Persona: Gnosis - The Knowledge Seekers

by Sraosha

Shintaro Nakahara is a book lover who studies at Kansei High, in the thriving city of Shinshuto. Everything in his life is peaceful, if uneventful. That all changes when Kei Kakusa, a new transfer student, comes from Yokohama, and the Bythos group cause massive unrest within the city. With the power of Persona, do he and his friends have any chance of saving the people they love?

51. One Last Night

AN: Sorry for the wait, this one took a while to write. Thanks for all your reviews, they keep me going. I've been a little down recently, mostly due to the things happening in the world, but even so, I want to keep doing this story. Once again, please read, review, favourite, follow, etc.

To answer one of the reviews, Shintaro's Arcana is indeed Hierophant, if I've listed it as another one earlier then I'll need to change it, which I'll get around to when I can!

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Chapter 51: One Last Night

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|Totsuka – Nakahara Household|8:30 pm|

Shintaro had, not for the first time, felt that today was the day that everything changed. Indeed, there had been many experiences like that for him. The awakening of his own Persona was the first, but now, with the city's government in ruins, and the populace gripped with fear, he knew that today beat all the others.

"Everyone, I know you've been through a lot. But tomorrow comes the most difficult battle we'll ever face. Not just in the Theio Kosmos, but our entire lives. Tonight, I want you all to go home, and spend the night with your family, or whoever else is important to you. I don't want any of you coming to the Citadel without having said or done the things you really want to. This is our last chance to make sure our city has a future. Let's not waste it."

Thus, as Shigeru suggested, Shintaro was having dinner with his parents. Kohaku and her family had decided to come too, so they could talk things over, and have one last night of peace before the final foray into the Theio Kosmos. Kei didn't have any family to go to, however. Only a dormitory, where she didn't really know anyone.

"You can come to mine, Kei. You're always welcome there."

And so, here they all were. The dinner was quiet, and no one was particularly focused on the food. But they needed to eat, for the trials ahead tomorrow.

"...I can't believe it. This year, everything's over with." Shintaro's father said. "How can things get back to normal like this?!"

"We worked so hard at Kibo-Jo for making this city a better place, and for what? Almost all our colleagues have been murdered! They didn't do anything to deserve this!" Kohaku's father said, barely touching his found. "Now my daughter is fighting the insane ghost of the Mayor's own child! What the hell was all our hard work for?!"

"Dad..." Kohaku murmured. "Shinshuto will recover. Slowly, but surely, it will."

"Yeah, Kohaku's right!" Shintaro added. "Hard work is what got the city to where it was, and hard work will get it back."

"But...we have to rely on our own children to save us..." Shintaro's mother said, despondently. "I can't believe it, my little boy..."

I'm not a little boy anymore, mother. I can't be a scared child when I walk into that Citadel.

"Can't we find some other way?" Kohaku's mother asked. "There isn't one, is there?"

Kei shook her head. She hadn't said a single word all evening and was even tenser than ever. To think, once Shintaro had been excited about bringing her home to have dinner with him, to make up for her missing her family back in Yokohama. But now, there was no joy in having her here.

"What exactly is your plan tomorrow, Shintaro?" His father asked him, annoyed by the silent guest.

"We meet at 7 am, at Kansei," He began. Although there hadn't been an official announcement, with an entire city in chaos, the school would most likely be closed. All the schools would be.

I wonder if Aoi Mirai has any students left. Most of them joined Bythos. Only to get killed en masse today. This city's grief may never end. My parents are lucky I came home, aren't they?

"Yes. There, the Citadel will appear above the school, and we'll be able to get inside." Kohaku continued. "Nisa Liat will no doubt have many Shadows hiding within. Even without her Aeon Admins, her Anomalies, or EX-NIHILO, she's the most powerful enemy we'll ever face. We can't take her lightly."

"I see." Kohaku's mother said. "We...we saw so little of you this year...and this whole time, you've been fighting to protect this entire city...we were so blind, Kohaku-chan..."

"Whatever happens tomorrow, we're not going to stay late ever again. Our daughter has spent too many nights alone." Kohaku's dad said.

"It's...okay. Right now, I'm just glad we're all here, in the one place. Once it's all over, we can try to get back to being a normal family..." Kohaku said. As she said this, however, Kei stopped eating, staring at her plate.

"Kei?" Shintaro asked. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry. It's just, what you were saying about being a family." Kei said. "Back home, it's just my grandparents left. My parents died in a train crash, a long time ago. I was only a child. And around the same time, my aunt disappeared."

"I'm so sorry to hear that..." Shintaro's father said, taken aback by this.

"Your aunt, she was a student at Kansei, wasn't she?" Kohaku asked, intrigued.

Kei nodded. "Yes, a long time ago. She left Yokohama to study here for one year, because she wanted to see a new city. She was only ten years older than I was, so she was a lot younger than her sister, or my mother. Because of that, she wasn't that close to my mother, but found it easier to be friends with me. She felt more like a big sister than anything else..."

"And she's still missing?" Kohaku's father asked. "How awful..."

"It's alright. I'm...not on my own any more. One way or another, I'll see this through to the end.

The meal continued, with silence returning. Shintaro ate the rice, but couldn't focus on the flavour or taste. All he could think about was what he really wanted to say. Would he get a chance to talk to Kei, on her own?

|Yoshinaga Household|8:35 pm|

So much had changed since this morning, when the twins went to school. The most eventful thing they had expected was Hideki and Setsuna's trip to see their old college friends. Right now, with just their parents, both brother and sister were even more anxious than they otherwise would have been.

"...The entire government building is gone! I can't believe it!" Their father said, gazing at the TV. It had been reporting on the incident all day, with the 'unexplained' destruction of Kibo-Jo making shockwaves throughout the city. Mayor Ashikaga's death hadn't been confirmed, since her body had been whisked away to parts unknown, and the lucky few that had been sent to Meguro Hotel were claiming they had managed to get away in time.

They all agreed to not talk about the Theio Kosmos in the media. But considering how much of it's all over the internet now, it might not make any difference. Damn, why did things have to end up like this? The Mayor betrayed the whole city, and for what?

"Masato. Natsumi." Their mother said, frowning. "Do you realise how lucky you are that both of you survived? I could have ended up like Eiji's mother..."

"...Eiji."

His mother will never see him again. She'll never get to see him come home from baseball practice again. That's not something I want anyone to go through.

"I know. A lot of people died today. The Kibo-Jo employees, the Bythos soldiers that Nisa Liat corrupted, and...Eiji. But we can't back out now. Nisa Liat has to pay for what she's done to Shinshuto. You understand that, right?"

"Everyone else is going to the Citadel. We'd never be able to look them in the eye if we stayed home like cowards." Natsumi said, defiantly. "You can't stop us from going...and we won't let you, either."

"I never said I wouldn't let you go, dear..." Their mother said. "All I was trying to say was...I want you both to come home. And never go back to that horrible Theio Kosmos."

The twins looked at each other, surprised. They had expected a fight on their hands, against their disapproving mother. Yet she wasn't going to stop them. Not this time. This wasn't the same mother who screamed at them after their junior-high incident.

"You two should be enjoying your school days, yet now you're fighting to save this entire city tomorrow..." Their father said, finally turning off the TV. "Will things ever return to normal? Will defeating Nisa Liat really end this mess?"

"I..." Natsumi began, uncertain. Truth be told, neither of them knew for sure what would happen. Nisa Liat had already survived that battle in the forest mansion, and she had died once before. But there had to be a limit. Some way to fully eliminate her. No doubt Kei would be key to that. But there was no way of knowing until they got to the Citadel.

"All we can do is do whatever we can," Masato said, determined. "So that there won't be any more suffering. Nisa Liat's destroyed enough lives."

"Right!" Natsumi said, now confident. "We'll find a way. Nisa Liat will be gone after tomorrow. After that, we can focus on our big brother's wedding."

"Yes...and your own happiness, too." Their mother said. "Masato, before tomorrow, you should speak to Dorothy. Natsumi, I don't know if there's anyone you want to talk to, but if there is, now's the time. We'll have dinner once you're done."

The twins agreed, and went upstairs, their hearts pounding.

"You're so lucky. The way you talk about Dorothy...you've never been in the same room as her, but you live for her next message."

Masato looked at his sister. He tried to smile, but couldn't. "I...I just wish I had happier things to tell her. I wanted to introduce her to everyone someday, you know? You, mum, dad, Hideki, Setsuna, even Eiji..."

"I know...right now, we have one last mission to focus on. After that, we'll have all the time we need to grieve for Eiji, and everyone else we've lost. And maybe, I can ask Toshiaki-senpai -"

She froze, heart pounding. Masato looked at her, curious.

"I knew it. You've always had a thing for him, ever since last year."

Gulping, she looked away.

"Of course I do...and now I've gotten to fight alongside him. But there's never been a right time to tell him how I really feel. And he's busy with his family tonight. It'll have to wait."

"Okay, sis. Just don't hide your feelings forever, alright? You know how dumb I am, Koyanagi-sensei says it nearly every week. But if even I can see it, so can the others."

