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:

Makoto saved Kotonoha from punks that were trying to sexually assault her. Despite hurting his lover, Makoto healed them using his Persona. Kotonoha and Makoto ran away before they were caught by people there and thought to be the one who responsible. As they decided to go separately at the train station, Makoto changed his mind and wanted to escort Kotonoha home. Arrived in Kotonoha's house, her parents were waiting and her father was furious at her and kept blaming Makoto. This caused Kotonoha to be angry at her father and went in house in tears.

CHAPTER 16

BOND

A brief of silence enveloped in the atmosphere after Kotonoha ran inside and cried. Her parents were distraught and her father was feeling very guilty. I wanted to comfort them. However, I was not in the right position to do that. Any more words that comes out from me would just worsen the situation. They turned their face on me. Mr. Katsura was the one who started saying something.

"Makoto…. Wasn't it? I am sorry to have accused you of everything. I was quick to judge people. That's my habit. The truth is I really love my daughter. I don't want her to fall into bad influence. You saved my daughter, right? You have my thanks. Right now, I don't think she wants to see me. Go, I'll give you permission to see her," he said that to me while looking sad.

"Yes," I replied.

I excused myself to both of them and went inside the house. Hearing what her father said makes me thinking that he must have trusted me already. But, I felt bad. I did really bring bad influence to Kotonoha. I mean that I had sex with her. I wondered what would happen if he found out? I decided to ask Kotonoha for this later. I took off my shoes and headed straight to Kotonoha's bedroom. I opened the door and found that she's still crying. She kneeled down and cried all the time in her arms. I approached her and touched her shoulder. She looked at me and suddenly hugged me. I embraced her hug tightly.

"Makoto-kun," she still cried.

"It's okay, Kotonoha. Your father was sad and feeling guilty. He truly loves you. Don't hate your father, okay?" I told her that and to comfort her.

"I don't hate my father, Makoto-kun. I love him so much. I just felt that he abandoned me."

"That's not true. He worries that you might be falling into bad influence. He doesn't think of me as a bad influence anymore," I relayed to her.

Kotonoha looked to me and I wiped her tears and smiled to her. She stopped crying and smiled to me. I kissed her quick and it was short. It's a good thing that she quickly rejoiced. This day must have been bad for her. If I wasn't there, she would have committed suicide.

"Um, Kotonoha," I wanted to ask her something.

"Yes?"

"Your father has already trusted me. But, I can't help but to wonder that it's true I might bring bad influence as he said. Well, we did have sex. What would happen if he finds out? There's no way that he will forgive me," I looked down.

Kotonoha smiled a little and touched my cheek.

"It's okay. We are always together no matter what the situation is. Father has to accept the reality," she smiled widely.

I calmed down from those words. At least, I wouldn't have to think of it for a while. After a brief of chat, I asked her to go down in the living room together and meet them. She agreed although felt awkward due to earlier conflict. So, we went downstairs together and her parents including Kokoro had already sat down. Her father was relieved that she's okay. Manami-san smiled to see us together and Kokoro became cheerful once again. We sat down together facing opposite of their directions.

"Ahem, Kotonoha. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to lash out at you. I didn't know what happened to you and didn't know your condition. I am the worst father ever," he apologized to Kotonoha.

"Father, I am sorry too. I shouldn't have shouted out loud. It's just that I don't want you to keep blaming Makoto-kun. He's my everything. I love him so much," she said with blushing.

I was blushing too and once, the atmosphere which was awkward became enjoyable, teasing and fun atmosphere.

"Oh, my, dear, it seems that we have found our son-in-law already," Manami-san teased her husband.

"Yeahhhhh, big brother Makoto is with big sister," Kokoro burst out with happiness.

Mr. Katsura was shocked but nevertheless, gave his approval indirectly.

"Well Kotonoha and Makoto, I have these two tickets to pool in Aqua Square. I received it from my company. My colleagues made reservations but I won't be able to join because something came up. I guess you could use it instead of me on Sunday," he offered to us.

