Persona: Gnosis - The Knowledge Seekers

by Sraosha

Shintaro Nakahara is a book lover who studies at Kansei High, in the thriving city of Shinshuto. Everything in his life is peaceful, if uneventful. That all changes when Kei Kakusa, a new transfer student, comes from Yokohama, and the Bythos group cause massive unrest within the city. With the power of Persona, do he and his friends have any chance of saving the people they love?

46. Winds of Sorrow

Arc V: A City With No Future

---

Finally, after so many years, I can fulfil my dream.

Everything I've done has been for this, and this alone.

I've been so alone for so long, but finally, I can be with everyone again.

There will be nothing that can stop the world rebirth I've begun.

So much will be destroyed this way, but it cannot be helped.

I will do whatever it takes to bring back the time I've been dreaming of.

That other Wild Card, however.

What has she discovered so far?

Did she heed my warning at all?

Perhaps it is finally time to eliminate her.

It wouldn't be the first life I've taken, after all.

If our swords will clash, then clash they will do.

Yet my blade will never break,

No matter how many times you bare yours.

Kei Kakusa, or whoever you truly are,

I will never hand over the Theio Kosmos to you!

---

Chapter 46: Winds of Sorrow

---

|September 5th|Hanashima Hospital|12:00 pm|

"Ugh..."

Shintaro opened his eyes, and saw a blinding light. He blinked a few times, until he was able to look at his surroundings more closely. The ceiling was white and tiled. He turned his head to his left, and saw two familiar faces. There, talking among themselves, were Kei and Kohaku.

"...It's been a week since that night." The Wild Card said, looking at her friend. "It feels like a lifetime ago. Shigeru still doesn't know what we should do next."

"We have to do something, don't we?!" Kohaku asked, angrily. "Nisa Liat is still out there, somewhere! We have to go back to the Theio Kosmos and -"

"But where is she? We can't get the Aeon Admins to take us to the Bythos Citadel. Searching throughout the city didn't work before. We need some sort of lead before we can attack."

"I know, but we can't just wait around for something to happen! You saw what happened to Ginumi. The entire beachfront is gone. And Tanjoshima is - oh!" Kohaku looked over the bed, and her face lit up as she saw his opened eyes. "Shintaro-kun!"

"...Morning." He said, weakly. He sat up, still in pain. "Oww..."

"You're finally awake..." Kei said, relieved. "How are you feeling?"

"Not great, to be honest...but at least you're here. How long has it been?"

Kohaku looked at her phone, then back to him. "A week. We've been coming here every day to see you. Not just us, right Kei?"

"Right. Masato and Natsumi were here yesterday. Toshiaki, Evelina and Manami showed up the day before. Noboru, though..."

Sadly, Kohaku nodded. "Yeah...he hasn't been answering our calls. I don't think he's even left his room. It's like Teruko all over again."

"What do you mean-OW! Damn, my head, it hurts -"

The twinge of pain in his head surged violently. He reached for the back of his head, only to touch a bandage. Perhaps it was from fighting Menoetius. The strongest Shadow he'd ever seen.

"The nurse will be here soon." Kei said, hand on his. "Look over there, Shintaro-kun..."

He looked to where she was pointing, and saw his parents. They were in tears, and the both ran over to hug him.

"Mum….Dad..."

"Thank heavens, boy, you're okay..." His father said. "You worried me and your mother sick, you know that?!"

"We're taking you home as soon as the doctors give us the all-clear." His mother said. "Then you'll never have to go to that awful Theio Kosmos again."

Shintaro gulped. "How...do you know about that?!"

"Because I had no choice but to tell them."

Shigeru had just entered the ward, with a steely expression as always. He looked exhausted, in more ways than one. Novalie was with her, equally morose.

"There was no way to cover up your injuries. And multiple people saw witness to our powers. You were there when the island of Tanjoshima was destroyed in a gigantic explosion that was witnessed by almost the entire city. Therefore, I had no choice but to inform your parents, Nakahara."

"Not just yours..." Kohaku said, biting her lip. "All of ours know now. Mine were furious when they found out."

"So they should be!" Shintaro's mother screamed. "You've been fighting a group like that with...supernatural abilities?! How were we supposed to react!"

"You should have stayed out of it, and left it to the adults..." Shintaro's father said, glaring at Kohaku and Kei. "Not get our only son dragged into this war between the city and Bythos! He could have died that evening, just like...just like that poor girl!"

"Girl…?"

There was an uncomfortable silence. Novalie took a deep breath, and looked the boy in the bed in the eyes.

"...You were knocked unconscious when Tanjoshima blew up. Only two people were still on the island."

"No..." Shintaro said, shaking. Kei gripped his hand tighter, and Kohaku went to him, hand on his shoulder. "No! Akari…is dead?!"

Shigeru nodded. He took a step forward, after a deep breath.

"Murayama as well. From what Kakusa and Fonseca have told me, they stayed behind to delay the island's destruction. So that everyone could escape the explosion Menoetius created."

"No!" The boy in the bed cried, shaking. "No...Akari can't die! Kaii can't die! Not yet! They were supposed to come back home with us!"

"Shintaro..." Kohaku muttered, on the verge of tears.

"They gave up their lives so we could escape. Had they not done what they did...the island may have been destroyed before we could finish evacuating everyone. Many more could have died..."

"They sacrificed themselves…?! No! That's not right...they should...be here…!" Shintaro screamed. Tears streamed down his face, as he buried his head in his hands. "No...Akari...Kaii...I'm sorrry…! I should have known...we should have..."

"Teruya. Kakusa. Please come with me and Vinters for a moment. I want to give him a moment...with his family."

Kohaku and Kei nodded, and left the ward, as Shintaro's despair echoed throughout the room.

|Corridor|12:05 pm|

Shigeru stood still for a moment, arms crossed. Novalie, Kohaku and Kei looked at each other, unsure what to say. For the past week, things had been like this. No one knew exactly what to say, afraid they would speak the wrong words, and cause another meltdown. Tensions were high enough as they were.

"I'm sure you all know by now, but the internet is rife with mention of the strange phenomena the survivors saw on Tanjoshima."

Kei nodded. They'd heard this before. While most of the rescued guests were too shocked to say anything, some had made many posts online about the bizarre events they had witnesses, including the destructive waves caused by Oceanus. No one had any proof of this, however, but with so many accounts, people were starting to take them seriously.

"Does this mean the Theio Kosmos is public knowledge?" Kohaku asked, numb.

Novalie gulped. "Not officially. But everyone is talking about 'that other world', full of 'monsters'. It's a miracle none of our identities have been leaked. Now the entire city is in high alert. Ginumi is in ruins. There is nothing left of Tanjoshima. And the Mayor cannot keep the confused citizens at bay, despite our best efforts. They want an explanation as to how Bythos produced such a giant explosion with seemingly unknown means, and also what caused those freak tidal waves."

"...This is our darkest hour." Kei said, looking at the newspaper on the chair beside her. All of it was about the attack, and the many unanswered questions. The possibility that Bythos had 'paranormal abilities' was now being considered seriously by everyone in the city.

"Indeed. And now our own Prime Minister wants to know why a member of his own staff died on what should have been a routine dinner party. Hayami, he..." Shigeru wavered, eyes to the floor. "He was a good man. A kind father. You can imagine what his children are going through. They must never learn the truth of how he died. I cannot let them find out. There are things one should never witness. And I've seen more than enough of those in this year alone."

