Before I begin, I just want to clear something else up with Artful Lounger. The rest of you can listen if you want, you'll probably find it interesting.
Basically, AL made four points
1) I'm packing in too much stuff, making it more likely for me to trip up.
2) Minato is getting too strong and arrogant
3) Point two could lead to Minato becoming a Gary Stu
4) If I reign in Minato's power levels and pride, then he won't be a Gary Stu.
1) I want it to be more likely for me to trip up. I deliver better when more is expected from me. Do you want safe or do you want awesome? Besides, if I do make a mistake like that, you guys would tell me, at which case I'll either say "Whoops!" and change it, or say "I did it on purpose! All part of an epic scheme, it will make sense later! ¬¬' Promise."
2) Minato is a game character in an RPG. More you fight, more overpowered you become. Simple rule. Another simple rule is that if you gain power without being taken down a few pegs once in a while, like just now, you become arrogant. Minato is a shifting character. He will go through it all.
3) Erm… no. No it wouldn't. See, Gary-Stu's are male version of Mary-Sues. Sues are when the author projects their desires, dreams, regrets and unfulfilled wishes into a poorly written two-dimensional character, which the entire story revolves around, despite having less character depth than one of the various unnamed students in Harry Potter. Read Unoriginality by Farla, that explains it all perfectly.
Now, Power itself has nothing to do with Sue-ness. Sueness depends on the author getting too emotionally involved to a character, refusing to write any ill against the character because everyone loves their Mary Sue. I just made Minato throw up in front of all his badly beaten friends after being mind raped into badly beating them. I'm also going to destroy his reputation at school before too long, and would I do that if that character was a Sue? No, because if I did, then I'd be doing that to the manifestation of my hopes and dreams.
4) Despite the fact that I just established that Minato is not a Sue, you want me to make him a Not Sue? As in a Mary Sue character with a few faults put in just to prevent a character from becoming a Sue? Those are worse.
It really annoys me when I go to all this effort to make a good, in depth character and people believe that you can fix a puddle-shallow character by making a few changes. I actually find it insulting, to be honest, seeing as I've already been commended for the effort I put in to the characters in this story.
Because of this, I'm going to have to decide that Artful Lounger has no idea what he's on about. NEXT!
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Oh, a real one. Fireblast, you didn't realise that Yukari was totally into Minato already? I've been trying to build up the sexual tension between them since day one. I can quote it right now, if you want, or you can go back and look over the previous chapters.
Or wait for the fast approaching Yakushima arc.
Also, three milestones hit yesterday! 100,000 words, 10,000 hits, and 100 Reviews! And after only two months of writing, including three weeks of being offline.
Anyhoo, It's now the eighth of July for Minato, one day after killing the Lovers. Shinji moved in and once again I have no idea what I'm doing.
Wait, yes I do.
I'll sleep and write the chapter tomorrow.
Night!
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Okay, that was Tuesday, now it's Wednesday. Let's wrassle this chapter!
Oh, one more thing. It's come to my attention that I've got this bad habit of forgetting to include little details like what happened when Minato powered down, so I've hired a Beta. Say hi, Beta!
"Hi."
Alright, on we go!
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I woke up in the middle of the night with a hand covering my mouth. Again. THE HELL!? Again.
"Quiet!" a man hissed at me. I bit his fingers. "Gah!" he winced, but didn't move. His blood didn't taste like blood.
"It's alright." Said Elizabeth, "We're here to help you."
I spat Edwards hand out. "Good, because I want answers!" I lifted my sleeve to show my tattoo, back to its regular self. "What the hell happened last night?"
"It… reacted unexpectedly to the Hollow Arcana."
"Explain."
"The Demonic Seal is meant to seal the power of Demons." Edward explained. "We bastardised it in order to save you from the Shadows, but we believe that you somehow used the power of the Hollow Arcana to change it and somehow to save your life."
"How?"
"It appears that the Hollow Arcana allows you to take the darkness from people's minds and hearts to warp reality."
"Okay, but how did I change the seal?"
"By affecting the demonic ink to change its purpose: instead of suppressing the Shadow's power, when transformed it directs the powers within you to strengthen you."
"My Persona." I answered, nodding.
