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Persona 5: New Testament
Chapter 6
Tuesday, April 12
Morning
Shujin Academy
"Did you hear about Mr Kamoshida collapsing in the PE faculty lounge?"
"You sure he didn't drink something dangerous?"
"Or eat something dangerous?"
"I don't know…"
"Maybe he had a cramp…"
"Or maybe it's something else…"
'Wait, he collapsed? Could it have been…' Shin thought.
"I heard that Suzui-chan was calling that new guy on the phone."
"Is that guy like her boyfriend?"
"Well, some of the students have seen him walking with her."
"Don't you think Mr Kamoshida has been acting strange around that new kid lately?"
"Yeah, like he's been keeping his eyes on the kid."
"Probably from when he got smacked in the face with a volleyball."
His phone vibrates. He pulled it up. It was Takuro.
Takuro: Hey man, meet me at Inokashira Park after school.
'Inokashira?'
He saw Shiho coming up to him.
"Suzui-san?" Shin asked.
"Oh, hey Shin," Shiho said as she approached him, "I was wondering, can I get a moment of your spare time?"
This was out of the blue, even for him.
"Why… uh… sure, Suzui-san, I'll—"
"Thanks!" Shiho said, grabbing Shin by the arm and taking him down the hall.
"Wait! Hold on!" Shin said.
Ann did not know what to think when she saw Shiho dragging that new kid along with her. Did… did she… no. That cannot be it. But what if—?
"Why the hell is she dragging the new kid around for?"
"Maybe it's got something to do with him being from Ayanagi."
"Ain't that kinda messed up?"
"I mean, boys in Ayanagi have got to have some stress to vent out."
"I don't know. That smile looks bit a little too forced."
"Maybe it's about that other rumor."
"You mean the one where—"
"Yeah, guess she's trying to prove us wrong…"
Ann bit her lip.
Makoto was just heading over to class until she caught a glimpse of Shin being dragged by a girl.
'Wait a minute, isn't that Shiho Suzui? What's she doing with Shin?' Makoto thought, 'What is she up to?'
She had to investigate this. She had to find out what was going on. She needed to know just what was going through that girl's head.
Courtyard
Morning
Shin was sitting at a table with Shiho in the courtyard. This was his first time sitting at a table with a girl before. He felt nervous. He could not shake the feeling that he was being watched.
"So… uh…" Shin stammered, "Is there a reason you brought me out to the courtyard?"
Shiho fiddled with her fingers.
"Y-You see Kanzato-kun—"
"You can call me Shin." Shin said, "We are alone after all."
"R-Right." Shiho said, blushing, "So… I heard rumors that you know about the Student Council President and… and that you might be in a relationship with her. Is that true?"
"H-Hang on a minute!" Shin said, his face turning red, "We're just childhood friends! We are not actually dating! What made you think that?! Who started that rumor?!"
"Oh! You two are just friends?! I… I didn't know!" Shiho said, "I just heard from a friend of mine who's in the volleyball club!"
"Well you can tell him that she and I are not dating and that we haven't seen each other in ten years!" Shin said, "If I ever find the guy, I am going to pummel him for that! Making everyone think Mako-chan and I are in a relationship when we haven't even—!"
"M-Mako-chan?!"
"I just call her that because she's my friend and it's way better than saying Makoto!" Shin said, "L-Look! Don't get the wrong idea!"
Shin got up.
"I got somewhere to be!" Shin said, "Geez… I swear that guy who started that rumor is so dead when I get my hands on him!"
Shin walked off. Shiho sighed.
'At least I got that out of the way…' Shiho thought.
'Un-freaking-believable! I cannot believe someone would even do that! Whoever it is that did it is so dead!' Shin thought.
He felt a hand on his arm. It was a tight grip. He looked up to see Kamoshida.
And he was looking a bit livid.
"Listen punk, I know the Principal doesn't want me to leave a mark on your pretty little face or hurt your public image with dirty little rumors and all, but let's get one thing straight." Kamoshida said, "I'm the king of this castle. You defy me for one second, and you're done."