Kohaku had only seen this man's bleeding corpse, but from what she had gathered, this Hayami had been an upstanding, kind-hearted politician who worked hard for his country. To destroy EX-NIHILO, he had committed suicide with Noboru's own sword. If someone had done that with her naginata, she didn't know how she'd feel. Horrified, no doubt. She might never want to use her weapon again.

"...What are we going to do?" Kei asked.

Shigeru shook his head. "I don't know yet. We need to meet and discuss our next move, I know. But right now, that's going to be a lot harder. As you can probably guess, work has been extremely busy right now. I must help Yoko restore order...as impossible as that may be."

Kohaku nodded. Just yesterday, a riot broke out in Mizuho. Fifteen were injured quite severely. And the day before, several stores in Hiyashi had been looted, with nothing left untaken. Protests were taking place outside the government offices as well, held by crowds of angry people demanding answers. There were rumours about the construction of Tanjoshima, specifically how poorly treated the workers were. And the families of those that died were hell-bent on finding out the truth.

"Then..."

"You should...do your best to live normally for the foreseeable." Shigeru finally said. "Noboru...he was still grieving for Teruko. Now, his long lost brother has been taken from him...and his own sword was used to commit suicide, too. In front of him. He may never return to the Theio Kosmos..."

Noboru-kun, if only I could help you. But how can I? I don't even know what to do myself. Akari is gone. She was our friend. The heart and soul of our home room. How can we go back to school without her?

"...Ito's parents will be in touch about her funeral. I've given them your contact details. They...their only child is dead. Their worst nightmare came true. Never again will they see their daughter..." Shigeru's eyes seemed to be watering as he said this. "Their pain will never heal. Even if we defeat Nisa Liat, they've lost everything."

"...What about Kaii's family?" Kohaku asked.

Novalie let out a small sigh, her hands together. "His aunt and uncle have been contacted. Yet they kept saying they couldn't make it to their own nephew's funeral. Why, I don't know. To think they couldn't put aside their daily routine to pay their respects to their only nephew..."

Kohaku didn't quite know how to respond. She looked out of the window, as she imagined Kaii's cheerful face. He'd never be around to make stupid jokes again. A lonely young man, who had only had his dog for company for so long. Until he met his father and brother.

"Toki -"

"Is in no fit state to speak to anyone right now." Shigeru replied. "You recall how he was when Tanjoshima was destroyed before our very eyes. All of us were distraught, yes. But..."

Kohaku would never forget that night. She and Kei had been the first to reach Shintaro, horrified at the thought he might have been killed. Toki had screamed for Kaii, over and over again. He had to be held back by Shiro and Keiya, to stop him from getting any closer to the burning remains of the island.

"Let me go! I have to see him! I have to find Kaii! He's still alive in there! He needs me! He needs his dad! Kaii! Kaii!"

That cry still echoed in her mind. She had expected her classmate to return like everyone else, but when that island exploded, her hopes were shattered, painfully. Akari was dear to her, she realised, as one of her best friends. Kansei would feel empty without her. A week on, and Kohaku could barely keep her tears flowing at the thought of the animal-loving girl that she had met in her first day at high school.

Later that evening, Shiro decided that as the Black Condor was in no way fit to look after himself, or Kaii's dog, he would take Toki into his own home. For the moment, the dog was staying with Keiya, who was struggling to deal with the animal somewhat. After all, the poor animal wouldn't be seeing his owner ever again, and whether or not Toki would ever be able to look after him was doubtful.

"He's still at Koyanagi's home. He won't talk to anyone. He won't leave the guest room. He barely eats. The son he barely knew was taken from him. Hayashi...I still cannot say I care for him. Yet he has been dealt a cruel blow. One...that no one should ever have had to suffer. He'll never see his eldest son again. And Noboru is in no state to comfort him. Even I and his mother can't..."

"...Kaiyo still can't bear it, can she? What you and Noboru kept from her?"

Shigeru frowned. "...She will never forgive me for hiding the truth from her so long, I feel. Do not worry about my situation, however, You must let everyone else know that Nakahara has recovered. He may not be ready for visitors, however..."

"Tell him I wish him a swift recovery, okay?" Novalie asked, kindly. "You're the ones closest to him, out of all of us. Please, do what you can to comfort him."

With that, she and Shigeru left, no doubt to do what they could with the chaos across the city. Such a job might never end, Kohaku thought.

"What are we supposed to do, Kei-chan?" She asked. "It's...not the end of the Knowledge Seekers, is it?"

"No." Kei said, adamantly. "Not yet. We still have a job to do. Even if some of us don't want to – or can't – fight, I'm going. I'd fight her on my own if it came down to it. I have to, if..."

"If...?"

"If I want to find out what really happened to my aunt. Why she died so long ago. Or...if she died at all."

Kohaku looked at her, surprised. "You're not sure she died? What happened?"

"I've been wanting to know that ever since she disappeared. She came here when she was sixteen, like I did. But she died before she could come home. Well, we were told she was dead. No one ever found her body, but there was no way she could have survived what happened. I was devastated when I found out...I liked her a lot. She was a lot younger than my mother, her sister, so she was more like a big sister to me. Before she left Yokohama, she always had time for me, especially when my parents had to work. I never felt lonely in those days. Not even once."

Kei wiped her eyes, sniffing. Her friend moved closer, worried.

"I'm fine. Honestly. It's just...my family have never found out the truth about her. My grandparents never talk about her, but every year, they pray. Either for her to come home, or for her to rest in peace. I used to think she'd just walk through the door, as if everything was fine. Then she'd talk about how great Shinshuto was, and tell me everything about it. But...I stopped fantasising about that after a while. I had to focus on reality."

"But you still came all the way here."

"Yes...I had an opportunity to study outside of Yokohama. It was sort of on a whim, really. So I decided to go to Shinshuto, the same place my aunt did. That way, I might finally find out the truth. No one wanted me to go, especially my family, but there was no stopping me. So I'm here now. And I'm finally getting closer...I can feel it."

Kohaku smiled. She had no idea what might have happened to this aunt. For all she knew, it had nothing to do with their current crisis at all. Even so, she knew how important it was to her new friend.

"Alright. Then let me help you, Kei. We can look into this together. What was her name?"

Panicked, the Wild Card looked up.

"Her name? It was Jun..."

"Jun...what?" Kohaku asked, curious. She had a vague sense of nostalgia for this name – or at least, a name that started this way. Where she had heard this name, however, she didn't quite know.

"Forget it! We've got more important things to worry about, haven't we? Nisa Liat comes first."

Without even hearing her out, Kei began to march out of the hospital, briskly. It was all Kohaku could do to keep up.

"But, it's the only reason you came all the way here from Yokohama! You can't even tell me her name?"

"...It's my aunt, Kohaku-chan. I have to do this alone. We must focus on avenging Akari and Kaii. Their deaths can't be for nothing."

Kohaku stood still, but nodded. The only way she could heal from her friend's death was to put an end to the Bythos nightmare, and fast.

|Inoue Household|12:15 pm|

The Inoue household had been far more turbulent than usual in the past week. After all, Manami's true powers had been witnessed by her own family. Their own daughter had fought a terrifying monster, and she had been fighting in the 'Theio Kosmos' for quite some time. Not only that, due to the chaos in the city, the family business was hard at work trying to assuage the people their money was safe. Yet, after what Nisa Liat had done to Tanjoshima, many customers were terrified, and making plans to leave the city.

