AN: It's been far too long since the last chapter, and I'm sorry for that. I sort of hit a writer's block, and life in general got in the way. Now, however, I'm finally back on this story. To all of you still reading this story, thank you, and please review!
Chapter 33: Courting Catastrophe
|May 27th|Aramis HQ – Svante's Office|16:30 pm|
In the highest floor of the building, Svante's office gave the greatest views of the Hiyashi area. However, the man himself was in a fierce online meeting with his father, the CEO of the central branch of Aramis. Both men had the same blonde hair and hazel eyes that Evelina had inherited. Svante had his cut short, and was clean shaven, clad in a sharp blue suit. His father, Hjalmar, had yet to turn completely grey despite reaching sixty-seven years of age. His beard had now reached an impressive size, having never been shaved off for upwards of forty years.
"Father, we've been over this a hundred times. Our lawyers are handling the Matsui Homes lawsuit expertly, and they've never let us down before. I'll see to it that our slimy competitors don't get a single Yen from us."
Hjalmar shook his head, frowning. "I don't think you understand, son. There are far too many rumours about your branch of this glorious company for me to ignore. Why is your branch the only one that has this amount of controversy? Why do you think this acceptable?"
Svante spluttered in rage and clenched the armrests of his office chair in frustration. It was at that moment that he noticed an unexpected visitor had appeared – Rinaka Tamura, who had been hired as private security. Shocked to see her, he stared at her. She simply smirked, hands on her hips, and moved closer.
"What are you looking over there for? I need to know how you intend to fix this situation. Not only that, your measly salaries are far below acceptable, and rival companies are accusing you of stealing their data. Son, do you want to drag our family's glorious company down the drain? Perhaps I should have asked Rasmus Christensen to oversee our expansion in Asia instead after all."
"What? That incompetent oaf?! He'd bankrupt this company in a week!" Svante shouted, banging his fist on the table. "Ahem. Please, father, have more faith in me. We'll turn things around. We're signing a very lucrative contract with Inoue Bank in the coming weeks. I'll be five million times the CEO that Rasmus could ever hope to be!"
"I hope that's true. It's not just you that these issues affect, however. You have an entire workforce that will suffer dearly if you fail. And my granddaughter as well."
"My wife and daughter are precious to me, father. I will ensure their prosperity." Svante said, staring intensely at the computer screen.
"Evelina will almost be an adult. No doubt, she will go on to become a success in whatever career she pursues. If your actions get in the way of her happiness...I will never forgive you. I'll talk to you soon, my son."
With that, Hjalmar ended the online call, leaving a very distressed Svante, burying his head in his hands. Rinaka took the seat opposite him, and poured a cup of green tea.
"I'm sorry I came unannounced. However, I have an update on the Matsui issue that should please you." Rinaka said, smiling.
"What would that update be?" Svante asked.
"We've completed our secret mission, and we've...changed their way of thinking. I hope you understand what I mean by that, because explaining our hidden world was quite exhausting last time."
"Hmmph...I think I get the gist of it." The businessman said, somewhat uncertain. "Just so we're clear, though. You're going to brainwash the entire company to make them drop the lawsuit?"
"Yes. And not just them. Any other company that's noticed similarities between their top secret designs and your recent products will be dealt with accordingly." Rinaka said, gesturing towards the window – at various other company buildings, as seen in the Hiyashi skyline.
"Your methods are still beyond my understanding, but at least you're able to get results. This alliance with Bythos ought to prove fruitful." Svante said. "Perhaps it's high time I started the business I always wanted. After all, any barriers in the way of that goal should fall easily."
"As long as you continue to be useful to us, perhaps we can assist you even in that goal." Rinaka said. "Already, Matsui Homes has become a puppet of Bythos."
Svante grinned. "Well done, Tamura-san. I must admit, I initially had reservations about this whole scheme, but...it's perfect! With Bythos' powers, every single one of my competitors will have no choice but to be subservient to Aramis!"
Rinaka smiled. "Exactly. And if we achieve our goals, the populace of the city will believe whatever we wish. Which means your customer base will soar. Not just in Shinshuto, but all over Japan. Your father will have no choice but to respect you once this happens, right?"
That miserable old fool's shocked face, when he sees how high our profits have increased, I can't wait to see it! If I can finally start a firm of my own, even better! I won't have to live in my father's shadow!
"We're also making plans to eliminate our more troublesome rivals." Rinaka said. "They're nothing but shallow tools of the government. And we know what you think of Mayor Ashikaga..."
