SChapter 31: Zero Recollection
|May 19th|Kansei High School – Mathematics|12:34 pm|
"Well, class, we're finally approaching mid-terms." Mr. Horiguchi said, looking at his students. Quite a few students looked worried, but a certain duo looked rather eager at the thought of the upcoming test.
Yes! I've been looking forward to our exams. My parents will be so proud when they see how far I'm come this year. From now on, I'm focusing everything into my school work. Just the way it should be!
"Judging by the exuberant smile on your face, Nakahara, I'm guessing you're not worried at all. Neither is Teruya, of course. Of course, it's been proven that as overconfidence grows, we're prone to making mistakes. So let me test you out with this question."
Kei looked up to Shintaro, amused, as he stood up, tall and proud. He was one of the few students who liked being called up to answer a question, just like Kohaku. Yet recently, Kei had been doing quite well under pressure, and even Akari managed to keep her cool somewhat. The four of them sitting so close together seemed to be improving their academics.
"What do we call the lines connecting the foci in an ellipse?" Mr. Horiguchi asked.
Shintaro answered almost immediately. "The Major Axis!"
"Correct!" The teacher clapped, beaming. "Our mid-terms start next Monday. I'm sure you're all going to be just fine. Chieki's mid-terms are most likely next week as well. Let's hope we can keep up with our high standards, and beat them yet again!"
The class cheered, while Shintaro and Kohaku stared at each other awkwardly, thinking of their friends in the Mizuho school. They had been keeping a close watch on their senpai as much as possible, but found it harder and harder to actually encounter them during school hours. Hopefully, Evelina Solberg and Toshiaki Yukimora were out of harm's way.
|Chieki Academy – Teacher's Lounge|15:56 pm|
In Chieki Academy, the teacher's lounge was quite a well-furnished space, yet filled with countless notes their faculty made during their intensive teaching schedules. Waiting here was Shiro Koyanagi, having managed to finish his school duties earlier today.
He gazed at a photograph from his wallet. It was faded, but still clearly displayed four friends outside the front doors to Shinshuto City College. There he was, his hair darker and healthier looking, and with his old pair of glasses. When he saw the others standing next to him, his heart sank a little.
The soft, delicate Kaede, the one he looked forward to seeing every single day. It was the two of them at first – he had accidentally crashed into her when rushing to his first lecture, and spent most of it quitely apologising to her. But she bore no grudge, and soon started talking at length about all the things she loved.
"Shiro-kun, you've apologised at least forty times since the professor started her lecture. Let's talk abut something else, okay? For example, what you're doing after school today. And most important, you do like cats, right? I won't be friends with any cat-haters..."
Tetsuo, an occasionally arrogant, athletic, and outgoing man who tended to leave studying to the last minute. Shiro often held 'Tetsuo Salvation Sessions' where the purpose was to get him back up to speed. Those were always fun to him, especially when he got to see Kaede laugh out loud.
"Why is it everyone else is good at revising except me? Shiro, you're a lifesaver. You're skinny and no good at sports, but you're a genius. Someday, I've got to return the favour. How about we try to get you weightlifting?"
Michiko, easily the smartest of the four, and somewhat of a leader. No matter what was going on, she was able to rein in their worst tendencies and help the others work even harder. She was determined right from the start to be a teacher, having been inspired by a long line of relatives who had entered the teaching profession.
"My parents taught Literature, my aunt taught Geography, my uncle taught History, and I've several cousins who teach P.E. So I've got to teach something else to stand out. I know, how about Biology? You've got your heart set on Mathematics, right?"
"Everything's gone wrong since we graduated." Shiro said, sighing. "So it's up to me to make things right. Somehow, there's a world where all four of us are still here and happy."
Just then, the door opened. Asami had arrived, and she had been accompanied by two of her senpai. Except now, in the ranks of Bythos, she was their senior.
"Svante, Yukimora, welcome." Shiro said. "It's good to see you back on your feet as well, Hamasaki."
"It's...nothing. I'm fine now." Asami said flatly, gazing distantly out of the window.
Keiya had saved her from the wrath of the cold Morta. The other Aeon Admins didn't properly understand what had happened, but it did appear that she resembled the late Takumi Kokubun. Nisa Liat ordered the other Admins to tell her the Shadow had been destroyed, and it was a shape-shifter. Although Shiro wasn't so sure about this, he decided it was best to leave the Anomalies alone for now. Rinaka was still uncertain about keeping Decima in her Gnosis.
Not only that, Nona and Morta had been captured by their enemies. Unless they could all be released in the same location, it would be impossible to kill them outright. All Shiro could hope for was the Seal Evil app staying active. He had to worry about the two new recruits. Especially as one of them had still to awaken his Persona.
"I take it no one suspects anything?" Shiro asked.
"We should be in the clear." Asami said, with a look of annoyance on her face.
"Still can't believe you're in Bythos." Toshiaki said. "I mean, to think the fabled Hama-Sama not only goes to our school, but she's working with the Nisa Liat."
She rolled her eyes. "Well, you should believe it. Especially as, technically, I'm one of your superiors. You need to be given the actual rank of Admin before you can be considered one of us."
"Settle down, Hamasaki." Shiro said, watching surprised as she sighed in disdain. "We're going to the Theio Kosmos for today. And I know just the place. We're going to Asakita's theme park."
"Why?" Evelina asked. "That place is so gaudy and tacky. And overpriced, the food there is terrible, there's so much pushing and shoving, it's old-fashioned, it's a monstrosity."
Shiro frowned. "If you want to leave a review, I'm sure there's no shortage of places online to post your feedback. We're going there to fight a Shadow. It's not an Anomaly like before, so don't worry. If something should go wrong, me and Asami can expertly dispatch it. Rinaka will be meeting us there, too, after she's done at Aramis."
"Rinaka's so strong. I wish I could be at her level." Evelina said, dreamily. "Then every Shadow would be too scared to fight me."
"Hey, you're one strong woman. Oh, and still one beautiful Swede, too." Toshiaki said.
"Enough of the stupid compliments! It's time to get going. Shiro, want me to do the honours?" Asami asked, impatiently taking out her Gnosis. He nodded, and the four of them disappeared. As they did so, a certain pair of twins walked down the corridor, peeking through all the windows they could.
"Great. No one's here." Natsumi said, frowning.
"This is annoying..." Masato frowned. "We can't get a moment alone with them any more."
"What do you think we should do now?" Natsumi asked.
"I don't know. Kei texted us earlier to say she was coming over after our club meetings." Masato grumbled. "And we don't have any good news to give her."
"Well, maybe no news is good news. Let's get going to our clubs already. Then we can think about what to do next."
