"Speech" Thought Persona Persona Rank Up Voice/Other
Hope was greeted by the class, and whispering started up.
"Whoa, two transfer students in almost two weeks?!"
"He looks really cool… He's probably a jerk."
"Are you kidding? He looks really cute! I mean look at his face, it's really soft and slightly effeminate too... "
"He's prettier than some of the other girls here."
Same old students, gossiping about someone not too far from them. But why are you here, Hope?
"You can sit in the seat next to Hanamura-san, Estheim-san."
"Yes Ma'am." Yosuke rose his hand to show Hope where he was supposed to go.
The boy sat next to Yosuke, and thanked him for showing him where he was. Before any other conversations were able to be made, class had begun. Anything Yu had to say, would have to wait.
*APRIL 18th, Monday, After Class*
The Fool stood up once the bell rang, his stuff already packed into his bag. Various students already began leaving the classroom and others started conversing with each other. Yu turned to the new transfer student. Once again, before he could say anything, Hope spoke up this time.
"Hello Yu-sama! How are you today?" This statement brought Yukiko's, Chie's, and Yosuke's attention to their conversation.
On his guard, Yosuke quickly spoke up. "How do you know his name? He hasn't introduced himself yet…" Yu reached over and put a hand on Yosuke's shoulder to try and calm him.
"It's alright Yosuke, we met the other day." This seemed to put the other's at ease, but they still listened in on their conversation. "I'm fine Hope-san, but what about you? Everything okay?" I mean, you did kind of pass out, and scream in pain once we got in the Velvet Room yesterday.
"It could be better. Got a lot of things on my mind. Things that have previously been lost to me. I mean, there's more things lost then found, but at least I found some of them with your help." Is he talking about his memories!? Fantastic! But why is he at school? Time for a low-key investigation.
You're having fun with this aren't you? Izanagi interjected.
Maybe… "That's good to hear. Glad I could help. So uh, how'd your guardian take the news?" Hope looked at Yu confusedly, until he seemed to get understand.
"Oh, Margaret was pleased. At least I think she was, it's hard to tell. She hardly smiles you know?"
Yu nodded. "I gotcha. Forgive me for asking, but what brings you to Yasogami?" At this question, Hope's face was filled with more emotion than it ever was before the incident. It was… Sorrow. Not good…
"Well… my uh… my parent's died. At the school I went to, I did well enough that I was offered this scholarship by a Mr. Igor? I think his name was? Either way, I no longer have a place back there. Everyone I knew and cared about is… gone for a lack of a better word."
Yosuke winced at this, and slung his arm over Hope's shoulders. "That blows. Well, if you ever need anything. Don't be afraid to ask us okay? We will do everything we can to help, well… we we can at least. Both Yukiko and I have jobs, so we aren't always free." A loud ring punctuated his sentence at which The Magician let out a groan. "Speaking of Jobs. Laters!" He answered the call and left at a brisk pace.
"Oh! I forgot I'm on Laundry duty today! I'm terribly sorry, but I have to go now." Yukiko suddenly burst out, and started packing her things in a blur. "It was nice to meet you Estheim-Kun!" And with that she was off, leaving the two Fools and the Chariot alone.
"Hey Yu-sama," Hope started, "Do you know any clubs that we can join? I'm gonna need some stuff to do, since I don't have many belongings with me." Yu shrugged at the question and turned to Chie.
"Do you know, Chie-san?" She looked a little startled, almost not expecting to be needed.
"I think the Sports Clubs are looking right now, and I think next week Cultural clubs start looking for members. But that's just from what I hear in the Hallway."
"Thanks, Satonaka-san." Hope replied, and gave a warm smile towards her, which she responded with the faintest of blushes.
"Well, I'll join you in looking for a club Hope-san. Figured it might be a good way to build endurance. You wanna come too Chie-san?" She shook her head.
"I already do training to build it. I'm gonna have to push myself to try and keep up with you." He nodded in understanding and they waved goodbye to her as they went to go look up what sports club were. As they left the room, Yu spoke up again.
"So how much of that was a cover story and how much of it was true?"
"As far as I know. Whenever I was unconscious, I saw a lot of memories. And it was all weird, like it showed people, but their faces were blurred. I can remember voices. But that's all that I can get through the flood of memories. Hopefully I can understand some of them more in time. Oh! And I learned something cool as well, watch." He looked around to see if there was anyone looking at them. Once the coast was clear, he moved his hand to his chest and turned his palm towards the ceiling. "Fire." And with the simple word, a small ruby red orb appeared in his hands. "Blizzard." and then the orb turned a pale blue. "Protect." Once again the orb changed colors, to a purple. "Sorry about this." Before Yu could even process what he said, Hope punched him in the arm with his free hand. A throbbing pain rose in Yu's left arm. Hope then pushed the orb into Yu, who watched as the orb disappeared inside of him. The other Fool then punched Yu on his other arm, except this time, he hardly felt this punch. Hope once again created an orb, this time saying, "Cure."
The recent pain Yu felt in his arm disappeared as the new orb went inside him. "What? But, you didn't summon a Persona? How'd you do that? That was amazing!" Hope chuckled at Yu's sudden enthusiasm.
"I don't entirely know. I was just talking with Marie, and then all of a sudden there was a ball of fire in my hands. After some experimentation, I found I can do those few spells. Hopefully, once I gain more of my memories back, I can try to see if I can use more spells." Yu nodded in understanding. "The real reason I'm here with you, in this world, is so that I can join you and your allies in your Shadow World. That way, we can be more prepared for later. I don't mean to bring it up, but it happened around December right? Well we only have eight months to grow stronger, so we need all the help we can get. Don't forget to work on your social links either."