The thought of that sallow skinned woman made Svante's blood boil. Thanks to her short-sighted decisions, the city's economy had suffered. No positive spin she put on it softened the blow for the local businesses.
"I'll pray for your success. After all, our success and yours go hand in hand these days." Svante said, smiling. "Most importantly, my daughter's future success will be guaranteed. She's always been so talented, and now I can send her to any university of her choice."
"Indeed." Rinaka said, somewhat awkwardly. With that, she bid Svante farewell and left the office. Not via the door, however, but with the special phone she and her colleagues used. The 'Gnosis', a bizarre smartphone that had paranormal abilities.
Regardless of what Bythos truly were trying to achieve, as long as Aramis remained their staunch ally, both organisations would surely thrive. Yet, he remained ignorant of his daughter's role in this partnership.
|May 28th|Symphonia|15:30 pm|
Kohaku, out of curiosity, was browsing a musical instrument store she had never been to before, called Symphonia. Although she loved her flute dearly, she was keen on admiring the other instruments on display, in particular a beautiful grand piano.
"Wow." Kohaku said, admiring the spotless finish and the shining keys. It was only then that she recognised another person on the other side of the building, talking to a store employee. Like in most pictures she had seen of her, Aika had a slight smile, and dressed gracefully, this time in an immaculate white sleeveless shirt and black trousers.
"...progressing smoothly, Makino-san." The young man said, standing firm and tall. "We expect it to be completed within a fortnight at the very latest."
"Good. I look forward to seeing it finally finished." Aika said, happily. "Farewell, Tsukasa."
With that, the young man left, and Aika finally noticed Kohaku. She gestured to the schoolgirl, who walked over eagerly.
"Ah, Teruya-san. We meet again." The pianist said. "How have you been?"
"Aika-san! Well..." Kohaku said, flustered. "Things have been really tense at school, all of us are on edge. Especially my friends."
Aika's smile faded. "Ah, I did hear about a fatality during that awful riot in Tarumi. Kansei High's faculty must be unsure of what to do with their students in these troubling times. I can only hope that somehow, you and your classmates manage to cope and move on."
To be honest, I think Noburo has a long way to go until then. He was in love with Teruko for a really long time. That's not something that will just fade overnight. I'm glad he's back in our team, of course, but he might never be the same.
"That incident in Tarumi was terrifying. One day, everyone's screaming for that actor's blood, blaming countless people in the industry for covering it up. Then suddenly, they're no longer interested." Aika said. "It's not uncommon for people to lost interest in one issue and then focus on another, but it's how abruptly their feelings changed that concerns me."
"Huh? What...do you mean?" Kohaku asked, hesitantly. She knew exactly what caused their change in behaviour, but she couldn't just casually discuss the Theio Kosmos to those outside of the Knowledge Seekers. Not even her idol.
"I'm really not sure. But perhaps there's some other factor at work." Aika said. "All I can hope for is that nothing else goes wrong for Shinshuto this year. Instead, something going right. A regeneration of our souls."
"That sounds like your song. Soul Whirlwind." Kohaku quickly hummed the main hook of the song, and the singer who penned it smirked.
"Oh, you remembered? I'm glad you're taking a real interest in my music. Far more than anyone did when I was in that stupid band..." Aika said. You don't have any other appointments today, do you?"
Kohaku shook her head.
"Then perhaps we can meet for coffee and cake, my treat. Would that be alright with you?"
"That sounds great! Where did you have in mind?" Kohaku asked eagerly. "I know a few places -"
"I imagine the location I have in mind will outshine the places you're used to. But words won't do it justice. Come, it won't take long to get there from here..."
|Chateau Classique|16:00 pm|
The Chateau was a sophisticated coffee house that had once been a large home of a classical musician. Ever since they had passed away, their son had embraced his love of brewing exquisite coffee and elaborate cakes and turned the place into a famous, yet every expensive coffee house. Coming here was an event in of itself.
"Wow, I can't believe I'm really here!" Kohaku said, gazing at the well-dressed patrons and the dark wooden furniture. "This is amazing!"
"It is, isn't it? Especially considering Sayoko Shindo once lived here." Aika said, gazing at the painting on the right-hand side, between glass cases displaying today's cakes. It was a monochrome depiction of a woman in a white kimono, clutching an ebony piano and its bow. Her hair was tied in a bun, similar to a geisha, but she had very light make-up on.
"Oh my goodness…!" Kohaku said, gazing up at the painting. "Her music is out of this world!"
"Indeed. It's the only music this place will play, as mandated by her son, Tomokazu." The musician looked up at the ceiling and smiled, content. "In fact, this is the place that inspired me to embark on a music career."