"No." huh? "Your Persona is born of your mind. The Demonic Seal, however, affects your body. It is normally given to a human whose power is so great that it needs to be artificially controlled."
"What about that guy in 1890 something?"
"He was a different kind of Wild Card than you." Elizabeth said. "His decisions let the world be destroyed and overrun by demons."
"What!?"
"However, his decisions also allowed him to recreate the world anew, how it was before the world was destroyed. However, as part of his punishment,"
"Immortality?" I suggested
"And sent back in time." Edward added, "But since he gained the powers of a demon, he is now bound by their laws, so he cannot interfere with events he know will happen."
"Man. That must suck. Wait, what about me?"
"When you were using the Hollow Arcana," Elizabeth explained, "You must have subconsciously triggered the change at some level. However, the power used during your… demonic form, it not one of Persona, nor the Shadows."
"So it's either mine, it's demonic, or it's run by the Hollow."
"Correct."
"Fine. I'm guessing that I can do this again?"
"I wouldn't recommend it." Edward grunted. "If the Hollow's mask ever fills your face,"
"I'll lose my soul or similar, I know, but what if I can activate Demon without using Hollow?"
"It is… possible, I suppose…" Elizabeth didn't seem fully against the idea. "Using the demonic form, once activated, has no direct side affect…"
"What about indirect?"
"What are your opinion on gods?" Edward put it bluntly.
"I believe in Jesus, and I believe in God." I was brought up a Christian.
"That may be, but the fact remains that other gods exist."
"Any of them almighty?"
"Not quite, but-"
"Then call them Demi-god's. I can accept that."
Edward looked to Elizabeth, who nodded. "Alright then." He said. "Using the Demonic Seal is bound to attract unwanted attention from Various Demi-gods."
"Any in particular?"
"Izanami, Loki, Mara, Cthulhu, Abaddon…"
"You had me at the squid monster." I replied. "I'm in." I rolled over in my bed. "Night!"
"Are you that confident that you could best even a god?" Edward asked, astonished.
I pointed one hand in the air. "Demi-god. Night!"
Elizabeth chuckled. "Goodnight."
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"So, back to school for you, eh?"
"Shut it." Shinji replied. Mitsuru asked me to make sure he got to school today. "I don't believe this…"
"Hey, that's Mitsuru for you." Shinji was wearing the standard black trousers and white short sleeved shirt as everyone else. He was still wearing his beanie, and he easily intimidated anyone who dared get in his way. "Worst part is that finals are next week."
"Seriously?" Shinji facepalmed. "Dammit…"
"Huh. I thought I was rid of you." Shinji and I turned to see Ekoda. "A bag of trash like you doesn't deserve to come to this school, making life hell for other students."
I walked around Shinji to face the teacher. "A bag of trash like you doesn't deserve to come to this school either, but they let you in."
"I'm getting tired of your attitude boy!"
"No, you're being intimidated." He gulped. "When you were accusing Shinjiro Senpai you displayed Contempt, Scorn, and deep hate. Surely a teacher should welcome a prodigal student back into their flock with open arms."
"You have no right to tell a teacher how to behave, Arisoto." Ekoda pushed his glasses up his face with his middle finger.
"Up yours too, sir." Little known fact. When someone scratches their face, touches their glasses, strokes their chin or holds something with their middle finger fully extended, it usually means that they're repressing the urge to give you the finger honestly.
"Well then, I'll have you in detention for inappropriate language in front of a teacher."
"I'll lodge a complaint for inappropriate sign language in front of a student, sir."
"What?" Ekoda flashed fear.
"You did just give him the finger." Shinji smiled evilly. "Sir."
Ekoda's eyes flashed left and right, looking for an exit. "We should be getting to class now." I bowed politely. "May we take our leave, sir?"
"Fine. Get going!" he barked, flashing relief.
Once we were somewhat out of earshot, I told Shinji that "That is how you screw with people at the highest level."
"You did that to me when you tried talking me back into S.E.E.S." Shinji replied.
"It worked, didn't it?" Shinji didn't show any hostility. "I can teach you if you want."
