"This place is so big!"
Ken spun around in the grass, gazing out upon what Narukami called the TV World. The place was lush and colorful, not at all like somewhere that Shadows would be running. The TV sets that were there were labelled, indicating where each led. "So this is how we're gonna get Koromaru into the dorms?"
Narukami was busy talking to some weird bear thing apparently named Kuma, but Hanamura spoke for him. "It wasn't our first idea to use this place to get around, but after a few close calls with avoiding authority, we found that it served as a place beyond training." He gestured to Kuma. "Kuma helped us find the places we wanted to go."
"Wait, there are Shadows still here?" Ken flexed his fingers, suddenly wanting the familiar feel of his spear in his hands. "But we don't have-"
"Our weapons?" Hanamura pulled a long, double bladed spear from behind him, seemingly from nowhere. "I said I'd hold onto them before." Ken took the spear, relishing in the power that instantly flooded through him. He twirled it around, the blade singing as it swept through the air. "You handle it so well."
Ken felt his face grow hot under Hanamura's praise. "Yeah, well, you're really fast and powerful. When you beat Inoshi like that...it was so cool!" He kicked at the grass a little sheepishly. "Can you teach me how to go so fast?"
Hanamura laughed. "You're really admirable, Ken. It's really just a trick I've learned to use really well." He looked over at Narukami and the other two leaders talking to Kuma. "That, and being so close to my leader helps."
"In what way?" Ken tilted his head. How does being close to Narukami help him be fast?
"We can talk to each other without actually speaking." Hanamura sat down in the grass, pulling out one of his kunai to mess with. Ken had noticed how a lot of the other Persona users had small, nervous habits like that, including himself. The anxiety from being Persona users tended to do that. "In that battle with Inoshi, I barely spoke to Yu. He knew what I was planning on doing, and worked with me to help." That's so cool though…
Ken had even more questions for Hanamura, but in that moment, the leaders walked back over. Minato had a familiar smirk on his face, one that Ken recognized as being full of mischief. Narukami looked slightly irritated and tired, but the light in his eyes showed that he was just as excited to get Koromaru back. Kurusu looked ready to jump out of his skin in excitement, but that wasn't surprising for the thief.
"Kuma has located where Koromaru is. It isn't too far, but Shadows still populate this place." Narukami shifted his shoulders around. He looked stiff, but Ken was confident he'd still be able to fight. "We'll proceed carefully, and with just the seven of us." Hanamura stood up and tucked away his knives with a smile. "Ken, we're counting on you."
Ken whirled his spear around. I'm coming for you Koromaru! Kuma led the way through the beautiful world, keeping an eye out for Shadows. The few that did pop up tended to stay away from the powerful Persona users.
Eventually, Kuma stopped. "We're here!" He chirped excitedly, and stomped his foot on the ground. A tv set popped into existence. "This should lead right into the place where Koromaru is!"
"Gekkoukan!" Ken reached out to the set, the screen rippling under his fingertips. Excitement thrilled through him at being able to see Koromaru again. He looked back at Minato, who nodded. Then without another word, he dived into the screen, coming face to face with the white dog instantly.
"Bark!"
Ken felt tears start to prick at his eyes as he hugged Koromaru. He was laughing, getting attacked by Koromaru's happy barks. The other Persona users followed through, and Koromaru made sure to give each one just as much affection, if not more to Minato. The blue haired boy was smiling, actually laughing as he petted the dog.
"It's so good to see you, Koromaru."
Kurusu was perched on top of the tv they had come out of, apparently trying to stay out of Koromaru's reach. "Can we get going now?" He was holding Sakamoto's hand rather tightly, and kept shooting panicked glances at the dog. Sakamoto laughed.
"Akira's just scared of dogs, take your time, Amada."
Ken turned back to Koromaru and rested his hand on the dog's fluffy head. "Hey, Koromaru, do you know where your collar is?" A bark, and then he was running off into the dorms. Ken stood back up and looked at the others, a wide smile on his face. "Koromaru's a strong fighter. His Persona is Cerberus!" Koromaru came running back, his electric collar in his mouth. Minato smiled and helped put the collar on the dog.
"There we go, Koromaru. Ready to help us save the world again?" A cheerful bark was the answer, followed by Minato chuckling. "That's good to hear. Let's head back then, we all need sleep. Yu, if you would."
Narukami pressed his hand to the screen, the surface trembling. "Would it kill you to say please once in a while?" Kurusu slid into the screen, followed by Sakamoto. Hanamura stood by to let Kuma and Minato go through, then went in. Koromaru seemed a little hesitant at first, but at Ken's encouragement, he went through. "Go on Amada."
Ken slipped through the screen, landing back in the lush green fields. He took a deep breath, right before fatigue hit him hard. Ugh, I feel so tired. Everyone else seemed tired too, with the exception of Koromaru. The leaders did just come back from being kidnapped, so I can understand it. Narukami stepped through, sighing.
"We should head back now, if I stay awake much longer I'll be dead in class tomorrow." He let Kuma lead the group back towards the dorms, everyone else following close behind. Ken could feel sleep tugging at his head, distracting him as they made their way through the TV World.
"Bark!" A sharp bark from Koromaru made Ken look up. Shadows! Several dark shapes launched themselves at the Persona users, and Ken barely had enough time to whirl his spear around and slash it through one of them. The attack was only strong enough to bat the Shadow away though, as it shook itself off and raced forward again. Ken slid out of the way, aiming a sharp jab, but with how light the hit was, it barely stopped the Shadow. We're too tired! He looked about the battlefield, noticing how everyone else was struggling.
There was a popping sound, and a huge gust of fire washed over the nearest Shadow, dissolving it into dust. Koromaru stood in front of Ken, growling at the other monsters. Koromaru is weaponless though, if he keeps using his Persona, he'll run out of stamina!
Hanamura caught his eye. The older boy was trying to attack the Shadows, but even with how fast he was, his hits weren't strong enough. Ken stood up. "Hanamura! Throw Koromaru one of your knives!" Ken slammed the butt of his spear into another Shadow, throwing it away from him. Moments later, a long bladed kunai soared overhead.
Koromaru caught it, then charged into a Shadow at full force. The long knife sliced through it easily, killing the Shadow before the dog leapt at another. Ken inhaled deeply, forcing his limbs to move even though they felt filled with lead. Another Shadow approached, and Ken gave a screech of power before slamming his spear all the way through it. It wasn't quite dead yet, filling the boy with frustration.
"Nemesis!" Ken summoned his Persona, and with a yell, huge blades of light stabbed, one after the other, into the Shadow until it was gone. He retracted Nemesis, then slumped to his knees. Thankfully, the rest of the Shadows were gone as well. Narukami was going around making sure everyone was ok, though he looked about ready to collapse. Using his spear, Ken lifted himself off the ground. "I'll be fine, let's just get back."
Ken was happy as they plodded back to the dorm rooms, falling back through his tv along with Koromaru. He managed to get to his bed before collapsing, Koromaru curling up at his feet. It felt natural to sleep again, even if he was so far from home.