She walked downstairs, and sighed. Her family wouldn't be back home for quite some time. And she wasn't quite ready to go back to school. Thanks to Mrs. Suzuki, she'd received plenty of study notes, but she was starting to wonder if the entrance exams would even happen anymore.

Just then, the doorbell rang. She reached for the intercom, and pressed the buzzer.

"Who is it…?"

"Manami, that you? It's me, Evelina! We came to see you!"

Gasping, she hurriedly unlocked the large doors, and opened them. Sure enough, there was the blonde from Chieki Academy, in her jeans and black jacket. Toshiaki, in his tracksuit, had accompanied her.

"I'm so glad to see you! Come in…"

Smiling, Manami led the two upstairs, into her room. They gasped at the size of it, especially the study area.

"Wow. It's like an airplane hangar." Evelina commented, admiring the collection of Japanese poetry.

"Your house must be pretty large as well, too. Right?"

Evelina sighed, and sat down on one of the armchairs. The others sat down, as the sense of dread swept through the room.

"My house...isn't the best place to be right now." She continued. "My mother and grandmother...they know everything now. I didn't have a choice. Although I hated hiding the truth from them, I didn't want to them to know about the other world. Now they barely say anything. Soon, my family from Sweden will be coming to visit us."

"Do you have a big family, Evelina-chan?"

"...Sort of. I haven't seen any of them since we came over here. Japan and Sweden are a long way from each other, after all. But my cousin Catharinus calls a lot. He's still so young...I wish I could just drop everything and spend time with him and the others. But now, my dad is still in the hospital, and the Aramis branch here is likely going to have to close. I...I don't know what to do know anymore."

She sniffed, trying to suppress her tears. Yet her eyes, her face, betrayed her true sadness. And Manami gazed at her, longingly, wishing she could wash away that sorrow. She had been thinking about Evelina a lot, lately. About how nice it would be to invite her over for dinner, and show her the room. And dance for her.

Why am I thinking like this? Every time I look at her, my face feels warm. It's like when me and Katashi first started dating. Wait. Dating?! Evelina isn't - but - but -

"Are...you alright, Manami? Your face is beet red…" Toshaki asked, concerned.

"I-I'm fine! I might just be coming down with something, that's all. Nothng to worry about!" She said, nervously laughing.

No. I can't say it yet. I don't even know what it is I feel right now. But…

She away from her friends face, twiddling her thumbs. If only the city wasn't still in the aftermath of the worst atrocity it had ever faced. Then she could sort out her own feelings. But right now, she had to focus on what was more important - or so she told herself.

"What about your family, Toshiaki-kun? They've known about this for a while, even before me…"

"Huh? Oh, I guess you're right. After Ginumi, though, they've been really worried. I keep getting questions about Koyanagi-sensei, too. Like, what's he going to do now, why is he not with Bythos anymore, stuff like that. Dad seems to think it's all over for us. That it might be best if we just moved away."

"What?" Manami asked. "You'd seriously do that?"

"No!" Toshiaki shouted, clenching his fists. "At least...I don't want to. But Dad wants to take me and Ryudai away from this place. He doesn't know where yet, but it's only a matter of time. Maybe he'd go as far as somewhere like Inaba or Sumaru."

"Then...what can we do?" Manami asked. "Can we stop him from moving you and your brother away?"

Sighing, the runner shook his head.

"I doubt it. He's never been one to change his mind. And the longer this goes on, the more time he'll have to plan the big move. Ryudai didn't want to go either, but…"

"...You can't leave. Not now." Evelina said, strongly. "You can't! We need you! You're the best friend I've ever had...I can't lose you! Not now…"

"Lina-chan…"

Toshiaki knelt by her side, and put his arm around her.

"I'll find a way I can stay. It's not like we'll be moving away right away. So if we focus, and take down Nisa Liat for good, then we don't have to worry about Bythos ever again. That way, my dad will forget about leaving."

"...But how long will it take? We still don't have the Totsuka Core yet."

Manami walked over, smiling.

"Then we'll get that core. If we have all six...then we can reform this city for good. If Nisa Liat wants them, she'll have to come find us. When that day cames, we'll fight her to the better end. I'll be there, of course. Always."

"Manami…you promise?"

The dancer nodded. The three hugged each other, ready for the dark days ahead. Each one would find a way to keep fighting, in the city that had lost its hope. Bringing that hope back may seem impossible to some, but not to Manami and her dear comrades.

|Tarumi - Netuno's Aparment|13:00 pm|

Reia had been at a loss all week. With the current madness all over the city, barely anyone was interested in shopping. Thus, she had managed an empty shop, while waiting for any news. All Shigeru had told her to do was wait, until they had a plan. Right now, however, she was wondering if there was even going to be a plan.

With nothing going on at Veil Valour, she locked up early. And so, she decided to go see one of her allies, one who had been recuperating since that dreadful evening. The Electric Sea frontman, who had been one of the Persona users tackling Menoetius. He had survived, but had several injuries, having lost quite a lot of blood.

When she came to the door, she saw a surprised Elzira. The Titan Tyrant was there with her, looking anxious, hand on her shoulder.

"...Hi." Reia said, equally ill at ease. "Are all of guys inside?"

"Yeah...we've been coming every single day since it happened." The drummer said. "The Titan showed up to see how I was doing. To think he'd be some kind of 'Merchant' in your world."

Lenore and Heliodoro approached, and upon seeing Reia, froze. They must have heard all about Netuno's exploits by now, and thus, about the others he was fighting Shadows with.

"So, you finally showed up. Netuno's been asking after you a lot." Heliodoro said, frowning. "Didn't you think he'd want to see you?"

"I-I'm sorry. He was badly hurt, and I wanted to give him time to recover before I visited."

"You no doubt have a lot to talk about…" Lenore said. "We'll give you some privacy. Rest assured, we won't speak a word about the Theio Kosmos to anyone else."

The band left, with the Tyrant following. And so, Reia walked through, and looked around. This was the first time she'd ever been inside his home, and it was quite a large studio apartment. Blue was the dominant colour, with many beaded cushions and eccentric artwork of seascapes. Hanging from the ceiling was a lampshade, one rather gaudy and teal, with more beads than Reia had ever sewn into any of her dresses.

"You admiring the decor, huh?"

There, sitting on his chair, in much more casual clothes than he usually wore, was Netuno. His hair was messier, and he had foregone the bandana. Still, from the usual confident grin, she knew it was him.

"I'm sorry I didn't come over before now…" Reia began. "I...I didn't know what to do."

"Forget it. Everyone's on edge. Well, we were already. But after Ginumi, the entire city's gone to shit. Even the band know what's really going down." Sighing, the guitarist got to his feet. "How are you holding up?"

"...I don't know what to do anymore." Reia said, despondent. "The city's in turmoil. I can't focus on making new clothes anymore...not like this. And right now, we can't stop Nisa Liat. The Citadel is somewhere, but we can't get to it."

Netuno was silent, as she buried her face in her hands.

"I never really told you about my life before this whole thing started, did I?" She said. "I...I don't have anyone to go home to. You see, my family are gone. One evening, when I went out with my friends from school, they were...shot dead."

