English is not my first language.

if someone likes to be a beta reader to point out my grammatical errors I would be very happy

please enjoy!

Welcome to Tartarus (X)

Day: 09/Sunday Month: August Year: 2009

Tomorrow

Today was the last day until summer school started, I didn't like having to go but my grades were still really bad so I just had to keep quiet and suck it up, after the PERSONA incidents I wasn't sure what to do, with some luck I would get a good job and live a quiet life, even with several things in mind I went down to the kitchen where I found Yukari.

"Good morning Yukari" I greeted her

"Good morning Tyron"

"Any plans before our life sentence?"

"Not especially"

"In that case, will you accompany me to see a movie? I don't want to feel like a weirdo being alone."

"I know how you feel, so it's okay"

After finishing our breakfast we both headed out to Screenshot, a movie theater where the newest movies were showing, it seemed like the latest was a rather romantic tragedy about a boy who lost his mother at a young age, struggles to juggle with work and school while dealing with an alcoholic father who does nothing but drinks and steals money, his life turns upside down when he meets a beautiful woman full of life, she gets him to change his life.

The movie wasn't bad but seeing how Yukari was crying her eyes out makes me think that maybe, just maybe, she appreciated the movie much more than I did, so after the credits we both left with Yukari still crying.

"I don't understand the guy. Why work so hard for a person who does nothing but ruin your life?" Yukari said more calmly

"I don't know, I guess it could be because the family ties are strong, or how he keeps remembering his father as the person he was before his mother died and is constantly working in the hope of getting that father back."

"That final act affected me when the girl dies after giving birth to the boy's child and how she comes so close to sliding in the same direction as her father."

"Yes, fortunately, his father was beginning to recover from his alcoholism at the time and helped his son support his daughter, I don't know how I will feel in the end since the boy knows a mother single and fades later"

"Maybe the writer felt he was too dark at the end and wanted to end on a high note"

"I wouldn't know how to say it, I'm not exactly a writer"

"You know, I'm jealous of the boy, I don't know if I could let someone into my heart as easily as him"

"Not so easily huh? Is there someone taking down that guard of yours?" take the opportunity to get information

"E-huh?!"

"I'm not talking about me if that's what you're worried about, but maybe someone on our team..."

"I do not know what you're talking about!"

"Oh hey, Makoto, what are you up to?!"

"Ahh!"

With that Yukari covers my mouth and pulls me down, when she turns around and sees that Makoto was nowhere to be seen she just turned to look at me as she just smiled knowing she caught him.

"So Makoto?"

"I-I am…"

"You like it, don't you?"

"Yes…"

"Why don't you tell her something?"

"Because I do not know…"

"Hey?"

"As you know, I lost my father 10 years ago, since then my mom had been in a downward spiral, she started sleeping with one boy after another, and I couldn't stand it."

"It's like a twisted, inverted version of what we just saw..."

"A little... I don't think he can do the things he did, I don't think he's strong enough."

"Maybe you're right... or maybe you're not. What if you're wrong?"

"What?"

"Like in the movie, what if getting that help from someone gives you that push to improve yourself, and all this despondency is what's stopping you from doing it?"

"…"

"Also Makoto is a cool guy, and maybe, just maybe, he might like you too."

"D-do you believe that?"

"I'm pretty sure of that!"

"Maybe you're right... Next time I see him I'll see how things go!"

"That suits you better!"

I am you, you are me... you have strengthened a bond... with the power of the arcana of the LOVERS you have opened the way to a new chapter...

I couldn't help but smile happily to see Yukari much more animated, so many things had happened in recent months and after the latest revelations her mood had been somewhat in decline, looking in the distance I saw our blue-haired leader

"Perfect timing MAKO-!"

"Wait, my heart is not ready!"

"Okay, but sooner or later you have to tell him how you feel, understood?"

"I have it…"

Afternoon

Yukari and I entered the dorms shortly after, I greet everyone and shortly after my phone vibrate, it was a text message from Mitsuru, so she answered it.

