AN: Jeebus. Sorry for such the late update. My personal life has been getting triple-S crazy. Except with none of the style meter.

October is a pretty busy month for me every year, so I get hung up on a lot of projects due to work and the like. That and this is usually the season where allergies kick my butt on top of whatever other problems I might have.

On top of some major writer's block trying to write this chapter. Initially, I wanted this one to be way longer - closer to 30k words rather than what it is now. Instead, this one is less than ten pages. Which given my average of about 7k to 10k words up to this point, is somewhat demoralizing on a personal note.

Still, I pushed it through to a point where it was satisfying enough for my tastes. Think of this one as more of an "interlude" chapter setting up a few things moving forward. As I've stated before, I never planned on relying on the game/anime/manga's script(s) too much since I wanted to make this my own thing. Considering the anime did a twist on the ol' Kubo fight, I figured I'd do my own. And reading a few other stories involving retellings of P4 have given me a few ideas on my end.

So, I'm going to pace things out a little more.

In other news, I am still working on some other writing projects: Currently I am deliberating on continuing with the MHA idea given with the fact I caught up on that story. Although I like the framework I can write from that, I'm not sure if I should recyle it into another project. Otherwise, I've begun working on a framework for continuation into Persona 5 once this story is over. With the PC release nearing, I plan on binging through that game again.

Apologies if I haven't established much of a dialogue. I am still trying to gather a grasp on how to foster writer-reader communication on this website.

Moving on, hope you enjoy this more experimental short chapter to tie you over till the next.


?

Morning…? Dojima Residence…?

Heartbeat, heartbeat, it keeps on pounding

Heartbreak, heartbreak, you tell me goodbye

"Hwah..? - Woah!"

Yu stopped himself, mere centimeters before nearly slamming his head into the side of his dresser. Sweat running down from brow towards the bridge of his nose. Trying to steady himself from a phantom rush of adrenaline pushing through his veins as he continues to stare wildly at the wood. "Close call…" He mumbled to himself as he sat up.

Heartbeat, heartbeat it keeps on - PBbbrt

Heart - skRRTt - artbreak, you tell me goodbye

"The hell?" Yu, noticing his phone struggling to maintain the beat. He got up, letting his bedding fall off with nary an attempt on his part to remove them. Stepping over to his desk, and picking up the device from its charger and flipping it open while shutting off the alarm. Only to frown at seeing the screen spaz out as it blinked on and off. "Je ne peux pas le croire…" Chirping of birds could be heard past the curtained window. Light bled through, with a thin line cutting in between them. He brought a hand to rub his eye as it adjusted to the change. Grumbling as he fell onto the couch while pushing back his bangs with a tired yawn. "Man… Why do I still feel tired?"

His body felt like it had stockpiled all the fatigue from a workout, then forced it all out as soon as he was conscious again. Mind fuzzy, senses dulled; all in a flash, he became disoriented. Face paling with the sinking feeling in his stomach climbing up his throat wanting to come out. The taste of bile skirted at the edge of his tongue, but he pushed it back down.

"Blegh." he groused. "I feel like I'm on a boat…"

"..."

"I haaaaaate boats…" Yu whined as he slumped to his side and his upper body fell onto the couch. Letting his body quell the rebellion in his guts over the course of minutes, taking the time to simply let it go its course while he tried to concentrate on he got in this situation in the first place.

Was it something to do with what I made last night…? That was Yu's first thought. Maybe it was… wait what did he make for dinner last night?

A rap of knock-knock-knocks came from the bedroom door.

"Uh…" Stumbling upward, he wasn't sure how long he had been processing the swimming miasma lingering in his mind, but he found the strength to call out. "Uhh… Come in?"

The door clicked open, pushing inward and his uncle stepped into view in his… Come to think of it, he can't recall ever seeing his uncle wearing anything other than his "uniform". Not even pajamas.

"Hey kid, the hell are you still sittin' around for? You got school to get to." Dojima almost spoke in a low commanding yell as he stepped in. His face with a crossed expression of mild irritation before he blinked a few times. And then switched to something with a hint of concern. "Hey, you alright kid? You're looking kind of pale. Don't tell me you're already sick on your second day in Inaba."

"I'm uhh…" Yu pressed a hand against his forehead. Feeling a raging storm of conflict fighting inside it. Second day…? Haven't I been here for a while now? Try as he might, Yu couldn't figure out the 'why' at the moment. But given the fact he was currently under the stern gaze of his uncle, he figured it'd be better to sort out everything later. "I think I'll be fine after I take some medicine. And umm… I'll be ready in a flash."

