Fool: Makoto Itou & Kotonoha (The relationship meter), Rank 4
Magician: ?
Priestess: Kotonoha Katsura, UNLOCKED
Empress: ?
Emperor: ?
Hierophant: ?
Lovers: Sekai Saionji, UNLOCKED
Chariot: ?
Justice: Kokoro Katsura, UNLOCKED
Hermit: Sarujima, UNLOCKED
Fortune: ?
Strength: ?
Hanged Man: ?
Death: ?
Temperance: ?
Devil: ?
Tower: ?
Star: ?
Moon: ?
Sun: ?

Previously on The Power of Everything:

Kotonoha had her sleepover in Makoto's apartment. That morning, they were about to be late for school. They prepared bento together by exchanging roles in order to save time. As they arrived school, they followed the lessons until lunch time. During lunch time, Makoto went to roof followed by Kotonoha later on. Makoto had hoped to taste Kotonoha's cooking but due to another accident, he didn't get to taste the cooking. Makoto suspected it was some sort of bullying but had no evidence to prove it. Nevertheless, they planned going on date to find bag for Saru after school.

CHAPTER 14

OPERATION DESERT STORM

Kotonoha and I were still on the roof discussing about plan to buy bag. Kotonoha said that we should split up in order to decrease the chance of being caught or recognized by townspeople. I told her that I agreed with her. I also told her that we should put on disguise clothes so that people wouldn't see us as the same people previous days. She nodded. It's a good thing I brought extra casual clothes for me and Kotonoha.

"Kotonoha, let's name this "OPERATION DESERT STORM"," I said while pointing to the sky with cool style.

Kotohona giggled and then laughed looking at me like that. I felt like dumb showing off like that, but I'd do that just to see her smile. I told Kotonoha that the name is "Desert Storm" because in the desert, we try to hide from the sandstorm to reach the target. Townspeople in this case, is the sandstorm. She nodded understandably and then not for long, the bell rang indicating the lunch break was over. We returned to our class and followed the lesson again until the end of the school.

After school, Kotonoha and I met at school gate. Before we departed, I took her to school restroom where no one was there. I handed her casual clothes that could be fit for woman. We both went to restroom and changed clothes with me going to boy's and Kotonoha went to girl's. As we finished changing, we look totally different compared to our last date. With this, people wouldn't be able to recognize us. Then, we get ready to depart to train station. Again, I felt numerous eyes were looking at us the moment we departed from school gate. When I turned back, there was nothing except students that I never see. Then, we walked together until we reached at train station. We boarded train as soon as it came and went to Sakakino town. During our destination to Sakakino, I noticed a person familiar in my class, that was Kuroda-san. I think I saw her looking at us with a bit of contempt. But, I ignored her. It doesn't seem like Kotonoha noticed her or rather yet, I doubt Kotonoha knew her. Time passed and the train arrived at destination. We walked to Sakakino town and arrived. I had doubt that we might get discovered by townspeople. However, none of them recognized us. It means the disguise worked.

"Kotonoha, I will go to the shop that I saw last time across the road. You can try to find the other shops we haven't explored. I will meet you back in 30 minutes," I told her.

"Yes, Makoto-kun. But…," her eyes expressed sadness and worry.

"Don't worry, I will be careful this time. I have my Persona," I smiled to her.

She got relieved and then we split up. Before I started moving, I closed my eyes and looked within my soul. My Persona is set to Melchizedek at this moment. I changed it into Raphael so that I won't die from that last incident from that truck. After that, I started moving and crossed the road. Oddly enough, nothing happened. I managed to cross the road and arrived at the front door shop. I opened the door and went in. The shop has lots of bags even big one. I looked around more because there are lots of choices. Honestly, I didn't even care about the design. Plain black is enough for me as long as Saru fit through. After several minutes making choices, I finally decided to choose this bag which is big enough to fit Saru. Not only that, the design is not so obvious than those school bags making it perfectly cover for me to put Saru inside. I take this bag to the counter cashier, made purchase and then be gone with it. I walked out from the shop and returned to the rendezvous point.

I crossed the road again with the bag in plastic and arrived at rendezvous point. I could say that the mission was successful. No panic in the crowd, no distraction and the townspeople didn't think anything weird of me. Saru would able to join with me every day to school. I still had 5 minutes before Kotonoha returned. I took my smartphone out and checked for messages. There were so many messages. One of them was from Sekai.

"Makoto, how's the lunch? It's been quite some time since Katsura-san talked to me. If she didn't talk to me about anything, then that means there was no problem between you two. I am envy. Anyway, Setsuna, Nanami and Hikari are with me in Burger café right now. I also am enjoying time with them. Good luck," Sekai wrote to me.

Looking at the message made me a bit odd. Sekai thought about me so much. The kiss from last time still bothered me. It's as if unsolved mystery. I put that aside for the moment as I noticed that the time is a bit far from the promised meeting point. It's been 10 minutes. Kotonoha should have arrived by now. I'm worried of her. I should go search for her while still remaining hidden until we arrived at my apartment.

