Chapter 14: Sweet & Bitter Memory
Yu Narukami
Sunny - Morning – 12/11/2012(Monday) – Yasogami High School, Inaba
(2 days before the break of Great Seal)
After a long discussion with his parents, Yu is allowed to finish his study in Inaba with his friends, much to his pleasure. The transfer form of his supposed to arrive tomorrow, but to his surprise, the school allows him to transfer today. The best guess in his mind is probably the great achievement he did last year in his academic and curriculum, which help the school to gain some reputation among other school.
From the moment he enter the school, finally Yu realize how popular he is among the of his juniors are whispering praises about him. Many girls blush and giggle when they see him. Some even wave at him, which he wave back kindly.
Two of his friend from the sport club, Kou Ichijou and Daisuke Nagase are so happy to see him that they completely forgot about his appearance in front of them during the explosion at police station.
He also heard that Naoki Konishi, brother of deceased Saki Konishi, apparently had gained some reputation among the health association club members and students for being friendlier and much more outspoken. 'Good for him.' Yu thought happily.
While walking near the stairs, he heard someone calling for him. His junior, Ayane Matsunaga from the music club immediately rush to Yu and hug him.
"Senpai! I heard about your transfer and rushed to see you! I missed you senpai…"
"I missed you too Ayane." Yu smile kindly at the petite girl.
"S-senpai, my skills in playing trombone had improved, thanks to you!" Ayane smile brightly at him.
"Hmm, maybe you will play for me later, okay?"
"Of course! Senpai!" She beams. Unable to resist her cuteness, Yu then proceed to pat her head while praising her, making her blush cutely.
While walking down the hallway, he didn't notice someone covering his eyes from behind.
"Guess who?" A familiar female voice is heard behind him.
"Hmm, not many girls can cover my eyes properly since I'm so tall, Yumi?"
Yumi Ozawa removes her hand from his eyes and turns him around to let Yu look at her properly. "Correct! As calm as usual I see." She grins.
"Long time no see, Yumi." He smiles at her. "How's it going?"
"Not much, I often work part time to support my mother nowadays. I missed you Yu."
"I missed you too Cinderella." Yumi blush brightly.
"H-hey we're not in the drama club anymore you know!"
"Who cares? I like seeing you smile." They both grin at each other. He then chats with her for a while before walking off.
While walking, he notices Ai Ebihara, his 'ex' girlfriend from last year according to the rumors. He heard that she now has a very close relationship with Kou of the basketball club. She notice Yu is looking at her, and proceed to stomp towards him.
"You! Why didn't you say you were going to transfer here again! You could have called me you know?!" She said while frowning.
"Um…Surprise?" Yu smile nervously.
"Jeez…You know I can't stay angry at you if you smile at me like that…" She shook her head.
"So Ai, what's this about you getting closer to Kou, finally succeeded?" Yu ask her.
She smiles a bit. "Yeah we're very close now…" She then frowns, "But no, not in that kind of way! I gave up on him long time ago!" She then whispers softly. "I like somebody else…"
"You didn't tell me that in your phone calls. So…who's the lucky guy?" She smacks his arm playfully.
"Hmmph, don't bother in someone else love life, idiot!" She then turn around and walks off with a smile on her face. She's also blushing, not like that idiot will notice anyway. Yu just sighs and smile at her from behind. He then rush to his class, knowing that he is slightly late from all the interactions he was having.
The class goes smoothly even after a week off from school due to the explosion and prisoner escape. However, Yu grimace to see his homeroom teacher was none other than Noriko Kashiwagi, the seductive teacher who replace Kinshiro Morooka (AKA King Moron) who was killed last year when the Investigation Team tried to solve the murder case caused by Adachi. Yu also notice that she winks at him when the other students are not looking, he shivers at the thought.
The 'torture' from Ms. Kashiwagi ends when the bell rang, signing the lunch break. Bringing his self-cooked food, Yu and the Investigation Team eat on the rooftop. He smiles at the nostalgia, while the girls are currently fighting among themselves on who will feed Yu.