"I will tell him. Just, not now -"

Just as she finished, her Gnosis started to ring. Frightened, she took a look at the screen, but the caller was unknown. On her regular phone, this wouldn't be so worrying, but with the Gnosis, this was very strange. All the people she knew with Gnosis were already listed as 'contacts', even the Aeon Admins.

"Who the hell's ringing you?" Masato asked. Natsumi paused, but eventually answered, frantic.

"Hello?! Who the hell is this?!" She demanded. Masato listened closely, but couldn't hear anything on the other line. "What's going on? Is this Nisa Liat?!"

On the call, there was silence. Then there seemed to be quiet murmurs among other people in the background. However, they were too quiet to be heard clearly. Masato couldn't make out a single word.

This is creepy. If this isn't Nisa Liat, who else would call us from an unknown number? Is it Shintaro being really cautious or something? No, he wouldn't do that -

"Natsumi?" A voice finally said. It was a male voice, and they sounded rather shaken. As if they were surprised by the person they had just called.

"Yes? Who are you?"

Wait, that voice. Haven't I heard it before?

"It...really is you! Masato, is he there too?"

Alarmed, the boy looked at his sister, anxious. "Y-Yeah, I'm here. Who's calling?"

The caller sounded like he was sobbing. Alarmed, the twins exchanged worried looks. This person knew who they were, but they didn't quite recognise their voice. Something about it felt familiar to Masato, though. Like he had heard it before, but not quite as deep.

"I...I can't believe it. I'm finally talking to you both again. It's been...so long..."

"So long?" Natsumi asked, still agitated. "Who are you? How did you get a Gnosis? Are you working for Nisa Liat?"

"So, you really don't know anything..." The man said, sobbing in between his words. "For you, no time has passed at all...but for me, it's been seventeen years."

The twins gazed at each other, alarmed. Seventeen years ago, they hadn't even been born yet. Their birthday was October 26th.

"...Seventeen years ago? In 2000?" Natsumi asked, perplexed. "That's crazy!"

"I know that. Everything about this is crazy. Listen to me, you two. You think you were born October 26th, 2000, don't you?" The man said, managing to compose himself somewhat.

"How do you know that?" Masato asked, raising his voice. Natsumi panicked, and motioned for them to go into his bedroom, which was nearest. The last thing they needed was their parents overhearing this conversation.

"That's not the right year. I should know. I remember it well. October 26th 1983."

1983?! That was over 30 years ago! That's stupid! I -

Just then, Masato had a sudden flash in his head. His email address. It was 'MYoshinaga83'. Up until now, he had never thought too much about it. But now he was trying to remember why he picked the numbers at the end.

"No, that can't be right! We're still in school!"

"Yes. I know. Because you're still the same age you were when we last met. But soon, we'll get to see each other again. And I can finally introduce you to Ichika..."

"Ichika?" Masato asked. "Who's she?"

"She's your -"

Just then, the call dropped. Natsumi gazed at the phone, dumbstruck.

"What was he about to say? Ichika is our...what?"

"I don't know. Forget it."

"What? But we can't just not tell anyone -"

"Yes we can!" Natsumi said, angrily. "Just...write your message to Dorothy. Tomorrow, we beat Nisa Liat, once and for all! We can't leave anything unfinished."

Masato slowly nodded, as his sister left the room. He began to type. Carefully, he stopped himself from saying too much about what was really going on, but did make sure to tell her that he was alright. Perhaps he didn't quite feel that way, but with his parents, and his sister at home, he could find some comfort. But curiosity got the better of him. After sending the message, he decided to scroll up through his inbox, to one of the first ones he ever sent, in February of this year. There, he saw it in full, and gasped.

Yeah, that's right! 1983! Same as you, huh? The same year the Yomiuri Giants won the Central League, and the Seibu Lions the Pacific League!

He sat there, stunned. Yes, those were the teams that won that year, he knew that much. But if he was born in 1983, then he certainly wouldn't still be a high school student. He'd be an adult, perhaps playing baseball for the whole world to see.

What the hell does this mean? And who the hell was it that called sis -

"Masato, Natsumi, dinner's ready!" Their mother called from downstairs.

"Coming!" Masato replied. He didn't need even more anxiety right now. This was supposed to be the night he could relax, and prepare for a major battle. The most important one he would likely ever face. Even if Hideki and Setsuna weren't here, they would no doubt be thinking of him and his sister.

Bro, don't worry. We'll make it through this, so by the time you're back, the city will be in a better place. Try to relax until then, okay?

|Komatsu Household|8:45 pm|

Noboru had been quiet, during dinner before their final mission tomorrow. So much was on his mind. What the future held. What would become of Shinshuto, even if Nisa Liat was defeated. And of course, his family.

Losing Teruko felt like his heart had been ripped out. She had been with him for so long, and as clingy as she had been, he had loved just being with her. Acting with her had been a dream. He doubted anyone could ever make him feel that way again.

And then there was Kaii. The brother he never even knew he had. Their father didn't even know, of course. Yet he had grown fond of him, and admired his cheerfulness even with the dire situation the city had faced. And with his death, there was little cheer left.

Toki, his biological father. Noboru had once feared him, and just thinking about him sent shivers down his spine. Some nights, he had nightmares about the car in the icy pond, and he woke up screaming – with his parents rushing in to calm him down. No doubt those nightmares made Shigeru hate Toki even more.

But I don't want to hate him any more. Toki isn't the same man that gave me nightmares. I'll never just forget what he did, of course. Neither will he. He knows what he did. I want to spend more time with him. So we can grieve for Kaii together.

Shigeru, his step-father, sat at the table, eating every drop of his wife's cooking. When he first met Shigeru, he was initially intimidated by the man's muscular frame, but his gentle demeanour and genuine interest in the lad's life managed to sway him. And so, becoming Shigeru's son felt like a dream come true. He had a father again, one that he could depend on.

Right now, Shigeru was no doubt dwelling on the Mayor. Yoko, his best friend. To have to fight someone you cared about so strongly, it was a pain like no other. And now they had to fight Noriko, the daughter that had been cruelly taken from her.

"...I'm sorry about Yoko." Kaiyo said, finally breaking the silence. "If only she had pulled through."

"...I won't forget her. The way she used to be. The friend that supported me through college and beyond." Shigeru said, turning his gaze to his wife. "But...you survived. That's what matters most."

Kaiyo smiled, holding his hand. "If only I had this 'Persona' of my own. That way, I could help you -"

"You're already helping me, more than you realise. After all, meeting you saved me from being a workaholic. You were the first woman I ever really loved, after all. The only one." Shigeru said, earnestly. "...Thank you."

They kissed, and Noboru smiled. It had been the first time they had been happy with each other in a while. Even with the city's future in doubt, they had never been more sure that they loved each other.

"Dad..." Noboru began. "Tomorrow's going to be the hardest battle of our lives. So, no matter what happens, I just wanted to say..."

"Hmm?"

"...I'm glad I got to be your son."

Shigeru smiled, and then chuckled.

"Do you remember the first time you called me 'dad'?"

"It was after the wedding, wasn't it?" Noboru asked, trying to remember.

"Yes, that's right. You were playing around with the other children at the party, while I was dancing with your mother. Well, it was more her dancing and me trying to keep up." Shigeru laughed at this, while Kaiyo smirked. "But then you tripped, and your knee got scuffed. You were crying, loud enough to be heard over the music. So I went to check what was happening, and got you to the bathroom to clean up the cut."

That's right, I remember that now. I think one of the other kids there had bumped into me. It really hurt then.

"I was trying to get you to calm down, while you were crying your eyes out. Took a while, but you finally did. And then you said… 'Thanks, daddy'."

Noboru looked at his father, who was beaming as he said this.

"...I've never forgotten that day. Because, it really was the happiest day of my life. I was finally married to the most amazing woman in the world, and I had you as my son, already calling me dad."

"Dad, I'm...I'm so glad I have you. Tomorrow, you'll be right there with me. So I'm not scared any more. Everyone else will be with us too. Shintaro, Kei, Kohaku, all of them. And..."

Noboru hesitated. Bringing up Toki now might not be the best idea. But right now, there might not be another chance. Anything could happen tomorrow.

"...You're talking about him, aren't you?" Kaiyo said, tilting her head. Noboru nodded. "Somehow, you ended up meeting him again. And you both have your Personas. I can't change that. But I can't go near him again..."

"I know, mom. He knows that too. But tomorrow, he'll be fighting with us. After that, I...I don't know. But I don't want to just cut him out of my life again." Noboru said. "….I can't lose anyone else. You know that, right?"

Kaiyo nodded. "Then...as long as you remember. This is your home, Noboru. Where you belong."

"Alright, then, after dinner...I'll give him a call. Don't worry, I'll make it quick."

His parents looked at each other, apparently in agreement. At least now he knew he could speak to Toki, but he wasn't quite sure what to say. He would have to play it by ear.

|Inoue Household|8:50 pm|

"...This is insane!" Manami's father yelled at the phone. "How the hell could this have happened?"

Their family dinner had been interrupted by her father's colleague calling him, reporting a vast leak of client information. During the disaster earlier today, tons of confidential data on the banking firm's clients had been revealed online, showing just how many companies were in fact benefiting from Bythos's actions. And now Inoue Bank was facing incredible backlash in the media. Not to mention many concerned customers were panicking that Bythos would be able to take all their savings.