Hello Tyron, are you there? - Mitsuru

Yes, I'm here. What's up? - Tyron

I was talking to Makoto recently and he has feelings for Yukari!- Mitsuru

God bless your hearts ha-ha Yukari also feels the same!- Tyron

I'm looking at them right now and my god's attention is suffocating!- Tyron

I feel like we shouldn't meddle more than we already have, for now, let's support them- Mitsuru

In agreement! On a separate matter, have you seen the new romantic movie in theaters? - Tyron

Mitsuru and I kept texting for a while until it got dark, so I head to bed to stop for the day, tomorrow the torture would start…

Day: 15/Saturday Month: August Year: 2009

Afternoon

"Kill… me…"

"…" Junpei looked soulless

"This is getting repetitive somehow," Yukari told us

After a slow and painful death in summer school, classes are finally over, so I leave Junpei dead in Yukari's care as I run out unwilling to spend a second longer than necessary in that torture site, on my way out I find myself with Mitsuru

"Hello, Mitsuru!"

"Hello Tyron, how were your classes?"

"Bored to death, but somehow I managed to get by"

"That's good to hear"

"During class, I had a crazy idea"

"And that would be?"

"Remember how you said that we shouldn't bother Arisato and Yukari with their relationship?"

"Yes," he narrowed his eyes doubtfully.

"Well, what if we all go to the festival tomorrow and make those two spend a good chunk of time together?"

With every word Mitsuru's face seemed to light up, though he says he doesn't want to butt in, I can tell he wanted to do something, and I've never been to a summer festival. It's a win-win!

"Looks like a fun plan"

"TRUE?! I'll let everyone know now!"

Day: 16/Sunday Month: August Year: 2009

Night

Today was the day of the summer festival, most of the day was spent in the bedroom until it finally got dark, just as I finished getting ready I heard a knock on the door.

"Are you ready? The girls are preparing right now, they said we should go ahead" I heard Junpei from the other side

"On my way!"

With everything ready the boys were the first to leave, when we arrived at the festival I couldn't help but get excited, everything looked so beautiful and the food smelled so good, I didn't know where to start, but before I got ahead Akihiko grabbed me by the shoulder.

"You can't get ahead of yourself yet," Akihiko told me amused

"Man, you're not thinking about the best part of a summer festival," Junpei said putting his arm around me

"And that would be?"

"Summer festivals mean summer yukatas! Don't you want to see girls in yukatas?"

"I see!"

"Are you serious?" Shinji rolled his eyes.

"I don't know, maybe even Fuuka is wearing a yukata"

Shinji's face starts to turn red as he looks down, ever since I asked him to teach Fuuka how to cook, they have spent a lot of time together, Shinji has gone to school more often and now and then I run into the two of them. shopping for groceries together.

"Hey? Have I missed something? What about Fuuka and her yukata?" Junpei asked confused

"S-enough of that!" tried and failed to defend himself Shinji

With that, we all started to wait until we saw the girls walk toward us in their yukatas and they looked amazing! Yukari had a pink and white checkered one with a white sash, Mitsuru had a white one with pink flowers and a green sash, Fuuka had a sky blue one with sunflowers and a pink sash, Aigis had a dark blue one with white flowers and a red sash, they all they looked very pretty.

"This is a blessing" Junpei prayed

"Yes... tell me about it..." Akihiko was surprised.

"Shinji... flies are going to get in if you don't close your mouth," I said when I saw my friend

"What do you think?" Fuuka said approaching Shinji

"Yeah... you look good... I mean... it suits you," Shinji blushed.

Fuuka blushes as she looks down smiling, she looked on clouds and almost looked like she was jumping with every step, then I look at Mitsuru and give her my two thumbs up as I nod which makes her giggle a bit to herself.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go to the festival!" I said celebrating

Everyone agreed and we started to go inside, I had some takoyaki and played some shooting games, I just had some prizes not to overdo it, Akihiko and Junpei explained to Aigis how the masks work, Fuuka and Shinji were eating yakisoba together, while As I walked I ran into Mitsuru where she points to her side, I look over to see Makoto and Yukari sitting next to each other talking, Mitsuru and I decided to move a little closer being careful not to interrupt.