That had been one of the worst nights of her life. Her father had hid quite a lot of secrets from his wife and daughter, including the fact he was a Yakuza on the run. They had moved quite a lot, and Reia never truly understood why until much later. The crime family he had left had been after him for years, but finally, they had tracked him down - and shot him and his wife. Reia had been lucky to escape their wrath.

"...My god." Netuno said, as he listened to this sordid tale.

"I didn't have anyone to turn to. And I was so angry. I lashed out at anyone that tried to comfort me, and eventually, I was all alone. Designing clothes was all that I had left. It was just a hobby back then. I decided the only way I could move on was to make that my reason for living. The dresses I made would be my new friends and family. And so...that was it. I didn't have much of a social life after that. Even when I was a student in England. I was too busy planning the outfits I could sell."

"I'm sorry…"

Reia shook her head. "I've come to terms with that. I was doing fine, living in Shinshuto, and selling new clothes. People kept coming to buy my newest creations, and I was making a good amount of money. And I made connections in the industry, sure. But then that strange package came in the mail. The same one you got."

"...I still kept the box." Netuno said, pointing to an opened cardboard box on a cabinet on the far side oft he room. "It changed my life, after all."

"When I first got that Gnosis...I was scared. This mobile phone that can take me to a world full of demons made from the human conciousness. And with my Persona, I can fight them. The only other people were a bunch of strangers. But...then I got to meet everyone for the first time. Hiroyuki. Novalie. Michiko. Shigeru. And you."

"Me…?"

"Of course you. You helped make it less scary, fighting Shadows. In fact, it felt kind of fun, working together with you, teasing you about your music…course, that was because you kept making fun of my clothes."

Netuno laughed. "That's what I like about you. In fact, you were the one I was most excited about seeing. Novalie's nice, but she and I just don't click the same way. Hiroyuki and Shigeru are kind of old for a guy like me to hang out with. And Michiko...well, it's like being with my old teachers at home. I'm always worried about being on my best behaviour with her."

"...I'm so glad you made it out of there alive." Reia said, reaching for his hand. The two of them looked at each other, no longer needing any words. She had known for quite some time, this Portuguese rocker, whose music she actually couldn't help but hum along to - he'd become quite special to her. Her loneliness since her parent's death had haunted her for so long, but then he appeared in her life.

He reached for her cheek, and stroked it gently. As his hand touched her face, he smiled. Soon, he leaned in closer, and their eyes were right in front of each other's. Then, in an instant, their lips met. She closed her eyes, as she felt his strong, kind hands wrap around her. There was a strong passion in him, one that radiated through his whole being.

Netuno Fonseca, a somewhat arrogant, yet skilled guitarist. All the way from Portugal. He was the last man she thought she'd ever fall for. For so long, they'd been helping each other. Every enemy that tried to destroy him, she would tear to shreds with her scythe. His ferocity, likewise, had slain the Shadows that tried to eliminate her.

"...Reia."

They let go, now somewhat awkward. There was no going back from this. Not after a kiss like that.

"I don't want you ever getting hurt like that again." She said, sadly. "So, if you're going to go back to the Theio Kosmos, I'm going with you. I'd never forgive myself if I let you go alone."

"...That's what I wanted to say to you." He said, smiling. "I thought all I needed was the band - my family. But then you, the woman who owned a high-end boutique, showed up. It's been so lonely, not having you around. So…"

The two sat down together, holding hands.

"Stay here a while. Just you and me. With all the blue in this apartment, it's nice to have something beautiful and purple to look at."

She smiled, blushing. To think this man would make her heart stir. But the heart was a strange thing. It could be broken a seemingly infinite number of times, but at the same time, it could heal and grow stronger. From now on, she wanted to give him strength, just as he did for her.

|Yoko's Office|13:30 pm|

It had become more and more unpleasant to come here, yet Shigeru had no choice – the Mayor was one of the few that knew the truth about the other world. They had to work together to help keep the peace, yet after Ginumi, that seemed more like a dream. Hesitantly, he entered the office, just as Yoko was slamming down the receiver on her phone.

"Damn! How many times do I need to tell them? We are looking into this!" She screamed. "Why do they expect me to have answers after just one week? And you! Are you done with your errand?"

"Errand? I was checking in on Nakahara. One of our own. That's quite more than just some 'errand', don't you think?"

The Mayor sighed, clearly uninterested. The injured student had inspired no sympathy from her, nor did the deaths that night seem to affect her even slightly.

"I've been facing questions from the press all week. The disaster in Ginumi. Why couldn't we prevent it? Look at the damage it's done. Ginumi is in ruins. It will take a lot of time and money to rebuild the area. And all the funds we invested in Tanjoshima, down the drain…"

"...Money? That's what matters to you most?" Shigeru asked, with a bad taste in his mouth. "This incident killed a lot of people, Yoko! We may have saved the majority of the guests, sure. But Menoetius killed plenty at the hall. Everyone at the observatory was murdered! Their families want answers, ones that we can't exactly provide if we want to keep the city from falling apart!"

"So why couldn't those two idiots stop the explosion? Hmm? Why was it up to them to stop Menoetius, the oh-so-deadly Anomaly? What did their big sacrifice really accomplish? Now we're left dealing with the consequences. The Prime Minister outright said he regrets ever having this place become a full city. I had to hear that from one of his snotty aides this morning, while you were at that bloody hospital!"

"...So this is what you've become, Yoko. The people in the city you're supposed to run are dying, and living in fear of another attack from Bythos. But their pain doesn't matter to you, does it?"

"Don't put words in my mouth, Shigeru. I have a lot of things to deal with. Ito's and Murayama's deaths aren't as pressing as you think. It's not like you cared about the young man, is it? He was just another reminder of how much of a failure Toki Hayashi is as a human being. You said similar things yourself, so don't act like his death is the end of the world!"

"Perhaps not to me. But it is to my son. And to his father. I thought you, of all people, would understand the pain of losing a child."

Yoko froze. Knocking over her cup of coffee, she stood up, slamming her hands on her desk.

"Don't you dare bring up Noriko like that. Don't you dare turn this around on me! I...I lost my baby girl all of those years ago...my only child! This job is all I have left! Just...get out! Now!"

Frustrated, he left the room, and slammed the door shut. He had never felt so much anger in his life. Not even towards Toki. To think this was the young woman who had been his best friend throughout college, and their later adult lives. She had been so bright, and full of compassion for others. Back then, she would have cried over this. Now, she was a shell of her former self.

Yoko. You'll never be your old self again. Or anything close. When this is all over, what sort of person will you be then? Can anything be done to restore your love for this city and its people? You became a politician because of that love. Now you've lost it. Nothing I can do can bring the old back, can it?

He stormed down the hall to his own office, his dark thoughts plaguing his mind. The update on Covenant, the system to protect the Cognition Cores, would have to wait. Yet his faith in the defence system was wavering, too...

|Sogen Park|14:00 pm|

The park was in a somewhat more sombre mood, no doubt due to the events of last week. Yet still, people were walking their dogs here, or meeting with friends. Life had to go on in some form or another, and so Asami was here, trying to relax. Which, after what had just happened, was a challenge.

"Dammit...why did everything go so wrong? Why did Kaii have to…"

Asami's family were very concerned about her, especially after they had been told the truth - or rather, a portion of it. Her past as an Aeon Admin was still a secret to them, as considering what Bythos had done, knowing their daughter's part in that group would be hard to bear. For that same reason, Katashi's parents were in the dark as well.

