Run down from the station, Hamuko brought herself to the back alley in Port Island station.

She passed through the floweriest, went straight until she saw a man wearing a brown coat and a cat, she formed a wide grin and ran faster.

"Senpai!"

"Who's your senpai?" Her wide grin immediately met a cold glare.

"Of course that's you, Shinjiro Aragaki-senpai!" His cold glare didn't put out her good mood. Her smile even brighter. "I heard from the classmates! They told me you're a student of Gekkoukan. They said they saw you talked to Sanada-senpai a few times. So you're my senpai!"

"Tch…who's the big mouth…" Shinjiro cursed, looked away from Hamuko down to the cat.

Hamuko knelt down beside him. "Oh oh…how are you? You are a lot better than before! Thank you senpai!"

"…I just did what I've promised."

It's been a week since Hamuko met Shinjiro in back alley. On that day, Hamuko came to Port Island to take a walk or watched a movie to while away her free time. When she got down from the station, the weak cat immediately caught her attention. Seeing the feeble cat, Hamuko decided she couldn't leave it be, so she went to the cat, and happened to step into back alley.

She went there only for the poor cat, but the appearance of some punks alerted her immediately. She knew how low and dirty this place and its peoples, she was too inexpedient to get in here without realizing the danger, and she ended up got entangled by them.

She gritted her teeth, cursed for her careless inwardly. Try not to get provoked by them; she searched for a way out. She remembered she brought the evoker with her in the bag. It's pretty risky though, but they left her no choice. At the same time, the evoker might put her into danger as well if they found out that's fake.

What she should do? Did she really have to take out the evoker?

"Hold it there."

A voice stopped from taking out her evoker. Those punks turned to the new comer, face twisted once they noticed who the person was.

Hamuko didn't miss the great chance. Taking a step forward, she dashed through the encirclement of the punks, ran towards the new comer and hid behind him.

"Yo Shinjiro, what's your business here?" Punks A said.

"…Nothing. I'm just thinking if you guys have shame for bullying a high school girl." The bold man Shinjiro took a quick glance at the girl behind him.

"What!?"

"Stop there pal." The other punks stopped A by grabbing his shoulder. "Say Shinjiro, is that hot chick your girlfriend? Speaking of which, you're from Gekkoukan, aren't you?"

"Shut your mouth up. I know nothing about her." Shinjiro narrowed his eyes, shooting a dead glare to the group of punks. "Leave."

"What did ya say!?" A couldn't take it anymore. "Take this you ass!"

He thought his fist would land on the bold man's face. However, his fist stopped in front of Shinjiro, met the palm of the guy before he received a murderous glare. He stunned, having no idea what had happened. The next thing he came to realize was his nose being punched and his body was slamming on the wall.

Hamuko winked, totally blinked from the scene. She didn't know how the thing was going on next. The only thing she saw was all the punks lying on the ground, some with injured hands and body, and some with bleeding noses.

It was a scene to see though. All the punks lied down half dead, only Shinjiro was standing there. For a moment, Hamuko saw a great savior came to save her. She only caught back her mind when Shinjiro cleared his throat in embarrassment.

"Y-You're great! You save me!" This was the only thing she could think of in her blank mind. It made her sounded like an idiot though.

"…It's nothing." He watched the punks ran away in disorder, and then turned back to Hamuko. "Are you dumb? You know what kind of this place is?"

Hamuko winced a little. "I know…I came here because of the poor cat…"

She pointed the weak hungry cat. Shinjiro stared at the cat for a while before he spoke.

"…Leave the cat to me."

"Huh?" Hamuko widened her eyes. She hoped she didn't mistake him.

Shinjiro shoved his hands into his coat's pocket. "I said leave the cat to me. You, don't ever came here again." He then lifted the cat, carefully held it in his arm. "Get out of here."

However, the girl didn't listen to him at all. Like today, she intentionally came all the way here to take a look to see if Shinjiro and the cat were here. She even brought something for the cat.

"Tada! Take a look at this!" She took out the cat food she bought at Paulownia Mall before she came here. "I bought it for you. Dig in!"