Kohaku looked on, in interest. She hadn't heard this place being described in any of Aika's interviews. As embarrassing as it was to admit, she had been reading up on anything her idol had been saying online.
"I had been with my old band for a little while, but...I had reached breaking point. Our management had no interest in helping us develop musically. They only intended to show how much we would 'mature' over time, if you follow my meaning. One manager in particular...well, Tsutomu Kodama had an unhealthy interest in us, me in particular. My bandmates had no qualms with this, and in time, I resented them."
"Why?"
"They had abandoned all credibility. Our band seemed unique to start with, but in time, became just like any other manufactured teen idol band. I seemed the only one interested in actually advancing as a musician, the others only cared about becoming famous and getting invited to trashy parties. I sound a little harsh, don't I? Fame...is toxic. Especially when you have no control over your life."
"...It must have been hard." Kohaku said. I've heard lots of horror stories in the past, but Aika's band sounds like it might have even been worse. Strange, I've never heard about the other girls in her band. I wonder what happened to them?
"Finally, I came here, after a tearful recording session. We had finished recording our last music video. I was sick of everything. Being objectified, and my true voice being ignored. And those other girls giggling like hyenas, loving how 'sexy' they both looked. As I sat there, trying not to draw attention to myself, I listened to the music here. And it soothed me. I had been good at playing the piano at school, but not this good. I wanted nothing more than to break free and becoming one recognised for my actual talent. And..."
"And?"
"With a little support, I finally broke free. That awful Kodama got quite the lengthy prison sentence, and the group was over. Those two insipid, tuneless girls cried like mad when they found out the grisly truth, but...I was overjoyed. Freedom was in my grasp. And so, I re-emerged on the music scene. Now, I have a loyal fanbase, one who listens to what I have to say, and the music I have to play. No one would ever dare tell me how to dress."
A little support? What does she mean by that?
"I've not been in touch with Misaki Chino and Chiharu Mori since we broke up. And that's fine with me. I'm sure they must have attempted one last feeble grasp at stardom, but if they did, it must have been a laughable failure. I was carrying them for our short-lived career. That must sound so conceited of me…"
"No, I'm with you. You're the one people are still listening to. And you listen to your fans, too. That's what makes you so different from everybody else."
Aika smiled, and at that time, their server provided them with their hot chocolates and cake. The food and drink was wonderful, but being in the presence of her favourite pianist, they were an afterthought.
"Tell me, Kohaku-chan, have you always loved music?"
"...Yes. I think it must have started when I was about six, when I was walking with my parents, and there was a street performer with a flute. He was really good, and I kept asking him to play all sorts of songs. Mostly theme songs from shows I liked at the time. He didn't refuse, though. Mostly because my dad kept giving him coins."
She laughed, as she continued telling the story. That day had been before she even knew Shintaro. It had been a fun afternoon, and her parents had taken her to the cinema beforehand. On that same day, she had got a new dress, and they were on their way to dinner. After meeting the floutist, she had been curious how to become as good as him.
"...I can't even remember what his name was. Or really what he looked like. He wore a lot of black, that's all I can remember. But he was so talented. I'm still nowhere near at his level."
"Hmm. There are so many musicians that travel across the land. They might only set foot in a town for an afternoon, but capture the hearts and minds of the people forever. Such is the beauty of music." Aika said. "...You have a flute of your own, don't you?"
"Yes. I did really well at every exam last year, and as a reward, my parents had a special silver flute made. It sounds so much better than anything else I've played. Of course, it didn't come cheap. I have to take especially good care of it. I probably guard it more than my -um..."
"...Your what?" Aika asked, curious.
Shit! I almost said my Gnosis! Come on, think! Make something up! There has to be something else in my room that will do. Ah!
"...My record collection!" Kohaku said, as calm as she could. "I've got a huge set in my room. I can't let anything happen to those, either."
Aika nodded. With that awkward moment over with, Kohaku could finally relax, and began discussing the various musicians she had on vinyl. There was a story attached to each one, it seemed. The time passed away, and the two were still chatting animatedly, despite their meals being finished.
"Aside from you, I've been listening to a lot of Netuno's music. Only tough part is, I can't speak Portuguese, so I have to use the in-lay to understand every single lyric..."
"Perhaps you should learn. Your friend knows English and French, doesn't he?" Aika asked. "I'm sure you could take up at least one other language, and open up even more doors in your future."
Kohaku thought about it. "Yeah, that'd be nice. I dunno if I'll ever go to Portugal, though. But maybe Spanish..."
