This story is a work of fiction. Any similarities to events or persons living or dead in your world is purely coincidental.
Faces Shifting In The Wind
Which Ones Can You Know Have Sinned?
6/9 Sunday
Afternoon
Limned with partial rain, the cemetery spread out before them had a bitter silence covering it that made it difficult to speak. It was impossible to tell if it arose from a deeply-ingrained need to respect the people who had been buried beneath the rows of damp headstones flanking the path forward... or if something else was at work here. Something which would be invisible to most humans.
It felt wrong for them to be here among the headstones, and Aiko could sense a growing uneasiness in her allies that made her pray she had been correct.
It also made her want to stay at Father Shigetsu's side all the more, to ensure that he wouldn't fall. While he'd initially been thrilled at the idea of helping them, he was now as cautiously silent as the others, a sense of gloom closing on them all until he spoke up simply to clear away the bad air.
"This is not the end, children. We are more than the crude bones which are stored here. That, at least, is what I have chosen to believe and teach."
"It's what most people believe", Mirambela acknowledged beside him. "That some part of us lives on, among the spirits. It goes to join our ancestors."
"Yes", the aged priest nodded, pressing his cane into the moist earth carefully. "I suppose recent discoveries only strengthen that belief. We should consider ourselves blessed to witness such phenomena in our lives."
"Sorry if I don't exactly feel blessed", Jiachi remarked belligerently. "It feels like..."
"Yeah", Aiko said without needing to hear the rest. "Like something here is weighing us down. Something... that we can't see."
"The dead", Shigetsu told the three teenagers, "are not at fault. They are at peace. It is the monster lurking in the graves which has done this, and it is my very great pleasure to be able to assist in its exorcism."
Stopping, he turned, pointing towards a particularly large and detailed headstone. "There. Behind that stone. I can sense it. Whenever I come here, my... my injury begins to hurt again."
Sure enough, behind the stone they saw how the tall grass fell away into a large funnel of removed earth, something that looked like a grave halfway finished. Only darkness lay beyond it, and the team hesitated.
"Father", Aiko tried, clapping a supporting hand to his shoulder. "You've really helped us out. But this could be dangerous. You don't have to be here if you don't want to."
Shigetsu smiled gently, his eyes closed. "Ah, but I do want to be here, miss Tsuruga. It is my duty as a man of God to witness this demon's removal."
"...I see." Knowing from the start that this was how it might turn out, she looked into him more intently, eager to prevent another disaster in the making.
"Then, please. Don't try to remove this thing yourself. Just stay back, and let us do it. And, uh... please try not to freak out, okay?"
Amused by her concern, he obediently hiked over to sit under a nearby tree, Mirambela joining him to make sure.
Sensing Julian's own concerned gaze on her back without needing to check, Ai shrugged. "He got us this far. And everyone except for us thinks he's crazy."
"If you say it's okay, it's okay", Jiachi remarked, one hand drifting down to his belt, feeling the tools there. "I just hope this is worth it."
"Me too. Hey, you still want to try this alone? You don't have to. I can-"
Julian smiled back. "Hey, you said I needed the practice, right? We all know you'll jump in anyway if I get into trouble."
She snorted. The very idea that they would do anything else in that situation seemed too preposterous to even entertain. "Just answer me one question, then."
"Go ahead."
"Back in your Land, when you were dueling your Shadow... Did you know that he would avoid shooting you anywhere that could kill you?"
Julian froze up. It had taken her quite some time to work that part out as well. No matter how much that fiery monster of a Shadow might have blustered on about how much he hated his 'other', even the Shadow would have known that directly killing Jiachi would also kill him.
At least, she hoped that was the reason.
"...No", he confessed quietly. "Sorry. I didn't know that. I just knew that I was the one that he would focus on, even more than you. Because... He was me, and I was him. Which of us would die there, I left up to whatever Gods there are."
"I thought so", she said unhappily. "I guess we got lucky. Be careful, okay?"
"You already told me that like four times", he reminded her patiently. "Just believe in me."
It took the both of them pulling to haul the black box up out of the dirt, dragging it up onto the grass. But the moment they had, Aiko spotted the locking mechanism, identical to the one from the Karma club, already beginning to turn. Eager. Not a good sign.
Taking a deep breath, he touched it, and the box lid flew open with a speed surpassing the Dantalian, releasing both mist and a formless black fluid that absolutely reeked of heartache and bereavement and a thousand other negative emotions bleeding into each other.
Julian stood with his legs spread, waiting for the strange mist shroud to fully engulf him, creating a small pocket of space where Shadows and Personas could exist, albeit in a weakened state. Waiting until the puddle was all the way out onto the grass before reaching down and focusing his mind back to that time back in the sepia-toned dream land when his coyote-shaped Shadow had fallen.
Fallen, and given rise to something else.
Feel the fire rise up in your heart. I Am Thou. Thou Art I.
His hands touched the grips.
"DRAW! Wild Bill!"
Bright blue flames flared out and wreathed him head to toe, quickly falling away to reveal his outfit changed to the same one from Faraway Lands.
Exhausted after the long and painful battle, Aiko had only caught a glimpse of it before, but now she could see every detail. A long, dark red coat, the lapels lying open to show a series of clipped black belts running over a shirt. Seamless black shoes and pants covered his athletic legs, and a thin gun belt lay across his waist.
Finally, a cloth bandanna of the same color wrapped around his left eye and a fair part of his head, while the right eye focused in on his target. His Persona remained a graven cowboy specter floating next to him. Faint, but still visible to everyone who saw. Even Shigetsu.
Julian's initial worries about detection didn't stop him from pulling out and firing what had, moments ago, been a mere plastic toy revolver even faster than he had on his own Shadow.
And one loud gunshot was all it took. The ooze recoiled in animal pain, swelling and contorting before bursting into a form that the puddle should not have logically been able to contain. A towering brown-skinned man with a dark chestnut beard hanging down his thin spindly body for nearly a meter and flashy yellow coat covering the rest. Long tufts of bright red hair covered the creature's eyebrows, moving in the sudden breeze.
Dark eyes like knots of oak stared down at Julian, and the mouth beneath the beard twisted into a scowl. "Disturbing my slumber? Of course. You humans just can't leave us alone, can you? But I'll make sure you pay for that insolence this time!"
Jiachi gave his favorite relaxed, cocky smile, and reached down to his belt to grab his second weapon, dexterously spinning it around his other hand in a move designed only to impress onlookers. "Woo. Big boy, aren't ya? Well that's just fine. Let's get this crazy party started!"
The Shadow was not impressed by his moves. It lunged with a speed that belied its height, gnarled branch-like hands reaching out to shred the impudent boy who had dared challenge him. Fortunately, Aiko saw that this wasn't one of those annoyingly tough Shadows who could ignore most forms of pain- when Julian fired into an offending hand, it would fly back away from him and prompt a hateful grunt from its owner.
Not a physical threat after all, she noted. Meaning that it's probably like Dantalian. Its main attack is some kind of elemental skill.
She didn't have to wait long to be proven right. Frustrated by the way Jiachi was easily dodging his arms, the Shadow moved them into a cross shape. "Be cursed! Eiha!"
Finally faced with something too fast to avoid, Julian gritted his teeth through the surge of darkness howling around him for a moment, then quickly returned to rapidly spinning his weapons, pumping a quick triple burst of bullets into the enemy. Appearing overwhelmed for a moment, the creature withdrew, one tree branch arm rising up into the sky as if it was trying to grab the faded sun.