"Sir, if you knew that, I'm pretty sure he would have also told you not to make threats to me or my brother." Shin said, "If you did, I'd tell the Principal and he would end your life on a whim."
"What was that, punk?" Kamoshida growled.
"You heard me." Shin said, "Try to hurt or threaten me or my little brother, and the Principal will have your career ended faster than you can spike a volleyball."
"And what makes you think he'd do that, Huh?" Kamoshida asked.
"Because the Principal has connections to the police." Shin said.
This came off as a shock to Kamoshida. Shin smirked.
"That's right. He knows my brother's boss. All I have to do, in the case you do anything that rubs me the wrong way, is to tell the Principal." Shin said, "He's not on your side anymore. He is on my side because he knows what will happen if I tell my brother. He will come down here, run an investigation, and notice the gag order the Principal put on the school. Then he'll start having 'friendly conversations' with the teachers personally. At some point, he's going to crack somebody and get them talking, and once he starts talking to the students and their parents directly, you are about as fucked as you can possibly get."
"Y-You're bluffing."
"Am I?" Shin asked, "I know the Principal like the back of my hand. He may have you think he's favoring you, but that was all a lie he's been feeding you this entire time."
He saw Kamoshida's face turn to dismay.
"He only wanted you around because you made the school look good in the public's eyes. Now that it does, he wants public opinion on the school to look positive." Shin said, "If this scandal gets out to the press, this whole school will lose its public image and the Principal will lose everything, all because you couldn't keep it in your pants."
"You…"
"Don't even think about expelling me. The Principal will simply threaten to have you fired and he'll even threaten you with the police." Shin said, "The Principal was a greedy man. Always was, always has been. He fed you nothing but lies just so you wouldn't see him for the horrible man he is."
Kamoshida began to waver. Shin could see it. Kamoshida was sweating.
"Do you understand the severity of your situation now?" Shin asked with a straight face, "Well, do you?"
Kamoshida immediately released Shin and backed away from him. He ran off. Shin sighed with relief.
'Man! I did not think that was going to work!' Shin thought, 'I really thought he had something over me, but I guess he really can't do anything to me if he knows the Principal will just make Kamoshida's life an absolute hell! I don't even know if I got lucky!'
He heard footsteps. He turned to see a guy with blonde hair and—!
The guy from the cafe was with the blonde.
"You again… Ren Amamiya? Right?"
"How did you know my name?" The frizzy black-haired young man asked.
"Well, when I first saw you, that old man called you Amamiya. When I saw you again, he called you Ren." Shin admitted, "I just put two and two together. Guess that means it is you."
"Yeah, that's me." The boy said, "Now what exactly did you tell Kamoshida to make him run from you?"
"Did you get some dirt on him?" The blonde asked.
Shin looked at the blonde with confusion.
"Who are you?" Shin asked.
"Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself." The blonde said, "Ryuji Sakamoto. But you can just call me Ryuji."
"Ryuji… Huh."
He noticed the blonde's left leg had the knee slightly bent.
"Broken?" Shin asked.
"Yup. Broken." Ryuji said before he scowled, "Kamoshida broke it. Said it was self-defense."
"Oh…" Shin said, 'Obviously he has a grudge against him.'
"Anyway, nice to meet you." Ren said, reaching his hand out.
"Shin. Shin Kanzato."
Shin shook hands with Ren, but immediately upon making contact, Shin's eyes glowed green. Ren's eyes glowed golden. Almost instantly, he could see images flashing through his head. It was Ren, pressed against a wall by some Shadows. Ryuji was down on the floor. Kamoshida was standing over Ryuji. Shin began to hear a voice.
"What's the matter...? Are you simply going to watch? Are you forsaking him to save yourself?" A voice spoke, "Death awaits him if you do nothing. Was your previous decision a mistake then?"
'What is… all of this?' Shin thought.
"No need for mere words. Show me your true feelings."
"No… it wasn't a mistake!" Shin heard Ren's voice, "I won't sit and watch as he dies!"
"Very well... I have heeded your resolve." The voice said, "Vow to me."
Shin began to see Ren beginning to have spasms and heard him grunting and growling before he began to scream from what sounded like a searing pain in his head.