"Oh, my apologies, I'm afraid I've got to be going." Aika said, checking her watch. "I'm sure we'll see each other again soon, though. This city has a habit of brining people like us together. Until next time, Kohaku-chan."
"Okay. Bye!" Kohaku said. With that Aika left, and so did Kohaku. However, something seemed odd.
My friend knows English and French. That's true, Shintaro does like to show off his language skills. But did I ever tell Aika about that? If I didn't, how would she…
She left the establishment in silence, and walked on, dwelling on this. Surely, Kohaku had simply forgotten she had mentioned her friend's bilingual talents. Yet as she thought about this, she began to doubt she had ever said anything about it before. And that disturbed her.
If she truly hadn't told Aika about Shintaro knowing French and English, who did?
The possibilities that then came forth didn't make her feel any more at ease. Who else would Shintaro brag about his skills to? He did like to show off to Kei and everybody else, but Aika had only befriended Kohaku.
"...Celestine."
Of course. The French novelist whose way with words had written her a place in Shintaro's heart. There was no possible way she would fail to know he had a reasonable command of her native language.
However, she had never heard of Aika Makino and Celestine Courtois being friends. Perhaps they had met at an event in the past. Yet if they were truly friends, would Shintaro not have brought it up before? If he had found out, she could imagine him excitedly rambling about how his best friend's idol was friends with his own.
"Maybe I'm worrying about this too much..." Kohaku finally said. Yet these doubts would not fade so easily. Still, she had more pressing things to worry about. Her role as a Persona user, especially one that could heal the wounded. Many would be depending on her, and she had to be focused.
She started making her way home, trying not to think what else Aika might know – and why.
|May 29th|Toshiaki's Room|16:14 pm|
As he got home from school, Toshiaki simply wanted a chance to rest, glad to be free from going to that other world. Fighting monsters with his Persona, he could handle, but battling other human beings was not in his nature. However, his younger brother was feeling a lot more energetic, getting ready to meet some friends of his for a game of soccer.
"Don't be out too late, remember." Tetsuo said, without smiling.
Ever since that trip to that market, dad's been even moodier than normal. Wonder what's up?
"Yeah, I know, not a minute after half eight. I got it the first four hundred times." Juudai said.
"And watch the attitude, boy. You two abide by my rules, not your own."
With that, Juudai scowled, but ran off before he could get another earful.
"You're not going to wish him good luck?" Toshiaki asked.
"It's hardly the World Cup. Do you honestly think he'll remember this game ten years from now?" Tetsuo said, sighing. "With the way Bythos are carrying on, though, we might not even have this city by then."
"You really think so?" Toshiaki asked.
"Every day is the same. Bythos do something online, people get outraged and act recklessly. The city council are planning to double their security. And no matter how hard the police try, they can't seem to actually apprehend anyone in Bythos. They don't have a face or a voice, but they're everywhere."
"I guess..." Toshiaki said.
"You better stay away from anyone in that sick cult, Toshi." Tetsuo said. The veins on the sides of his head were bulging. "I mean it. All they'll do is bring us all to ash and ruin. That, my son, is why we have to stick to the rules of society. Including mine. Which means you're going to be doing some serious studying, starting right about now."
Sighing, Toshiaki grabbed his schoolbag, and some canned drinks for later. "I better start with Maths, then. What fun."
Tetsuo frowned. He didn't seem too happy when this particular class got brought up. Perhaps he had struggled in school too. Yet, with what Toshiaki now knew, there may have been another reason.
Maybe if I bring him up…? He doesn't know that I know. I just have to act like I normally do. A student who hates his strict teacher.
"Would be nice if Koyanagi-sensei didn't give us so much homework." Toshiaki said. "Shiro Koyanagi, the most uptight, judgmental old bastard ever to grace the fine halls of Chieki Academy. I bet you never had any teachers as bad as him, huh Dad?"
Immediately, Tetsuo's face became a rather intense scowl.
"Just hit the books. Now! Stop screwing around!" He said, and stormed off into the room he was slowly converting into an office. He shut the door, but it did little to cover up a very loud expletive.
Toshiaki cursed himself for ever bringing up the name. Quickly, he ran up into his room, just as he heard what sounded like a mug being thrown against the wall. Once he locked the door, he took out the Gnosis.
There was one new message, and it was from Shiro. Thank goodness Tetsuo knew nothing of this. If he truly hated his old friend, he would explode if he knew Shiro had enlisted Toshiaki as a soldier of Bythos. With trepidation, Toshiaki opened the message.
We meet in Theio Kosmos tomorrow morning. Do not be even a minute late, and don't discuss what you know about my past with anyone. Especially not your father.