Now, however, she had to face the fact that they had no plan. Nisa Liat was alive, and free to plan another atrocity. And Totsuka was no doubt her next target. Shigeru, however, was far too busy to plan a strategy with everyone else. There wasn't any means to reach the Citadel, not at this point. All Asami could do was wait.

"Oh. There you are."

She looked up, and saw Keiya, who was accompanied by a dog. Smiling, she walked over to pet the animal, who gave her hand a friendly lick.

"So...this is Taro?" She asked.

Keiya nodded. "He's quite the bundle of energy. Still, I feel for the mutt. He keeps looking at the door, waiting for...him to come home. And there's no way to tell him the truth."

Losing Kaii had hurt her more than she expected. For quite some time, he'd been the one Admin besides Katashi she didn't like. His cheerful, almost childlike zest for life irritated her greatly, perhaps due to her own sadness. Now that he was gone, she would never truly be able to apologise to him.

"...Akari's family must be going through the same. To find out their daughter died in an explosion that destroyed that island...it must be hell. She was busy fighting us for so long, and they never knew. Not until it was too late."

The two were silent for a moment. The brief happiness they felt when seeing each other had faded already. Now, their hearts were full of unease and doubt. Asami, looking around her, saw a Bythos sticker on a lamppost. There was a time she would have been proud to see that, for it meant it was one step closer to getting revenge for her friends death. Now, after everything she had learned, and how insane Nisa Liat truly was, she almost retched at the sight.

"We committed many sins when we were in Bythos. There's no denying that." Keiya said, stoically. "And someday, our punishment will come. After all, the people want justice. I can't blame them. If I must turn myself in, I will. But not until Nisa Liat herself is destroyed. Until then, this city has no future."

"...You're right. We just need to find the right time to strike. I'll be ready for anything. For my old friends, and for my new ones, I'm not giving up yet. I created my videos to inspire people like me. If I get rid of Nisa Liat, and save this city, then that'll inspire even more!"

The two of them smiled, finally feeling their spirits lift, if only a little. Life did have to go on, Asami knew that much. But she wasn't going to let this misery last any longer.

|Shiro's House|17:45 pm|

Shiro Koyanagi was in the kitchen, preparing a somewhat austere meal of steamed rice and miso soup, with several meat side dishes, each one as plain as the chef himself. He had never been one for frivolities, and elaborate meals were not to his taste. He looked at the table, set for two. He doubted his guest would come down, but he had to hope. Toki Hayashi had to eat at some point. And someone had to be there to support him.

"Hayashi-san. I've made dinner, if you're hungry." The teacher called upstairs. "You will eat something today, won't you – hmm?"

The phone had just rung. Frowning, Shiro ran over to grab the receiver.

"Hello…?" He said, confused. He heard loud noises on the other end, including what sounded like a children's TV show. Then he heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, what's up, Nii-san? What, did you forget what I sound like?"

"Oh. Of course not, Takayuki. Although it has been quite some time."

Takayuki Koyanagi was very much the opposite of his older brother. Jolly, yet careless, especially with money. Shiro had little patience for him, finding his constant enthusiasm for everything very draining. The younger brother had tried his best to get the elder to cheer up, but Shiro had refused to 'lighten up'. As such, they had little contact, especially after what happened with Kaede, Tetsuo and Michiko. Takayuki had moved to Nagoya with his wife, and they had two young children, both girls.

The kind of life I can never have any more. Not after losing her...

"Yeah, sorry about that. Life's been busy lately. My kids are a real handful. It's harder and harder to find time to myself...let me guess, you're still working hard as the most boring teacher in town?"

"If by boring, you mean I take my role seriously, then yes. Unlike you, I have important business to attend to, every single day. So what do you want now? Let me guess, another loan you'll keep forgetting to pay back? Believe it or not, I can't devote my wages to keeping you on your feet..."

Takayuki laughed down the phone, ignoring his brother's cold, irritated tone. He had often down this, downplaying or ignoring Shiro's concerns.

"Relax, I paid you back eventually, didn't I? Anyway...life must be pretty hard in Shinshuto right now, right? And you don't have any friends or family there, I bet. From what I hear, the city's going to shit. You oughta start over somewhere. And our girls barely even know Uncle Shiro. How about you quit festering away over there and come live with us?"

Shiro, seething, almost threw the receiver on the ground. Yet, he heard footsteps. His guest was finally making his way downstairs. He had to compose himself, lest he have an explosive argument in front of a very vulnerable man.

"Thank you for your...kind concern, but I can't. There's something I must do before I can abandon this city." He said, as coldly as possible. "Besides, living together has never worked out for us. We just don't click. And your wife has never enjoyed my company. The feeling is entirely mutual."

Takayuki sighed, as the sounds of children screaming echoed in the background. "But...we haven't seen each other in years. We barely talk on the phone! Come on, at least come down and visit. Please?"

Sighing, Shiro realised his brother would never stop bothering him about this. One visit to Nagoya – one – would be torture, but at least it would be preferable to the nightmare he was stuck in.

"Fine. I'll come down later this year. I'll let you know when I can make it. I'm sorry, but I have to go. Send Sakurako my regards."

He hung up, as he saw Toki enter the room. He was a mess, in more ways than one. His clothes were dirty, and his hair was unkempt. His stubble was now becoming an untamed beard.

"Who was that…?" He asked, his eyes red.

"That was just my brother. We don't exactly see eye-to-eye. Still, I should make the effort to at least visit him. He's the only family I have."

"Family..." Toki said, on the verge of tears.

Damn. I shouldn't have said that. My brother has a habit of calling at bad times. Not that he'd have any idea of what's going on over here. But right now, I have a comrade to worry about. Someone has to look after him, and it might as well be me.

Shiro realised that leaving the grieving man to his own devices would not be wise. And unwilling to leave it to anyone else, he took Toki to his own home. It had been a trying time, for many reasons. The man did occasionally eat, but barely spoke, and had spent most of his time in the spare room, in tears.

"I'll make plans to visit his family Iater, don't worry. Anyway, dinner's ready. It's nothing special, but..." Shiro said, pointing to the food on the table. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Curious, he went to get it, and to his surprise, it was Rinaka. She was dressed in her black leather motorcycle gear, having just taken off her helmet.

"I'm glad you're home, Shiro. Are you alright?" She asked, somewhat anxious.

"As much as can be expected." The teacher replied, as they walked back to the living room. When she saw Toki, Rinaka froze.

"Oh...good morning, Hayashi. Have I interrupted something?"

"We were just about to eat. What brings you here, Tamura-san?" Shiro asked.

Rinaka took a deep breath. "After last week, I've been trying to research Bythos. Or the soldiers left behind after we left. Right now, Nisa Liat only has the weak soldiers with fake Personas under her command. All of the Anomalies are dead. All of her Aeon Admins betrayed her. You'd think Bythos would be at its weakest. But…"

Shiro frowned, waiting for his ally to continue.

"...There are lots of accounts posting on the Bythos website. Posting about how much the Mayor has failed the city, and now is the time to join the true savior and purge the city of those who would stay against the Pleroma Princess. And with some research, I found out something. The IP addresses of those accounts. They're all either from computers in Aoi Mirai, or the homes of their students.

"The entire school?!" Shiro shouted, alarmed.

