A/N: A little reminder for you who are reading this. I have edited chapter one to chapter three. I have corrected some of the mistakes and chapter one and two are almost the whole rewrite thing. Though the plot is still there, I have added some new features inside. If you please, take a look at it.

Well, enjoy.

Today is the day…

Hamuko looked up to the sky. Today was the day Pharos warned her about the 'trial'. Due to the worry that lingering on her heart past few days, Hamuko requested Mitsuru to have everyone got back to dorm early. Out of curiosity, Mitsuru asked her the reason for the request.

How supposed she told her the whole thing? There's no point of telling her 'a boy warned me' or something out of sense. Mitsuru would definitely think she was out of her mind. It may cause her to lose the chance to figure things out. So she just told her 'my instinct tells me'.

Sighing, instinct was always a good excuse and reason to believe; at least it was enough to make Mitsuru believed in her. Junpei was pissed with that, though Hamuko knew the reason behind, she just pretended she wasn't. He acted like that since the day she was appointed as the leader of the group. She couldn't do anything with it, and the capped boy didn't give her any room for her to explain.

Junpei acted normally at school when everyone was around. He would actually talk and laugh with her like usual, but not down to things with Tartarus or shadow. He's acting he obeyed her order whenever they exploring Tartarus, probably because of Mitsuru was around. But still, Hamuko fully understood that he was not. If not, they could have a talk about this already.

Yukari told her she needed to take care of archery team first before getting back. Mitsuru was into her Student Council again and so Akihiko. They all promised would return home before the day went dark. Junpei was…well, no way could be found, but he would back when the time was right. Hamuko skipped any activities and meeting she might have, went straight to the dorm.

The other that caught her concern was Minato. He's acting weird the whole day. Usually he would place his MP3 on whenever he was in class. Ms. Toriumi had tired to lesson him anymore so she would just leave him be. As for what Hamuko saw today, he seemed drifted off somewhere else instead on his MP3. By the time the school finished, he went off ahead without leaving a goodbye like he usually did. He seemed in great hurry. Hamuko never saw such expression on that calmed Minato's face. She wondered what got into him.

Buying dinner from Iwatodai Strip Mall on her way to dorm, Hamuko decided she would stay in dorm waiting for everyone.

"We're here!" Pushing opened the door of the command room in 4th floor, Yukari and the others rushed in.

"Where is it? I'll rip it a new one!" Junpei was still having his jacket half way to put on.

Mitsuru turned to look at them with serious piercing eyes. "We've detected a shadow outside of Tartarus. We don't know for sure, but we think it's another big one. We have to defeat any of them we find, as quickly as possible. Most of the people don't know the Dark Hour exits. But if half of the city is destroyed, there will be panic. That must be avoided at all cost."

"In other word, we have to kick some ass right? Well, count me in!" Unknown to the reason, Junpei was getting excited.

"Geez…what is he so excited for…?" Yukari groaned, gave the capped boy a side glare. Hamuko pretended she heard nothing.

Mitsuru looked at Akihiko that was checking the bank console. "Did you manage to get to the chairman?"

"He's on his way here." Akihiko replied.

"Good. Akihiko, you stay here and wait for him."

"What!?" His tone was about to roar. "Are you kidding!? I'm going!"

"Who is here for chairman if you go along with them? And don't forget we still have Kamijou here. Who's going to take responsible for her?" Mitsuru stated calmly. Her words shut the silver haired senior efficiently. Haruka gave Mitsuru a glance when her name mentioned. "…You'll get your chance, Akihiko. They're far better than you think of. Have faith in them."

Akihiko gave up on arguing. He could never get a chance to win against the president of Student Council. "Dammit…"

Junpei took a step forward. Hamuko had a hint what he was going to say next.

"Hey, then who is leading the team this time?"

Hamuko rolled her eyes at that. Just EXACTLY what I think.

Akihiko didn't need any second to make his decision. "Tsukikage, you're in charge."

"What…? Her again?" Junpei groaned but kept it for himself. Hamuko felt malice shooting from him in his eyes corner. Sighing, she tried to ignore it, though that piercing sight was pretty hard to ignore.

"We're counting on you." Mitsuru added. Hamuko felt the weight on her shoulder.

"You guys should hurry and go on. Mitsuru, you need to get ready." Akihiko sat down in front the consoles, gestured Haruka to stay still.

"Indeed. Let's rendezvous in front of the station." After the brief meeting, Mitsuru went off ahead, leaving the others t in the room.

