War Arc:
Chapter 50: The Forbidden Project
Tatsuya Suou
Rainy – Night – 27/11/2012(Tuesday) – Hotel Pleiades, Narumi, Sumaru City
(3 days until War's arrival)
"Hey," Tatsuya exited the hall and approached the counter girl, "Do you see any girl walking into this place? She's seven, around this tall (showing his arm and estimated), and she wears a white dress."
The girl at the counter seemed angry.
"Oh, that girl!" The girl said, "Is she your daughter? Well, since you missed her, she's already inside. Next time, take good care of your kids and teach her some manners!"
"Inside?!" Tatsuya turned to the hall and ran back inside. Eikichi wasn't here yet, so he had to search for her himself.
"Mia-chan!"
Aigis
Rainy – Night – 27/11/2012(Tuesday) – Hotel Pleiades, Narumi, Sumaru City
(3 days until War's arrival)
"Do you see him?" Mitsuru said upon entering the large crowds. The hosts of the party, a pair of a recently engaged couple, they were talking to the guests, completely ignoring them.
"There are too many people," Aigis commented.
"Then we need to split up. Keep an eye out for the little girl just now," Mitsuru gave her order.
"Understood. Though..." Akihiko paused as he watched the engaged couple, "Those two reminded me of someone. If they remove their mask... Nah, probably my imagination."
The three of them went their separate way to find Juugo. Since the guests were masked and dense, Aigis had a hard time locating him. But, if the description from the girl was right, then he should still be wearing his signature lab coat.
'That girl called him his father? He can't be the same person, right?' Aigis thought, moving again among the crowds before a few men stopped her, asking for a dance but she quickly rejected them all.
Finally, she saw someone with a white coat talking to the engaged pair of the night. After examining his posture and his measurement, Aigis could fully confirm that she had found him. She had found Karu Juugo.
However, his description matched with the father of that little girl she met outside.
"Ah!"
Aigis let out a small scream when she saw a young girl being wedged between guests not far from her. She had to make her decision now.
Suddenly, someone was pushing her at her back. She turned around and-
"Hey, move it."
A man in a lion mask, buffed and tall, pushed her aside disrespectfully. She wanted to scold, but the man was fast in his pace towards the hosts of the night and soon joined their conversation. They're starting a serious conversation that she felt as if she mustn't miss.
Through her earphone, she contacted Akihiko and Mitsuru.
"Are you two seeing him?"
"Yes. I'm looking at him. I can see you from up here," She heard Akihiko's voice said.
"Please use the magnifying speaker to listen to their conversation," Mitsuru commanded.
"Understood. Mitsuru-san, 5 a clock from Juugo, that little girl from the counter is struggling to move among the crowds. Please help her."
"Very well-" Mitsuru's word was cut off by a new voice from her side.
"Is that you, Kirijo?"
"!" She recognized that voice.
Tatsuya Suou
Hotel Pleiades
When Tatsuya re-entered the hall and quite a while, he saw a figure that he remembered meeting not long ago. The woman was unaware of him, seeing as she was conversating with someone on the hidden earphone behind her hair. From her voice and posture, there's no mistaking it.
"Is that you, Kirijo?"
"Ah!" The woman, who appeared stunned, turned around to see him.
"...Is that you, Tatsuya Suou? Why are you here?"
"That's my line. Just today I met one of your crews. To think you're here instead. What's your mission?"
"...I cannot disclose that-"
"You have no choice right now. This party is fake. Everyone here might be on their 'sides'. The engaged couple you see there? That's Sudou's wrenches. Get out of here."
"Not after I complete my mission."
"I have my own mission here to find a little girl, and you're in my way."
He didn't want to threaten, but it was dangerous. If Mia was here, he needed to find her fast and escape.
"Little girl?" Mitsuru said beneath her mask, "Was it her?"
He turned to the direction of Mitsuru's finger and saw Mia, moving somewhere among the crowd. He looked on the other side of the hall and saw unexpected figures next to Kazuya and Erio.
The man in the lion mask.
"Tatsuya Sudou..." He muttered before turning to Mitsuru, "You have to leave now. This is not a debate. Go!"
With a fast pace, Tatsuya sneaked past the guests and chased after Mia. Mia was unable to hear his calling. Again, he pushed further and reached for Mia.
Mia stopped her tracks upon seeing something, giving some time to catch on. But when he searched for the direction Mia was looking at, he froze.
The man in the white coat. Mia was staring at him, and he was staring at her. Not a word was spoken between them. Was this a father and daughter reunion?
"F-Father..."
He heard Mia spoke at last. She was struggling to keep her sentence straight without stuttering but failed. The man in white coat merely stood still, watching her movement.
"I-I know that's you," Mia said while trying to suppress her tears as she wiped her eyes a few times, "I've been looking for you this whole time. I remembered your words, your necklace. That has to be yours. I remember the boat you sailed for me, the red sea under the stars. Father, it's me..."
As Mia was suppressing her tears, the man in the white coat said nothing but standing still before reaching for something in his jacket pocket. He approached the girl gently.
Then, he said something that increased Tatsuya's confusion.
"How did a runaway subject end up here? No matter."
The man suddenly removed his mask, revealing a middle-aged serious expression while taking out a black hat from his back pocket, while taking out something from his front pocket. Upon seeing the object in his hand, Tatsuya entered adrenaline mode.
Click!
The man pointed the barrel of a gun at Mia with the most serious expression.
"I've been looking for you too. You're a failure that must be disposed of."
"MIAA-CHANNNNN!"
BANG!
Hotel Pleiades
No wonder he was not blessed with a child. Eikichi cursed himself over and over again. He failed to watch over a single kid who was so close to him. He wondered if Miyabi will be angry and disappointed at him once she knew.
"Stupid Eikichi!" Eikichi scolded himself as he reached the hotel where Tatsuya said he was waiting. The rain was starting to get heavy, but he ignored it as he ran into the building.
Drenching in rain, Eikichi removed his jacket and ran towards the event where Tatsuya said he was waiting. However, Tatsuya wasn't there.
"Crap, I hope I'm not too late," Eikichi said, just as a thunderous sound was heard.
A gunshot.
Eikichi paused his tracks after the shocking sound. Following afterward was the sound of screams and crying.