"I know which meat is delicious for Yu to eat!"
"But Chie, Yu must be feed with grace by those with elegance."
"Nuh uh! Senpai want to be feed by me, right senpai?~"
"I believe I know how much portion of food Yu-senpai needs to eat to savor the taste effectively."
While the girls are busy bickering, Yu begin to reminisce all the people he formed a bond with that is outside school. 'I wonder what are they doing?' Yu thought to himself. The best way to find out is check on them himself. And so after school end, he waste no time and rush straight to the hospital to check on his uncle first.
Mr. Dojima has greatly recovered from the last time he visited him, although he still forbid by the doctor to leave the hospital until he completely recover. Mr. Dojima's hand is still paralyze by the damage on his backbone, which is why Yu must feed the food for him, despite the embarrassment he felt being feed by his own nephew. Yu also takes a few minutes to ask about Sayoko Uehara, his Devil Arcana social link, to the other nurses. No news about her, but Yu confident she's doing well.
Before he went home, he pays a visit to all his social link friends all around Inaba. Hisano Kuroda, his Death Arcana social link, is told to be sick in her children's home by one of her children. She probably can't see anyone right now with her sickness, leaving Yu withthe only choice is to leave her a get well message to her children and promise to pay a visit to her soon. Perhaps knowing Yu's return to Inaba will make her happier.
Shu Nakajima, his Tower Arcana social link as well as his student, will be enrolling in Yasogami High next year as a first year. His relationship with his mother and friends is better now, with him gaining more friends and help them with their study with his genius mind.
Along the way, Yu takes a moment to visit the Tatsuhime shrine in the shopping district. He is delighted to see the fox of the shrine, his Hermit social link, had been raise well by someone who live nearby, the same goes for the shrine that has been well taken care of by some people. While he is at the shrine, Yu decide to give some offering and pray that he can find Marie and stop the Four Horsemen on the Judgement Day. Whether or not that wish will become true is all up to him and three other man of prophecy.
Before he headed home, Yu went to the daycare to find any trace of Eri Minami, his Temperance social link. Even though she's not there, Yu receives news from some teachers there that she and her stepson is now inseparable, every day they were seen happily together. Satisfied with the news about all the people he formed a bond through his social link, Yu went straight home happily to meet with Nanako as the day drawn close to dusk.
This however, does not go the same for Izanagi…
Cloudy - Night – Dojima Resident, Inaba
"Izanagi, say something!" Yu shout toward Izanagi after calling him using Contact Card in his room. The purpose is to ask Izanagi about Marie, but he remain silent for about 10 minutes now until Yu has completely forgotten Margaret's warning to never use the Contact Card for too long. Yu is slightly frustrated, Orpheus can easily answer when he was summoned by his father's song, but asking the husband of Izanami himself can be so difficult?
"Okay, Izanagi, listen." Yu said, growing tired asking the same question, "Your wife, Izanami, is missing. Do you know where she is? Come on, Izanagi, why are you hesitating?"
"Because of him… I'm hesitating because of him." Izanagi finally begin to speak, "I cannot feel her presence. Something powerful is blocking my power. Even if I do, he will never let me close to her…"
"…..You mean Strife of the Four Horsemen? Izanami is your wife, if you still love her, then I'll make sure you two will be together. Just forget about Strife, he didn't know you as much as you know Izana-"
Yu stop when he felt a burst of aura from Izanagi. The risk of the Contact Card seems to start showing its effect when Izanagi speak toward Yu in a sharp tone.
"He's not someone you can ignore. He is one of the gods among stars that know me and Izanami the most. He stands in higher position than us, the father and mother that gave birth to this land. He is to be worshiped than my children and myself. He is one of the supreme gods born from humanity's emotion!"
