explained the particular meanings behind each of the Arcana he had revealed and how it all related to Mitsuru. I had a feeling he would connect his earlier explanation with what he had just shown me, so I was able to be patient.
"This is just one of many different possibilities," he surmised. "Her own decisions, circumstances and, partly, your actions, will determine if this will come to pass. This is what the Social Link system is. A reflection of not only your bond with the person in question, but a reflection of themselves as well... Play your cards right..." He waved his hand. The cards on the table floated and reinserted themselves back into the deck, which he placed right in the middle of the table. "...and you just might tap into a power that has been yet untouched."
...So that's what he's trying to tell me...
I nodded.
"Thank you for the explanation, Igor," I told him, not letting what I was thinking slip through on my expression. I stood up. "I should get going." I turned to look at Elizabeth. "See you tomorrow?"
Elizabeth nodded and bid me farewell as I left the Velvet Room behind me and returned to the dorm.
The next day, I entered the dorm after school. I looked around and didn't see the person I was looking for. I needed to have a talk with this person as I didn't get the chance to the previous day. From what Akihiko told us, she had something important to do and told Akihiko not to disturb her. I didn't question it and thought to have a chat with her the next day.
With what Igor had told me, there was something pushing me to have that conversation as soon as possible. However, I just couldn't seem to find her.
"Makoto!" I turned my head to find Junpei walking towards me, Yukari in tow. "What's going on? You looking for something?"
"Someone. Have you seen Kirijo-senpai anywhere?" I asked.
"She left a little while ago," Yukari told me. "She told us that she had to go to practice. What is it she said? Kenjutsu?"
"Yeah, that was it." Junpei nodded. "Isn't Kendo a derivative of that?"
"That's what she said."
Junpei sent an amused smile in my direction.
"Maybe she's gearing up for a match against you."
That sent a bit of a chill down my neck. If she were to go after me with the same level of ferocity she'd shown against the Empress Shadow, I would not last long. I looked around the room again. Strangely enough, there was also someone else that wasn't here.
"I would kill to see the look on your face if she challenged you," Junpei added. "A shame she's missing though.
"Speaking of missing people, where's Yamagishi?" I asked them. "I thought she would be here."
"She said she wanted to check on Moriyama," Yukari explained.
Huh. Makes sense.
"She bolted out of the door as soon as she got changed. She said she'd be back before seven. Why do you ask?" Junpei asked.
"I'm planning to have us go back to Tartarus tonight," I said, "and I was going to make sure that she was ready."
"...And you didn't tell us about this because...?"
Knew I'd forgotten something. "Sorry," I said then. "I meant to tell you, but it completely slipped my..."
"It's alright, don't worry about it," Junpei waved his hand as if brushing my forgetfulness aside. "Still, why Tuesday of all days?"
"It seemed like the right time. I wanted to get us back in the game as soon as possible and I thought that everyone—"
"I can do that. Where would you like to go?"
Elizabeth's face immediately brightened up at the sound of my approval.
"How about...the place you call 'Iwatodai Station'?"
"Sure. When would you like me to take you?"
"...As soon as possible. Perhaps..."
"Perhaps tomorrow?"
"T-tomorrow?"
"Yes. Tomorrow, Tuesday."
"A-are you certain I'm not taking up your time in doing so?"
"Oh, it's no rush," I assured her. "It'll be fine. I don't have that tight a schedule."
Speaking of things I forgot.
"I-I just remembered something! I have to go!"
"Wha—?" Makoto, what—?"
"Sorry!" I said, running for the front door. "I'll be back before seven! There's something important I got to do!"
"Makoto!"
I took off, heading straight for Paulownia.
Thirty minutes later, after Elizabeth and I had gotten out of the mall, we headed for what she'd requested of me.
Thankfully, the station was still open, so Elizabeth and I were able to have our date, if one could call it that. However, as I made my way down a staircase which was right next to the escalators, the bellhop had escaped my sight.
Where was she?
"Master Yuki, please wait for me!"
She was going down the up escalator. Or at least trying to.
After she'd made a few failed attempts at charging down the escalator – Like a raved psychopath out for blood—like a child trying to get a balloon – she made a face and leapt off the escalator, gracefully landing on her heeled boots and flitting her hair once she was done, as if it was an easy task for her.
I just looked around and hoped that there weren't any stupid kids trying to do the same thing.
"Flowing stairs that must be mastered by those who would try to pass...so this is an escalator," Elizabeth mused, staring at the mechanical moving staircase with much naivety and curiosity. "It looks simple, but one false step...and challengers will be mired in an exhausting ordeal. Unless they decide to jump off, at least."
"Actually, this kind of escalator was made for people to go up. There's another one over there," I pointed to the one on the opposite end, "that allows you to go down—"
"W-what's this!?" Elizabeth exclaimed, interrupting me. "Please watch your step, there's a pitfall just ahead!"