"Alright… Just make sure you don't push yourself too much." Dojima warned, clearly having second thoughts on whether or not he should put his foot down and stop him from going. "I'm going to head into work. Nanako can help you find some medicine. Till then, take care."

"Will do. Catch ya later…" Yu said as he watched his uncle step out from the door and closed it again. Hearing his footsteps echo down the stairs. Leaving him to sort the puzzling thoughts in his mind as he tried to grasp some comprehension of what he was feeling. Considering that it felt like someone kept thumping a fist against the back of his skull like an anxious boxer. Without any sense of rhythm to the motion.

Kubo… His name cut through all the fog clouding his thoughts. He's… No, it was the shadow, wasn't it? It's somehow behind whatever… 'this' is. Deciding to confirm a haunting suspicion that formed less than a minute prior, Yu went over by his door. Bending and noticing that his calendar he normally pinned right next to it had fallen off somehow. Picking it up, he flipped until he found the circled date.

"April twelfth… Great… What twisted scheme is he playing at?" Yu unceremoniously tossed it onto the metal shelf and turned around while running a hand through the top of his hair. "Ugh, why couldn't the shadow just let us beat it up and be done with it? Whelp, can't panic right now. Persona!"

Nothing. Not even a dull blue glow.

"Yup… should have figured it wouldn't be that easy…" He let out a sigh at his failed summoning attempt. Looks like brute forcing it might not be an option. Can't summon Izanagi, so probably none of the others in my deck either. Am I in the real world for real? Or am I in a copy of the real world in the TV world? Ugh… I'm going to get a migraine with the mental gymnastics needed to wrap my head around this.

Guess I should figure out what's changed and what hasn't. Hope the others are doin' alright without me in a fight. With any luck, it won't take a half a year to figure out how to get out of here. Maybe all of this will be in the blink of an eye once I figure it out.

With that, Yu grabbed his book bag and started to head out the door. Only to stop just as he opened it.

"Bonté divine… I hope my brain can handle all this. Last thing I need is an aneurysm."


Afterschool, Yasogami High.

School had been… awkward.

It took every fiber of being, every thread of his psyche, every whatever-preferred-measurement he used to quantify his will into not falling into the habits he developed.

That didn't mean he kept to the script he had written down in his mind as to what he did that day - no, far from it. First he helped Yosuke out of the bin (which he hoped wouldn't be a repeat for tomorrow.) After an agonizingly long small-talk session mixed with introductions, it was there he confirmed his suspicions that the perceived reality he now stood in was like time had been pushed back to the start. Before all the changes to his routine. His daily life. His relationships.

Everything had been practically erased except all the experiences in his mind. Well… not the muscle definition from his daily training. That was probably harder to get rid of.

It hurt seeing the recognition lost on them. Eyes hinting absence of memory.

Real or fake, he couldn't treat them differently because of it. Clearly whatever rules were in play forced a strange take on reality that couldn't be ignored. And acting against how he would normally would be a betrayal on an internal level. Something that might end up being hard to recognize, and much harder to fix.

That had been how Yu more or less spent the waning hours of the day. Worrying in his own mind while ignoring anything the Ghost of Morooka's past had to say. Which had been a bit of a fright given how to Yu, he was now interacting with a now-dead man. But hey, if he already knew everything that would be on the test, why bother relearning it? Maybe this time he can ace it rather than scoring top marks.

Ignoring inconsequential advantages for what could be convinced as time travel or a better description, parallel world travel - Yu declared in his own mind one simple fact: don't think about it. He is neither smart nor wise enough to understand the underlying mechanisms of what constituted whatever creation he found himself in. Anything involving the supernatural kerfuffle that had become his life the past few months was too much of a brain teaser for him to completely understand. This whole situation now went completely against anything he had understood prior. How the heck does a shadow create a false reality? How does a shadow make everyone seem so real? What gave it the baseline? His memories, or the original person? Or is something or someone else at work here?

And so, rather than distracting himself and almost hitting the school gate on the way out, he followed his prior established guideline: don't think about it.

Oh, right. He was here that day too.