Just before Izanagi could release any more burst of aura, Yu recall him and disable the power of Contact Card. 'I never knew Izanagi could get that agitated. But it's still my fault for using the Contact Card for too long.' Yu thought, slightly feeling guilty for unintentionally angering Izanagi. Yu opens the door and peek down stair to see if Nanako was awaken by Izanagi's voice, but she didn't.
Exhausted, Yu lay down on his bed and start to close his eye. It is that moment he realizes his body is sweating profusely. Maybe because he is actually scared when Izanagi said Strife is in 'higher position' than Izanagi and Izanami. What could be more powerful than the two gods that gave birth to Japan in Japanese mythology?
Tatsuya Suou
Rainy - Morning – 12/11/2012(Monday) – Gatten Sushi, Rengedai, SumaruCity
(2 days before the break of Great Seal)
It was always busy in this sushi restaurant, no matter what the day is. The sushi is the best known sushi restaurant in town, the service is great as always but most of all, all the sushi is cook by none other than Eikichi Mishima(Ex persona: Hades), the leader of 'Gas Chamber' who own the restaurant after his father retirement. Still maintaining his rock-star hair style with chef apron, he prepare the Salmon Roe and Tuna dish for his two remaining customer, Katsuya and Kenta "Toro" Yokouchi, one of the most famous rumormonger in the city.
"Here are the Salmon Roe for our police chief and Tuna for Chunky the rumormonger!" Eikichi serve two plate of sushi to them, "Fuhhhh, today sure is a blast! Ain't that right Mr. Suou?"
"You lucky to have your wife helping you, I heard you're short on staff." Katsuya said, taking his first dip into soy sauce with the salmon.
"No worries, Mr. Suou! My wife is like a beautiful robot who knows how to handle my work! Besides, I gonna need this 'workout' for my voice!" Eikichi proudly said, calling for his wife, "Babe, come here for a sec!"
From the back kitchen, a thin and beautiful woman wearing a chef apron in her early thirties appears and walks toward Eikichi. "Looking good, Miyabi!" Toro the rumormonger praise her.
Miyabi Hanakouji, Eikichi's wife shoot a smile toward Toro and Katsuya, which Katsuya don't even bother to look. "Is my husband being nice?" Miyabi ask.
"As usual, Ms. Mishima, and your husband's sushi is good." Katsuya calmly comment as he takes the first bite of the salmon.
"By the way, where're Lisa, Tatsuya and Maya?" Eikichi ask when he realizes that they were late like they originally schedule. Speak of the devil, the door swing open to see Lisa tagging along with Tatsuya, Maya and their son.
"Right on time, guys!"Eikichi happily said. Tatsuya takes a seat beside his brother, their son in between him and Maya and Lisa sit beside Maya. "Katsuya said you went somewhere far for work and just returned yesterday. How about this, you don't have to pay for today's meals for safely returning. It's too bad that Jun's not here today, teaching and stuff." Eikichi suggest, "What do you want to eat, Matsuya-kun?"
Everyone turn to the only child of Tatsuya and Maya, Matsuya Suou, a 7 years old boy with the face and hair of his father, the eye and attitude of his mother. "I want Sweet Shrimp!" Matsuya shout happily while hugging a rabbit doll he get from his mother.
"Maya, I already told you a hundred time don't give him that doll, he's a boy." Tatsuya said. "Tatsuya, he's still young, it won't matter. Mr. Bunbun will get lonely if no one looks after him." Maya reply, more like pleading. Tatsuya sigh, refuse to argue with his optimistic wife any further.
"Hahaha, relax Tatsuya, he's your son! Give him a chance. I mean, look at us, we married for 3 years and still no children. You are lucky you know?" Eikichi said, nudging to Miyabi's side.
"Sterile?" Lisa asks.
"No, no, just… no luck I guess." Miyabi answer sadly, darkening the mood in the restaurant.
"H-Hey, Toro, got any rumors we can hear?" Lisa asks the rumormonger, trying to lighten the mood. "Rumors? …Hmmm, I got no interesting rumors, just some plain common-" Toro stop when he suddenly think of something, attracting everyone's attention.