"You insolent... have this, then!"
The clenched hand was merely a distraction. Instead, purple gas boiled out of the Shadow's small thicket of a mouth, avoiding everyone else but quickly blowing into Julian and leaving him hacking and coughing helplessly.
Poison, Ai realized with a disjointed lurch, recognizing the gas from several of the Shadows they'd confronted in Jiachi's own Land, such as the giant snake. They had packed medicine for the occasion of course, but taking a moment to apply it might give the enemy the opening they wanted.
Instead, Jiachi ran closer to the enemy, firing all the while to keep its gnarled hands far away from him. "That's how you wanna play it, huh? AGILAO!"
Ai winced away, expecting the conflagration of flame erupting from the Shadow before it happened. It spread quickly, immolating the tree limbs and beard and filling the cemetery with the Shadow's ghastly wails as the excess heat panned over her skin.
But something else was coming out of the creature's mouth as well. Another gas, bright blue but glossy enough to be easily spotted in the evening light. As the resulting cloud began to succumb to gravity, Julian looked around for an escape route and found none.
"Zan."
Green winds flew in to mix with the blue, driving both off into the distance. Searching for the source, Ai could see Mira poised and ready, the ethereal shape of Oya floating at her side. Shigetsu looked about ready to run, but Mira still had one arm clutched to him.
Ignoring that as well as the venom now ravaging his system, Julian spun and holstered one gun, pressing his gloved hand to the bottom of the creature's yellow jacket. "Later, Shadow dude. Agi."
The smaller fire wasn't as dramatic, but it kept the enemy writhing around helplessly until a final bullet zinged beneath its shoulders, reducing it to smoldering embers and dissipating the fog shroud at the same time. Within seconds, his outfit had returned to a normal T-shirt and jeans, and his guns had reverted to mere plastic toys.
Only then did Shigetsu finally break free of Mira's grip, running out onto the field. He looked at Julian in awe, then at Aiko, then down at the fading remnants of the Shadow... then back at Julian.
"You..."
"I told you not to freak out", Aiko reminded him urgently. "And that you might need to keep what you saw here a secret."
Speechless, he turned back to her. His eyes asked all that needed to be.
"Yes", she nodded. "I have that power too. What we don't have is the power to sense where the monsters are."
He looked like he was about to fall over still and Mira prepared herself to support him, but he got his cane out just in time. "And I do", he whispered in fearful wonder. "I do. Is that... because I was...?"
"We're... not sure", Aiko provided carefully, knowing they were on thin ice. "Our powers came to us when we were confronted by the monsters for the first time, to stop them from killing us."
She had met with Father Shigetsu long enough to know his fear was not only of Shadows, but of what he believed them to be.
If Shadows are 'demons', and he can sense them only because he was bitten by one six years ago when he lost his leg, then what does that make him? Contaminated?
Luckily, he seemed all too happy to make the other connections there too. "Powers that were granted to you by the wisdom of God", he decided. "To you pure-hearted children, to save you from evil."
"Yes, father", she agreed, not wanting to argue with him. It was as good a reason as any. "And we want to use these powers to destroy all the monsters hiding in Tosashimizu."
His eyes rose in euphoria. "Bless you all. If only Noel..."
"Vitienne-kun is more pure-hearted than we are", Mira told him without hesitation. "We didn't even know about these powers until we got them. If he didn't, then there must be some other reason why."
"Of course", he nodded back piously. "There is always a reason. Perhaps his time has not yet come. Regardless, I will of course do whatever I must to help you locate the demons and expel them from this Earth."
Mira took him on ahead, the others deliberately hanging back despite his slow pace so that they could talk more freely. "You were reckless", Ai started before Julian could speak. "All that posing and twirling your guns? If Mira hadn't stepped in when she did-"
"I was fine", he insisted defiantly. "I just wasn't expecting the sleep gas, that's all. Besides, when you're doing something like that, you've gotta look cool."
Trying not to snap at him, she regarded him skeptically. "Look cool? Why? How does that help?"
"Because they see it too", Jiachi shrugged as if it were obvious. "And if that makes 'em think you're better than them, then you've already won."
"An interesting notion", Pelagio's voice called down to them from a darkened tree. He'd been hiding there, not speaking so as not to scare Shigetsu any more than he was already. "However, I should think it would be more practical to simply fight in the most efficient way without any such antics, boy. Do that, and the enemy will die, and what they think of you will no longer matter to anyone."
Still, the sardonic grin on Jiachi's face made her want to believe in what he was saying. "Trust me, Tsuruga-chan. I've seen it happen in sports loads of times. When a team acts all confident and pulls out some cool, stylish moves, then the other team starts to doubt if they're good enough to win. And that doubt slows 'em down, and before too long, they get proved right."
"This is not one of your human games", Pelagio argued irritably. "This is warfare. These Shadows seek to devour you, body and soul. They will not care how stylish or 'cool' you appear, boy."
"Stop it", Ai waved them both down before they could start bickering again. "We've had enough fighting for one day." Continuing down towards the lights of buildings, she looked around and began to realize just how dark it had gotten in the short amount of time they'd been in the cemetery, almost fully night now.
"I don't think we should fight at the box location any more either. Veil or no, we were lucky no one spotted us here. What we should do is grab the box, and bring it to someplace secluded where we can open it up and dispose of the Shadow properly. Someplace close by, if we can."
Jiachi looked thoughtful. "The West Kosashimizu shore? No fishermen use it 'cause it's too rocky, and it's out of sight of the campus."
"Maybe", she considered, itchy about using any space that was open like that. "Not outside. I'd say the cavern at Yume Bay if we could reach it. Maybe there's another cave further along the beach that we can use."
"I shall search the area for such a location, captain", Pelagio vowed before gliding off in the direction of the general hospital. Following his course distracted her long enough for Jiachi to pull ahead of her, but once she'd caught up she started again.
"The posing aside, you did good today, Rosea-kun. Next time, we'll try fighting together."
"Sounds fun", he smiled back. At some level, it was nice to know that his first direct battle against a Shadow hadn't traumatized him, or robbed him of his will to fight. "About that... I should get a code name as well now, right?"
"I suppose", she admitted, knowing this had been coming for a long time. "And you've probably already got one in mind, right?"
"Duh", he shrugged. "But let's hear yours anyway."
She considered for a moment. "Trickshot."
Jiachi looked hurt. "Oh come on. I wasn't that bad about it, was I?"
"Just saying", she insisted. "Pela-tori's not wrong about that. Spend too much time being 'stylish' and you lose track of what's happening around you." Trying again, she flashed back to the red jacket that had garbed him until the Shadow had fallen, dispelling the dimensional pocket. "Hunter."
"Better", Julian allowed grudgingly. "I was thinking... Gunslinger."
Not particularly caring any more, she shrugged. "Sure. Gunslinger it is." The excited look in his eyes was all the sign she needed that she'd made the right choice.
Glancing back at the cemetery's headstones however, left him with a more concerned look in his eyes. "So... we really don't know, huh? Or did you just lie to the old man?"
"No", she confessed gloomily as the rain began to strengthen once more. "I really have no idea what lets us summon Personas in the other world. Neither does Pela-tori. Lady Scorpio said that many people our age have the potential, but... then, what decides who has the 'potential', and who doesn't?"
"It sounds like", he said, "you're asking the same kinda question as 'why are we here'? Something old guys like Shigetsu try to answer, but can't. Not really."
