Hey there, Persona fandom! Sorry for the delay of this chapter, i seriously have no idea how i wanted to progress this part for a while, and a bit of block got me in the way, but after some time for brainstorm, i said to the hell with that excuses and come up with a chapter that I hope ended up being satisfactory after that small pause of mine. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much I liked to write it and have a nice day. Don't forget to RR and see you downway!
DISCLAIMER: Persona and the SMT series belongs to ATLUS and its respective writers.
Mirror World – Kagami High(?)
"Alright… KIPPOUSHI, SHOW HIM THE POWER OF A TRUE DEMON!"
[AYOW!] The massive black-clad samurai Persona laughed, stomping one foot onto the ground and practically making the entire arena tremble! Without losing a second, it reached for one of long-barrel muskets in its hips and fired against the Shadows, however, instead of a bullet, what came from within was a powerful gust of wind, which blew all those Pyro Jacks away and cleaned the stadium faster than any of us! For that show of power, Renji grinned!
"Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about! How about that, you freaks of nature!" He made a get'sum pose, one hand on his muscle as he flexed them as his Persona Kippoushi would continue to shoot and blow our enemies away! However, he was so engrossed in his manslaughter he didn't notice the Pyro Jack sneaking right behind him!
"Renji, watch out…!"
"Eh…?!"
*BANG! BANG! BANG!*
'He-hyoo~…!' But before any harm could befall him, out of the sudden a golden massive toy ship appeared from the shadows and riddled those pumpkin heads full of bullets, making them disappear in a dust of black matter! Descending from the skies, Lily-san tapped the brunette on the head and grunted a little, receiving the same response from him!
"Mind your back, young one! For the enemies are many, but don't be ignorant of our presence!" The little fox said, picking his kodachi with his little mouth and slashing the nearby shadows into nonexistence! Renji grunted but nodded anyway, turning to me to pass me a few pellet bullets!
"Jeez, I know this already, you little…! Ichika! Ammunition!" I nodded, picking some of his thrown ammunition to reload my toy revolver and give lead to those flying pixies around! I summoned Nero one more time and unleash the flames onto our enemies and like before the pixies disintegrated on the onslaught with the Pyro Jacks simply absorbed them!
"They seem to absorb Flame-skills! Disciple, another strategy is required to deal with those scoundrels!" Lily-san declared, the shell of his Persona opening small windows to peak within several cannons which aimed at those floating pumpkins and in a single barrage of cannonballs, destroy them all! "They seem to be weak to gun-skills, and physical attacks are an accessible alternative! Disciple, Lord Akabane!"
"I'm on it! Kippoushi! Snap them out!" Renji declare turning his attention to the Pyro Jacks, and branding one long-barrel musket on each hand, his Persona pulled the trigger of them and little by little those shadows would be pierced by a bullet faster than lightning and turn into dust! I can't let them do the whole work!
"Nero, Cleave!" I snap back, and like a crimson Tornado Nero flew all over the place, marks of claws branding every point and assaulting every shadow that was unfortunate enough to stand in its way! One of those Pyro Jacks however rang its lantern one more time and then blew flames against Renji again! Oh no! "Renji! Nero, defend Kippoushi!"
[HOYOW!] The red-clad Persona declared as it tossed itself against the upcoming flames and shielded the black-armored Persona with its body! I could feel a ting of pain as the flames covered my Persona and then dissipated on air! The Pyro Jack rang its lantern again, but it was too late for it!
"Eat lead, damned Shadow!" Lily-san screamed mounting on his Persona again, and before it could react Jason pierced a bullet right on its nape, making the Pyro Jack moan one last regretful 'hee-ho', before disappearing. In the end, the gym was completely clean of smaller shadows, only me, Lily-san, Renji and Shadow Fujitaka remained, and so we all turned to the latter, who was looking at us with such vicious yet hesitant eyes!
