Author's Note: So this is a big one. This is the longest chapter I have written and it could have been longer but I decided to split it out into two since this chapter was already beginning to get into another major subject of this story. So similar to the previous chapter, this chapter will get very dark including mentions of sexual abuse. However, this chapter in particular is fairly important for the future proceedings of this story. I hope you enjoy my glimpse into the psyche of Shiho Suzui "The Girl Persona 5 Forgot" and I hope you enjoy where this story is heading. Reviews always welcome.

~Noxmad

Shiho gripped her pillow tightly as she tried to calm down. The nightmares were always most prevalent in the spring as school started. Getting up and stumbling her way to the bathroom she turned on the light and stared at herself in the mirror as her breath returned to normal. Her hair down and disheveled. The face of the man who ruined her life imprinted in her mind, Shiho needed to try to get her mind off of her past. She turned the sink on and began to splash water on her face.

"Why did he have to choose me?" Shiho asked herself. However she knew all too well why she was chosen. "Because he wanted to use me to get to Ann." Shiho's blood began to boil. She did not want to be angry at Ann. Tears began building in her eyes as Shiho realized that she was beginning to hate Ann for what her existence took away. The worst part was the near radio silence that now existed between the two of them. Ann promised she would text and keep in touch to maintain their friendship. No, Ann failed her and that was the thing that stung Shiho the most. It seemed that Shima was the closest thing she had to a friend left now.

Speaking of which, Shima had missed school that day. The only person who talked to her about things that did not revolve around what had happened back , he never talked about his leg. She was morbidly curious about it but she did not ever ask about it for the reason she was thankful that he did not ask about her past. Yet there was something that was not satisfying about that kind of friendship. She needed a new topic.

The Mirror Game had been a topic of interest at school recently. Shiho looked down at the small clock in the family bathroom. It had been there since she came home when she was still more heavily reliant of medication. It was only 11:43. But didn't you need to play the game on a Sunday? Why would that be such a concrete condition of the game? Has anyone tried it on a different day?

"Well, I am awake already," Shiho commented. It could be fun to see your soulmate. According to some of the girls in class it seems to work, so they claim. Though there was a point of dispute then one girl saw member of a popular boy band. Did Shiho really want to see someone? Who? Shiho was slightly lost in thought.

Looking at the clock, it was now 11:59. All you had to do was stand in front of a mirror with a hand up and pressed against it. Then say your name 3 times. 12:00AM

"Shiho Suzui, Shiho Suzui, Shiho Suzui."

1...2...3… nothing happened.

Shiho sighed then stifled a laugh at herself for being so childish. It seemed you did have to play the game on Sunday after all. Shiho began to turn but her hand would not leave the glass. Suddenly she felt fingers slip between her own. Shiho's blood turned to ice as she looked back at the mirror. Her reflection was still, but the fingers had pushed through her mirror and wrapped around her own hand.

Shiho's breath hitched as she felt herself begin to panic. Her heart rate rose rapidly. The reflection yanked back and Shiho felt herself fly forward into the Mirror .expecting a solid surface, she was met with what felt like liquid. Soon though, she felt a numbing sensation and everything began to go black. The last thing she remembered was the sound of breaking glass.

Nanako was exhausted. The fight with Shima's shadow had been devastating to their group. They had won but just the sheer pressure that he laid down on them, took on a lot of mental strain to combat. Nanako sat in the living room with the lights out as she was getting a headache. The phone rang across the room making Nanako flinch. Getting up from her spot on the couch she made her way across the room to pick up the phone.

"Dojima residence?"

"Nanako-chan? This is Yosuke! I am sorry for the late call, had I gotten the opportunity to call earlier I totally would have done it then. Is your uncle there?" the familiar voice of Yosuke Hanamura came over the phone.

"Oh, hey Big Bro Yosuke!" Nanako said cheerfully. "But no, Dad's not home yet. He came home drunk last night so he had a late start today."

"I see. From what he and Chie told me, I guess I don't blame him."

"Why are you looking for him?"

"Oh," Yosuke said surprised. "Well to be honest, Dojima has been trying to get in touch with your Big Bro. He asked me to try to get them in touch since he was so busy. I was just going to tell him tha-" Yosuke's voice was cut off suddenly.

