Given how it's been a while, remember that the gang is going to Yakushima Island for vacation after taking their final exams. Ren managed to give a pep talk to Yukari and convinced Junpei to study.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
?/? - ? - ?
It felt like it had been a long time. For what? Since something changed.
He drifted through the sea; his destination unknown. All around him was complete darkness.
Things pass by him, sometimes through him. He doesn't know what they're supposed to be; they take one shape for a moment then turn to something else.
He doesn't even know how he knows if something is changing when everything around him is dark.
Still, these things happen. Constantly and always.
Until light pierces through everything, it's the only thing that has changed, a sign that not everything is constant.
Because of that, he reaches for it, hoping he can get out of this damn place.
He wants to be free, just like him.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/20 - Morning - Yakushima Airport - Ren
Ren shielded his eyes from the bright sunlight as he emerged through the airport doors. The heat also hit him hard, and he felt like he would sweat any second now. Now that the sunlight wasn't destroying his eyes anymore, the clear, blue skies and seagulls were a welcome sight compared to the slightly polluted skies of Iwatodai.
The atmosphere reminded him of Okinawa's skies, though Okinawa was three hours south by plane and there wasn't a haunted-
He shook the thought away. 'I shouldn't jinx it.'
Beside him, Junpei grunted as he stretched. "Ya! Ku! Shi! Ma!" he yelled. "Man, it would have been nice to use a boat to get here! It's just so different from an airplane. I mean, the sea breeze just hits different!"
Ikutsuki chuckled, who was further ahead of them, coming from a limousine and with a butler. "I'm sorry for getting seasick, Junpei, so traveling by boat is out," he said as he swung an imaginary bat. "I would have allowed you to travel on your own, but I am in charge of your safety." The butler took everyone's luggage bags and placed them in the limousine. "We should have enough room inside," Ikutsuki murmured off-handedly.
"Don't worry about it, Ikutsuki-san," Yukari said. "It's just Junpei. The plane's faster than the boat."
Kotone nodded. "Just means more beach time for us!"
Junpei hummed with his eyes closed. "You got that right!" he said before laughing creepily.
Yukari sighed. "Whatever. Just get in the car."
That also excited Junpei. He ran to the limousine and took a long look inside before entering. "What are you guys waiting for?!"
Fuuka, who just arrived, chuckled beside Yukari. "He's like a child, isn't he?"
"Not like I don't understand," Ren said with a smile. "It'll be the first limousine I've ever ridden."
"At least you're not jittery about it," Yukari grumbled.
"Relax a bit; it's summer vacation," Ren said. "Considering everything that's going on, every moment we have counts."
Yukari didn't give him an answer and just left to enter the limousine.
Kotone patted Ren on his arm. "Sorry about that, but let her be, okay? She's been tense since we left. She'll get in the mood later."
Ren nodded. It wasn't his usual thing to do, but Kotone is the Guest here; this kind of thing would be a problem she has to face. But if the problem got worse, he'd have to step in.
"What are you guys waiting for?" Akihiko asked behind them, just getting out of the airport. "We should get going."
"Akihiko's right," Mitsuru said, right behind Akihiko. "The place we're going is on the other side of the island. Considering our group, I'm sure the eaters are already hungry or are close to it."
Right on time, Kotone's stomach growled, causing her to blush and quickly hug her stomach. Mitsuru only smiled lightly.
-.-
SEES, led by Mitsuru, walked in silence as they walked through a hallway. The high ceiling, held by multiple pillars, reminded Ren of Kamoshida's Castle, but without the perverted tastes. It felt professional and rich without feeling gaudy, even with the soft, velvet carpet that covered the center of the hallway. Mitsuru abruptly stopped as four maids walked towards them. They bowed in front of Mitsuru and said in sync, "Welcome back, milady."
"What the hell..." Junpei muttered. "It's like we're in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Fabulous..."
"Wow..." Fuuka said.
"You have maids...?" Yukari asked. It seemed like real-life maids took the tension out of her body for a moment.
Mitsuru ignored the comments and told the maids, "We won't be here long, but I'll be relying on you during our stay."
The maids nodded, and one of them spoke to the rest of SEES. "Welcome once again, Sanada-san." Akihiko nodded back. "And you must be her schoolmates, correct? Welcome to the Kirijo vacation home. Please, follow me."
"You know them, senpai?" Ren asked Akihiko.
"Yeah," he said with a nod. "I've been here twice before."
Junpei tapped Ren on his shoulders. "Dude... Real-life maids...!" It seemed like he hadn't gotten over the situation just yet.
"I get it, I get it," Ren said as he gently swatted Junpei's hand. It wasn't like this was the first time he had seen maids, though the ones he'd seen were more...fetishized. Here, the maids held an air of professionalism and seriousness, similar to what Mitsuru always radiated daily.
From the opposite side of the hallway, Ren heard footsteps. It sounded different from the maids', whose footsteps were quieter and lighter; this one was heavy and with purpose. A man walked out the door.
His black hair parted above his left eye, heavily siding on his right side. He wore an eyepatch on his right eye, giving him a grizzly appearance. His expensive, full-body business-formal attire screamed rich and professional to Ren. His presence felt similar to the suffocating presence of Shido's Shadow, but the man was here in the real world. The man's left eye was unwavering as it swept through the bowing maids and group before settling back on Mitsuru.
"It's good to see you," Mitsuru said. Ren noticed some emotion that he couldn't place escaped her voice.
The man kept his stare on Mitsuru before walking away, as if nothing happened.
"Oh, he left..." Fuuka murmured. "Was that...?"
"Her father?" Yukari continued with a glance at Mitsuru, though she didn't get any response.
"Dude, talk about scary!" Junpei said. "He's not gonna make us walk the plank, is he?"
Akihiko sighed. "Don't be stupid..."
"I can definitely say," Ren whispered back, "considering how advanced the Kirijo are, it wouldn't surprise me if he could switch one of his hands for a hook."
Kotone snorted beside Ren and glanced away, hiding her face from Mitsuru.
However, instead of glaring at her underclassmen, she chuckled and said, "We won't be here long, but make yourselves at home."
Junpei grinned widely. "Sweet! This is gonna rock! Why don't we go to the beach? Inakahama Beach is right-!"
Before Junpei could continue, something growled loudly. Kotone hugged her stomach immediately before smiling nervously.
"Sorry..." she said. "I've been hungry since we landed."
"Not to worry," one maid responded. "As per Milady's instructions, we have prepared lunch for you all. Please, follow me to the dining room."
"Dude!" Junpei whispered loudly. "Maids are going to serve us food! Maids! Actual maids!"
"Indeed, they will, Junpei," Ren said with a small smirk as Junpei kept shaking him. "Indeed, they will." He wouldn't break his teenage dream of maids giving him service like those in anime. He also wouldn't tell him he already had maids to serve him when the guys of the Phantom Thieves gave Ryuji a birthday present from the Akihabara maid cafe.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/20 - Afternoon - Inakahama Beach - Kotone
"And check out our leader! She's one cute mermaid herself!" Junpei exclaimed after 'introducing' Yukari. "Those curves she usually keeps covered are lookin' good! I can't tear my eyes away!"
"I should have brought my naginata," Kotone grumbled, though it was loud enough for Junpei to hear, seeing as how he flinched right after.
Junpei boisterously laughed as he spun to the sea. "Maaaan, the beach is so great. I love this place!"
Kotone decided to not follow up on Junpei's terrible attempt at pushing the issue away; it wasn't like he was harming someone. No, there was something else bothering her and it was that the lunch the Kirijo maids had prepared wasn't enough. Make no mistake, they were filling, but they were too healthy for her tastes and followed the 'smaller is better' concept she'd seen in the rich and high-end restaurants online.
She missed Ren's cooking, even if it was only yesterday she had some. At least she finished full and ready to tackle the day. Breakfast this morning was something small and quick, just enough to last the flight.
Maybe she could ask the maids to lend Ren their kitchen?
'Now that I think about him, where was he?' she thought as she looked around the group. Everyone was here but him. Fuuka and Mitsuru finally arrived. Fortunately, Junpei had learned the message and didn't 'compliment' anyone else, though Yukari and Fuuka were now fawning over Mitsuru's flawless skin.
On the side, Kotone saw Junpei and Akihiko whispering to each other, their backs toward the girls. Curious about where the last person of the group was, she approached them.
"Psst, Akihiko-senpai. Level with me... Which one's your type?" Junpei whispered, though it was a pretty loud one.
Akihiko leaned in and whispered something back, but, compared to Junpei, he at least knew the point of whispering.
"Guys?" Kotone asked.
Junpei recoiled from Akihiko with a surprised face. "Huh?! Really?!"
"K-keep your voice down!" Akihiko yelled back.