"Looks like those goonies of yours weren't all that, eh! Who's the maggot now, asshole?!" Renji laughed, branding his new scythe and twirling it between his fingers. In response, Shadow Fujitaka grit his teeth and pointed his arm-blade towards us, taking his time to breathe and then charge at us!
"You little maggots… THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!" He screams as his skin turns in a bright red and demon-like tattoos spread across his body, running at full speed against us! Renji ripped the air in front of him and summoned his Persona, Kippoushi aiming at the shadow and quick-drawing a gust of wind against it! However, Shadow Fujitaka was fast enough to dodge the small tornado and still run towards us!
"No way, he dodge it?!" Renji spoke in an incredulous voice, Kippoushi still shooting yet Shadow Fujitaka would side-step from one side to another, dodging all of the windy assault until it was close enough to lock Kippoushi in a bearhug, Renji feeling it first hand since he let out a small cough and held his throat like he was choking! "Ubwah…! What the hell…?! K-Kippoushi…!"
"Not good! Nero!" I summon Nero one more time and as fast as it could, the father of abominations charged against the locked duo and slashed his fingers across Fujitaka's arm, only to have no reaction and my Persona to be kicked away by the mighty foot of Shadow Fujitaka! The blow reflected on me, and I felt a massive punch in the gut, making all the air be expelled from my mouth as I coughed a bit of saliva and bile! That one… Was nasty! "S-Shit…!"
"No good, the shadow went berserk! His intelligence might have descended, but all of his other stats went overdrive!" Lily-san declared, a small cannon popping from besides the plastic soldier on his Persona and he positioned himself behind it to peek an eye in the aim and grit his teeth. In the end, he let out a frustrated grunt! "No good, Jason cannot aim properly with Renji's Persona in the way, and even if we do, we won't be able to graze his bulletproof skin!"
"GAAAAAAAH…!" Renji screamed as the bearhug from Shadow Fujitaka grew tighter and stronger, reflecting as he spat a bit of blood, but I could see from his expression he was in great pain! Damn it, I gotta do something, Renji is in great danger, and if I don't do something…!
"Nero! Cleave Shadow Fujitaka again!" I summon Nero once again, his fingers running wild and trying its best to do some, any, damage against Shadow Fujitaka! However, they were not enough, it would only graze and leave small scratch marks, but the shadow man wouldn't let go for nothing! In the end, Shadow Fujitaka headbutted my Persona away and I came away flying to the edge of the gym, away from the others!
"Disciple!" I hear Lily-san scream for me, but I was already too far to hear anything and my head can't stop spinning… Damn it, am I going to lose…? I hear Renji choking and Lily-san gasping for air, yet I can't move at all… Damn it… C'mon Ichika… Think… Think of something… Do something… Or else…Or else…!
…
'I am thou… Thou art I… From the sea of thy soul I cometh… You've freed me from the shackles of malice and harm… For I am a shadow no more… But a figment of humankind's spirit. Let me assist you in a moment of distress… Call me forth, and let's go!'
"Huh…?" I put a hand next to my ear as they start to stop ringing. Wait a minute, am I hallucinating? I can hear a voice so far away, yet so near me. I blink once, twice, and then I hear glass shattering once again.
I look forward, and I notice that a flame on my hand, on my butterfly knife. This feeling, I feel a certain known, yet mysterious coming from it… I can hear something… I don't know why, but I just know… This power… Is completely new, but it feels like… I had it for the longest time… I close my eyes, and I see… A card with the image of a magician on it with the number I… I… I know… What I should do! I grip my knife tighly, aim it against the shadow in front of me and then…!
*CRASH!*
"Jack Frost, Lucky Punch!" I screamed as I cut the air in front of me, but unlike other times, it wasn't Nero who was summoned, but instead that little caricaturized snowman with blue beanie and boots and ever-present black grin! No, wait… I know its name… It's Jack Frost! Yeah! Its name its Jack Frost!
