7/5 Mon, Port island station, Dark Hour

"Talk, talk about what!? Don't tell me, you...!"

"Don't assume too quickly."

She must be here to help Minako! Damn it, that's what I get for getting comfortable around an enemy. Then I'll get her out of my way! I charge at her, my sword at my side. When I approach a comfortable distance to attack, M.G. moves in close enough to get out of my sword's range. She punches me in the gut, disabling me in one go.

"Don't get lost in rage?"

"What?"

"You rage will get you killed in the presence of a strong enemy."

"How can I stay calm?"

"She...she!"

"Yamagishi is not dead, is she," M.G. casually asks me.

"N-no."

"Then everything is all right. Collect yourself and face your opponent with a cool head."

She's...right. She's right. Fuuka is okay, she's not dead but exhausted from the damage she's taken. I need to calm myself before I do anything stupid. I pick up my sword from the ground and point it at Minako, a clearer mind this time.

"M.G, take her back to the dorm for me."

"I guess I can do you this one favor."

"Thank you."

"Just do one thing, don't get killed."

"I'm feeling too good to die now."

"Heh, how cocky."

"Guess I am."

M.G. picks up Fuuka. With one strong leap, she is meters in the air.

"I won't let you get away!"

"Susano-o!"

"Skeith!"

I summon Skeith to block the Persona's attack.

"I'm not letting you do that."

"You bastard!"

Minako leaps forward at me. "Susano-o!"

"Skeith, launch me!"

Skeith throws me past Susano-o's attack.

"You want me, you got me."

"You seem pretty confident for a person who was running away."

"I know, but..."

I slash at her weapon, trying to make a chink in her defense. After she deflects my attack, she goes for a counter, but I hit her at the side of her torso with the back of my sword. She clutches her side, I take this opportunity to try and get another hit in. Despite the pain, she blocks the attack only to make a counter-attack, however, I redirect the attack.

We slash at each other for what seemed like an eternity; it feels like I'm getting nowhere in this fight. Maybe I should use Ocean's stream? No, if she blocks it somehow, then I'm screwed.

"Susano-o, Vorpal blade!"

"Skeith, show your stuff!"

The two personas are locked in a battle of speed, now's my chance! I make a run for Minako, readying my sword for a strike. She thrust her weapon in my direction. I dodge it, skirting towards her side. I hit her with the back of the blade again. Right when I back up, Minako throws her spear the same way she used it to hit Fuuka.

The spear is trying to tear right through my defense. I'm being pushed back the longer this goes on. It's starting to break past my guard. At this rate, I'll get killed. Guess I got no choice, I have to use Ocean's stream.

"Let's do this!"

I pour all the energy had into my sword. Damn, will I be able to do this? If I mess up, then I'm toast, so maybe I should try to deflect it? Damn, no good, what would happen if I mess up, or what if I used Ocean's stream but it only just knocks the spear away!? Shit, what other choice do I have, I...

"Cease your whimpering." That voice! "It would be inconvenient if you were to die now, so here is some of my power...now, put on a good turnaround."

Suddenly, I feel this surge of power course through my body. It's amazing! Yeah, this'll do!

I add this newfound energy and I store it into my sword with the rest of my energy. It's ready!

"Time to end this," Minako states.

"Yeah, let's end this now!"

Minako put her Evoker to her head.

"Susano-o, end this"

"This is everything I got right now, so take a good hard look, and eat it!" I yell with all my might... "Ocean's Stream!"

Instead of sea-blue energy, I shoot out a wave of white with a shade of black at the edges against her spear, which in turn, sent it flying away. The wave of energy is moving faster for Minako to react. Her right eye is caught in the attack, damaging the eyeball. She lets out a horrid scream that sends shivers down I drop my sword in shock. Shit, I didn't mean to do that, I didn't mean to do that! What the hell did I just do!?

"Minako!?"

When I try to approach her, she recalls her spear to her hand. Even with it, she's too injured to do any more fighting!

"Minako...I-I didn't mean to do that!"

"It's too late to go back from this, but I'm more pissed off that you're apologizing!"

Before I could ask why she was, she pulls something out of her skirt and throws it to the ground. A sheet of smoke polluted the area. When the smoke finally clears up, she is nowhere to be seen.

"Did I...win?"

The area is clear, Minako is nowhere to be seen.

"I actually did it."

I was able to beat Minako, even she was more powerful than me, I still pulled through... Although, I didn't feel like I won.