Her eyebrow shot up. "Not particularly religious, then?"
He grinned back cheekily. "Nah. Not really my thing. Those kinda deep questions, I leave for people who actually care about the answers. End of the day, I'm me. And that's all that matters."
"I suppose so", she acknowledged, the familiar prickle of curiosity a welcome one after recent tragedies. It meant seeing Makoto's fate hadn't broken her completely after all, even if it still hurt. "What about you, then? What's it feel like when you summon Wild Bill?"
For once, Jiachi looked pensive. "Kinda hard to explain. I just... I thought about all the stuff that I saw in my Land. About how that wasn't actually who I wanted to be. Got me thinking about who I did want to be. Thinking about people I wanted to protect. Like my mom, my brother... even my old man. Then... poof."
She smiled back at him. "Actually, it doesn't sound so hard to understand at all."
The memory of awakening Anne Bonny would forever be a part of her as well, just like the feelings and sensations that had been flooding through her mind and soul at the time:
The chaos corrupts the land which you sought to make your own home, expelling all that you represent, an outcast. To them, you are nothing. You have no home now, save for the roiling sea of human consciousness. Yet that can be a home as well, for the one willing to show their strength to those who oppose them, and embrace their inner selves entirely. Do you accept your role as a traveling outcast, or shirk from this prospect?
Without the strength to accept thyself that sleeps within, you will become as nothing. You will die like a dog, and none shall be left to mourn your passing.
"I saw the world", she offered by way of explanation. "I saw all the despair, all of the anger and sorrow in it. I'd just seen Mira-chan scream and curse out the whole school before she ran out into the sea, trying anything to make it stop. And... something in the back of my head just said 'No. This isn't right. This isn't what life is supposed to be'."
"Maybe it is", Julian pointed out quietly, suddenly withdrawn. "Maybe whatever big head honcho actually calls the shots in this reality wants us to be miserable."
All of these people have already identified all that you are, believing you hold the potential for greatness within you. Will your allow your own fear and self-doubt to deny them this gift?
"No", Aiko countered, for once having absolute confidence in her words. "No, I can't believe that. And even if I did... I don't want it to be that way for people all the time. So I'll fight. I'll fight both here, and in the other world, if it means inspiring people with the me that they see, no matter how much it hurts. Running away to another world... that isn't the answer. We have to try to improve the world we have now, not just give up on it because we don't like it."
Jiachi gave a soft chuckle. "Says the big city girl who ran all the way here from Tokyo."
"Completely different. Tokyo and Tosashimizu are still the same world. Although..."
Mock alarm colored his reply. "Although?"
"Although, sometimes it feels like Tokyo really is its own world. A world of light and color that drowns everything else out."
"I hear ya. All the TV shows we watch, the websites we visit? 99 percent of that stuff is broadcast from and focused around Tokyo. Sometimes, its enough to make a guy wonder if the rest of the country even exists to 'em, or anyone else. Not jelly, of course."
She had to laugh at that. "Oh, as if you're not jealous. You can't tell me you've never wanted to visit."
"Well, if all the Tokyo girls are like you, then..."
Giving him a playful shove and laughing, she ran on down the hill after Mira and Shigetsu.
With her long hair stretched out messily behind her and arms folded at the sides of the bed, Makoto Nijima looked more relaxed than Aiko could recall seeing her when she was awake, her colored lips still and her eyes resolutely closed.
It still hurt to look at her, even from across a large glass window. But that pain, she knew, was well deserved. Far worse would have been not visiting her out of fear. Fear of the pain, and fear that she might wake up and immediately accuse Aiko, no matter how many times Akira told her that Makoto wasn't the type to make accusations lightly.
"She's out of the danger zone", an elderly nurse promised her. "No blood loss. All that's left to do is to make sure there's no lingering bone damage from the fall. I know you're frightened for your friend, but you should know that it could have been much worse."
Her whole team was waiting for here when the main doors slid open again, even though the rain had reached its peak forcing them all to pop open their umbrellas. Pelagio, normally an inscrutable predator's visage hiding the empathy worthy of someone who called themselves a 'sworn protector'.
Julian, still poised with the giddy adventure-seeking energy that had been awakened along with his Persona.
Mirambela, whose face no longer held even a hint of quitting on them, poised with her umbrella to shield both Pelagio and herself.
"One down", Jiachi commented casually, arms folded into a tough-guy pose. "Heh. Won't those d-bags be surprised when they go to the cemetery and find an empty box."
"They'll be angry", Mira said more worriedly, her hands clenching on the handle. "If they figure out who it was, then they might come after us."
"I shall honor my vow", Pelagio said. "I am my captain's sworn protector, but to protect you two is to protect her as well. No harm shall come to you while I yet breathe."
"Thank you", Aiko nodded back in gratitude, not just to Pelagio but to all three of them. "We won't just be picking off the black boxes with Shigetsu's help though. That's just the beginning. There's someone else that I think we should talk to about taking down the Masked Circle."
"Someone else?", Mira sounded eager for once, glad that they were seeking out more allies who could help them. "Who?"
Seeing a permissive look from their leader, Pelagio moved forward, just barely still within the umbrella's protection. "Hex."
Sensing Mira's confusion, Aiko took a moment to scan the skyline, hoping the simple mention of the name might summon the vigilante in question to them. No such luck.
"Sorry, Mira-chan. We weren't deliberately keeping you out of the loop or anything. It just never came up. Pelagio mentioned it to me yesterday afterwards."
"Hmph. Several days ago, I was frantically searching earlier for a way to enter the Karma night club and find a way to save our captain after her phone stopped functioning", the falcon explained. "To my relief, I saw an open window on the second floor and flew in through it. Then, once inside, I saw him. Hex."
Annoyed more by the amused her surprise was putting on Jiachi's face, she glared at him. "What? Hex was there at the Karma Club?"
"On my honor", Pelagio replied smoothly. "His mask and outfit is rather unique."
"But that means... oh no. What if Hex was actually working for the Masked Circle all this time?"
"We briefly considered that possibility", Pelagio said with a glance at Aiko. "We found it unlikely."
"Their goals have nothing to do with each other", Aiko pointed out calmly. "Hex goes around at night beating up criminals. Also, Hex never used the special water- if he was really in cahoots with the Masked Circle, he'd definitely want them to give him a Persona to help him do that job."
"Less hypothetically", Pelagio continued, "when I saw Hex, he was not producing the body language of someone safely in a hideout controlled by allies. Instead, he looked very cautious. Paranoid, eager to avoid detection just as I was. Naturally, he seemed very confused by the sight of me in the middle of the club's 2nd floor. I would estimate his objective there was to steal something by the look of it."
"So he's prolly against them, not with them", Julian explained cheerfully. "Not sure how much he really knows about them so far, but there's no harm in sharing what we know. All we gotta do is get in touch with him, let him know that he's not dealing with normal criminals here, and that we can help."
He made it sound so simple that Mira had to yield to the overwhelming need to bring him back down to earth. "We don't know anything about Hex though. Besides, the only people who ever see him are criminals who are about to get put in the hospital!"
"Not quite true", Aiko pointed out. "We almost caught a glimpse of Hex about a month ago, when we found those two punks all beaten up in the alley near the Bird of Hermes. And Pela-tori has been able to catch sight of him a few times before now."
Preening freely in the dry space created by Mira's umbrella, Pelagio bobbed his head. "After we caught sight of each other, Hex ran for the window and leaped out through it. Fortuitously, it only took me a minute longer after that to locate the fire alarm and trigger it."