"Nana-chan! Hey! This is your King Teddie just wanting to say that I miss you and-" another voice of Teddie comingo n the line only to be just as abruptly knocked off of it.

"You stupid bear!" she heard in the background as it seemed the two of them still fight over phones to speak with people. Nanako giggled listening to them. It had been a long time since she had gotten to see them ever since Yosuke had been sent to manage a new Junes store over in Tokyo. It had kept him busy for a long time. "Anyway as I was trying to say, I just needed to let your dad know that I was not able to get ahold of your Big Bro. However, Rise has told me that she will let him know. So I would probably expect him to call sometime in the next few days."

Nanako took a pen and wrote down what Yusuke told her. "Alright I will let him know the next time I see him. Big Bro Yosuke, what is going on?" Nanako asked him.

"Well, nothing too much. It just seems that Dojima thinks that your Big Bro might be able to help shed some perspective on some recent crime spree that is happening over in Inaba," Yosuke explained.

"Why would he ask Big Bro?" Nanako asked.

Yosuke chuckled. "Well your Big Bro is one of the smartest people I know. Book smarts and street smarts are all just natural for him. Both he and Naoto are invaluable assets when it comes to figuring out problems like this."

"Hey Yosuke, can I ask you something else?" Nanako asked, approaching the topic carefully. Yosuke hummed in affirmation. "Can you tell me why you and Big Bro are best friends?"

"Ah, the infamous Yu Narukami Questionnaire! Yosuke Hanamura steps up to the podium," Yosuke teased for a moment. It seemed like it was unbelievably clear that all of them knew about her questions now. "But to be completely honest, I don't know why he would settle for a guy like me. But anyone would be lucky to have a guy like him as a friend. Let alone Rise and him being an item and just a regular picture of perfection there. Narukami and I are best friends because we both completely respect and understand each others stances on life. We give each other a shoulder to lean on."

"I see," Nanako commented. "Thanks, Yosuke."

"No problem Nanako-chan. I will be trying to get some time off from work so you may see me in Inaba soon! Talk to you later!" Yosuke said cheerfully. Nanako said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. Taking out her cell phone she dialed a number. After two rings she heard the voice of Shima.

"Just a second!" he told her and she could hear him drop the phone. "Son of a biiiiii-" he said cutting himself short of finishing his sentence. Finally the phone was picked up again she heard, "This is Shima."

Nanako held back a small laugh. "Shima it is Nanako," she told him.

He swore under his breath. "Sorry if you heard any of that. I just was moving some stuff around my room and ended up getting tripped up when my prosthetic slipped. So what's up? What did you need?"

"Well I needed to ask you a piece of advice. Fresh perspective from the newest Persona-user in our group," Nanako told him.

Shima scoffed. "I may be a different perspective but you are seriously asking me about this? I mean go ahead, I guess."

"Well…" Nanako started. She explained to him the original reason that all of this had started. She described her Big Bro, his friends, the years they had spent looking out for her on his behalf, the working theory about their high school years, and even the fact that her father was reaching out to him for advice on the ransacking cases. After all of this she finally asked him her question. "If he was involved in this type of event, then would it be in theory possible that a TV World did in fact exist and therefore, a different location for shadows to show up?"

Shima was quiet for a few moment. Nanako overheard sirens over the phone passing by his house. Finally after a moment he said, "Have you tried sticking your hand in the TV?"

"What?"

"If you think that it is possible that he, this guy Narukami, was involved in a case like this a long time ago, then clearly it would mean that yes, they did deal with some very similar to us right? Then it would have meant that what you describe was real. Which then would mean that father, knowing something about what had happened back then, would suspect that what is happening around Inaba this time around may also be supernatural in nature. Have you tried just sticking your hand in?" Shima reasoned out loud to her. Nanako found herself edging closer to the TV as he spoke. It seemed like such a simple solution. Kneeling down in front of the TV that had been in their living room.

"Well, here goes nothing then," Nanako said into her phone.

Shima grunted. "Let me know what you find out."