"What... What just happened?!"
Tatsuya Suou
"...Huh? You're that guy from before," The man in the white coat said upon the view.
Tatsuya managed to push Mia out of the way, where the bullet shot barely scratched his shirt. He carried Mia in his arms and faced the man.
"Since it's clear that she's not your daughter, I have no obligation to stop myself from arresting you," Tatsuya said. The guests around him were screaming, rushing to the front door to ran saved for a few people. around Kazuya and Erio, who were probably their bodyguards.
"I am never her father," He said before another presence appeared.
"Juugo! You f*cking piece of sh*t! What are you-" Sudou came running to the man called Juugo before turning to Tatsuya in surprised, "Shut the f*ck up... Tatsuya?!"
Sudou turned to Juugo and pulled him by the collar.
"You were f*cking trailed! By the Suou, no less!"
"You want me to hurry," Juugo removed his hat and put on the red hat, "So please remove your hand because I have someone to kill!"
Juugo once again pointed the barrel at Tatsuya before, out of nowhere, a girl came and kick the hand that held the gun. She slid away, slowly removing her mask. It was Aigis.
"Oh? You're here too?!" Juugo said in anger.
"Juugo!" Aigis screamed before turning to Tatsuya, "Run, take the girl with you!"
Without responding, Tatsuya escaped to the exit, but Juugo wasn't done.
"Do not run away from me!" Juugo chased them, but from the side, another figure appeared which revealed himself to be Akihiko.
"It's payback time!"
Pinning down Juugo, Akihiko landed a few punches at him, but he blocked it easily. Akihiko, however, didn't stop, letting out his anger at the Juugo.
Meanwhile, from the exit, Eikichi emerged from the swarming crowd and saw Tatsuya.
"Tatsuya, what the hell's going on?!" Eikichi shouted, "What happened to Mia and her father?!"
"No! He's not her father! He's Sudou's people!" Tatsuya answered, giving Mia that was hanging in his shoulder to him, "Take Mia away! I already called my brother!"
"What?! Tatsuya, don't leave me hanging! Is that Sudou right there?!"
"There's no time-"
"Hephaestus: Weapon Smith!"
He heard Sudou summoned his persona. This situation was beyond his expectation.
Aigis
Shadow Operative VS Juugo and Sudou
"Aigis, watch out for his machine gun!" Mitsuru came running from the side as she removed her mask. She remembered that man Sudou from Tatsumi Port Island, where he kidnapped Maya Suou. Now, he's here, readying his newly forged machine gun and aimed for them.
"Akihiko-san, move out of there! You'll be shot!" Aigis screamed at Akihiko who was still punching Juugo.
"Cheh!" Seeing the machine was aiming for him first, he dashed out of the way.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Like a madman, Sudou shot everywhere his eyes could see with his handheld machine gun. Some of the guests who were unable to escape in time were shot dead like they were in a shredder. The scene was sickening.
"Hey!" The male of the engaged couple, who was watching from the side, shouted, "We're out of here!"
"Then f*ck off! I don't care!" Sudou replied, "I'm in a bad mood, right now!"
"Don't fall behind! Come, Erio!"
The man pulled his fiance by the hand and ran into the building to the second floor, probably escaping through the escape route somewhere. However, there was absolutely no chance to stop them now, seeing as the machine gun haven't run out of bullet yet.
After hiding behind the pillars, Aigis made her move when she heard the sound of the machine gun stopped. Akihiko and Mitsuru came from all direction to target Sudou.
"Weapon Smith! Maragidyne!"
Throwing his machine gun up into the air, he summoned his persona to cast a heavy fire attack at the surrounding area, at the same time molting the machine into a halberd before Sudou grabbed it. Aigis, Akihiko, and Mitsuru evaded backward to avoid the fire.
"The motherf*cking Shadow Operative themselves!" Sudou mocked, "Takaya said you're a big deal among persona users in Japan, who called themselves the 'elite' force! That we should be wary of them! So scary... Ha, what a joke! You got no sh*t against Tatsuya and his brats!"
"Then you don't know us that well," Mitsuru said, "Offense formation!"
Aigis shot a few bullets at Sudou, but he dodged it with inhuman speed. Akihiko and Mitsuru, however, went for the offense and attacked Sudou.
In a close-combat, Sudou appeared to be master at handling his halberd. But Akihiko and Mitsuru were a professional too. With their compact and harmonical movement, they countered and attacked Sudou evenly, pushing Sudou to the back.
"Caesar!"
"Artemisia!"
Aiming the Evoker at each other, they summoned their persona simultaneously, using it to knock Sudou backward, with Aigis jumping high in the air and aiming a boot kick at Sudou's face.
"Not bad, but boring..."
Before Aigis could land a kick, Hephaestus appeared and slammed Aigis with a huge hammer. She could feel a few of her engine breaking from the clash, where it became worsened when Sudou kicked her away towards Akihiko.
"Aigis!" Akihiko grabbed her in time and settled her down. He examined Sudou and widened his eyes, "He's not even out of breath!"
"We need to change our formation-"
Before Mitsuru could finish her words, a huge attack landed on her from her left, sending her flying to the pillar beside on the other side of the room. It was Juugo summoning a persona with his red hat equipped.
"Surtr, Keep them busy!" Juugo said, going for a different direction as he changed his hat, "I need to dispose of someone."
Tatsuya Suou
"Juugo..." Tatsuya removed his mask and faced the approaching man in the white coat with a purple hat.
"Now, now. I am curious. Why did you trail me when you don't even know my face?" He asked.
"I was looking for you because Mia thinks you're his father. Guess we're both wrong," Tatsuya checking his pulse and realized something huge.
He couldn't summon his persona to suppress Ghadamon within Apollo. He had to find another way out and held up until his brother arrived.
"Why do you call her 'subject'?" Tatsuya tried to prolong the conversation to allow Mia to escape with Eikichi, "I think you know more than I thought. Who was her father? Who's Kazuma Kaneda? How is she related to all of this?"
"I thought I'm the one asking a question?" Juugo said, "I have never heard of Kazuma Kaneda, but what do you mean her 'father'? That thing never had a father or anyone. She never supposed to exist. That is why I must kill 'it'."
"What?"
Was Mia never supposed to exist?
"Enough. Where is 'it'? My subject?"
