Dear readers, starting from this chapter and until the end, there will be a brief status about Makoto's Social Links to make the story clearer of how his relationship with other characters develops for the growth of his power. Only Fool Arcana has rank progress as the other Arcana ranking progress will only make the story unnecessary longer than usual. Therefore, except for Fool Arcana, there will be only 3 status: UNLOCKED, REVERSED or MAX.

Fool: Makoto Itou & Kotonoha (The relationship meter), Rank 1
Magician: ?
Priestess: Kotonoha Katsura, UNLOCKED
Empress: ?
Emperor: ?
Hierophant: ?
Lovers: ?
Chariot: ?
Justice: ?
Hermit: ?
Fortune: ?
Strength: ?
Hanged Man: ?
Death: ?
Temperance: ?
Devil: ?
Tower: ?
Star: ?
Moon: ?
Sun: ?

Previously on The Power of Everything:

Makoto Itou was being hospitalized due to his sudden collapse during his battle against the floating orbs, the Shadows. During his moment of collapse, he was summoned by Igor and explained to him about the Social Links concept, the Persona and the Power of Wild card. After he gained consciousness, he was in the hospital. There, he told the partial truth to the Kotonoha Katsura and promised her that he would tell her the whole story sooner or later. As the two grew closer and kissed, Makoto's first Social Links was formed, the Fool and Priestess Arcana.

CHAPTER 6

A CLOSE FRIEND'S CONCERN

I woke up in the hospital and the sun shined bright. The doctor came in and told me that I was allowed to go home due to no injury any further. So, I changed my clothes to casual one and went home instead since it was already too late for the school time.

At this day, my condition was surely improved compared to previous day and 2 days before. I was still thinking of how those Shadows came suddenly out of nowhere. Despite that, there should be news about it already. I must have missed it. I quickly turned on the TV in my living room. Sure enough, the news about the attack from 2 days before came.

"The attack from mysterious being 2 days ago has left a minor but considerate damage to the city. About 23 people were injured and hospitalized. Those things attacked those people by licking to their faces. As the result, these people have the very same symptoms which are the inability to speak and were in constant vegetative state. The medical research found nothing on how these symptoms appeared and with no way to cure it. Furthermore, the police had found empty evidence on where these things came from. Some witnesses mentioned that it came from a couple who suddenly went crazy with rage and demonic appearance as well as blue aura surrounding them, turning into giant licking balls. Although it is just a theory, there is no specific proof on how these things actually came for. The police are still investigating the series case of this phenomena," the reporter reported the incident.

The TV showed some images of damages from buildings and the glass shattered. It seems like these Shadows target any of people they noticed. This is going to be troublesome for me as I might be the only person who can stop those Shadows. Moreover, the patterns of their appearance are still not known yet. This is going to be an extra heavy work for me as I might have to keep listening to news. Also, I must stay secret most of the times. I couldn't let anybody know that I have this power. Kotonoha alone is enough to know my secret. I must always keep my guard up. Sure, it's fun to have this power and save the day, but I might not have enough time to spend with Kotonoha. I hope she understood that. Time passed and I decided to rest for the day until tomorrow for full recovery.

The next day, I woke up and looked at my phone. There was at least 20 missed call and one message from Kotonoha and 10 missed call from Sekai. Oh man, I forgot to tell them that I was allowed to go home the previous day. I slept early and peacefully that I must not have heard them coming or knocking. I hope they weren't mad. I read Kotonoha's message which informed me that she would like to have lunch with me on the roof. Without thinking any further, I wore my uniform and prepared to go to school.

In the classroom, I was greeted by Taisuke.

"Yo, Makoto. How are you doing?" said he to me with his arm circling my head.

"Ouch, cut it off. You are breaking my neck," I said to him while escaping his grip.

"Hahaha. Sorry, sorry. It's good that you recovered."

After that, I sat down to my place and Sekai came to me. I could tell she had a frown face and her face had popping vein.

"Makoto!"

"Ha…. Haha, sorry, sorry. I didn't tell you that I was let off yesterday," I tried to plead her to forgive me.

She turned her face on the other side showing that she's angry at the moment. My face was totally colored with lines dropping over my face. I should invite her to lunch at the roof as forgiveness. The class started and we both didn't talk or write note after all until lunch. However, since I would invite her, I wrote a note for her.

"I'm sorry. Let's talk on the roof later at lunchtime," I told her via writing.