"Guys!" Kotone yelled.
Both guys straightened their backs and whipped their heads toward Kotone.
"H-hey, Kotone!" Junpei said, trying to appear casual but was definitely failing.
"What's up?" Akihiko asked.
"Have you guys seen Ren?" she asked. "Everyone's here but him."
"Oh, Ren? I think he said he wanted to talk to the maids about something," Junpei answered, loosening his tension.
Akihiko turned back to the summer home, though 'mansion' was definitely a better word for it. "It has been a while, though. Even with the trees between here and the house, it shouldn't take him long to get here..."
"Don't worry about the guy!" Junpei reassured them. "Dude can take care of himself! Worry about what's in front of us: the beach! Man, this is great! It feels like heaven!" And with a marching tune, he ran to the beach. "Charge!"
"Whoa, I'm not letting you win that easily!" Akihiko said, his competitive side showing front and center. He ran after Junpei and soon caught up as both did an impromptu race along the coastline.
"Boys," Yukari said with a scoff beside Kotone.
Fuuka giggled. "I think it was quite cute." It seemed that they finished interrogating Mitsuru, who lounged on a nearby chair under an umbrella.
Kotone poked Fuuka, causing her to jump. "You don't count; you like Akihiko-senpai. How's that going, by the way?"
"Yeah, it's been a while," Yukari murmured.
"Oh... Ah, well," Fuuka mumbled as she twirled her index fingers against each other. "It's going well... I finally got to make chicken katsu for him before we left... And he said he liked it..." Fuuka said, progressively getting redder and redder.
Kotone pumped her fist in the air. Finally, some progress! "Now all you gotta do is keep up the pressure, to where all he can think about is you, got it?"
Fuuka enthusiastically nodded.
"Oh? You girls aren't going in, yet?" a familiar voice asked behind the trio.
"Ren?" Kotone asked as she turned. Ren appeared through the tree line and carried colorful drinks on a serving tray. He wore the swimsuit he bought from Paulownia Mall and a solid gray shirt. It somewhat disappointed her. "What's the tray for?"
"Drinks for when you guys want to take a break," he responded, placing the tray on a beach table. "Swimming can make you thirsty, so I thought I'd get us something refreshing."
Mitsuru glanced up at Ren from her lounge chair. "Did you not ask the maids? They could have brought it themselves."
"I could, but I didn't want to take their time," Ren responded and met Mitsuru's look. "Plus, I could do it by myself; no need to ask someone else to do it for me."
Mitsuru kept her stare for a second before relaxing into her lounge chair again and humming in agreement. "I suppose I could understand that sentiment."
"So...what's the drink, Mr. Bartender?" Yukari asked as the girls inspected the drinks.
The drink had a consistent red color at the bottom of the glass, though the top ranged from orange to yellow, arranged so that the glasses looked like a spectrum. Each glass had a cherry as a garnish, while a straw and an umbrella completed the look. As Kotone got closer, she could smell different types of juice; the most familiar fruits she identified were the orange and pineapple. It was the perfect drink for a day under the tropical sun.
"It's called the Sunrise Mocktail," Ren answered. "As you may have already guessed, it got its name since it looks so similar to a sunrise. Typically, it's a cocktail because of alcohol, this is a mocktail because it doesn't have any. It usually has orange juice, but there was also mango and pineapple juice, so I played around with my choices and combine juices for some cups. And thus, with all these I created, I present to you, Morning Sun Mocktail Party. From the left, orange, orange-mango, orange-pineapple, mango, a combination of all three, mango-pineapple, then pineapple."
"It's so pretty..." Fuuka murmured.
"I'll take mango Sunrise later," Mitsuru said nonchalantly.
Kotone's eyes widened when Mitsuru suddenly called dibs. "W-wait, we're doing this now? Then I want the Combo Sunrise!"
Yukari gasped. "You're taking all three fruits? I'm not even sure if that'll taste good."
"I get that, but it's made by Ren; it'll taste good either way!"
Ren chuckled at Kotone's antics. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kotone. I wouldn't serve you guys something that won't match my standards."
Kotone took her glass and sipped her Sunrise. The orange juice's citrus taste combines well with the zing from the pineapple juice. Meanwhile, the mango gives a subtle aftertaste while something gave an unexpected boost in sweetness.
Kotone looked at the red part of the drink, something Ren didn't explain. "Is this pomegranate?"
Ren nodded. "It's called grenadine. Pomegranate juice is one of its ingredients. I didn't expect you to actually know the fruit."
Kotone merely shrugged. "I used to eat anything as a kid, just to try them all at once."
"Oh, I like the pure orange Sunrise," Yukari said after taking a sip from her own glass.
"It's very sweet," Fuuka murmured after drinking from her orange-mango Sunrise.
Kotone sipped her drink again, and she finally identified every ingredient in it. "It's really good," she said before catching Ren staring at her. "What's wrong?"
Her question took him out of his stupor. "Oh, uh, nothing," he said before flashing her a smile. "Thanks for the compliment."
-.-
'Is it just me, or are her smiles getting cuter?' Ren thought before shaking the thought away.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/20 - Night - Somewhere inside the Kirijo Vacation Home - Ren
Ren internally sighed as his feet carried him through the mansion, trying to make sense of where he was. It wasn't as big as Kamoshida's Castle, but he had no map nor navigator to help with exploration. On top of that, parts of the castle had some defining features, so he never truly got lost. Here, however, the hallways were uniform, so each hallway he turned to began to blend into each other.
SEES spent the entire afternoon at Inakahama Beach, relaxing without a care in the world. Though, one by one, they retreated to the mansion, having either tired themselves out or had enough of the summer sun and heat. Thankfully, the Sunrise Ren prepared for everyone had done its job, from how refreshed everyone was. And now, they were all empty as he carried the glasses with him around the mansion.
While everyone had fun, Ren felt someone stare at him from the mansion. He tried to use Third Eye when he noticed the first few times, but the distance was too much for him to see clearly. Still, he noticed movement from the windows when he glanced back. Not wanting to make who - or what - ever it was spying on him realize he noticed, he stopped glancing back, though he kept noting whenever he felt it. Weirdly enough, he felt it the strongest when he was near Mitsuru.
Something to definitely talk to Mitsuru about.
He turned around a corner and heard people talking at the end of the hallway. A girl's voice accompanied an older male voice. They sounded familiar...
"Our guests are residents of the dorm, I presume," the male voice said.
"I'm sorry for bringing such a crowd..." the girl said.
'That sounds like Mitsuru,' Ren thought. 'Then who's she talking to?'
Ren slowed his pace, stepped lightly, and made sure to step on the carpet to help silence his footsteps. Right before coming around the corner, he flattened himself to the wall.
"I heard you told them about the incident. Why did you hide it for so long?"
'Wait, it wasn't some Kirijo secret?'
"... I wasn't hiding it..."
"I've told you time and again; none of the blame is yours."
"But, I'm-"
"'Two in harmony surpasses one in perfection.' That has been our guiding principle since the Kirijo family separated from the Nanjo Group."
'Is this Mitsuru-senpai's dad?' Not that Ren could be faulted for not knowing; last he saw Kirijo Takeharu, he said nothing.
"You must learn to trust in others, Mitsuru. There are things in this world that cannot be accomplished alone, no matter how many sacrifices you make."
"...Yes, Father."
'Nice to hear some confirmation. For someone that looks like a pirate, his voice seems so...gentle. On top of that, he's not mad that Mitsuru-senpai told us the truth? If anything, it seems like he wants us to know.'
"You accessed our database as well, didn't you? That's another thing; why didn't you ask me directly, instead of using this trip as an excuse?"
"I'm-I'm sorry."
'Mitsuru-senpai wanted something here? Takeharu-san feels so different from his daughter, wanting Mitsuru-senpai to be direct and open about things. I guess the apple fell far from the tree in that regard.'
"Bring them to the reception room later tonight, by ten tonight. All of them. I had no intention of concealing the truth from them. I've made preparations to disclose everything."
"Everything...?"
"There's also a girl named Takeba in your group, correct? For her to awaken to her power... It must be fate..."
"Father...?"
"Never mind me. Just make sure to bring everyone to the reception room by ten. I'll go and prepare everything for later."
Ren began to hear heavy steps coming in his direction. Before Ren could hide somewhere else, Takeharu appeared just around the corner and met Ren's eyes.
They both stared for a moment before Ren slouched and rubbed the back of his neck, playing up his nervousness.
"Sorry... I didn't mean to listen in. I was looking for either the kitchen or a maid," he gestured to the tray of drinks on his hands, "but I ended up here and the atmosphere was too heavy for me to interrupt," he said faster than normal, adding to his 'nervousness'.
Thankfully, Takeharu nodded. "I understand. You were in the right direction; just go past those doors and there should be someone to help," he said, pointing to a set of doors.