"If Hex really is a hero of justice", Aiko claimed, "then he'll want to take down the Masked Circle too." Another avenue occurring to her, she chuckled. "I suppose we could always claim to be the Phantom Thieves. That would get his attention."
"Maybe", Mira allowed. "But we can't stay out late looking for him. We have a curfew. Ekuya-senpai won't let that slide."
"Birds don't have curfews", Ai reminded her before turning to Pelagio. "Sorry. I don't mean to keep putting so much on you. If we're lucky, you won't have to."
"It is no trouble", he vowed solemnly. "I will do anything to protect my captain... and our crew."
6/10 Monday
Afternoon
Deflecting a rapid lunge from Keta Rurichiyo and twisting it around into her own that nearly tagged his shoulder, Aiko allowed a tiny smile beneath her mesh.
Okay. Maybe I can go with this.
As usual, time had begun to heal the festering mental wound of everything relating to officer Makoto Nijima. More importantly, spending the last few days merely living her life as relatively normal had begun to soften her initial rejection of the idea of never going back to Faraway Lands.
Normal being a relative term here, she acknowledged as she saw Keta launch them both into a prolonged series of back and forth, one tinking foil pressing into the other until his left foot finally gave out, giving her the opening needed to land the next hit as well.
Signaling for a breather, the tall boy backed off to the wall and pulled his mask free, letting loose the kind of grateful breath that everyone in the class had come to expect from that action with how heavy the masked helmets felt after a few sessions.
'Everyone' meant a fair bit more now, even with Julian's exile. Three more students had signed up since then, exceeding the minimum requirement for the first time. With Kotone and Keta, this created the potential for three training pairs, though naturally these pairs were unequal. Keta was perhaps the only one who had kept up with Mr. Umaeda's strict lessons as well as her, but even he lacked the other advantage she'd been feeling the effects of lately.
Looking back, it was only natural. She'd originally helped to restart the fencing club partly out of a desire to gain sword training to fight Shadows. A previous schedule of going to the other world to fight Shadows alternating with these sessions made it clear that the opposite was also true. Experience fighting Shadows in Faraway Lands was also helping her to do better at the club.
Taking her own mesh helmet off felt as natural as summoning a Persona, and the outfit beneath it just as natural as the captain's greatcoat that appeared on her whenever she was there. This was always the most exciting class for her, the one she looked forward to, and even she had to confess that it was more than enough adrenaline rush for anyone who didn't have some kind of problem in that regard.
From the look on his sweating face, Keta felt the same way. "Man. Got me again, Tsuruga-chan. Either you practice way more often than you should, or you've got some kind of natural gift."
The praise made her cheeks feel warm, and she shook it off to focus on the real objective here. It was hard, though. "Thank you. You're very good too, Rurichiyo-senpai."
"I know", he smirked. "Too bad neither of us is good enough to land a hit on Umaeda-sensei yet. Maybe if we double-teamed him?"
"Maybe later", she joked back. White-bearded Mr. Umaeda was giving more attention to the other pairs these days, but she knew that he had been keeping an eye on their progress as well.
"Actually", Keta said, heavy gray eyes glancing over at Kotone's attempt at a riposte, "recently, he's been talking about a national tournament that's coming up soon. So don't be surprised if he wants you to try out, teacher's pet."
"Seriously? The nationals?"
The mere idea was too much flattery to bear for a moment. Once her head stopped spinning and she could think again, it could form a clear picture of what she thought it might be like. Some kind of stadium, crowds on every side, cheering us on...
It could all be an assumption though. Umaeda was only asking about it. He didn't say anything about putting his students in. You've only been doing this for two months, don't get ahead of yourself.
Besides, you've got more important things to deal with right now.
"Rurichiyo-senpai", she began timidly, not sure how fast to push. "I'd like to meet you somewhere in private after this, if it's okay."
Surprised by the request, the dark-haired boy took a moment to gaze back at Kotone, as if getting permission to proceed. "Sure, I'm free for a few hours. Got a science test to get ready for, but it can wait. We can meet at the shack."
She was very careful not to let it slip to any of the other members. Her friendly talk with Kotone afterwards was carefully kept away from anything to do wither brother Ryuken. Instead, for a change of pace it was her who brought the surprising news.
"Fushima-senpai came to me the other day at lunch", the ponytailed girl explained nervously. "She said she quit the SDC."
Which came as a surprise. Maika Fushima was a pale, elegant-seeming second-year student possessing a wide collection of fancy clothes that she wore in lieu of the school uniform whenever possible. She also had a habit of damaging the clothes or property of 'gaijin' students and claiming it was an accident. Later on, Ai had recognized her as one of Benihime Kujou's close friends.
So maybe Reiha was right. Maybe the cracks are starting to show.
"She said she wanted to speak to you, but your class schedules don't allow it." An amused grin crept onto her normally shy face. "I think she's just too embarrassed to apologize to you in person, Tsuruga-chan."
"Apologize?"
Kotone spread her arms as if it were obvious. "You know. For being so mean to you for the last two months. I'm pretty sure she's one of the ones who was posting all that awful stuff about you online. Rumor is, she had a falling out with Kujou-senpai. They're not on speaking terms any more."
"That...", she managed a breathy chuckle. "That's actually not bad. Maybe if I see her, I'll say hi."
There was of course, a part of her that wanted nothing to do with Fushima, or anyone else in the student disciplinary committee past or present. Certainly, the last two months had given her some better perspective with things far more fear-inducing than having a bunch of older, stronger students forcefully removing her student uniform in front of dozens of jeering onlookers, but it didn't diminish the outrage she'd felt at the time.
I remember. She was one of them too. She knew what she was doing was wrong and a serious violation of my personal privacy, and still she did it. She grabbed me. Yes, she was being ordered to do it and I know that peer pressure is a very strong thing... but she still did it. She and the others might have done something to humiliate me for the rest of my life if Pelagio hadn't swooped in. One more I owe him.
Fushima doesn't deserve forgiveness.
"Do you think she enjoys it?"
Coming out of left field, the question took Kotone by surprise. "Does she enjoy what?"
"What you just said." She felt her eyes narrowing into angry slits. "Posting disgusting lies about students online. Defacing their lockers when no one is looking." Knowing she wasn't exactly being clear, she shook her head. "I know that Sonoka seems to enjoy making other girls suffer humiliation. I've seen the smile on her face when she does it. And of course, it's all at Kujou's direction. Do you think she's like them?"
Kotone looked thoughtful. "No", she decided after a moment. "She looked really sad when she spoke to me. I haven't seen her smile in days. We're not always in the same classes, but still..."
"Then maybe I really will talk to her", Ai decided out loud. Assuming that I ever get the time to do that with everything else going on right now.
Attacking the Karma club would take precedence over making up with a former SDC member. So would the fencing club, her training with captain Byzael, learning recipes under Otogi at the Starlight diner, or any of the other friends she'd accumulated over the last two months. They were all more important than this.
So was Kotone, now that she thought about it.
"How are things going with Rurichiyo-senpai?"
She wasn't surprised in the long hesitation before the answer, or the way Kotone instinctively turned away before speaking. Most of the time, Kotone managed to be even more shy than Mira, only reluctantly opening up to a few people.
"...Alright. We went to a movie at the new theater in Honmachi."
"Honmachi", she repeated, remembering the various fliers that had been posted in Tenjincho mall to alert people about whatever new film was coming out there. The south end of the city had little else of note besides a few fish stores and restaurants, suggesting that the location had been chosen for price and not accessibility. Still, it had been managing to survive for almost three years now. "I'd like to go there some time."