"She's not a subject," Tatsuya disagreed, "And I will never let you touch her."
"Alright."
Juugo switched his hat to black and proceeded to walk past him, "I have no need to talk to you then."
"What did I just say?!"
Before Juugo could reach the exit, Tatsuya grabbed his shoulder and pulled him, only for him to summon another persona and slammed him with its feet, sending him tumbling backward.
"Why didn't you summon your persona? You could have easily blocked it."
"Urgh!" Tatsuya stood up and faced the man, at the same time wondering how he was able to summon two personas at once. This man was no ordinary persona user, he could tell. Sudou was nothing compared to him.
This man might be the biggest threat he ever faced next to Nyarlathotep. This man was tremendously powerful. Probably because himself from the 'other side' had once faced Nyarlathotep before, he knew true power when he saw it.
He was probably scratching merely the tip of his power.
"...You can't summon your persona," He said, shocking Tatsuya, "This should be easy. Go, Poseidon."
"Hyaaahhh!"
Before Juugo's persona could attack, Eikichi came from nowhere and punched him in the face, sending him flying backward.
"Eikichi!"
"Tatsuya, Mia-chan is safe! The crew is here!" Eikichi shouted.
From the door, a group of heavily armed police entered the hall, armed with weapons and bulletproof vests. Katsuya, equipping his own bulletproof vest, entered the hall.
"Tatsuya Sudou, you're under arrest! Cease your weapon!"
On his command, all guns were pointed at Sudou. The members of the Shadow Operative who were struggling from the front immediately moved to the side.
"Not you again..." Tatsuya heard his brother said upon seeing Mitsuru Kirijo. He then turned to him and Juugo.
"Am I late?"
"I think you've arrived on time, Katsuya. Thanks, Eikichi," Tatsuya said, regaining his stance. and dusted his shirt.
"And you are...?"
Katsuya faced Juugo, but the man appeared calm and serious despite the guns pointing at him.
"Suou-san, be careful! That man is extremely dangerous!" Mitsuru shouted.
"That depends on your action," Juugo said as he stood up from being punched by Eikichi, "At least your grandfather was smart enough to pick a side."
"What?!" Mitsuru shouted, "How did you know my grandfather?"
"I don't have time to answer. Sudou, we're leaving."
"Don't tell me what to do!" Sudou was ready to summon his persona again, "You all can't f*cking touch me!"
"Everyone, watch out!"
Despite Tatsuya's scream, nobody reacted fast enough to what happened next. Juugo, with his perfect aim, shot the chandelier hanging by the ceiling, sending it crashing down on the ground, spreading many sharp jewels to the surrounding. Tatsuya covered his eyes and dodged, where he glimpsed the figure of Sudou running to the second floor, and Juugo following him.
"Wait!" Tatsuya ran after him, where he barely managed to grab Juugo's shirt and by the necklace. Juugo struggled to break free of Tatsuya's hand but failed.
Snap!
With that single sound, the chain of the necklace around Juugo broke apart, releasing him from Tatsuya's grasp and with the necklace in Tatsuya's hand. Juugo appeared surprised, wanting to retake the necklace from him, but a few shots from the police landed on the wall next to him, changing his mind.
"Niflheim!"
Juugo sent another persona and cast a thick fog around the hall, where Tatsuya couldn't see his own hand.
By the time the fog dispersed, it was too late. Neither Juugo and Sudou were at sight.
Aigis
Rainy - Hotel Pleiades's lounge
"Not another word, Kirijo," Katsuya Suou was clearly mad when he confronted them at the side of the ambulance. After all, quite a number of people were killed, "You clearly don't listen to my warning."
"'Don't listen'?" Akihiko spoke out, "We're not the one shooting people to death! We're the one finding him first! You have no right-"
"Akihiko!" Mitsuru stopped him from continuing, "We have no right to object."
"Indeed," Katsuya's face was red with anger, "And don't you think I didn't know about you spreading the 'ghost woman' rumors, and I know you're the one intruding Takaya Sasaki's room this evening! Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you right now! Do I look like an idiot?!"
Aigis remained quiet at the side along with Mitsuru and Akihiko as Katsuya continued. He appeared like a devil when he's angry, enough to make a grown man cowered in fear.
"This isn't some picnic you go with your family! You don't just 'walk' into this city like some hot shot! You can't just close your ears when people talk! In this city, when people talk, it becomes real! PEOPLE TALK, IT BECOMES REAL! And people will, I mean it, people will talk about this! DO-YOU-UNDERSTAND?!"
Mitsuru immediately bowed, keeping an extremely composed expression despite being scolded harshly. Even Akihiko appeared irritated, yet Mitsuru was calm.
"We understand," Mitsuru said, "We will leave the city by tonight."
"But we haven't found Sho Minazuki," Aigis finally spoke out.
"If the chief of the city doesn't approve it, then we'll be wise not to cause any more trouble for them," Mitsuru again bowed, "Is that enough to satisfy you, Mr. Katsuya Suou?"
"..." Katsuya turned silent, where the anger on his face dimmed down. He answered after some time, "Good. But just so you know, I'm scolding you for your own sake. I don't want to babysit anyone. Perhaps, your objective really is that important. But that is enough. Do not involve yourself anymore. I'll be taking over the search for Sho Minazuki."
"You have my deepest gratitude."
"I have one question before I go," Katsuya asked, "Who was that middle-aged man with Tatsuya Sudou?"
"He's a persona user who attacked my people back in the island. He goes by the name Karu Juugo."
"...I'm sorry, but can you repeat that name again?"
"Karu Juugo. Have you heard of him, Mr. Suou?"
"Heard of him, eh?" Katsuya took out his cigarette, "No, not the right one, at least… Enough, don't let me bother you. Prepare for your departure."
Katsuya left with his team under the umbrellas, leaving the Shadow Operative in silence by their conversation.
"He knew my grandfather..." Mitsuru suddenly said, "How did he know? Who is he?"
"Mitsuru-san..." Aigis spoke, "What should we do now?"
"We will leave as promised. We will need to find another lead and start again. Besides..." Mitsuru crossed her arms, "If he knew my grandfather, does that mean he's one of the scientists over ten years ago? We can start from there. I don't believe our trip here is in vain."