"Actually, there's one rumor I heard recently, pretty hot topic. Have you heard about the Mayan calendar prophecy?" Tatsuya, Maya and Katsuya turn pale when Toro mention the word 'prophecy'. "From what I heard, the calendar of Mayan supposed to end this year, to be precise, next month. It's just rumors, but people are starting to take it seriously that they actually send a message about it to the entire city, thinking that the world will end."
"Hey, you're right! I did hear about it from one of my customer, something about god will end this world or something. Of course, I don't believe that shit." Eikichi refresh his memory, in return making Tatsuya, Maya and Katsuya become as paler. "Are you okay, mommy, daddy?" Matsuya ask when he sees their faces.
"...It must be a rumor." Katsuya said to ease the negative thought from his mind. "Of course it is, right Tatsuya?" Maya try to cheer the mood that become darker every minute. "Yeah, forget about that…" Tatsuya reply seriously, but the fear is still shown in his eye.
"Whoa, Tatsuya, chill out! You look like a ghost that wants to shit his pant! It's just rumors! Wanna get something to eat? We have special sushi for today!~" Eikichi try to promote his new recipe.
"I'll pass." Tatsuya lazily reply, not even have the appetite to eat anymore. The few minutes of awkwardness flew pass like a gust of wind. "H-How's your family, Eikichi? Doing great?" Lisa somehow repeats the same topic, making Eikichi raise his eye brow in disturbing manner.
"Enough about me, how about you get marry yourself, Lisa? You already 31 and you didn't have a single boyfriend!" Eikichi said to Lisa before turning to Katsuya, "And you too, Mr. Suou. Your brother already has a 7 years old son while you're still focusing on your job. Go find someone, fast, we'regonna get old, you know-"
"Eikichi!" Maya interjects, preventing him from further infuriating them. "Come on, Maya, I am just being honest! I bet they still have no love interest-" Eikichi quickly shut close his mouth in panic with both his hand, realizing his mistake.
"I should be going now, duty call. You may keep the change." Katsuya rouse from his chair and throw a thousand yen on the table before walking straight to the door, not even bothering to look at the others.
"I need to go, see you later Tatsuya, Maya." Lisa rouses from her chair without taking her order and walk away.
"Eikichi, do you realize what you just said?!" Maya scold the panicked Eikichi. Tatsuya rub his forehead with a big sigh, he didn't think that such a memory will return to him, add with the memory of the 'other side'. "I'm sorry! I thought the two of them had pass on after your marriage! I had no idea that they're still…" Eikichi hastily apologize.
Tatsuya massage his temple in frustration. The search for Minato is still on hold and he has a new issue with Lisa? Tatsuya and Maya let themselves to drown in a moment of the past before their wedding…
Afternoon - ?/8/2003(9 years ago) –Aoba Park, Aoba, Sumaru City
A lunch break from the detective's work sure is a precious moment for Tatsuya. Since Lisa invited him to the park, he thought by smelling the flowers could somewhat release his tension. Currently sitting together on the wood-painted bench, he actually enjoys the little peace from cold breeze and quietness.
"You are daydreaming again, Tatsuya." Lisa chuckle, waving her hand in front of Tatsuya and gains his attention.
"I wasn't, I'm just remembering something." Tatsuya slowly reply.
"What kind?"
"I don't know, I just feel that I'm forgetting something really important."
"Aiya, don't think about it too much, or your brother will scold you for losing focus."
"Thanks, Lisa."
"Hey, Tatsuya, are you free tonight? If you could, just want to invite you to dinner."
"Oh, I see. Maybe-" Suddenly there's a ring from Tatsuya's pocket. He quickly picks up the phone with overjoyed expression. "Hello Maya."
"Tatsuya, good thing you answer! I wonder if you're free tonight, I'll pay for dinner!"