"I'm afraid so. With Ginumi in ruins, the school's reputation has gone down even further. And because the city has neglected that school for so long, the students have lost hope. So it would appear that Nisa Liat has recruited nearly all of them. Hundreds of disaffected students, brainwashed!"

"All because we let it happen...even after we abandoned Bythos, our sins are coming to haunt us. Damn." The teacher said, frustrated. These teenagers were facing great danger with every second they spent in the company of Nisa Liat. "We need to find a way to get back to the Citadel. And fast!"

"I already tried that, but even with Evelina's help, we haven't been able to restore the Aeon Pathway." Rinaka said, eyes to the floor. "I'm sorry. I know everything is in chaos right now, and we need something, anything at all, that will give us hope. Aika and Celestine are going to check out Totsuka this evening, so perhaps they'll come up with something."

"Totsuka?" Toki asked, shakily.

"Y-Yes. The only place left that the Cognition Core has still to appear. Katashi said he'd join them if he was able to, but his parents are still upset with him."

Shiro looked at her, worried.

"They don't know he was once with Bythos. Shigeru must have realised that them finding that out would be devastating. So as far as they know, he's always been fighting against Nisa Liat. And they remain ignorant...about Ichiro."

Toki, tearfully, looked at her.

"They...still don't know? About their son?"

Rinaka stared back at him, unflinching.

"Yes. Right now, they still think of Katashi as their only child. But we're looking into Ichiro Yamaguchi's situation as well -"

"Dammit...they've lost their son!" Toki gazed at the floor, eyes welling up. "What the hell...is Katashi doing…?! They can still see their other boy...his parents have to know...they have a chance I'll never get again!"

With that, he stormed upstairs, and slammed the door, loud enough for Rinaka to flinch.

"I'm sorry, Shiro. I didn't mean to upset him any further."

The teacher shook his head. "It's not your fault. Someday, Katashi's parents will remember their eldest son. Once we find out the truth of that awful murder. Still, with everything else we have to contend with…oh, you might as well have this coffee. You look like you need it."

"Thanks..." Rinaka said, taking the spare cup. "There are too many things we have to worry about. And the people are losing hope of ever being free. We can only monitor the situation from here. Then, once we know more, we take decisive action. One way or another, we will win. I promise."

Shiro nodded, seeing the fire in his comrade's eyes. He had to find that same drive in himself, in order to atone for his misdeeds.

|Yoshinaga Household|18:00 pm|

The atmosphere in the home had been uncomfortable ever since that dreadful night. When the twins finally had no choice but to confess the truth to their parents. They, along with Hideki and Setsuna, had been at home at the time, when they got a call from Shigeru. The disaster at Ginumi had just happened, and knowing that Masato and Natsumi were there, everyone was terrified.

It had taken a lot of time to process what the twins had been up to since April. Their Persona ability. The Theio Kosmos, the mirror world to the 'Akartharto Kosmos' they had always known. Bythos, who had been using their powers to commit atrocities. The twins, due to the chaos of the situation, had been absent from school.

Finally, at lunch, Masato got a call from Kohaku, to say Shintaro had woken up – however, he was still very much in distress. After all, he had only begun to process what the others had known for a week – that Akari and Kaii were gone. Masato was still struggling to take it in himself, for he had gotten used to having her around. She and his sister had become good friends as well.

"Masato. Natsumi." Their father asked, after the call ended. "What are you planning to do?"

They looked at each other, uncertain. They hadn't even begun to make a plan for the future yet. All they could do was try to cope with the crisis to the best of their ability. People had seen all of the Persona users in battle now, and thus the Theio Kosmos could no longer be considered secret. The idea of a hidden world existing was causing much hysteria.

"We don't know." Masato said, finally. "Shigeru keeps telling us to wait for the time being. And to stay home from school. But we can't just do nothing forever..."

Hideki, frightened, looked up. "You don't mean you're going back to that Theio Kosmos, do you? Not after what just happened there! Ginumi is destroyed. Tons of people lost their homes, their families...what if that happens to the rest of Shinsuto?"

"But big brother, if Nisa Liat wins...she'll merge the two worlds together. That'll destroy this city as we know it. If we just stayed here and let that happen...all of us would be gone. And we can't let that happen." Natsumi said, fiercely.

"I won't allow that!" Their mother screamed, eyes fiery with rage. "You are never to go back to that Theio Kosmos again! We can't sit here and worry while you fight those demons! I can't protect you over there...so you won't be going there ever again!"

"It's not up to you, though, is it?" Masato shouted, standing tall. Something in him had snapped. He wasn't going to be belittled by his mother any more. She would not order him around. Especially not now. "We don't need your permission to do this! We could go to that world right now and never come home, if that's what it takes!"

"How dare you talk to your mother like that?!" His father roared. Finally, he was showing some backbone, instead of being coerced into agreeing with his wife. "We worked so hard to put food on the table, we went through hell so that you'd be accepted into a good school! The least you can do is not risk getting yourself killed!"

"But dad, everyone else is risking their lives. For the sake of this city's future. If we didn't do that, we'd be cowards. We need all the help we can get...if they were to fail without us, we'd never forgive ourselves." Natsumi said, undeterred. Her eyes were tearing up, but she did not back down. Neither she nor her brother were about to be dissuaded from fighting the Shadows. They owed it to Akari and Kaii to press on, no matter how much their parents objected.

"This is insane...! Nisa Liat has already caused this city so much suffering!" Setsuna lamented. "Is there no way to solve this without putting your lives on the line?"

The twins shook their heads. Truly, Masato wished they could simply talk the Pleroma Princess out of her insane scheme. But in her current state, she was beyond reason. She was a phantom of the Mayor's beloved daughter. Her anger, her hatred towards the world, could not be vanquished so easily. The only option was to destroy her very being.

"You won't stop fighting until Bythos is gone for good, will you?" Their mother asked. "...Then there's nothing I can say. But you must not die. Not like that poor girl. I cannot...no, I will not see either of my children die. So if you must return to that awful world, you cannot lose a single battle. You must always survive. I will never forgive you if you don't come home."

Alarmed, the older of the siblings looked at her. "Mother..."

"Don't think I approve, Hideki. The sooner this is over, the sooner we can get on with our lives. I want to go back to a time when your wedding was all I had to worry about..." She said.

"...Let's have an early dinner. Since we're all here." Their father said. "You can't fight Bythos on an empty stomach."

"Thanks, Dad...!" Masato said, tearfully.

The family sat down to dinner. The twins, while still with much dread in their hearts, felt at least one worry had been lifted.

|Komatsu Household|18:30 pm|

Shigeru, after yet another long day, came home at last. His wife was watching TV, although she didn't seem particularly interested in the drama that was playing, even when one character started throwing every single plate in the kitchen at the sister she was feuding with.

"...I'm home." He said. His mother looked up at him, but then turned back to the TV. She had very little to say to him since that evening, one week ago. Their lives had been turned upside down again, especially now that she finally knew what her son and husband had been up to. It was Toki's involvement that she couldn't get over, however.

Sighing, Shigeru went to the kitchen – he decided to put together something quick, having not had much chance to get anything to eat during work. Everything was going wrong at once. Not only at home, but the Mayor was facing many awkward questions, especially by those that had been on Tanjoshima that night.

Is this the end of everything? The city? My family? I can't lose Kaiyo, but she won't even look at me. She'll never forgive me for any of this. What the hell am I supposed to do?