"You damn right it's not," Akihiko said, "This is a fairly good trip! Next time, I'll come here as a real tourist."
They wanted to contact home, but unfortunately, they destroyed their phones yesterday. Perhaps Katsuya Suou was right, it's best not to involve themselves any more than it should.
Tatsuya Suou
Rainy - Hotel Pleiades's lounge
"Don't worry, Mia-chan is safe," Tatsuya said to his son on the phone after the incident. He sustained no major injuries, but he was still treated at the ambulance nearby.
"That's good to know," Matsuya said on the phone, "Did she manage to meet her father?"
Tatsuya shifted his attention to the ambulance next to him, where he could see, beneath the rain and umbrella, Mia's sullen face with Eikichi sitting next to her.
"No, Matsuya-kun," Tatsuya said, "He is not her father. It's... more complicated than you think. Tomorrow when you see her, try to avoid asking her about it."
"Okay..."
"Good. Now go to sleep. It's late."
"Uh, daddy?"
"What is it?"
"Is Mia-chan really okay? I don't want her to be sad..."
"Then you can comfort her yourself tomorrow. Maybe she needs your support."
"Alright. I hope she can smile again."
The conversation ended. Tatsuya focused his attention on the little girl, "I hope so too."
When he approached them, he saw Mia was trying to suppress her tear and hid her sobbing. Eikichi multiply stroked her head to calm her down. They noticed him but choose to ignore at first.
"How is she?" Tatsuya asked, finding a spot to sit and loosened his legs next to them.
"It was horrible," Eikichi responded, trying to suppress his anger, "He pointed a gun at a little girl? Unacceptable, there's no way he's Mia-chan's father."
"Then her father must be someone else entirely, or..."
"That thing never had a father or anyone. She never supposed to exist..."
"...Maybe she has no father, to begin with."
"Woah there!" Eikichi interjected, "Please don't say that in front of her! Be a little sensitive!"
"I'm just telling the possibility," Tatsuya said, now facing Mia, "Mia-chan, I need you to tell me specifically about why you would think your father wear this necklace."
From his inner pocket, Tatsuya revealed the cross necklace that he managed to grab from the man called Karu Juugo. From the closer look, it was not an ordinary cross shape, but the cross that was commonly hanged on the church wall. Its exterior was not a normal crystal, but a highly polished ruby. There was a metal string acted as a protective cover at every edge of the necklace. The size of it was small and pocketed-size, but the color made it extremely stand out even from afar.
Thus, Mia began to tell the faint memories of her childhood, where she met a man with the cross-shaped necklace on a boat under the red sky, the story that she apparently told Matsuya days ago.
"Can you specify the 'place' inside your memories?" Tatsuya asked.
"It's... It's a city, but there's nobody. I mean, not empty, but you just can't see anybody. It's like they're all hiding from something..."
"So... The butterfly images that you draw, they came from that 'place'?"
Mia nodded. It seemed that that place might be more important than he thought. But a butterfly in the city?
"Mia-chan, was the city seemed... odd?"
"Huh?"
"What I mean is... does the city seemed like it's 'flying'?"
Eikichi's eyes immediately widened at his question. He had the same thoughts as him.
"Tatsuya, come with me for a sec," Eikichi pulled him away from the location to prevent Mia from eavesdropping.
"Dude, are you serious?"
"About what?"
"What you asked! You're not saying... You're not telling me that Mia-chan has been to the 'other side', didn't you?"
"A possibility, that's all."
"And why is that?"
"Because of her painting. I've seen it in my dream. I don't know the connection between Mia and the 'other side', but it's clear that she's not normal."
"What do you mean she's not normal?!" Eikichi suddenly raised his tone, "She's just a girl! Don't talk about her like she can be thrown aside!"
"Eikichi, I didn't mean that," Tatsuya tried to calm him down, which he succeeded, "You really do care about her."
"Of course I am..." Eikichi said, "So what if she had no father? I can be her father any day."
"You're not serious..." Tatsuya raised his eyebrows, "You want to adopt her?"
Finally, Eikichi remained silent.
"It feels perfect," He said at last, "Just like when Maya became our big sister on the 'other side', Mia made me feel like I'm seriously having a family of my own. I'm happy with my life with Miyabi, but even she mentioned how much she felt something missing from our marriage. I felt that too until Mia stepped into our home."
"You do realize that we need her guardian for information. When the time comes for her to return to her guardian, what are you going to do?"
This time, Eikichi paused and ended the conversation prematurely. They both returned to Mia who had stopped sobbing a while ago.
"Mia-chan, please return home for now," Tatsuya said, "I'll be keeping the necklace for safekeeping. If I found any trace of your guardian or your fat- Sorry, I mean that man with the necklace- then I'll tell you."
"Okay..." Mia nodded, wiping her nose and her eyes before forcing a weak smile, "I'm sure my father is there somewhere. All I have to do is believe. Let's think positive."
For a moment, Tatsuya saw Maya's face overlapped with Mia, where the resemblance was eerily uncanny. Even the way she said made it resembled her much more.
"Good girl!" Eikichi patted her head, "You reminded me of Maya, my friend. Though, she's not really positive now..."
Naoya Toudou
Kirishima's Residence
All preparation was done, even though he technically brought nothing, to begin with. Eriko was outside for some shopping, so now would be the best time to leave. Anymore, he would drag her into an unnecessary situation. For now, he should leave for another place to stay. His original motel was a no; people would be expecting him. Truth to be told, he had no idea where to go, but let's think about it later.
Using the window, Naoya sneaked out of the house, relying on his phone as the light source to move over the gate. After struggling for a while, he successfully left Eriko's house and walked, turning on his phone for the first time ever since he started running.
Over dozens of missed calls from Baofu. The last call was an hour ago. He probably wanted to continue the conversation he had the last time they spoke. There's a lot of messages repeatedly said: "We need to talk urgently".
"How long am I going to hide from them?" Naoya mused, staring up at the cloudy sky and cursed, "But if I do, I might not be here anymore..."
After walking for some time, finally, his phone rang. Baofu sure was forceful in his approach. But for now, it's best not to talk to him.
It was then, he felt a sudden dizziness. It was painful, but he resisted to stand on his two feet. He examined his hand and was shocked to see it becoming half-transparent.
