Author's Note: There have been a few repeated questions about this story's storyline. I'll like to address them. Just remember, I control the story at the end of the day.
Q: Will Hakuno obtain a Persona?
A: No, like the other Digital Human Stories, Hakuno does not obtain any powers or specific unique items from the world she enters.
Q: Can't Hakuno just summon Gilgamesh to end Mementos?
A: No, Gilgamesh is a very special case in the Extraverse. Hakuno cannot summon him like one would summon him in a Holy Grail War.
Q: Will BB hack Persona 5's boss or Mementos?
A: No, she can't, not unless the place is in a digital field. Also, she would need the Moon Cell to make it like that and she never could obtain full control of it.
Q: What are the Servants?
A: Now I can't spoil you on that, but at the very least there are three new Extraverse Servants that hadn't appeared in other Digital Human stories. But unlike them, there will be more than three Servants in total contracted with Hakuno.
Engineer4Ever: How dare he mug Hakuno! Let the Church of Hakuno begin its crusade!
TheStrangerThatCameFromNowhere: Yeah, they haven't dealt with Kamoshida yet! Hakuno befriends Morgana with sushi, of course! And I have an interesting dynamic in mind for Hakuno and Ren. Nothing romantic.
xirons20: Feels bad man, when your luck is low.
achen5041: Yep, Hakuno herself fights with Code Casts, as well as her expertise in predictive combat analysis and orders.
EvanderAdvent: I'm tempted to make a commission, but the one that did my Digital/Extra artwork no longer takes any. At a lost on who else to find.
Daemon of Crawling Tentacles: Maybe Hakuno will wear a mask for fun for a bit after seeing the Phantom Thieves?
VGBlackwing: Oh yeah! She's not like them!
What lies in the body, the heart, and the soul? Are they but physical and metaphysical? The flame caused by her actions now seeks to devour her, but the road to her deletion is yet to be paved. Can this Digital Human change her path?
Digital/Culmination
Chapter 6: Another Day Gone By
Hakuno Kishinami sighed audibly as she left the tram station and started making her way towards Shujin Academy. She had been 'robbed' again by Wakasa, the small amount of currency she gained yesterday in the metaverse had been taken by the man after leaving the house. As such, another day in which she couldn't purchase any of the culinary goodies from the school commissionary.
At the very least, Wakasa didn't press further, only desiring the money.
But it begged the question, why would he need even such a small amount of Yen? He was desperate enough to extort a high schooler of pocket change, so that implied that Wakasa was in some sort of trouble as well.
Until she figured it out, Hakuno knew she would keep losing what money she had to his threats. Well, she could phone the police…
Not yet, she still had to figure out why Wakasa was also present in the metaverse. There was a connection and solving it might answer some of her pressing questions.
Arriving at the school, there were crowds of students murmuring about something. Hakuno paid it no mind and instead went to her shoebox to exchange her footwear, but the chatter continued to grow in volume and Hakuno Kishinami soon grew too curious to ignore it. She finished changing shoes and then walked up to the source of the commotion, there on the bulletin broads were plastered about multiple copies of some red card, its wordings made of jumbled up printed letters and sentence structure was bizarrely constructed.
Still, it served as large gossip for the student body.
Apparently some sort of 'calling card' by what the other people said.
Perhaps this was just some prank? Though it was addressed to the volleyball coach, the rumors surrounding the man were so much that even she couldn't call them outright baseless. Her personal interactions with Kamoshida were not positive either.
Who were the Phantom Thieves of Hearts?
Speaking of that man, Kamoshida approached with a rather angered mannerism. "Who did this! Who's responsible?! Was it you? Or you?!"
His tone had scared the students and all but Hakuno had fled the bulletin broad area. Hakuno realized that perhaps she should have followed their actions, but her past experiences have numbed her to Kamoshida's rage, leaving her the lone standing person around.
She glanced back, spotting the three individuals from the rooftop the previous day, decidedly Hakuno tried to walk away.
Kamoshida grasped her by the shoulder and forcefully turned her to face him, his tight grip pressed tightly causing a minor pain sensation. "It was you, wasn't it? Think because you're new you can get away with this?" He spoke.
