Chapter 4: A chance meeting
"Hey look! Apple tarts, we should get some!"
"Dark Shadow, we just had lunch."
The shadowy being pouted, "So what? There's always space for dessert, and we are going to clear that Anomaly so we can get some change to buy it, com'on Fumi you know you want it!" The accusation was accompanied by an exaggerated gesture to the bakery they were passing.
Fumikage sighed, he knew that denial was useless, as he couldn't lie to himself, no matter what self it was, "After we complete our mission, I suppose we could reward ourselves."
"Yay, this almost make up for the weaklings we'll crush," The living shadow knew the raven headed boy was about protest, so he made his point clear, "I know that clearing every Anomaly is important, but this one came from only one person, well be lucky if a Berith shows up!" Even without defined facial features, Dark Shadow could perfectly show his exasperation on his face.
"You are correct, but you saw the same as me, that villain ended up causing severe trauma to his victim even if she was not physically hurt." The boy could still see it in his mind, the young woman almost catatonic while being tended by paramedics in the background while the reporter of the TV station covering it interviewed the hero that captured the criminal. It was not an uncommon theme and while Fumikage's morning could have started better, the news was always a good way to find targets. After watching the report on the incident, he prepared his supplies and headed to the local area to deal with the problem.
"Hey I said it was important, it's just that you know it will be boring." Dark Shadow shrugged.
"Maybe, but we won't know for certain until we go in and see for ourselves." The teen walked down the street where the villain attack occurred. In no time at all, he found it. The hole in Reality where the beyond awaited, trading a quick nod with his other Fumikage approached the Anomaly.
His Record already at hand, the black leather bound book was deceptively light for its volume. Finding a quiet corner, the raven closed his eyes and dove into the Metaverse.
Eyes opening, Fumikage was greeted by green skies and a twisted festival street, stands with food and games stretching everywhere. Nothing new here, what was novel was that another person was already there.
The boy was about his age, sporting a untamed mane of green hair and in casual clothes (he almost snorted at the t-shirt with the kanji for t-shirt on it), wielding a spear while fighting an Orthrus, a canine Shadow with two heads, a yellow body and green fur that actually looked similar to the boy's.
The boy pulled his Record, shouting the name of what could only be his Persona, "Omoikane!" Tokoyami was barely believing his eyes, there was another like him, another one that Awakened to his True Self, the prospect left him feeling beyond himself in exhilaration.
"It seems we are not as special as we thought!" The laughter in his mind confirmed his counterpart feelings on the matter.
Fumikage watched as the green robed Persona used a Sukukaja, the boy accelerating and now easily dodging the Shadows attacks, he was about to join the fight and help his fellow Persona-user, just the thought made him smile, when something that went against everything he knew happened. The boy pulled his Record and shouted another name and manifested a different Persona.
A Jack Frost, a white impsh snowman wearing a blue hat and boots, appeared from the flurry of burning pages, casting Bufu and hitting the enemy weakness.
Fumikage couldn't comprehend what he just saw, it was impossible, a person could only have one Persona as they had only one metaphysical counterpart, but the proof he was wrong was just in front of him. Before he could spiral down in his existential crisis, a roar sounded, two more Orthrus joined the first, pushing the green teen onto the defensive.
"We will have time for questions later, now we have to help him!" Breaking out his stupor with the shout on his mind, Fumikage nodded and opened his Record, a handle came from the pages, and he drew the silvery katana, Tsukiakari, his guarding Moonlight,. Without losing any more time, he dashed ahead, slashing the flank of one of the Shadows.
Reaching the other human combatant's side, he locked his red eyes with green ones, "It seems you need assistance. We both have questions, but let us save them for a more opportune moment, yes?"
The green haired boy shook his head to get rid of his surprise and nodded. Both readied their blades, and charged into battle.
—
"That is an unexpected development, however a positive one nonetheless." Omoikane really was good at putting his thoughts into words. While Izuku had been a little blind sided by encountering another person on the Anomaly, he was grateful. This one was proving surprisingly difficult one to clear, as the Shadows ahead of them comproved.