"Dammit! I don't care what you have to do, fix this now!" He screamed, hanging up the phone. "…This is all because I publicly denounced them, isn't it?! Even if you defeat Nisa Liat, how are we supposed to get past this?"

"I...I don't know..." Manami said, tearfully. Her mother put her arm around her, sympathetically.

"This is all because of people like Katashi Yamaguchi! He fooled us all...even you! How can you trust him?! You're seriously going to team up with the Aeon Admins, like you were never enemies?! Manami, you can't -"

"Dad, stop!" Manami yelled, getting to her feet. "Don't you realise what might happen tomorrow? Nisa Liat could destroy this entire city – no, this entire planet! I have to go, even if I have to fight alongside Katashi..."

"Darling...even if they left Bythos, the Aeon Admins are still criminals. You haven't forgotten that, have you?" Her mother asked, gently.

"Of course I haven't! But right now, beating Nisa Liat is all that matters! If this city is going to have any kind of future, we have to destroy her! I know what Katashi and the others did was wrong. But there's no other way. All of us have to go and fight. So if you're trying to get me to stay behind, forget it!"

Seething, Manami's father scowled at his daughter.

"How dare you talk to us like that?! Of course we can't stop you from going! Not while you have that evil...phone on hand! But why do you constantly have to run into danger? Will beating Nisa Liat really change anything?!"

The dancer gulped. She didn't actually have an answer for this. But there was no other option.

"...It has to. Once she's gone, there won't be any need for the Gnosis, or our Personas, or any of this. It will be dangerous. But I'm not alone, dad. I've made some good friends, and they'll be fighting alongside me."

Her father was silent, as was her mother.

"Fine. Just...whatever you do, you have to come home. We can't lose you, Manami-chan." He finally said.

"Thanks, Dad…" She said. "I promise, I'll come home. We won't fail. Not after we've come this far."

After dinner was over, Manami had a thought. She had been saved by Evelina earlier today, but so much had happened, they hadn't had a proper chance to talk it over. It was only a day after Svante Solberg's death, but even so, they might not get another opportunity.

"Um...I'm going to see Evelina." She said, suddenly. "I won't be long, I promise…"

"You're going to visit her now? But you don't even go to her school. And besides, her family have just lost her father -"

"I know that. But even so, she still came to Kibo-Jo and helped me out. I have to properly thank her. The Solberg house isn't too far from here, maybe ten minutes away. Trust me, I'll be fine." Manami said, looking earnestly at her father.

"...Fine. Then be safe. Come home as soon as you can." He said.

Nodding, Manami quickly grabbed her coat, and headed out of the front door. She had to admit to herself, she was nervous about seeing Evelina. Yet, she knew in her heart she had to give her friend courage, and support in their darkest hour.

|Solberg Household|9:00 pm|

Evelina, her mother, and her grandmother had finished their meal. It wasn't the first time they'd had dinner without Svante, but now they knew he'd never come back. Thus, the meal had been a somber affair. She couldn't concentrate on the taste, but ate it anyway. Perhaps it'd make her stronger for tomorrow.

Dad, why couldn't you pull through? Had EX-NIHILO completely drained you and left you a husk? And now that it's gone, so are you.

Even having the rest of their relatives there didn't help - for they had decided to leave the city first thing tomorrow morning, unwilling to remain in Shinshuto after what had just happened. The destruction of Kibo-Jo had indeed caused chaos to ripple throughout the city, and remaining here wasn't likely to be safe for tourists, or even its own citizens.

"I'm really sorry, Marta. I know we'll miss the funeral. But I can't let anything happen to Catharinus here." said Ramus Christensen, father of the young lad. He looked much like his son, with the same purple hair, but with a more angular, weary face. Evelina liked him a lot, even if he did have a fierce rivalry with Svante. Ramus was her father's cousin, but was more like a brother.

"But dad, I don't want to go home…" The tearful young boy said. "You always said it was important for family to stick together!"

"We've been over this, son. We can't stay here…" Amalia Christensen said. She was a cold, austere woman, whose face changed expression very little. Evelina couldn't stand her. She seemed almost happy when her father died, as it meant not having to be in that 'dreadful' hospital.

"Mum…"

"I'm sorry, young man, but the longer we stay in Shinshuto, the more danger we face. Look at what's happened in this city in a single year." Said Hjalmar, Evelina's grandfather on her father's side.

He and Marta had divorced quite some time ago, for a reason that Evelina still didn't know. From what she was able to gather, there may have been some infidelity involved. But her parents refused to talk about it anymore. And when Svante decided to move to Japan with his family, his mother came with him, eager to be as far apart from her former husband as she could.

"So our son's funeral isn't important enough to stick around? You're leaving me and Ester to handle that alone? You really are a pathetic coward. All that talk about Svante men being strong and brave...and you're running away with your tail between your legs!"

"Grandmother…" Evelina said, shaking her head. "Do we have to do this now?"

"He's leaving the country tomorrow! There's not going to be another time!" Marta said.

"Stop!" Ester shouted, tearfully. "Svante hasn't even been dead for 24 hours! I...I don't need this! I just want...I want him back with us! The way things used to be!"

"Ester…" Ramus said, but his wife shook her head.

"We're supposed to stay strong as a family at times like these! But all we're doing is screaming at each other!" Crying, the woman buried her head in her hands. Evelina put her arms around her.

"...It's okay. I'm here for you. Even if everyone else here gets the first plane out of Japan, I'll be here until the end."

Once I beat Nisa Liat with everyone else, I'll come back. I'll be strong enough for all of us. That's what dad would have wanted.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Annoyed, Ramus got up, but Evelina quickly ran to the door. Standing there, in her thick red jacket, was Rinaka.

"You? What are you doing here? I never said you could come."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do. But I wanted to see you, before the final battle." Rinaka said, with a solemn look. "...I'm sorry about your father."

"Oh, really? It's your fault he's dead!" Evelina snapped. "If you hadn't approached him, he never would have been involved with Bythos! Then he'd still be here…"

Rinaka was silent, unsure what to say.

"I know that. But even so, I never wanted him to be a victim of EX-NIHILO. I'm not asking for your forgiveness, Evelina...but I want to pay my respects."

"You're unbelievable. Why would I want you at his funeral? I thought you were just a cool and strong bodyguard that would keep my dad safe. But thanks to you, he's gone." Rinaka said, raising her voice.

"...Then, after tomorrow, I'll leave this city. That way, you'll never have to see me again."

She sounds serious. I know why she joined Bythos herself - what happened to her colleague was horrible. But because she became an Aeon Admin, my dad ended up as a slave to Bythos, and look what happened to him. I can't just forget that.

"Fine. We'll fight together tomorrow with everyone else. But after that, I don't want you around. Ever. Do whatever the hell you want, just don't come near me or my family again. Agreed?"

Rinaka nodded. Sadly, she began to turn around, and walk down the road. However, she passed someone else approaching the door. There was Manami, looking confused at the woman she had just passed.

"Evelina...what was Tamura-san doing here?"

"Forget her. If she has a guilty conscience about what she did to my dad, good. She'll just have to live with that." Evelina said, harshly. When she looked closer at her friend, her gaze softened. "But what are you doing here, Manami-chan? Aren't you supposed to be having dinner with your family?"

"We've already eaten, but I wanted to see you…"

Evelina looked at her, confused.

"See me? Why?"

"You see, when you showed up at Kibo-Jo, and saved me...I was so glad to see you." Manami said, anxiously. "I didn't think you'd be there, not after what happened last night. But there you were, charging in without any fear. That's why I showed up. I wanted to thank you. And...I'm so sorry about your father."

"Manami…"

The wind blew, as they continued to stare at each other. Evelina briefly looked behind her, in case any of her family had decided to come over - but they were still inside.

"I know what he did was wrong. But even so, he was still your father. Having to lose him, and fight Nisa Liat tomorrow - it's not fair. I wish you didn't have to go through this…"

"...Thank you." Evelina said, tears coming to her eyes. "I...I wish he was still here, cheering me on...but I still have to go to the Citadel with all of you. I couldn't just stay home while you risk your life. If anything happened to you, I'd -"

She trailed off, unsure if she should go any further. Why was her heart pounding when she stared at Manami? Earlier that day, when she saw the dancer in danger, she rushed in, without even thinking. It was just her instinct to protect her.

"Evelina, um…" Manami looked away, hands behind her back. "I'm sorry, your family will be wondering why you've been so long at the door. I should be leaving…but I'll see you tomorrow, alright? Please take care until then."

"I'll do my best. Things are a bit emotional here at the moment. But I'm glad I saw you. Whatever happens, I'm glad I met you."

The two gazed at each other for some time. Her heart racing, Evelina almost wanted to tell her not to leave. But right now, she had to let her go. Manami waved goodbye, and left, just as Catharinus came to see what was going on.

"Who was that?" He asked, curious.

"That was Manami, the friend I was telling you about." Evelina said. "She wanted to come and see that I was okay, even with everything going on."

"She looks pretty cool. But she's not at your school, is she?"