Nanako reached out slowly. Her breath became shallow as Shima made her realize that this would confirm everything that she had ever suspected. The moment of truth was upon her. Then the front door opened. Nanako's hand immediately moved to the dial turning the TV on.

"Well, Shima thanks for telling me about Miwa's phone. I will call you back later to remind you to get it back to her," Nanako told him quickly. Shima was quiet for a moment. "No, I may be asleep then. Well, my dad's home now so I may not be free to talk then. Talk to you tomorrow."

"I see. Goodnight, Nanako," Shima replied knowingly. The line cutoff.

"Dad? You are home late again," Nanako said turning from the TV looking at her father. He looked tired.

Dojima simply sighed. "I know, Nanako. I am sorry," he told her. "Just another call and I was told to go ahead and take the rest of the night off. Two in a row. Are you kidding me? Did anyone call today?"

Nanako nodded. "Big Bro Yosuke called. He said to tell you that Big Bro was not available to talk when he called him but that Rise will make sure he calls you some time in the next couple of days," Nanako recounted the note she wrote to her father.

"Well that's good," he replied with a yawn.

Nanako got up and walked over to him. "These ransackings are taking a toll on you, Dad. Are you ok?"

"Yeah," he replied. "But Satonaka has been really stepping up on this case. I am seriously impressed by her. I think I am going to put in my recommendation for promotion to detective if she can keep it up. Can't believe I am basically watching that kid grow thanks to your cousin."

Nanako smiled at his words. "Did you say two in row?" Nanako asked making sure she heard it correctly.

"Yeah. This time it was at another house. The Suzui Residence," Dojima replied as he sat down on the couch. "It just doesn't make any sense to me. None of the locations lineup, nothing is ever missing. Just broken stuff everywhere. With the exception of the first two, there hasn't even been a missing person. At least not until tonight. Ah, I really shouldn't be talking about this."

"I'll keep it to myself, Dad," Nanako told him. He gave her a thin smile. He said goodnight to her and headed off to bed. Nanako sighed. Shima's words from the other day came back to her. Nanako headed over to the TV and turned it off. She was just about to reach into it when in a moment of hesitation her phone went off. Looking at her phone, it was a call from Shima.

"Hel-" Nanako started but Shima's voice cut her off.

"Nanako. Shiho has been taken. The cops are at her house. She's gone." Shima said in a bizarrely calm tone through the receiver.

Nanako looked down at her hand just above the surface of the TV. "Then it looks like we are going to have to find her tomorrow then. Try to get some rest Shima. You won't be any use to her tired," Nanako said as her muscles ached.

"After school right?" Shima asked insistently.

Nanako hummed.

Shima after a moment said, "So have you stuck your hand in the damn TV yet?"

"How did you know that I had not done it yet?" Nanako asked him.

"Cause I figured it might be such an important thing that you would be extremely nervous to try it out?" He reasoned. Nanako could not believe that this guy was almost failing out of high school. "Are you afraid?"

Nanako sighed. "It is a bit nerve wracking," she answered honestly.

"Did you need some help?"

Nanako hesitated. "Yes."

"Come over here. My mom's asleep and dad's at work," Shima said. "See you in a bit."

Nanako got up from her position at the TV and made her way over to the entryway. She slipped her shoes on and grabbed her extra key. Making her way out into the night she headed deeper into the residential district. Soon she found a familiar blonde standing outside a house. Shima was wearing his long black pants from his uniform and a white long sleeve shirt.

"Hey," Shima said with a quick wave.

Nanako nodded. She followed him inside his house. Nanako immediately noticed how clean the place looked. "So where is your TV?" she asked.

Shima opened a large cabinet door on a piece of furniture in the main room. It was a little larger than her own. Somehow it not being her own TV made it seem less intimidating. She stepped towards it with hand outstretched and she hesitated again.

"What's stopping you?" Shima asked her.

"I- don't know," Nanako said strangely. Suddenly she was moved forward by him with a gentle push and her hand sank into the TV screen. "It was real… it was all real."

Shima walked forward and also pressed his hand against the screen and felt his hand sink into it as well. "Well, shiii- eesh." He said remembering his current company. "After we save Shiho. Maybe we take a look in here as well?"