"I'm disappearing? That can't be," Naoya suddenly panicked, "Don't tell me, she's beginning to lost interest in me?"
Then, he looked forward and saw a familiar figure, watching him from the other side of the street. He could never tell if he was smiling or saddened by his condition.
"Shu...? Why are you here?"
The Egyptian god of air gazed at him carefully.
"Urgh!"
He lost his balance and fell. The dizziness in his head was so immense that he wanted to rip it apart.
"Not yet! I haven't forgotten my promise with Conquest! I can't disappear just yet..."
He regained his stance and continued walking.
"I still... haven't found... my 'true self'..."
He continued to walk and walked until he disappeared into the night, where the rain began to catch up to him.
Tatsuya Suou
Baofu's office
"Are you serious?" Tatsuya said, "You actually found Kandori's diary?"
"Sounds too good to be true, isn't?" Katsuya replied.
"If he's been recording a diary 10 years ago, that could only mean the prophecy has been ongoing for a long time."
"Don't worry, Baofu has the diary now. Come on, this way."
Katsuya led him to Baofu's new, temporary office. They closed their umbrellas and knocked on the door.
They began to grow worried when it took him a long time to open up. Eventually, Baofu opened the door, and their eyes almost popped to see Baofu's face.
He was pale as if he had just witnessed a horrifying thing. His terrible cough just worsened his condition.
"I've been waiting for you. Come on in. *cough* You are not going to believe this..."
The metal box was exposed on Baofu's table. It was hard to describe the reason for the objects to be put inside, but everything must be equally important. The brothers turned to each other, then to Baofu as he nodded. They both crouched down and examined it.
There were three objects inside. The first, obvious enough, was a worn out notebook which could only be Kandori's diary; a single, old cassette tape but seemed functional; and lastly, a hairpin, emblemed with blue butterfly shape, but it was too old to shine.
"Did you touch any of this?" Tatsuya asked.
"Only the diary, *cough*!" Baofu answered.
"Got any tape recorder?" It was Katsuya's turn to ask.
"Let me check *cough* in my box..."
While Baofu was searching for the tape recorder, the Suou brothers took this time to take a quick peek at the objects inside.
"This hairpin..." Tatsuya said, "...It must have belonged to Chizuru, isn't it?"
"That is not our concern," Katsuya responded, flipping the tape carefully to not damage it, "Look, something was supposed to be written here. I think it says... '#2'."
"So there's more than one, but Kandori chose to lock only this. Did you try to look at the book?"
"It was messed up, but readable," Katsuya flipped open the roughly 200 pages book. On the first page, he widened his eyes at the sight, "Dear me, the handwriting is atrocious as hell. It's a diary alright, but it looks like a report than a diary... and the date- Are you kidding me? 2009? How is that possible?"
Just then, Baofu entered the room with a small, retro tape recorder. The dust was visible on the speaker drum, but it appeared confidentially usable.
"Let's *loud cough* play the tape!" Baofu tapped his chest to suppress his pain.
"Baofu, you look terrible. Last week, you were active and moving, but now..." Katsuya asked with concern.
"Kuh, you don't have to worry about it, *loud cough*! My job is dangerous, to begin with, *loud cough*."
The brothers turned to each other in confusion. Tatsuya wouldn't notice, but his brother knew he was lying.
"Baofu," Katsuya spoke, "If you did any dangerous job, I will have to stop you myself."
"*loud cough*! Copy that. Now, who wants to play the tape?"
Tatsuya pressed the play button, leaving it a few seconds to start. All ears focused on it.
"...*bzzzz* ...Chizuru, *bzzzz* If you're listening right now; I hope to god, even though I don't believe in them, that it's you who's listening right now. *bzzzz* The hairpin is a gift for you... *bzzzz*"
"That's Kandori's voice!" Katsuya shouted.
"If it's not you... *bzzzz* If this is whoever Chizuru entrust to find my diary, then I hope you'll be the one to know the truth, the portion of the prophecy of 'Seven Seal of Gods'... *bzzzz* And help me find a way to win against whatever damnation orchestrated for us... *bzzz* My diary contains some insight on the project they -I mean HE- called Limbo... *bzzzz* He planned everything, or should I say, everything was *bzzzzz* planned by whoever trying to play god on the above... *bzzzz* Whoever you are, after you read my diary, please save this world. *bzzzz* Nobody wants a world ruled by madness, but I'm sure I don't want a world created by a naive child... Damn you, Philemon... *bzzzzzzzzz*..."
The recording ended there, forcing them to turn to each other in shock.
"Ruled by madness... A world created by a child..." Katsuya repeated those word, "Is it possible that that will be the result if either side wins at the end of the prophecy?"
"This project... Limbo," Tatsuya began, "Kandori was involved in some project."
"Shall we?" Katsuya lifted the diary in his hand and turned to Tatsuya and Baofu.
"Baofu, you can leave this to us. You don't look so good," Tatsuya advised, but Baofu remained by their side.
"How about you *cough* make me?"
It was terribly worrying to see him in this state, that Katsuya had to make him put a bit of distance between them as to not interrupt the reading.
Finally, Tatsuya flipped open to the first page...
...
...
Takahisa Kandori
Day 1
Despite our rivalry years ago, I'm surprised that Naoya Toudou was concerned enough to lend me this notebook for me to make it into my new hobby. After all, that is the only thing I can do in this confined room. Feels like a lab rat. Perhaps I am. It's not even the first day I was brought here. It's been a week.
I still can't believe they actually dug my dead body from the bottom of the sea to use me for their experiment. When I first open my eyes, I saw Naoya and that mysterious man dressed like a professor. Naoya looked pale and ashamed, but the other stranger? The intensity I felt was unimaginable. He was so difficult to be described. He did most of the talking. He told me I need to stay for some experiment for the future events.
I don't know where I am. It looks like an underground facility but lacked people. I saw no one except Naoya and that doctor. I never catch his name.
Apparently, Naoya had no idea my body was dug from the sea. No matter how desperate, he said he would never disrespect the dead. Only with the professor's insistence that he was forced to accept me here.
I have no idea how long I will be here. They told me nothing, but it's clear that they planning something big. That should be it for today. Maybe I continue tomorrow if I'm still interested in writing this...