"I am thou… thou art I… Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice!" The mysterious voice said, "Call upon my name, and release thy rage! Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!"
A mask appeared on Ren's face. Ren ripped it off and out came blood, followed by a scream.
And blue hellfire.
He watched as his golden eyes dissolved into red streaks resembling eyes as a smile formed on the flaming being that was beginning to rise from Ren's body. Chains formed around the being. He saw the spirit manifest with its flames dying out, revealing its true appearance. From top to bottom, the being wore a hat with a long horned mask over its face, a cropped red eighteenth century-esque suit worn open with its collar popped, heart designs stitched onto the shoulders, a white ruffle tie to its neck, a black corset running down its torso. Its claws were sharp as a bird of prey's talons. The legs had red coverings that resembled pants and it had boots with blade-like heels for feet. Ren's outfit consisted of a black ankle-length tailcoat, a high-necked waistcoat with gold accents, black pants, brown-black winklepickers, and a pair of red gloves.
The being laughed as Ren spread his arms out. Mimicking his movements, the being did as Ren did before it spread its black feathery wings that were attached to the waist.
Shin knew what that thing was.
'A Persona?' Shin thought.
"That is right, little one. I am the other Ren that exists within him…" a familiar voice said, "It really does spark curiosity in that mind of yours! Was it fate? Was it destiny? Did God plan this? Or was it all just luck in the end that has drawn the both of you together?! I wonder what it all could mean!"
"Who… who are you?!" Shin asked.
"Oh, me? You may call me the pillager of twilight, Arsene!" The voice said, "Now then, how about the two of you show the world your rebellious will against all who unjustly oppress others for the sake of thine own justice!"
Ren could not tell if he was seeing things or not, but he was most certainly in Shibuya, or at least some construct of it. Before him was the boy named Shin, cowering in front of a two headed monster that was eating a dead body.
'What is all of this?' Ren thought, 'Am I in his head?'
"I… I don't want to die… not yet… no… I don't want to die… please… I don't want to die…"
'Shin?'
"Please… somebody… anybody… Help me… Help me! I don't want to die!"
The beast began to rush forward.
"You don't want to die?" A voice spoke.
"Who said that?!" Shin asked, "Help me! I don't want to die!"
"Calm down. There's no need to ask for who I am." The voice said, "I have felt it. Your will to live. Your fear of death. I know this feeling all too well."
'Wait… could this be how his Persona… but… if that is the case here…'
"You are not going to let this creature kill you, right?" The voice asked, "Do you wish to live?"
"Is that supposed to be a question?!" Shin thought, "I'M ABOUT TO DIE!"
"Alright then…" The voice said, "It is time for us to make a contract."
'Contract?! So then this is—!'
A green light shined above Shin's chest.
"Show me thy will to live and thy strength to brave death. Show me thy resolve to march forth against the impossible. Show me thy resolve to change thine own fate." The voice said, "Show me thy will to stand on one's own feet and ascertain all on thine own, though thou will be watched by the Lord himself."
The beast was thrown back as a blade emerged.
'A sword!' Ren thought.
"Persona."
Shin's eyes glowed green and out came the green knight that Ren saw when he bumped into Shin when he came to Tokyo.
"I am thou. Thou art I." The being spoke, "From the Sea of Souls I cometh… The son of Adam and Eve, second to Cain, Abel, devoted disciple of YHVH."
'There's no doubt about it! That is a Persona! A Persona in the real world!' Ren thought.
"That is right, you who have been called the Trickster."
"Who… who is that?!" Ren asked.
"I am the true self of Shin Kanzato, Abel." The voice said, "Be it by the whims of fate, the songs of destiny, or by the Lord's Will. You, who have been chosen by Igor, servant of Philemon, have come across my other self, who has been chosen by Philemon himself."
"Chosen? For what?"
"For the purpose of bringing salvation to mankind, oh son of man."
The two boys found themselves. The two backed away as their eyes stopped glowing.
"Dude, were you having the most intense handshake?" Ryuji asked.
"Ryuji… I…"
The bell rang.