There he was. The kid that was the source of his woes for the better part of the day. Flanking the entrance with a fish-eyed expression that refused to blink. He wore the same uniform, something that went at odds with the surrounding Yasogami uniforms. Where the locals' looks had a more casual flair, his uniform made the attempt to make him appear presentable and respectful. A suit jacket, black. A tie, dark green. A collared-shirt, white and unpopped. Embroidered on the left beneath the label sat a simple shielded-crest of red and green squares. Of course, Kubo also wore shoes and pants that suited the business-like image that his uniform demanded of him, alongside his bookbag. Only things betraying that idea were his poor slouched posture and continued dead and the messy mop on his head.

No surprise early dismal of the class today, and yet he still sits out here and waits all day? The fact that uncle wasn't called out today already told me things were far different from before. So why keep this change? Whatever. I need answers, and I am not in a mood to be patient.

"Oh hey, Mitsuru, what's up!" Yu moved past Chie and Yukiko, who had been walking alongside him as they exited the schoolgate. Mind too preoccupied with his current goal. The greeting forced Kubo's face to twist in bewildered annoyance. Taking advantage of this, Yu closed the distance and firmly planted his free hand on Kubo's shoulder. A brief hint of resilience was quickly snuffed by a tightened clutch and a faux smile on Yu's face. "Been awhile! How goes it, bud?"

"Hey -!" Kubo tried to squeak out.

"Do you… know this guy, Narukami?" Chie asked, sharing the same questioning look that Yukiko wore.

"Yup!" To drive the point home, Yu made sure to squeeze his hand more to ensure compliance. "Know him from one of the other schools I've been to. What was it, year and a half ago? Something like that. Anyways, don't wait up on me. I'm going to catch up with Kubo here!"

"Huh?" Yukiko sounded hesitant.

Please let this stupid plan work.

"Oh okay." She said after a far too long pause. "I guess let's head to Junes like we planned, Chie?"

"Awww… I wanted to talk to the new kid some more."Chie pouted, with far too much exaggeration. "Alright, well I'll just pry all the answers out of you tomorrow, Narukami! So be ready!"

"No problem." Yu gave her a nod as she responded in kind and started heading off down the street.

"Sorry, Chie can be excitable." Yukiko gave a slight bow of her head before chasing after her friend.

That worked? Well, I guess I have "new kid" status right now. Maybe they decided to not bother with whatever trouble I am about to cause.

The silence following after they left grew tense second by second before Kubo had enough and ripped his arm away with a sneer. Only for his furious glare to dampen upon seeing the stern face Yu had on. Arms crossed in eyes boring into him.

"What the hell is your problem?" Kubo said in a harsh tone. "You ruined my chance to get with -"

Yu threw up a hand, cutting him off. "Don't." He casted a look back the way his fr- classmates went. Maintaining his steely expression. "No matter what reality, you'd have better chances of winning a lottery than getting a date." Turning back, "Besides, you and I need to have a chat."

"Or what? All I have to do is yell -"

"Yell for help?" Yu finished his sentence for him in a low, heavy tone. "You're a stranger standing outside a school you clearly don't belong to. The suspicious one here is you. I can list a dozen or so other things to make anything you're about to do seem like a bad idea… but… you already know this is a game, don't know?"

"So… You've deduced that much." Kubo's voice swapped into the haunting deepness his Shadow possessed. Eyes flashed that telltale sickly yellow. "Then let us do as you suggested, and speak elsewhere."

If he can't do it here, then there must be rules to this he is even bound by… Yu nodded with the suggestion. "We can talk at the shrine. No one really hangs out there."


Afterschool, the Shrine.

Seeing this time of year again isn't so bad.

Spring leaves still bloomed wonderfully against the gentle rays of the sun with slight overcast. In the distance, you could make out the heavier clouds encroaching on Mount Yasogami with what would be no doubt rainfall. The local shrine appeared a bit more dilapidated than what Yu had remembered from before. Probably he was the one that helped clean up the place occasional.

He wasn't much of a believer in the gods, but he could sure use a few on his side now. And persona-cards don't count.

Shadow Kubo kept eerily quiet the whole way over. Maintaining an almost stiff walk cycle that looked unnatural to stare at. Almost as if he had to force each muscle to repeat the same action over and over again with only slight variations to account for slopes or bumps.

Other than that, everything else appeared normal. People still walked up and down the shopping district, going about their standard affairs. Master Daidara could be heard hammering out his latest pieces. That weirdly rad bookstore owner was hanging up some new signage on his windows. Mrs. Shiroku was beating a carpet against the wall of her shop, cleaning it before the evening setting.