"No, but even so, we're still friends. Special friends. Sometimes you don't have to be in the same school for that."

Catharinus looked up at her, nervously.

"Um...I don't really want to go back to Sweden, but I don't really have any choice, do I?"

Evelina looked at him, thoughtfully.

"It's alright. I'll keep in touch with you and let you know how we're doing. Come on, let's go back inside."

The two returned to the dining room. Evelina had an arduous battle ahead of her - right now, she wanted to be with their family. For this may be the last time they'd be together for a while.

|Yukimora Household|9:00 pm|

Tonight, the house was more crowded. Usually it was just Toshiaki, his brother and father, but tonight, he had roped Shiro and Michiko into coming over. After all, they had been old friends with Tetsuo. If there was going to be any night to clear the air, it was this one.

"You were very lucky to survive." His father said, gazing at the ruins of Kibo-Jo on the TV screen. He turned it off, shakily. "So now you're going to fight someone who can do that?"

"If we don't, there won't be anything left of Shinshuto." Shiro said, staring harshly at his former friend. "You do understand, right? This isn't a mid-term paper like the ones we flunked years ago. If we fail, everyone is done for."

"Everyone…?!" Juudai asked, scared. "But...what if you can't win?"

Toshiaki put his arm around his tearful brother, and smiled.

"Hey, I'll be fighting tomorrow too. It's like when I'm running in the track team. I put my life and soul into every stride. Nisa Liat isn't going to take me down!"

Michiko smiled weakly, then turned to Tetsuo.

"I...I understand if you can't forgive me or Shiro. But like it or not, we're the Persona users. I promise, I'll protect your son, and all my other students, with my life."

"So will I. Toshiaki will be safe with us. He'll come home, for sure."

Tetsuo and Shiro locked eyes, and there was a tense silence. Toshiaki looked between them both, uneasy. The teacher that had belitted him, and many others, for so long, was willing to put his life on the line for him. His father, who had never quite managed to accept his wife's death.

"Fine. But you have to return safely, as well. Both you and Michiko. We've spent too long apart...you have to survive, okay?"

Shiro and Michiko looked at each other, and smiled. It seemed like their old friend was starting to accept them. After tomorrow, the three friends could finally repair their fractured bond.

"Thank you, Tetsuo. I have to get back home. Shiro, what about you?"

"I'll be heading off as well. Toshiaki, I'll see you tomorrow. Get a good night's sleep."

"You too." The runner replied, as the two teachers left. Now, it was just the Yukimora family.

"If you get rid of Nisa Liat, does that mean you won't need the Gnosis anymore?" Juudai asked, curiously.

This was something Toshiaki hadn't thought about. The Theio Kosmos existed before Nisa Liat. It wasn't going to disappear if she was destroyed, either. But there couldn't be any reason to use the Persona afterwards. The two worlds would simply return to co-existing, as they always had done.

"I think so, yeah. Don't worry, bro, the whole bunch of us will stop that stupid Princess from destroying this city. Then once it's over, we'll go running together."

"Huh? Together?"

"Yeah! You're pretty fast already. If you want, I can help train you. So we can both be track team legends. Doesn't matter if you're in Chieki or not. The Yukimora bros, faster than lightning!"

Tetsuo smirked. "As if you two didn't run around the house enough already. But if that's what you both want, go for it. If you have a dream, go for it."

The two boys nodded, and soon, they began their meal. As they did, Toshiaki wondered about everyone else he would be fighting with. Evelina would be there, even with her father's death hanging over her. And then Natsumi.

She still thinks I don't know it's her that's been leaving candy in my shoe locker. Maybe I ought to surprise her by thanking her. After all, the candy was nice and sweet. Sort of like her.

"...What are you smirking about?" Tetsuo asked, confused.

"Um...oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about...uh...what running shoes to get my little brother!" Toshiaki said, red in the face.

"Uh huh…" Both Juudai and Tetsuo said, not convinced.

Sighing, Toshiaki returned to his food. Perhaps, when they were back at school, he would talk to her about the locker. After all, she seemed to make Chieki a little bit brighter every day she was there.

|Katashi's House|10:30 pm|

Dinner was over, and Katashi was now in his room. However, something was still weighing on his mind. Ichiro, his brother.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't tell him about him. How can I just tell them that they've forgotten about their own son? And I made them forget?

Whether his brother was a murderer or not, he was still their son. And now, he was abandoned, in a jail cell, awaiting trial. The chances of him being found guilty were extremely high. Without any evidence to clear him, Ichiro's fate seemed like it was already sealed.

Katashi had only thought about his own reputation, he now realised. He didn't want to be known as the brother of a psychopathic murderer. If he was to become a famous athlete, then it would be next to impossible to avoid that. Or so he told himself. The shame of his brother's crime was a massive burden.

Yet Katashi had never actually talked to his brother since his arrest. Even when his parents still remembered him, he had refused to visit him in prison. It shattered everything he believed about Ichiro, who he imagined as the kindest, most talented doctor of his generation.

When I defeat Nisa Liat tomorrow, will that undo her memory spell?

It was then another possibility entered his head. What if his brother had never intended to kill anyone, as he told the investigators? Could he have been possessed, somehow? It wasn't impossible. Nisa Liat's gamut of powers was vast indeed. If she could influence the memories of a city, perhaps the same could be done for an individual's actions.

"No…" Katashi said to himself, nervous. "If she did that...then she turned my brother into a murderer...all so I'd join her...just like what she did with Asami…"

Just then, his Gnosis rang. Nervously, he answered it, without actually checking to see who was ringing.

"Hello, Katashi? It's Asami…"

Surprised, he sat there, silent. Why was she calling him now?

"I'm sorry for calling you, it's just, I wanted to ask you about your parents. Did you talk to them about Ichiro yet?"

Why does she want to know about that now?

"No...I couldn't. I know, I should have told them everything. But they already know I'm going to that Citadel to fight Nisa Liat. I didn't want to give them anything else to worry about." Katashi said, numb. "Call me a coward if you want. But -"

"I didn't say that." Asami said. "But...I've been wondering. Nisa Liat turned my friends into the Parcae, and made it look like they killed themselves. I trusted her and followed her every order! But look what happened. She betrayed me, and I had to kill the monsters they became!"

"...You think she did something to Ichiro, don't you? That's what I've just been thinking about." Katashi started to say. "When we fought those two Shadows earlier, they said something strange. That Nisa Liat had to 'motivate' some of us."

"That's right!" Asami said, her voice increasing in pitch. "I thought that was weird! She must have done something similar for all the Aeon Admins - even if not all of them, at least more than just me!"

Katashi gulped. He thought of the other Admins, and what they had been through before they joined Bythos. Could Nisa Liat really have influenced all of that? Asami's best friends had been bullied online relentlessly, and because the bully's father had a high position, he got away with it. What if the Princess had something to do with that? That way, she'd have test subjects for new Anomalies, and cause both Rinaka and Asami to join her side.

I can't believe it. I've been so stupid. Why didn't I stop and think? So soon after my brother is arrested for murdering Houko, a strange girl with incredible power shows up and gives me a strange phone. If I hadn't been so dumb, maybe I could have never joined her in the first place. And I'd still be with Manami.

Manami, he thought. Even though they were technically on the same team now, things weren't going to be the same again between them. He knew that, and hadn't spoken to her much at school.

"You're still there, right?" Asami asked.

"Yes, sorry. I was just thinking, about what you said. Tomorrow, we'll ask Nisa Liat about what she really did to get us to join her. I want to hear it from her own mouth, before we destroy her."

"Me too. She never did confess, even when I confronted her. I'll never forgive her. I don't want her new world. Not if she'll kill everyone else to make it happen!"

Katashi smiled. Hearing that made him feel a little happier, if only just a little bit. Asami was a fiery girl, he had known that right from the start. While Manami was a calm, serene type, Asami was a hotheaded one. Energetic.

Maybe if I'd been paired up with her instead of Toki, that wouldn't have been too bad. Wait, what am I saying?

"I gotta get some sleep. You'll be okay, right?" Katashi asked.

"Yes. Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't forget, we can't hold anything back. Our enemy won't. It's either destroy, or be destroyed. There won't be any mercy on either side." Asami said, fiercely.

With that, the call dropped. Katashi laid back on his bed, and closed his eyes. Once he and his comrades won, he'd decide what to do about his brother.

I'm sorry. I've been so selfish. But tomorrow, I'm going to change that. Then I'll go and visit you. Hang on until then, okay?

|Celestine's House|10:30 pm|

Tonight, Celestine had invited Aika to her house, not having any one else to reach out to. She had hoped for a quiet, peaceful evening, where she and her fellow Aeon Admin could relax and prepare themselves, physically and mentally, for the upcoming battle. However, she had forgotten that her sister usually called this evening. And, right on cue, the phone rang.

"That'll be her. I'll try and get it over with quickly."

"There's no need to hurry..." Aika said. "I'll get some more wine for us."

Celestine nodded, and picked up the phone.

"Hello, sis -"

"Good evening, Celestine."

A deep voice had spoken, clearly not her sister's. No, this almost baritone voice was none other than her brother-in-law. Luther Hellenbrand.

"...Oh. Good evening, Luther. Where's Anna?"