"I'll…" Tatsuya turn glance to Lisa before turning away, "Yeah, I'm free tonight. I'll be waiting in front your office." And he hangs up and slowly turns to Lisa who's frowning. "Lisa, I'm sorr-"
"I never had a chance, did I?" Lisa interrupt without a second thought, "It always about Maya." She rouses from her seat and begin to walk away. "Don't worry, I won't be bothering you and Maya anymore…"
"Lisa, w-w-" Tatsuya try to say something, but his guilt overtook his sense. He did nothing but simply let Lisa to walk away. Those feeling of her… Tatsuya never actually took notice anymore ever since he grew closer to Maya. Even when he went to the dinner with Maya that night, he still felt guilty watching Lisa walk away that day.
The same goes for Maya…
Maya Amano
Morning - ?/2/2004(8 years ago) – Police Department, Konan, Sumaru City
In Katsuya's office, Maya is seen standing in front of Katsuya, arguing something.
"I told you to not get close to my brother anymore! His memory of you from the 'other side' could never return!" Katsuya scream in anger and frustration.
"Then why did you told him about what happen with Nyarlathotep?" Maya counter.
"Because I thought he would understand this situation and become nothing more than a friend with you! But now, look what happen! Do you know what he said to me last night? He said he could hear his persona calling out for him, even though he should have lost his persona ability along with his memory! It's all because of you! He shouldn't involve in our-"
"I know that! No matter what happen, he won't be the same Tatsuya that I know anymore! His memory won't come back! I understand! But it wouldn't matter if we close together-"
"Now I get it, so you want him to have his memory back?! He's not the same Tatsuya that you know, so leave him be and-"
"Are you jealous of him, Katsuya?" Maya fold her arm, waiting for Katsuya's answer. Just as she thought, he becomes speechless. She shook her head in disappointment and decides to leave the office, but before she could move, she realizes that her wrist being tightly held by Katsuya.
"…Maya, listen to me. No matter how much you love him, he will never be the same again. I can take care of you as much as Tatsuya can. So give me a chance, Maya." Katsuya plead her.
"…I don't know, I just… want to be with him. If his memory won't return, I will make a new one with him. Our memory together…" Maya said, forcefully release herself from Katsuya, "I can't, Katsuya. I… choose him."
Maya rush to the outside without looking back. If she had turn her back to look at him that time, she would see that tears are rolling down his cheeks, that her word had pierce though Katsuya's heart like a sword, leaving a deep wound that can never be healed again.
The marriage between Tatsuya and Maya took place several months after that incident. In people's eye, Lisa and Katsuya had fully accepted their love, but the truth is much more different than one can guess.
Aigis
Evening – 12/11/2012(Monday) – Kirijo Main Facility, Tatsumi Port Island
(2 days before the break of Great Seal)
Aigis tiptoe when she realizes Mitsuru is still inside her office, wondering what she's doing in this late hour. Unaware of Aigis presence, Mitsuru stare thoughtfully at the picture of the SEES they took three years ago. Her lips form into a smile when she wipes clean the face of her first love.
"Everyone is waiting for him to return." Aigis voice startles Mitsuru. "A-Aigis? My apologies, I was just reminiscing our moment together back when we were still in SEES." Mitsuru replieswith a red tint on her cheek.
"Oh, the file."Aigis hand out a file filled with the list of all employees and worker in Kirijo Group. "Fuuka said it is difficult to find any suspect in our company. There is no strange activity being conduct either." Mitsuru sink her head, a little unsatisfied by yesterday exploration at Tartarus.
Last night exploration went smoothly for the Shadow Operative. The environment was the same since the last time they visit. Even the access point they used two years ago were still functioning properly, where they can freely travel between floor and block. Unfortunately, there is not a single clue about a chamber behind the clock. Even the analysis power of Juno was unable to find any presence of anybody in the gigantic tower.
Holding all the contact number of all persona users from Inaba and Sumaru City during their meeting yesterday, Mitsuru inform all of them about the misinformation of the 'clock tower'. Two days left, and the Shadow Operative are starting to grow worry with the failure to find the body in Tartarus.