She didn't reply and kept frowning. Honestly, what could she be angry about? I had no idea for this moment. Lunchtime began and I went to the roof first. Kotonoha hasn't arrived yet. Suddenly, Sekai came and looked at me. Still in silence, I had deep thought of what she's thinking at the moment. I must have done terrible something wrong to her. I must say something to her.

"Sekai, I am sorry. I know I should have told you that I was allowed to go home. I completely forgot about it. I made you worried. I hope you don't mind forgiving me," I apologized to her.

She didn't say anything but moved forward closer to me. Suddenly, she hugged me and I could hear that she's crying.

"You moron, that's not what I am worrying about. I….. I am just glad that you are okay. You idiot," Sekai hugged me and told me this.

I couldn't say anything but to hug her back. She must have worried about me. Although I am not so sure what she's actually worrying about, but I felt happy that my childhood friend was willing to give thought about me this deep.

"Sekai….. Thank you," I whispered in her ear.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind. A vision image showed the Lovers Arcana.

"I am thou, thou art I… Thou has acquired a new bond. It shall become the core of universe that dispels even the world. With the birth of Lovers Arcana, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to universe and new power."

I inadvertently obtained a new Arcana. This is the third Arcana that I obtained. Come to think of it, I forgot to check some information about Arcana in library. Perhaps, I should go look at it soon. I broke the hug and saw her teary eyes. I wiped her teary eyes and offered her handkerchief. There, I sat down and waited for Kotonoha and she sat down beside me. Not long after, Kotonoha came.

"Ah… Makoto-kun," she called me.

I could see that she brought a big basket. I hoped that it wasn't the same sandwiches as before. I thought in my mind while in orz (falling over, kneeling and bowing) state. She smiled at me and sat beside me.

"Makoto-kun, Saionji-san. I brought lots of bento. You can have it," she offered the food for us.

I thought it was sandwiches like before. I took it and ate with happy face. The taste was not bad compared to before. It was standard yet I could feel good flavor from it. Kotonoha has definitely improved. I felt like she's doing so hard for me.

"Kotonoha, this is good. Thank you," I looked at her and smiled.

"Katsura-san, this is delicious," she finally became happy and praised her food.

Come to think of it, I haven't apologized to Kotonoha. I should apologize to her at this time.

"Kotonoha," I called her and she looked at me.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you that I was let off by doctor yesterday. I went straight home and went to bed early so I could recover all day. I think that you must have come to my apartment and called me or knock. I'm sorry," I told her this with sad face.

"It…. It's okay, Makoto-kun. I went to hospital yesterday and I was surprised to see you weren't there. The doctor told me that you had been released. I tried to call you to make sure you are okay but no answer. I thought that you must have slept already," she told me.

That explained of how I got many missed call from her. Kotonoha is surely the best girl that I have ever loved. I smiled until Sekai interrupted.

"Eh….. Sounds like we have a very sweet loving couple," she teased me and Kotonoha.

I looked at her and said with teasing face, "Um, Sekai, could you please not disturbing our conversation while it goes well?"

"You….. Take that and that and that," Sekai suddenly wrapped her arm around my neck and tried to suffocate me.

Kotonoha who looked at us like that just smiled at us. While Sekai was doing that, a bright sudden flash appeared and I noticed that. I saw a blue door at the corner of the roof. The door wasn't supposed to be there, or at least It wasn't there from the very first time. The blue door appearance is similar to the door in my dream. Is it the Velvet room? I asked Sekai to stop and I stood up. I looked at the blue door from far and asked two girls about it.

"Kotonoha, Sekai. Did you see that blue door?" I asked them.

"Huh? Makoto? There's no blue door. Are you sure you are okay? You must be imagining things," Sekai told me.

"Um… Makoto-kun. I didn't see any door there," Kotonoha also told the same thing Sekai told me.

So, it was proven true that I am the only person who could see the blue door which leads to Velvet room. Coming out of nowhere, a blue light radiating in my pocket. I reached it and noticed it was the key to Velvet room which I obtained from Igor from our meetings. I was thinking how this could have happened. There was no key in my pocket and suddenly there was. Also, the blue door came out of nowhere. Without further thinking, I reached to the door and walked slowly while both Kotonoha and Sekai watched in confused. I used the key and unlocked the door. As the door opened, the light inside the door radiated brightly that I had to cover my eyes using my arms.

TO BE CONTINUED

Epilogue:

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