"She'll be on shortly - she had to calm her nerves. After all, she gets very worried about you. With everything happening in Shinshuto, you can surely understand why she's been panicking…"

"...Yes, you're right. I'm sorry for that. Things have been rather chaotic, as you're aware. But we're safe here." Celestine said, as politely as she could. She had never liked Luther, the few times she had met him. He was just so humourless, so charmless, she failed to understand what Anna ever saw in him.

"Hmm. 'We'?" Luther asked, derisively. Celestine felt her blood boil. He had never seen any merit in the arts, including literature. He was only interested in his computer scientist career, as far as she could tell. "What sort of company are you keeping these days?"

"It's just my friend Aika with me. She's a singer. I doubt you'd have heard any of her songs, but she's very talented -"

"Never mind. Anna's here now."

Soon, a different voice came on the phone, one much easier on the ears for Celestine.

"Celeste, what the hell is going on? What's this about the city government's building falling apart? You're not hurt, are you?!"

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. I wasn't near it when it happened."

Aika had arrived with the wine, having just heard this blatant lie. Curious, she sat down, watching her friend.

Don't look at me like that, Aika. I can't exactly tell her I ran out of that place when it was destroyed, can I? At least we wouldn't have shown up on any cameras watching in the Akartharto Kosmos.

"What's going to happen next? You can't seriously want to stay in Shinshuto, can you?!"

Celestine took a deep breath. "I understand, Anna. You don't want me to get hurt. But I can't just run away in times of trouble. I have commitments here."

This, at least, was true. Of course, her sister didn't know what kind of commitments. The less she knew about the Theio Kosmos, the better.

"Your career isn't worth risking your life over, Celeste! Surely you don't have to stay there to write? Go back to France! Or here! We haven't seen each other in so long!"

There was a loud coughing in the background. No doubt this was Luther, showing his displeasure. He put on a polite facade, but he cared little for Celestine, and the feeling was mutual. As much as she loved her sister, the idea of being in the same room as Luther was not something she wanted to entertain.

Even so, if I keep putting it off, Anna will get even more hysterical. I certainly wouldn't move to Vienna, but -

"I know we haven't. And I'm sorry. But I can't just come and see you. Not yet. I have something really important that I have to do. Once that's done, however, I'll come and see you. I promise."

"Really? I'm holding you to that!" Anna said, firmly. "I...I'm so scared about you, Celeste. Ever since you said you were going to Japan, I've been afraid something awful might happen."

"...Why? Because I was so far away? I've always been the tough older sister, Anna. Trust me, I'll be fine."

Anna sighed, clearly still anxious. She had always been like this, perpetually worried about the people she cared about. Even Luther, who she lived with.

"Okay...please, be safe. Please…"

"Anna, we have to leave now…"

"What? Oh, you're right. Sorry, Celeste, we have to get going. Talk to you soon!"

Anna hang up, and as she did, Celestine sighed. She took the glass Aika prepared for her, and drank from it.

"So that was Anna, hmm? She's even more nervous than I thought." The singer said, looking around. She saw the photograph of the younger Courtois sister, next to a man with a very faint smile. He had a thick, bushy ginger beard, and green spectacles. An academic type, and from the lack of expression, a very serious one. "And that's Luther, right?"

"Indeed. Always bland. We've never liked each other." Celestine said, frowning. "I was constantly hoping my sister would realise how more of a bore he was, how little imagination he had. But she found something in him I never could see. So, they married...and they moved to Vienna, away from the rest of our family."

"Strange…" Aika said, looking at the man.

"Well, it wasn't that odd, considering he's from there -"

"No, not that. His face. I feel like I've seen it somewhere before…" Aika began. "But where, I don't know. He's never come to Japan, has he?"

"No...he and my sister have never been here." Celestine said. "But forget him. Aika. We were wrong to join Bythos. I think I've known that for a while now."

Sadly, Aika nodded.

"Yes...all I could think about was getting revenge on that slimebag Kodama. So that I could be free to perform the music I wanted...and he couldn't do anything about it. But Chiharu and Misaki didn't deserve what happened to them. They had high hopes, but so far, they've barely managed to get any work. All because I thought I was better than them…"

"You haven't spoken to them in a long time, have you?"

Aika looked at her feet, solemnly. "No. Even if I tried to contact them, they wouldn't talk to me. The days of us singing together are over. And we did some terrible things as Aeon Admins. Even if my audience doesn't know I'm in Bythos, I don't know if I could face the stage any more."

"So...what are you going to do? You're not going to give up singing, are you?"

"...I don't know. When Kohaku found out about who I really was, it broke her heart. She had been fighting so hard to protect Shinshuto from us, and my music made her feel better about herself. Now, hearing my songs probably only brings her pain. Even if we're fighting on the same team now, she's never going to look back on my music the same way. Like Shintaro and your books."

"Yes…" Celestine said, sullenly. "Us being together was a mistake. I know, I was only doing as Nisa Liat ordered. But she gave us many orders that hurt people in the end. If only I hadn't been involved with her."

"Celeste - can I call you that?" Aika asked. Celestine nodded, smiling. Only her sister regularly called her that, but she had become close to the musical Aeon Admin over this year. "Okay, Celeste, you don't have to answer me if you don't want to, but do you still have feelings for Shintaro?"

Shintaro. He was devastated when he found out about me. And when I left Bythos, he still didn't really want to talk to me.

When she first met him, she knew right away who he was. After all, Toki had kidnapped him the day before, and there had been a fierce battle at the TV Studio. Celestine had been told to be as 'charming as possible', to tap into Shintaro's adolescent fantasy of being in love with an older woman. But when she talked to him, and got to know him, she did feel something of a connection with him. Especially when it turned out she had another copy of his grandfather's novel. His love for books was genuine.

"...I don't know. I'm starting to wonder if it really was love, or just us trying to play out a fantasy that should have never become reality." Celestine said, numbly. "There was passion, yes. And I did admire how much he loved his books. He was the exact opposite of Luther there. But at the end of the day, Nisa Liat kept telling me to take things further. So that I could…"

"Could what?" Aika asked, uncertainly.

Huh? What is it that I can't remember? I was told to keep dating him, so I could get close enough to him to do something to…

"Oh no…my memory must have been erased!" Celestine said, anxiously. "When Kaii left Bythos, he lost a lot of his Aeon Admin memories. That was something Nisa Liat could do, remember?"

"Yes, but what are you getting at? She didn't do that with the rest of us. Probably because she was still recovering from what Kei did to her -"

"No, Aika, you're wrong. She took one memory from me. The reason why she wanted me to pursue a relationship with Shintaro. I can't remember it anymore, no matter how hard I try!"

Concerned, the musician put down her glass. "Are you serious? I thought you told me about it a while ago...it was to...hmm?"

"Exactly, you can't remember either, can you?"

The two of them looked at each other, alarmed. Nisa Liat's powers were strong enough to influence the memories of others. After all, they were enough to make Katashi's parents forget they even had another son. What was it that she had made Celestine and Aika forget?

"...Listen, Celeste. We can't do anything about what we've forgotten right now. We just have to be ready for whatever happens tomorrow." Aika got up, with a serious look on her face. "Tomorrow, we will defeat Nisa Liat. Afterwards, we must face whatever punishment we deserve."

"Yes. Of course. I won't hide from what I've done."

Shintaro, whatever you're doing now, I hope you're prepared. Even if you still hate me for what I've done, I'll fight as hard as I can by your side.

|Toki's Apartment|10:30 pm|

Tonight, with no family to go to, Novalie had planned on just going back to her college dorm. Her student life was on hold, due to the recent chaos. And her family were all the way in Norway, and couldn't exactly come and see her. Keiya didn't seem to have anyone back home, either. No family, and none of his friends through work had any idea of his involvement. Toki, on the spot, decided to invite them both to his place. It would be a welcome distraction from the lonely quiet he'd have to deal with. Keiya had gone back to his apartment to fetch Taro the dog, who was overjoyed to be back here.

"I've missed you, boy!" He said, ruffling the dog's fur. "I gotta thank you again for looking over him!"

"No problem. I never thought I'd like looking after a dog, but Taro eventually settled down. But he still pines for you and...well..."

Toki looked up, his smile immediately vanishing.

"Keiya, you shouldn't -"

"No, it's alright." The Black Condor said, shaking his head. "I can't just put Kaii out of my mind. He'll always be in my thoughts. My son, the one I didn't even know I had. But he was a great guy. Strong as an ox, but he was a softie deep down. Even before I knew he was my son, I could tell he and I were going to get along just fine."

"I wish I'd been fairer to him. It's too late for that now, though…" Keiya said, guiltily.

"I didn't mind him, but I didn't get much of a chance to get to know."

Toki shook his head again. "Kaii would have forgiven you for anything. He was that kind of man. If only he was here now. But, well, I gotta do what I can without him."

Novalie sat down, not sure what to say. This reminded her somewhat of her grandfather's house back in Norway, he had kept the place as clean and tidy as possible. It had been so long since she last saw her family - even if she spoke to them on the phone at least once a week, it wasn't the same. But everyone else had their own families to go to. She couldn't just go with them. Reia and Netuno were together, and it was clear they wanted to be on their own.