Naoya didn't answer his phone for unknown reason, but when Mitsuru call Nanjo, he said Naoya is currently visiting their old school, which Nanjo refuse to take interest.
Tatsuya and Maya are as clueless as Mitsuru is but they take this time to share the information they got about Mayan prophecy. They seem to be had some kind of 'family' issue, though they refuse to share the problem with anyone.
As for the Investigation Team, they couldn't find a clue about it, but Naoto suggest to decrypt Orpheus's word first if they hope to find the missing body. Of course, they still need to find Marie as well, and they'll leave it to Yu to track her down using the Contact Card.
"You done enough for today, you may return to the dorm." Mitsuru order after reviewing the file, "I will be home late again today, tell the others at the dorm they can eat their dinner without me."
"Don't push yourself to hard, Mitsuru-san." Aigis said, leaving Mitsuru's office. The sun is setting soon, which make Mitsuru extremely depressed despite her usually calm attitude.
Naoya Toudou
Cloudy - Late Night – 12/11/2012(Monday) –Narumi, SumaruCity
(2 days before the break of Great Seal)
Currently surfing the internet on her bed, Eriko decide to stay late night on Tatsuya's request to find any clue about 'Nuclear Chaos' that evening. Her ringtone is heard from her hand bag and she rush to reach for her phone. She smiles immediately when she sees the name of the caller and quickly answers it.
"Hello, Naoya."
"Still not in bed? Good! I need someone to talk right now, you know, I'm bored here. What're you doing right now?"
"Surfing the net and trying to solve another mystery about something from Tatsuya. Where are you right now?"
"Mikage-cho, just finished visits our old school. Kinda nostalgic if you ask me, the promise you made to me on the graduation day? I remember it till this day."
"So when will you come back here, to Sumaru City? There's so much I want to talk about while spending time with you. Maybe we can go to dinner together, have a walk on the street, reacquainted with each other again…"
"I would love that."
"Great! I will never let this chance slip away. ….I'm single and you're single, we could…you know… Forget it, it's too soon, we can get to know each other for the time being."
"I see what you did there, not that I mind anyway. But I suggest you go to sleep, Minato is going to return from dead soon and we better find his body fast. Night, Eriko."
"Goodnight, Naoya." And she hangs up the phone. Since there's absolutely no one in that room, Eriko cheer joyfully when she realized she will be spending time with Naoya. She is in love with him since high school, this might be the moment of truth for Eriko to start a family. After all, most of her high school friends had engaged or married. Even Yukino has started her family with her mentor and husband, Fujii Shunsuke, much to Eriko embarrassment since she was one of the most popular girls in the school and yet still waited patiently for years for Naoya to return. Why delay any further? They should just get marr-
Rainy - Dark Hour
It seems like the god doesn't give her a moment to enjoy her little happiness as the surrounding change into green, blood and heavy rain- Wait, Dark Hour in Sumaru City? And when Eriko walk to the window to peek outside, it was raining?!
Tatsuya Suou
Rainy – Dark Hour – Suou Residence
He thought he's just having a strange nightmare when he wakes up to see a familiar environment around his room. But as he clears his eye carefully, he is shocked to see the whole city fall into the same Dark Hour back at Tatsumi Port Island. He checks the digital clock on the small table next to him, no electricity and the smell of blood continue to filled the room. He is convinced, it is Dark Hour…or maybe a 'different' Dark Hour? Instead of the green theme, the color of air was blood red and it was raining outsid-
He jump from his bed shirtless and rush to the window to see that his city is bathed in thick blood rain. Unable to explain it himself, he wakes Maya who sleep besides him. He become panicked when he see Maya is having some sort of nightmare, mumbling something like 'the masked circle', 'Araya shrine' and 'the pain at her stomach'.
"Maya, wake up!" Tatsuya scream to wake her up from her nightmare. Upon opening her eye, she forces her body up to hug Tatsuya as tight as possible, while shivering in fear. "I remember…I remember everything from the 'other side'…" Maya confess.