[HEE-HO!] The little snowman smiled devilishly, rotating one of its arm like a child as it flew to Shadow Fujitaka's direction! He couldn't even react, Jack frost landed a very painful-looking punch to his snot, making the shadow fall backwards while letting go of Renji's Persona! He finally let out a relieved gasp and fell on his knees, hands on his throat!
"Renji! You okay?!" I said as I stood up and ran as fast as I could to his side, where Lily-san was also taking his time to look at the brunette. He had a bruise on his throat and he was coughing nonstop, but since he could stand up and crack his neck a few times, I can assume he's okay in the least.
"Y-Yeah. Bastard almost crushed my throat but I'm okay…" He coughs a bit more, and after a few more he gulps a hard one one last time and turn to me, only to gasp and almost have another fit of coughs when he saw the Jack Frost next to me. "W-Whoa, dude! Watch out, that shadow from yesterday is right behind you!"
"Huh…? Ah, no worries. I mean, I know it looks like it, but this is… A completely different being." I said, pointing a thumb to the snowman behind me who was making faces to Renji's own distressed one. He looked at me, then at it, back at me with disbelief. Lily-san landed next to me and looked also at Jack Frost then at me. "I mean, I think you can say its another Persona of mine… I think?"
"Incredible… It seems you can also use other Personas." The fox declared, also being impressed yet scared of my second Persona. Wait, is this something that special? *TUM!*, all doubts or questions were muted as we heard another thunderous stomp that shook the gym from its foundations and looked to the direction it came from. Shadow Fujitaka was up once again, and was as furious as before! "We deal those matters later! We shall get rid of that shadow first!"
"On it!" Renji said, Kippoushi back to his possession. The berserker shadow grunted animalistically and charged once again at us, and so Kippoushi unleashed yet another shot against it, only for Shadow Fujitaka to side-step it and dodge it completely! "Tch, so damn annoying! If only he could stay in place…!"
"I doubt he would give himself in such disadvantageous position! Continue to shoot, Lord Akabane! He seems to be weak or at least vulnerable to wind!" Lily-san declared as it showered the shadow with bullets, in a futile attempt to stop it or slow it down for Renji to blow it away, up to no use since it would simply dodge those hits away! If only he could stop for a second for Renji to blow him away… Wait!
"Renji, try again! Use Kippoushi to shoot it again!" I commanded, turning to my Jack Frost and nodding to it. Renji turns to me with disbelieving eyes, but I give him a confidant look, and so he grinned and made a sign with his scythe!
"Fine then! I'm counting on you, Ichika!" he screams, turning back to Shadow Fujitaka! I also turn to him, flip my knife between my fingers and turn to him! "Kippoushi, Garu!"
'USELESS! PRACTICE MORE AND SURPASS THIS, YOU MAGGO-…!' Shadow Fujitaka declared with another side-step as Renji's persona was about to pull the trigger! However, before he could do such…!
"jack Frost, now! Bufu!"
[HEE-HO!] The Jack Frost lifted a finger and touched the arena's ground! In just an instant, the entire gym floor was covered by a thin layer of ice which spread all over it, reaching the feet of the Shadow! As I was expecting: the moment it reached Shadow Fujitaka, it froze him to the ground, and he was not able to move from that spot!
'W-WHAT THE HELL…?! I'M STUCK…!' The shadow declared with a scream, trying but failing to set himself free from the ice prison, but it was too late as Kippoushi pulled the trigger on his musket and unleashed from within a massive gust of wind! The green tornado was strong, almost too strong, since it blew the shadow away up in the air, practically tossing it in the air like a ragdoll! Lily-san turned to the airborne Shadow Fujitaka and aimed his Persona at it!
"Now, young ones! Unleash your full force while he is vulnerable!" He screams, and in no time Jason was flying at full force against the flying vulnerable Shadow, tackling it very painfully in the ribs as it spat black goo! Renji and I nodded to each other and summoned our respective personas to also attack it! I close my eyes… I hear the sound of shattering glass… I see the card of the Fool Number 0 and…!
"Kippoushi, Cleave!"
"Nero, slash him!"
[AYOW!]