"Ye… Yes! Thank you very much," we both thanked him.

"Not fair, I wanted to go with big brother and big sister too," Kokoro pouted.

"Well, I will buy extra ticket then for you. Would you mind taking Kokoro together?" he asked us.

"Of course, the more the merrier," I said to him.

We had quite a long talk until I suddenly noticed that it's way too dark. I must go home to cook food for Saru. I excused myself and told them that I wanted to go home.

"Oh? Going home already?" Manami-san asked me.

"Yes. It's already dark. I am afraid that waiting any longer might be not good to me. Besides, we have school tomorrow," I told them the reason.

"I see. That's too bad. Come and play with Kokoro next time and feel free to come at our house anytime to see Kotonoha hehehe," Manami-san teased me.

"Mo… mother!" Kotonoha blushed.

"Ha ha ha ha," I forced myself to laugh.

Her trust on me seems to be at very high level. It's as if I'm part of the family this moment. Then, I heard a voice echoed in my mind and showed me Temperance Arcana vision.

"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 Temperance Arcana, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to universe and new power."

The vision vanished and I couldn't help but smile that I obtained a new bond.

"Father, may I escort Makoto-kun to train station?" Kotonoha asked.

"No, let me. I want to speak with him for a while," he insisted.

"But….," Kotonoha was reluctant.

"It's okay, Kotonoha," I smiled to her.

Kotonoha then agreed reluctantly. She might be afraid that her father might scold me behind her back again. I don't think that's the case at this moment. Mr. Katsura changed since earlier. I wondered what he wanted to talk to me about. Then, we took off together. I put on my shoes and he did too. I also didn't forget to take the bag. I bid farewell for them and waved at them. Kotonoha, Kokoro and Manami-san waved at me. We walked while talking until to train station.

"Makoto," he called me.

"Hmm? What is it? Mr. Katsura-san?" I asked him.

"I am grateful that Kotonoha chooses you. I never see her love someone like you so much. She has changed lot ever since you came into her life. I could say that if you weren't with her earlier or weren't in her life, she might have committed suicide because of my foolish attitude and strict rules. I wasn't a good father. Because of my busy work, I haven't had any time to be with her and Kokoro. She might be thinking that I abandoned her. I wasn't really sure on how to approach my daughter," he relayed his bit past to me.

"Mr. Katsura-san, that isn't true. Kotonoha loves you very much. It's true that she felt abandoned but never once is her love decreased. She expects lot from you, a father. I am just her lover. But, the only thing that can't be replaced is the love between father and daughter," I said to him.

"Makoto… heh, looks like I was being lectured this deep," he sighed and then laughed suddenly.

"I… I didn't mean that," I startled because of my rude manner.

"Don't worry about it. Then, please take care of my daughter and thank you again for saving her," he thanked me.

I smiled and nodded. Mr. Katsura-san is indeed a good person. He isn't bad. Earlier he acted hostile to me because of overprotectiveness to Kotonoha. As I suspected, a father's love to daughter is awesome. My father, on the contrary, is different. I don't know what he's doing but I hate him for leaving me and my mother. My little sister, Itaru, lives with him although she doesn't like him either. I guess Mr. Katsura-san might be my father-in-law. I shouldn't think too far. His trust to me has increased to the point he really gave his permission for me to be with Kotonoha. Once again, a voice echoed in my mind and a vision showed me Hierophant 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 Hierophant Arcana, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to universe and new power."

The voice faded and the vision vanished once again. Then, we talked and talked about other things until we finally reached the train station. As the train came, I boarded it and I waved to Mr. Katsura-san. I looked at the bag and at least, Saru can join with me the next day to school. The day has been long enough for all of us. However, I can't wait to go to pool in Aqua Square soon with Kotonoha and Kokoro on Sunday.

TO BE CONTINUED