Toshiaki did not take kindly to being lectured by Shiro in any situation, but especially not when he was trying to relax at home. Yet now, he had no chance of relaxing. He must study to appease his father. And suppress the darkest thoughts he had ever had. Those of his mother loving someone other than his father.
Right now, Toshiaki wanted to scream. He wished he had never found the Gnosis at all. If he hadn't, he could have continued hating Shiro, and remembering his mother fondly. Now, he questioned what exactly she had ever seen in him. Fighting Shadows was taking up time he should be using to improve his somewhat lacking grades.
Only Evelina could understand what he was going through. And she had enough troubles of her own to deal with. He sat at his desk, gazing at the convoluted test paper in front of him. Yet he kept thinking about how soon, he might face Natsumi Yoshinaga again.
Damn. I remember last year, she kept cheering our team on with all her friends. Everyone on the team keeps calling her my Not Very Secret Admirer, but I didn't mind, she was good looking and seemed like a lot of fun. Now, she's my enemy. How many other people am I going to end up having to fight? If only she'd just join Asami and the rest of us. But that's not gonna happen, is it?
Eventually, he gave up halfway through the paper, and went to take a nap. Although his mind was too full of doubt to even do that these days.
|Totsuka – Yorokobi Clock Tower|20:00 pm|
Evelina had been given secret orders to come to the clock tower alone. Uneasy, she left the house, mumbling to her family that she was going to the gym. She did intend to get some exercise later, albeit it would be fighting Shadows. She used her Gnosis to get to the Theio Kosmos version of this place, and there was a shiver down her spine the minute she opened the door.
No one seemed to be there, and all she could see was the large number of steps to climb. She sighed, and began the ascent up the stone steps. When she finally got to the very top of the tower, she was taken aback by what she saw. All the mechanisms for the clock were a sickly green hue, and they seemed to be glowing. There was unearthly jade light all around, yet there didn't seem to be an actual light source emanating this unsettling luminescence. Unsettled, she stepped forward, and saw a face she had been seeing a lot of recently.
"Good. You're punctual as always." Rinaka said.
"Why are we meeting here?" Evelina asked.
"There's something I wanted to discuss with you." Rinaka said. She pointed to the clock with her Gnosis, and the image changed to a black screen, displaying lines of green code.
"This program. It's quite a complex piece of code." Evelina said, eyeing it carefully. When her eyes reached the end of it, however, she frowned. "...It's incomplete, though."
"Regrettably, yes. It's been in development for quite some time. While we do have some talented programmers within Bythos, none of them seem capable of completing this project. That's why we've decided to show it to you." Rinaka said.
"Me?" Evelina asked. "Why me?"
"Because your talent at coding has come up many times. Your father certainly likes to boast of your skills. You've even become aware of the finer details in the Gnosis code that I wasn't aware of. Thus..."
A holographic keyboard appeared, that glowed the same colour as the clock.
"Obviously, we can't let you take this project back home. As you might be able to tell, this is a very...delicate program. If it lingers on any of your devices at home, it could cause them damage beyond repair. Here, though, you can work on the code without fear."
"Alright. How soon do we need this software completed by?"
Rinaka smiled. "As soon as possible. We decided it was best that the less people involved with the Ignorantia Project, the better, so it'll just be the two of us working on this. We might as well start now."
"Ignorantia.." Evelina said. "Rinaka, what are we going to do with this code?"
There was a moment of quiet. Finally, the senior of the two women spoke up.
"Once it is stored upon a Gnosis, it will assure our victory. When we finish it, it'll be up to another Admin to put it on an enemy's Gnosis. And Nisa Liat already has someone in mind. You're up to the task, aren't you?"
Evelina nodded. "Yeah. I won't let either of you two down. Let's get to work!"
|June 3rd |Celestine's House|17:00 pm|
More time had passed, and as expected, Shintaro performed excellency on the mid-term exams. This pleased him greatly, although for those who had low marks, they were irked by his incessant boasting. Akari, in particular, became eager to change the subject whenever the results were discussed, especially since Kohaku had also done brilliantly. Various teachers were wondering if Shintaro or Kohaku could surpass Manami Inoue's legacy.
Now, at the end of the school week, Shintaro was free to meet the woman he had been dying to see. She was had at work on several different projects – as well as her own writing, she was assisting with the French translation of several other author's books. It seemed she was very much in demand, and some had credited her with sparking an interest in her homeland among the Japanese.