"Shit! We're late!" Ryuji said, "Hot foot it, Ren!"
Ryuji tripped and fell. Ren got Ryuji up. Ren looked at Shin and he was already making a run for it.
"Come on, let's hurry." Ren said, 'That guy… he is a Persona user.'
Jun felt his brother coming into contact with another Persona user. It was that guy with the criminal record. Jun did not know what to think when that huge spike in emotions and thoughts emerged. He focused on getting to class. He had a book out with three words written on a page.
Kobayakawa… Shujin Academy… Town Hall…
Classroom 2-A
Morning
Shin got to his seat. Ms Chouno did not look pleased.
"Shin Kanzato, you were late." Ms Chouno said, "I'll let it slide just this once as long as you don't show up late to class again. Got that?"
"Y-Yes!" Shin said.
Shin took his seat.
'Man, she gets angry when people are late, Huh?' Shin thought.
Elsewhere…
Morning
Akihiko Sanada was hitting a punching bag. He was using some boxing gloves. He was practicing his boxing moves. It had been some time since he over got to go over his boxing moves. He could still remember his boxing moves like it was yesterday. He could remember how he used to train from when he was the captain of his high school's school boxing team, SEES, and even the Shadow Operatives. He could not remember the number of protein shakes he has had this morning.
POW!
The punching bag chain broke off the ceiling and the punching bag fell to the floor. He heard the door open and saw Noburo Inui coming in with a protein shake. He saw the punching bag on the floor.
"Dude, you are a monster when it comes boxing, you know that?" Noburo asked.
"Yeah, I am." Akihiko said, "Comes with a territory."
"And protein." Noburo said, "Seriously Akihiko, do you really need that much protein in your body in one day?"
Akihiko took the protein shake and drank it.
"Now whoever said too much protein is bad for you?" Akihiko asked.
"Too much of a good thing is bad for you." Noburo said.
"Yeah, I've been getting that a lot." Akihiko said.
"You still have that device, right?" Noburo asked.
That device. Yes. The Evoker. Thinking about it now, he pulled a gun out from a holster he had strapped to his waist. He could remember using that thing multiple times back when he was in SEES and in the Shadow Operatives. This gun was the Evoker that Noburo mentioned. It may seem like a gun to the untrained eye, but in the eyes of someone who knows how it actually works and what it's actual purpose is, it was a device meant to act as the trigger to summoning a Persona. The idea behind it's design was to remind the user of death and mortality, provoking stress within the user. All the user has to do is point the Evoker to the user's head and pull the trigger. When that happens, a Persona appears.
The trick was the psychological stress that comes from pulling said trigger. It still resembles a gun and the summoning mechanic is like committing suicide. The only way to get past that is to no longer have a fear of death and accept the knowledge of mortality. If one does not fear death, using an Evoker becomes insanely easy, since the user no longer has to fear their own death, as they know they will die in battle.
"Yeah, I do." Akihiko said, "It's been awhile since I used it."
"Does it still work?" Noburo asked.
"Well... let's see about that." Akihiko said.
He points the Evoker at his head. He took a deep breath. And then...
BANG!
A blue mist formed around Akihiko as plumes gathered behind him. A humanoid being began to manifest. It had a sword in one hand and a globe in another hand. There was a man sitting inside the being itself.
It was Akihiko's Persona, Caesar.
Akihiko breathes a heavy sigh.
"Still got it." Akihiko said.
It felt good to know that it still works, even after he hadn't been using it for so long. Akihiko felt more ready than ever now.
Ryo Kanzato had called him. He needed him at Tokyo. The Marebito had returned.
He thought that the Marebito had been taken care of at Ayanagi just a few years ago, but now that they have resurfaced in Tokyo, he needed to get back into the game. He needed to help his old buddy and Persona user.
He had to make sure that the world that Shinjiro died to protect... the world that Minato sacrificed himself to protect was safe and sound once again. It was up to him, Ryo, the old investigation team, and a team of Persona users to make sure the world was kept safe from.
It is what Shinji would have wanted from Akihiko.
Shujin Academy
After School
Shin and Takuro were walking together. They left the school grounds and walked off the road.