"Keiya, do you have any relatives left in this city?" She asked suddenly.

"No. Not anymore. My parents died of the same illness, only two months apart. And I don't have anybody else, either. I used to have a lot of friends in the acting world, but...well, you know who put a stop to that. Even after he was exposed, none of them bothered to reach out to me. So I'm on my own, I guess. Can't just invite myself to someone else's house, either. Was going to just sit at home, but here I am."

"That's why I asked you two to come here." Toki said, looking at the two, as the dog finally sat down, eating from his bowl. "Right now, none of us should be alone. Even if we're not family, and we were once enemies, we have to deal with Nisa Liat together, don't we? She used us...she wanted the whole damn city to burn. Well, we're not gonna let her win!"

Novalie looked on, impressed. She hadn't expected Toki to be this determined, having only recently lost his son. Or perhaps he was trying to put his despair on hold.

"Of course we won't. Nisa Liat will fall, and this city will rise again." Keiya said. "Then I can forget this card magician job, and move on with my life. Return to the world I left behind."

"Really? It might not be easy…" Novalie said, "but if you do, I wish you the best of luck. Maybe you could be a…'seiyuu'? Is that the right word?"

Keiya looked on, intrigued. "Yes, that's right. Voice acting hasn't really been my thing. I preferred being on the stage. Although in this city, it might be a long time before the playhouses of Tarumi are flourishing again."

"...Indeed. I don't know what's going to happen at my college, either. So many students have been absent because of the chaos. I can't imagine what happened at Kibo-Jo is going to help that. But, if Nisa Liat is defeated tomorrow, they might be able to return safely."

"Novalie, what is it you do at college again?" Toki asked. "Kaii told me once before, but it slipped my mind. Sorry -"

She shook her head. "No, it's alright. I'm studying Political Science. You see, my dream is to work for the United Nations. That's why I came to Japan, to study abroad, and learn more about foreign cultures. Foster understanding and friendship between countries. At first, everything was going smoothly. I made a lot of friends there. My coursework was hard, but engaging. Then, when a peculiar package arrived, that's when it all changed."

Keiya looked on, curious. "That'd be the Gnosis, I assume."

"Yes. I rarely order anything, and it didn't look like anything my parents would send me from Sweden either. There it was, a strange smartphone. And it told me to contact a Shigeru Komatsu. Everything after that was such a blur. I had access to a special power, Persona. And there was a strange new world that a group called Bythos were active in, and we were the only ones who could stop them."

"...That's something that's always confused me. Why did Nisa Liat give you a Gnosis each?" Keiya asked. "I mean, why would she do that?"

Novalie closed her eyes for a moment. Was it really her that sent them the Gnosis? Was she scouting the city for potential enemies, as well as her allies?

"I...I really don't know." She finally said. "Maybe she thought the six of us had good lives. I was a student doing well in every class. Shigeru was a successful politician. Michiko was a popular teacher. Netuno's music...well, I can't say I like it, but it was doing well. Reia's clothes shop was getting a lot of positive press. And Hiroyuki was a hard-working soldier with a loving family. Perhaps Nisa Liat thought it would be amusing if she ruined our lives…"

"...That bitch!" Toki snapped, banging his fist on the table. Novalie leapt up in fright. "S-Sorry. It's just...she really deceived us, you know? She knew Kaii was my son. That he was trying to find his real dad. But did she tell him? No! She just kept promising that she'd help him if he did well as an Admin!"

"Toki…"

Ignoring Keiya, Toki continued.

"And she promised me that I could reconnect with Noboru. That I could go back to when it was me, him and Kaiyo. But…"

"That's so cruel…" Novalie said, tearful herself. "To give you such false hope, just so she could complete her insane schemes. I'm so sorry…"

"Now I'm wondering about Kazuko and Yuchi…" Keiya said, frowning. "When Nisa Liat managed to find that recording of when she was pushed off the balcony, I...well, it was painful. After all, it was the last moment of her life. But at the same time, I was glad I had proof of what really happened. And I could get my revenge on that bastard."

Toki looked on, curious. "Yeah, what he did was evil...but why -"

"It didn't dawn on me until just now how convenient it was. That Nisa Liat managed to find the proof I was looking for in the Theio Kosmos. But was it even real?"

"Are you saying it could have been faked?!" Novalie asked, astonished. "Can she do that?"

"I don't know what she's capable of anymore. But when we captured Yuchi, he was acting really strange. He kept screaming at me to let him go. Then he was absorbed into the EX-NIHILO. Just before then, he said something really strange. 'I just want to die one final time, not again, and again, and again.'"

Novalie and Toki looked at each other, uncertain. What did this mean? Yuchi hadn't been 'revived' in any sense, as far as they were aware. He had died that night, although only they knew what truly happened. Yuchi Okamoto was still officially 'missing'.

"...So, the recording could have been made up? And something else happened when Kazuko...died?" The student asked, pondering this.

Keiya didn't answer. Instead, he looked out the window, and saw the city's many buildings and landmarks all around him.

"...I'll have to ask Nisa Liat herself tomorrow. She has a lot to answer for." The card magician finally said. "I...I may have killed an innocent man, all because I blamed him for killing the love of my life."

Novalie stared at him, fixed on his sorrowful face.

"Keiya. We're with you all the way. The way Nisa Liat has treated this entire city is unforgivable. And what she did to her Aeon Admins, too. This is the first time I've ever really wanted to kill someone...I just hope it's the only time."

"Novalie, I've done unforgivable things to, Yuchi aside -"

"If that's the case, then you have to deal with them your own way. But we can decide what to do about that after our victory tomorrow. And there will be a victory. There's no room for failure here."

Keiya gave her a smile, looking somewhat more at ease.

"You're strong, you know that? There's something big ahead of you, I can feel it. I don't even need to look at my cards to know that."

"Those aren't fortune telling cards, silly." Novalie said, smirking. "But thank you."

As the night went on, Toki found himself yawning. It was time to go to bed.

"I better get some sleep…" He said to his guests. "You can stay the night here, if you like."

"Are you sure?" Novalie asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Right now, it's pretty risky for either of you to go back to your own places. One of you...can have Kaii's old room. I already moved all of his stuff out of there, so you're welcome to it. The other can take my room, and I'll grab that sofa."

"No, you're fine." Keiya said, looking at the sofa he was sitting on. "This is comfortable enough. You keep your bed."

Toki looked at his fellow Aeon Admin, and smiled. He hadn't expected him to take the sofa instead of him.

"Thanks. Get a good night's sleep, okay?"

"You as well, Toki. And thank you for your hospitality. It means a lot, after all we've been through."

She's so formal. But she means well. And a little of that helps. I'm glad I invited her now. Maybe she's getting along with Keiya more than I thought, too.

Waving goodnight, he walked into his bedroom, and changed into his pyjamas. As he did, he saw a photograph lying in the drawer. There it was - the first photograph that had been taken of him and Noboru, as a baby. Seeing it brought a smile to his face - that had been a special day. If only he had a photo like that for Kaii. But he highly doubted the Murayamas would ever give him one.

Just as Toki was about to shut his eyes, his phone rang. Startled, he grabbed it, and answered it quickly.

"Hello…?"

"Dad!" Noboru's voice said. "It's me!"

"Oh!" Toki said, sitting up straight. "You sure you're okay to call me?"

"It's fine. Considering what's happening tomorrow. I...I just wanted to ask how you were. After all, we haven't seen each other since Tanjoshima...but then you showed up and saved mom. Just like a true Black Condor would, huh?"

Toki smiled. Hearing such warmth from his son was always a treat. And tonight, he needed it more than ever.

"Kid. I didn't really save your mother. That's what Shigeru did, years ago. When the Shadows we fought said she was stuck in that building, I...I knew I couldn't just leave her. She belongs with you and your step-dad."

"...We have so much to deal with right now. Even after Nisa Liat." Noboru said, sounding uncertain. "But all I wanted to say, is...um..."

"'Don't fuck things up'?" Toki asked.

"Dad, this is serious!"

"I know. That's why I said it. You've seen how my life turned out."

"Dammit, I...Dad, I love you, okay?" Noboru said, exasperated. "I don't want to hear you say stuff like that any more! Especially not on the night before we fight Nisa Liat..."

Toki's eyes went wide, and he wiped away some of the tears he had shed. "Son...I...I love you so damn much. You're going to be a great actor someday. I know it. Now, get some sleep. You'll need it."

"Alright. Thanks, Dad...we'll make Kaii proud. Together." Noboru said, sniffing. "...Goodnight."

And so, Noboru ended the call. Toki gazed at his phone, and slowly put it away.

Make Kaii proud? I wonder if I really can. Wherever you are, watch over us. Your little brother and I will be thinking of you. Not just tomorrow. Every single day. Don't think we'll ever forget you, okay?

|Hiroyuki's House|10:30 pm|

Dinner at the Kita family home had been a quiet affair. Normally, it was a pretty loud one, since his wife and his daughter loved to talk. About work, and school. About their friends. About everything going on in the city and afar. Hiroyuki had grown to love these nights. After all, during his military career, there had been many evenings where he'd been kept apart from his family. So every night they could be together was a dream come true, even if he couldn't quite get a word in. Yet now, there were few words. This was the latest they had eaten in a long time.