Ren bowed. "Thank you very much," he said and moved to the doors Takeharu pointed.
"You are...Amamiya Ren, correct?" Takeharu suddenly asked behind him.
Ren stopped and turned around. "Sir?" he asked before standing straight. "I mean, that is me, sir. Did you need something?"
"I read your files. You were investigating the Apathy Syndrome, correct?" he asked. Knowing that it was common knowledge, there was no reason to say no, so Ren confirmed with a nod. "Why? What led you to investigate the Apathy Syndrome? I believe that, unless there was a sudden development recently, Tatsumi Port Island is the center of Apathy Syndrome. Not only are there no cases outside of the city, but Tokyo is also a faraway place from Tatsumi Port Island."
"I didn't feel like staying in Tokyo," Ren said, and saying those words hurt him. The only consolation he had was that he currently knew no one in Tokyo. "The Apathy Syndrome sounded like this urban legend that existed for a decade. I didn't really have a plan after leaving Tokyo, so I decided to check up on this. It was really only luck that I met Kotone, Junpei, Yukari, and Shinjiro-senpai when I did."
Takeharu studied Ren for a second before nodding. "I see; thank you for satisfying my curiosity."
"Is there a reason you asked, Kirijo-san?" Ren asked. "Ikutsuki-san asked me those questions before."
"I was curious about what kind of person you were, considering how Shuji believes you are evidence that humanity is growing because of the Dark Hour."
"And what do you think about me?" Ren asked again.
"I believe Shuji was right: your existence is evidence that humanity is evolving," Takeharu answered. "Either that, or the Dark Hour is worsening. Excuse me; just as I said before, I must prepare for the meeting later. Follow Mitsuru when the time comes."
Before Ren could ask anything else, Takeharu turned in the opposite direction and left. His heavy steps stopped Ren from calling for him, as if, no matter what Ren would do, Takeharu wouldn't change his mind.
'What the hell did he mean by humanity evolving or the Dark Hour worsening? How do I prove any of that?'
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/20 - Late Night - Reception Room - Kotone
Kotone couldn't recall the moment she no longer listened to the video that Takeharu played. All she could focus on was Yukari and the clear despair growing on her face.
Some words were exchanged after the video ended, anger mixed in with Yukari's despair.
And now, that anger boiled over and the situation devolved.
"So that's why you were hiding this?! Because you felt sorry for me?" Yukari asked Mitsuru. "Is that it?!"
Mitsuru shook her head in surprise. "No, Takeba, I-"
"I don't want your pity!" Yukari yelled and immediately left the room in a hurry.
As quickly as the situation got out of hand, the situation simmered down. The only thing that Kotone could hear was Yukari's receding footsteps.
"I'm sorry," Ren abruptly spoke up, "but I'm going after her."
Kotone could only watch Ren run after Yukari. Everything had gone so quickly, so much, and it all left her reeling.
And now, Kotone hesitated; hesitated to handle the situation. She doesn't like these types of situations where everything is tense. She always took the measure to avoid these from happening. She made sure that it never got this bad.
But how was she supposed to soothe out the fact that her friend's father might have helped cause the end of the world?
"Shiomi," Mitsuru said, disrupting Kotone from her thoughts. "May I ask that you talk with Yukari?"
"Shouldn't we leave her...?" Kotone asked in a tone filled with uncertainty.
Mitsuru stared at her with pleading eyes. "Please..." she whispered.
At Mitsuru's rare heartfelt request, Kotone nodded and left the room, hoping that she could find both Ren and Yukari quickly.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
Inakahama Beach - Ren
'This is really reminding me of when Morgana left,' Ren thought with a grimace as he ran through the forest, following the trail leading to Inakahama Beach.
So, it turned out that one of his friends' dad might have jump-started the apocalypse in an effort to stop it. If that wasn't enough, it led to a one-sided screaming match between a resentful Yukari and an off-balance Mitsuru. It really seemed like Mitsuru didn't know about Eiichiro's involvement.
And now, he was chasing after Yukari, who ran off after yelling out her piece at Mitsuru. Luckily enough, he could see the trail and Yukari's footprints because of Third Eye, leading all the way to Inakahama Beach.
When he reached the beachfront, he saw Yukari staring out into the ocean. She should know that he followed her, considering that he called a few times while running after her.
He stood next to her, though there was still some distance between them. He can't force her to talk, but he could at least be there if she needs someone.
The pair fell into a lull, only listening as the waves crashed into the beach.
After a few minutes, Yukari broke the silence.
"Was this what you meant?" she asked. "When you learned something that broke everything you believed in, that you hesitated and questioned yourself?"
Ren glanced at her and noticed that she didn't break away from staring out into the ocean. "Yeah."
"Did you ever see this coming?" she asked. "Feels oddly prophetic."
This time, Ren shook his head. "No, not at all. In all honesty, I would never want for something like this to happen to anyone."
Yukari didn't respond immediately, creating a moment of silence, before taking a deep breath. "When my dad died, there were all sorts of rumors... Because he was in charge of the research team, people were really mean to me and my mom. We even had to move a few times.
"But all this time, I kept telling myself that it wasn't his fault. I loved him a lot, and I believed he'd never do anything wrong. Years passed, and I received a letter back in spring. It was from him, written ten years ago."
For the first time tonight, Yukari let out a depreciating chuckle. When Ren glanced at her, she wore a tiny smile. "It cracked me up 'cuz, even though it said, 'To my family,' it was pretty much all about me. That only made me believe in him even more."
'So, her belief rested on his father never committing the wrong thing,' Ren thought. 'The years and the letter only strengthened it, to the point that she'd go through everyone's back and get whatever she can about the Kirijo and the incident.'
"When I found out I had a special power, I thought it was fate," Yukari continued. "I was scared, but I thought if I cooperated with the Kirijo Group, I might find out what really happened. That's why I agreed to fight using my Persona. But, it turns out-" Ren heard Yukari sniff "-all of that was for nothing!"
"You know that's not true."
Yukari softly laughed. "Now you're just making me feel better," she said, before sighing. "Why does reality have to be so harsh? I tried so hard to fight my fear, and this is what I get... Maybe I'm just jealous of Mitsuru-senpai. I mean, why my father and not hers?" Yukari took a sharp breath before laughing again. "I'm a horrible person, aren't I?"
Ren shook his head. "Not at all. It's normal to want our own lives to be better, even if it comes at a cost." Various faces flashed in his mind: Sae, for wanting to win and provide for her family, even if it cost innocents; Maruki, for wanting peace, even if meant humanity losing their free will and for him to drown in his grief; Sumire, for wanting to never face her inferiority complex and guilt, even if it meant killing herself. "That's just how people are."
"What the hell...?" Yukari muttered. "What would you know?! You never even had parents! Stop acting like you have all the answers!"
Ren's eyes widened as Yukari quickly covered her mouth when she finished, realizing her mistake.
"I-I'm so sorry," Yukari said as tears threatened to flow from her eyes. "I-I didn't mean to-"
Ren sighed. It was just like when he talked with Ann back in Shibuya, before everything. "It's okay. You didn't mean to, after all. Plus, I accepted it a long time ago."
Yukari took a deep breath before bowing. "That doesn't mean I could bring it up."
"Oh c'mon, you're embarrassing me," Ren said. "I never really knew them."
"I'm sorry," Yukari repeated as she stood straight. "My head's a mess, and it's all over the place. I don't know what to do anymore; I believed in my dad for so long and it all came crumbling down. You went through something similar; tell me, what should I do?" she asked, her eyes pleading for anything to help steady her.
However...
"I'm sorry, Yukari. I can't decide your life," Ren said. "Only you can do that." Yukari looked away with downcast eyes. "But, I can say that your dad isn't bad."
Yukari glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
"From what you told me about her, I think your dad loved you with all his heart," Ren said. "From that video we saw, I think your dad was stuck between two terrible decisions." He patted Yukari's back. "If it's any consolation, I think your dad might have saved the world. What if he didn't do what he did? The world might have paid the price. We have a fighting chance now. In my eyes, given the circumstances, your dad is a hero."
"Even if he helped the Kirijo Group?" Yukari asked quietly.
Ren nodded with a smile. "Especially so. It seemed like he came back to his senses at the end. Doing what was right, even when everyone around him said otherwise? That takes bravery."
He saw Yukari's eyes shine for a bit, regaining some hope, as she listened to him. She looked out at the sea and stayed quiet for a few minutes, most likely processing everything he said.
"You said that you kept on believing, right?" Yukari asked, though it was more of a statement. "Then I'll keep on believing in my dad and that he did the right thing." Yukari smiled at him. "Thanks."