The two of them left for their various clubs, hoping nothing untoward was going to happen.
|After School – Library|16:00 pm|
With the school day over, the group sans Kei arrived to the library to study. The Wild Card had decided to visit Masato and Natsumi to get an update, so she left the others to it. Kohaku grabbed a table with six chairs, and the team got their materials ready. Akari grimaced at the amount of notes Shintaro had made in his spare time, while he just smiled at his extra work.
Also joining them was Suzu, a slim girl with curly purple hair, who was quite popular with her class, especially her singing voice. She was never seen without her favourite rainbow school bag. A more stubborn girl than Akari, she insisted she joined the study session, having wanted to hang out with Akari's friends.
"With the amount of work you've put into this, I'm surprised they didn't just have you teach instead of Horiguchi-sensei." Suzu said, amazed. "No one in my class is this into maths."
"This is just how Shintaro-kun is." Kohaku said, cheerily. "Even when we first met, he always wanted to be one step ahead of the class."
"I'm dreading this test. Ugh, I hate maths!" Akari whined, reaching of her pink pencils out of her fluffy white pencil case.
"Relax. We're going to help you exceed." Kohaku said, smiling. "I'm sure we'll get you to a passing grade yet."
"Have you ever not had a passing grade?" Suzu asked, smirking.
"There was that one time I flunked a Geography test." Shintaro said, shuddering. "Not my finest hour."
"But that was when things were really bad in junior high. Both our grades suffered a lot during that time." Kohaku said, wincing at the thought. "Things are so much better now. Now then, let's cover last week's material. MacKenzei-sensei gave us some difficult homework, so we should go over that again."
While they worked through some material, such as Geography, English, Social Studies and Literature, Akari looked up, surprised. Noburo had shown up, and every eye in the room was soon upon him.
"Hey, that's..." Suzu said awkwardly.
"Noburo-kun!" Shintaro called.
"Oh, hey!" The boy came over, next to Kohaku. "I should have known you'd be here. Mid-terms are coming up. Not that you and Shintaro need an excuse to study." He said, chuckling lightly.
"Are you going to be okay?" The music-lover asked. "Surely the school would understand if you -"
He shook his head. "Nope. I'm not going to skip taking the test. Besides, if I lose myself in my studies, I'll have less time to think about...you know."
Shintaro nodded. "Well, we're going over Mathematics today. Akari's weakest subject."
"That's great, tell everyone." Akari said, glowering at him.
"Makes a change from you blabbing my secrets." Suzu said, sticking her tongue out.
"Once! Okay, twice. Um...thrice?" Akari said, blushing.
"I'm not the best mathematician either. Not exactly a skill that comes in handy, treading the boards." Noburo said, smiling. "Mind if I join you guys?"
"No, of course not!" Suzu said, smiling coyly at him. Like a lot of other girls at Kansei, she had quickly become drawn to his good looks. "Shintaro here probably has his notes from last year."
"I certainly do!" He said.
"...I was joking, you know." Suzu said, while Noburo smirked.
The study session soon came to a close, and the group left. As they walked outside, they saw Michiko, looking deeply at the Gnosis in her hand. Everyone – except Suzu was surprised to see it.
"Hi Suzuki-sensei!" Akari said, warmly.
"O-Oh! It's you all..." The teacher hurriedly shoved the photograph in her pocket, sheepishly. "I hope you're all prepared for the mid-terms. They won't be easy."
"Good." Shintaro said, smug. "If they were, they'd be a waste of my time."
She chuckled, but gave him a proud smile. "I've never been worried about your academic performance. I just hope you're focused on everything that truly matters."
"Oh, I am, Suzuki-sensei. I'll pass the entrance exams for Tokyo University, I promise!" Shintaro said, happily. "With a little help from you and the other teachers here, of course."
"We're certainly luckier than Chieki. They get that nasty Koyanagi." Kohaku said.
Michiko froze, shocked. "Shiro Koyanagi...?"
"Yeah. Our friends at Chieki hate his guts. He teaches Mathematics, but he's awful. Talks down to all his students as if they're dirt compared to him." Akari continued. "I mean, he's not giving them detention with a blood quill or anything like that, but -"
"I see. Interesting. W-Well, I need to go. I'll see you all in class tomorrow. Enjoy your studying!" She hurriedly left, anxiously.
"Tokyo, huh...?" Kohaku asked. "You really do aim high."
"So do you. I saw you reading up on their campuses during lunch." Shintaro said.
"Both of you going to the same university? You two really do everything together, don't you?" Suzu teased.
"Yeah, I guess so." Kohaku said, without a hint of embarrassment.
Akari giggled. "Well, Suzu and I better get going. We're both working at the mall after school now!"
"Yeah. But I'm at the food court. Lame...no cute guys there at all." Suzu said, rolling her eyes. "Too bad they already got someone to replace that gorgeous hunk you told me about. Kaii, right?"
"Uh...umm...hehe..." Akari mumbled, blushing. She couldn't help but smile, thinking about him, but at the same time she looked embarrassed than she had ever been. "Yeah. He's doing okay. Out of hospital and walking." The two of them left hurriedly, chatting loudly among themselves.
"Those two seem like an odd couple. Anyway, what about you guys?" Noburo asked. "There was a movie at the Oracle Cinema I wanted to see. It's an old one, but those are the best kind."
Shintaro smirked. That was his stance on books. Well, most books. Now that he knew Celestine quite well, he had a greater appreciation for the sheer effort she put into Leanne Rouge. Speaking of Celestine, he had remembered a prior commitment he had arranged yesterday evening, during a secret phone call. He had been extra careful not to be heard by his parents, and it seemed like they were none the wiser.
"I...I actually have plans." Shintaro said, sheepish. "I'm meeting Celestine again."
"Oh...really?" Noburo said, disappointed. "...Where are you two meeting?"
"Um...this new...um...Korean restaurant in Tarumi?" Shintaro offered, biting his lip.
Kohaku sighing, shaking her head. "You only do that when you're lying, Shintaro-kun. Why don't you admit it already? I can see it all over your face. You and Celestine are -"
"Ssh!" Shintaro said, flustered. "I...I can't tell anyone. I wasn't even supposed to tell you guys! If word got out, it could get both of us in real trouble. I can't let anything happen to her career because of me..."
"Relax. You can trust us, you know." Noburo said, a little glum looking. "I'm just glad you two are happy. Just be careful, okay?"
"I...I will, Noburo-kun." Shintaro said. "I need to get going. I better change clothes first. Going near her apartment in my school uniform will look really sketchy."
He hurriedly left, leaving Kohaku and Noburo bemused.