His son hadn't left his room since that night, either. Noboru had refused to come downstairs for meals, and was barely eating any of the food his mother had left outside for him. It was worse than when Teruko died, much worse. For he had just begun to rebuild his world after losing his beloved girlfriend, only for him to lose his brother. Hayami's suicide was no doubt plaguing him as well.

Shigeru started to eat his katsu curry, but in his current state of mind, he barely took in the flavour. It was just something to keep him from going hungry. He had to stay alive, one way or another. At least Shintaro had recovered, somewhat. The thought that he might end up like Akari or Kaii was too much to bear. Still, this was a nightmare for the entire city, one he feared they would never wake up from.

"...Oh."

Kaiyo had just entered the room, and sat opposite him. He put away his chopsticks, looking into her eyes.

"Shigeru. Did you really think you couldn't tell me anything? About the Theio Kosmos, about Personas...about Toki?"

"...I didn't want to get anyone else involved. I thought if I could keep you and Noboru away from that world, everything would be fine. But...I was wrong. I should have told you a long time ago, I know."

"Toki...I still have nightmares about him. You know that better than anyone. I can't...I can't be near him ever again...yet you and Noboru are fighting alongside him?"

"I never wanted to co-operate with him. Not after what he put his own family through. That's why I've worked so hard to be the perfect husband to you...and the best dad to Noboru I can be. I love you both..."

Kaiyo looked down, shaking. "Will...you make him stay away? I don't want him coming anywhere near my boy..."

Shigeru thought deeply. He had indeed warned Toki about coming near his ex-wife, and it seemed to have worked. However, he had not prevented Noboru from approaching his biological father. Doing that, he feared, would turn him against Shigeru.

"...Right now, we don't have to worry about that. Toki has lost one son already. He is in no state to come near us. He won't even leave his home."

"What do you mean, he's lost one son?" Kaiyo asked, perplexed. "Just...what are you saying?"

"...Kaii Murayama. The one who died alongside Akari Ito. His mother...before you met Toki, they were a couple." Shigeru said, slowly. "But...because of his behaviour, she ran away. Carrying his child. Noboru's older brother."

The kitchen was deathly quiet. Shigeru sat there, desperately trying to determine what his wife was feeling. He knew this was a major revelation.

"Why...why didn't you tell me any of this?!" She screamed, on her feet. "Our son...had a brother?! That's why Noboru is...my god! If only I'd known…"

"I-I'm sorry-"

"I've heard that too many times from you, Shigeru! So many secrets you've kept from me, so many awful things...and my little boy has been wrapped up in it all! Were you hoping I'd never know? I don't want my husband to lie to me! Or my son!"

"Please, darling, I -"

"Enough! Don't 'darling' me!" She yelled, head in her hands. "This Theio Kosmos...it's going to be the end of us, isn't it? Look what it's done to Noboru. I can't stand it…"

"No, it won't be our end. We will stop Nisa Liat from causing any more tragedies." Shigeru said, on his feet as well. "If Noboru can no longer fight, then I will fight in his place."

"W...What?! You're going to fight, even after what she did to Ginumi?!"

Nodding, the government minister reached for his wife's hands, holding them tightly.

"It's the only way I can make up for all of this. I'll fight as hard as I can. If I must murder every Shadow in the Theio Kosmos, I will."

There was silence, as Kaiyo stared at him. Finally, however, she broke away, and ran out of the room, storming upstairs.

"...Dammit!" Shigeru yelled, tearful - a rare sight to behold. "Why did...she have to be involved…? I wanted her to be safe...but…"

"Dad…"

He looked up, surprised. Having just entered the room was Noboru. It was the first time Shigeru had properly seen him since they came home a week ago. His usually styled hair was a mess, and judging from the bags under his eyes, he hadn't been sleeping well either.

"Son...did you hear all of that?" Shigeru asked. The boy nodded, and the man's heart sank. "...I never meant to get your mother involved. But now it's too late. Noboru, I was at the hospital this morning. Nakahara has finally awoken."

"Senpai?!"

"Yes...you remember, he was knocked unconscious when…" Shigeru began, trailing off. "Kakusa and Teruya were there as well. Although, once he learned of what happened, he…"

Noboru was breathing heavily, his reddened eyes beginning to water again. Shigeru knew he had to choose his words carefully, yet he had a feeling no matter what he said, the boy would come to tears.

"I just thought you should know. He'll make it. I don't know how much longer he'll be there for, but his parents are extremely against him ever coming back to the Theio Kosmos. So he may not join us in our future battles."

"What?!" Noboru yelled. "After all we've been through...after everything Nisa Liat did to us...he's just going to give up?!"

Shigeru frowned. "He was one of the last people to see your brother and Ito alive. That is going to stay with him for the rest of his life. And I can't force him to return. I never should have had you and the others fight in the first place. So, Noboru...if that's his choice, then you must respect that."

"...What time are visiting hours this evening?"

"...From seven until seven-thirty." Shigeru said. He reached for his car keys. "If you want to see him, we'll go together."

The two left for the hospital where their ally remained recovering.

|Hanashima Hospital|19:00 pm|

It had taken quite some time for him to calm down. Yet Shintaro had finally managed to regain some clarity. He would be discharged tomorrow, to recover at home. His parents had gone to fetch some fresh clothes. Kohaku and Kei had returned this evening, and upon seeing his more serene face, they seemed relieved.

"This may be a silly question to ask, after the week we've had. But how are you feeling now?" The Wild Card asked.

"...Better. It's so peaceful here…"

"Here? In this hospital room?" Kohaku asked, looking around.

"Yeah, of course. It's quiet in this part of the building. Makes it easier to calm down. I don't have to hear the madness of the city outside."

The two visitors looked at each other, uncertainly.

"But you'll be leaving here tomorrow, Shintaro. You'll have to go back home. And to school again." Kei said, firmly.

"Not necessarily. My parents and I talked about it a lot. Well, I was crying too much to really say anything. But what they said makes perfect sense. I can stay home, and study at home. I'll be safe that way."

"...What? You mean, you're going to be home-schooled from now on?" Kohaku asked, shocked. "But you loved going to school. More than anyone else in Kansei, I bet."

Shintaro smiled, shaking his head. "I did, but not anymore. It'll be just like anywhere else in this city. And besides, in our room, there'll be an empty seat that will never be filled."

Kohaku gasped, and backed away. She knew exactly what he meant by this.

"Is this really what you want, Shintaro?" Kei asked. "Is this how you truly feel?"

"Yes. A life away from danger...never having to fight another Shadow…" He said, dreamily. "It'll be heaven. Away from any pain, any sorrow. Fighting didn't bring me any joy. And besides, it wasn't like I was needed anyway."

Kohaku was about to speak up, but then everyone saw the door open. They gasped in surprise, as they saw none other than Noboru march over to the bed.

"Noboru-kun…?!" Kohaku said, in bewilderment.

"Evening, Senpai. We have to talk."

He hadn't expected to see Noboru here at all. Yet, here the aspiring actor was, far less lively then he had ever been. Shigeru was standing outside, but quickly walked away - clearly, he wished for the two to speak in private.

"What are you doing here…? Did Kohaku tell you I was awake?"

"No...Dad did." Noboru said, standing over his bed. "Shintaro, when are you getting out of hospital?"

"Tomorrow." The bookworm replied. "After that, I can rest at home. Away from everything."

Silent, the visitor crossed his arms.