Nanako nodded. They took their hands out of the TV. "I just can't believe it," Nanako said quietly. She tried to hold back a sob. Everything started to wash over her again as she began to play back events that took her up to her death. Nametame showed up with a delivery. Then he grabbed her and pulled her into his truck. Next to her was a TV. Soon after he joined her in the back of the truck and they jumped into the TV. Hearing the car crash as they fell into the TV World. Being stuck in Heaven as Nametame mumbled to himself about people not understanding that he was saving her. Her Big Bro and his friends showing up. Summoning powerful creatures to fight and save her. Winding up in the hospital. Her death.

Nanako found her sobs getting stronger and she made her way out of Shima's house. Shima followed after her. She sat down on his step holding herself as the tears came and wouldn't stop. Suddenly, she found herself under a throw blanket, as Shima had draped one over her shoulders. He then sat down next to her.

"You remember when I told you about my phantom pain?" Shima asked her. She nodded. "Surprise, surprise now that you have met my shadow but that isn't the only pain I feel. I didn't start off wanting to kill myself. I just wished that the accident had just killed me rather than leaving me alive. Forever outside the realm of everything that was important to me. Soccer was the best skill set that I had growing up. What point was there in living when my only real skill was stolen from me? I was angry. Often. But, I am certain that things happen for a reason. Not necessarily like fate, just no accidents. Sure, maybe I can't be a soccer player, but I think getting to meet you guys was supposed to happen."

Nanako looked at him as the tears still streamed.

"Look, I don't know what you've been through. But the only reason I wanted to tell you this, is because I want to let someone know that I lived y'know? Like I will always remember that you did. You are still here, regardless of everything that has happened. We are still here."

Nanako sniffed and nodded. "Shima, where do you get all of this perspective from?" she asked him slowly getting control over her voice again.

Shima scoffed. "Years of pain and suffering certainly help. Maybe I could write music to spread that perspective if I ever learn to play that daaa-ng guitar in the closet. Anyway, You gotta lead us to saving Shiho tomorrow, yeah? Go get some sleep." Nanako nodded. She stood up and walked away from his house. It was not until she got home that she remembered that she still had the throw blanket on her. Nanako went straight to her room and set up her futon.

After school the following day the three first years brought their third year companion to Junes. The three first years in particular looked exhausted and Shima was definitely hiding a certain tiredness under a wall of stress. They reached out to the mirror and they all stepped through.

"Jeez, another one?" Eiddet called out to them as she saw them. "Took ya long enough to get here."

"We're so tired, give us a break you dumb bear," Yuuta replied bitterly. Eiddet just seemed to seethe. "Jeez what has you so angry."

Eiddet just grumbled about not wanting people in her Mirror World anymore and how annoying this all was for her. Nanako could suppose that she understood the bear's frustration but she was unusually aggressive this time around.

"We'll take care of this so give us a few and we'll get out of your hair, alright?" Miwa told her. "Can you help us get to the new person here?" Eiddet took the lead immediately. In fact she was so ready to go that they almost lost her a few times. The trip was so much faster than previous trips. But the trip did go faster since the location was much closer than Shima's. Getting into the residential district, they found Shiho's house and greater block had been replaced with a large school of an unfamiliar design. Well unfamiliar to most of them.

"Well shit, this is a school I didn't think I'd ever see in person," Shima said darkly. The three underclassmen looked at him. "This place just a couple years ago had a big scandal as it turned out that one of the teachers had been sexually abusing students. So far as to have one attempt suicide from the school roof. I guess I had my suspicions about why Shiho showed up in Inaba. But this…" he explained until he seemed to seethe with rage. A blue glow began to take to him.

"I don't understand," Miwa said. "What is it?"

"If this place is here, then that means that it was a place that a big impact on her, like my hospital?" Shima told her letting her come to the same conclusion he had drawn.