"Everyone's yukatas look so cute! I should have chosen another" Yukari started

"You look better with your figure, she is the prettiest" Makoto replied calmly

"R-really? Wait... have you been looking at me? I guess you're a boy after all… though I think I'll take that as a compliment…"

Where was my camera to record this pair of creatures? Ah, Mitsuru has it… that she gave me a thumbs up

"Yukatas are pretty small if you ask me, they are nice in hot weather, but they don't offer much protection and it takes some getting used to, I guess women in the old days were tougher"

"I don't know, I think you're already strong enough"

"Y-you think?"

"Y-yes!"

"S-so…umm…would you like to s-?"

"Makoto! Yukari! What are they doing?"

GO TO FUCKING HELL JUNPEI! It was the collective thought that I can bet Mitsuru and I shared, there was a large rock to the side that I considered throwing at it until Mitsuru grabbed my shoulder while shaking her head, but then pointed to herself and Junpei and ran her thumb over it. head in the form of decapitation, he will suffer for this.

"Hey? Something happened?" Junpei said innocently

"N-nothing! What's happening?"

"Akihiko wants to challenge us to see who can win the most prize games. Do you want to join us? Now that I've found them, we just have to find Tyron and Mitsuru."

"What happened?" I interrupted him

"Why the long face?"

"Nothing... nothing at all"

"Anyway, let's go!"

In the end, we all joined the prize games, Shinji ended up winning prizes in most of the positions, for my part, I could only get prizes from the shooting games that were not that many, for the others it was lower since they hardly had any luck if they got one or two, to my surprise Mitsuru bought a red and white fox mask and put it on my face.

"I'm not that ugly, am I?" I told him crossing my arms

"No... but I think it suits you"

The fun continued for a couple more hours until finally, it was time to go back to the dorms, I don't know how I got into this world, but I was happy that I made a lot of good friends, I don't know what will happen to my future, but he just Having met them already feels like a great blessing.

Day: 22/Saturday Month: August Year: 2009

Afternoon

Since the day of the festival, it's been slightly quiet until now, hanging out with everyone and going out somewhere, but I didn't have anything especially planned for today, or it wasn't until I saw Akihiko hanging out with some gear.

"Are you going out?" asked

"I'm going to train. Do you want to come?"

"Of course! I don't want to feel like I'm rusting sitting on the couch."

After getting up I hurried my gear to my room and ran to catch up with Akihiko, as we walked I couldn't help but notice that we were moving to school.

"I thought school was closed for the summer"

"For normal students, yes, but for those who are in a sports club they have the place available to train"

"Cool"

We both entered and went straight to change, I was about to take the same boxing equipment that Akihiko uses, but I noticed that there were other extra things, among them a wooden sword caught my attention, I couldn't help but take it making Akihiko see me curious.

"Do you want to practice with a sword?"

"Well, by the way, my person is a sword fighter, I thought it might be a good idea to learn a bit, so I don't just swing the sword randomly when I'm using it."

"Sounds like a good idea to me, so are you ready?"

"As much as I can be"

Without waiting any longer Akihiko moves right in front of me, as soon as I managed to avoid the blow that was directed at my head, I tried to hit back using my sword, but before I could do it he took another step and hit with his fist in the direction of my arms, again just by my reflexes I barely managed to avoid the blow along with a kick to the chin that followed immediately, taking advantage of that moment I moved and went straight to hit the foot that was not in the air, but Akihiko reacted even more quickly moving his foot to hit me on the shoulder, I didn't have time to move anymore so I followed my direct blow to his leg, that way we both ended up hitting each other.