"You really think things will work out? He did say he likes older women, but to actually go out with one?" Noburo asked. "Still, if it makes him happy, I guess that's all that's important."
"Yeah..." Kohaku said, albeit she seemed hesitant. "Oh! I'm free now. What's this 'old' film you wanted to see?"
"Citizen Kane. Doesn't get any better than that, does it?" Noburo asked, however he started to look embarrassed. "Well, depends on whether you like old movies or not, but -"
"I've never seen any 'old' movies. I'd love to see that one, though. Count me in!" Kohaku said, happily. "Let's go!"
Noburo stood there for a moment, surprised, but then his expression turned to joy. "Okay. We've got a bit of time until it starts, so I'll show you the scenic walk."
They soon set off on their way, leaving behind the school. Kohaku almost was looking forward to the walk more than the movie. Yet she couldn't help but wonder what was going on in the Theio Kosmos. Was the stray Parcae still on the rampage? Or was something else afoot?
|Asakita – Eien Kofuku Theme Park|16:10 pm|
When they arrived, the two Chieki seniors gasped. The entire place had transformed from a large theme park to a whole new world. The Ferris Wheel was actually floating, and twice the size it normally was. There was a roller-coaster that seemed to cover the entire Ginumi district. The outskirts of the theme park looked more like a giant green lush meadow, with rolling hills and a bright cartoon-like sun shining down.
"Bizarre." Evelina said, befuddled.
"Isn't it?" Shiro asked. "The Theio Kosmos responds to the feelings of those who live in the real world. While you may loathe this place in reality, many others love it, especially children. To them, it really is a whole other world."
Just then, they heard the sound of a vehicle revving its engine, and a bright light was zooming quickly towards them.
"Whoa!" Toshiaki said, running to the side.
In moments, a motorcycle came hurtling through the archway towards the group, and braked abruptly. Rinaka got off, and clicked her fingers. The behemoth she rode was black, sleek, yet seemed to be quite robustly built.
"Wow!" Evelina cheered. "I didn't even know you had such a cool ride!
"It only can exist in this world. After all, it was made out of the material that can only exist here. We manufactured it in the Citadel. I've called it the Shadow Hunter X99. The number reflects the amount of times it took to perfect the vehicle to my standards." Rinaka explained.
"Did you really have to come here on that bike?" Asami asked. "You could have just teleported here like the rest of us..."
"I was tasked with some reconnaissance, remember? The X99 can go all over the city at top speeds, and Breksta can use her powers alongside it. Investigating Ginumi would have taken far longer otherwise."
"I want one too! How long until we get those?!" Toshiaki asked.
"Settle down, Yukimora. Rinaka had hers custom made. If you want a similar vehicle, you'll need to prove yourself. And today will be a perfect opportunity for you to do so." Shiro said.
"You're a lot nicer to him here than you are in class..." Asami asked.
"He has more potential as a Persona user than as a mathematician. That's why." Shiro said, taking a moment to clean his glasses. Asami rolled her eyes. "Let's get back on topic. Our Shadow has holed itself up inside the Mirror Maze Madness attraction. His name is Futotama, a Japanese god."
"Huh..." Toshiaki said.
"He's a powerful Shadow, even if he isn't an Anomaly. However, if faced with a powerful foe, your potential may finally awaken. Being around weaker Shadows hasn't managed it so far." Shiro said. "Fear not. Should something go awry, you have three experienced Aeon Administrators to aid you."
"Me too." Evelina said, smiling at her friend. "You'll do fine."
"Okay..."
They passed many different rides and attractions, and as they approached the giant square-shaped structure, they heard a goofy maniacal laugh. High above the ground, several fireworks exploded, creating the shapes of evil-looking clowns. The very air around this building seemed to be growing unstable.
|Mirror Maze Menagerie|16:15 pm|
Appropriately enough, the place was a maze, the walls lined with mirrors. Yet when Toshiaki looked at the mirror, while he saw his own reflection just fine, he could see the Personas of the others in theirs. Kaihime, Breksta, Mergen and Aoife. What form his would take, he still didn't know, but he hoped it was something just as impressive.
The lurid lights above seemed to be floating up in the sky, and the ceiling seemed bewitched to look like an array of shooting stars. The floor seemed to be perfectly clear water, with no solid ground beneath. Yet the group seemed able to walk along it perfectly well.
"This place is quite unsettling..." Evelina commented, uneasy as she pressed on. 53
"Most places in the Theio Kosmos do appear quite supernatural compared to their real life counterparts. This attraction was rather bizarre even in the real world, but here, it can truly be as mad as possible. We're almost to the source of the madness..."
The team finally reached the centre of the maze. There, gazing into a large mirror with white tassles, was the Shinto god Futotama, or at least a Shadow with his name and face. He had a red blindfold on with holes cut out for the eyes, and black robes. Two orbs were constantly twirling around him in perfect synchronization.
"...Humans. Why do you continue to obsess over this world? Are you not content with poisoning your miserable Akartharto Kosmos?" He said.
"Nice to meet you too, dickhead." Toshiaki replied. "I'm surprised that dumb mirror hasn't cracked from having to reflect your ugly face."
"Don't provoke him so recklessly, you fool!" Shiro chided.
"We don't have to explain ourselves to you." Rinaka said, ignoring her colleague's word of caution. "As Persona users, we're the rightful rulers of this world. And you're just a by-product of our psyche."
"Disgusting, arrogant, and misguided, all of you!" Futotama said, shaking his head in despair. "I feel sorry for the children in your care. Especially the child with the infected data terminal."
Data terminal? What the heck is he talking about? Wait, does he mean the Gnosis?
"Infected?!" Shiro shouted. "...No!"
"I'm astonished you rightful rulers couldn't figure it out for yourselves. Why is it that he is the only one of your group yet to awaken? What is it that inhibits him so? Simple. Something quite sinister lurks within, waiting for a chance to absorb his soul." Futotama said. "...And I intend to give it a helping hand."
"No!" Asami screamed. "Toshiaki! Give your Gnosis to one of us -"
Before he could reply, Toshiaki doubled over with pain. His Gnosis was sparking with demonic red electricity, and the screen became fully glitched. Something inside was invading his head, and he could barely keep his eyes open from the sheer pain.
"Argh!" He yelled.
"Toshi!" Evelina screamed. "Drop the Gnosis! Now!"
"I can't...I can't let go of it...!" Toshiaki yelled. Indeed, the phone felt as if it was glued to his hand. He couldn't fight this sensation. Something was alive in his phone, and it was drawing upon his life essence.