Izuku still had enough Power to summon Omoikane, and his ability to repel fire was already making itself useful. The three Orthrus sent Agilaos in their direction, Izuku quickly opened his Record and summoned the god of wisdom. He stood between the boys and the Shadow's spells, letting them hit the mirror wall that manifested and sending the fire back. As glad as Izuku was to see them reflected, it did them no good as their enemies absorbed the flames and healed themselves.
"I think it is my turn now." The bird headed boy at his side (was that his quirk or only an aspect of it?) announced, lifting his own Record, a black leather bound book, old fashioned like Izuku's own. Raising his voice he called, "Tsukuyomi!" The storm of pages and flames that sprung from the book converged and from it a towering figure emerged, pale silvery armor covering the humanoid body, while a black feather-patterned cloak fluttered with the wind like open wings. A katana made of black flames on his right hand while a black tome rested on the left, a silver mask in the shape of a raven for a head, glowing yellow eyes staring down at their enemies, "Show them the darkest night!"
"Vicious Strike!" The Persona shouted and thrust his blazing blade into the ground, a wave of concussive energy traveled to its target, where it exploded from below the Shadows' feet, throwing them to the ground.
"They are down, let us seize the advantage!" The other teen said and they traded a glance, both nodding at the same time.
"Let's go all out!" Izuku warcry was the perfect signal, the two combatants dashing in synchrony. They started to hack and slash their downed foes, rushing from one side to the other over and over while coordinating without getting in each other's way, going faster and faster until they were only a green and black blur raining death on their enemies.
With a final rush, both boys crossed their paths with a final attack, the momentum carrying them to the border of the bundle of bodies left on the floor, stopping at opposite ends.
For a second there was only silence, but then sound came back when the Shadows blew up in a shower of black sludge.
Taking deep breaths to control his frantically beating heart, Izuku looked at the other boy, "That was amazing!"
"Indeed it was. I think now is a good time to introduce myself. My name is Tokoyami Fumikage, and it is a pleasure to meet a fellow Persona-user," Tokoyami gave a bow, his formal tone making Izuku straight himself.
"I'm Midoriya Izuku, it's nice to meet you too, Tokoyami-san." Izuku returned the bow, ready to start asking questions as he rose when the sound of distant animalistic growls reached them.
"I think it is best if we take our conversation to the nearest Safe Zone."
"Yeah, I came from that way, there's a Safe Zone close from here." Izuku pointed to the side of the street opposite from the one the sound came from.
"Lead the way." They quickly navigated the festival grounds, after a couple minutes reaching the Safe Zone, a side area circled by short steel fences, benches and tables occupying the place in a neat fashion. Tokoyami made himself comfortable on the nearest table, Izuku following and sitting opposite to him.
"Now I think we have a lot to cover, this is also my first time encountering someone like me, and while it makes me glad there are others, it leaves me with many queries as to how it is possible. I am sure you also have much to ask me, so I think we should go from the simplest approach, a question for a question?" Tokoyami said while resting his elbows on the table and interlocking his fingers. He was trying to remain calm so as to not give a bad impression to the freckled boy, hoping to form a positive relationship with someone that really could understand him and his way of living, fighting unseen enemies for the benefit of people that would never know.
"That's fair, you can go first." Izuku offered.
Tokoyami almost blurted the question that was festering on his mind since seeing the other boy doing what he believed impossible, but he managed to stop himself. It was best to go from the beginning instead, "When did you Awakened to your Persona?"
Izuku tried to remember the specific day where his life turned completely upside down, "A little more than a week ago, I was going home when I fell into an Anomaly and was almost murdered by an Arcangel, which made me Awaken." Izuku opted to omit the part where the Enemy was the one responsible for it all.
Tokoyami looked at him weirdly for a second before coughing in his hand, trying to not let his shock aparrent on his voice, "That is… certainly quite a tale."