Kotone's thin brows rose. "Really? It wasn't that great. There was just the one room, and it was only half full at best."
Aiko smiled eagerly. "Even better. Tokyo has dozens of huge movie theaters, but they're all so crowded that it's a pain to even move sometimes. I prefer being able to hear myself think. Maybe I'll go with-"
Just as politely amused by her own hesitation, Kotone watched her expectantly. "With Rosea-kun, right? That's who you were going to say, right?"
"...No." The denial sounded far too final to her ears, and she didn't even need to check to know there was color flushing into her cheeks. "Rosea-kun and I... we're still friends, but we both agreed to back off for a while. I was thinking... Vitienne-senpai."
"Vitienne-kun? Why?"
Because I want to talk for a while with someone who won't bring up what we're going to do about the Masked Circle or any part of my 'other' life. Just for a little while.
Of course, she couldn't say that. "Because I like him. I think he deserves someone who cares about him after what happened to Furusato-san."
"You don't think it's too soon?"
She made a brief show of considering that the way she had several weeks ago, relieved that she could at least count on Kotone not to accuse her of only liking foreign boys, or being too eager to 'change partners'.
"No. He's definitely doing better than he was a month ago. I think he's healed now. Or at least, enough that he won't mind someone being there with him." Pausing, she turned back to her friend. "Hey, when did this get to be about me anyway? I was asking about you."
As ever, the ponytailed girl remained the most open and honest student she knew, never reluctant to express her own opinions. "Because... for me, you're more interesting, Tsuruga-chan. You're so unlike anyone else I've met." She gestured around at the mat-covered room. "I mean, you're the reason the fencing club even exists."
"I got it started", she corrected urgently. "If anyone joined this club just so they can see me, I wish they wouldn't."
Kotone shifted uneasily. "Well, I joined because Rurichiyo-kun was interested. I'm not very good. Actually... I'm thinking of quitting."
"Quitting?" Her face fell. "Come on. You just need to practice more and you'll get the hang of it. We can have a session right-"
"No, that's fine", Kotone waved her down frantically. "It's just not something I'm interested in. Rurichiyo-kun likes it. I'm just... not strong enough."
Inevitably reminded of how Mirambela had been for their first few weeks together, Aiko sighed. Trying to push Kotone into something she didn't want to do was the last thing she wanted, but having her around had been enjoyable.
"What will you do then?"
She looked thoughtful. "I was thinking of trying the literature club instead."
Aiko frowned. "Really? I heard that one is pretty crazy. I'd offer to join with you so you'll have a friend, but I'm kind of busy. Besides... it's not really my thing."
"I know." Kotone smiled gratefully. "I wouldn't ask you to do something you would be bored by. And as I said, like it or not, you're the face of this fencing club. I think you should be happy that people are joining it because they're interested in you."
Tapping her mesh mask at the mention of 'face', she sighed. "Bleh. Maybe. I just didn't think I was that interesting."
"You are", Kotone practically beamed at her. "You really are, Tsuruga-chan. Compared to you, I'm the most boring girl in the world."
"C'mon. Don't be like that. Please." Holding her gaze no matter how it tried to slip away, she placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Trust me, there's a reason 'I hope you have an interesting life' is considered a curse in some places."
"Not in this place", Kotone argued back, eyes misted, her knotted ponytail hanging down. "I wish... I wish I could be interesting like you."
No, she thought. No, you really don't. While it was true that Kotone Samesaji could certainly be described as bland or generic sometimes, as well as being the shyest student Aiko had met at Koashimizu, she never had to fight a vicious monster made of flame that burned her to the touch. Never had to wake up to the accusing specter of Makoto Nijima. Never had to bear the weight of a team's well-being.
In this moment, the sense of envy felt quite mutual.
"We...", she muttered finally. "We all have our own different lives, and we choose what do with them. I think that might be partly why people sign up for clubs like this one. So they can stand out a little more from the crowd."
"And why we want to be friends with someone", Kotone said half-jestingly. "Until I was your friend, no one even looked at me. It was like I was invisible. Just wallpaper."
Aiko stared back, instantly concerned. Kotone's usual demeanor didn't exactly imply a physical or mental toughness. "And what about now? If Kujou's been doing anything mean to you, tell me and I'll straighten-"
"No, no", Kotone waved her down again. "No one's been doing anything bad to me. Promise."
Except for your brother, Aiko thought.
But for once, the younger of the Samesajis didn't seem quite so overcome with her misery over the acts of the elder. Instead, her round brown eyes were filled with admiration, even awe. "See? That's exactly what I mean. You're always like that with Sorano-chan too. Protective."
Protective, huh? Visions of Pelagio's early over-protectiveness were coming to mind, but Ai knew that wasn't what was intended. Look, just accept the compliment already. Geez.
"You're like another kid I knew from middle school", Kotone continued. "A boy who got into fights with bullies whenever they started picking on someone." Unable to handle direct eye contact any more, she closely studied the floor instead.
"Th-that's all I wanted to say. R-really. Whenever you're around, Tsuruga-chan, I feel safe. Like nothing bad can happen to me. I'm sure Sorano-chan feels the same, or anyone else here who the SDC bullies. They don't dare do it while you're around. That's why I..."
The warmth she felt wasn't quite the same as the kind she'd felt around Julian or Noel or Kohru. It was not as intense. But it was there. The subdued warmth of confidence, which, if only for a moment, made everything else that had been haunting her ever since the disastrous mission to the Karma club look trivial.
Maybe I can stay, Ai noted in a rare blissful moment free of logic. Maybe I can just quit on this whole Dream Voyager thing and just be a student. Be Aiko Tsuruga the Tokyo Bully-Hunter.
I like the sound of that. A lot.
A tiny, lopsided smile crept onto her face. Heh. No. Not in this lifetime.
"Thank you very much, Samesaji-chan. You've helped me, more than you think."
And I promise you... I will save your brother from whatever hold Lady Scorpio has on him.
The squat half-finished building which at some point had picked up the nickname of 'the shack' was cleaner inside than Aiko expected, considering its origins. It had been constructed alongside Koashimizu academy's ill-fated attempt at a pool to act as a separate storage and changing area. Though no lockers had ever been installed, the hollowed spaces where they would have gone were easily recognizable, and the shower tiling had actually been nearly completed before the project was shut down.
"What a waste", she remarked to Keta Rurichiyo as she spotted him coming around the entryway, hoping that this talk would be as productive as the one with Kotone had been.
"You're preaching to the choir, Tsuruga-chan", the tall third-year boy she'd first met in detention agreed before taking a seat on one of the completed benches. "I actually tried putting forward a motion to finish it when I was a first-year, but I never got anywhere. As if the powers that be at this school would listen to a mouthy first-year."
Taking a moment to consider how much of that comment was ironically referring to her instead of Keta's past self, she studied the square metal frames that should have contained mirrors. "I think Yumika-sensei would finish it if he could."
Sitting down at a fair distance, he nodded. "I'll give him that. He even told me why, though I didn't quite get it at the time. Funding. Always funding. That's the number one worry of a principal, these days. He told me that over the last five years, schools across Japan- across the world, mostly- have been losing funding."
The idea made as little sense to Aiko as it had the younger Keta as well. "How come?"
