Fool: Makoto Itou & Kotonoha (The relationship meter), Rank 2
Magician: ?
Priestess: Kotonoha Katsura, UNLOCKED
Empress: ?
Emperor: ?
Hierophant: ?
Lovers: Sekai Saionji, UNLOCKED
Chariot: ?
Justice: ?
Hermit: ?
Fortune: ?
Strength: ?
Hanged Man: ?
Death: ?
Temperance: ?
Devil: ?
Tower: ?
Star: ?
Moon: ?
Sun: ?

Previously on The Power of Everything:

Makoto Itou was taken to Velvet room once again. He was explained deeper about Igor's role, Social Link's concept, the wild card's power, the warning of the future fate and a new companion, Sarujima. As Makoto decided to accept Sarujima as a companion and let him stay beside him, his daily activities would turn into different life once again. Later that night, he called on Kotonoha's number but the one who picked up wasn't Kotonoha. With that, Makoto was speechless.

CHAPTER 8

PURE-HEARTED'S LITTLE SISTER

I was completely speechless with the things turned out to be. I wasn't expecting someone other than Kotonoha would pick up the phone. I mean, granted, if it was her parents, I would have prepared. But, I never knew that Kotonoha had little sister all the time.

"Are you by any chance my big sister's boyfriend? Are you two going on a date tomorrow?" she asked me with excitement.

"Ah….. wait, what?" I answered with shyness. I was bombarded with those questions before I had any chance to answer them one by one.

"Right now, big sister is taking a bath for tomorrow," she told me with such a big joy.

When I heard the word "bath", my mind was thinking dirty about Kotonoha. I wonder how she looked like if she's wearing a bath towel and took a bath. I grinned and smiled like a pervert man. Then, I snapped back thinking that I shouldn't think about that. Even Sarujima looked at me with such sharp eyes towards me with a grin smile. I waved my hand left and right to him indicating that it was not what he thought. His hearing's strong enough to listen to my conversation even though it wasn't on loudspeaker mode. When I wanted to say something to Kotonoha's little sister, the phone was out of the line already. I was disappointed and turned into depression. I put my phone on the table and thought that I should rest for tomorrow. However, before taking a rest, I talked a bit with Sarujima about his role, Persona ability and power as well as the things that had happened to me.

"Sarujima, may I call you Saru instead?" I asked him.

"Yes. We are partners now," he gave his permission.

"Alright then, Saru it is. Saru, I have whole bunch of questions about all these things. About Shadows, Velvet room, Persona and whatsoever. I still don't understand about all of these things. I mean it's all hard to just accept these as a normal life," I explained to him about these supernatural.

"Makoto, I can't explain all the questions as you yourself will have to search about the answers of them. Although, I can explain some of your questions. The Shadows are the enemies born within the human's wish and desires carrying with human emotions, which are mostly negative. As you can see, there are many people who live in this world let alone in this city. I suspect that these Shadows will almost always come out whenever human's wish are strayed path out of the road. I was born and created right after you received your Persona ability. So, anything that happened during your time received the power, that I can't answer," he answered partially.

"I appreciated your answers. Thank you," I thanked him.

"My Persona is Utsubozaru. I don't know if you have noticed but you and I have the same power to look the intel within self and enemies," Saru told me.

"I do? But, how?" I asked him in curiosity.

"Enhance your eyes and souls, look deep into your heart and your Persona. You can check its status and abilities as well as Strength and Weakness," he explained the way.

As I followed his instruction, I closed my eyes. I was able to see clearly my Izanagi Persona within my soul and I could see his Strength, weakness and abilities. He's weak against wind but resist against Lightning and completely block Darkness. So, that's how it is. I began to understand how to look into Persona's info. Though, element vulnerability is something that I still don't understand.

"A Persona's status will also inherit to the owner's status as they are one. Also, Persona can also grant its unique ability aside from its normal ability that it can be bestowed to the user. As example, thanks to my Persona Utsubozaru's unique ability of high sense of hearing and eyes, I can hear many voices up to 50 miles and look into Shadows' info despite the weakness status of Fire. Although, my Persona is strong against Wind and Light," he continued explaining.

I couldn't believe what I just heard. Did he just say that he could hear voices up to 50 miles? His Persona is amazing. Then, what is my Persona's unique ability? I wanted to find out about that yet no clue on how to use it.

"Some Personas do not have specific unique abilities. But, don't let it make you down. As I recall from my master, you have the power to possess multiple Personas. So, it is your desire to choose which Persona that you will bear in your soul. After which the status will be changed too."

I guess my Izanagi didn't have any unique ability or at least I could find out later. But, it's awesome already. I wouldn't mind having this power to protect people.

"Thank you, Saru. It's quite clear now. I am happy you are my partner. Though, I am not sure what kind of misfortune will come to me," I explained my worry to him.

"I have no clue of that," he turned his head showing no knowledge about it.