"You have no idea," Izuku gave a sigh with too much existential dread for a fifteen year old to have, "What about you, when did you Awaken?"
"After my fourth birthday, when my quirk manifested," Tokayami turned his hand to let his palm up, where tendrils of darkness started to rise. Izuku was staring at it with stars in his eyes, hands almost reaching for his notebooks. Tokoyami chuckled at him, "My quirk lets me freely control all forms of darkness, from external shadows to the one hidden deep within. However it is hard to control, so when I was nothing but a child, it overwhelmed me, when I was preparing to retire for the night."
Izuku instantly knew what was the problem, his eyes widening, "It was night, and if you were going to sleep when the lights were out, so…" He trailed off, gulping at the unfinished thought.
"Yes, I was thrown into the deep end without warning, trying to claw my way out of the abyss. However my desperation only caused it to revolt more. I barely felt when my rampaging Emotion created an Anomaly." The raven directed his gaze to the green skies, "That was when a voice reached me, my Other Self offering me the hand I needed in that desperate time. That was when I became complete, when I opened my wings for the first time and braved through the beyond." A nostalgic smile graced his beak, "I gained a new aspect of myself, you see, as our Personas are part of us, they also have an effect on our quirks, the same is true for the other way around, and for me it means that…" Izuku listened to Tokoyami's story with rapt attention, but when he trailed off his full focus was drawn to the shadows on the teen's hands.
It twisted on itself and took an avian form, before talking to him, "I can show up whenever I want! But in a reduced version." The living shadow said with enthusiasm.
Izuku barely noticed he was already taking notes, his hand speeding through his notebook, "So your Persona can manifest himself as a sentient quirk! Does that mean he can manifest in Reality too? Can he use his abilities in that form? Are you manually feeding the shadows so he can-," Izuku reigned himself back, realizing he was flooding Tokoyami with questions, "Sorry, I got a bit excited." He finished sheepishly.
"No harm done," Tokoyami said while his Other Self crackled in his hand, him manifesting in this way always making his disposition a little impish, "I think we will have to discuss the topic in a later time, our conversation is extending itself and we still have an Anomaly to clear." He said while gesturing to the area at large, "For now I would like to ask one more thing, I saw you summoning a different Persona. That shouldn't be possible." His curiosity finally reached its peak, Tokoyami asked the million yen question.
Izuku freezed for a second, debating with himself what to do, 'Should I tell him?'
"He has not given us any reason to distrust him so far, so it is fair to tell him at least a part of the truth, while leaving the more glaring details aside," Omoikane's argument was simple and convincing, but Izuku was talking with himself so that should be expected.
"You see, I am something called the Wild Card, I'm not sure myself what exactly that means but from what I know, it lets me use more than one Persona." All true, and while Tokoyami seemed to perceive there was more to it, he fortunately didn't pry.
"A Wild Card, does that mean you're a Fool?" He asked, and while most people would be offended by it, Izuku knew what he was talking about and did not take it as an insult.
"Yes, That's my Major Arcana." He answered honestly.
"That is surprising, I have not encountered many Shadows of that Arcana," Tokoyami nodded to himself, seemingly reaching some conclusion, before standing, "Well, I think we should start making our way if we want to clear this place today, the Shadows here are stronger than I was expecting… Midoriya-san, have you entered this place once already today, or any other Anomaly before?"
Izuku also rose from his seat, "Yeah, I cleared three Anomalies today." He said a little proud of himself, but Tokoyami only gave him an awkward look.
"You see, when you enter an Anomaly, you have to alter the World, the first time you do, it will barely notice it, but if you start to make numerous alterations in rapid succession, the World will react, first by sending increasingly stronger Shadows into the Anomalies after you. Luckily we met before you did your fifth dive, or you would have encountered the Reaper." The tone Tokoyami used sent a shiver down Izuku's spine. Names had Power, and just saying that one chilled the air around them.
Izuku scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, "Sorry... I didn't know that, I just made it more difficult for us."