"Well done, child. Now, let the wonderful EX-NIHILO take over your very being. It will show the rest of you who truly deserve this world. Us, we Shadows!"
Toshiaki screamed in absolute agony, as a truly terrifying being appeared in front of the Japanese god. Futotama smirked, as the ghostly sword-wielding Shadow stepped forward.
"Initializing. Host 'Toshiaki Yukimora' full of potential. Plentiful energy to maintain form. Beginning BATTLE 04 procedure. Annihilation of Shadow subject must be fulfilled."
"Guys! Help! Something's inside of me...it hurts!" Toshiaki yelled. The vision in front of him grew hazy, and everything turned to darkness. The sounds around him grew louder and louder, until there was a huge sound of an explosion. Then, everything changed.
|Pleroma|
Toshiaki was floating in a purplish realm, with countless human-like shapes floating by. He tried to reach out to touch them, but his body was in far too much pain. However, he saw someone right ahead. A dark-haired girl, in a black and red dress. Towering in front of her was a hazy dark shape, that had a vivid red aurora surrounding it.
"It's finally ready!" The girl said, with a wicked smile. Her voice seemed to resound throughout the entire area, and Toshiaki shiverred. She leapt up, and her hair seemed to be swayed by wind. "Wake up! For you are my first creation."
"Initializing. Physical condition: 100%. Able to use all five senses in the same manner of a human being." The being said. The aurora finally cleared, and the being took shape. It was the same monster that had taken over Toshiaki's Gnosis. "Creator sensed in front of me. Recognising voice and face as creator's."
"Yes, that's exactly right. From now on, you will obey my every wish. You will cut down all those who get in my way. The time has come for me to finally take the Theio Kosmos for myself!" The teenage girl said, elated. "You understand your combat parameters, yes?"
"Affirmative. Each BATTLE sequence will comprise of innate energy and power derived from the chosen host."EX-NIHILO said."Strategies will be dependent on who the host is. Each battle will increase combat ability, via perpetual learning."
"Well done!" The girl said. "Now, we need to give you a name. Let's see. Born from the power of nothingness... I shall deem you EX-NIHILO. I hope you don't have any complaints."
"EX-NIHILO. Name of self registered permanently." The being said, saluting. "Master. Awaiting orders."
The girl smiled. "I like your attitude. Let's see. My name is Nisa Liat. The Pleroma Princess. Do you think you can remember that?"
"Nisa Liat. Name of master registered permanently." EX-NIHILO responded. "We must go after the murderer. Make him suffer for all eternity."
Nisa Liat laughed out loud, hurting Toshiaki's ears – which was compounded by the massive pain his entire body felt.
"Yes! The entire time I constructed you from that fragment, I had his fate prepared. Our second experiment. You must aid me in bringing him to justice." Nisa Liat said. "Follow my every instruction, EX-NIHILO. I assure you, the powers you possess will be most useful."
The Vision changed again, to what looked like a grey and dark blue room...
|Dimly Lit House|
"...Who are you?! I'm calling the police!"
Toshiaki gasped. He was in Shiro's home, a sparsely decorated place with dark blue walls and dark hardwood floors. There were a few plants for ornamentation, but very little else, apart from a dusty looking television. Koyanagi was there, but standing there in the doorway was Nisa Liat herself, with a slight smile. She curtsied, giggling, and stepped forward, not even remotely afraid.
"Please stay calm, Shiro Koyanagi. I've been waiting for a good moment for us to speak alone, and here we are. You can call me Nisa Liat."
"Nisa Liat...?" Shiro said, confused. "And how did you get inside my home?"
"Truth is, Shiro-san, we're not actually in the real world any more. Here, take this."
She clicked her fingers, and a Gnosis appear floating in front of her. It then drifted closer towards Shiro, who slowly reached for it. He clutched it tightly in his hand, and gazed at the screen, somewhat transfixed by its glow.
"You're no doubt confused as to what this smartphone is. And of course, who I am." Nisa Liat said, her voice coated with a strange sweetness. "This is called a Gnosis. After the Greek word for knowledge. This will grant you much more than that, however. The power to reshape reality itself is within it. Follow me."
Suddenly, everything moved forward at a lightning pace. They had ventured outside of the house onto the streets of Mizuho, just outside Kita Crossing. He saw his teacher yell in horror at a Shadow – a Purple Mirror – that was advancing towards him.
Then, he saw Mergen emerge, for what must have been the first time. With its sword, it stabbed through the mirror-like Shadow, its shards of glass dispersing into wisps of darkness.
Toshiaki, through the pain, managed to make out something. He wasn't in his own body. He was in the EX-NIHILO's body. Only Nisa Liat seemed aware he was there. Or was this the past? He couldn't tell at all anymore. All he wanted was the pain to end, so he could be back home.
Finally, the vision changed back to Shiro's home, and he was sat on his armchair, looking exhausted.
"This is...unlike anything I've ever experienced before." Shiro said. "To think I had a supernatural ability. This Persona power. Are we the only ones to use it?"
"No, Shiro. However, it is true that the power of Persona is exceptionally rare. It's taken me a very long time to find anyone suitable. The others I've met so far were just as shocked as you are right now." Nisa Liat said, sitting on the chair opposite. "My power is quite similar to yours. Except, I'm not limited to the one Persona. I can summon a great deal more. Not only that, I have the means to create new ones by merging two or more together."
"You...certainly have an aura of omnipotence." Shiro said, somewhat wary of his guest.
"I'm hardly a god. Once upon the time, I was but a normal child, living a sheltered, privileged life, having to deal with an overbearing mother. Then one day, everything changed. Rage overwhelmed me..." She drank from a cup of green tea, and smirked. "But that rage gave way to enlightenment. My true power was awakened. The old me is truly dead, Shiro. But I'm not content with reviving myself. No, what I seek is the rejuvenation of this rotten city."
This is the first time I've truly seen Nisa Liat. She never seems to have time to meet me and Evelina. I wonder who she is in the real world...
"What are you saying? You're going to use this power of Persona to change Shinshuto? How?" Shiro asked, intrigued.
"The two Kosmos constantly influence each other in subtle ways. With Bythos, we can sway the public to our side. Eventually, when the whole city is begging for us as salvation, we can fully unlock the six keys to altering reality to our heart's content." Nisa Liat said. "And in your case, we can undo your downfall. You and Kaede can finally be together again, the way you should have been."
Toshiaki gasped. What did she just say? His mother with Shiro? No, he thought. That simply was impossible. She could never have loved anyone else but his father. Yet Shiro's face seemed to suggest otherwise.
"You know of Kaede…?!" Shiro finally said, numb. "Do you truly know all of my past…?"