Yuuta's fists clenched. "No. You can't be serious," he said angrily. Nanako stepped towards the entrance of the school with the other teens following her. Standing at the door was a strangely dressed Shiho. However, the shadow's yellow eyes told them all everything they needed to know. The Shiho was wearing a rather revealing outfit that looked like it used to be a PE class uniform. However the shirt was a shredded mess showing a black lacy bra beneath. Rather than wearing normal shoes, she wore long black leather boots. To be honest she looked liked some kind of club girl if there had not been obvious bruises on her arms and neck.

"Oh?" The shadow said darkly. "More people have come here for a piece of me. Don't worry, you won't find much opposition. I am much too weak to fight back. I'll do anything just to keep my spot on the team. I'll let him do anything to me if it means I stay useful to him and his goals. So, are you here to take some of me?" Shiho's shadow asked making no move to cover herself up. She then turned away towards the door. Disappearing behind the dark miasma that seemed to seep out of the building, the four teens were left alone. Eiddet suddenly twitched.

"Go and get her out of there. I am staying out here," Eiddet commanded. The group was a little weirded out by the way she was acting but they had no reason to demand otherwise. Nanako led them into the school. Upon entering it was clear that this place was much like Shima's hospital. Anywhere they were not supposed to go seemed to not be available. However, here they were blocked off by empty, archaic looking torture devices. There were other devices for other reasons but Nanako could not let herself think about them for long. The group looked in other places. There was a lot to do with volleyball around them. Trophies sat on shelves undusted and pictures of Shiho with a blonde girl by her side.

"Who is this?" Nanako asked out loud.

"Old friend maybe?" Yuuta suggested.

Everyone was desperate to avoid the topic on the forefront of their minds. What did the rest of this and the appearance of the Shadow mean for Shiho's past? Like with Shima's hospital though, this place had a talent for bring forth the worst in the mind. Shiho's thoughts reverberating around the halls did not help with this.

"What can one say about Ann? She's exotic. Beautiful. The perfect model. The most wanted girl in school. Everyone at one point or another had tried to suck up to her. Then she got involved in Kamoshida's schemes. To him, she was a rarity in Japan and as such could be seen as a trophy. Then you have me. Plain. Ordinary. And somehow the only person who saw past all of the superficial and the human being underneath it all. It was how we had become such great friends. So little did I know that becoming her friend would suddenly put a large target on my back in Kamoshida's eyes. Those burning, angry eyes."

The group was silent in the wake of what they just heard. This girl in the photo was Ann. Ann seemed to be really important to Shiho. Yet somehow that importance, that friendship had put Shiho in harm's way. Shima's breath was heavy. The anger seemed to radiate off of him. Nanako could tell that he was connecting more dots. He knew Shiho. There was something extremely protective in his nature. Shima began to move on ahead.

"Shima, wait slow down!" Nanako called after him. The underclassmen following him. They got a door at the end of the hallways and pressing forward they ended up in a room completely covered in pictures of Shiho and Ann. But the lights were flickering. When the door closed behind them the lights went out entirely. When they came back on, all of the Anns in the room were scribbled out with glowing ink. On the door on the other side of the room, the word 'Hate" was written repeatedly in increasingly more and more violent looking scribbles.

"But they were best friends," Miwa commented. "Why would she hate her? Like I could never imagine hating Nanako."

Nanako agreed with a nod. Then the voice of Shiho spoke again.

"Kamoshida never even wanted me like he wanted her. It doesn't matter that my only sin against him was being her friend. It was enough for him to do… those things." Shiho's voice became icy and angry as she spoke. "I hate being mad at her, but just knowing that Ann's existence was so great, so desirable that its mere presence turned my own into nothing more than a means to an end. A simple tool. To be used when it was convenient for that monster! Why?! And even when she knows what I went through for her, she then finds it possible to go silent while I suffer out here in a town that doesn't know me or what I have been through. I needed my friend. Now all I have are the rotten, broken, evil memories."

Nanako felt the tears wet her face. The fact that the world could do the things that it has done to the people in her life. It almost killed her. It made Miwa's parents basically torture her for her failure to be them. Took two of Yuuta's parents from him. Took away Shima's future. Destroyed Shiho's innocence. The tears felt like ice as she began to get mad at a world so willing to be cruel to the people around her. She too took on a blue glow as she became motivated to work through her exhaustion and save Shiho. Nanako and Shima both approached the next door. The other students followed close behind.