"Not bad for your first time using one of those without your PERSONA, you have good reactivity, but you lack skill in the footwork department"

"Well, I think I'll have to start there, thanks for this Akihiko"

We both continued training for a good two more hours before we both got exhausted and decided to finish, we sat down to drink water while we recovered, and after a shower and a change of clothes, we went back to the dorms.

"You know, I never thanked you for helping get Shinji back."

"It's nothing, I'm happy to help"

"He is the only family I have now, I lost my sister when I was a child due to a fire in my house, I was too weak to save her at that time, so I told myself I would be strong enough to never come back. the same"

"Well, if you ever need it, you can count on my help too."

"Thank you, I'll have it in mind"

Although Akihiko seemed fine, something told me that he was worried about something, I'll wait until next time to see what's going on, so once we got back to the dorms I stopped for the day.

Day: 24/Monday Month: August Year: 2009

Afternoon

Today Akihiko, Shinji, and I went out the 3 together to eat bowls of meat, it had been a while since I had passed by the place so when they told me I accepted it without hesitation, so we enjoyed a quiet afternoon, talking a little, Akihiko and I teasing Shinji about his relationship with Fuuka, we broke up and left the place, but before we walked away Akihiko stopped me for a bit

"So... do you know what Shinji and I went through?"

"Yes, I can understand why you strive to become stronger as well"

"I worry a little more about Shinji, what happened two years ago is still eating him up, I can tell he's been getting better, but overall Ken's mom's death is still eating him up inside, so I hope you can be there for him." the"

"Not just for Shinji, I'll be there for all of you"

Night

Continuing on our way for some reason I looked up a bit and there was Ken, with a face that could only be described as shock and anger… I had forgotten that this day would be the one where I would find out that Shinji killed his mother… in some strange way it seemed that our meeting was the cause of that, returning to the dorms I wanted to stop for the day, but Akihiko stopped me again.

"Would you mind training with me during the dark hour?

"Where did that come from?"

"Well, we can't go to Tartarus every day and I feel like I can get stronger by fighting you while you're using your PARSONA, plus I think it will also help you improve your skills."

"I think that would be great. Come on!"

"Are they going to do that?" asked Yukari who was able to hear our conversation, behind her was also Makoto

"Do you want to join? Just in case we need to be cured of course."

"Honestly, I think I'd rather not."

"In that case, do you mind if I join you? I want to improve the use of my PERSONA healing abilities" Minato told us

Yukari hearing that seemed a little regretful for not accepting, but she left anyway, the three of us went to the roof where we started training, if the training the other day was a high-intensity one then this was on a different level of madness, Makoto used his PERSONA a lot as he wanted, even with King Arthur's armor Akihiko's blows had left me quite a few bruises, we continued with this until the dark hour ended and we ended the day

Day: 28/Friday Month: August Year: 2009

Afternoon

"Listen Koromaru, this place is a secret for now so don't tell anyone about this yet got it?"

"Wow!"

"Good Guy"

Since I was the one who usually took care of Koromaru, I decided it would be a good idea if he accompanied me on my trips to the Velvet Room, this way if I had to make a last-minute adjustment I could take advantage of the afternoon walk to talk to Lazuli and return. Quick.

I knew that Koromaru would be quite popular, more among the child triad, but it seemed that they were not here for several, the only ones in the place where the small resident robots that play with everyone, seeing me the three ran and for some reason, they hid behind me.

"What…?"

I was quite confused, but before I could say anything my body moved by instinct as I took the little ones and jumped, right where I had been now I could see a giant sword that had made a small crater, holding that sword was a girl with long white hair, that although it seemed human, there were small details that made me realize that it was not

"Why?" asked the strange girl

"What?"

"Why did you save those machines?" Try it again

"These little ones here haven't done anything wrong to deserve that, in any case, I should be the one asking, what were you thinking? You are crazy?"

"Those are machines, and I finish with the machines, end of the story, now get away so I can finish my work" he replied

"I don't think so girl, they haven't harmed anyone, and they are quite appreciated in this place"

"Then I'll pass over you. Any last word?"