Ren smiled back, letting out a sigh, glad that the situation didn't get worse. "Happy to help." It seemed like Yukari picked herself up; the worst situation would have been Yukari giving into her grief.
"Do you think you can turn around for a bit?" Yukari suddenly asked.
Ren raised an eyebrow, though he complied with her request. He turned towards the tree line and his eyes widened in surprise before looking away.
Ren felt Yukari's grip on the back of his shirt and her forehead hit his back. Her fingers, while holding strong, were shivering, and he heard her sniff a couple of times.
She suddenly let go and murmured, "Thanks."
Ren nodded but didn't turn around. Yukari was a proud person; she would never want anyone to see her cry, even if it was obvious.
"Hey, guys!"
Yukari and Ren looked at the source of the voice. Kotone called from the path to the mansion, waving her arm to catch their attention.
"Are you guys okay?" Kotone asked. "It's almost the Dark Hour!"
"Right..." Ren murmured. "It doesn't matter where we are; the Dark Hour arrives all the same."
Yukari turned her gaze towards the waning moon, almost a new moon. "You know, I've been thinking lately. Once you awaken to the power of Persona, you remember everything that happens during the Dark Hour."
Kotone and Ren shared a glance before focusing back on Yukari.
"It's like trading your innocence; in exchange for power, you can no longer look away from the things you don't want to see," she contemplated. "So, I guess I'm stuck with everyone, huh?"
Kotone scoffed with a big smile. "Of course, you are; we're all in this together!"
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/20 - Late Night - Back Alleys of Port Island - Shinjiro
Shinjiro smelled the smoke and weed mixed in the air. The damn place was full of it, even though it was so close to the high school.
Not like the gangs, the punks, and whatever shit came around cared, though. Nighttime was their time, and no one respectable or smart enough would come here.
It was a shitty place.
'That's what we deserve,' the voice in his head said.
The migraines were coming back again, and that thing was getting stronger again. Fortunately, his stash still had enough to last him for a bit. That said, he called them for a delivery just in case.
It's what he was doing now: just waiting for the Dark Hour to come, get his shit, then leave. He hated this place, especially when everyone was shooting it up. It was bad for anyone's health.
'Good. Maybe we'd die faster because of it.'
Shinjiro shook his head. Maybe it was a good call to ask for more, even if it was a bit early.
"Oh shit," he heard a punk mutter, "it's them."
Shinjiro glanced in the direction the punk was staring. Seems like they arrived earlier than before. On top of that...
"You mean those two? Wow, they're freaky!"
It was only Takaya and Jin. Where was Chidori?
"Whatever. Just shut up and let's get out of here."
Even though the area was littered with so many people, they all disappeared, as if they never existed to begin with. The only evidence there were people was the lingering smoke in the air.
"Why do they always run and hide when I approach?" Takaya asked with a huff. "They're like back-alley rats."
"Takaya, please," Jin said with a surprisingly pleading tone.
That was new. Jin never sounded like that to anyone. On top of that, asking something of Takaya? Jin kissed the ground Takaya walked on and questioned nothing from Takaya.
Shinjiro never thought he'd see the day.
"Right," Takaya said with a nod. "Give him the capsules, Jin."
Jin approached Shinjiro quickly, his eyes shifting to the rooftops before dumping the package on his open palm.
Shinjiro stood up, getting ready to leave. "Thanks. I'll pay you the same-"
"Hold it."
Jin's sudden command stopped Shinjiro. It wasn't like Jin could command him like that - he'd never listen anyway - but that they wanted more. Handing the package and leaving was always how it went.
"Information will suffice this time," Takaya said. "We want information on two things. Answer them both and you'll get another pack tonight." At Takaya's words, Jin took another package from one of his pockets.
Shinjiro glared at them both. It was weird enough that they wanted to change things up, but he could deal with that. But to offer a whole extra pack? Something's up. While Takaya was being normal, or as normal as he could be, Jin was skittish. What's more, Chidori was also missing.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Your acquaintances have been busy lately," Takaya began. "I'm referring to their activities on nights when the moon is full. They've spent a great deal of time in the Tower as well. Why did they take this burden upon themselves?"
'Acquaintances...? Does he mean Aki and SEES?'
"You do know, don't you? But, you don't wish to say? Is it because they are your friends?" Takaya asked with a smirk.
Shinjiro growled. "No! I've got nothing to do with them."
"Then tell us," Takaya pushed, his smirk growing even bigger with victory. "Wouldn't you agree these pills are more important than a bunch of strangers?"
Shinjiro clicked his tongue and leaned back on a wall, foreseeing that this might take a while.
"I don't know the details, but, supposedly, if you destroy all those creatures, then the tower will disappear, and with it, the Dark Hour," he answered, remembering Aki's words from a week before.
"You mean... They intend to eliminate the Dark Hour? Why would they do such a thing?! With the power they have..."
"What?" Shinjiro asked with a raised eyebrow.
"They wish to destroy the Tower of Demise as well!?"
"Tower of Demise...?" Shinjiro muttered. "You mean Tartarus? Who wouldn't wanna take out that damn tower?"
"Easy, Takaya," Jin said, holding Takaya as he took deep breaths.
"Yes, yes," Takaya muttered. "Now is not the time..."
"Hey, that's the first, right?" Shinjiro asked. "What's the next one?"
Jin growled at Shinjiro, possibly for hurrying them up.
He wanted this over with.
"My apologies," Takaya said before looking at Shinjiro again. "As for the next question, have you heard about any discovery that the Kirijo Group has made? Or perhaps an experiment between man and Shadow?" Takaya asked.
A what?
"I haven't heard anything like that," Shinjiro answered slowly. "What brought this on?"
"Three weeks ago, we fought against something that calls itself Joker," Takaya explained. "As much as I hate to say it, we were beaten soundly."
What the fuck? Them, beat?
"How?"
"We don't know." This time, it was Jin that answered. "Our memories were tampered. Our only clue about it is that Chidori sensed a human surrounded by Shadows."
Memory manipulation, too?
"And it was a targeted attack," Takaya added. "We received a calling card the night before, placed on our pillows while we slept. Not even Chidori sensed anything that night."
"You said it was a targeted attack?" Shinjiro asked. "Then..."
"Indeed," Takaya said with a smile. "He targeted us for our duty."
"In the calling card," Jin added, "it accused us of the 'great sin of murder.' He knew we used the website."
"No wonder all those rumors about the site going to shit were spreading around..." Shinjiro muttered. Even the shithole he found himself in wasn't immune to the website. People talked about it all the time.
"If you didn't know anything about it," Takaya said, interrupting Shinjiro, "then consider it a warning. It targeted us because of our sin."
For the first time in a long time, Shinjiro felt himself smiling. Honestly, it hurt; the muscles were way too stiff. "Good; maybe it's time."
Takaya stared at him for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "Very well. We'll take our leave. Remember this: Joker sent a calling card and challenged us in the Tower of Demise the next Dark Hour. Should you receive one, do let us know."
Shinjiro raised an eyebrow. "And why would you want to know?"
Takaya grinned savagely, full of hunger and hatred. "Because it will pay for what it did."
Shinjiro narrowed his eyes. He'd never seen Takaya be unhinged like that, not even once. He was always calm and on top of everything. To see him like... Joker definitely did something.
"Fine," Shinjiro said. Not like it'll hurt him.
In the next moment, the moon shone with a green light.
Takaya looked up at the sky with a nod. "Well then, I believe that's time for us." He sent a nod to Jin, who tossed the second package at Shinjiro, and the two left, their footsteps making splashes as they walked through the blood of the Dark Hour.
Shinjiro stared in the direction the two left, making sure that they disappeared, and walked the other way from them.
He walked through the backstreets, not focusing on where he was but on the discussion he just had. He didn't feel anything for giving information about Aki and what his little group was doing-
'It hurt us a little bit.'
-but the more important part was Joker. Some sort of new thing that the Kirijo apparently cooked up. It somehow bypassed Chidori and beat Strega. And from how Takaya and Jin acted tonight, Joker definitely put the fear of God on them.
Maybe the Grim Reaper has come to take them away. That would be nice.
Something moved ahead of him, and he heard something being tipped over.
What the hell was that? Could it be Joker? For a moment, Shinjiro's heart raced before common sense denied that thought. From what Takaya and Jin said, Joker wouldn't make a mistake like making an accidental sound if he was following someone. If it was a Shadow, then it wouldn't hesitate to attack him, either.
Then it had to be someone new to the Dark Hour.
Shinjiro clicked his tongue and ran after this new guy.
'Wouldn't want to add to the body count.'
He followed this guy through the streets of Port Island. From what he could tell, they were small, so probably a kid.
'Fuck, even worse.'