Tokoyami shook his head, "Do not fret, I have also committed this mistake and many others, when I first started. You will learn, and I would like to help you. The duty to protect mankind from the dangers from the Metaverse falls upon us, so I think that uniting our strength would be best." He offered his hand.
Izuku looked at him in surprise, that was true, they were the only ones that could help, so both of them had to do their best to do so. Smiling, Izuku shook Tokoyami's hand, "Let's do our best to protect Humanity." With his words, the World stopped, a voice reaching him, as softly as the beat of a butterfly wings, but resoundingly clear in the deafening silence.
You have acquired a new Oath.
With it Awakening the Magician Persona.
You have changed the Fate of a Life, turning Chains into Bonds that will become Power to attain Freedom.
The stillness ended, and with it Izuku's smile only grew, "So, let's go clear this place?"
Tokoyami had a matching smile, "Let us depart, we have much to do, my friend."
—
"Eiga!" Tsukuyomi spell sent their enemy, a Jikokuten, to its knees.
"He is down, let us surround him!" Fumikage was still getting used to having to work with someone else, but he had to admit it was a good change. They had decided that he should lead as he was more experienced, but Midoriya's strategic mind showed the teen who should occupy the position. Which was fine by him as he wasn't completely comfortable with having to tell others what to do. Izuku had a way of suggesting the best course of action that was not forceful, but his natural insight and solid logic made it easy to follow his plans, something the green haired boy did not seem to notice. He would try to pass the position to his partner for the next time they clear an Anomaly.
Holding the Shadow at blade point, Fumikage spoke threateningly, "It is over for you."
"Wait, can't we talk about this?!" The Shadow begged. Tokoyami smirked, hook.
"If you make a valid offer for your life, we could let you go." He saw his partner looking at him from the edge of his vision, making a hand gesture for him to wait, line.
"Hey how about this, you let me go and I'll give you some money!" Sinker.
"This is acceptable." Tokoyami lowered his sword. The Jikokuten then stood up and golden coins burst from his figure, falling to the ground and vanishing, "You can go now." He barely finished speaking and the Shadow ran and faded from view.
"What was that?" Midoriya asked, more confused than anything else.
"This is my way to acquire money for supplies. Here in the Metaverse symbolism is more important than facts, what you saw was a Shadow trading Wealth for its life. The Wealth was transferred to us, you will see that your wallet is fuller now, this is an example of something that means becoming something that is." Fumikage looked amused as Midoriya noted his words down, he actually quite liked teaching, if their time together here was any indication, who would have thought?
"So that means that if we hold up a Shadow we can raise funds for future Anomaly dives, but that won't mean we can stumble upon that same Shadow again?"
"No, in this instance the Shadow will leave the Anomaly altogether and return to the Sea of Souls." More notes were scribbled.
They continued their track, facing Shadows that would be challenging on their own, but were relatively easy with their team up, the combined all-out attack, as Fumikage liked to call it, making dispatching large groups of enemies fast if they exploited their weakness.
In no time, they reached the core of the Distortion, the bright stands wrecked, craters marking the street. In the middle of the destruction, a young woman was standing completely still, her only movement being her shallow breaths. She had a mutant quirk, giving her the appearance of a humanoid raccoon, and was wearing a restaurant uniform with the logo of the place on the apron. The golden eyes of a Shadow indicated her nature, but they seemed slightly muted.
Izuku and Tokoyami traded a look, this was it. Both slowly approached, taking a deep breath the green haired boy started to talk, "Can we help you, Miss?" His question didn't get a reaction from the woman, but it got the attention of someone else.
"What are you doing, you brats?!" A raspy voice called, from behind one of the stands came a lanky man with wings in the place of arms, not the most weird quirk, but it combined with the glowing yellow eyes gave him a macabre visual, "You think you can just go and talk with my girl?!"