"...Dad?" Kaori said, as the family sat at the dinner table. "Do you really have to go to that creepy castle tomorrow?"

"Dear…" Miori said, biting her lip.

"I have a duty to this city. To my country. And to my comrades." Hiroyuki said, clasping his hands together. "I'm aware of how dangerous it will be. And how scared the two of you are. But even so, I can't just stay behind."

"But why not?!" Kaori wailed, now in tears. "Dad...you've risked your life so many times! But look what Nisa Liat has done to this city in less than a year! She took out Tanjoshima and Kibo-Jo! If you go there, you might…"

She sniffed, head in her hands.

"You might die!"

Hiroyuki stared at her, shaken. He had gotten so caught up with everything involving the Theio Kosmos, ever since he got that Gnosis telling him to contact Shigeru. Up until Tanjoshima, he had been able to pass off his work in the Theio Kosmos as simply meeting old army buddies, or something else innocuous. It was lying, yes. But it kept his family from worrying.

"Even if you and all those other people defeat Nisa Liat, you could still die...I don't wanna lose you, dad! That's why...I don't want you to go! Tell him, mum!"

"...Kaori-chan. It's not like I wanted him to go either. This 'Persona' power still sounds insane, every time I hear about it. But your father isn't the type to back down."

That's right. Even after what happened to Masayuki, I never gave up on protecting my country and my people. And tomorrow isn't enough to make me stop, either.

"You know I love both of you, right? The two of you are more important to me than anyone in the entire world. But tomorrow, if we don't win, then we might disappear, with the whole city. I can't just sit here while everyone else I've fought alongside goes on without me. They need me. I need them. We protect each other."

"But dad…"

"I know. You hate me having to fight. So after tomorrow, I'm retiring from the JSDF." Hiroyuki said, warmly. "We'll have all the time in the world to be together. And I won't have to fight anymore. Just one more battle, Kaori-chan. I promise. I'll come home and we can celebrate our victory."

His daughter stared at him, wiping the tears from her eyes. Those same eyes he had known for fourteen years. Those same eyes had given him hope. Even in the Theio Kosmos, when battles were especially fierce, he thought of his daughter's face. That seemed to motivate him to defeat the enemy, more than anything else.

"I don't know what I'll do after I quit the military. After I finished school, I never really knew what I wanted to do. I wasn't as clever as you or your mother…" He said. "But I'll think of something. Either way, you won't be worrying about me after tomorrow."

"...Okay, dad. Remember, you promised. You have to keep that promise, okay?" Kaori said.

"Of course I will."

With that, he gave his wife and his daughter warm, tight hugs. He could only hope he'd be here the next evening, and the one after that.

|Netuno's Apartment|11:00 pm|

Tonight, all of Electric Sea were here. Reia, of course, was right next to Netuno. She didn't want to be with anyone else tonight, but his band wanted to come over to wish him well. And they were practically his family, after all. They meant so much to him - they were far more than colleagues, or friends.

"So, you two really are going into that castle place, huh?" Elzira said, as she ate from the snacks on the table. "Sounds crazy, even for you, Netuno."

"I'll say. I didn't think things would end up like this once I got the Gnosis. Getting that weird package at the studio really changed everything..." He said, drinking from his glass of beer. "I didn't even know I had a 'Persona'. Well, not the kind I can use to cast magic spells, anyway."

"You aren't scared, bro?" Heliodoro asked, crossing his arms. "You were there when Kibo-Jo went down. What if that happens to this floating castle in the sky?"

Netuno shook his head, frowning. "I don't do 'scared', you know that. I'm ready for anything. If that castle comes down, Tam Kung will get me to safety. I'm not leaving you guys behind, you know that?"

"But Netuno…" Lenore said, staring deeply at him. "We worry about you. Even as strong as you are. Even if you're determined to make her part for what she did to my lovely Hachiro...knowing you're fighting for your life, we can't relax."

Reia looked at her, with a confident smile.

"He's got me, remember? Every time he gets into trouble, I'm there to help him. He's done the same for me, too. I know he's strong, but trust me, so am I. I'll make sure he comes back here in one piece."

The rest of the band looked at her, in silence. Eventually, they smiled.

"...Good to hear that. But you have to return safely too. Meeting you has made Netuno a better man." Lenore said, looking at their frontman. "If he can be as happy with you as I was with Hachiro, then that'd make all of us happy too."

"Damn straight!" Elzira said, excitedly. "You kick that creepy Nisa Liat's ass tomorrow! We'll be cheering you on from here!"

"We'll have to dedicate a song to this...the greatest song of our career." Heliodoro said, in deep thought. "Listen, it's getting late. We better let you get some rest."

"Alright, man. All of you, thank you. I'll see you soon." Netuno said. In high spirits, his band left, leaving him with just Reia. He wrapped his arm around her, and leaned in for a kiss.

Reia happily ruffled his hair, and they laughed, their worries slowly fading.

"You know, when we first met...there was always something there, don't you think?" She asked.

"Between us?" Netuno asked. "Absolutely. I've met a lot of girls...but there was something about you that caught my eye. I just liked getting to see you again, both over in that world and here. Course, we kept teasing each other...but with you, it was fun."

"...Your music's a lot better than I first thought."

"And your clothes rock."

The two stared at each other for some time, holding hands.

"After tomorrow, we won't need these stupid Gnosis things. We can do whatever we want. I want to get my shop going again...maybe if I design the clothes for your music videos, It'll drum up some business?" Reia asked, winking.

"Sounds good to me." Netuno said, sticking out his tongue. "Just don't put me in anything too tight, you got that?"

"Well now, that just ruins all the fun, doesn't it?"

The two of them laughed, as they found warmth in each other's embrace. One last battle, and they wouldn't have to worry about the other getting hurt anymore. That was what was driving them forward.

|Shiro's House|11:00 pm|

Shiro took a long walk after leaving the Yukimora home. He didn't have much of an appetite, but he wasn't ready to go home just yet. He saw many heated arguments as he walked down the roads, some turning to violence. There was no peace here, and as long as Nisa Liat remained 'alive', there probably never would be. Finally, he got back to his house, and as he did, he saw a familiar face standing outside his front door.

"Rinaka?"

The fellow Aeon Admin turned around, and from the look of her face, she looked quite upset. Perhaps she'd been waiting a long time for him to come home.

"Shiro...I'm sorry. I didn't know who else to turn to."

"What happened? Did you go somewhere?"

Rinaka nodded. "Yes, I wanted to see how Evelina was. But she still blames me for what happened to her father. And she's right. Svante would still be alive if it wasn't for me…"

Shiro stood there, unsure what to say. There was no denying that the Aeon Admins had committed many crimes, while they ardently believed that Nisa Liat truly wanted a better Shinshuto. Even if they had turned against her, and were helping Shigeru's team, the fact remained that they had caused a lot of grief.

"Come in. Let's talk."

The two went inside, and Shiro went to pour the two of them a drink, a glass of red wine. It was an expensive brand, one that he had bought for himself as a treat. Rinaka drank from it slowly, as Shiro looked at her. Ever since they'd become Aeon Admins, he'd felt something of a kinship with her. Out of the others, she was the one he found himself respecting the most. She might not have been a policewoman any longer, but she still had a duty to the city.

"You were at Yukimora's house, right?" She asked.

Shiro nodded. "It was still tense between all of us. But just before we left, it started to feel like old times again. Myself, Michiko, Tetsuo and Kaede. Although only three of us are left now, maybe, just maybe, we can try to rebuild our friendship."

"That'd be wonderful…" Rinaka said, managing a slight smile. "I really hope you can. You were all so close…"

Indeed, Shiro thought to himself. "Kaede was a special woman. Always finding something to laugh about. I just wish she was still here...but that's not going to happen now. I became an Aeon Admin because I thought reality could be changed. That I could be Toshiaki and Juudai's dad, and we could all be a loving family. But some things just aren't meant to be. Nisa Liat wouldn't make that happen."

"...Yet we did horrible things so that we could get away from our sorrow." Rinaka said, eyes on the floor.

"I know. One way or another, we're going to have to find some way to deal with it. Perhaps even by going to prison."

"I wonder if Shigeru would go that far. Or if he'd consider defeating Nisa Liat enough to redeem us. No, I can't count on that. We're criminals, after all." Rinaka said, anxiously. "But, even if he lets us go free...I can't stay in this city."

"Why not?" Shiro asked, curious.

"Because Evelina and her family live here. By sticking around, I'll only remind her of what happened to her father. Besides, I don't have any reason to stick around here anyway. My only friend from the police is gone, I don't have any family left...and I know Hiroyuki saved me a long time ago, but he has his own life."

Upon hearing this, Shiro looked alarmed, his eyes wide. He hadn't been expecting this at all. Rinaka, moving away? Would he ever see again? Something in him clicked then. He had been enjoying her company, especially since she'd been coming over a lot recently. But if she was leaving this city, then with Toki gone, he'd be all alone.

"...Where would you go?" He asked, putting down his glass.