"Nah, I'm fine. I'd better go to the teacher lounge." He waved slightly before leaving. Nice guy. I started walking towards homeroom so I could catch some reading before class. I overheard a few snippets of conversation
"It's almost summer break!"
"Let's go somewhere for summer vacation!"
"…Velocity equals distance over time…"
"…Exams are only a week away…"
"…Hear about that gas leak downtown?"
"…It has to be her…"
"That first year in student council, with the long hair who's always reading…"
Wait, back up a bit.
"I hear she stole the class's money."
"2500 a person!"
"Damn, I could buy a brand name purse with that much!"
"You could also buy a new face if you don't shut it."
The three asswipes turned around slowly. "Whaddya want?" The middle one asked. "Are you a friend of Chihiro's?" he laughed. Relief and Contempt. "Then again… probably not… you don't look like you'd want to be hanging around with her…" The other two laughed.
"No, I guess I don't." I laughed harder than all three of them. Then I grabbed the one who wanted to die by the face and smashed him into the wall. Lightly. The wall didn't crack or get blood on it, so I was okay. "But I am. Now… what are you going to do about it?"
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I frog marched him to the Library and threw him on the ground right next to Chihiro. Lightly. He landed on his knees and didn't fall over. "This young man has something he'd like to say to you." I told her, noting her surprise and confusion.
"S-sorry I talked about you taking the money…"
"Because..?" I prompted.
"…Because I don't really think you did it…"
"Okay, you can go." The guy legged it. I sat down opposite Chihiro. "You okay?" she wasn't, she looked like she was about to cry.
"…You heard that rumour going around the whole school, right?"
"Rumours aren't so bad." I leant back. "I've dealt with a few rumours of my own."
"Really?"
"In fact, I think I may have just started one."
"Huh?"
I nodded. "If it wasn't almost time for exams, then by the end of the day people would be saying I broke the guys arm, threatened him at gunpoint, and I was smoking at the time."
Chihiro's face was blank, then she laughed. Quietly at first, then hysterically.
"Excuse me, this is a library!"
"Sorry!" I said, hushing Chihiro. She led me out of the library.
"Thanks… I needed a laugh…" Chihiro smiled. "I haven't had a good one in so long." She smiled. "Well, I need to get to homeroom, so I'll see you later, okay?" Sadness, fear, she didn't want to leave me.
"Or we could skive and go for ramen."
"Huh?" She blushed through the shock. "B-but exams are less than a week away! A-and I have a perfect attendance record!"
"You also need some ramen." I told her, walking her out the door. "And apparently ramen tastes much better when you're cutting class.
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Holy crap, it actually did. That is immense! Is danger the secret ingredient? I asked the chef.
"Nope. I only put danger into my secret menu." The chef replied, smiling. Chihiro snorted, and started to choke on her noodles.
"Woah, you okay!?" I patted her back until the food went down the right hole.
"Y-yeah…" Chihiro replied, shortly out of breath, "I was just surprised." She looked at the chef. "You know that we're supposed to be at school, so why did you serve us?"
"Because you don't look like bad kids." The Chef replied. "I only have one daytime regular from your school."
"Aragaki Senpai?" I asked. Noting his surprise, I explained that "He's moving into my dorm. I'm supposed to tell you that he's not allowed to skive anymore."
"Ah, shame, he's one of my best customers."
"Never said he wasn't going to."
More laughs. This Chef was a decent bloke. Hierophant Arcana. Shame, I would have liked to get to know him better.
"You still can you know." Yeah, but I'm busy enough as it is Pharos.
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After the ramen we went to the shrine and sat on the swings. "You should talk to the teacher about it." I told her.
"R-right…" she seemed slightly distracted. "But, I gave the money to him, so I should ask for an explanation! But, what if he thinks I'm accusing him?" She asked, "N-now I'm scared…"
She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I-I may sound like I'm weak… but I'm fine! Really! I am!" She frowned slightly, holding the chains of the swing with a sad smile. "I don't think it's right for me to always be counting on you, Minato-san…"
SMASH!
Thou shalt have out blessing when thou choosest to create a Persona of the Justice Arcana
I was thinking of what to say, when I heard someone crying that wasn't Chihiro. When I looked up, there was a little girl sitting on the climbing frame. "Excuse me…" I said to Chihiro, walking over to the little girl. "Hey, are you alright?"