"I wouldn't have arrived if I didn't." Nisa Liat said. "My powers give me a very good sense of others' inner turmoil. And you, Shiro, are troubled by melancholic thoughts. Every time you see Shinshuto City College, your mind goes back to the days you studied with your cherished friends. Life seems to exist to give one bliss, only to take all away and leave us with nothing. Sad, isn't it? If I may say so, you don't deserve such a fate. You should be faced with happiness, not this unyielding depression."
"Kaede, it's...been so long. Worst part is...I...I have to teach her son." Shiro said. "Toshiaki. He hasn't a clue about anything...he was quite young back then. His father will have made sure he won't remember me. That boy has no clue how much I wished he was never born. Because..."
Nisa Liat nodded, seemingly understanding what her new acquaintance was saying. Toshiaki desperately wanted to scream, to demand answers. Just what was Shiro's relationship with his late mother? And why hadn't Tetsuo ever mentioned that he knew his most hated teacher? He had complained loudly about him many a time, but his father never spoke of ever going to college with Koyanagi-sensei.
"You wish she had never been pushed into marrying him by her family. All because they thought his family was better off. That, precisely, is what I wish to change. Not just your own reality, of course. I wish to save all the others who will become your comrades. The Aeon Administrators will be the select few I know I can trust to help me fulfil my dream."
"Your dream? What exactly is your story? You already know mine, and clearly quite intimately." Shiro asked, and his eyes seemed to be watering. "It's been over ten years since I've talked about Kaede to anyone..."
"Shiro." Nisa Liat said, no longer smiling. "I need to be quite clear about this. The person I once was is dead. I can never return to the girl I once was. My life was stolen from me before it could ever truly begin! With my power, I destroyed that crazed man's very being, both body and soul. But it's not enough. No. It'll never be enough. Not until this entire city changes to my ideal world!"
"...Fine. Then from today forth, I accept. I will be your Aeon Administrator, for as long as you need my powers." Shiro said. He held out his left hand, which Nisa Liat shook eagerly. "The children I have to teach are hopeless. They need something far greater than even my tutelage. And finally, I have the answer right in front of me."
Nisa Liat stood up from her chair, smiling. "I must return to oversee construction of what will become our base of operations. For now, rest, and stay hopeful. The life you hoped for may become real. Those who get in our way will be obliterated."
The vision ended, and once again, Toshiaki found himself being whisked away, still stuck in the EX-NIHILO's body.
|Pleroma – Unknown Facility|
He seemed to be in an unknown void, of bizarre lights, with strange human-like shapes flying in the distance. Then, everything changed yet again, as he glided towards what seemed to be the flat circular roof of a gigantic white stone tower. There were several glowing blue pathways that seemed to be infinite in length.
What the hell is this? Is this the afterlife? What am I seeing?
As his feet touched the roof, five shadowy humans walked towards him. Their faces were blurry, but he saw two of them leading the way, with the other three close behind. The woman in front had a long white lab coat on, and long black hair. Next to her was a man in an immaculate black and red shirt, with matching trousers and shoes. There was a woman in the back with long red curly hair, a young man with vivid purple hair, and an older man with ginger hair and a bushy beard.
Toshiaki tried to yell out to them, but for whatever reason, he could not. His mouth didn't move, nor did any other part of his body. Again, he noticed he was somehow in the EX-NIHILO's body.
"As I'm sure you're all aware, I'm extremely frustrated with our current stroke of bad luck. This is the fortieth attempt." The bearded man said, sounding quite frustrated. "With all our failures, we've produced nothing. How appropriate, considering what the original was called."
"Aye. We've yet to achieve anything, other than it staring blankly at us." The curly haired woman said, tapping her feet. "This is really daft now. Why is it so important we bring back this creature?"
"Oh come off it, you know exactly why we're doing this." The blue haired man said. "It's crucial that we get everything exactly right. Including this ugly thing."
"Darling..." The black haired man said, to the woman to his left. "We can't disappoint her again. We have to get this right. Failure simply isn't an option any more."
"Ugh! I know that, alright?! We're experimenting with supernatural energy, after all. It's only natural we'd struggled to fully harness it to its full potential." The woman said, holding up her hand – apparently demanding the silence of what appeared to be her colleagues. "But I truly believe we've recaptured the essence of the original this time. Now to test its power. I think I have exactly the specimen to suffer under its wrath! Everyone, watch carefully!"
The strange woman laughed slightly, as she retrieved a Gnosis from her shirt pocket. With the press of a button, a Shadow appeared. Toshiaki gasped – or at least, he tried to. It was none other than Futotama.
You! That bastard Shadow. Is this your idea?
"Everyone, be sure to collect as much data as possible. We want to prove that the resurrection of the EX-NIHILO was a complete success."
Without being able to control himself, Toshiaki – or rather, the EX-NIHILO – lunged forward with his sword. The Shadow tried feebly to retaliate with ice magic, but no Bufula seemed enough to deter the dark blade.
"...Not again!" Futotama yelled. "Even after my life is restored, you intend to dismember me once more? I won't allow that! You humans may have spawned us, but we are the ones who live here, not you! Die!"
Within seconds, the Shadow was slashed apart, each sword swing drawing massive amounts of 'blood'. Futotama grimaced as his body bled dark blood, barely able to remain in one piece. There were shocked gasps from the five strangers watching dilligently. As the Shinto god collapsed, gazing in horror at the pool of blood on the ground, the mysterious EX-NIHILO unleashed a strange assault, of what appeared to be magic energy. Whatever the phenomenon was, it vaporized the Shadow entirely, leaving his mirror floating down to the ground.
"Fantastic! Just...fantastic! Such power!" The dark haired woman said, clapping. The three behind her gave her odd looks and backed away, but her partner to her side remained still, barely reacting at all to her exuberance. "We'll send him to the Theio Kosmos as soon as we have approval! This is a great day for all of us. Next on the agenda, I believe, is our next attempt with -"
|Mirror Madness Menagerie|16:40 pm|
"Toshiaki!"
The boy finally woke up, still in agonising pain. He was finally in his own body again, no longer trapped in the demonic Shadow he now knew as the EX-NIHILO. There was no sign of Futotama, however, he saw a mirror slowly fall to the ground, shattering into millions of pieces.
"H-Huh?!" Toshiaki yelled. The others were spread out over the area, with their weapons drawn. They looked weary, most likely from fighting two fierce Shadows at once. Yet one of them was still alive, and it was still standing in front of him.
Just as he saw it, he looked up at the creature. It was stealing his very life. And that he couldn't allow.
I can't let it end like this. I've got to get to the bottom of those strange visions! And I must find out what happened between my parents and Koyanagi-sensei! Something, help me!