"Huh? I don't even know...I've not really thought that far ahead. It doesn't really matter, as long as it's not here."

"Hmm…" Shiro said. "Then perhaps Nagoya would suit you."

"Huh? Why Nagoya?" The ex-cop said, looking closer.

"It's a nice enough city. Great food. And...well, I'm going there to see my brother and his family, at some point. Originally, I was going to go later this year, but I think I'll bring my plans forward. And maybe I could show you around...if you don't mind."

"...You would? I...I wouldn't want to inconvenience you -"

Shiro shook his head, as he smiled at her. "Don't be silly. It'd be my pleasure. Besides, it's a lot less lonely with you around. Unless a boring Mathematics teacher would be cramping your style?"

"...Not at all." Rinaka said, smiling back. "This year has been tough, but meeting you has been one of the better parts. Nisa Liat may have been onto something when she paired us together."

Shiro looked at her - was she saying what he thought she was saying? The way her face lit up just now, he began to realise exactly why he'd offered to take her to Nagoya.

I don't want to be apart from her. I don't want to lose her. She's not just a colleague or a friend. She's more than that now.

"Rinaka, do you mean -"

"Yes, Shiro, I do. Tonight, I see it even clearer than before. I was scared about leaving this city on my own, with no one to turn to. And I was worried that you were alone, too. That's why I came here."

He got up and sat right next to her. Slowly, he put his arm around her, and brought her closer to him.

"We're not alone anymore." He said, his face beaming. Without a moment's pause, he leaned in closer, and kissed her right on the lips. Their eyes closed, he felt his heart race.

It felt like an eternity had passed. Shiro hadn't kissed anyone like this for a very long time. He had told himself that there would never be anyone who could make him feel the same way Kaede did. Yet here he was, with the woman he had just realised he loved.

They finally let go, holding each other's hand.

"...Stay with me. Whatever happens tomorrow, I want to be with you."

Rinaka nodded, nuzzling her head next to his. Tomorrow, there was a chance they could fail, and their existence would be nullified. If this was the last moment of happiness in their lives, then Shiro was glad they were together.

"We'll be protecting each other from now on."

|Shintaro's Room|12:00 am|

Finally, Kohaku and her parents had gone home. They had assured Shintaro's family they'd be safe on their way, and after all, their house was only a few blocks away. With a big battle ahead tomorrow, they needed all the sleep they could get. Thus, the bookworm was back in his room. But he didn't want to rest just yet. After all, this was the last night before they fought the evil Pleroma Princess, who had been a curse on this city.

There's so much I wanted to say during dinner. But with my parents and Kohaku's family there, I just couldn't say it. I wanted it to be between us. And Kei went straight to her room here. Even so, I can't just leave it now.

He gazed at his books. So many he still hadn't read. But once Nisa Liat was gone, he could work through them, while adding new ones. One of them stood out, however. The one that was given to him by the girl that looked almost exactly like the Pleroma Princess, but acted nothing like her. The Compendium of Lost Souls.

He hadn't touched it since she 'returned' it to him, however. Curious, he picked it up, and opened it. Inside, he saw his grandfather's handwriting, indicating it was his property. Genichiro Nakahara, a man he had never known, but heard so much about. A failed novelist who wanted the world he loved to read his books. Yet when barely any copies were sold, he came to resent that world.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Kei walked in, looking somewhat nervous.

"Sorry, I just...didn't want to go to sleep just yet. Not until I spoke to you, one more time. About our fight plan. With my Personas, I think I can -"

Shintaro put away his book, and shook his head. He wasn't interested in any kind of strategy meeting. Not now.

"That can wait. There's something more important I want to say to you. I can't wait any longer. You see, ever since I met you, I can't stop thinking about you. When I see you at school, it just...makes my day, you know? Like, having you there in class makes each lesson that little bit better."

"Shintaro, please, we really need to -"

"No, Kei, I want to say it. When we fight together, my heart skips a beat. Like, there's just something...electrifying about being with you. That, together we can do anything. When you get hurt, I panic. When you fought Nisa Liat in the forest, I was...so scared. That you wouldn't wake up."

Kei was silent for a while, staring directly at him. Was she not sure where he was going with this? There couldn't be any doubt left as to what he meant by now.

"I thought I was in love with Celestine. But that wasn't real love...I think I see it now. It was just me trying to play out the fantasy I'd created in my head. But some fantasies just aren't meant to be real. And now I finally know what is real. Kei, I…"

There was a long silence. Kei's mouth hung open, and her eyes went wide. Shintaro couldn't tell what she was thinking. But he couldn't stop now.

"When you talk about going back home, I get this feeling in my head. That I might never see you again. That you'll end up forgetting all about us. And I can't stand it. I wish you didn't have to go back...I wish you could stay. Or I could come with you. Because, Kei, I know how I feel now. I'm in love with you."

Shintaro smiled as he said this, moving closer, with a hopeful look in his eyes. This was it, he told himself. There was no going back for either of them now. Kei's eyes suddenly turned tearful, however. His smile vanished - why was she crying like this?

"...No, Shintaro. You're not. You don't even know the real me…"

"W-What? Of course I do! We've been fighting Bythos since April! I know…"

Kei shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Shintaro, you don't understand! You're still in love with her, even though you can't remember her!" She screamed. "You still love Junko!"

Hearing that name, Shintaro felt a strange tension all over his body. He knew this name. He had heard it many times. Said it often. And then, a vision of another girl appeared in his head. A black haired girl, the same one that had appeared in many dreams of his, and 'returned' a book to him. He could see her in his mind right now, in front of the classroom, bowing to everyone. She had a huge smile on her face, bigger than any he had seen from Kei.

"My name is Junko Kaya! It's a pleasure to meet all of you!"

"Nice to meet you. Oh, and welcome to New Motus City!"

"Thanks, it's good to meet you too. I'm loving this place already. Hope this school year's going to be great!"

That same day, they had gone to the mall, and she had bought a new mobile phone - just like Kei. That same phone had led them to the Theio Kosmos, where she fought with her Persona for the first time. Together with Kohaku, they defeated Nox together. And that was just the beginning

He sat on his bed, his head spinning. What was this? He both recalled Kei on that first day of the school year - and also Junko. Not just that. He was starting to recall lots of other things. Fighting Shadows together. The Persona she used. Studying in the library with her. And now, he was starting to remember being with her in this very room, holding her in his arms, as tenderly as he could.

"Shintaro-kun, I love you so much...I'm so glad I ended up in your class. I wish I didn't have to go back to Yokohama, but I do. But after we finish school, we can be here, or there. As long as we're in the same city, I'll be just fine. We can keep protecting each other!"

"Alright, Junko-chan. As long as I have you, I won't be scared anymore. Let's tell everyone about us after we win tomorrow. And we will win. Nisa Liat can't beat us!"

He had kissed her right after he said this, then they laid down together. But that couldn't be. That wasn't what happened with Kei just now. There was only one Wild Card here. Why did he recall two different ones, in the same situations?

"Do you remember her now, Shintaro?" Kei finally asked. "The Wild Card that was in Suzuki-sensei's class, all those years ago. When I came to this city, I ended up taking her place. And we ended up going through the same events you did with her."

"That's right." He finally said, shaking. "A girl with long black hair, doing the same things you did...that was Junko...she was from Yokohama, too…and I…loved her…"

Where did Junko go, though? Why isn't she here now? Why did we forget her?

"I came here to find out what happened to her, Shintaro. But I ended up taking her place, somehow. I don't know how. But tomorrow, we'll find out the truth. From Nisa Liat."

"How do you know about Junko, Kei?" Shintaro asked, now angry. Memories of Junko were swirling all over in his head. He saw the raven-haired girl fighting Nisa Liat in that mansion. Even when they fought Menoetius, Junko had been there. Not Kei. "Who...are you?"

"I can't say any more. I've told you too much as it is. Don't you see? I couldn't say it, because if I did, you'd question everything. Like you are right now. I wanted to avoid that, but tonight, I didn't have any choice!" Kei said, now crying. "Please, just wait until tomorrow! When we fight Nisa Liat together, we'll find out what really happened seventeen years ago."

Before he could answer, she ran out of the room, slamming the door shut. Still shaking, Shintaro stared ahead, eyes wide with shock.

"Seventeen years ago…"

No, he told himself. The same events he was going through couldn't have happened then as well. For one thing, he was born then. Or was he? The more he thought about it, he was starting to wonder if he'd been born in 2000 at all.

If Kei's right, and we went through this seventeen years ago with Junko, what the hell happened?! Where is Junko? Why did Kei replace her?

There was no sense to any of this. His entire life was now in question. Had he really been recreating the same scenes, the same battles, just with a different lead actor? Was anything with Kei even real?

Junko, I wish I could see you. I still can't remember everything. What happened to our memories? Will I get to see you again?

Tomorrow, he hoped he could get to the truth. To reach Junko Kaya, the first Wild Card. He then recalled something he had been told not that long ago.

"Please don't cry, Shintaro-kun. And don't force yourself to remember. Someday, when everything is finally over, it will all become clear. All of us will be together again, free from this nightmare. And Kei Kakusa won't have to take my place anymore."

The nightmare would end tomorrow. Shintaro would make sure of it.