[ORYAH!]
*SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!*
'U-UUUUUUGGHHHH…!' The shadow silently screamed between his teeth, his body covered in dark wounds and burning marks with the barrage of slashes and hits from our respective personas! So painful, so quick, it didn't even have time to react as he came down crashing on the floor, making the entire gym tremble with the impact! He even tried to stand up, but even for a shadow, that barrage must've drained most of his strength. He can barely stand now!
"Okay, young ones! Follow me! It's time for an ALL-OUT-ATTACK!" The little fox between us said with a voice full of determination and fury, picking his kodachi again with his teeth and running towards the fallen shadow!
"A what now…?!" Renji asked what I was about to, but also branding his weapon and running towards the shadow like me! Lily-san only winked at us and turned his attention to Shadow Fujitaka!
"Just follow my lead and unleash your better judgement!" He commands, and so we all only nod to each other and branding our weapons, we jump onto the dizzied Shadow!
Suddenly, all the scenario turns dark, only white shadows dance in the contrasting monochromatic world! From side to side, slashes, dancing blades, wandering attacks flying at blinding speeds, gushes of blood emerge from the silhouette in the middle, the form of our fallen enemy! I cut once, twice, Lily-san slashes a million times, in the end Renji's shadow appear above all else and, like a true grim reaper, descend the coup de grace from the blade of his scythe in one smooth swift cut, painting the entire scenario in white as colors return to the world and he lands on the floor, twirling his scythe between his fingers until he supports the handle on his shoulder and smiles!
"Well, Fujitaka… YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW, ASSHAT!" He says as the shadow turns to dust.
And so, the rest is silence!
…
"Not bad if I say so myself, boys." The little fox declares, tossing his sword up the air and putting it back on the sheath by his back, reaching one of its paws to scratch his ears a little. Since it's all over, I can relax now, so I bend over a little to support myself on my knees and catch my breath. I don't know how we did it, but we did, and its finally over. "Honestly, I have underestimated your stamina and determination in here. But again, this is the world where the fantastic takes shape, since it's the mirror to the heart of the human world."
"I don't get what you're saying, but if you're saying that we did something very badass then yeah, I agree." Renji says, cracking his knuckles a few times and using his handle to support himself. I guess he's pretty beat as well, I felt tired too when I summoned my Persona for the first time. He gasps for air, takes a deep breath and gives me a thumb up. "Now I won't be the only lame one from us, that's nice, heh?"
"You're too far from being the lame one, Renji." I nod to him, picking him up from his stand and supporting him by offering a shoulder. He tries to play the tough guy, but I can see from here he's struggling to even keep his eyes open. Lily-san summons his Persona one more time and out of the sudden Renji gets covered in sparkles of light. Before we know it, he could stand up tall and fine, stretching himself a bit and looking at his eyes in pure surprise.
"Dia. It's a healing spell, but it'll only make the pain and bruises go away. Fatigue and stress are up to you, Lord Akabane." Lily-san nods at us. I see, so Persona are not just for defense or attack.
"I see, I see. Thanks a lot, Lily. I owe you one." Renji smiles and kneels down to the fox with a fist extended. Lily-san looked at it for a while, looked at him, back at the fist, then to me. I nodded, and the fox then let out a smiling sigh and responded with a paw in a fist-bump. Renji turns to me. "Nice, nice. I think we're doing pretty good! Now that I also got this power, to find Class Rep will be a piece of cake."
"Yeah…" I nod. However, a shiver runs down my spine and all of my senses go overdrive. I turn to Lily-san and he responded with every string of his fur up, turning to me and then to behind us, where the source of that feeling was coming! From the black dust of defeat, we saw a figure stand up on the floor of the arena, a foul aura emanating from it as that part of the gym was turning black once again. "Oh no. He is still fighting…"
"Oh my God… How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?!" Renji groans back, cracking his knuckles and picking his scythe from the floor, the bluish fiery aura emitting from him saying the healing magic worked and he's ready for another try. I also pick my own knife and was ready to summon either one of my personas to defend myself, but the small auburn fox stood right in front of us.