SNIFF "Uh huh…"
"Are you here alone?" I asked, climbing up to here. Nod. "You don't have anyone to play with?" Shake. "Can I play with you then?"
The little girl looked at me in disbelief. I shot Chihiro an apologetic look, which she responded to with a smile.
"Okay, what do you wanna do next?" I asked her.
"I wanna do the swings!"
DONG!
I looked at the clock. DAMMIT, ONE O'CLOCK ALREADY!?
The little girl's face fell. "Sorry… I need to get back to school…"
"Me too…" I said. "You wanna play another time?"
The girl looked delighted again, then her face fell again.
"Mommy says I'm not allowed to play with strangers…"
"My name's Minato. What's yours?"
"M-Maiko!"
"Well, that means we're not strangers anymore, so I can play with you later!"
Maiko beamed. "Really?" She offered me her little finger. "Promise?"
I smiled and hooked it with my own little finger. "Promise." Childeren, So innocent. If only the rest of the world thought like that.
SMASH!
Thou art I… And I am Thou…
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou choosest to create a Persona of the Hanged Man Arcana
"You won't forget?" Maiko looked worried.
"I'll be back." I replied. "I guarantee it. Need any help down?"
Maiko shook her head. "I'm okay!" She climbed down expertly. More expertly that a kid her age should. "See you later, Ao-San!"
Blue man. That's a pretty decent nickname as they go. "Shall we get back to school?" I asked Chihiro.
"Um… yes… You're a very nice person, Minato San…"
"Thank you."
"No, really… you're always there for me, and you then go out of your way to help that little girl… and you're always helping Hidetoshi in what he does…"
"…Yeah, I suppose I am…" that's barely scratching the surface.
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I caught hell for skiving the morning, but it felt good to get into trouble for once.
Actually come to think about it, I haven't been called into the teacher office once since I came here.
I need to start raising some hell.
…
Well, after exams.
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As it happened, my punishment was to clean the teachers lounge after school. All the other teachers had left already, so Ms. Toriumi was doing some work while keeping an eye on me. Judging from the way she was moving, I'm guessing that her muscles are sore. "You look tense." I noted, wiping a window. "You're muscles sore or anything miss?"
"Huh? Well, yes, actually. I was at the gym yesterday. There's nothing a little endorphins won't cure, right?"
"You still look pissed though."
"Huh?"
"You went to the gym because you were stressed, right?"
"Well, yes, I… suppose so…"
"Mr. Ekoda?"
Surprise. "How did you know?"
"Didn't. Do now though."
"Hm. Very clever, tricking me for information when you're supposed to be cleaning." No, that's my cover. My real plan is to lighten the mood so I can have a conversation with you while pretending to be looking for information while cleaning the windows."
"Sorry. What did he do this time?"
"This time?"
"He tried to put Aragaki Senpai in detention for coming back to school this morning."
"Ah yes, I heard about that. He's moving back into your dorm, am I right?"
"Mitsuru Senpai says that she's going to get him back on track."
Ms. Toriumi laughed. "Good luck! I wouldn't be able to do it."
"That's because you're a teacher and he's a student. You're natural status is 'enemy'."
"Hey, we're human too!" Ms. Toriumi was much more relaxed. "The reason I was so stressed yesterday was because I made an error in my grade book and Ekoda was all up my ass, saying 'Oooh!'" She put on a bad Ekoda impression. "'You are supposed to set an example for the students!' and all that!" Hook, line and sinker. "Honestly, just because he's a literature teacher he thinks he's all high and mighty!"
"I know!" I said, "I took him down a few pegs this morning though."
"Seriously?"
"Oh yeah, you should have been there. He even gave me the finger."
"You're kidding!" She was on the edge of her seat now.
"Nope, I'm just that good!"
"Oh man…" Ms. Toriumi was laughing her ass of. "No wonder he was so uptight this morning… P'OWNED!"
The grammar teacher immediately covered her mouth, shocked at her accidental RL L331. "I KNOW!" I shouted, acting as if I didn't notice.
SMASH!