"Well having you on the Team will be a huge asset. Would telling the others sooner or later be better for you?"
"Whenever it's convenient. Now, do you want Basketball? Or Soccer?"
"I'd say Soccer, as that way we would be able to get more endurance from running back and forth throughout a dungeon." The Two Fools nodded, and went to join the Soccer Team.
Since they just decided to join the Soccer Team, they could only watch for Today. Yu walked with Hope on the way to the Velvet Room, so he could check up on Marie. The walk through town was peaceful. "See you tomorrow, Hope."
"See you Yu-sama."
Yu walked into the Velvet Room, to be greeted by Marie. "My turn to take him outside. I'll be back." The Fool was then immediately taken out of the Velvet Room, almost before he could even see Margaret smirking towards him almost as if amused at the other girl's antics. Once again, Yu's eyes were adjusting to the change as Marie started talking again.. "Alright, work your magic on me."
Once his eyes focused, Yu could see her bright green eyes staring at him. "I'm sorry Marie, but I don't have any magic to work. Hope had regained some on his own, and I helped branch from that. I know next to nothing about you, except for your name." He saw a flash of annoyance go through her eyes.
"I don't know anything else either!" She yelled in anger. Yu nodded in acknowledgement.
"And I understand that. That's what I'm going try and help you. So c'mon, follow me. Let's go for a walk around town and see if anything seems familiar to you." And with that he began walking, not even looking back to see if she was following. After a few steps, he heard her footsteps behind him. He gave a chuckle, and turned around to face her as he kept walking. "Let's go to the Riverbed, and get a good view of the city. That should help us out some, maybe jog your memory some." The two walked in silence, both of them enjoying the atmosphere of the nature around the small rural town.
"This place seems… familiar." Marie stated, taking in the sight of the town from the view at the Riverbed. Yu gave a small nod of acknowledgement.
"Maybe because it's the countryside?" The Fool asked. "You could have seen a scene like this in your past. Is it bringing up anything?"
Marie shook her head sadly. "Nothing…"
Yu gave her a patient smile. "Don't worry too much. I'll help you out okay?"
"Please do." Came the Amnesiac's sincere reply. Yu couldn't help but feel for the girl who lost everything she was, to have her identity stripped away from her. It must be hard for her.
The Fool placed a hand on her shoulder, and gazed upwards at the now cloudy sky.
"We should get you back to the Velvet Room. Next time, let's try something else okay?" Marie gave a somber nod, and then time stopped again. Glass broke in the distance.
"Thou art I... And I am thou…Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the Truth… Thou shalt be blessed when fusing Personas of the Aeon Arcana." The Voice faded away and time resumed.
"Let's get going then, shall we?" Marie asked rhetorically, as she pulled Yu along towards town, to go back inside the Velvet Room.
*APRIL 18TH, MONDAY, LATE NIGHT*
Things are different this time Izanagi. I don't know why we were given a second chance. But with you by my side, nothing can stand in our way. We'll stop Adachi, find out more about this Saviour, and hopefully more about the Midnight Channel.
Are you keeping up with your Social Links?
Yeah, since last time Margaret helped me out with it, I figured I could lessen her burden.
I mean, she is the only Social Link I still have maxed out from the previous time.
Well, go ahead and read them off that list you have. Speaking them helps better than just writing them.
"FOOL - Rank 1. Hope Estheim: A boy that has lost his memories, and is trying to get them back. Resides in the Velvet Room."
"MAGICIAN: Renewed - Rank 2. Yosuke Hanamura: I have trusted Yosuke with a bit of my past."
"CHARIOT: Renewed - Rank 2. Chie Satonaka: You brought up Chie's hopes and dreams."
"PRIESTESS - Rank MAX. Yukiko Amagi (Past): The Old Yukiko. I obtained her awakened Persona."
"EMPRESS - Rank MAX. Margaret: Velvet Room Attendant. A single action is worth a thousand words."
"AEON - Rank 1. Marie: Resides in the Velvet Room. A girl who has lost her memories. Seems Anti-Social. Kinda Cute." Was that really necessary to add?
Ignoring you.
You can't ignore yourself!
"UNIVERSE - Rank 1. No Person Identified With Rank. Ranks up as understanding of life increases?" Yu crossed out the description before writing a new one. "Unknown. Must Investigate."
It's Midnight you know, and it's not raining. Get some rest, you need it. Yu tried to ignore himself again, but failed as he gave a yawn.
I still have to… investigate though.
Even your thoughts indicate exhaustion! How can you save anyone when you can't even stand from how tired you are?!
You have *yawn* a point. Yu got out of his desk chair, turned to his Futon, and immediately fell upon it. His eyes closed and his breathing came more easy. Izanagi faded into his host's body, and stood watch as his other self rested up.
I gotcha buddy… I gotcha.
Sleep had taken over his body, and Yu fell into the dark abyss of sleep.
AN:/ Hello Everyone, readers and other readers, Gentlemen, Ladies, Others. It has been a rough... ROUGH month. Stress+ Getting Laid Off - Money * Sleepless nights = Unproductive Human Being. Things might be looking up though. So, please Please leave a review. I'm not confident in this chapter at all, I even had to rewrite this chapter more than 7 times and this was the best one I could find. So please let me know what was good, what was bad, so I can try and make this story better for you all.
Best Regards,
TheFallenAlphaAngel