"…All key… is one…"
The strange voice is whispering in his mind again, the memory from the 'other side' flood back to him rapidly. The thing that comes to his mind that time is four of his friends, Maya, Lisa, Eikichi and Jun Kashihara(Ex persona: Chronos).
Releasing Maya from her hug, Tatsuya reach for his usual outfit and dress himself. "Where are you going, Tatsuya?" Maya ask. "Miss Kirijo said only persona users can experience Dark Hour, and you have your memory back from the 'other side'. Which means Lisa, Eikichi and Jun are probably awake by now and having their memory return as well. I'm going to find them." Tatsuya said.
"In the middle of the rain? Miss Kirijo warn us that shadows is active during this hour, you can't go!" Maya warn him. "…Fine, then I'm just checking outside." Tatsuya stubbornly reply and marches toward the front door.
With a red umbrella matching the color of the heavy rain, Tatsuya search around the city and begin to wander around the street. He looks to the cloudy sky and notice an alignment of constellation in form of circle right above Sumaru City. He remember this scenery, it was the same moment where he meet with his 'other side' on the middle of Xibalba, except there is no rain.
All of the sudden, he heard an extremely loud bell ringing from across the ward of Sumaru City. His best guess as where the bell coming from: somewhere at Rengedai, where the school he once studied. The bell ring is so loud that it completely negates the sound of the heavy rain, probably anyone who's asleep at this time can wake instantly by the sound.
"A bell? Where could that sound came from? Is it from my school or-"
'His body is in the chamber behind the 'clock tower'…'
'In the morning, it appeared as Gekkoukan High School, but it turns to Tartarus during the Dark Hour.'
Orpheus and Mitsuru's word suddenly flood back to him. He begins to fit in the puzzle. "The school, the tower, the bell…" Tatsuya bit his lips, "…Maya's right, I can't see through this rain alone. I better check it tomorrow with the others." Tatsuya decides to go back inside his house after realizing that he cannot see through the street with the heavy rain.
Naoya Toudou
Cloudy – Dark Hour – Main SEBEC Company entrance
Naoya grin upon the view in front of him. The supposedly tall building of SEBEC Company has turn into something 'he shouldn't be surprise of'. Alone in the Dark Hour, Naoya takes one last look at the 'tower' before walking away from the entrance.
"The 'wheel of fate' is beginning to spin itself." Naoya said to himself, "I wonder if Igor is watching this? If we fail, the Velvet Room and Sea of Soul will crumble along with him. *Sigh* …Conquest, are you sure this is the right thing to do? Do you really want Nyx to communicate with 'his' true consciousness, 'restarting' everything?"
He sighs again, this time with much worry and sadness. From his pocket, he takes out his graduation picture with all his friends from St Hermelin, whispering something.
"After all of this end, you can hate me all you want, but please love me for now, okay Eriko?"
Yu Narukami
Foggy – Dark Hour – Dojima Residence
Yu doesn't feel strange anymore when the Dark Hour approach, what happen back at Tatsumi Port Island might be worse than what can happen today. He ignores the smell of fog and blood in his room, covering his ear with his pillow from the buzzing sound of his TV as he force himself to sleep.
"Yu… save me…"
Yu jump from his bed and begin to search for the voice that he knows belongs to Marie. He search high and low in his room and finally realizes the voice come from his TV.'Silly me.' He thought silently.
The image in the Midnight Channel has change, this time, it's a blurred female figure in front of some kind of Shintoism-theme gate. He takes a closer look, and quickly identifies the figure as Marie wearing a black kimono. The gate remind him of Yomotsu Hirasaka, but as he lean as close as possible to the screen, he see the dungeon is far bigger behind the gate than their previous visit to catch Adachi. "Marie!" Yu scream.