Izuku's mind flared at full cylinders, the information from the news covering the attack, plus the little words that the man spoke were enough for the boy to connect the dots. A relationship gone wrong, a man who didn't accept it was over and attacked his ex-girlfriend in her workplace, indicating that it was possible a toxic and abusive relationship from the beginning. His train of thought only made Izuku anger spike, his loathing for men that mistreated their partners only amplifying his rage, "She is not yours, she is a free person that has the right to decide who she wants to be with! If you can't accept that, then you are pathetic!" His cold and merciless tone of voice made his friend glance at him worriedly.
"No she's mine, mine, mine!" Izuku's words cut deeper than he thought, because in no time the Shadow revealed it's true form, a Jatayu, a red birdman with a golden crow.
That only made Izuku grit his teeth more, his voice mixing with Omoikane, all of him, his True Self, enraged by the travesty in front of him, "You still disgrace the Hindu king of birds! He fought to save Site, but you only fight for your twisted satisfaction! I will not let you harm the innocent victim of your sins!" His Record was already in his hand, burning like an inferno, ready to destroy the corrupted soul in his path.
Tokoyami was right beside him, the bird headed boy could see that there was a story behind his partner's fury. But now was not the time for that, now it was time to save someone from suffering. Record in hand, both released their Personas, Izuku's Berith using Tarukaja on Tokoyami, making Tsukuyomi's next attack even stronger, "Rising Slash!" The blade of dark flames cutting through the air and his enemy.
The Shadow cried out in pain, but as he recovered his hate filled eyes locked on the god of the night, "Garula!" With a beat of wings, wind blades rained on his Persona.
Izuku heard Tokoyami's grunt of pain and quickly summoned another Persona. Kusi Mitama, to cast Dia. Tokoyami nodded in thanks as the healing spell washed over him.
The Jatayu dove at them, causing both to jump to the side and let him hit the ground. Before the Shadow could regain any altitude, Izuku jumped on its back, impaling his spear on the wing joint. The birdman crashed to the floor, leaving him open to Tokoyami.
The raven assumed an Iai stance, legs apart, his right one ahead of his left, knees bent in a half crouch and body slightly turned, the blade at his side as if sheathed, one hand on the handle and other on the blade, with it he let his quirk flow, the sword being coated in darkness. He dashed at his foe, moving so fast it left an afterimage of the inky blackness of his blade, as he slashed through the Shadow and made it fall to its knees.
Izuku saw their opportunity to end this battle, "Tokoyami! Let's finish it!" They traded a glance and together they struck, their figures blurring as their attacks fell like drops in a storm, with the last hit, the silence reigned for all of a second, before the Shadow burst in black sludge and ashes.
Izuku took a second to catch his breath and put his weapon back in his Record before walking to the woman, her yellow eyes looking a little more focused, "It's okay now, he can't hurt you anymore."
"He can't?" Her voice was fragile, her expression grasping for the hope of leaving the nightmare behind.
"No, he won't hurt anyone ever again. You're free now!" Izuku gave his best smile, trying to be like his mentor and pass the sense of safety she needed.
"Thank you!" She gave a shy smile, small but relieved. Her form started to glow before vanishing in one last flash.
Tokoyami approached and put a hand on Izuku's shoulder, "Good job my friend, our mission is complete. Now let us depart, before this place crumbles." On cue, the ground started to shake, the Anomaly fading now it didn't have an anchor.
Both pulled their Records out and made their escape, and now that Izuku was paying attention, he could feel like the World was almost glaring at him, invisible eyes leering at his form for his transgressions against the natural order. The boy gulped when his feet hit Reality, "Yeah you're right, I should have paid more attention to what I was doing, having the World mad at you is not fun!" He shivered.
"Indeed, now I suppose here is where we part ways for today." Tokoyami looked up, Izuku following his gaze to see the sun setting, their little adventure had taken longer than he realized.
"Before you go, let's trade contacts. We have to keep in touch if we're going to be a team, r-right? You don't have to if you don't want to! It's just a suggestion!" Izuku was a little nervous with his request, afraid of being too pushy with it. Fortunately Tokoyami nodded along with his idea, the boys traded numbers and Izuku quickly created a chat.