Hakuno's expressive remained monotone, "I've barely met you, Mr. Kamoshida."
"Don't give me that blank look-" He stopped abruptly.
The girl's starlit eyes stared at him with underlying emotion.
He left his hand fall to his side, stunned by some potent force. Hakuno Kishinami took this chance to walk away, adjusting her school bag and passing by the small group, she casually said, "Morning." Then continued on her way to her home classroom.
The small knit group of friends were rather shocked at the girl's demeanor, but at least Ren nodded in a fellow greeting.
He seemed calm and collected, Hakuno was sure at this point the rumors weren't exactly true about him. It was her gut feeling, that and logical deduction.
A scary combination, but it served her well.
Hakuno Kishinami exited from the school gate, the day had finally ended and it felt excessive long during classes. In part due to the rumor train resulted from the numerous calling cards placed throughout the hallways earlier, which have henceforth been taken down by the facility members. Because of that, classes were not focused on the subject material, Hakuno found herself with free time in which she could do nothing.
Now, after school, she left the grounds. Her eyes looking forward, the magus spotted a glimmer of blue glowing in the small alleyway just in front of the school, some alternate path to and from the tram station.
This way, Inheritor.
It called to her.
She stepped forward and began walking down the alleyway, trailing after the deep blue glow that increased in intensity with every step. Then, standing mysteriously in front of a solid wall leading nowhere, was that emanating source in the shape of a door.
Hakuno reached for the handle and pulled.
Her Private Terminal blinked a bright light in her pocket for a single instance, acting as the key.
The Digital Human stepped within the void of blue, her vision swirled and mind wandered aimlessly before the world around her vanished to be replaced by the familiar imagery of an ocean-colored desk-filled classroom decorated with the Moon Cell's datascape marks. A panel of windows on one side, showing only a scorched city continuously lit aflame under a star-covered night sky, on the opposite end, seven distinct doors supposedly leading out, only which a single was open.
She knew this place.
The Velvet Room.
"Welcome back to class, student!" Caroline greeted with a slap of her wooden ruler against a nearby desk.
Justine smiled, "Have you come seeking guidance?" She questioned.
"I want to visit my Servant," Hakuno said.
Caroline pointed towards the seven doors, "Which Path does your Servant rest within?"
"I think Extra?" Hakuno replied.
Justine nodded and pulled aside a desk blocking the way between Hakuno and the doors with ease, "Then enter the door of your other self's wish."
Her other self?
Hakuno Kishinami walked passed the twins, glancing back at them only for a moment as she hesitated briefly to entering the darkness within the doorway related to the Path of Extra. She took a deep breath, bringing forth her courage, and entered…
She heard her own voice echo in her heart and soul.
"There is still so much for me to see… I want to know… I want to feel what's it like to be in the real world... "
"I wish… I could be in a world like that…"
The Digital Human found herself in a new interior, radically different from the previous school classroom, it was particularly traditional Japanese design. There was a living room, three bedrooms, a kitchen, a closet, and a bathroom, but only the living room was accommodating, as the other areas were locked behind sliding doors.
Also, there were windows, but they were clouded and Hakuno was unable to look outside, the door behind her was the same as the door she entered, which meant it was the way back.
"Umu! You kept to your promise! As expected!" Saber was rested comfortably in an armchair, which before it was a table with pillows serving as sitting locations.
"What is this place?" Hakuno asked.
"This is our Private Room!" Saber said. "Well, it is? But also isn't? You made it after we entered the…" Saber frowned, unable to recall the details. "Regardless, while not as grand as Roman architecture, I appreciate the artistic design."
This seemed like deja vu.
"So this is where you stay?" Hakuno asked.
"In between our shows in the metaverse, correct," Saber replied. "It's quite pleasant, but I would appreciate if there were banquets! Or at least something to snack on!"
"But there's a kitchen," Hakuno pointed out. "Is it empty?"
"Yes! Quite empty! Also lonely! But you're here now!"
"Only for a time, Saber, I can't stay here long," She replied apologetically. The real world would not wait for her.
"Mhm…" Saber looked thoughtful.
Hakuno tilted her head in confusion.