However, Yu did hesitate a step past the light post that would usually be flanked by the entrance to the Velvet Room. Seeing its space empty. It had become such a familiar fixture of the area that it felt wrong with it being absent from there. When stopped staring and resumed his pace to follow Kubo, he idly reached into his pants pocket. The place where he kept his keyring next to his wallet. Both were there, and when he dragged his fingertips in there to see what was in there through touch, he felt the emblem on the car key. So it's still there. He hid his happiness at the fact that he still had an option - an out.

Yet when his hand hovered over it, he couldn't bring himself to press it.

This is like the nightmares. Everything feels real yet I know it's not. Here I am escorting the Shadow of the person I am currently tracking. Who apparently has the power to create this… world. The cautious side of me is telling me to bug out, rush back to your friends. But whenever I press the key, it sends me back to the Velvet Room.

Which begs the question: am I physically here?

Air smells crisp. I can smell the petrichor hanging around from last night. Flowers. The sun on my skin. The gentle breeze. It registers all as real, but I can feel my brain straining to rebel against it.

I can't risk it.

If I am physically here, then I have to face whatever challenge is ahead and get back to the others. I know they can hold out long enough. We've rested. We've prepared. Yosuke can lead. Rise can support him and his decisions in a snap. Teddie and Yukiko can mend injuries. Chie and Kanji can dish out damage, and take it just as much. They'll be fine. They can focus on dividing Shadow Kubo's attention, because I doubt all of this is happening in real time for me. This may not be the Velvet Room exactly - well, it's missing that nice music calming music for one thing - but some of the rules may apply here.

Besides, Igor told me to try and face one of these nightmares and see it through to the end. Trial by fire and the like. Because my back is against a figurative wall.

"We're here." Shadow Kubo turned with its usual robotic stare. Something that remained a constant and unnerving fact considering how much of a betrayal it was to previous encounters with shadow-selves. "Ask your questions so that you may learn the rules of this game."

"Alright." Yu walked along the stone path to the shrine, stealing a glance to see if Mr. Fox was anywhere, but sighed at seeing no signs. He sat down on the steps. Glaring back at Kubo. "Be straight with me. None of this is really real, is it?" Might as well get the obvious ones out of the way…

"Yes and no." The would-be jailor flatly replied. "This world is as real as it needs to be for the game."

Cryptic… Yu frowned at the answer. "Okay… That last thing you said before you shoved me in that box. Something like 'experience what you have', correct?"

A nod answered.

"Going to elaborate on that?"

"No. That would defeat the purpose of 'the Game.'"

Figures. Yu shook his head. "So I'm running at this blind then? What purpose does resetting the proverbial clock back to my second day in Inaba? With all my memories intact?"

"An oversight." Woah, it could admit fault. Wild. "Your will proved far too great to put that rule into place. However, the rules have been amended to allow this change. It will only heighten your despair further once you have experienced what I have."

"Uh-huh." Despite the dry tone and frankly irritating choice of phrasing, Yu pushed to maintain a level head. Though he was starting to feel snippy. "What about the changes that actually happened? If I recall correctly, this is supposed to be the day they discovered the first body. Ya know? The reporter you killed?"

The shadow grew silent for a moment. As if it were thinking what to say next. "Your bonds come from your struggle to find the Truth. A question was asked: What if you did not have that conflict to bring you together?"

"So you removed the murders occuring in this 'timeline' then."

It nodded, "Yes. This is still a game, so one hint will be provided to you. Can you guess it?"

"No." Yu answered without offering himself any time to contemplate the question. "Because you're going to tell me whether I want to hear it or not."

It chuckled.

Chuckled!

Up and until this point, the Shadow showed no signs of being remotely in touch with any emotion. Leaving was more than enough cause to put Yu on alert. Waiting and seeing with tension building all across his nerves. Pushing and restraining themselves to bolt at a moment's notice.

"Your wish has been granted. You will not see me again until the weight of this world breaks you."

"Wha -" Now it was Yu's turn to be cut off. Since Shadow Kubo vanished in a blink - No! Less than a blink of the eye! It was looking at something existing then unexisting in a flash! Causing Yu to jump to his feet and look around hurriedly. Trying to spot and see if anything appeared out of place.