"Wait a moment, young ones. This Shadow… He's hostile no more." The small fox declares, and so we turn our eyes from him to the shadow which was still on the floor… Only for it to turn to us with those golden eyes and smile. That expression puzzled us to no end, and to make things worse, it began to speak, not scream, speak, in a calm, almost melancholic tone…
'I see… So this is how it is… Hahah… You got me, Akabane… Maybe… Maybe I'm really the maggot…' He says in a calm voice, and Renji, who was so far so negative and confrontational, seems hesitant to even act. The shadow lowered his head, nodded to himself and sighed. 'Oh… Maybe I'm really the weak one… If I were worth something… Maybe if I were a better coach, maybe… Oh, I'm so sorry, Suguru-chan…'
"…?" I tilted my head to a side. What's he talking about? Suddenly, the feeling in my spine tenfold out, and I feel a presence so malevolent I couldn't help but to tremble. I look forward to the exit of the gym-arena, and shadows start to crawl from it, spreading their darkness everywhere and consuming the lights in their wake!
"Curses! The shadows noticed us! Quick, young ones, we shall retreat for now!" The fox commanded taking its way from the nearest exit.
"Wait, I can still…!" Renji tried to protest, but one step and he already kneeled on the floor again, gasping for air and struggling to stand. Yeah, no, he's in no condition to continue fighting! Picking him by the arm to support his stance, we followed Lily-san to the nearest exit, leaving behind a defeated Shadow Fujitaka while escaping the growing darkness of other Shadows…
…
"Man, that was close. Even with our Personas, I don't think we would be able to defeat all of those shadows…" I sighed once away from danger. Now, Renji, Lily-san and I were in a safe place near the gym building of the mirror world's version of Kagami high, in a dumpster from where we originally entered the real school. Once I put Renji down, however, he was deep in thoughts, thinking really hard about something. "Hey, Renji… Are you okay? You're awfully quiet right now…"
"That… Shadow Fujitaka… He seemed regretful for some reason." He ponders to himself, hands on chin and taking a small sigh to himself, looking back at us. "I mean, I know that is just his shadow and stuff… But that should be, like, his reflection or something about how people see him… Right?"
"While oversimplified, that is correct, lord Akabane." Lily-san entered our talk. "That is the result of the collected unconsciousness of the one known as Fujitaka back in your world. All views, rumors, distortions of image, that is the amalgamation of all those factors possessed by a Shadow. They have no real emotions or though, simply mimicking those from the source of its origins."
"Huh, so are you telling me someone thinks he's a mopey regretful guy who cries a lot? Not likely." Renji chuckles and waves a hand dismissively, but I can see that he's still pondering those thoughts a lot. "I know the guy since last year, and from all the rumors I heard he has been like that for a while. Beating people for no reason and calling everyone a maggot, there's no way someone in our school sees him like that!"
"I just know what I know, lord Akabane. You take your own conclusions." Lily-san finished his observation, while I remained with my own. I mean, from the few times I encountered him, I can say Fujitaka-sensei doesn't look like the guy who would have that fame or even some fans, but then again, Lily-san did say that image is a reflection of what all the school thinks of him. What if…
"What if… That side of him… Comes from Fujitaka-sensei himself?" I observed, and Renji, who has been laughing to himself for a while, paused and looked a bit somber. The gloomy aura surrounding us grows colder, but in the end, Renji sighs and shakes his head to get rid of those thoughts, giving me a thumb up.
"Aw, the good thing is that we escaped without a hitch, and I've got a new manpower to deal with whatever is holding Class Rep captive! This will be a piece of cake from now on!" He smiles and fakes a pose of determination; I can see in his eyes. However, he let out a sincere sigh of exhaustion and supported himself on a wall. "But man, I'm beat. No wonder you couldn't stand the first time you summoned Nero, this Persona thing is tiring."