"...A pitfall?"
And Elizabeth, grabbing me by the arm, charged straight for...a manhole.
"Here it is, in the center of this fenced-off area," she said. True to her words, there was a giant hole in the ground. It wasn't really a danger though, since there were caution fences surrounding the thing. "These barriers are marked in eye-catching signs which state in bold print, 'do not enter!'. Humans frequently crave that which is forbidden to them...do they not? This is a crafty snare, one which goes against the common notion that pitfalls should be hidden..."
"Elizabeth, it's called a—"
"A stairway that tests one's wits and a pitfall that tests one's inner strength..." Elizabeth continued to fawn over the mundane things that surrounded her. "Human authorities have a great deal to contend with in their quest to defend the town's law and order. I'm very moved by their plight."
"...Yeah. That's...that's good...," I had no idea how to deal with this woman.
But she is cute, I admitted.
"Let us continue forth, our thoughts dedicated to the unsung heroes who love this town so very much...," Elizabeth smiled, walking along her merry way.
"Alright then," I said, following her. "Where would you like to go next?"
"Well, I would—wait..." She sniffed the air for a few seconds, bedazzled by what had caught her nostrils. "This...this fragrant aroma...it can't be!"
Aaand she immediately took off running.
"Elizabeth, wait!"
For someone in heels, she was actually pretty fast. Eventually, I caught up with her at a takoyaki stand. The owner of the stand, while caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a silver-haired, yellow-eyed elevator attendant, seemed pretty eager to treat a new customer.
"Whoa, you can figure out our secret ingredient just by its smell?" the owner wondered, amazed. "I guess you don't wear those funky clothes for nothing, lady."
"Secret ingredient?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow. "What's so secretive about takoyaki?"
"Well...think of it this way," the owner began, "it's not like there's a law against takoyaki shops cooking stuff besides octopus."
Thought that was kind of intriguing. And foreboding. But Elizabeth seemed to be having fun. She was bewitched by all the dishes displayed, all the options available to her, and all the delightful scents and aromas.
"Wanna buy one?" I asked her.
"You are willing to purchase one of these fine dishes for me?" She had one of the biggest smiles I'd ever seen.
"I think I can get a few," I chuckled, amused at how glad she was.
"Trust me, lady, it'll make you smile so wide your cheeks will fall off!"
The owner's words were what really got Elizabeth hyped for some takoyaki.
"Cuisine so luscious that one's cheeks fall off...!" Her cuteness level reached beyond a thousand. On a scale of one to a hundred. Might need to buy a new scale. "Such a result would definitely cause havoc in reality, but I would definitely like to experience this!"
"Alright then." I began reaching for my wallet. "Two tako—"
"That won't be necessary, Master," Elizabeth interrupted me. "I'm sorry for not telling you this earlier, but...I've brought my own wallet."
Oh no. She brought out that blue bulging purse that she had with her back when I'd taken her to Paulownia. And it looked thicker than it was the last time.
"Please don't tell me you're buying that many..."
"I've never actually seen a person who has actually lost his or her cheeks," she reasoned. "This must mean that the ordinary citizen cannot easily buy these cheek-dropping meals."
"One package costs only 400 yen," I bluntly told her.
"...Oh. Really?" She darted her eyes over to the price listings. Then back at the owner. "W-well then...two packages, please."
I grinned at her, because I let myself. Being stone-cold over how giddy she was would have just been unnecessary.
Thirty minutes later, Elizabeth was still in wonder over the takoyaki, even as she continued eating it.
"This distinct texture...the firm, chewy outer skin...there's no doubt about it."
"Hm...?"
"I'm surprised to come across this used as an ingredient in food..."
"Are your cheeks okay?" I asked her.
"They seem to still be in place," she replied. "And in any event, there are many other delicacies I feel I must try. I must take care not to lose my cheeks before sampling each and every one of these meals."
"You do that."
"There appear to be several dining establishments around...I wish to try them all." Elizabeth smiled at me. "Unless you have something to do, that is..."
"I think I've still got some time," I assured her. "We'll go when we're finished with our takoyaki packages."
"I'll be waiting eagerly for you, then."
It was at that moment I noticed that Elizabeth had already finished her meal...and I wasn't even halfway though. I'm a slow eater, I know. But it was 5:00 PM. Had a few more hours before 7:00. Tartarus was waiting for me and the rest of the team in just a few hours; couldn't afford to let all this time go to waste.
Thirty minutes later, Elizabeth and I were at Wild-Duck Burger before I even knew it.
And I ate, and as I ate I watched. She was a spectacle unto herself. I'd never known a woman could eat so much and yet stay so...for lack of a better word, slim.