He shrugged helplessly. "The government decides, of course. If they need some funding for some other project, then it has to be cut somewhere else, or else they have to increase taxes, which of course everyone hates." Knocking a fist against the wooden locker frames, he emitted a sad laugh. "Unfortunately, education is one of the things they can cut back on."
"It sounds like you've been studying it", Ai observed quietly.
"My dad is a junior school teacher", he explained, sounding apologetic for his rant. "He makes sure not to watch the news any more, because damn near everything he sees on it pisses him off... and he's already got some heart trouble going on."
"I'm sorry."
He made a dismissive look and pounded one fist threateningly into his palm. "Why? You're not in the Diet. Although if you're actually prime minister Tamagami in disguise, well done there, really."
Laughing in tension-venting relief, she studied the older boy's tall body, quickly finding the bruise marks which had caught her eye when they had first met. "Sorry, no. Maybe Kujou is him in disguise?"
Chuckling back, he relaxed his arms. "Makes sense. He gets tons of support from the JCAP voting block after all. He's the one who passed that law reducing minimum wage for non-natives."
Sensing the cold ire in his voice despite the fact that Keta and his family were native Japanese, she flashed back to the handful of times she had seen Abe Tamagami on television. An older-looking man who never tried to hide it, but also possessed of a certain dignity when he spoke that few other politicians held, managing to come across as modest yet urgent.
Remembering what Akira had told her, she leaned back cautiously. "Still... he's better than Masayoshi Shido would have been."
"Yes. He's better than Shido", Keta agreed reluctantly. "It's just a shame that we have to settle for 'better than Shido'. You can still get elected and pass unfair laws, strip funding out of schools and blame other people for it, just so long as you're better than a fucking criminal mastermind who molests women in his spare time." Throwing his hands up, his smile took on a morose angle. "What a world, eh?"
"Yeah", she second noncommittally. If you only knew... or, maybe you already do? "Some world."
Standing up off the bench and stretching as seemed to be his habit, he smiled as he felt tension release. "Look at us though. Sitting here in the shack and condemning the government like a couple of sour old adults who only know how to complain. Geez. Maybe I've been hanging around my father too long."
"Senpai", she started suddenly, knowing that delays only increased the likelihood that she would never ask at all. "Sorry if I seem forward, but..."
"Go ahead", he encouraged. "I like forward."
Wishing his words made her throat less tight, she went for it. "I know this sounds crazy, but I have to ask... Are you Hex?"
Unsurprisingly, he looked stunned by the idea, then immersed in a slowly-building blast of laughter. "Really? Seriously, Tsuruga? You're asking that? This isn't some kind of prank or something. You actually think that I'm a masked vigilante."
She took too long to think of her reply, and Keta laughed again. "Yeah, okay, you win. I'm totally Hex. I'm gonna go out tonight and beat up more criminals, or just people who are out past midnight."
She stared. "Really?"
"No, you idiot. I was joking."
Remaining perfectly calm, she gazed back at his grin. "Seriously. I know. The thing is, you're always covered in those bruises. Which you have always refused to tell me or anyone else the reason for. And you're always getting detention for oversleeping and being late to class. And you've got enough muscle on you-"
Raising a hand to cut her off, Keta shook his head. "Okay, stop. Huh. I guess when you put it that way, it does kind of sound suspicious. That is, if you assumed that Tosashimizu was nothing except this school campus."
Lacking a window to demonstrate his point, he brought his phone out instead, quickly bringing up a map of the Kochi prefecture. "I can't see my house from here", he joked. "But I think you can see just how many other people there are in Tosashimizu. How many full-grown adult males, who are much more likely candidates to be Hex than me."
"You're right", Aiko retreated, knowing that even if she didn't believe him, there wasn't any way to push it farther. "It's silly. I just thought..."
"No worries", he said, looking a bit prideful at the notion now. "Hex is probably just some guy inspired by the Phantom Thieves. Which I can respect. I just have to wonder sometimes about what they're hoping to achieve, besides putting a lot of young guys in the hospital."
The hospital, she realized with a shock. She'd seen a few other patients when visiting Makoto, but never put two and two together and realized that some of them might be victims of Hex.
"Answer this then", she said patiently, pulling out a scrap of paper which felt like carrying around a loaded gun now. "When I asked you before about this number, you said you didn't know anything. Is that still true?"
Studying the number on the paper, his eyes grew cold, betraying any lie he might attempt. "...Yeah. I know it now. That rumor's been going around campus lately. Call the Karma phone number, and they'll solve your problems for you. I guess you were one of their first picks."
"Or someone's first pick", she maintained. "Someone with connections to them, who thought I might want their help."
Angrily, he crumpled the paper. "Were they right?"
Happy to see that anger, she shook her head. "No. I don't need their help to deal with Kujou. Besides, it kinda sounds like a scam."
"Yeah, it does", he agreed disgustedly. "Next thing you know, they'll ask anyone who picks up to help them move money out of a Nigerian credit account or something." Looking for a moment like he was about to leave, he instead brought his hand down on some sort of beetle that had been crawling out of the locker hollows towards her, crushing it and earning a shudder in return.
"Thanks."
"No big", he said, instinctively turning towards the washroom area before remembering that the shack had no water running to it. "More importantly, why ask me? I hope you're not trying to reach out to Hex for help."
Momentarily freezing up as she decided how much could be shared with Keta, she waved her hand dismissively. "Not for Kujou. As I said, I chose to handle that myself."
"Good", he remarked, placated. "Hex might be inspired by the Phantom Thieves, but he hasn't proven his allegiance the way they have. For all we know, he could be a violent crook who just so happens to beat up other violent crooks for fun."
That comparison got Aiko thinking harder, but not about suspicions of Hex. For five seconds she waited. All the factors aligned, and she decided.
"Full confession? I was trying to let Hex know about the other problem we just talked about."
"About Minister Tamagami? I mean, I don't like him but I don't think he's a-"
"No. About the Karma phone number." It wasn't difficult to let her face slide into an expression of genuine, dire worry about that subject. "You're absolutely right. It is a scam. I know it's a scam because... because Rosea-kun fell for it."
Incredibly, he looked even more shocked than he had on her first question. "Holy shit. Seriously? That's why he disappeared for all that time?"
"He lost a lot of his parent's money to them", she explained, rapidly thinking ahead to anticipate any other gaps in the lie. "He was so ashamed that he'd been taken in by it, that he'd gotten scammed so badly, that he ran away from home. Even now, he was only willing to tell me the real reason."
Keta hit a bench even harder than he had the bug. "Wow. Sorry, I never knew. I always thought Rosea was just another athletic guy with his head buried in his own ass. I guess going through that explains why he's been different ever since he got back."
"Uh-huh", she nodded, focusing on the unfinished brick walls. "He told his parents, and they want to keep it a secret too. They- His father's too proud to let anyone else know how much money they lost."
"I guess he's the tree to Rosea's apple then", Keta remarked irritably. "They should go to the police about that, and get that phone line shut down before anyone else gets scammed."
Finally, something she hadn't anticipated. Fortunately, it was easy enough to adapt to. Keta's energy was all directed into rage towards the Karma club, not into picking apart her story. "Rosea-kun said he did that. The police said they would look into it."
"Great", Keta snarled. "Well if they can't shut that line down, I can at least spread the word and make sure nobody else makes Rosea's mistake. Yeesh. Poor guy. I'll make sure not to mention his name; he deserves that much at least."
"Thank you", she replied in relief that was, once more, not faked. "We'd appreciate that. Rosea-kun only told me that because I promised not to tell anyone else. If he found out..."