His mind kept racing, but he felt it start to slow down by pulling the brakes when nothing appeared to give it alarm. "A wish?" Yu repeated out to the empty area. Nary a soul in sight. "Wait… it doesn't mean that one… does it?"


Evening, Dojima residence.

Sometimes. The best remedy to relieve yourself in a stressful situation is to do what comes naturally.

Which for days like this one, it was for Yu to make dinner. The same he always had - or in this case. Will have.

Today's menu? Probably one of the simplest dishes he could make with enough complexity to provide an interesting enough challenge: Ramen.

Specifically with chicken, since in Yu's own personal opinion, poultry always did a better job of sucking up the flavor in the broth. Mixed in with all sorts of vegetables. Spinach, bamboo chutes, some brussel sprouts to really push the green home. Complemented with a smidge of garlic to dull the worst part of their flavor. Soft boil some eggs, slice them in half and add them on top of the chicken. More protein never hurts. Toss in some swiftly sauteed onions that were cooked along with the meat to soak the oils, and there's a hearty meal for anyone. Unfortunately, he had no time to prepare ramen noodles from scratch; but that's more effort than it was worth right now.

Still, enough for three tonight. Each of the members of the Dojima household sat with a filled bowl in the living area as they prepared to eat dinner.

"Damn." Dojima swore aloud as he stared at the assembled bowl in front of him. Looking at it as if he were scrutinizing it as if it were a cor - er, piece of evidence. He bit the side of his cheek as he glanced over to his daughter, who shared an equally stunned expression. "Sorry. Didn't mean to swear… but dang, kid… You really didn't have to go out of your way cooking something like this."

"It's nothing." Yu said absent-mindely before biting his own cheek like his own before. "Um, sorry. I just wanted to show thanks. Dig in, I promise it's good."

"Okay…" Nanako hesitantly pulled up her chopsticks from the table, taking a tentative grasp of her noodles as she brought some of them close. Then with a swiftly slurp, she started to greedily dig in. "Woah - Thish ish rweally good!"

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Nanako." Dojima chuckled with a wry smile, before doing the same thing with his own bowl. Mimicking the same action as he realized how well it tasted. "Wow! Where'd you learn to make something this good? It's almost as good as Aiya's…"

"Thanks. Just practice is all." Yu smiled at the compliment. Been trying to decipher that recipe for awhile. Glad that whatever is happening isn't stopping me from making a decent meal. Still… I can't exactly tell him that. Then started to dig into his own bowl as the evening continued on.

Eventually, the hours started to wane and things drew to a close. Dojima helped clean up before sending Nanako up to bed before she could fall into a food coma. Considering she had downed what leftovers remained.

Yu returned to his room. Swapped into his pajamas and let his mind wander as he began to try and process everything that occurred. Reanalyze everything over and over until something stuck out. Any hints at the chinks in the armor of this world. Something that he could do to pull it part at the seams. Collapse it so he can escape.

But so far? One day in? It already appeared to be a better world than before.

To start, that reporter lady from way back when isn't dead. That didn't stop the scandal from going through. That blasted at half-volume over the television speakers as they rerun the program with a few updates on the situation. Adding speculation and an interview from the politician's soon-to-be ex-wife.

Still… it didn't seem right.

One thing Yu noticed different in this new reality, is that he didn't have his journal. That precious thing that he kept close to himself time after time. No matter the situation, it was always in reach whenever he needed to quickly pen an idea down. Most of the notes in there were already nestled in his memory, but he couldn't take those for unquestionable fact. He had plenty of spiraling ideas and theories as to what hints he gathered of this strange world where will could manifest into personas. Trying to decipher as much of its riddles as he could in between his notes on the investigation itself.

Honestly, he couldn't help but smile solemnly at the fact he had basically been heading his own field of research in a way. Part-time detective. Part-time scientist. Full-time student.

Man, my life really is a bad manga. I mean come on! I've basically been thrown back in time into my own past except for a few differences! This is nuts!

It took some nervous chuckling, almost threatening to spill into laughter, for Yu to gather his composure enough to start resting. Beginning the process to the wind down for the night.

He knew whatever was ahead, he had to face it. Something about Shadow Kubo made it seem like they might be a different outcome to all this. A game is being played here, and Yu knew none of the rules. Personas didn't work. He didn't have people he could trust to help him figure it out - yet. And worse of all, he had to suffer through it day by day.

Damn that wish. How'd he even know that? I…

I know for a fact that I don't want to be left alone anymore.