Yet there I was, simply sitting at the counter of a fast food restaurant as my compatriot from an elevator that existed inside my mind ate burger after burger after burger. But I wasn't alone in my amazement over how much food Elizabeth could shove into her gullet. The lady at the counter chuckled at the bellhop's antics as well.
She had silver hair, much like Elizabeth's, but with a duller tone. She even had silver eyes to back up her appearance.
"Your girlfriend seems to be having fun," the counter girl chuckled.
"She's not my girlfriend," I said.
"Really? Then why'd she come here with you?" she asked. "And why is she wearing...whatever it is she's wearing?"
"She wanted to hang out," I replied. "And that outfit she has on is just how she operates."
"Strange girl."
"You don't know the half of it."
"Cute, though." She nodded in approval, a smile on her face. "You don't see a lot of girls like her around here."
"You can say that again."
"Although, I wouldn't exactly call her my type." She shook her head. "Anyway, would you like to order anything?"
"No, I'm good," I replied. "But I doubt it would make a difference with all the burgers she's buying."
"True, true," she said with a laugh. "I hope she isn't planning on taking your food."
"I don't think you have to worry about that," I told her amusedly. "Nobody touches my food."
"I certainly hope so. Persona-users are typically pretty big eaters. Gotta keep that energy up somehow."
...Huh?
I was silent for a moment before she noticed the look I was giving her. She scratched her head and looked a little concerned.
"...I said that out loud, didn't I?" she asked before letting out a sigh. "Well, that cat's out of the bag. No point in worrying about it now. Still, I'm a little surprised. I thought you would have known about this by now."
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"Don't try to play dumb," she told me with a serious look. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
What in the—!? "...How...? How do you even know about—?"
"How do I know about you? I'm not a Persona user, but I know your kind very well."
"...Who are you?"
"My name is Yuka Narukami," she said. "And you are a Persona-user, right?"
...Wait, how does she know that? "How do you know that?"
"Persona-users give off a different feel compared to other people. Compared to people who reside in the world I'm a part of, people who use Personas are rather easy to spot. It's like seeing a bit of blue on an entirely red background."
"How does that...even...?"
I needed to talk to Igor about this. Surely he'd know a thing or two about this.
"So, uh...you wouldn't happen to know anything about that huge tower that appears every night? How everything turns green and bloody as well?"
I wasn't surprised she knew about Tartarus and the Dark Hour, and it wasn't surprising either that she didn't know them by name.
"...Yes, I do know a few things," I replied. "And I suppose you know about the Shadows, too."
"Yeah, I do. I try to stay out of their way, most of the time. No need to pick a fight if I don't need to, you know? Though this was one particularly huge Shadow that I had to fight. That wasn't fun." She let out a nervous giggle. "But it seems that I keep managing to get myself into battles regardless."
"Why's that?"
"Because of the innocent people caught in this hell."
I nodded somberly. It was easy to forget sometimes, but there are many innocents caught up in this battle between us and the Shadows. Perhaps I should've been more concerned with how quickly I could just let them all fade away in the face of everything else.
"I've managed to save at least fifty people since I came here. But I quickly realised the limits of what I can do on my own. So many people losing their minds to these creatures. Apathy Syndrome, they call it?" she asked. I nodded in affirmation.
"That's right... Why are you telling me all this?" I asked her. "What do you gain from it?"
"Well..." She tapped her finger on the counter. "To tell the truth, I don't have that many friends. Not a lot of people I can depend on. And even though I can fight the Shadows, I know what my limits are...that tower especially makes me nervous. I thought that if I share the information I have with a Persona-user, a Wild Card at that, then perhaps things will be a little easier for you."
A rather noble reason. Something that I could certainly respect, considering that she didn't even know me all that well. Although, there was something that caught my attention.
"How did you even know I was a Wild Card?" I asked. "And more to the point, you say you're not a Persona-user, but most of the ones I know can't even sense other people's Personas. They judge it from information and analysis they gather from a person with the potential to do so. So how...?"
"Well, uh...," she let out a nervous giggle once more. "Would you believe me if I said a magic book?"
"...A...what?"
"Well—"
"Narukami! We need your help over here!" a voice cried out from behind Yuka.
"Coming!" She turned to me with an apologetic look. "Sorry, I have to go. Still got a lot of work tonight. My shift ends at seven. If you have any more questions, ask me then."
I watched as she left for the back, a little...dumbfounded by our conversation. I certainly wasn't expecting this when I agreed to go out with Elizabeth.
*SMASH!*
AGH!
I wasn't expecting this either.
"Thou hast established a new bond...
Thou shalt be blessed when thou chooseth to imbue thyself with the Angel Arcana..."
...Okay then. I guess I should take her up on that offer.