Nodded, Keta made a lip zipping motion. "Now I see why you wanted to talk to Hex. Between that phone line and all the other rumors, that club's into some shady stuff, for sure."
"Definitely", she agreed. "Unfortunately, I heard that the police already investigated them several times and found nothing wrong. Just some leftover equipment from the building's previous owner. So I thought-"
"You thought you would try to reach out to Hex for help", Keta finished, giving her an admiring look. "You really are a good friend, Tsuruga-chan. And I'm sorry that I'm not who you thought I was. I almost wish I was Hex now, so I could head on over at night and beat those bastards up."
"It's okay", she assured him, grateful to be done with the lie. For now anyway. "It's not your fault. I was just worried that someone else might..."
"Rosea isn't doing people any favors by staying quiet about it", Keta mused. "But I at least get why. Don't worry, I'll be careful. Maybe ask the student council if I can put up some notices in the hall about it. Although, that might backfire and make some students try it out just because we told them not to... hm..."
She let him continue mulling it over, trying to figure out a way to guarantee no one else would ever call Karma to solve their problems, or any other reason ever again.
AT: tried asking Rurichiyo about Hex. no luck
JR: ^^o
MS: i didn't think he would be
AT: i was hoping
JR: good try tho
JR: i'm kinda glad its not him
AT: but that means he might be a problem for us
MS: how come?
AT: i told you already that i was given the paper with the karma phone line on it back when i was in detention
JR: yeah lol
MS: it's not funny
MS: the school keeps records of that stuff
MS: i've managed to avoid ever being in detention
JR: :p
AT: ok, but listen
AT: that paper was slipped to me by someone who was in that class
AT: so that someone in that classroom wanted me to call the Karma line so that they could awaken my Persona
AT: someone who is working for the Masked Circle!
MS: ...oh
JR: shit
JR: ok
JR: you're right
JR: that's not funny
JR: shit
6/10 Monday
Evening
Staring down into his freshly empty glass, Akira adjusted his glasses and actively tried not to enjoy himself.
It felt like a betrayal to do that. Even if the Karma club was far beyond the dismal, run-down karaoke joints he knew from Yongen-Jaya. Instead, it called to mind a more sobered version of a certain Palace that had been on his mind lately. Jeweled chandeliers reflected rainbows of light around them and down among the crowds. Round tables cowled in velvet red provided for dozens of people, most of them adults in business garb, some of them wearing stylized black eye masks out of a desire to avoid being identified.
The people serving them had the same idea. They wore more substantial protection over their faces as they went around in fancy wait staff uniforms complete with fancy black bowties, but the real attraction lay on the stage at the center of the main hall, and it was there that a beautiful singer with high cheekbones and long wavy chestnut hair was holding people rapt. Not only with her voice, but movements as well, the way the club's multicolored lights played off the rapidly glittering body stocking she wore with each stretch.
Which in Akira's humble estimation, still wasn't as good as the punk-styled jazz band from last night, a true rarity in Tosashimizu or Japan in general. Whatever this place had going on behind the scenes, their chief manager had an eye for good entertainment. He'd thought that even before spotting the vents at the corners of the hall, exactly the way Aiko had described them.
Beyond the classy atmosphere that they tried to create, he wouldn't be at all surprised if a small, imperceptible dose of the club's 'special ingredient' from those vents could bring all sorts of buried emotions running to the surface of the average patron. A sudden bout of euphoria or a long lost memory, and their confusion would give way to attachment to the place which had caused those feelings, even if they had no idea how it had been done.
In fact, with a trained nose he'd experienced the former more than once since he'd chosen the far left corner table for his 'stakeout'. Sometimes he would be joined by others, but today he was alone.
And easily spotted.
He caught sight of Ryuken Samesaji long before he got to the table, of course. Identifying the features and strange horned mask of the chief manager had been one of Morgana's very first recon tasks. As before, the braided tails of his hair running down the collar of his dark green suit bore colors just as varied at the kaleidoscopic lights of his club, with the rest of it a clean midnight black. A tiny metal spiral hung down from his left ear, jingling as he walked.
More alarmingly, he had enough muscle visible beneath that fancy dinner attire to count as a bouncer if need be. Lifting his horned bull mask free revealed an extremely handsome face that didn't look that far away from being a dead ringer for his old friend Yusuke Kitagawa.
Of course, Yusuke rarely ever expressed animated confidence through his face so openly either. Neither did he ever wear this sort of classy business attire, or a single earring.
There was no chance to escape, Akira realized in steadily-mounting fear. The path going back to the main entrance went right through Samesaji's route of approach, and it was far too late to hide out in the men's room. He had hoped the least-used corner table in the hall would hide him, but now the young man was taking the seat beside Akira as casually as if he'd just stepped out for a break.
"Hey there. You look lonely. Figure you could use some company."
"I-I'm fine", he stammered, still trying to calculate exactly how much 'Prince Taurus' knew about him already. "And sorry to disappoint you, but I don't swing that way.
Especially not with a man who might be an insane criminal. Who might have been the one who hurt Nijima-san.
Samesaji doubled over in wholesome-seeming laughter nearly enough to override the energetic singer onstage for a moment. "Ha. Fair enough. I see all sorts of people come to visit us for our shows, but rarely do I see someone come here alone. Especially two nights in a row."
Damn. So he did spot me right from the start. Just have to hope they haven't seen Morgana too.
He shrugged innocently. "Your band impressed me. What're they called again? Mahayogi?"
"Mu-Jogi", Samesaji said, expression just as carefully neutral. "They play here again on Friday nights too, if you're interested. Good way to close out the week."
"I'll keep that in mind. Gotta say though, your singers aren't nearly as good. I think I'll be going now."
Then he felt the iron claw gripping his shoulder as he tried to stand up, and knew he was in trouble.
Samesaji's expression was, if anything, more friendly than before. "Heeey, slow down there, buddy. If you say to my face that Ayasha-san isn't that good, then maybe you can do better? After all, as swanky as we try to pretend to be here, it's not too often that we have a real celebrity among us... Akira Kurusu."
Yep. Definitely up to my neck in it again.
Problem is, back then I could call for someone to bail me out. But Morgana's busy.
Improvise.
"I'm... not really sure what you mean by celebrity", he tried, moving his glasses to block his eyes with the light. "I'm just a teacher. Not even that; I'm not done my college courses yet."
The young man's grin widened into something more at home on a predatory beast. "Oh, but you're so much more than that, aren't you? I know major talent when I see it. Those singers you insulted? I picked 'em. Taught 'em the business and how to work the crowd. You, though... You've got some hidden talents of your own, right? Why else would a college student skip school to come all the way down here from the big city of Tokyo?"
"...I'm visiting a friend. A friend who was recently injured."
"I see", Samesaji acknowledged the excuse, sounding genuinely sympathetic before immediately returning focus to his 'prey'. "So. What's your name?"
"Akira."
The manager rolled his eyes. To anyone who glanced at their booth, it would look like they were just two old friends catching up, and nearly the same age to boot. "No, no, no. What's your name, Akira?"
Damn it. No way out. No point in hiding it any more if they already know.
Akira sighed heavily, tenderly forcing down the last dregs of his drink to buy more time. If it were poisoned, he would have already felt the effects by now. "...Joker."
Instantly, Samesaji looked happier, actually offering him a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Joker. I'm Prince Taurus."