The Fool: Hi
The Magician: Hi to you too
Tokoyami saw the nickname Izuku gave him on the chat and raised a brow, "How did you know my Arcana is The Magician?"
Izuku flinched and scratched the back of his neck embarrassedly, "Eh… Wild Card thing?" It ended up sounding more like a question, but Tokoyami once more just shrugged it off.
"Farewell my friend, I hope we see each other again soon." With a last wave, from himself and the shadow manifestation of his counterpart, Tokoyami turned back and started to head home, definitely with as much on his mind as Izuku.
The boy in question turned back and let his feet carry him as his mind started to process the weight of all that was revealed to him today.
The fact that he was not as alone in his crusade as he initially thought sure was comforting. Spending his whole life being shunned for being quirkless had taught Izuku how to treasure his new and positive relationships, all the links created by his Oaths became a constant presence on the back of his mind, even the new addition of The Magician and the sense of kin and companionship it emanated.
Both him and Tokoyami believed they were completely alone, which was proven incorrect, so maybe there were more Persona-users out there, maybe there was more hope for Humanity than he originally thought.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of crashing waves, looking around Izuku saw himself in the entrance of Dagoba Beach, "Huh, seems like I can't stay a day away from this place."
"Sure seems like it."
Izuku almost jumped out of his skin, turning his head so fast he almost got whiplash he saw Angela at his side, "You know you don't have to scare me half to death every time you come to speak with me right?!" Izuku screamed startled by the scare
She jumped back at the volume of his voice, "Sorry!"
Izuku instantly felt bad for his reaction, as now Angela was looking at her feet dejectedly, "Sorry! I shouldn't have yelled at you."
Angela raised her head and embarrassedly waved her arms, "No! I'm the one wrong, I scared you! Sorry!"
Izuku opened his mouth to apologise again when he realised they wouldn't get anywhere like this, "Let's just say we are both wrong and sorry, okay?"
"Sure, I'll try to not do it again" She said sheepishly while fidgeting with her hands.
"Okay, did anything happen in the Velvet Room?" Izuku asked while trying his best to don't fidget with his hands himself and pass the awkward moment between them, what was easier said than done.
"Yes, my Master wants to speak with you about your new Oath, you know you could enter the Velvet Room on your own from time to time so I don't have to come after you, not that it bothers me or anything!" She quickly corrected, but Izuku was focused on her previous words.
"There's a way for me to enter the Velvet Room on my own?"
"Of course, you just have to use your key." She looked at him funny, but Izuku gave her his own weird look.
"What key?" Izuku saw Angela open her mouth to say something, before closing it and paling.
"I forgot!" She quickly dashed for the blue door that Izuku just noticed now. It was strange to see a door standing in the middle of the street, not connected to anything, but seeing Angela entering it and not coming out of the other side was even weirder.
After a minute his attendant dashed out of the door and stopped in front of him, "Here!" She grabbed his hand and put an old metal key into it. It was a skeleton key, made from some strange material that was cool to the touch and the sunset light that hitted the key was reflected in a blue hue, "With it you can enter the Velvet Room any time! I was supposed to give it to you the first time you entered it, sorry." Angela said the last part dejected.
"Hey it's okay, with everything that's happening lately something was bound to slip your mind." Izuku's consolation didn't seem to reassure the girl, if anything it just made her more frustrated.
"That just happened because it was me that was supposed to do it, if any of my siblings were responsible for you then you would be more prepared, I'm only holding you down." Angela had tears in her eyes, the sound of her voice cracking stabbed at Izuku's heart.
"That's not true!" His outburst surprised both of them but Izuku kept going, "You helped me more than anyone Angela, there are people that believed in me now, that are helping me chase my dream, but you've done the most!"
Her eyes widened at his words, but she only gave him a sad smile, "Even then, is it enough?" She looked away from him and at the setting sun, "You have so much weight on your shoulders, more than any Wild Card before, and me, the only one that is different, the youngest, clumsiest sister is the one that was left for you. I'm sorry, if my Master hadn't created me, then you would have someone better at your side." Angela let tears freely fall while refusing to look at her guest.