Outside of Iwatodai dormitory, Midnight

I returned to the dorm after the battle. On the walk home I had time to think about what happened and what I did. When I used Ocean's stream on M.G. She was hurt but not cut up, so why was it different now? Was it that voice? What the hell is going on with me? Arriving at the dorm, I spot M.G. on the staircase of the dorm.

"Kazuki, it appears you have won."

"Yeah...I did."

"You don't seem happy, why?"

"It doesn't matter."

I shake my head to get the thought of slicing Minako's eye out.

"Where's Fuuka?"

"When I was healing her, she saw me."

"She saw your face!"

"Indeed."

"Isn't that bad?"

"No, it is not like her seeing my face is a problem, and even if it is, you can make sure it isn't."

"Geez, you're just putting all the heavy lifting on my lap, aren't you?"

"Maybe so, but this is your burden now, so you must deal with it."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Anyway, when she came to, I asked her where I should put her. She wanted to wait for you in your room."

"I see..."

I walk up the steps of the stairs.

"M.G. I don't know whether or not to accept that I won the fight. I did something terrible."

"Such as?"

"Minako lost an eye because of me. I didn't mean to do it, I just wanted to beat her."

"You feel sick?"

"In a sense, yeah. How did you know?"

"Intuition."

"Pretty good intuition..."

M.G. gets up from the stairs and moves to the sidewalk.

"But that's the nature of a fight. You win how you can, and survive how you can, even if you dislike it."

"Really?"

"Is it enough to make you not want to fight?"

"No, I still want to get stronger, but that thought scares me."

"Well, you'll just have to get used to it..."

She begins to walk along the sidewalk, away from the dorm. As she walks onward, I jump off the staircase.

"Thank you! M.G.! Thank you for helping us!"

She walks on forward without saying anything in return. Of course, it doesn't matter if she does or doesn't, I just wanted to give her my thanks.

Iwatodai dormitory - Kei Kazuki's room - Midnight

I open the door to my room. It feels cold in here than usually does. I approach Fuuka, who is sleeping on the wall side of the bed.

"Hey, Fuu-chan, you awake?"

I lift her uniform jacket and the turtleneck underneath to see if the wound on her back really is healed. Nothing. M.G. really is good at healing people, but she's probably exhausted from tonight, so I'll let her take the bed for tonight. I drag out a futon from under the bed, placing it by the front part of the bed.

"I'm about to go to sleep."

I kiss her on the cheek, a smile forms on her face. It's enough for me to smile as well. I crawl into the futon but not before locking the door.

7/6, Tues, Iwatodai dormitory, Kei Kazuki's room, Morning

"Kazuki-kun, wake-up, wake-up."

I'm beginning to worry, maybe he used too much energy in his fight with Minako-chan. Suddenly, he lets out a loud yawn as his eyes begin to open.

"I'm awake," he says as he yawns. "Oh thank goodness."

"Morning Fuu-chan. You look worried, what happened?"

"You should see for yourself."

"Alright, but let me change first."

Iwatodai dormitory, third floor, Morning

Everybody else except Minako-chan, are standing at the remains of my room.

"Dude, what the hell happened," Junpei-kun says as he's dumbfounded by the destruction.

"Were we attacked by shadows last night?" Yukari-chan inquires with a confused expression.

"Were we unaware of any type of attack towards this building!?" Kirijo-senpai voices her bewilderment.

"We weren't ready..." Sanada-senpai irritably states.

"In any case, we have an operation tonight, we'll discuss this after school."

Everyone disperses for school except Kazuki-kun and me.

"Sorry about your room," he says.

"It's okay, but who would do this?"

"Minako, it was her."

"But why?"

"I don't know, but I think we should tell Mitsu-chan about this."

"But..."

"It's too late, we can't turn back now."

There's something about his tone that's somber, and not only that, but he seems upset.

"Is something the matter?"

"Umm...nothing, nothing at all."

"You can tell me if something is wrong, please..."

He scratches the back of his head as he turns his head towards the ground.

"...You see Shizuka Rin last night?"

"Yes, she was healing the wound on my back. How did you know?"

"Truth be told...The day she came to our class for the first time, I already knew who she was. In fact, I fought her in Tartarus."

"Wait, was she the one who-"

"N-no, not her! She challenged me out of the blue and we fought. Now she's helping me train, so yeah." Helping him train? Is that why he's been leaving the dorm in secret as of late? "I'm sorry for not telling you, and there's been a lot of other stuff that I should probably tell you as well, like..."