The pain growing even more intense, he shut his eyes, praying that anything would save him. Maybe he would wake up in his own bed, completely free of any pain, and having completely imagined all of this as one elaborate nightmare. Especially the part about his mother and Shiro. That, in his eyes, was more of a night terror.
Once he closed his eyes, however, he saw a blue butterfly floating past. And then a man spoke to him in a firm, confident voice. Time seemed to stand still, with the hysterical Evelina and the advancing Aeon Admins.
One who bears the burden of potential, heed my voice. My name is Philemon. Your existence will soon reveal its true complexity, yet this is nothing to fear. Once you truly know yourself, and why you continue to exist, life can begin anew, and you can wield your own identity as power. Answer me this question. What is your name?
"Toshiaki...Yukimora..."
"What? Oh my god – is he talking to him?!" Asami yelled.
"It's Philemon!" Evelina cheered, her voice full of relief. "Toshiaki, you finally did it! Say it! You know..."
"Yeah! Persona!"
He finally opened his eyes, and became surrounded by a giant whirlwind of blue light. It seemed to numb all the pain at once, and he felt a dark presence being forced out of his body at last. Not only that, something else arose, one far more benevolent and infinitely less despicable in nature than the disgusting parasite that had infected his Shadow.
The resulting being was quite the sight. While he was in a human form, with long flowing silver hair, bright green eyes and a metal headband that had details somewhat like a crown, he was wearing a heavy blue jacket with pockets full of various gadgets, the same sort Toshiaki would use when working with machines. His mouth was covered with a bright blue scarf, flapping in the wind.
Strangely, however, his heavy metal shoes were clinging magnetically to a large and fearsome flying craft, somewhat reminiscent of a helicopter. The rotor seemed to be made of ice , spinning rapidly and generating an icy mist over the streamlined, sleek machine. The 'cockpit' windows were opaque, and a solid turquoise. The aircraft was equipped with many machine guns, as well as a huge laser cannon.
"I am thou. Thou art I. From thy sea of thy soul, I cometh. I art Conchobar, he who shall lead the way and achieve fame and peace!"
The EX-NIHILO, having been exiled from its host, was rather worse for wear. It tried stabbing at Toshiaki, however it was shot in the face by Conchobar's multitude of bullets.
What? He did it just as I was about to tell him to attack! If he's my Persona, then he and I should be in perfect sync! Then.
Toshiaki then gasped – in his right hand, he was now equipped with a glove, affixed with sharp claws. In his left, he now had a strange red grenade-like device. Angry, he pressed a button on the grenade, and hurled it with all his might at the Shadow's feet. It exploded, sending it flying in the sky.
"Toshiaki! That was great!" Evelina said. "You're finally a Persona user...now we can fight together! Like this. Aoife, come!"
The gun-toting Persona emerged, and with vehement rage, fired powerful Dual Shots at the Shadow in the face – leaving giant gaping holes where its 'eyes' would be.
"Not bad, Evelina-senpai. Kaihime, now!"
Asami quickly hurried and summoned her own Persona. With her Shockwave Spear, Kaihime struck the EX-NIHILO, causing it to scream in agony.
"Hurry, Breksta! We must destroy it!"
The curvaceous Persona launched a bullet, the brutal looking Perfect Murder. It landed straight in the Shadow's chest, causing quite the splutter of blood.
"I'll make this quick. Mergen!"
Shiro's Persona attacked with his sword, the Grim Launcher. All of these attacks had shaken the Shadow's will to fight, and it kneeled, supporting itself with its cracked sword.
"Yes! He's finally on the ropes!" Shiro said, eagerly. "Toshiaki! Now, you must destroy that Shadow before it has the chance to destroy you! Do not let it infect you ever again! Now!"
"Do it, Toshi!" Evelina called out. "Kill this monster! It'll never harm you again!"
"Conchobar! Show 'em what you got! Frost Flash!"
He had no idea where it came from, but he called out that name to his Persona. And it complied, giving its user a faithful nod. Within moments, icy wind was concentrated into the helicopter's guns, transformed into a bright ball of cold light. It was launched straight into the EX-NIHILO, creating a tremendous flash of light.
When the brightness faded, they saw what had once been a Shadow had now become a giant ice sculpture, cold mist surrounding it. Then, its limbs fell off, breaking into pieces, leaving the torso to shatter into countless shards of ice. The head followed suit, leaving the sword. Finally, all of the ice melted rapidly, leaving nothing but the memory of the demonic Shadow.
"...You did it!" Evelina said, hugging her friend tight. "I'm so proud of you. Now you can finally be a part of Bythos!"
"Um...yeah!" Toshiaki said. "I was worried I'd never have a Persona. But look what we have here. Conchobar, who can pilot a helicopter by standing right on top of it."
"It's certainly a unique Persona. Then again, that's what we'd expect." Rinaka said. "And with it's helicopter, you'll probably not be needing that motorcycle anymore."
"You should really get home for some rest." Shiro said, sternly. "We've achieve what we set out to do. Futotama is dead, and so is the EX-NIHILO."
Toshiaki blinked, still in shock. "What was that thing, Koyanagi-sensei?"
"In truth, we don't know for sure. Nisa Liat isn't particularly forthcoming with the details, but from what I could tell, it is a Shadow she created that ran amok. Thus, if it emerges, we must either recapture it, or destroy it."
Just like that vision. The Princess created something like that, only for it to go on a rampage and possess people like me. I wonder how she feels about her experiment failing so badly. Although, I'm kinda pissed that I had that fucking creature try to take over my body and almost kill me.
"So it's gone for good, right? There's no way it could come back, after that." Evelina said. "I mean, it was torn to pieces!"
"Unfortunately..." Asami began. "The EX-NIHILO has a nasty habit of resurrecting itself. This is the fourth time, so far, that it's been killed. I think we're gonna see it come back. How long until then is the question."
Toshiaki shivered with fear. The thought of that demon coming back to possess him again was not a pleasant one. Shiro caught sight of his troubled expression, and shook his head.
"You needn't worry." Shiro said, sternly. "Once you have a Persona, you should be immune to any future attempts to infect your Gnosis and drain your soul. We'll be constantly vigilant for when it returns. If it does, we destroy it again. Some day, we'll find a way to get rid of it forever."
"You did well today. Don't think you'll be calling the shots, though. You haven't been given the title of Aeon Administrator yet." Asami said, crossing her arms.
Toshiaki glared at her. He had almost been killed, thanks to that failed experimental Shadow. And yet she still wanted to tout her seniority over him? For a second, he hated Asami more than he hated Toshiaki.