"Only two. Now Koromaru!"

Hearing me, my little partner jumped and hit the girl hard to distract her, I took advantage of that to summon King Arthur and intercept his sword that was already moving Koromaru, with the shock it became clear that we were evenly matched in the department of strength, but not in numbers so I also moved in and hit her square in the face which knocked her back several steps.

"What kind of android are you?" asked the girl now more cautious

"Android? I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm a human, I don't think I have enough iron in my system to be an android."

Hearing my statement the girl looked confused, she let go of her sword which disappeared for a moment before appearing floating behind her, I didn't know how she did it, but I wanted something like that for myself.

"Try it," she said still cautiously

"What?"

"Prove that you are human"

"I feel that you only complicate my life when you only say incomplete sentences," I said dryly

"You say you are human, then you have to prove it"

"And how am I supposed to do that? All I have to prove that is my appearance."

She narrowed her eyes a little, but started to slowly approach where I was, her posture was tense and I could easily see that she would cut me off at any weird move on my part, Koromaru just growled a little behind me, but he didn't seem to move if she didn't see anything strange either, in front of me she just extended her hand, confused I think it was a handshake so I stretched out my hand the same, but instead of taking my hand she took my wrist and froze.

Quickly his hand shot to my neck, I realized he was feeling my pulse, finally, he placed his hand on my chest, feeling my heartbeat, his expression changed from one of a shock to one of horror, before he could ask what was happening she ran away

"Just… what just happened?"

I was confused for many reasons. Where did the girl come from? Why am I running away? Why did I feel like she should recognize those thighs? Many questions, few answers.

"Trouble for future Tyron..."

Day: 29/Saturday Month: August Year: 2009

Night

Today I spent the day quietly, a little early I spent some time in the Velvet Room, in the afternoon I went to train with Akihiko, and now I was in the bedroom lobby playing video games with Makoto, while we were at it we both saw how Junpei entered with a slight jump in his steps.

"You look in a good mood friend, did something good happen?" asked

"You will never believe it! I just met the prettiest girl today" she answered me happily

"Good for you. What is her name?"

"I forgot to ask her… but she seems to be drawing in the same place all the time, she even told me that she would show me her drawing when she finished!"

"Well, I just hope next time you don't forget to ask her name."

"I'll make sure to remember, See ya!"

After that during the dark hour Akihiko, Makoto, and I kept training on the roof, me armed with my different PERSONA, Makoto and Akihiko taking turns facing me, I could feel that we were improving.

Day: 31/Monday Month: August Year: 2009

Night

Again a quiet day, I was reading in the lobby, I could see Shinji cooking dinner, when I heard someone come in I put down my book and I saw that it was Junpei, who again had that smile and those jumps in his steps, with humor lower my book to see it well

"It seems that someone saw the girl of her dreams again," I said amused

"You can bet! Her name is Chidori."

"Chidori?! Like she was?!" Shinji asked in alarm from the kitchen.

"Well…she wears a white dress and has red hair. Why? Do you know her?"

As Junpei turned his back on me, I motioned to Shinji who looked at me, moving my hand around my neck to cut off the conversation he seemed to understand

"N-no, she must have been a different person," Shinji replied.

"It's okay…"

"Looks like things went well today" I interrupted them

"Get this, she had a cut on her hand, and she was treating it like it was nothing! So being the gentleman that I am I helped her bandage the wound! Then she gave me her name and practically asked me to meet up again!

"Good for you man. Best of luck!"

Later during the dark hour we continued our exploration, we were keeping a good pace, Koromaru and Ken shone during this assault, and we easily made our way to the 114th floor, just where there was another wall that prevented us from advancing again, with that we gave the day over before heading back to the dorms.

As we walked away from the Tartarus I couldn't help but think about what happened to the last shadows. Will the same thing happen again? Can we face them? The latter proved to be way above their weight class, and it would be nothing but disheartening if they were all empowered in the same way.

We only had to wait to see what the next full moon holds for us...