While Shinjiro knew these parts like the back of his hands, this kid didn't. Shinjiro was always consistent at the same distance from the kid, even if the kid was faster than him. They would tip whatever they could to slow Shinjiro down, but it wasn't really doing much.
Finally, their chase reached the Moonlight Bridge. Tartarus clearly towered over its surroundings in the far distance.
From what Shinjiro could tell, the person he was chasing was a boy. Kid looked no older than middle school or something, maybe even elementary.
"Hey, wait up!" he shouted, though, from how hard he was running, it definitely sounded more like a growl and a threat.
Yeah... It definitely was, considering the kid tried to run even faster, though he tripped because of it.
Shinjiro slowed down and took deep breaths to gather himself. "Hey, hey." The kid flinched and, losing any hope of outrunning him, shielded himself with his thin arms. Shinjiro frowned; was he that bad? "Not gonna bite you or anything."
The kid lowered his arms. "A... Person?"
When Shinjiro saw the kid's face, he flinched and took a step back.
There was no way he could forget that face. The kid's lost baby fat, and he's a bit more grown-up, but that face... That fear... It was the same look that imprinted itself on his memories from so many years ago.
"Mom!"
Ken Amada, the boy who he owed so much but could never give back.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/21 - Morning - Kirijo Summer Home
"You're leaving early, Mr. Chairman?" Mitsuru asked, and Ikutsuki nodded. It surprised Mitsuru to see Ikutsuki already finished with breakfast when she reached the dining room. If anything, Ikutsuki's luggage was already in the limousine. All he had to do was leave the mansion.
"Unfortunately," Ikutsuki said with a sigh. "There was a development back in Tatsumi Port Island." When he saw Mitsuru frown and about to ask for more, he smiled. "It's nothing major. You'll see what it's about when you come back from vacation. For now, forget about it all and enjoy your time. You need it," he said in a rare, serious tone.
Mitsuru kept eye contact for a moment before closing her eyes and sighing. "Very well. I understand."
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/21 - Afternoon - Inakahama Beach
"Are the girls not here yet?" Ren asked as he approached Akihiko and Junpei on the beach. After what happened last night, it seemed like another day on the beach could help loosen the tension.
Junpei shook his head. "Nope. I thought they would come with you. You didn't see them?"
"I saw them leave before me, actually," Ren answered. "But a maid also gave me a letter as I was leaving." He pulled out a letter from one of his pockets, only for it to be snatched by Junpei.
"Whoa! Don't go around taking someone's letter away," Akihiko said with a frown.
"No buts!" Junpei said as he started opening the letter. "I ain't letting any love letter from a lovely maid slip through my fingers!"
Ren chuckled. "Please, the maid looked like she wanted to kill me. There is no love in that letter."
"Uh... Let's see here..." Junpei muttered, ignoring Ren's words. "This says, 'We've gone to see the Jyomon-Cedar Tree.'" Junpei frowned and turned the letter around, as if looking for a hidden message. "Huh?!"
"Hand it over," Akihiko said, taking the letter from Junpei. "Seems like Fuuka's handwriting..."
"Aw man! Coming to the southern seas in the summer, and then go on a hike in the woods?!" Junpei lamented. "That's just not right!"
"They need some time alone," Ren said with a wry smile. "It's not like any of us here had their world come crashing down last night."
Silence permeated between the three before Junpei sighed.
"Alright, fine, I guess that. But I thought that's what the beach is for!
"Well, it doesn't matter, anyway. We're on our own now, just the guys! If you're outta ammo, you pick it up on the battlefield! That's one of the most basic military tactics!" He paused with a nod. "We'll call this Operation Babe Hunt!"
"'Babe Hunt'..." Akihiko muttered. "You mean, like, pick up girls?"
Junpei smirked. "Whaddya think, senpai? With you and Ren on the squad, we're guaranteed to succeed!"
"Nah, I'll pass," Akihiko said with a snort. "I'm going to train."
Junpei's smirk transformed into a cheshire grin. "Oh? Scared you're gonna lose?"
"W-What?!"
Junpei raised his hands as if in surrender. "Hey, I'm not judging you; most guys would rather back down than lose."
"All right, we're doing this!" Akihiko said, eyes aflame with determination. "With Mitsuru and Kotone gone, I'm in command!"
"Huh?!"
"What about you, Ren? You're definitely coming, right?!"
Ren chuckled and laid down on one of the beach beds under the shade of an umbrella. "No thanks. There can be no victory found on that path."
"Wait, you're skipping out?!" Junpei asked. "C'mon, dude!"
"Nope."
"Alright, fine," Akihiko said. "Then it's just us two, Junpei! Loser buys dinner at Hagakure when we get back home! Commence the operation!"
"Loser?! Whaddya mean 'loser'? Wait, we're hitting on them separately?!"
Ren barked a laugh and waved a lazy hand out to the pair. "Good luck!"
-.-
Twenty minutes later...
The pair returned, sullen from their various failures.
"...What's going on here?!" Akihiko growled.
"Whaddya mean? That indirect approach of yours isn't gonna help you score!" Junpei yelled.
"What? So, you're saying that I should use cheesy come-ons like yours?"
"Honesty is the best policy! I mean, who wants to listen to a guy drone about muscles and training?!"
"Uh... Have guys thought that maybe both of you are wrong?" Ren asked.
"What do you mean?" Akihiko asked.
"No one wants to listen to something that doesn't interest them or when someone is being way too direct about what they want," Ren answered, shifting so that he was sitting on the side of the bed. "Senpai, Junpei's right; no one wants to listen to someone talk about muscles unless they workout or are bodybuilders. On the other hand, you sound desperate and creepy, Junpei."
"Oh, yeah?" Junpei snarled. "Then why don't you show us, then?"
"Like I said, I won't-"
"So, all of that was just bluster, huh?"
Ren froze and frowned at Junpei. "What?"
"Too scared to show you don't cut it?" Junpei taunted. "Then what you really said doesn't mean shit, do they?"
Ren's eye twitched at his obvious provocation, but then sighed. "You know what? Alright; I can see that you won't listen to me, so I'll humor you, just this once," he said as he stood up. "Don't get mad at me, alright?"
-.-
Junpei and Akihiko's faces were like fishes gasping for water out of their natural habitat, their mouths opening and closing without saying anything.
"Here you go: two numbers and an invitation to the college party later, but I shot that down," Ren said off-handedly, showing Junpei his phone with two new contacts before taking his spot on the bed again.
"B-but how?!" Junpei wailed. "Wait, weren't they the last group we tried?"
"Yeah," Akihiko affirmed. "Didn't one of those girls have a boyfriend?"
Ren shrugged. "I think they lied, considering it was obvious how desperate you guys got at the end. They must have thought that, if they had a guy with them, then you guys wouldn't have pushed them."
While Akihiko and Junpei moaned about their failures, more so Junpei, Ren noticed movement on the tree line. When he narrowed his eyes, with Third Eye activated, he saw three men in white lab coats looking out to the beachfront. Following their line of sight, he saw a girl run from a small dock towards them.
Ren kept his eye on the group as they met up and left the area together. There didn't seem to be any trouble, from what he could see. He closed his eyes and relaxed. Perhaps Mitsuru or Takeharu knew what that was about.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/21 - Dark Hour - Inakahama Beach - Ren
Ren emerged from the tree line, a blanket on hand, having followed Kotone when he saw her sneak out of the mansion when everyone was asleep. He made sure Kotone didn't notice him, considering that she was sneaking out. If she was sneaking out like this, seeing as how she moved the way he taught her, then she definitely wanted to be alone, and there was no way he was leaving anyone alone during the Dark Hour.
On the beachfront, Kotone sat on the sand, knees brought to her chest, and stared at the green moon. Her hair waved as the midnight winds hit her, making her shiver, and she brought her knees closer and wrapped her hands around herself.
Ren sighed. She must have forgotten how cold beaches can get during the night. He approached her silently and tossed the blanket around her.
"You'll get a cold, you know," he said, wrapping the blanket around her.
Kotone's head whipped to face him. "Ren?! How long have you known?"
Ren smiled and answered, "Ever since you left. I may have taught you well, but it's too early for the padawan to best her teacher."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Kotone said with a laugh. "So, you were worried about me?"
Ren nodded. "Of course, it's the Dark Hour; it's dangerous to be alone right now."
"I have my Evoker with me," Kotone said with a quirked eyebrow. "Shadows come from Tartarus and this place is owned by the Kirijo; there shouldn't be a Shadow swarm I can't take on my own. We're a-okay!"
The two fell into a silence as Kotone brought the blanket closer. However, she suddenly sat straight.
"Wait, then you saw me yesterday, didn't you?" she asked.
Ren leaned back, his arms holding him up. "Yep, though I only saw you at the end of it."
"I'm sorry," Kotone said. "I only wanted to bring you guys back, but then..."