I offered my hand for him to make handshake. He nodded and gave me handshake indicating we are now officially partner for lifetime. A voice once again echoed in my mind and a vision image showed Hermit 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 Hermit Arcana, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to universe and new power."

The vision and image are gone and suddenly, my phone rang. I broke the handshake and took my phone. It showed Kotonoha. She called back to my phone. I excused myself from Saru for a while.

"Ah, hello. Kotonoha," I greeted her with happiness.

"Yes, Makoto-kun."

"Thank goodness, that surprised me."

"I am sorry, that was my little sister."

"I see, that's your little sister?" I asked in emphasizing.

"Yes, her name is Kokoro," she indirectly introduced her to me.

"Haha. You two have unusual names," I told her that.

"Yes, we are often said by that. Ah, Makoto-kun?"

"Yes?"

"The truth is…. my little sister said she wants to meet you," she told me softly.

"Does that mean I can come to your house?" I asked her happily.

"Yes!" she replied with joy.

"Hooray, then I will sleep early and prepare for tomorrow. Thank you for telling me, Kotonoha."

"Yes, Makoto-kun. I will also look forward of your coming. Good night, Makoto-kun," she virtually kissed me.

"Good night, Kotonoha. See you tomorrow," I told her and virtually kissed her too, mimicking kissing stuff.

I was in a deep happiness that I forgot Sarujima. He laughed and looked at me.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA, look at you, so hilarious," Sarujima laughed with tearing drops from his eyes.

"Shh….. shut up," I flustered and my face was in beet red.

Anyway, I told him about me going to Kotonoha's house since the next day's Sunday. He said that he would not join as it would bother me. I asked for his forgiveness as I felt bad leaving him alone at home. He said that he had no problem with being alone for a while and teased me that if I went home too long, my apartment room would be messy while laughing cynically. I told him not to dare to do that. We both laughed and then went to sleep peacefully.

The next day, I woke up first. Sarujima was still sleeping like a log. So, I decided not to disturb him and wake him up. I changed my clothes and prepared to go to Kotonoha's house. I hope there would be no Shadows rising. I went to train straight and boarded it. Soon, I arrived the destination and walked until I reached Kotonoha's house. Her house was quite large compared to me who lived in apartment. I envied of her. I pressed the door bell and the gate opened. Suddenly, a little girl ran towards me and hugged me.

"Wow, it's the real thing," she said to me while hugging.

I was shocked. Then, a voice shouted out.

"Hey, Kokoro," Kotonoha ran and tried to stop her.

"Nice to meet you, big brother," she unexpectedly said that to me.

"Bi…. Big brother?" I looked at her and then to Kotonoha.

I could see Kotonoha was blushing. Surely, calling me big brother might indicate that I might be her brother-in-law. Thinking about that greatly embarrassed me. Then, I came in with her permission and took off my shoes. I noticed their parents weren't there and then we proceeded to Kotonoha's bedroom.

Her bedroom was so wonderful. It's full of pink color with quite many dolls and mirrors and anything that you could say about girls' stuff. We proceeded playing cards together, playing challenge in eating chocolate stick with both mouths together. That challenge surely made us totally shy and blush. Kotonoha panicked and she turned away blushing heavily while the stick was still in my mouth. Kokoro was frowning seeing her big sister couldn't finish the stick. After that, the next thing we did was greatly tiring as it required huge stamina to play horse riding with Kokoro. Kokoro sat on my back and I walked with animal style 4-legged while Kotonoha watched with worry about me. Not for about 15 minutes, I gave up and fell down. Kokoro was totally happy.

After that, we decided to take a break in the living room. Kotonoha poured tea on glass and I had a small talk with Kokoro.

"*sigh, Kokoro-chan, you really show no mercy," I looked at her with smile.

"Sorry, Kokoro's so playful," Kotonoha apologized.

I said that it was no problem. I thanked her instead. Kokoro spoke to me about something that really made me promise in lifetime.

"Big sister is so happy these days. Usually, she's showing neutral. I think it's all thanks to you, big brother," she cheerfully said that to me.

Kotonoha heard that becoming so much beet red in her face.

"Hey, big bro. Make sure you will always be big sister's boyfriend, okay?"

I was in a brief of silence for a while and Kotonoha was too. I looked at Kokoro and said to her with full resolution with patting her head.

"Yes, of course. I will always be her boyfriend. I promise," I told her and made a pinky promise.

I also said that Kotonoha's the most important person in the world to me. Kotonoha couldn't look at me with such a huge shyness covered her. Kokoro was grinning. It seems she was really happy and accepted me as part of the family. I think I may have bonded with her. Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind. A vision image showed the Justice 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 Justice Arcana, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to universe and new power."

I obtained the fifth Arcana. This is getting somewhere. The voice and images are gone once again. I smiled back to Kokoro and Kotonoha that I really spent time with them until nightfall.

TO BE CONTINUED