"So why the park?" Shin asked.
"Trust me my man, I got an idea that will work." Takuro said, "You just gotta trust me."
Shin did not like the secrecy of it all. He had his doubts about whatever was going on in Takuro's head. He knew Jun would not let him keep a secret unless there was a good enough reason to hide it.
Inokashira Park
After School
The two were in an empty space in the park. Takuro looked around the place. No one was here nor was there someone watching. He looked to Shin.
"Ok, so uh… remember what Megumi said about Kagenuki?" Takuro asked.
"Like how it's no different from taking drugs?" Shin asked.
"Yeah, you see, I have this idea that might just get me the same kind of power you have," Takuro said, "it just happens to involve Kagenuki."
Already, Shin did not like where this was going. He shook his head to the notion.
"Dude, what if Kagenuki was supposed to like, you know, reveal a person's Persona or something? Get what I mean?" Takuro asked, "Trust me, I did my math."
"Dude, you are bad at math." Shin said.
"I know, but that's beside the point." Takuro said.
He turns around.
"All you have to do is put your hand on my back and imagine that you're pulling my shadow up." Takuro said, "Not like the 'Shadow' shadow, I mean the one that's, you know, coming from my body touching the sunlight."
Shin did not like where this was going. He still had his doubts. But then again, he had just awakened to his power only three days ago and he hasn't really learned much aside from the fact that Personas are supernatural and have supernatural powers that can bend the laws of physics and manipulate energy and matter seemingly at will. All he knew was that when he felt like he was in danger, his Persona appeared. As for Ren, maybe it was something else, like wanting to rebel against fate or something like that. If Kagenuki could give him some insight, then maybe it was not such a bad idea after all.
He just had to make sure Megumi, Kanaru, and Jun do not catch him doing it or he is going to get grilled.
He placed a hand on Takuro's back and closed his eyes. He tried to imagine the image Takuro gave him, but it was not helping. He thought of something else. He imagined he was at a beach. He could hear the sound of waves and could feel the breeze in his hair. He could smell the salt in the sea.
There was a ripple. His gaze was focused on the ripple.
…
…
…
…
…
BA-DUMP!
Takuro's eyes glowed orange as Shin's eyes glowed green. An orange aura appeared around Takuro and a shockwave threw Shin back. Abel manifested as Shin did a backflip. He saw an ethereal being jump out of Takuro, its body being coated in orange light. Its body had a humanoid appearance with its arms tucked in. Four levitating claws appeared. The claws looked separate from one another and they each had four 'teeth' on the underside just going to the top ends of the claws. The top end of the claws looked blunt while the bottom end looked sharp enough to pierce and cut through skin.
"I am thou… Thou art I…" The being said, "From the Sea of Souls I cometh, the leader of a great rebellion, Spartacus."
Shin looked surprised. That was Takuro's Persona. The whole thing worked as Takuro thought it would.
"Yeah! Now we're talking!" Takuro said, "So this is what it feels like to awaken a Persona! Wooo!"
Spartacus looked at Shin as Takuro looked at Shin.
"S-Say, has something like this ever happened before?" Shin asked.
"Hell no, man! This the first time something like this ever happens!" Takuro said, "Alright, let's see what we can do!"
"Huh?!" Shin exclaimed, scrambling to his feet, "Wait, you want to field test your powers now?!"
"Oh, come on! You saw how the cat got pummeled! We gotta be ready for the worst!" Takuro said, "Now come on, let's get to sparring already!"
Spartacus had his claws readied for battle, pointing the top ends at Abel.
"I concur with my other self. I want to see how strong we are." Spartacus said, "Now then, have at you!"
'Guess I'm fighting after all!' Shin thought.
Abel held aloft his sword and got into a combat stance.
A/n: Today's my birthday guys! Yeah! And I just got three games out of it! Persona 5, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and Star Wars: Squadron. Be sure to leave a review when you are done reading.
Akihiko and protein
You can't have Akihiko without him mentioning protein or training at least once, with or without his Persona. The man practically liveson protein. Also, did you see that Shinji?