"It's okay. I get it," Ren said with a sigh. "It happens."
"...Mind if I ask you something?" At Ren's nod, she continued, "When Yukari said that you learned something that broke everything you believed in, what happened?"
Ren stared at her for a moment, before asking, "Why do you want to know?"
"You don't seem to be that kind of person, you know?" Kotone answered with a shrug, her eyes boring into his. "You're so sure about yourself now, I can't see how you could hesitate and question yourself."
Ren broke eye-contact and stared out into the ocean, trying to find the words to say, before sighing. "I wasn't always like this, you know? In the beginning, I was an orphan, and that's special on its own. But when you don't know your own parents, it's even worse because your birth parents, or whoever you're related to, technically have some say in your situation. But me?" Ren pointed to himself with a smirk. "I don't have anyone. I was special among the special. And I hated it."
Kotone shifted herself so she could look at Ren head-on. "Why? What happened?"
"Because everyone has expectations of me. Orphans are bad, but then I was apparently worse. My eyes didn't help with my situation, so everyone always talked about me. They never bothered hiding it, either.
"Because of all that, I wanted to prove them wrong, that I was better than what they thought of me. But then, something happened, and it only proved what everyone thought of me. Before, people at least tolerated me, but afterwards? They avoided me like I was some plague. And I believed them, that I was the rotten apple, that I could never be a good person."
Kotone lightly touched Ren's hands, which, unknowingly, were gripping into the sand. "Are you okay? I'm sorry; I shouldn't have asked."
He let go of the sand with a sigh. "No, no. It's my decision to answer." Ren smiled at her. "And I'm fine now. That entire story is behind me. If it wasn't for my friends, I might have-"
"You don't allow yourself to be enslaved by such things as human relations or past selves. And so, your heart is always free. The exact opposite of mine. To be honest, I'm envious."
"-I could have gone the wrong path." Ren said with eyes closed, his scar itching. It always hurt him to think about how similar they were, and the only difference was that he had people around him. With another small sigh, he looked at Kotone. "Did that answer your question?"
Kotone nodded with a smile. "I think so. And I think they were wrong; you're great, Ren."
"You got that right," Ren said. "But what about you?"
Kotone's eyes widened. "Me?" He nodded. "I..."
She shifted back to facing the ocean and hung her head, staring at her feet while they played with the sand. For a few minutes, she stayed quiet, and Ren could only hear the rolling waves crash on the beach.
"My parents died in Tatsumi Port Island," she suddenly began, "and I actually don't remember what happened before it. After the accident, everything was a blur. Relative to relative, school to school; I never really stayed." She hugged her knees closer. "Because of that, I never really made friends.
"Then, out of nowhere, I got a scholarship from Gekkoukan High," she said with a chuckle. "I didn't even get to process what happened before my uncle sent me away. Ever since then, no one has even called me or even contacted me."
Ren moved to sit right next to her and put an arm over her. "It must have been lonely, wasn't it?"
She nodded, and tears slowly dripped down her cheeks. Ren hugged her closer and silence draped over them.
'She's gone through a lot too... It hurts, but I can't even promise to be there whenever she needs my help. Damn it...'
"I'm sorry," Kotone mumbled with a sniff. "I didn't think I'd go off like that."
Ren chuckled while rubbing Kotone's arm, hoping to soothe her. "Don't worry, I'm used to it."
"What are you, a counselor?" she asked with a giggle. "You have a big knack for this. You got Junpei to study, then Yukari to open up, then me in, what, less than a week?"
Ren could feel the edges of his mouth quiver upwards as her words brought up a memory.
"Senpai, why don't you become a counselor?" Sumire said.
"A counselor?" Zenkichi asked, his eyes not leaving the road. "Why do you think he'll be a good therapist?"
"Considering that he's helped a lot of people with their personal problems, I'd say that he could be a good one," Makoto answered.
"But the last therapist..." Ryuji muttered.
"It's because of him that I think Senpai will be a great one!" Sumire said, slamming her hands on the table.
Considering that the table was connected to the van, it shook a little. Zenkichi yelled out, "Hey, watch it! As good as I am with driving, it doesn't mean I like it when you make the van shake like that!"
"Sorry!" Sumire squeaked, surprised at how strong she hit the table.
Ren laughed at everyone's antics, just happy that everyone was back together again.
"Maybe," Ren answered with a smile. "I'll-"
A series of growls erupted behind them. Ren and Kotone whipped their heads to a surprising sight.
Hordes of Shadows were approaching them from the trees and cut off the path to the mansion.
"What?!" Kotone yelled. "But Tartarus isn't even here!"
"Questions for later! Right now, we have to leave! There are too many of them for us to fight!" Ren yelled. From the experience of being ambushed by enemies and traps, he wasn't easily surprised. The first thing to do is to retreat and then collect their thoughts.
The Shadows already cut off their left side. With nowhere else to go, Ren dragged Kotone and ran to their right.
"Where are we going?!" Kotone asked.
"There's another path here somewhere!" Ren answered, his eyes scanning for said path. "I saw a group from the afternoon use it. We can use it to get around the Shadows and get back to the mansion," he said before halting, and Kotone crashed on to him.
"Ren? What's-" Kotone asked before seeing why Ren stopped.
In front of them was another group of Shadows. In front and behind them. They were surrounded.
'Damn it,' Ren thought. 'Looks like I have to-'
Something whirred behind the Shadows. Suddenly, someone jumped from behind the Shadows to the small space where Ren and Kotone stood. The Shadows paused, as if confused about the recent addition.
That someone, a girl, had short, blond hair and light-blue eyes and wore a simple blue dress. On her head were a pair of red and white headphones with a black headband.
"You're that girl from this afternoon..." Ren said off-handedly.
"I finally found you," the girl said, her blue eyes dead set on Kotone. "There is no question."
"I don't know who you are," Kotone said, "but be careful! The Shadows behind you-!"
"Palladion, Swift Strike!" the girl yelled, and the wind billowed her clothes. Blue light appeared and condensed into...
"A Persona?!" Kotone yelled.
Ren stared at the Persona, Palladion, open up before slamming itself onto the ground, killing a large swathe of Shadows. Those that survived roared and attacked the girl.
However, she jumped back an inhumane distance and ran to flank the Shadows. The remaining Shadows attacked at the same time, creating a big fireball. The girl simply jumped again, pointed her fingers at the Shadows, and-
Bullets rained upon their enemies.
"Wait, are her hands guns?" Ren asked incredulously. He has seen a lot of things in the past year and a half. However, most of those were in the Metaverse, so they weren't actually real.
This, though? Arms that shot bullets in the real world?
Now he has definitely seen everything.
...Futaba will definitely grill him on that when he gets back home.
Luckily, whatever stunt the girl pulled killed all the remaining Shadows, so there were only three people in the area.
The girl landed on a knee, and her dress, singed from the Shadows' attack, slipped off. Before Ren could give the girl his own shirt to at least cover herself, he realized that something was wrong with the girl.
Her feet seemed more like hooves. Sharp angles where there shouldn't be. Joints that seemed to be too small. Combine that with how her fingers could shoot bullets and being able to do inhuman feats, something was off about the girl.
The moonlight glinted from the girl, and Ren realized what was wrong. Metal surrounded the girl.
She stood up and approached the pair. Ren immediately stood in front of Kotone, putting himself between the two girls and ready to summon his Persona, even if it meant breaking his cover and showing Kotone the truth.
"I finally found you," the girl repeated, her eyes still fixated on Kotone. "I've been searching for you for so long."
"Don't come any closer," Ren said. "Thanks for the help, but you've been creepily staring at my friend here for a really long time now."
"The most important thing for me is to be by your side," the girl continued, ignoring Ren's accusation.
"Hey, stop-"
"Wait, Ren," Kotone said, stopping Ren with a hold on his arm. "I think it's fine. It's not like she's done anything yet."
Ren relaxed, but he didn't let it go. He was still tense by the time the new girl stopped right in front of Kotone.
Said new girl rested her head and hands on Kotone's chest. "I will never let anything hurt you."
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/22 - Post-Midnight - Kirijo Summer Home - Ren
"What were you thinking, leaving the mansion without even notifying anyone?!" Mitsuru asked, nearly screaming at Ren and Kotone, who were kneeling on the floor in seiza. Her eyes were slightly red, and her hair was ragged and unkempt compared to the usual smooth and tidy. Ren and Kotone couldn't help but look away like children caught midway through a sneaking a midnight snack after bedtime.
It was past midnight, and by the time Ren, Kotone, and the new girl-who still has said nothing past her obsession with Kotone-arrived at the mansion, everyone was in an uproar; scientists and maids running around and SEES armed and ready to fight the Shadows. It seemed like they knew there were Shadows on the island. Everyone awkwardly paused as they stared at each other when the three entered the mansion. Then Mitsuru dragged Ren and Kotone to the Reception Room while the scientists dragged the girl away.