"Indeed. I'm glad we found another important asset in our shadow battle in Lord Akabane, but to engage in battle as such in that state would be madness. I suggest we regroup and rethink our plan some other time." Lily-san says with a nod. Yeah, we need to think about the safety of our group as well. We might be forcing to save Ishigami-san, but going headfirst is a bad idea, even so in this state.
"You said it, Lily. Now, to go back to our world." Renji says, turning to a mirror that has been facing us, supported on the outer gate of the school. He reached for it, knocked it a few times with his knuckles and we saw that same ripple effect on its surface. "It would be risky for us to go back from that same mirror back in the building. Not only the way is filled with shadows, but I bet the real Fujitaka is scanning the place for us… Hey, you think we can use this mirror to enter this world from now on?"
"I can't see why not. I suspect yes." I said, and to confirm that theory I kicked the sheens of that mirror to break it through. Just like that other mirror, the surface shattered itself, but instead of breaking itself apart, it showed from the other side a portal leading to a brighter, warmer side. I see, so we can use this mirror to enter this world too. I guess this will be our meeting spot from now on.
"Sweet, it worked." Renji declares and he finishes the job, kicking the door a few more times until it 'opened' a vortex big enough for us to pass through. Good thing it was one of those large closet mirrors. Turning to Lily-san, the brunette grinned and said those before jumping to the other side. "This place is a nice spot as our meeting point! I'll go on ahead and see if there's no one around!"
"Got it." I nodded, and there he went to the other side of the Mirror World, leaving only me and Lily-san here. A few seconds, later, I hear Renji signals that the area was clear, and so I broke a few more shards off that mirror and turned to Lily-san. "Well, goodbye and thank you for your help again, Lily-san. I hope we can work together to the end of this cas-…"
"Young disciple… You are able to summon more than one Persona. How is that possible?" But before I could finish my sentence, he cut me down with such question, his eyes shining bright and intense, making me gasp in surprise a little. Wait, is that uncommon? I mean, I do remember that long-nosed gentleman saying that I had the potential of such, but… Is that so special?
"I… I honestly don't know. I'm sorry, Lily-san. Isn't that normal?" I lower my head in shame since I can't think of a more satisfactory answer, but that's all I have for that. The fox seems a bit disbelieved for a moment, but soon his eyes soften a little.
"I see. While I belief that too much power leads to pride and ruin, your display of courage and resolution for our group has enlighten me about your true nature. A good person you are, Ichika Amano, and I believe in both you and your better judgement regarding that power." He huffs pridefully, but I can sense a bit of comfort and trust from him too. I guess that he trusts me for now, and that's nice. I have no reason to lie, and he seems to believe me regardless how much we know about it each, so I couldn't help but to smile. "Please, do not make my assumptions grow false. This is a deal between men of honor."
"Yeah. Thanks, Lily-san." I nodded to his words of trust and encouragement.
I feel a faint link of trust between Lily-san and I.
*TING!*
…?
[I AM THOU, THOU ART I… THOU HAST ACQUIRED A NEW LINK OF TRUST…]
[IT SHALL GUIDE THEE ACROSS THE FAKE WORLD OF ILLUSIONS…]
[WITH THE BIRTH OF THE CHARRIOT ARCANA, THOU SHALT BE BLESSED WITH A NEW POWER.]
"Young Ichika, is something to matter? You seem… Pensive." The little fox snaps me back into reality, and I just shake my head negatively, falsely reassuring him about my current state of mind. That little voice inside my head once again, but this time, a different arcana, with a different person, well animal, too. I wonder if those are the Confidants Igor has been talking about lately?
"It's nothing. Well, take care Lily-san. Remember, this will be our meeting spot from now on, so hope for our return." I said to the fox.
"Gadly. Until we meet again, my disciple." He returns my greet, and with nothing else to say, we bid our goodbyes and I jumped into the vortex back to the real world…
…
…
4/11(20XX) – Tuesday (Cloudy) → Morning(Kagami High)
Quiz time for the time being!