Opening the new door they found themselves in the gymnasium. Pressed against a wall, they saw Shiho surrounded by volleyball nets and other equipment. Sitting on one of the ball carts was her Shadow.

"Shiho, we have guests," the shadow announced as she saw the teenagers arrived. "Don't be impolite they came all this way for us after all."

"Shiho, its me," Shima called out. This got her to look up at her saviors. Their uniforms accurately showing them all to be high school students.

"Sh-shi-shima?" she replied. Her voice was weak. It was clear that she had been crying from the hoarseness of her voice alone.

"Oh, Shima," the shadow began. "Why don't you ever talk to me about your past? Couldn't you stand me knowing? Didn't you want a relationship that was more than skin deep? Or is the skin the only thing you are interested in? Is that all you want? Just like anyone else."

"Don't you speak to him that way," Shiho said out loud.

The shadow turned away from the teens to look at her captive self. "Or what? What am I going to do? The fact of the matter is that your relationship is superficial at best. He doesn't want anything more than just the superficial why shouldn't we let him have it. He might just take it anyway! He's rough at times, we could see it happening."

"No!" Shiho cried out. "That isn't true! I have never thought about him."

Nanako called out, "Shiho please, it is fine if you do. We understand if you are slow to trusting. Just please don't beat yourself up over it!"

"Don't try to convince me that I am worth anything more than what I think I am," the shadow yelled still staring intently at Shiho. "You don't the real me. Because Shiho won't let you know that I am everything that she is, I am just willing to admit it!"

Shiho shook her head. "It isn't true. You are not me. You are not me at all!"

"I guess you are right, I am me now," the shadow responded. Darkness swirled in around it. The four teens took on a blue glow. The three underclassmen all summoned their Personas out like second nature at this point. Shima's card hovered in front of him for a moment. A royal crown wearing man donning a dark cloak over a suit of armor.

"Come on Iaputus!" Shima called out. "Truly a loud young man aren't you? Or is that a triumphant battle cry? I wonder…"

The mass of shadows finally formed a beautiful woman wearing a cloak of stars. The space she took up looked nebulous like a space itself. However, wrapped around her neck was a collar attached to a large jagged chain. The chain extended back up into a large muscular hand. The face of the woman was one of fear and pain.

"I am the Shadow. The true self. With the power of Asteria, I will enshroud all within the vacuum inside of me. None will be spared my pain!" The Shadow of Shiho cried out as the muscular hand pulled back the chain rearing her whole form back. The revealed the body of a scantily clad, voluptuous figure. Yuuta immediately blushed, but Shima's gaze was locked on the girl cowering behind the figure.

"What had happened to this titan?" Iaputus asked as he looked on.

Themis gave a dry scoff. "Humans truly are powerful aren't they?"

The team of Persona -user gave a brief pause before Rhea took on a blue glow of her own and blessed their whole party with a protective aura. Shima let his Persona reach down and grab him by the collar. It then launched itself forward through the air towards the real Shiho. She would be in the line of fire, should any attack miss.

Nanako saw this and knew what to do. "Yuuta, Miwa, cover Shima and his Persona. Keep them from harm. He needs to get Shiho out of the area so we don't accidentally hurt her. I am going to try to distract the Shadow!" The two others nodded and they all made their moves. Hyperion dashed forward and absorbed an attempted swing with his shield. Rhea then cast a blast of ice to freeze the hand of the shadow to the ground. Themis flew up into the air swinging a hammer into the face of the shadow.

Shima had his Persona let go of him and Shima raised his legs up and slid into the pile of material between him and Shiho. His hands began moving as fast as he could get them to and starting to throw things out of his way. "Shiho stay calm! I am coming to get you!" He called to her. The Shadow reached back and scooped up Shima with a free hand. "No! Shiho, wait for me!" Hyperion dashed upwards to grab the titans arms trying to hold her still. Iaputus drew it hidden blade weapon and slashed the arm with a burning slash.