"Play nicely, children." Shiro said, rolling his eyes. "Yukimora, I hope you perform better as a Persona user than you do as a student. Otherwise, you might be the weakest Persona user we've ever had."
They'd have to get rid of you first.
"We should depart soon. Futotama's absence may lead another Shadow to fill the void." Rinaka said.
"Fine. Then we shall return." Shiro said. "Everyone, until next time. One thing. Asami, are you sure there's anything you're not telling us?"
"...No." Asami said, although she was staring intently at Rinaka's Gnosis. "Unless there's something you're not telling me."
There was an uncomfortable silence, until finally, Evelina took Toshiaki aside and teleported themselves back to Chieki Academy.
|Chieki Academy|17:00 pm|
The two of them were teleported straight in front of the tree, and yet no one around batted an eyelid. Toshiaki had been told that the teleportation function of the Gnosis distorted people's perceptions, and forced them to not notice their sudden appearance.
"Phew..." Evelina said. "No one saw us."
"I'm exhausted..." Toshiaki said, holding his head. He could still feel some discomfort, courtesy of the diabolical Shadow. "Having a Persona feels really strange..."
"I know." Evelina said. "Aoife is really getting strong, though. When that monster tried to take over your body, I freaked out. I was doing everything possible to get it away from you. Rinaka was yelling at me to stay calm, but how can I, when you were in danger?"
"It's okay now..." Shiro said, smiling. "I better not give Koyanagi-sensei any reason to hate me in two worlds, though. I'm gonna have to catch up. Conchobar is going to be the fastest Persona there ever was. Well, he is another me, so he'd have to be."
Evelina laughed, but was simply relieved to see her friend joking around. He hadn't lost any of his soul, thanks to that demon. Instead, he had become even stronger.
"Let's go home. We'll figure out what to do about Bythos tomorrow." Evelina said. "Asami was a little off, though. I wonder if there's internal discord between the Admins."
"She probably hates having him boss her around in both worlds. Guess we have more in common than I thought..." Toshiaki said.
I still don't want to think about Shiro being with my mum. But if my visions were real, and weren't just me making stuff up in my head, then...no. My mother would never love Shiro. No one would! Right? It's time to go home, and forget about all this until tomorrow.
As they were about to walk past, they looked to their right, and saw two familiar students staring straight at them. Natsumi and Masato, and right next to them was a girl in a Kansei uniform with teal hair.
"H-Hey!" Evelina said awkwardly, waving. The two twins waved back, yet they didn't smile. Their unknown friend folded her arms, with a grim look, but didn't say anything.
"Well...see you later!" Toshiaki said, quickly leaving the school.
"Um..." Evelina seemed lost for words. "You don't think they suspect anything, do you? After all, they have been trying to follow us around school for a while..."
"You're worrying too much." Toshiaki said, smiling, yet he started to wonder as well. What had those twins seen? If they had noticed him teleport there, then they must be Persona users. But they weren't part of the roster of Bythos.
"...I hope you're right. Otherwise, we may end up as their enemies."
"...I can't believe it."
"Me either."
The twins stood their incredulous. Masato, still in his gym gear, was stunned, while Natsumi seemed on the verge of tears. Their favourite senpai had just teleported from another world - the Theio Kosmos – right in front of them. And they hadn't joined the Knowledge Seekers.
"Dammit! We were trying so hard to just talk to them. And now this! They've gone over to Bythos. This is a nightmare!" Masato said, groaning.
"What are we going to do?!" Natsumi yelled. "Toshiaki-senpai's so much smarter than that! He's kind...he's always trying to include others. H-He can't hang out with Bythos! It's bad enough Asami-chan had to join them! Now Toshiaki!"
"We don't have a choice. We have to tell everyone and be prepared for the worst. It might just come to fighting your senpai..." Kei said, firmly.
"Evelina and Toshiaki are going to be our enemies next time we see them. And they don't even know it yet." Masato gazed listlessly at the tree, as it swayed slightly in the wind. "This sucks…!"
Kei put a gentle hand on his shoulder, and another on Natsumi's. They turned to her, still full of worry.
"It's not over yet. We still have a chance to get all the Cognition Cores and put an end to Bythos. And we might not have to hurt your senpai to do it." Kei said, resolutely. "All of us, working together, we'll come up with something."
"You sound really sure of yourself, Kei-chan." Natsumi said, managing a smile.
"It's a Wild Card thing. Ever since I had the power to summon Ostara and all those other Personas, I've been feeling like I can make anything happen." Kei said. "Some things, though, you can't do alone."
"Yeah, I getcha. It's the team that wins." Masato said, grinning. "…I still don't want to end up fighting our own senpai. I never wanted to fight anyone, though. But at least I can count on you guys."
"Right!" Natsumi said. "I...I already got used to the idea of fighting Asami. And she was my best friend here until all this started. I...I can handle Evelina too."
"I'll let Shigeru and the others know. Now that we know who their new recruits are in advance, we might just have an edge." Kei said. "I'd better get back to the dorm. Take care."
With that, she hurriedly left, eager to catch her next bus. More uncertainty was ahead, and despite Kei's words, the twins were still full of doubt. What would become of Toshiaki and Evelina's newfound powers?
|Kita Crossing – Hanei Market|17:40 pm|
Club Kaleidoscope remained closed for repairs, but the Crossing was still thriving. Today, Michiko had arrived here after school to do some shopping before heading home, looking at various stores and acquiring some good meat and vegetables for tonight's dinner. As she walked towards the vibrant, neon-lit Hanei Market, an area filled with stalls selling both exotic and traditional goods, she thought deeply on what she had heard today.
Shiro Koyanagi. I haven't heard that name for almost eleven years. I wonder if I'd recognise him anymore. He can't have forgotten what happened. The rest of us certainly haven't.
She browsed a flower stall called 'Kagome Flowers', run by a friendly brunette girl named Suzume. Today's offerings were a bright variety of white, yellow, and purple flowers. While making up her mind, the girl turned to the teacher and smiled.
"Hi! How can I help you today, miss?" Suzume asked politely. "Are you looking for anything in particular?
"These purple flowers over there look great. I'll take them." Michiko said, while her mind still lingered on that awful rainy day. She had purchased flowers before then, too. Every year since she had thought about buying more and risking a return to the same place, but she had never been able to find the courage.
"Thanks! They're grown by our family, for nearly fifty years. My great-grandmother got us into the florist business. Now, these roses over here..."
As she spoke, Michiko looked to her left, and gasped. Browsing a clothing stall was a man she had not seen for years. He had none of the optimism or confidence she had known him for any more. His hair had lost its lustre, and his skin was ruddy and wrinkled.