Opened up the packet of the cat food, Hamuko put it in front of the cat. The cat mewed happily; quickly dig in the reserve-for-it food.

"…You, I did tell you don't ever come here." Shinjiro said added pressure in his husky voice.

"I'm not 'you'. My name is Tsukikage Hamuko." She remembered she hadn't introduced properly to her senpai. "Nice to meet you, and thanks for saving me the last time." If wasn't senpai, she might take out the evoker, hoping it would scare the punks off. But it's risky, she couldn't imagine what if she failed and the punks found out the gun were actually faked. She couldn't afford to lose the evoker, though Mitsuru could make her another one, she still hated this.

"…You better stay out of this place. You won't be so lucky next time." He warned her once again. This place was for the low life person like him, not for her.

"Yes yes senpai, you don't have to keep repeating the same thing…" She rolled her eyes, suddenly an idea hit her. "But I'll be fine as long as I stick with you right?"

Now Shinjiro who's the one rolling his eyes. Was this girl listening at all? He decided to shut up for his own sake.

"Senpai, are you friend of Sanada-senpai?"

"Yes." He figured it would be better to keep the answer short so she wouldn't dig out more questions.

"It's difficult to link both of you." She chuckled. They're so different after all. "By the way, why are you stopping coming to school?" She stole a glance after asking the question, the question she wanted to ask since she knew this from her classmates.

"…It's none of your business." It's like she had hit his spot. His face immediately dropped, added tenser into the air.

Hamuko shut her mouth up. She knew she had crossed the line as judging by his expression. Even a dumb could sense something was wrong.

Maybe something happened in his past…he must have tried so hard not to recall his grieve. You're such an idiot, Hamuko!

She cursed inwardly, clicked her tongue at the same time. Seeing his tensed expression, Hamuko desperately hoped to find something to lighten up the situation.

"Err…oh yes, senpai! We saw a white dog saved a little boy few days ago when we're having a little exercise with Sanada-senpai." Shinjiro didn't respond to her, she continued. "You know there's a shrine behind our dorm? The white dog is from the shrine."

"…You mean Koromaru?" He finally spoke up. At least he didn't mad at her…Hamuko felt relieve inside.

"Do you know the dog?"

"…I've seen the dog few times before." His lips curved into a light smile once talked about the dog. "He did a good job."

"Yes! The boy almost got his pendant wrested by the robber. That's the last piece of thing his mother left for him." Hamuko said while looking down at the cat, unaware the bold man was stunning after hearing her story.

"…What's the boy name?"

"I remember…is Ken Amada." Now she found he's acting weird. "Senpai?"

He stood up, didn't bother to answer her anymore. He left her in that place, but did warn her once again before turning himself to this low and dark place.

Hamuko didn't know what has got to her senpai. Sanada-senpai acted strange when he found out the boy's identity too. Was the boy the one who made them acted such strangely?

What had happened between these three persons? She clenched her fist tightly on her chest, realized she was fear deep down in her heart. She once again looked at the direction Shinjiro had gone a moment ago, as if like he would disappeared in front of her…forever. She had no idea where this sadness and fear came from, but she knew she couldn't leave the bold man behind.

Let out a trembling sigh, she patted the cat one last time before leaving the back alley as Shinjiro kept warning her: she shouldn't come to this place.

"I have to go back now. Take care of yourself, k?" She stood up and lifted her head to the red sky. It's almost evening. "See you."

The cat mewed in laziness. Hamuko chuckled, turning and leaving the place.

Two more days…she had to take care of Tartarus first.

Inside Tartarus, there were three persons fighting the creepy creatures with their persona and weapons. Though I said 'they', but mostly done by Hamuko herself, Yukari and Junpei supported her from behind, since Hamuko got multiple persona on hand, and of course of her excellent speed and power.

Take out the last enemy in front, Hamuko let out a heavy sigh. She checked on the other two to see if they're fine, found Junpei was extremely odd and silent. Hamuko knew what's in his mind, though she was not playing heroin, but the cap boy truly unsatisfied she took the position as a leader in the group.

She didn't want such misunderstanding to get the better of them, but the cap boy totally ignored what she wanted to tell him. At last, Hamuko gave up on explaining, hoping time would settle down on them.