Day 4
I am shocked to find out Chizuru was here with me. I heard Naoya arguing with the professor about it and punched him. He didn't fight back but called it a necessary sacrifice. I heard for the first time the professor's name, 'Karu Juugo'.
When Naoya decided to walk away, only then did he chose to release Chizuru. He came to visit me afterward, saying how much he's sorry for what happened.
Always a fool, he is...
Anyway, the professor began to give me some syringe. I don't know what he injected in me, but it makes my body hurt like mad.
Professor Juugo cursed always under his breath: "Failure"
What kind of condition must I be for me to be a 'success'?
Day 26
It's unbelievable that I couldn't stop laughing. It has already been three days since I last saw Naoya. My curiosity forced me to ask the professor. I couldn't help myself.
Naoya Toudou, in order to avoid innocence from being drag into this case, volunteered to undertake the experiment himself. He vouched for me to be free, but Juugo won't allow it.
In fact, he lied about releasing Chizuru. She was being confined in the other room. I sneaked a peek at the number of syringes he had in his bag. There's no mistaking it, there's one more person here other than us, and I can't think of anyone except her.
But I have more important things to worry about.
Today, the effect of those things he injected inside me had finally arrived.
I swore I saw another copy of myself in my room. It didn't happen just once. It happened a lot before my 'copies' disappeared. Mirror in the room doesn't help.
Day 32
(The first half of the page was scrawled horribly like scratches)
This is madness!
I don't remember writing the top half of this page! It's been happening like crazy lately! I saw myself disappeared like a ghost in my own room!
I can't hear any voice outside my room, but an instinct told me that they suffered the same fate as well. Where am I heading...?
Tatsuya Suou
"Stop!"
Tatsuya suddenly paused Katsuya from continuing. There was one, eerily familiar case he remembered about 'disappearance'.
"What's wrong?" Katsuya asked.
"No, sorry. Please continue."
Katsuya turned to the book. The content of the book became more and more terrifying...
Takahisa Kandori
Day 59
Hello.
Strange diary.
Oh? Who am I?
I'm Takahisa Kandori of course!
Though, this is the first time I write this as 'me'.
The other guy wouldn't shut up. Why can't he listen to me, the student council president of St Hermelin High? I was the best in school, but some students just wouldn't respect me!
(Badly mark made with red marker in the middle of the page)
Mr. Juugo is nice. Maybe once I've become a god, I'll let him stand beside me.
Day 62
GODDAMMIT!
THE ROOM IS CRAMPED!
THERE'S SO MANY OF US HERE! ME, ME, ME, ME!
GET US OUT OF HERE!
(Repeatedly written in pencil over the double spread pages)
Day 71
There's no point in living.
The professor sent some of 'ME' to the other room. Did he kill all of 'ME'? He kept saying 'Failure' over and over again.
Why doesn't he take me instead? I'm pathetic.
I'm not a good brother.
Reiji-kun must have hated me.
It's my fault Chizuru's here. It's all my fault.
Let me die.
LET ME DIE.
LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE. LET ME DIE...
(The same words repeated for a few pages)
Day 93
I found Chizuru.
There's too many of 'us'. Chizuru 'were' the same.
Just like 'us', 'they' were many.
I fail to see Naoya.
Where is he?
No. Who cares about him?
We are together, Chizuru and I.
Adam and Eve.
And as the professor said it:
"Anima and Animus"
We don't need the other 'us'. We will get out of this place. Just us! Hahahahahaha!
I swear, I'll find a way out!
Day 94
Most of 'Chizuru' just 'die' yesterday. I saw the professor butchered her body like a steak. Too many of us for him to find this diary and snatched it. He won't know I record this. Bastard. I thought he was having his way with her when he stripped her. No, he f*cking killed her, thrusting a weapon of a persona through her guts.
He used a persona to keep his hand clean and do the killing. Different persona to kill different Chizuru. A total butcher house.
He's a persona user.
Not an ordinary one.
I don't even know how to describe it.
This man is nothing like before.
A true persona user. The most powerful one. I can feel it. I'm nothing but an ant compared to him.
Who the hell is he?
Even more confusing, none of the 'Chizuru' actually spilled blood. They just vanished like a ghost. Every time he killed one of them, he cursed that word.
"FAILURE!"
As if he wanted one of 'her' to spill blood.
Chizuru, my beloved Chizuru, appeared lifeless, like a piece of her soul shattered with each of 'her' killed. Her hair was uncombed and bad. If there was a hairpin...
I think I heard him talking about Naoya and some guy named Tatsuya. Strange, that name sounded familiar, but I've forgotten most of it.
Day 96
Sometimes, I heard him talking to someone. Sometimes, he was listening to a recording of him talking to someone. Most of the time, he played a videotape of his conversation with some old man name Kouetsu Kirijo. I know it all too well. They're talking about [Artificial Persona User]. Their flow of conversation, their topics. It's all psychology.
The professor, he wanted to make some sort of drugs for Naoya. More than once he spoke of some 'prophecy' for him.
But with each passing day, it seemed he was losing his patients...
Day 109
Today, it's 'our' turn to get butchered. Juugo kept his yellow hat on all day because he was happy.
He said Chizuru was a 'success'. The first ever prototype drug, he called it Limbo.
"It won't save the 'vessel', though."
He said that once, but I have no idea what is he talking about. One thing is clear, Chizuru will be freed.
Tomorrow, I'll see her off.
Day 111
Yesterday is the worst day since I arrived here.
That time, Chizuru looked so lifeless, yet she clung to my hand, not wanting to leave. How stupid, yet I am touched. But, after over half of 'us' were killed the day before, I can feel that most of my emotions were gone. Why?
Chizuru doesn't want to leave, so I hit her across the face, hoping that it will make her. She clung my leg tighter.
I don't want her to go, but I would rather her leaving this hell.
Professor Juugo shook his head, saying that it couldn't be helped. I was happy. There's only one of her now.
She was cured. No more of 'her'. We embraced in each other's arm.
But then, fresh blood covered my face.
I saw her head dropping to the ground. Her neck was spraying blood. Her body fell. Professor Juugo wore a black hat, sending a persona to swung its sword at her neck.
I can't scream. I don't have the strength.
Heartless doesn't describe him at all. When he killed the 'last' Chizuru that moment, there's only a hidden motive behind his eyes, followed by a nod as he said to himself.