He arrived at the front door of her beautiful home, in a neighbourhood delibrately designed to look more European in terms of architecture. Celestine had moved here for that reason. Just as he was about to ring the doorbell, the door opened, revealing the beautiful lady he had been longing to meet.
"Bonsoir, monsieur..." She said, kissing him quickly.
"Pleasure to be here, milady."
The two of them quickly walked inside, towards the newly renovated study. A place for both reading and writing, Shintaro fell in love with the ornate shelves and bookcases, stacked with books. So many great masterpieces that even he hadn't read yet.
"We'll have plenty of time to browse my small library later. I hope you're hungry. I've prepared one of my favourite recipes. It's a little out of the ordinary, but I hope you like it."
"As long as it's not monkey's brains, I'm fine." Shintaro said, smirking.
"Relax. While popular in Cantonese cuisine, monkey's brains aren't commonly eaten in Japan. Alligator brains, on the other hand..." Celestine said. Shintaro gulped. "...I jest, Shintaro. Don't end up with flames on the side of your face."
The two of them sat down, and Celestine poured a glass of wine. She handed it to Shintaro, who stared at it, unsure.
"Um, Celestine? I'm not old enough to drink this. Not even if I was in France."
Celestine smirked. "You are a well-behaved young man, aren't you? Don't worry, it's non-alcoholic wine I bought for you. I just wanted to add a little class to this evening."
"More class?" The two of them laughed, while Shintaro's face went red. He took a sip, and as he did, he felt a strong sensation inside of him. This wine, alcoholic or not, was already having an effect on him. He felt himself relax a little, leaning in closer to his belle. "This tastes a lot better than I expected. I just wish we could go out like it was the most ordinary thing in the world..."
"I concur. But we're both the same age spiritually, wouldn't you agree? You shouldn't rush into maturity. As clever as you are, you still have a lot to learn about being an adult."
Eventually, the two moved into the dining room, one of the few rooms in the house that didn't have some kind of book on display. The lighting was soft, and playing in the background was a classical jazz album Shintaro had never heard before, yet it had a vaguely nostalgic quality to it. Perhaps it took him back to watching several romantic film scenes, where lovers dine by candlelight, and look forward to the future.
The meal was exquisite. Celestine presented him a plate with a grand steak, seared to perfection, and the vegetable accompaniments were equally enticing. Ever since he had met her, he had eaten well, mostly due to her finding wondrous new eateries in the city that he never would have tried otherwise.
"I assume you've been keeping up with the stories on Bythos. Especially the new one about that corrupt law firm going under..."
"Huh? Oh, yeah..." Shintaro said, still with half of his meal to go. He had to keep his calm when Bythos was discussed.
The law firm Celestine was referring to was called Azuma, and specialised in criminal defence. They had been struggling with its reputation for the last year, but the decline had still been slow, and they had announced a new strategy to revitalise themselves. However, a number of leaks revealed some stark truths about the firm. The worst of all was their use of blackmail against several judges, and lawyers of rival firms, for the purpose of winning as many cases as possible.
"They're such fools. Their tactics kept them rich for far too long, and helped white-collar criminals escape justice. Not any more, however. So many of their cases will need to be revisited, and this time without any bullying to sway the tide in their favour." Celestine said, finishing her glass of wine. "How exactly Bythos got access to their top secret documents is unclear. Aren't you curious?"
"Very much so. Perhaps they have very skilled hackers. Or a team of double agents…"
Shintaro wondered if any of the Aeon Admins he had fought were responsible for the downfall of the Azuma Firm. As long as they could slip into the darkness of the Theio Kosmos, they would be safe from any repercussions. Only Shintaro and his friends had the power to oppose them, after all.
"If only Mayor Ashikaga could do something about this. Without a strong leader, this city will fall, and sink into an abyss of despair. For quite a few people, Bythos are the only ones they can rely on."
"Is Mayor Ashikaga that unpopular, you think? Her stance on education is phenomenal. Thanks to her, schools in Shinshuto are -"
"She's only taking credit for those far more competent than she is. Once you're done with your education, you'll have to suffer unduly due to her short-sighted policies. Times are tough enough as is it."
The Mayor has had a lot of negative press this year already. Most of it, I thought it was just Bythos fanning the flames, but could I be biased towards her and Komatsu-san? No. I trust him, and if he trusts the Mayor, so do I.
"I suppose you're right. Still, Shinshuto felt a lot safer before Bythos emerged. Everyone's afraid of what they'll do next. How many people will die in the aftermath of their next plan? Do they want the entire city to become an insane mob? Why can't Nisa Liat see how much harm she's doing? She doesn't care about Shinshuto at all. She should be behind bars, so she rot there!"