"Don't say that!" Izuku all but shouted, turning Angela around and holding her shoulders, surprising the girl, "You deserve to exist as much as anyone else!"
"You say that because you don't understand, " Angela stared at her feet, "When my Master created me, he tried to make me like other of his creations, the Embodiment of Human Hope, he tried to use the rampant human Emotion at the time to make something that could aid more the next Wild Card, but at the time the only Emotion that he could gather was Determination. Instead of being similar to the others, I was born, more human than all the others, more flawed and feeble than all the others." She was openly crying now, all of her insecurities crawling from the depths of her mind.
Izuku could only say one thing, "Amazing."
"What?" Angela looked back at his eyes, and she was shocked at seeing them almost sparkling with wonder.
"You're amazing! Angela you are saying that you're the Embodiment of Human Determination!" Izuku was smiling from ear to ear now, almost shaking with the thoughts running through his mind, "Angela, Determination was what brought Humanity as a whole here, that was the feeling that made the first man that walked the Earth to try to improve, to stand against the hostile land around them! You represent everything that made human beings the dominant race of this planet!" Izuku was so caught in his head he only realized the effect of his words when Angela hugged him.
The boy blushed, but Angela's next words made him stop before he could say anything else.
"Thank you." Her voice was muffled from burying her face in his chest, her tears staining his shirt.
For a second Izuku just stood there awkwardly, then, every so slowly, he got over his awkwardness (and the realization that a girl was hugging him!), and hugged her back, patting her back soothingly.
For some minutes they remained in there, just letting the sound of the ocean and the last rays of the sun wash over them.
After their little moment, Angela gently pushed Izuku away and dried her eyes. Opening the biggest and brightest smile she could, she made a vow of her own, "You're right, I can't just keep saying that I can't do something, I have to do my best to be able to do everything that I set my mind into!"
Izuku still had his cheeks red but also a smile just as bright, "Yes, I'll help too, both of us have a duty to fulfill, if you're going to help me with mine then I'll help you with yours!" He offered her a hand, "So what do you say? Let's get better together?"
Angela's answer was to hug him again, redoubling the boy's blush, and on that moment, the World stopped.
You have acquired a new Oath.
With it Awakening the Strength Persona.
You have changed the Fate of a Life, turning Chains into Bonds that will become Power to attain Freedom.
When the sands of time started to fall again, Izuku felt the new connection flooding him with sentiments he couldn't describe, there were some he could pinpoint like appreciation and care, but above it all there was a determination so strong he almost drowned in it, the only times he felt something like that was when he risked his life to save his old childhood friend from a villain and when he Awakened to his Persona. A feeling that couldn't be measured, an overwhelming drive that empowered every fiber of his being.
Izuku had to take a deep and shuddering breath to try to center himself. It was a lot, but at every second that passed the feeling settled a little more, with it his burning drive to improve and turn his dream into reality shining brighter. He chuckled, she really was Determination incarnate, only a minute and with their still hair wide link and he already felt like he could face every obstacle his future awaited with a smile on his face and victory in his sights.
When the two finally composed themselves, they realized they were still holding the other in their arms. With glowing red faces, they released each other and took a step away.
"Hey-" The two spoke at the same time, causing them to pause and trade a glance, the absurdity of it all getting to them. Angela was the first to break, giggling slightly, what made Izuku snort and chuckle, "We also have to work on our social skills, right?"
Angela nodded at Izuku's words, "We're a mess aren't we?" She then turned back to the blue door, "Well, we left my Master waiting long enough."
"Shall we?" Izuku said while using his newly acquired key to open the door. Both then crossed the gateway between dream and reality, mind and matter.
This crazy adventure was brought to you by me, with the help of Jurodan, Annaliese and Silverbits. If you want to find them on AO3 look for Beribits, littlemissoyashirou and Jurodan.
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