"Finally, a SUCCESS. Love is the right answer."
I was locked in a dark room for the entire day before he released me for trying to attack him.
Day 121
I finally saw Naoya.
He said he was going to release me, and that Chizuru is still alive. I informed him of his bullsh*t and about what happened to her.
He said that she wasn't the real 'Chizuru'. I don't understand, but I'm happy. The real Chizuru is still alive in this lab.
Then, he spoke of a lot of things.
He was making Limbo for the 'sacrifice' for the incoming prophecy.
We're not just in any lab.
We're in Giza, Egypt, beneath a secluded inn called Ulthar Inn.
I asked him a lot about prophecy. He said the 'vessel' and 'sacrifice' is a must to fulfill the upcoming prophecy. I asked what does this drug had to do with the prophecy, but it took him a long time to come out with the explanation.
One thing for sure, normal people can't take this drug.
Only limited to persona user.
I was shocked. Chizuru was made persona user before she arrived here.
Our conversation was short, but I learned a lot. Naoya had to go. I know there's so much that he knows, but also more things that he didn't know.
Day 122
Last night, I had a strange dream. Too realistic.
A figure, tall, creepy, and powerful, was talking to me in my room. He called himself Conquest, one of the four central figures of the upcoming prophecy he spoke of.
He said that he wanted me to become his 'vessel'. I still don't understand why, but he said I am the best choice. Nyarlathotep and Philemon are involved in this prophecy as well.
I was enraged. To think I would hear that name again. I'm sick of fighting, living. How many times is he going to ruin my life? But Conquest said that it's better for me to fulfill the prophecy.
Why should I care about some prophecy?
Conquest answered me with a simple answer.
"You would rather an eternity ruled by the blind idiot god, Azathoth, and Nyarlathotep?"
(The words stopped as if he stopped to think of the content)
Day 124
Naoya laid out a plan to end all of this. He will use a bomb to blow up the main reactor for drug processing, then he will give me and Chizuru some time to escape.
I told him nothing about my meeting with that strange figure. I just don't feel right to tell him. Naoya hides something from me too. I don't think I can trust Naoya either.
Anyway, the plan will commence tomorrow.
That's what I should have done. To run away.
But I got interested in Conquest's request. Being a god again might not suit me, but a 'vessel' of god? I wondered if I should just tell professor Juugo about his plan?
Conquest came to me again tonight. He said he knew Naoya and talked to him, but what we discussed is not something Naoya must know for now.
Day 12? (The last number were badly scratched)
This is a very long note I'm making. Probably my last one too. I don't know where to start without losing myself in my explanation.
Should I start with me betraying Naoya and allowed professor Juugo to catch him in action?
Or perhaps, me using the opportunity to run away with Chizuru?
First, I told professor Juugo of Naoya's plan. Then, as I walked with him to the main reactor room, I scanned for any presence of Chizuru.
I heard her voice in one of the empty rooms two floors below mine. I realized that there were more of the victims like me. Most of them were clearly Egyptians.
The professor was readying his tranquilizer syringe as I watched them.
I caught Naoya setting up a time bomb made with a few dynamites. He looked extremely angry at my betrayal. I care not about it.
The conversation I had with both of them at the time was astonishing. The revelation is beyond my wildest dream.
Four 'vessel'
Four 'sacrifice'
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Even after days since that incident, their conversation was fresh in my mind.
"You said you want me to help you," Professor Juugo said, "Yet you turned away at the last minute?"
"I didn't ask you to take innocence to be our lab rat! I would rather do this alone if I must!"
"You don't understand how this prophecy works. See, until the seventh seal is broken, none of you must die. If even one of you fell short, the entire prophecy collapse. So I can't have you take a big risk, Naoya Toudou. You are precious. Furthermore, you are 'chosen' with your lover, am I correct?"
"Oh yeah?"
Naoya suddenly took out a pocket knife and aimed for his own throat.
"Maybe that's how it is, isn't? Maybe the Nuclear Chaos is the better choice. Philemon did it in the Great War before. He can do it again!"
"How desperate are you to be that foolish?" The professor said with a tone close to shouting, "Are they not your enemy? How can their lives be more valuable than the 'sacrifice' you're trying to protect? Rethink your decision. Has Conquest not led you to me for that purpose? We are so close to completing this Limbo project. We can save them."
"No, you only want to satisfy your curiosity."
Naoya activated the time bomb. 10 minutes before detonation.
"I save them by myself if I must. Coming to you was my mistake."
"Is that your choice?"
They engaged in a fight afterward. I choose to run away to save Chizuru. There's an ID card that I snatched from the professor. I use it to free the prisoners to create a distraction as I went to Chizuru.
I found her in her room, hair almost white, eyes so lifeless that some of the colors only returned when she saw me. We tried to run away, but like a madman, the professor came after us after releasing some of his personas to fight Naoya.
We only lost him after he was distracted by the numbers of prisoners running around to find an exit. I myself remembered the map from Naoya's plan. So I made my way there. To my shock, there was a trap in by the exit, a laser. I tried another exit, but the alarm for security lockdown was sounded.
I have roughly less than 5 minutes to live by the countdown of the bomb. We encountered Naoya who was trying to find us. Naoya is a fool. Seeing us trying a way out, he guided us another way, despite his head bleeding horribly by the fight. He said professor Juugo is trying to run away with the prototype to develop it somewhere else. By the time we reach the exit, like a backdoor to some kitchen, Naoya chose to stay behind to prevent Juugo from leaving.
He was right. I found myself in a classic inn called Ulthar Inn. Unfortunately, I have no time to admire the view. With Chizuru still holding my hand, I ran as hard as I could.
The explosion happened.
It was so violent that not even a corpse was left behind. Naoya and that professor should probably be dead. No, I'm not entirely convinced that Naoya is dead.
We find a place for us to hide, taking as much as we need to plan for the next day.
(2 blank pages)
Day 12?
Can't believe I'm still writing this down.
Let's see.
I'm doing well, for a start.
It's been a week since that day. Normally, Chizuru and I would have been captured by the police to be sent to the ambassador for trespassing. Fortunately, my days as a CEO of SEBEC wasn't for nothing. Steal some, give some, and you'll be free for a while.