Yukari found the stair. They all agreed to move on to the fourteenth floor, the floor Mitsuru informed them there were some strong presences earlier.

Two more days, there would be the day Pharos warned her about the 'trial'. Until now, she still couldn't understand what Pharos was trying to tell her. What was the 'trial' and who was the 'she'?

She was familiar with the 'trial' yet it didn't mean she knew what exactly it was. She experienced it before…but she totally couldn't recall any of this memories. It added more worry in her as she was already worrying before it was approaching.

"…It's just like the day Magician attacked us…" She muttered softly.

Yeah…she was worrying like hell on that day too. Now she felt exactly the same.

"Be careful. I detect three strong enemies in this floor. They're probably the Shadow Guardians." Mitsuru informed the group through the line.

The three of them nodded to each other, agreed to approach the enemies like they did in the previous floors. They ran into Shadow Guardians in fifth floor and tenth floor as well. They believed they would make it this time too.

They walked near to the targets with full alert. Take a peek, Hamuko saw three strange look shadows with huge robot-like…or she should say more like a vehicle-like black shadows waiting in front. It looked strong, Hamuko thought as her hand reached to the line.

"Senpai, please analyze the enemies."

"Roger. It may take a few minutes." Then, she went silent, probably starting her requested mission.

"Hey, what are we waiting for? Let's do this like before!" Junpei shouted, couldn't stand to wait.

"Shh, Stupei! You will attract the-" Before Yukari could finish her sentence, a rumble sound was heading to them. Yukari turned around, gasped when she saw the Shadow Guardians was dashing towards them, "I told you, Stupei!"

"I-It's not my fault!" Junpei also lost idea on how he should react.

"Evade!" Was coming from Hamuko. They quickly did as what they've been told.

All of them took out the evoker with them, ready for the battle. Junpei was the first charged to the enemies without being informed.

"Take this, you ass!"

"Stop there Stupei!" Yukari cursed. "Why is he always like that!?"

He always acted such rashly…Hamuko also shouted in her mind, still she quickly back up him in case something happened.

Junpei slashed down his sword. He did feel he had cut through the thing with his sword however; the enemy was fine as ever, not even a scratch!

"W-What the heck!?"

"Tsukikage, they are Rampage Drive, Arcana Chariot. Physical attack doesn't seem to work on them." Mitsuru informed the group once she had done with the analysis.

"You heard it Iori-kun?" Hamuko ordered the two to stay backward. "We're going to use magic attack!"

"Got it!"

"I know!"

They both cast Garu and Agi skills on the Rampage Drive, Hamuko cast Zio skill. Their magic attack did effective on them however, they took too little damage. In this case, they would catch themselves in expended fight. While Hamuko thinking of a strategy, the Rampage Drive charged on Junpei with its Assault Dive skill.

"Urgh! D-Damn…!"

"Junpei!" Seeing the cap boy almost dying from such an assault, immediately Yukari summoned Io to heal him. "Hang on!"

"It's…strong! Damn it!" Junpei wiped off the sweat on his forehead, legs trembling for the almost dying experience.

Hamuko checked on the persona she had with her, only found Ara Mitama that could stand up against their Assault Dive skill. But Ara Mitama was out of magic attack, that's the biggest problem!

What she should do?

-What…this…

-…is Compendium…belongs to you…

Huh? Wait…what is that?

"What is this that you're always holding on your hand Theo?"

There's a time Hamuko visited Velvet Room when Igor was out, only Thoedore was there to greet her. That's the question she asked him that time.

"You mean this?" Theo looked down to the tome. "This is called Compendium. It's belongs to you."

"To me? What is it?" She asked him if she could take a look and the blond nodded.

"They are persona you have gained in your previous journey."

"Wow…they're many of them…" Was they all her? Even Theo told her so, it didn't sound real to her at all. "Can I summon them?"

"Of course you can, as long as they respond to your call."

This time Hamuko took a clear look at the persona one by one started from the Fool. She saw her initial persona Eurydice, below her was a persona similar to Eurydice, despite that's a male.