And so, here they were, being reprimanded by Mitsuru, in front of SEES, who were listening in awkwardly.
"I didn't think there would be Shadows..." Kotone said shyly.
Mitsuru sighed and rubbed the temple of her forehead. "That is not the issue here; the problem is you did not tell anyone you left." She straightened her back and stared at them. "What would happen if something happened? No one would know until it's too late."
"We're sorry, Mitsuru," Ren said earnestly. "It was our fault, and it won't happen again."
Mitsuru glared at Ren, scanning his face for any tell of a lie, took a deep breath, and sighed. "Fine. It would have been normally safe for you anyway, and the Shadows were out of the norm. Just let someone, anyone, know you went outside, no matter the reason."
Kotone perked up when she mentioned the Shadows. "Oh yeah, what were the Shadows about, anyway? I thought the Shadows came from Tartarus. How are there so many here?"
Ren nodded as well, his curiosity getting the better of him. Was there another Shadow nest here in Yakushima? Were they the reason the Kirijo Group was here? But what would that mean for the regular populace who didn't know about the dangers?
"I can answer that," Takeharu's deep voice answered as he entered the room, the girl right behind him.
Metal did not surround the girl, now that Ren could see clearer than at the beach; she was metal. Was she...
"... A robot?" he asked, dumbfounded.
Takeharu nodded, standing in front of SEES, and the girl stopped beside him. "I apologize for all the trouble, and everything is under control now. To start, this is Aigis, a 'mechanical maiden'."
The girl, or robot in this case, stepped forward. "I am Aigis. My mission is to destroy Shadows. I have been assigned to SEES, effective immediately."
"No way..." Yukari said. "It's like she's alive..."
"She's so cute, but...she's a robot..." Junpei mumbled with a sniff.
"Unbelievable..." Akihiko said, eyes wide open.
Ren glanced at him, surprised that Akihiko seemed to have never met Aigis, even if he had been on the island before. "You've never seen her before, Akihiko-senpai?"
Akihiko shook his head. "Not at all. I wasn't here for the labs and all that."
"The lab?"
"Indeed," Takeharu interrupted, taking everyone's attention again. "Under the mansion is the laboratory of the Kirijo Group after the incident ten years ago. We brought some Shadows from Tartarus to here. Those same Shadows escaped tonight and were the ones that attacked you at the beach. We sent Aigis to kill the Shadows while SEES would search for you."
"This is the place where you created our weapons?" Fuuka asked.
Takeharu nodded. "It is also where we create devices that work during the Dark Hour."
'They created the weapons here? Then, could I ask them to make elemental bombs? They would really help during the flow of battle,' Ren thought. The bombs somehow stored very minute elemental attacks and were very helpful when Ren didn't have a Persona or a fielded Phantom Thief that could down an enemy. It certainly made the fight against Okumura very simple.
Ren tried to make them last month, but he couldn't get them to work, even as he made each bomb as Morgana taught him. But if he worked with the Kirijo, maybe he could make it work.
"Anti-Shadow weapons were created ten years ago, before the Dark Hour came into existence. Aigis was the last to be made and is the only one active today," Takeharu said.
"What makes her an Anti-Shadow weapon?" Yukari asked.
"I am capable of operating the Persona, 'Palladion'," Aigis answered.
"She suffered major damage in combat and has remained in the lab ever since. She was inactive until this morning. It is still unclear as to why she suddenly reactivated herself, but my scientists inspected her, and she is clear for field activities once more."
"We can begin fielding her?" Mitsuru asked.
Takeharu nodded. "I planned to introduce her tomorrow morning, before you leave, but I suppose a day to mingle and build rapport with the rest of the team is a better idea."
"An Anti-Shadow weapon with a will of her own... This is amazing!" Fuuka excitedly said.
'Oh yeah, Fuuka loved tech stuff like Futaba.'
"With that said, there are many recreational activities here outside of just the beach," Takeharu mentioned. "A tennis court, pool table... Take part in these activities, Aigis, and understand the team you will work with from now."
Aigis nodded. "Understand. I will take part and 'have fun' with SEES tomorrow."
"Uh... She really is a robot..." Yukari muttered.
'It really seemed like she knew Kotone earlier, but it seemed like Kotone didn't know her,' Ren thought. 'Something to ask later.'
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/22 - Afternoon - Mitsuru Summer Home - Ren
Ren took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Takeharu's office.
"Who is it?"
"It's Amamiya, sir. I have something to ask."
"Enter."
He released a small breath he didn't realize he was keeping. He opened the door and saw Takeharu flipping through several pieces of paper. As he entered, Takeharu began to clean his table and put away his documents.
His eyes wandered throughout the room, trying to find whatever could help him understand Takeharu more. Books on both sides of the room surrounded the room, though the wall behind Takeharu only had a family portrait of a woman, Mitsuru as a child, and Takeharu. It was the prim and proper type, with everyone standing tall and serious.
"Take a seat, Amamiya. You said you had a question?" he asked, taking back Ren's attention.
Ren nodded as he scooted in.
His eyes wandered around the table and saw a small picture of Takeharu and Mitsuru. Compared to the picture hanging behind Takeharu, this one seemed more laid back. Takeharu knelt beside Mitsuru, his hand patting Mitsuru's twin-tailed hair. Ren could see that, while Mitsuru was standing like in the portrait, there was a smile threatening to appear on her face.
"I did, sir," he answered, hoping that Takeharu didn't notice the delay. "You mentioned you made our weapons in the lab here?"
"Indeed," Takeharu confirmed as he leaned forward with his hands clasped in front of him. "Did you want to change your weapon?"
Ren shook his head. "Not at all. I was thinking if it was possible to store Persona attacks in something small and that anyone can throw."
"Ah, I see," Takeharu said as he leaned back in his chair. "We did test that before, but what we had was far weaker than even Mitsuru's when she was younger. I'm sorry to tell you, but it was a failure."
Ren sat straight as Takeharu explained. 'They already tried it before? And it somehow worked?'
"If I may ask, how did you get it to work in the first place?" he asked.
"To begin, you must know that your Evokers contain something called the Plume of Dusk," Takeharu began. "It is what makes everything we create, from Evokers to Mitsuru's motorcycle to work during the Dark Hour."
Ren nodded, having already read the documents about the Evoker when he began working under SEES. Discovering the Plume of Dusk was what started the obsession of Kirijo Koetsu, Mitsuru's grandfather. Ikutsuki also theorized that his mask was made from the same material.
Wait...
"If it's what causes electronic devices to work during the Dark Hour, then how does Aigis function?" he asked. "Did you put Plumes in her?"
Takeharu's eyes widened for a small bit before nodding in confirmation. "You are correct. Hers is a special Plume, but the general idea applies to her as well. Back on topic, we originally placed pieces of these Plumes in small balls. These devices housed smaller items such as a match, ice cube, an air horn, or even a small battery. While they did work, the study on the Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapons was far more promising. We scrapped the former in favor of the latter; as the old adage goes, 'quality over quantity.'"
"Is it possible to get some of these?" Somehow, these guys got the elemental bombs to work. There was no way he was letting it go.
Takeharu raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want them? They can't kill Shadows, and their damage is far too miniscule to actually do anything. I do not see how they will aid you."
"While they may not kill Shadows, they may be enough to stun them. Our Personas are specialized in certain types of magic. Because of that, we can't use other types of magic," Ren explained. "I believe that using these devices could help us in a pinch. For example, Mitsuru might face a Shadow that has a weakness to Fire, but resists Ice. If she had something like this device, then she could stun the Shadow long enough for back-up to arrive."
Takeharu hummed, deep in thought, while his eyes squinted a little. He reached for the drawers behind his table before finally taking out a folder. He flipped through the papers inside before finally settling on one.
"You're in luck," he said. "We have an old scientist in Shinshoudo Antiques. I'll forward your request to her."
Ren rummaged through his memories, trying to remember who was in the antique store. While Akihiko introduced it to Ren in the beginning, he didn't really need to go there, but he has seen Kotone visiting it once or twice.
"How will the store owner be able to help?" he asked. "The lab is here, isn't it?"
"Because the scientist was part of the project before we moved everything, both scientists and resources, towards the Anti-Shadow Suppression project," Takeharu explained. "Afterwards, she was placed in my father's team of scientists, the first Shadow Research team. If there is someone that could make more, and considering her history, it would be her."
"I'm surprised that someone is still working with the Kirijo Group after being part of Kirijo Koetsu's team," Ren commented.
"Indeed," Takeharu agreed with a nod. "However, she resigned two weeks before the incident. Because of that, she wasn't part of the explosion that took a majority of my father's team."