You thought you would spend your entire schooltime dozing off? Not while Katase-sensei, the chalk sniper, is being your homeroom teacher! Jokes aside, can you answer this question, please?
There were many roman emperors throughout histories, some more famous than others, and some more infamous than others. One of those infamous ones, though, reigned between AD 37 and AD 41. The great-nephew of emperor Tiberius, he took the mantle of such after the latter's death in AD 37. His reign was showered in insanity, and all forms of myths surrounded him were created, including cases of incest, depravity, lunacy and madness abound. Do you know what figure I'm talking about?
Nero
Caligula
Marquis de Sade
Julius Caesar
If your answer is B, then you're correct! You have been paying attention to my classes after all!
Yes, Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, better known as Caligula (Little Boots) due to his habit of donning military garments as a child, was the predecessor of Emperor Tiberius. Although some of his tales are not confirmed, it is believed that he waged a war against the ocean and collected shells as booty, married a pregnant woman in order to not to wait for an heir and named his favorite horse as a consul. However, it is not without some good points was his reign: he also enacted public works like improvements to several harbors during the famine, which was fundamental for the increase of food imports, and expansion and upgrading of the roman road system and a revolutionary new major aquaducts until his death in 41 AD.
While infamous on his own, little did he would know about the atrocities of his successor and great-nephew: Nero.
Renji – Man, I guess even history can be hardcore sometimes!
…
…
Morning → Lunchtime(Kagami High)
"So, class rep didn't show up at all during classes. That's gotta be something about that… Shadow Class rep we saw this morning…"
"I have few reasons to doubt that." I question him back.
It's lunchtime, and in order to put our minds at ease and formulate a plan in our infiltration into the mirror world to save Ishigami-san Renji invited me to eat with him at the rooftop of Kagami high. Once we reached the highest place in the school, the otherwise deserted rooftop filled with broken chairs and seats and metal fences built on the brink of it to avoid students from jumping to their deaths, we started to talk about what transpired today. It was a completely normal day, if not by a minor but rather frightening detail: Miyu Ishigami, the class rep of class 2-D, didn't show up at all for classes. Even Katase-sensei seemed very frustrated and surprised she didn't show up, and everybody started to talk among themselves the reason as to why, none of them having any idea what truly is happening but me and Renji. Really, she has such a reputation around, it's scary…
"Y'know, after seeing everything from that point of view, I'm starting to feel kinda bad about class rep." Renji says, munching on his yakisoba bread and drinking another can of Red Bull. I give him a quick glance with a bite on my omelet. He seems a bit regretful. "I mean, if the reason she was kidnapped in the first place was because the shadow who took her was way too strong due to that cognition bull, maybe I'm the one to blame for that. I keep saying she's this and that, I ain't helping much in her case."
"Don't say that." I sigh. He looks at me in surprise, so I continued. "Remember what Lily-san said: a shadow got strong and became a Demon Lord because of what the entire school thinks of her, whatever is true or not, so maybe if you're really regretful, that might help her fight the control of her shadow."
"Uh… Huh. Yeah, I still don't get much of that shit…" He tilts his head downwards, but even so frowns his eyes and his orbs turn on in a burst of determination. "But I'm saying this now: when we save her, I'm going to say I'm sorry for all the things I said about her… And wait for her to apologize about ripping my Shounen Jump to pieces."
"…"
"What? It's not my fault the front page was about the cute ghost girl manga! I'm a healthy boy to think about that!" He whines a bit on my case, and for that I sigh, but let out a chuckle in his little display of childishness. I guess some levity is good for the mind, and once in the mirror World, that is essential for survival. Renji ceased his whining and called for my attention. "Speaking of ghosts, that Persona thing is amazing… But to acquire that… What the fox said, I had to make the real me to win against the other me. Like, to make the me me fight against and win the me that others think of me. Hey, was the same thing for you?"