"Iaputus, get Shiho out of there!" Shima commanded. His Persona nodded and changed its trajectory towards to the girl. Hyperion continued to fight with the arm, but the Shadow was gaining ground and all the meanwhile, Shima felt himself be shook around and squeezed. Iaputus grabbed Shiho and began to carry her across the gymnasium, but he suddenly disappeared dropping her half way. The reason being revealed with Hyperion falling to the ground next to her and knocking down Yuuta. The shadow was free and with a full wind-up threw Shima across the room. He bounced off the far wall and his body fell to the ground.

Miwa got up her Persona to cover Yuuta as the Shadow prepared to give him the same treatment. Themis dropped from above and slammed the shadow in the back of the head pulling it forcefully against its chain. The Shadow choked on it collar.

"Yuuta, get your Persona to help me drag this thing down. We are going to choke her out until she calms down!" Nanako called out to Yuuta. Hyperion and Themis both began pull down on the Shadow's head. Miwa ran over to Shiho and finished helping her to her ran over next to Shima.

"C'mon Shima get up," Miwa called out. "We could really use your help. Her shadow is resisting really hard."

Shima stirred. "Oh my fuuuu-n plans are ruined…" he said trying to cover for himself again realizing his company. That was one of his worst. He sat up trying to get his bearings again.

"Shima… I am sorry," Shiho lamented. "I am so, so sorry. The truth is that I was afraid of you. Every day I would see your aggression and it would remind me of the life I left behind. Even when I saw glimpses of the person you truly were, I would ignore it. I never tried to reach out to you. I pushed you away whenever I felt you might have been reaching out to me. I am a terrible person. I truly am. My Shadow was right. But I want to make it better. I want to be better than who I am. Isn't that what I want?!"

The Shadow seemed to hear this and in a fit of rage ripped itself from the gripp of the two Personas holding onto it. The chain was suddenly released by the hand above. The shadow charged forward on unnaturally angled hands and legs towards Shiho. Shima's glow returned however and Iaputus returned to his side. It went forward and grabbed the chain himself and pulled back as hard it could choking the Shadow again. Themis and Hyperion flew up to help pulling the chain with him. The Shadow fell down as resistance proved painful again.

"Why? Why do you accept it now?" The Shadow Demanded.

"Because my actions don't just affect me. Affect us. When my harmful behaviors affect those around me, I have to acknowledge it. Or it is never going to get better. I do find myself hating Ann. I did push Shima, the one person trying to be my friend away, I will not let myself continue to hurt like this anymore. We have to work together on this. Please, let me help us."

The Shadow simply nodded and transformed back into the regular Shiho. "I guess we really did a number on ourselves didn't we?" it said out loud. The two Shiho's embraced and the Shadow disappeared. However the celebration of a job well done was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Isn't it just so great to know who you are?" the voice of Eiddet asked from the doorway. The whole group, exhausted from two days were of adventures and self-discovery looked at her wearily. There was something different about her demeanor. For one her head was off and underneath was the blonde wearing Nanako's jacket. However the bottom half of the suit seemed bigger, like it was stretching out to more comfortably fit the full stature of the girl beneath. "I told you, Shadows weren't meant to have reflections. I warned you from the beginning to stay away. Because I am learning what I am. And you are not going to like this." Suddenly her teeth seemed to become fangs as her stance widened and three large razor claws extended from each of her hands. Her nose seemed to become pointed as well and the suit she wore came to fit her better. She looked ferocious as she looked at the teens.

"Get out!"

The raging girl/monster charged forward and the teens all seemed to be unable to react. All except for Shima who stepped forward with his hidden blade, closed his eyes, and braced himself. The sounds of impact reverberated off the walls of the now near empty gymnasium, but Shima did not feel the hit. Nor did his Persona have the chance to absorb the attack for him. Opening his eyes, he saw a dark haired, massively built monster of a man wielding a metal chair was braced forward like an American Football player and was fighting for dominance against their attacker.

Nanako was stunned. Miwa and Yuuta surprised. Shima dumbfounded. Shiho half unconscious.

The man yelled as he suddenly lifted his attacker off the ground and threw her back at the door she came in from. "You mess with the bull, you get the horns!" he called triumphantly. A blue card with a symbol matching that of Shima's perfectly formed in front of him. "Persona!"