"Orpheus…?" She showed it to Theo. "Why he looks similar to Eurydice? Is this mine too?"

Theo fell silent for a moment, seemed had difficulty on explaining to her.

"Theo?" Hamuko called him once again. He seemed drifted off…was he alright?

"Orpheus is not yours…he belongs to someone else, a Wild Card like you." His words widened her eyes.

"Another Wild Card?"

"Yes…both of your Compendiums had combined as one when you restart your journey. He is…restarting his journey as well." Theo looked away from her as if he was attempting to hide something.

"I see…" She finally understood Pharos told her the 'both of you'. Pharos knew there's another Wild Card. However, it still didn't explain the 'she' and 'trial' he spoke.

She looked down at Orpheus again, strangely she found Orpheus's feature was matching with Minato…but how could that be? She chuckled with the idea.

"Master Hamuko, you're please to summon them in your battle. Remember to listen to their voices…they are part of you as a Wild Card. And if you need to update your Compendium, I'm here to assist you as always." Theo gently spoke.

She smiled, felt pleased and delighted by his usual gentle behavior.

"Thanks Theo!"

"That's it! The Compendium!" To avoid the expended fight, she needed an instant kill upper class magic to take them all in once. "Yukari, Iori-kun, please hold the enemies for me! Few minutes are enough!"

"Huh!? O-Okay!" Yukari nodded even she had no idea what their leader had in her mind. She had to trust her!

"Be quick, you got me!" Junpei felt desperately useless he was in this battle, magic attack was not his particular specialty, and his physical attack didn't work at all!

Hamuko closed her eyes, trying to search for any persona that responded to her, as well as matching the situation they were in.

Come on…hurry up…are you here for me? Please lend me your strength!

-…As you wish, master.

A golden yellow haired little girl that dressed in blue skirt came for her, stretching out her slim hand to Hamuko.

"Alice!" Hamuko pulled the trigger at her temper, summoning the little blonde. Alice cast her instant kill spell 'Die For Me' on the three Rampage Drives.

Darkness engulfed the Shadow Guardians, melting and leading them into deep death, without leaving a trace. The little blonde raised a childish grin before returning to Hamuko.

After the fight, Yukari cast Dia to heal any injuries they got while they holding the enemies for Hamuko. And then, she looked at Hamuko with little uneasy written in her eyes.

"Hey, was that girl a persona too?"

"Yes…her name is Alice." Judging by their expression, Hamuko had a feeling she had overdid it. Well, Alice was an upper class persona in Death Arcana…though Yukari and Junpei were having no idea about that, Alice still appeared to be too strong.

But there's no way she would tell them Alice was the persona she gained from her previous journey. Even Hamuko herself couldn't believe that, but it's good none of them received serious damage. With the personas she had with her, it would be a big help to explore through Tartarus. Still, it's better to keep the Compendium as a secret.

"Um…come on, we're heading to the next floor!" Hamuko avoided the doubted sights from Yukari and Junpei, took the lead while didn't forget to grab the treasure box before climbing up to the stair.

They found a dead end on sixteenth floor.

"Good job everyone. You may return to the entrance." Mitsuru stated.

As the other two heading to the access point, Hamuko quickly grabbed the case aside, opened it and found the First Old Document. Yes, just the thing she needed exactly!

…

"Thank you Master Hamuko." Theo accepted the First Old Document sincerely from Hamuko. "Here, please take this." In exchange, Theo gave her a Bead Chain as a reward.

"Then I've done with the request. Let me know if you want anything else!" Hamuko waved him goodbye, went back to her friends.

Theo looked down to the First Old Document, uttered with mix feeling shown in his beautiful eyes.

"They will soon meet each other…"

"No Theo. They had met each other." A girl dressed similar like Theo with pale yellow short hair coming to his way.

"Sister Elizabeth…"

Elizabeth let out a smile; the same expression like Theo appeared on her small face as well.

"Let see what they will bring to the future, Theo. We…cannot interfere with their fate."

Though Theo understood what his sister meant, it's still heart wrenching to see the both of them repeating their journey and suffering from the same pain again…it's so heartbroken to see her disappeared in front of him once again.