I gesture him to stop by putting the front of my hand at his face.

"Kazuki-kun, you don't need to tell me right now."

"But..."

"I don't want you to be forced to tell me. I want to be someone you can come to when you need to talk about something. So I don't want to force you to speak, but when you want to talk about anything, I'll be here to listen."

The somber expression he took on curls into a cheerful expression.

"Alright, I'll do just that."

I'm glad to see that he's looking a lot better.

...

We exit the dorm after getting ready for school. Tonight is an operation, I'm going to do whatever I can to aid everybody in battle and protect Kazuki-kun. I need to keep myself positive!

"I can do this!" I psyche myself up.

"Looks like someone is hyped," Kazuki-kun points out.

"Huh? Oh, sorry!"

"Why are you apologizing? It's cool that you're getting pumped."

"Really, then I'll get even more pumped."

"Yeah! Let's get pumped!"

We continued to get pumped on our way to school. Some people glanced at us in a weirded-out manner, but it didn't matter to me.

Gekkoukan high, Class: 2-E, Morning

As I enter the class without Kazuki-kun, who is in the bathroom. I don't see Moriyama-san in the room, however, I do see Shizuka-chan, who's sitting at the window seat. I walk over to her, carefully observing her.

"Shizuka-chan, can I talk to you?"

"Of course..."

I bow my head to her.

"Thank you for your aid yesterday!"

"Pay no mind to it. I was only doing what I had to."

"O-oh, I see."

The two of us quiet for a moment.

"But how were you able to hide your Persona's presence when you first attended school?"

"I'd like to keep that to myself."

"Oh..."

I the late bell rings, it's time for classes to start.

"It's time for classes, you should go and take your seat," Shizuka-chan advises me.

"O-okay, but I'd also like to ask you about some other things."

"Such as?"

"Do you know about any other Persona-users?"

"Perhaps, but that won't do you any good for now. Just focus on your issues at hand."

"Okay, thank you for the advice!"

I give her a brief bow before taking my seat. I don't know what's going on, and how much I don't know, but I'll try to be ready for whatever comes! Speaking of which, when is Kazuki-kun going to come out of the bathroom?

Iwatodai dormitory - Evening

Night has come, we're getting closer to the dorm. I'm ready for this, Fuu-chan looks ready for this as well. Good, we're gonna need every fiber of conviction to do this! We agreed to tell everyone about what happened as soon as we got back to the dorm. If they ask why we withheld this information for nearly the whole day, I'll shoulder the blame.

"Ready to do this?" I ask her as I place my hand on the door."

"Yes!"

"Okay, let's do it!"

The second I open the door my chest tightens up. Senpai texted us that we would be discussing things in the lounge. So we're just gonna explain this right off the bat the moment this door is open.

"Mitsuru, we have to-"

I shut my mouth the moment I swing open the door. All the remaining SEES members are here, including...

"Hey, Kazuki-chan, you're late. I had an important announcement and you just come here late, and you too Fuu-chan, So rude."

My heart is beating like a drum from their upbeat tone as they tease us. I have to respond, I have to control myself and return a response.

"You're right, we're sorry for not getting here quicker...Minako."

Bonus: Spare clothes

Kazuki: Hey Fuu-chan...

Fuuka: Yes?

Kazuki: What happened to the tear on the back-side of your uniform?

Fuuka: Oh, this is a new uniform, why?

Kazuki: I'm only asking because your room had all your other uniforms in there, right?

Fuuka: ...

Kazuki: Did you put Spare clothes in my room...?

Fuuka: I might have done that without your consent.

Kazuki: Nah, it's alright, but where are they

Fuuka: They're in a suitcase inside your closet.

Kazuki: T-that one?

Fuuka: Kazuki-kun, why did you say it like that?

Kazuki: I have no idea what you're talking about.

Fuuka: Kazuki-kun, please don't look inside my suitcase.

Kazuki: I wasn't originally, I didn't even know it belonged to you until I saw...

Fuuka: Saw what...Wait, you didn't...!?

Kazuki: I swear it was on accident!

Fuuka: Oh my, this is...this is so embarrassing!

Kazuki: Fuu-chan, wait, don't leave me behind; Fuu-chan, I'm sorry! T-they were cute and I didn't see anything after that. Come on!