"...and despite what my sister thinks, snapdragons are beautiful too. Oh... Are you alright, miss?" Suzume asked, worried.
"W-What? Yes, I'm fine..." Michiko said. She hurriedly pointed to some pink tulips and purchased them as quickly as possible. Normally, she would have been happy to engage in chitchat with this enthusiastic young florist, but with Tetsuo Yukimora nearby, she wanted to attract as little attention as possible.
"Thank you very much! Please come again!" Suzume said waving. Michiko tried to rush past, but as she did, Tetsuo looked in her direction, and froze. She did as well, overcome by the sheer hatred he felt from his gaze.
Time hasn't softened him at all, it seems. Has he never let go of his resentment until now? I have to get away from here, quickly. Michiko, calm down. He won't repeat what happened at the funeral here.
"Well, if it isn't Michiko Kozuka. You're still in Shinshuto after all this time?" He asked, speaking up.
"Y-Yes." Michiko said. "I wasn't expecting to find you here..."
"Me either. I came here purely on a whim, only to find you. The one who was too spineless to tell me that my wife was sleeping with my best friend."
Michiko's heart sank, as others began to stare. If this ended up like the meltdown at the funeral, she could end up in trouble at Kansei. She had to tread very carefully.
"Tetsuo..."
"Have you seen Shiro since?"
"Shiro? No...we haven't seen each other for eleven years. I...I haven't a clue what he's doing these days." Michiko said.
Tetsuo frowned. "That bastard is teaching at Chieki Academy. Clearly, you aren't there, or you'd know that much."
"I'm at Kansei, Tetsuo." Michiko said. "These days, I go by Suzuki-sensei."
"Married and a teacher...even after all you did?" Tetsuo asked, clenching his fists. "You make my skin crawl, Michiko. You knew about Shiro and Kaede for four years, and you all kept it a secret. Obviously, I was the least important friend of the group. The least intelligent, the one you always had to help stay ahead. You were all laughing behind my back..."
"It wasn't like that!"
"Then what was it like? Well? You're a teacher now! Break it down for me what it was like to keep such a horrible secret! That Kaede never even loved me in the first place..."
"I..." Michiko said, lost for words.
"Forget it. Kaede is gone. And you and Shiro get to go on as if nothing had ever happened. If you ever run into him, feel free to laugh about my life. Widowed, in a stressful job, trying to raise two sons...do you know how hard it is to talk to them about their mother?"
Michiko shook her head, tearfully. Suzume looked on, concerned, but said nothing.
"I'll tell you something else. My son is in Shiro's class! I have to sit there and listen while he complains about how useless a teacher 'Koyanagi-sensei' is! Just like all of your students, I bet!"
"Sir, please calm down! You're making a scene!" Suzume said, walking over.
"It's fine, I'm going. Michiko, I still don't want to see you again. Or Shiro, for that matter." He turned his back, but stayed still, and sighed. "It's really a shame. If you had just told me the minute you found out, maybe things could have worked out better. But we'll never know."
As he finally left the market, Michiko stood there in sadness. He seemed nothing like the young, charismatic graduate she knew from the past. The one that was keen to get into teaching right away. Yet all because of Shiro, the close unit of friends had permanently fractured.
I can't blame Shiro for everything. After all, I kept quiet because I didn't want to see our group of friends break apart. Look at us now. I thought I was doing fine with both my career and my husband, but then I wound up becoming a Persona user.
Michiko sullenly left the Market, making sure she was not about to run into Tetsuo again. Shiro had been on her mind quite a bit, however. After eleven long years, he was in teaching like her. Yet he didn't appear to have any wonderful students like Shintaro or Kohaku lauding him with praise.
Perhaps it's high time I talk to Shiro too. It's too late to repair my friendship with Tetsuo. Kaede is long gone. But Shiro is still here. If he's became such a horrid teacher, then perhaps I can help him become one our children will respect.
|Kibo-Jo – Mayor's Office|
Shigeru was invited to see Mayor Ashikaga in her office. When he walked in, he was startled somewhat by her angry expression.
"You took your time today, didn't you?" She said, tapping her desk impatiently.
"My apologies, Yoko." Shigeru said.
"...Sit." She ordered, and he quickly did so. There was a moment of silence, until she finally spoke. "You've not done anything with the Cognition Cores yet, have you?"
"No, we haven't. They may have irreversible effects if we use them." Shigeru said. As the Mayor frowned, he looked away. It was rare for him to be intimidated, but right now, her mood was darker than ever before.
"How do you know that for sure? What's the point of containing them in that strange girl's Gnosis if you won't utilise them? Especially with the latest news on Bythos." The mayor span around her laptop, showing the articles. Shigeru looked at the headlines, and gulped.
ASAKITA STORES SELLING PRO-BYTHOS MERCHANDISE
HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES SUPPORTING BYTHOS IN SECRET
BYTHOS FANSITES CRASHING DUE TO TRAFFIC
"That is troubling, yes..." Shigeru said. "Even so, if Bythos don't get the Cores, they can't accomplish anything. We'll apprehend them all."
"Oh really? All you've done so far is capture two Anomaly Shadows. These Admins have continued to plague this city." The Mayor said. "With the Cores, it can be us that change the city. We can force the good people to open their eyes and realise that Bythos must be destroyed. Perhaps mistakes can be undone."
"Are you suggesting we alter reality itself?" Shigeru asked.
"I'm saying that if there's a chance that we can undo past tragedies, we should seize it." The Mayor said, standing up from her chair. "...You must ask this Kei to offer the Cognition Cores, Shigeru. We can use it to undo that poor Teruko girl's death. We can stop those teenagers from throwing their lot in with Bythos! And..."
"Do you mean...Noriko?" Shigeru asked.
"Yes! Exactly! This is an opportunity we simply cannot let pass." The Mayor, eyes burning with intensity slowly moved towards her door. "You should test its effects, Shigeru. If you are that concerned about the repercussions, test it on small, inconsequential things first. Once we're sure we know what we're doing, then we can use all of these Cores to their full potential. And my daughter will be alive, and at school, where she belongs."
She finally left, leaving her flustered friend behind, without even a farewell.
"...I can't risk these cores destroying our reality. We still only have two in our possession. Not to mention the Anomalies. What am I going to do?"
He left the office as well and began his long journey home. As he drove, he turned on the radio, listening to his favourite station. They were playing music by an enka singer, Misuzu Hiiragi, whose ex-husband had been involved with quite a major incident several years ago. Yet now Shigeru's fate was tied with the mysterious Cognition Cores.
He could only hope that they would not open Pandora's Box.