Celestine raised her eyebrows, a little perturbed. She had never seen him like this before. He looked away, a little embarrassed for raising his voice.
"...I'm really sorry, Celeste. I didn't think I'd get so riled up."
She shook her head, smiling. "There's nothing to apologise for. You're a passionate young man, willing to speak your mind. That's one of the things I like most about you, after all."
"At least Bythos can't stop us from speaking our mind." Shintaro said, smirking. "Forget them. They don't matter. What does matter, is that we have this time together. If only we could tell everyone. Although there is a certain excitement in a secret love affair..."
"Perhaps so. Two souls wanting to be together, but countless distractions keep trying to tear them apart."
|Asakita – Mihama Electric Arcade|17:40 pm|
Chieki Academy's exams had occurred on the same week as Kansei's, and the results came shortly after. It was considered a tie, thus the teachers were determined for their students to do even better during the next exams. Masato's scores were above average, which earned him a lengthy tongue-lashing from his mother. He and his sister had decided to meet up with Kei today, and they decided to show her the popular Mihama Arcade. They were finishing up one popular light gun game, and were considering what to play next.
"Every time you talk about your mother, I can see true fear in your eyes. Is she always like that?" Kei asked.
"You know, I think she just can't survive unless she's got something to yell at us about. Even Hideki. I can't wait until I can move out to a college dorm." Natsumi said.
"At least you did well." Masato said, envious. "Best you ever did at exams, you said so yourself. Lucky..."
"I guess so. At least we haven't had Koyanagi-sensei glaring at us. School feels so much easier without him.." Natsumi said.
"I imagine it would be. Him taking a leave of absence due to sickness...I wonder if he was planning that all along." Kei said. "Of course, he looked like he was in fine health the last time you saw him in the Theio Kosmos."
"Ugh, damn Koyanagi! He's either a total bore, or he's looking for a reason to tear a student apart. And somehow, he gets to be an Aeon Admin and use his Persona to cause chaos all over the city. With his sick leave, he has a lot more spare time to screw things up. We've got to do something about him!"
"I know." Kei said. "Once we get the next Cognition Core, we'll be even closer to our goal. But Bythos must have their own plans as well. Not only that, we still don't know who the other Admins are, only their number."
"Better the devil you know, you mean?" Natsumi asked.
"Exactly. We know about six. Before recently, we just thought of them as ordinary people. Some of which were minor celebrities. However, who could the other three be? Are they famous as well? They might be people we see on a daily basis."
"...Stop." Masato said. "I don't want to think like that. I want to trust people, not worry about what I'm telling them. If we get really paranoid, we might think those kids playing that fighting game are admins." He casually pointed to a pair of kids, male and female, both just under ten years old. The male was pouting over the girl choosing the 'overpowered' ninja character.
"Yes, I'm sure those two are the true masterminds behind it all." Kei said, deadpan. "Seriously, though. We ought to be worry about anyone who suddenly comes into our lives, especially if they're really interested in one of us."
"Ha! I doubt that's gonna happen. There's no one that compares to Dorothy in my life, anyway. So if they're gonna try to seduce me with some super sexy secret agent, they're gonna fail."
"I guess we don't have to worry about my idiot brother over here, then." Natsumi said, sighing. "Although Toshiaki...I really wish I could persuade him to join our side."
Masato frowned. He had laughed at her obvious infatuation with Toshiaki Yukimora ever since they met him at Chieki, but now it was no laughing matter. If she let her guard down, she could fall for any number of traps set by him.
"That may be a vain hope, Natsumi." Kei said, sadly. "We have to be careful. All of us."
"Relax. We'll be super careful. And I'm sure Shintaro and Kohaku will do the same. They're always cautious about these things, right?" Masato asked.
"...I wonder." Kei said, looking to the side. "Those two certainly are clever, but when it comes to their favourite books or songs, they tend to lose track of the world around them. I worry about them..."
"Really? I don't think you need to panic so much. Come on, let's try the dancing game! I'll go against you first, Kei-chan!" Natsumi said, blissfully running over to the catchy game's dance controls.
"You're too serious, Kei. C'mon, you can trust Shintaro-kun and Kohaku-chan. Just like how I can trust you." Masato said.
"Masato..." Kei said, smiling. "Thank you. Yes, we should enjoy tonight. As long as we stay away from the evil masterminds."
The two of them laughed, as they quickly joined Natsumi – who was so busy dancing, she didn't realised she forgot to put the money inside the game's slot.
|Celestine's House|21:00 pm|
After dinner was over, the two of them had moved into the living room, and were admiring yet another collection of books. The ones they were perusing now were rather more aged, and a wide mix of English, Japanese, and French.