Moving his other arm out in a gesture towards the stage, he nodded expectantly. "And if you think Ayasha-san's not reaching the people's hearts tonight, then why don't we turn up the juice and show 'em what we can do instead when she's done her number?"
Leaning back into the seat cushion, Akira blinked. Blinked again, hoping that doing so would let him comprehend if the other young man's offer was serious or not.
"Unbelievable. You actually mean that, don't you? You actually want the two of us to go up onstage right now and summon our Personas in front of everyone."
"And fight", Samesaji corrected him happily. "Can't forget my favorite part. Or if you're too chicken to fight me, we could release some some Shadow trash onto the stage and destroy them together. We could give these people a show that they'd never forget the rest of their lives. What do you think?"
"I think it's a miracle you haven't been discovered yet if that's your attitude", Akira scowled.
"No need to worry", Samesaji assured him cheerfully. "Thanks to the Veil, these idiots can't even comprehend it. All they would see is special effects around the two of us. And we're only venting in a tiny portion of our psych-juice right now. Our powers would be reduced to a fraction of their true potential in this room."
Looking back into that terribly eager grin, Akira forced his own smile on to hide the revulsion he felt welling up inside. "I suppose if they get hurt, they'll chalk that up to special effects too then?"
"Nah. More like illnesses. Heart attacks and stuff like that. So... how about it, Joker?"
It was, in many ways, a new kind of experience for him. All of the Palace rulers which Akira Kurusu faced long ago had been Shadows. Their madness, that insatiable hunger was easy to see in their faces the moment he looked at them, into the burning yellow coals that served them for eyes, the unhinged slasher smiles that showed nothing but teeth. Moreover, they had all been older than him.
But this one was only two years older than he was. Not a Shadow either, but a human. And even now, he felt like the adult laying down the law on him as he spoke.
"Enough playing around. My name isn't Joker", Akira stared into him coldly. "And your name isn't Prince Taurus. Your name is Ryuken Samesaji. You have a younger sister, Kotone Samesaji, who worries about you. Constantly."
Ryuken's unnerving grin faded just a bit, and he nodded, reaching up to touch his earring. Akira found it a relief, really, to see the man behave more like a human. "I know that. But... Ryuken Samesaji can't give her the life she deserves. He's weak. He can't be her hero. But Prince Taurus can."
Akira frowned, understanding despite himself. He hadn't lied to Mirambela. Certainly, there had been many times that hectic year when he had enjoyed being Joker more, times when he'd preferred the giddy thrill of heists in the Metaverse to his life in a frustrating, often oppressive-seeming real world. Everything associated with the code name, with the Phantom Thieves, could often cheer him up.
But there had never once been a time when he'd woken up in Sojiro's dusty attic in Yongen-jaya's early morning and not known who he was.
He knew who he was. Now, more than ever. He was Akira Kurusu, college student. Being Joker was just a temporary escape, and a tool to bring justice to criminals.
"Prince Taurus is a name that you made up to sound cool", he said firmly. "A second identity. But it's still you. Just a more aggressive you."
Eyes narrow, Samesaji drew back. "A stronger me. A me who doesn't let this cruel life push him around. You should talk to Lady Scorpio. I'm not completely sure, but, uh... I think that she actually managed to get rid of her weak self."
Akira grimaced. After weeks of digging, Futaba had been able to find some actual solid information on the club's supposed hostess, but not as much as he would have wanted.
What she had found was more than enough.
"Oh yes", he drawled. "I can totally see how great it is to always hide your face behind a mirrored geisha mask and kimono, and becoming a Hikikomori." For Futaba, this point had hit particularly close to home.
"And look at you, leaving out all the upsides", Samesaji pointed out. "Come with me and see her. I think you'll be impressed, Joker."
Obvious trap is obvious. Of course he wanted Akira to go visit Lady Scorpio in private, and expose himself to the mind-warping powers of her Persona.
Perhaps Samesaji had assumed he'd be so eager to confront the person responsible for what had happened to Makoto that he would ignore that risk and assume he could take down anyone who got in his way.
Sensing an opening now that Samesaji had relaxed around him, he rose up out of the chair. "Sorry. Not interested. In her, or in anything else you have to offer. My dad warned me about going among mad people."
The other man's winsome features slid into disappointment tinged with anger. "Well. That's really too bad, Joker. I would've really liked having you working with us. But if you really want to stay as your weaker self, then I can't help you."
Staring down into his own now empty drink, he raised his hand to snap his fingers in a way that sounded strangely loud, even if Ayasha was now done her singing. In the time it took for Akira to analyze that, he sensed the warmth of others dangerously near to him, turning to see a pair of female wait staff. Their masks blotted out their eyes, making them look nearly identical.
"Please show Mr. Kurusu the way out", Samesaji commanded. "He's not to be allowed back in."
"Yes, Prince Taurus", one of them said, not exactly threatening but firm.
"Please come with us, Mr. Kurusu", the other commanded.
Another memory from the old days called back to very real life, and one that didn't need any of the Masked Circle's psycho-juice either. These two girls were much older and taller than Caroline and Justine, but the underlying suspicion that their 'inmate' might cause trouble, the ironclad commitment to having their commands obeyed, was exactly the same.
He could take them. At least, he thought so. They were younger than him and looked better trained as waitresses than enforcers. They also weren't insane like their boss was... at least not yet.
But what then? He would only manage to attract the attention of the crowd and the other staff, who would be all too happy to throw him out on the street... and likely not before posting the story to the media.
He could already see the headline: Drunken college student tossed out of nightclub for threatening owner, Expelled.
So for now, he had to go along with it, letting the two grab his arms as a show of dominance before politely leading him out of the hall, back into the foyer to pick up his coat, and then out the doors.
"Akira Kurusu is no longer welcome in here", Samesaji called to him, waving before passing out of sight, casually popping his horn mask back on. "But Joker is always welcome."
Then he was outside, free from all that light and noise, out in the darkness.
On cue, it began to rain.
Enemy Profile #10: Strigoii
Arcana: Emperor
Strength: Curse, Water
Weakness: Fire
Abilities: Eiha, Poison Breath, Dormina, Life Drain
Background: Troubled souls of the dead who rose from the grave and immortal vampires in Romanian lore. Certain Strigoii can actually be living humans who gained magical powers. The Strigoii have the ability to transform into an animal, invisibility, and the propensity to drain the vitality of their victims via blood loss. They are believed to have originated from ancient Dacian mythology, which casts the Strigoii as the evil and unworthy spirits of the dead that are not allowed into the Kingdom of Zalmoxis.
Persona Profile #6: Wild Bill
'At last, after thinking a heap about it, I came to the conclusion that I always did: that the boldest plan is the best, and safest.'
Arcana: Hanged Man
Strength: Fire
Weakness: Water, Ice
Abilities (So Far): Agi, Maragi, Agilao, Triple Down, Taruakaja, Gun Pleroma, Taunt
Background: A folk hero of the American old west known for his adventures across the frontier as both a lawman and an outlaw. Born in Illinois in 1837. Some contemporaneous reports of his exploits are known to be fictitious, but they remain the basis of much of his fame and reputation, along with his own stories. One aspect of his legend which has remained resolutely nonfictional is his skill as a professional gambler. The hand of cards which he supposedly held at the time of his death when he was shot in the back has become known as the 'dead man's hand'- two pairs of aces and eights.
A/N: Lots of references and a long-ish chapter. Next one will be shorter but I hope to have it done much faster. At least I finally got Julian/Jiachi some action and his code name. R&R please.