Ren tilted his head. "Did she figure out what your father planned to do?"
"Yes, though she only spoke up after the event because Koetsu hid the fact that she quit," Takeharu said. "With no one to stop her after his death, she finally confessed. She continues to aid us now because of the explosion. Because of that, I allowed her to handle the maintenance of your weapons and stationed her in Tatsumi Port Island. The antique shop is the front for her activities."
"Was there anyone else that worked in the Shadow Research team?" Ren asked. Considering what happened to Koetsu and Eiichiro, researching the Plumes might make someone mad, forgetting their own morals. Anyone on that team was liable to be dangerous.
"Shuji was going to be part of the Research team," Takeharu answered. "However, before he officially joined, the explosion occurred. The Kirijo Group took him in after that."
"That's...weird. He never told us that," Ren muttered. "How long has he been the head researcher?"
Takeharu raised an eyebrow again. "A year after he entered the Kirijo Group. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just wondering if he took part in experimenting on Mitsuru-senpai's Persona," Ren said a half-truth.
In truth, it was more than that. If Ikutsuki was the head researcher of the Kirijo Group for a long time, then he didn't just experiment on Mitsuru and her Persona; it was pretty likely he had a hand with Strega.
"Under my supervision, yes, he was part of the team that tested Mitsuru and her Persona," he answered.
"'Under your supervision'? What were you doing experimenting on your own daughter?" Ren asked, holding back a growl. He expected the scientists, but her own father?
Takeharu glared at Ren with sharpened eyes. It stilled Ren for a moment, dampening the rising anger in him.
"Yes, under my supervision. As appalling as it is," Takeharu said with a scowl, "it was that or my daughter would experiment behind my back. She is strong headed like that."
That was cold water to his face. His enraged eyes reminded him of something...someone...
"And stay out!"
Right... When Futaba's uncle visited Leblanc...
Ren sighed. "Right. She can get forceful, if it means getting what she needs. I'm sorry for that."
If Takeharu didn't approve, then Mitsuru would have gone to someone else for help. Considering the timeline, it would have been Ikutsuki. And after what Ren saw when Ikutsuki talked about his research on Shadows, then it would have made the situation so much worse.
But if Takeharu supervised Mitsuru, then...
"Did the research ever expand beyond just Mitsuru-senpai?" he asked.
Takeharu shook his head. "I made sure that the experiment was on Mitsuru only. I couldn't bear to see the public or those that weren't connected to the Kirijo Group be affected any more than they are."
Ren frowned. But what about Strega? Were they lying about being experimented on by the Kirijo Group?
"Amamiya," Takeharu called, breaking Ren's thoughts. "Mitsuru doesn't know how to ask for help and will most likely do everything on her own. Otherwise, she will force someone to work for or with her."
Ren chuckled. "Got that right. That's how she recruited me to SEES."
"So I've heard," Takeharu said with a sigh.
"All of SEES will make sure she doesn't push herself," Ren promised, straightening his back. "If anything happens, we'll be there."
"Oh?" Takeharu asked with a quirked eyebrow. "And you can say that because...?"
Ren shrugged. "Call it instinct? We're not exactly a tight-knit group, but we'll cover each other's backs when the going gets tough."
His words caused Takeharu to chuckle. "Is that so? I will hold you to that."
The room quieted down for a second. After making sure that there was nothing else to talk about, Ren stood up. "Thank you, Kirijo-san. I will contact the store owner and cooperate with her. I will keep you updated on its effectiveness."
Takeharu hummed. "See that you do."
With a nod, Ren left the room.
As he walked through the mansion, his thoughts went back to the meeting and the implication between Mitsuru, Ikutsuki, and Strega.
Ikutsuki, a man with a passion for researching Shadows, finally got his hands on someone with the power to fight Shadows: Kirijo Mitsuru. However, one person wouldn't be enough, especially for someone like Ikutsuki. Ren saw Ikutsuki's eyes when he worked with the head researcher, eyes filled with excitement and obsession. He originally thought them to be normal, comparable to Futaba and Yusuke, but after what he learned today, Ikutsuki was much worse.
One person won't be enough for him, so he decides to experiment on other people. That's where Strega comes in: people that Ikutsuki caught and experimented with. Three people survived and escaped the experiments, living on with Personas.
However, there are holes in that train of thought. Where would Ikutsuki get people to experiment with? If the antique store owner could change, why couldn't Ikutsuki?
There are more things to think about, things that he can't check or prove without going back to Tatsumi Port Island.
He sighed. Great. Another investigation.
-.-
Takeharu watched as the doors closed behind the boy, Amamiya Ren. An interesting boy, he showed curiosity and intellect beyond his age.
First, to think about using Persona attacks as one-time use items, something that the Kirijo scientists, top scientists in their field, thought of.
Second, to have the initiative to approach him, Kirijo Takeharu. He knew about the image he exuded: stern, resolute, and, as some have said, a hardass. But Amamiya, a sixteen-year-old, approached the lions' den without fear.
Third, the ability to connect how Aigis is alive with the Papillion Heart...
On top of all that, they ended up talking about things beyond the initial topic. It has been a while since he did that with anyone.
Takeharu leaned back in his chair and released a sigh.
Truly, Amamiya was a peculiar boy.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
7/22 - Dark Hour - Velvet Room - Kotone
A familiar hymn, a combination of a piano and a woman's voice, filled Kotone's ears once again. She shivered as she felt air rush past her, caused by the way her Velvet Room took shape.
"I have been waiting for you," Igor greeted, his hands clasped together with his gigantic eyes focused on her. "While you have been using our services, it has been quite some time since I last summoned you. On that point, many moons have also passed since I first offered my assistance. Thus, I would like to provide you with a new form of assistance. Welcome the new addition to your Velvet Room."
One door inside her Velvet Room opened. A blinding light filled the room, and Kotone had no choice but to shield her eyes and look away.
Finally, the light died down, and Kotone could finally look back. Besides the tarot table in front of Igor stood a little girl.
Long, platinum hair flowed smoothly while the girl's piercing, golden eyes stared at Kotone as if threatening to see into her soul. She wore a velvet blue dress and headband, adorned with twin butterflies.
She performed a perfect curtsy before rising up straight.
"My name is Lavenza, an attendant of the Velvet Room. It is my pleasure to meet you."
-.-Take Your Time-.-
Activities:
7/21 – Dark Hour – Fortitude 4
7/22 – Daytime – Fool 5
-.-Take Your Time-.-
Social Links:
Fool – SEES – 5
Magician – Junpei Iori – 7
Priestess – Fuuka Yamagishi – 4
Emperor – Student Council – 6
Hierophant – Old Couple – 9
Lovers – Yukari Takeba – 6
Chariot – Volleyball – 9
Hermit – Health Committee – 4
Hanged Man – Girl at the Shrine – 5
Death – Mysterious Boy – 3
Temperance – Transfer Student – 7
Devil – Businessman – 5
Star – Akihiko Sanada – 4
Fortitude – Ren Amamiya – 4
-.-Take Your Time-.-
Author's Notes:
Hello to all and thank you for reading my story again. I apologize for the long overdue chapter. I'm looking for a job and this is in the backseat. While I do have something at the moment, it's not permanent. My days tend to be filled with work then scouring for open positions when I get home.
I don't expect it to change anytime soon. Therefore, I added a small summary of what happened last chapter. Nothing spoilery, but it should be enough to jog the memory. Let me know what you guys think of that.
That said, back to the story. Any thoughts on how the entire arc went? I think it went well.
I originally had Kotone talk with Yukari, but the way Kotone is characterized, deep, one-to-one talks, are not her thing. Rather, she feels that it isn't. She always dodged problematic issues when she was young, she feels that she's not good with it. If anything, she reverts to it every time. She's also feeling imposter syndrome because her Social Links are dumping their lives to her, but, again, she doesn't feel like she's good for this shit. She already complained that Ren would have been the better option.
There's also Ren talking with Takeharu. Given the little things we have about Takeharu, I hope I got him right: a serious, stern father who truly loves his daughter. The elemental bombs aren't very serious, so don't expect them to be big things in the story. They're part of the things I would add to the actual game. However, Ren almost getting there Ikutsuki. What do you guys think? Too much of a stretch? I tried foreshadowing Ikutsuki's mania about Shadow Research plus Strega's confession to get to this point.
The Ken and Shinjiro scene came from the movie. Seriously, go watch it.
Lavenza is another part that is more in-game than story, but I really wanted to add her just in case. I do have something for her, but it's not very clear yet. As for her functions, let's just say the Shrine doesn't allow skill cards. Lavenza is meant to replace that functionality. It always confused me as to why that's a thing.
Word Count: 13,205 words after initial summary and before Activities