"Ah, yes!" Saber exclaimed suddenly. "That wondrous expression has give me an idea! Praetor! How about creating a new Private Room!?"
"Well… I did have the option…" Hakuno trailed off.
"And you haven't done so? Then post-haste, Praetor! I'm certain that on its success I shall be able to join you in reality!"
Hakuno wasn't sure that was going to work, and it would be hard- No, wait, Saber would simply change into astralized state to avoid any questions. It wouldn't be difficult to hide the Servant and having the Heroic Spirit nearby would certainly put ease in her mind from potential dangers.
She nodded, "I'll try."
After leaving the Velvet Room, Hakuno Kishinami realized that not much time had passed in reality as it did when exploring the metaverse. She internally debated a moment on heading into the cognitive world but decided her time can be better spent doing something else for now.
Such as meeting with Rani, or at the very least, this world's counterpart of the Atlas homunculus.
Hakuno checked her Portable Terminal, the date was April 28th, had it already been three days since she awoke in this world? So much had happened in such a short span of time, it felt rather chaotic.
The device rang with a chime and Hakuno noticed the chat application popping up a notification. She opened it and viewed who could be sending one.
[Makoto: "How are you doing so far? The exams are only two weeks away, do you need help with anything?"]
[Makoto: "Let me know if you do, I'm in the library."]
Or, she could spend time with Makoto? Hakuno knew she would be returning home eventually and could set up the Private Room then. But, once she left the school grounds, it would be a hassle to take the tram back if she changed her mind.
She wanted to see Rani… But it wasn't guaranteed the girl would even be in Yongen…
On the other hand, Makoto was the closest person to becoming a new friend, a sensation Hakuno dearly desired.
The magus girl made her choice.
[Hakuno: "I'll head that way."]
Sure it was under the pretense of studying for exams, but Hakuno enjoyed Makoto's presence. She reminded Hakuno of the peaceful times between all the death and struggle in the Moon Cell.
Alright, honestly, Hakuno just wanted to relax away from the intensity of the metaverse, magic, and oddities, especially anything related to the Moon Cell. Not that she dislikes being near her Servant, but Saber was quite eccentric.
She passed through the school gate, a few passing glanced were sent her way but she ignored them. Hakuno Kishinami continued by turning left, heading down the short hallway before heading up the stairway all the way to the third floor. The magus knew the library was located next to the Student Council Room.
Hakuno slid open the door leading into the library, it had a quiet atmosphere but there were hushed whispers spread out along the tables and study desks. It was quite differently organized than Tsukumihara Academy's own library.
"Is this your first time to the library?" The library student assistant inquired, the girl stood at a desk next to the entrance.
"Yes," Hakuno replied.
"Oh, you're that new transfer student, I'm sure you'll be fine here. If you get any trouble in some subject the people in the library tend to be very helpful," She replied. "If you wish to borrow a book to bring with you, just lend me your student ID so I can register that you borrowed it. After you finished, please return it."
"Alright," Hakuno nodded in understanding then headed toward a particular table where Makoto said alone, almost isolated from the other students, writing in her notebook in silent solace. The magus pulled forth a chair and sat down, opening her bag and placing the necessary school material on the table with a solid thud.
The noise seemed to shake Makoto out of her stupor, her eyes glancing to the source and saw Hakuno, "Oh, you came?" She seemed stunned.
"I replied I would?" Hakuno said.
"You did…?" Makoto trailed off looking down at her notebook. "Guess I was a bit distracted."
"You were focused," Hakuno stated, opening her own notebook and flipping through a few pages.
"Guess I was," Makoto smiled. "So you needed some help? We're not in the same year but I can share what I remember."
"I am having trouble with social science," The magus girl spoke; it was her weakest subject, one of few the Moon Cell didn't cram into her head.
Many of the other school subjects came relatively easy or outright were solved without effort. Such as Mathematics, the futuristic equations provided by the Moon Cell had made the subject pathetically simple, though she might have an unfair advantage with being a digital entity, that was only a theory though.
"Plenty students have problems with that," Makoto reassured. "I made an effort to be proficient in the subject. What topic are you on in it?"
The magus smiled, Makoto looked a bit more happy with her presence.
Hakuno Kishinami spent time studying with Makoto...