"More or less." I responded. I don't know about his case, but mine was also far from pleasant. "I just remember a voice calling for me, calling me to fight against those shadows and reach a real me. Before I knew it, I could summon Nero and do his spells with no problem, although I was pretty beat afterwards."
"Oh, just like me, then." Renji concludes, supporting himself on the fence and taking another sip of his energy drink. "When that bastard Fujitaka got a hold of me, I dunno, I felt like I was being consumed, and voices started to call for me. They would call me a slacker, a good-for-nothing, a lazy bum who had nothing else to do besides scratch his ass or sleep through classes. And amidst them… there was the voice of my old man."
"…?"
"But, y'know, when they were shouting those, I heard your voice calling for me, and then I woke up and realized that, yeah, I am more than just those asshats call me. Like, it's not because I hate those lectures or Fujitaka's classes that I don't do anything else! It's not for them to determinate my worth or some bullshit!" He smiles to me, extending a fist for me, which I responded with a fistbump. He seems a lot happier now. "So, thanks man! You helped me lots today, so from now on, I got you back!"
"Yeah." I smiled at him too. I think I'm starting to get closer to him a bit more. A small blue flahs crosses my eyes, and I saw the card of a magician rolling around until it blinked back to nothingness. That sign again, what those mean? When I snapped back to reality, I saw Renji turn to the horizon with a determined look.
"I got my persona, but for that, I had to fight those voices and their mean words. I'm used to them and they mean shit for me… But for class rep… She has been lifting so much bullshit from everyone, no wonder she got kidnapped by those shadows." He observed, and I realized what he's getting to: like Lily-san said, a process in which a shadow possesses a human vessel is the inverse of how one earns a persona, so that means Ishigami-san is getting brainwashed in the Shadow World and little by little breaking her mind until she becomes a husk of a person for a shadow inhabit. Just thinking about it is making my blood boil, those shadows… "Ichika, if class rep is getting that treatment since day one, then we need to kick her shadow's ass as soon as possible! Not just for the school, but for her!"
"Right." I nod back. Yeah, whatever bad blood they got before means little to nothing now, no one should suffer from that fate and become a shadow's puppet! She might have a reputation, and her shadow might reflect that being so cold and distant, but I have proof, I have witnessed another side of her, and I will make not only her shadow, but her see this! "Tomorrow, we begin operation 'Save Ishigami-san'. We should rest for now, prepare some stuff and then we attack. Lily-san will be ready too!"
"Hell yeah. Let's save Class r-… I mean, Ishigami, and kick her shadow's ass up to next week!" He declares, cracking his knuckles and opening a grin.
I can feel the sheer determination of our will combined, and with that, I'm sure we'll be able to save Ishigami-san!
*TING!*
…?
[I AM THOU, THOU ART I… THOU HAST ACQUIRED A NEW LINK OF TRUST…]
[IT SHALL GUIDE THEE ACROSS THE FAKE WORLD OF ILLUSIONS…]
[WITH THE BIRTH OF THE FOOL ARCANA, THOU SHALT BE BLESSED WITH A NEW POWER.]
That again? I don't know why this keep happening, but for some reason, I feel… Warm. I feel filled with determination too! So, those are the bonds Igor was talking about. Maybe they won't be so bad…
*SNAP! SNAP!*
"Hey! Do I hear chatting up there! You stupid maggots, didn't you hear the bell?! BACK TO YOUR CLASSES!"
"Ah, crap! Fujitaka found us! Run away, ichika!" And cutting all the determination, Renji could only run to the other exit as we hear the snaps from the wooden sword of Fujitaka-sensei. Oh crap, we were so concentrated about our plan, we didn't notice the bell ringing announcing the end of lunch! As fast as possible, we made our escape as Fujitaka-sensei almost caught us!
But regardless, tomorrow, our plan shall take flight! Ishigami-san, please wait just a little bit longer! We shall save you from your own falseness!
What are your thoughts? :3
Don't worry. I shall try to implement more elements of the story like other confidants and the likes, and I think we all know who shall be one of those, but for now, let's save Ishigami! Until next chapter!