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou choosest to create a Persona of the Hermit Arcana.
"Oh man…" Ms. Toriumi was in a much better mood. "Well, I'm off home. You done?"
I'd only done one of the windows, but they were already fairly clean. "Yep. See you tomorrow miss!"
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I visited Bunkichi on the way home. Can I level up four social links in one day? I think I can!
"Um… dear, you wrote it wrong…" Mitsuko said. "There are two strokes there."
"I know, I know." Bunkichi replied, writing a letter. "I just forgot to write the second one."
"I feel bad for Minato Chan and all the people who've been campaigning to save the tree…" Mitsuko said.
Then Bunkichi noticed me. "Oh, speak of the devil!"
"What you up to?" I asked.
"I'm writing a letter – something I haven't done in ages." He scratched his head with his pencil. "But, I can't remember how to spell half of these words…" He looked at me. "Am I finally losing it? I used to have an amazing vocabulary!"
"I'm sure you're fine. What're you plotting?"
Bunkichi winked at me. "Secret."
Mitsuko smiled softly. "We'll tell you when the time comes, Minato Chan."
"Well?" Bunkichi asked me, "Aren't you curious?"
"I'm dying to read it!" Puppy dog eyes. "Please don't let me die…"
"BWAHAHAHAHAA!!" Bunkichi slapped the counter he was laughing so hard. "Oh Minato Chan… this is why we always look forward to having you around…"
Mitsuko smiled. "He is always happier when you visit our shop."
"Hey, I've yet to leave here without a smile on my face too you know!"
SMASH!
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou choosest to create a Persona of the Hierophant Arcana.
A NEW SCORE!!
"I hope we can clean up the store before you come back next time…"
"Hey, I'll be pestering you tomorrow about that letter you know!"
"Oho!" Bunkichi smiled. "Best get cracking then! OMPH! My back!"
I cracked my fingers. "Let's get cracking then!"
"Hey, I was just kidding!" Bunkichi protested as I grabbed him from behind. "My back is URK!" I forced my knee into his spine.
"Better?"
"Huh?" Bunkichi stood up straighter. "Wow, Minato Chan, you're miracle worker!"
"Not yet." I replied with a smile. "Still learning how to give a decent massage!" I vaulted the counter and went for the door. "Later!"
"Bye Minato Chan." Mitsuko said with a smile. Bunkichi waved while rubbing his back with a smile on his face.
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"Oh, hey!" Yukari said when I came into the dorm. "Sorry, I've gotta talk to Fuuka…"
"Am I invited?"
"Um… it's fine, really!"
"So, no?"
"It's nothing, really!"
"Liar." I smiled. "Guess we're not going to Tartarus tonight then. I'll go hit the gym."
Shinji and Junpei immediately sat up in the couches they had been lying in. "We have a gym!?" the asked in unison.
Bugger.
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"Dude..!" Junpei was impressed. "This is AWESOME!"
"When did we get this?" Shinji asked, looking around.
"Recently. Don't tell Mitsuru."
"Why not?"
"Because she'd kill me."
"Damn right she would." Shinji said. "I got dibs on the weight bench!"
"Aw… I wanted that one!" Junpei said.
"Then you're gonna have to wait, bitch." Shinji started putting on weights on the bar.
"How much do you lift?" I asked him.
"240 Kilo's, why?"
"DUDE!" Junpei was so shocked his jaw should have hit the floor. "That's insane!"
"Yeah, I normally do around 180 if I'm serious."
Junpei's jaw dropped for me now, but then he recovered. "Damn… so that's why you can punch through swords…"
"I can punch through swords!?"
"Oh, right, you don't remember." Junpei flashed fear. "Evil you grabbed my Katana with one hand, then broke it in two punches! Then you threw me into the fishtank!"
"Don't be stupid, no-one can punch through a Katana."
"You can."
"No, it's structurally impossible!"
"It's structurally impossible to climb a four story building like Peter Parker."
"Yeah, but I remember that!"
"Who's down there?" Came a voice from the top of the stairs.
Shinji's hand slipped and the weight bar fell on his chest. "Dammit! Mitsuru!"
Oh Bloody Wank Poop.
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Yeah, the Englishness is back!