"My parents basically planned it out. I can study at home so I don't have to leave...I can avoid any more danger. It'll be...so peaceful. It's what...I need."

"Is that really you talking?!" Noboru shouted. "That doesn't sound like my Senpai!"

Stunned, Shintaro looked up. Kohaku and Kei exchanged anxious looks, unsure what to expect.

"Kaii and Akari didn't die just so you would give up and become a shut-in!" Noboru screamed. "My big brother...he wanted us to fight on, in his place! You can't just quit now!"

"...But, my mother-"

"Shut up!" Noboru yelled, loud enough for Kohaku to flinch. Kei held her hand, staring at him intensely. "Look at what Nisa Liat has done to us. She's ruined this city, even without those fucking Cognition Cores! You want peace so badly? Then you're not gonna get it by staying in your room reading books! Not when there are people that need us…"

Shintaro, now silent, sat up straight. He had just sat there earlier, listening to his parent's plans. All of them involved keeping him away from the news, or anything at all that could remind him of what had happened in Ginumi. At the time, he was so much in pain, he couldn't find the energy to disagree. But with Noboru here, he was starting to regain that strength.

"Everyone else is going to fight, even after what happened, aren't they?"

"Yes, Shintaro-kun. Even if you were to stay at home...no, even if everyone else gave up, I'd fight Nisa Liat alone." Kei said, boldly. "I can't say how, but I just know that she holds the answer to what I've been searching for."

"...I don't think I can back out now." Kohaku said, passionately. "No. I won't. Not now, not ever. I don't care what my parents say. I've know this was dangerous ever since that day we ended up fighting Nox together. I'm scared...but I won't stop."

Shintaro looked up, shaking. Was what his parents arranged really best for him? Sure, living a life of peace was wonderful, a dream come true. But if he stayed holed away in his room, while everyone else was fighting for their lives, would that really bring him peace of mind? Or would he spend each night unable to sleep, worrying that Kohaku and the others might not make it without him?

"What about you?"

"...Of course I will." Noboru said. "For my brother, Akari, and everyone else that Nisa Liat got involved in her plans. Hayami...the man who killed himself with my sword. I can't sleep at night with that image in my head! The only way I can deal with this is fighting on...so that one day, we can rip that fucking Pleroma Princess apart! Only then...will I be able to go on…"

Shintaro thought for a moment. It would indeed be foolish to retreat into his room to avoid the conflict. The entire city's fate was in the balance. His friends would be on the battlefield, regardless of who approved and who didn't. And Nisa Liat had taken the city he had loved, and utterly distorted it, with one catastrophe after the other.

His blood began to boil. He had been scared by the other world many times in the past. When Kei suggested they simply train, he felt a shiver down his spine. But now, this was different. He was not about to shy away from battle anymore. It would break his parent's hearts, he knew that. But the city was depending on him. So he had no choice but to fight.

"...Noboru. I hate her so much. For everything she's done! For all the pain she's put us through. There's no way I can just abandon the Theio Kosmos now. Not if you'll be there fighting."

"So you'll be there with me, senpai?" Noboru asked.

"...Until the very end."

Kohaku and Kei could only watch, as their classmate's rage rose to the surface. Their anguish, their sorrow, was the fuel that would burn the blaze of revenge. Their rage would consume Nisa Liat and all of her followers, until there was nothing left of Bythos.

The flames of vengeance had been lit in Shintaro's heart, consuming all other feelings.

|Totsuka - Kibo-Jo|20:55 pm|

The government building of Shinshuto was a carefully designed building, consisting of one large central 'tower', and two smaller ones, that were connected via corridors to form a triangular structure. One of the largest buildings in the city, it was the construction of this that kickstarted the transformation of Shinshuto into a metropolis. At night, huge yellow and orange lights shined bright on the building, causing it to stand out, almost like a beacon.

Yet in recent months, the building had become a source of scorn - where the Mayor sat and, according to her critics, did nothing to stop Bythos from ruining their lives.

"Man, that building is such an eyesore...We didn't get anyone else?" Katashi asked.

"No. We didn't want to invite too many others. We were lucky enough for you to join us." Aika replied, as the two walked closer to the governmental district.

"Mayor Ashikaga...what was the latest story about her?"

"Don't you remember? The workers that built Tanjoshima...they were being paid below the minimum wage. And the Mayor apparently didn't do anything about it even when it was brought to her attention." Celestine said.

"Nisa Liat never did want to directly attack this building. Maybe she thought it was too heavily guarded by Shigeru and the others. Or maybe...she didn't want to harm her mother." Aika said, gazing up at the large clock. It was just about to strike nine.

Celestine nodded, but before she could comment further, there were footsteps. She took out her weapon, as did her comrades, but to her relief, it was not a Shadow. Rather, it was another group of three.

"Suzuki-sensei?!" Katashi said, dropping his knives.

"Kita-san. Novalie-san." Aika replied. "So, you had the idea to explore Totsuka yourselves…"

"Correct. We didn't expect anyone else to be keeping an eye on things…" Novalie said, clasping her hands together. "...I've never seen the city in such disarray. Everyone is either cheering Bythos on, or ranting and raving for the Mayor to destroy them."

"Even the students at Kansei are restless. For the time being, extracurricular activities have been suspended. Some of them just don't understand, they need to go home safely." Michiko said, frustrated. "No one knows what to do. Especially with the number of absences. Thank goodness Shintaro is awake, but whether he'll return to class...I'll have to talk to his parents about that."

"Is it true about the Goldenrod Squad?" Celestine asked, concerned.

"Yes, Courtois. I'm afraid so. They were slain by Asteria - or rather, Hisaya Ueda." Hiroyuki replied. "All of her victims...nothing remains of them. I've never seen anything like this, not even in my years of service."

Novalie was quiet. She wiped away the tears from her eyes, looking into the distance. For Haruya Shindo had been slain, completely destroyed by the Shadow's power. Even before the explosion, she was erased from existence.

"Now there are no Tetra Squads left. The Azure haven't been sighted since the Tarumi incident - at this point, they're unlikely to ever appear again." Celestine said. "What does Nisa Liat have left to throw at us, now that she's lost her Aeon Admins and her Anomaly army? Does she think her regular soldiers are enough?"

"Her own power is tremendous…" Aika said, cautiously. "The ability to summon multiple Personas. Only one other seems to possess that gift."

"Yeah. Kei kicked her ass once before. She can do it again!" Katashi said, rubbing his hands together. "Anyway. There's nothing really going on here. Let's look up the Divine Nine, maybe there's something at the bank again -"

Just as the clock struck nine, however, it started to change.

"...The hell?"

The handles started to turn a dark red, as did the large metal numbers. Not only that, the bronze coloured bricks became redder and redder. As Katashi stared up, he felt a shiver down his spine, as the air became cooler. Each of the windows in the building was turning black, and the grass of the area surrounding it became darker and twisted, growing several inches.

"That's...a lot worse than it was before." He said, heart pounding.

"We have to talk to everyone else, immediately!" Aika shouted. "We can't go in without a plan…"

"Exactly. We must not leave anything to chance!"

Hiroyuki, stepping forward, scowled at the corrupted building. The sign reading the building's name in kanji seemed to be 'bleeding', and the windows were now completely blackened. No one could see inside any of the offices anymore.

"So, Noriko Ashikaga. You're planning to pay your mother a visit, are you?"