"Wow. I've never seen that edition of The Colour of Magic before. Loved reading that when my dad bought it on a business trip, and I kept bugging him to find the other Discworld - Oh wow, that's the best cover for The Bell Jar I've ever seen!"
"I'm a collector of books for many reasons. The words inside, the tales behind each author, and the artwork that shows the essence of the story to the reader." Celestine said. "Even something like a single red apple. Of course, considering the quality of that particular book, the apple was wholly rotten to the core."
Shintaro laughed. Someday, he wanted to show Celestine his own book collection, but inviting her round to his house would be somewhat difficult to explain. His parents would be rather sceptical of their son's current favourite novelist coming over to dinner, especially if he took her upstairs. For now, he'd have to resort to the lists he'd compiled over the years.
"This is a fantastic bibliothèque. How did you get hold of all these books?" He asked, eagerly.
"A number of them were passed down to me by my relatives. In particular, the aged looking ones. I must have read them a thousand times. None of them are especially valuable, but I couldn't bear to part with them. A curse that no doubt afflicts you as well, my darling bibliophile."
"You're right about that. There's so many piles of books I need to sort out, but that just ends up creating another pile. Course, a lot of my books end up in other rooms of the house. I ended up leaving one in the microwave one night. Aptly, it was Dante's Inferno..."
The two sat down, while soothing music played via the record player. Celestine was knocking back another glass of wine, the fourth she had poured for herself since he had arrived. It seemed to relax her somewhat, as she had her arm around him, the first time since they had met.
"Shin, this has been such a fabulous evening. It's such a pity you're often so busy with school. And once you're in your third year, studying will consume your life even more than it already does."
"...I guess so. But you're always occupied, aren't you? Writing your books, meetings with publishers, and so much more. We're both going to have full schedules for the foreseeable."
"Indeed. There's so much uncertainty these days. When will we next have an opportunity like this? Will the world have changed by then? I prefer living in the moment. It's why the minute I acquire a new book, I read it as quickly as possible. I don't want leaving it in a constant state of 'I'll read it sometime, but not now'."
Both of them were holding each other's hands, and he gripped tightly just as she did. This was a feeling he had read about plenty of times, but never quite felt before. Unsure what to do, he sat there, both afraid and excited.
"Celeste, I think -"
"No, don't say it. We must seize every special moment like this."
They kissed, and gazed into each other's eyes longingly. Shintaro's heart was beating faster than it ever had before.
"You won't go home just yet, will you?" Celestine asked. "It's not like you have school tomorrow. And you're the first person I've ever invited over here. I've...been so lonely until you turned up. Don't leave me. Not yet."
"...I won't." Shintaro said.
Celestine smiled. She stood up, as did he. It all happened in a blur, but he followed her upstairs, and she opened her bedroom door. All caution was thrown to the wind. It no longer mattered what anyone else thought, or how many years were between him and this belle. He wanted this night to last forever, in her arms.
|Bythos Citadel – Gallery of the Chosen|11:00 pm|
Now that his identity had been revealed to the Yoshinaga twins, Shiro could no longer continue to teach them and pretend like nothing was happening. His 'sickness' became the hot gossip among the students of Chieki, but he was uninterested in what they had to say about him.
With nothing else currently demanding his attention, he had decided to visit the surreal art gallery of the Bythos Citdel, one that while not restricted, had never been explained. It was hard to tell if Nisa Liat herself had designed them, she had never answered any questions about them, always changing the subject and moving on to 'more pressing matters'.
"There you are."
Shiro turned around, and saw Rinaka. She looked somewhat exhausted, having carried out several reconnaissance missions recently.
"I didn't realise we Aeon Admins became art lovers." Shiro said.
"Knock it off, Shiro. This is serious. I've got big news for you." Rinaka said.
"Such as…?" Shiro asked.
"Ignorantia is complete."
There was a moment of quiet. The secret program that had began two months ago was finally ready to be implemented. The full scope of the project was known only to a select few, and soon, it would live up to its promises.
"Wonderful. Solberg's daughter is quite the asset to our team. Perhaps young Yukimora's talents can be of use to us too, someday. However, we need to plan how to get Ignorantia onto the intended Gnosis..."
"Actually..." The former policewoman said, sullen. "That's already been taken care of."
"What? Already? This is fantastic, but rather sudden..."
"That's what I thought. But it will happen tonight." Rinaka said, with a sneaky grin. "Celestine's charms, of all things, will turn the tide in our favour."