I talked to Conquest almost every night, sometimes in the daytime too. He said Naoya is alive, because Conquest was still here, as the first rider of the Four Horsemen. I asked about me being the 'vessel'. He wants my help. He needed my help. He said I need to help Naoya and returned the favor. What nonsense... Naoya brought this onto himself.
He explained the plan about prophecy, at least the crucial part. All I have to know is follow the plans set out by the prophecy.
He promised me wealth. He led me to an old civilization ruins and have his blessing to dig out old relics and golds. This is more than enough to make me and Chizuru live leisurely for life. Such thoughts cross my mind, but I know better than to double-cross a god.
Only afterward did I realized that once you become a 'vessel', there's no going back. Even when the prophecy is over, the 'soul' of the 'vessels' will forever belong to the Sea of Soul. No wonder Conquest doesn't care if I took them. He knew I have my own time limit. The only way for me to be free is from the power of the creator, but no gods would want me.
I talked to Chizuru about this, about the prophecy is crucial to everyone. She doesn't want me to go, blaming herself and wondering why wasn't she chosen for it instead of me. I was the only one to hold the true power of the Devas Core.
As I was a former user of what Conquest called Archetype, I was logically a worthy candidate. I wondered who the other three vessels are? They say if you hold the power even temporary, if your soul is strong, then you are a candidate.
Then, why specifically me? The answer is ridiculous.
I was merely a 'suggestion' by Naoya, one of the 'heroes', that is all. Conquest didn't find it odd when he told me that.
(Unknown date)
I just got separated from Chizuru yesterday. Professor Juugo tracked us too well. How does he do it? It is as if he was watching us from anywhere. He caught us in our temporary residence. He was alone, that is what terrified me. I told Chizuru to run ahead first and find me in another place. I allowed myself to be caught.
He put me in a bunker after rendering me unconscious. I don't know how long it's been, but from my sweat, it's clear that a few hours had passed. It was around that time, I heard a conversation outside, making the car brake. Someone was stopping his track. A man and a woman's voice. Cops, possibly. There was an argument, and a car chase after that went for an hour or so until he stopped suddenly. There was a loud commotion outside, but the sound of gunfire showed the seriousness of the situation.
Then, there was an explosion that flipped the jeep upside down with me inside. When I got out, the entire streets were covered in fires.
I got away from him, again.
I don't know if I'm lucky or not.
(Unknown date)
(empty first page)
Conquest met me again. This time, our conversation is final.
From here on, I hope only a worthy person, unbind by anything that makes that person anonymous, would read this plan. Everything before this is only a part of it. This secret is so secluded, that I hope only a few can read it. Chizuru is the only one I trust for now. I traced her number, giving a location specifically for her to find this diary because this is getting serious.
By the time you read this, Chizuru -I hope it's you- You might think this odd that I kept this diary for years. When in reality, I started writing this diary in 2009. The only way to prevent this diary from being tracked is to keep it out of time. A man named Kazuma Kaneda approached me one day. He offered to send me to the past to hide it somewhere in Sumaru City, where this diary will be kept safe. Trust no one, give no one.
Lo and behold, the other 'half' of the prophecy...
(With a huge font and capital letter)
SECOND VERSE
Tatsuya Suou
"What?"
Tatsuya, who was extremely invested in the diary, exclaimed in shock when he saw that the pages ended with something else. A disc tape, hidden between the perfectly cutout pages hole at the back of the diary. The label on it said, 'SECOND VERSE'.
"What is going on?" Katsuya said, dumbfound, "So Naoya was involved with that man named Juugo all long? He was the co-creator of the drug!"
"We need to find Naoya," Tatsuya suggested, "This time, I am not letting him go until he tells me everything."
"Juugo..." Katsuya muttered, "Baofu, didn't you say something about tracking Juugo- Baofu?!"
When he turned around, he saw Baofu lying half-conscious on the floor, blood mark on his lips.
"Baofu!" Tatsuya screamed, "Quick, lay him properly!"
They both carried him to a nearby soft ground, checking his pulse and his breathing. They both didn't have much knowledge in medical, but they at least knew the basic stuff.
"His head..." Katsuya examined, "There was an old scar on his head."
"No wondered he was so sick recently!" Tatsuya said, "I should have realized sooner…"
Then, his hand was grabbed. Baofu opened his wrinkled eyes as he pulled his hand.
"Hah, hah *cough*! I'm fine... I'm not that old yet... Chill, Tatsuya..."
"What happened to you?!"
"*cough* Nothing, really..."
"Tatsuya," Katsuya ordered, "I'll take him to the hospital. You need to find Naoya."
"...On it," Tatsuya said, nodding in understanding. There's nothing he can do for him. He knew that well. It's best to do what he could first.
"What are waiting for? Go!"
Naoya Toudou
Cloudy - Dark Hour - Unknown Alley
"Huh? Am I in the Dark Hour already? So, it's midnight..."
Naoya stopped his track as he walked into an abandoned building to rest and hide. He had no idea where he was, but it should be far enough from Eriko.
"...Heh," Naoya chuckled as he sat near the old stairs, lamenting his past.
"I'm such an idiot. Why didn't you die that day, Juugo?"
"You call me?"
"!"
When he turned to look at the voice, he was shocked to see the man he despised more than anything was standing in front of him. He appeared calm, too calm when he approached Naoya.
"Juugo!"
Naoya was ready to summon his persona, but Juugo paused him immediately. He tapped his black hat and gazed at the moon. Juugo began to speak, but Naoya immediately cut him.
"How did you find me?"
"I always know where you and Kandori are going, Naoya Toudou. That girl was an exception because I didn't 'make' her."
"Then why haven't you come for me personally? Are you toying with me?"
"Where can you even run, 'emperor'? You don't have a choice. I came to give you a warning."
"*chuckle* That's awfully generous."
"Only for my goal," Juugo gazed at the moon again, "Nyarlathotep doesn't give up on Erio Kirishima, not that easy. In truth, he already knew she won't work. So, we will proceed to plan B. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Huh? What are you-"
A small gun was aimed at him.
A/N: And that is for this chapter. Kandori's past is revealed. But what is Naoya's hiding? What is his connection to the Limbo? What is the Second Verse?
Please wait for the slow update.