I walked around Sakakino town to search for Kotonoha. I didn't have any luck. I couldn't find her. I was starting to get worried. I just remembered that I have the power to sense aura based on the unique ability that I looked. If I wasn't wrong, it was Izanagi. Then, I quickly changed my Persona and then I closed my eyes and concentrate. In deep dark view, I saw an aura of Kotonoha surrounded by 4 people not far from here. These auras are dark, filled with deep hatred and anger and…. Lust. I opened my eyes in panic. Kotonoha is in danger. I quickly ran towards the direction of those auras. I ran and I ran until I finally arrived at a very quiet alley which no people went through. I observed the situation by hiding near the wall. I saw Kotonoha and she was being surrounded and from what I saw, she couldn't escape. There was no gap for her to run through. Her eyes are crying and she was in deep fear. Those guys' clothes are similar of punk style and they are rebellious.

"He he he he, where are you going? Come on, let's go out somewhere," said the first punk.

"You ain't going anywhere, girl," said the second guy.

"You are so beautiful. Be my wife or else I will rape you and come haunt you for the rest of your life," said the third guy.

"No one is going to come and save you. It's time to taste the body of yours," said the fourth guy.

"No… no," Kotonoha felt helpless.

What these guys said makes me completely angry. However, from the situation, I was supposed to keep quiet and stay hidden in secret so no one would see me having supernatural power Persona and panicked. But, Kotonoha is also in danger. What should I do? While I was thinking so hard, they started getting closer to Kotonoha. There wasn't even time for me to argue. Of course, I would save Kotonoha even if I am exposed.

"Screw the cover up bullshit. No one is messing with my girlfriend," I said that loud in my mind.

Before I approached them, I put the bag leaning on the wall and I changed my Persona to Raphael so I would be invulnerable to Physical attacks. I suspected that these guys might have knives or guns. Those are physical types and they won't hurt me. Also, Raphael's other abilities include physical attacks "Sword dance" which deals massive damage to enemy. I think that would do. I came out from my hiding spot. I am pretty sure this would screw up the operation. However, Kotonoha comes first and I do not care what Saru will say.

"HEYYYY!" I shouted.

Those people turned around and looked at me with such annoyed.

"Ma…. Makoto-kun!" she felt happy to see with tear of joy.

Then, they laughed at me.

"HAHAHAHA, it's just a kid. Look kiddo, stop being a hero. Go home if you don't want to get hurt," said one of the punks.

"What if I want to get hurt? You bastards. She's my girlfriend. Touch her and I will make sure you will get what you deserved," I looked at them with intense anger and deep stare.

"Hooooo, she's your girlfriend? Then, don't worry. We will take good care of her," one of the guy's arms circled around Kotonoha's shoulder with a piece of knife pointing at her neck.

Looking at that made me even burst out of anger more. I walked towards them slowly.

"Stop! Don't you care what will happen to your girlfriend?" said the guy who circled his arms around Kotonoha with the knife pointing even closer to her neck.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Normally, in this situation, people would get scared and stopped being hero. But, I was different. I didn't feel fear, in fact I felt anger. Is it because that I possessed a power? Nevertheless, I would use this power for justice. Then, I pointed to three of the punks each.

"You, you and you. Come at me. I will give you a chance to hurt me," I challenged them.

"Cocky brat. Don't be sorry when you die."

All three of them charged to me. One of them used a knife and pierced through me. One of them punched me and one of them shot me using a gun.

"MAKOTO-KUN!" Kotonoha shouted.

"Whoa, hey there. I admitted that your boyfriend is tough. However, he's dead now," said the guy who was still taking Kotonoha as hostage and trying to restrain her.

I was still standing and not falling down. As what I have expected, there was no pain, no blood. The knife, the punch and the bullet that came through me. All of them are nullified as if there's an invisible shield that blocks all damage. The knife that pierced through me, I didn't feel like being pierced at all but instead, it shattered to pieces.

"What!" said one of the guy with a knife.

I grinned widely and looked at them. Their faces were in confused. They must have thought what I am since no normal person would be able to stand up after receiving those attacks.

"Are you finished now? It's my turn," I grinned and said to them.

All of them took back step and went backward. I raised my hand and a tarot card which is Lovers emerged from surface. All 4 of them looked confused and eventually become curious.

"What…. What is that?" said one of the guy.

"RAPHAEL! SWORD DANCE!" I shouted.

I broke the tarot card and a powerful blue aura surrounded me creating powerful wind. 3 of the punks were pushed back and bounced quite far. They fell down. One of the guy who was still restraining Kotonoha had deep sweat and his hands were trembling. Kotonoha looked at me with relief as she knew that I would save her any soon. Raphael emerged behind me and its appearance is similar to Archangel from the Christian mythology god. It wore heavy armor and wielded sword.

All 4 of them looked at me. They are now inflicted with fear.

"Who….. who are you?" said one of the guy with trembling voices.

I ignored his words and pointed to them. Raphael charged and inflicted one of them with its signature attack, the Sword Dance. The guy got slashed through and bled heavily making him unconscious. After that, it slashed another two of them leaving the last one who was still restraining Kotonoha standing. As he was the last person standing, he released Kotonoha and kneeled down.

"Pl…. please… mercy," he bowed down.

I came to him slowly and Raphael standing by behind me was waiting for me to give order. I looked at him down. I collected power in my fist and punched him hard which was enough to cause him unconscious. Raphael vanished. I breathed heavily and looked at Kotonoha.

"Kotonoha," I was no longer in anger when I looked at her safely.

"Makoto-kun, Makoto-kun!" she ran and hugged me.

"*cry," Kotonoha cries heavily.

I calmed her down and pat her head saying that she's safe already and that it's okay. I dropped my tears. If I had come late, she would have died for sure. It makes me glad that I have this power to protect my lover.

TO BE CONTINUED