"That's it,I'm going to try again." Sensing the opportunity, Yu takes out his Contact Card and summon Izanagi. "Izanagi, that's Izanami. Look! Do you know this place?" Yu ask Izanagi by showing him the screen. In the screen, Marie begins to walk into the gate and disappear from his sight. "Where is this place, Izanagi?" Yu ask again.
"This is..." Izanagi answer, lifting his hand and sink it into the small TV screen, "…the land of dead…" And he disappear when a sudden electricity shock Izanagi from the screen, startling Yu by the damage taken from his persona. "The land of dead?…" Yu whispers while steadying himself, still not satisfied with such information. "I don't know when will I find you, but just wait for me Marie, we're going to save you." Yu said, determine as ever to find Marie as the image of the gate change to the image of sphere shape creature.
Dark Hour – 12/11/2012(Monday) - Velvet Room
(2 days before the break of Great Seal)
In the middle of the Velvet Room, Demon Painter, Nameless the pianist and Belladonna the singer as well as the former resident of the Velvet Room stand side by side facing Igor, Margaret and Theodore.
"What would be your news?" Igor asks the purpose of their revisit to the room.
"We bring terrible news from the Sea of Soul. 47% of humanity's heart has succumbed into believing that the world is truly coming to an end." Nameless speaks, "Their fear are beginning to be absorbed by the Four Horsemen. Nyarlathotep's 16 years and 47 days of plan are proved to be successful. The deities of darkness had agreed to cooperate with Nyarlathotep."
"Which includes all the Great Old One and Nyx?" Igor reconfirms.
"Correct, but we receive support from the Olympian Gods, they will be an advantage for Philemon and the four man of prophecy to defeat the Four Horsemen." Nameless add.
"What is Kotoamatsukami decision?"
"…The rest strongly refused to cooperate, putting the blame on Philemon as the one responsible for separation between Izanagi and Izanami. As for their leader, I cannot interpret his action." Nameless reassure his word.
"Do not worry, let us have faith in our persona users. Everything will be decided when the 'messiah' return." Igor calmly replies with a huge grin on his face. "My master will arrange everything."
?
? – 12/11/2012(Monday) - Behind the Great Seal
(2 days before the break of Great Seal)
"You come again." The blue haired boy speak when Philemon appear in front of him.
"I see you are not pleased to see me, Minato Arisato. I am not hostile." Philemon reply.
"I'm not, you still owe me a question…Who was that girl?"
"It is not something you can fully understand. Only by meeting her yourself will answer your question. The reason I come here is different."
"Name it, I'm stuck within the Great Seal and I don't even know what my friends are doing right now."
"Your friends are waiting for you, but first, you need to focus on your bond with the girl that you will meet soon."
"Oh? Seems easy enough, I did have many bonds with many other people, creating a new one with her isn't a problem."
"Hmm, I see… an interesting fellow. I hope you succeed then. The rest will come later, for now, this girl is your objective."
After the last word had been spoken, Philemon disappears into a swarm of blue butterfly, leaving the boy alone.
'Hmm…a bond with that pretty girl?' The boy smirks slightly. 'Interesting.'
"...Oh well, no use wondering. I will meet her soon enough." He said while taking a sit.
"For now, I will plan on how to look cool in front of her during of our first meeting." Then the bluenette proceed to think while rubbing his chin sagely.
A/N: The current condition of all social link character from Persona was decides by myself, since I don't actually know what happen to them. And let's just assume that Yu have two Sun Arcana social link, Ayane and Yumi. Just a note about Persona 2, Lisa had once fall in love with Tatsuya and Katsuya had fall in love with Maya. But they give up that feeling when Tatsuya and Maya married. I decide not to talk about the love struck between Naoya and Eriko right now.
Not much about Persona 3 and 4 in this chapter, except for Izanami could be in 'the land of dead'(I decide not to tell the name first). Demon Painter, Nameless and Belladonna were once a resident of Velvet Room as well as the one who 'play' the 'Aria of Soul' song. About all the Great Old One and Kotoamatsukami, maybe I explain it later. Jun Kashihara is going to appear next chapter, so wait up.