"I think we should hurry now." Hamuko told the other two. They went back to their room; get ready with their weapons and evokers.

So this is the 'trial' Pharos mentioned…she told herself while shoving the evoker into the gun sheath. Clapping her face, Hamuko nodded to herself in front of the mirror and went out of the room.

"Let's go!"

Sitting on the steps, Junpei, Yukari and Hamuko were waiting for Mitsuru to rendezvous as the senior stated earlier. Junpei got a can of drink hell knew where he took from and started to drink. Hamuko fixed her sight on the capped boy and the drink on his hand, wondered if the drink was fine to consume. Usually water turned into blood during Dark Hour like those on the ground, so what about the can drink?

It seems the drink is alright…Hamuko turned away her head as Junpei seemed to find out her gaze. Well, it's good to see the can drink was alright to consume, otherwise…Hamuko shivered just to have imagination Junpei was having a mouthful of blood across her mind.

"Where is she?" Yukari burst out. It seemed she couldn't stand the silence anymore.

"She will be here soon." Junpei threw the can he had finished the content to the front, met Yukari's glare soon after he lifted his head. "Why are you looking at me?"

"…Nothing." Yukari looked away with loathe on her face. Letting out a sigh, she lifted her head to see the gigantic moon just right in front of them. "There's full moon tonight…but it looks even creepier during Dark Hour."

Hamuko and Junpei did the same. The moon shined in green yellow hanged on the sky. The only different was it's so gigantic and creepy than normal hour. It just matched the environment around perfectly: scary and cold.

Hamuko saw this on the day Magician Attack. Come to think of it, she would start to dread when the full moon was approaching as if it symbolized something scary out of all the things in the world. Sometimes she would see a black figure with wings behind appeared in front of the moon like it was shielding the moon when she fixed her gaze on it too long. It scared her, and she sometimes even would have nightmare like that. It scared her to hell.

Shaking her head tried to stay away from the fear, Hamuko let out a deep breathe. She circled her body tightly, and found she was trembling all the times. She stood up and took a walk, hoping it would ease her fear.

Then, that's when they all heard the sound like a motorbike coming to their direction. They turned their head toward the sound, and truly found a motorbike approached and stopping in front of them. The rider removed the helmet, off the engine at the same time keeping the bike in balance.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." The rider was Mitsuru.

"Wow…senpai, this is cool!" Junpei said, the other nodded to agree.

"This is special made, and it can function even during Dark Hour." Mitsuru smile when talked about the bike, but soon changed back to her serious face. "Tonight I'll provide support from here. Everything else is the same. The shadow currently located inside the monorail not far from station. To get there, you'll have to walk on the track."

"Are you serious!? Isn't that dangerous?" Junpei exclaimed. Yukari was rather worried in other way.

"Don't worry. No electrical equipments are operable during Dark Hour, including monorail."

"But your bike…" Yukari looked down to the cool white bike, sounded uncertain.

"As I said, this is special." Mitsuru handed them the communication tools and place on the ears. "Well, before we start our mission, I need to remind you that I detected another presence inside the monorail."

"What!?" Yukari and Junpei shouted at the same time.

"Senpai, is that human?" Though Hamuko was uncertain, but she remembered Theo told her about 'another Wild Card'. Pharos did mention 'both of you' the last time he warned her, so that's must be something to do with this. Perhaps another Wild Card is already here…

"Yes, I assume it's the passenger of the train." Mitsuru's tone filled with an obviously worry. "Listen. Our main target is the giant shadow. You may encounter people in the train, so be prepare. No matter how, we cannot get the people involve in the battle with shadow. You get it?"

"Yes, senpai!"

"This is it, right?"

After going through the track, in between station Iwatodai and Port Island, they found the target monorail. Staring up to the train, Yukari asked uncertainly.

"Can you all hear me?"

"Yes, clearly." Yukari replied. "So the big shadow is in this monorail?"

"The readings are definitely coming from the monorail. Proceed with caution and stay together."

"Senpai, what about the presence you detected earlier? Is the person still on the same spot?" Hamuko asked. She was more curious about the person inside the train.

"…Let's see…the presence is moving…wait…!" Something seemed wrong from Mitsuru. "The presence is heading toward the target! Hurry up and move!"

"Got it!"

"Who's that anyway!?"

Once they're in the train, what their mistake was failed to aware the door was closed up. They realized that when the train started to move but it was all too late.

"W-What!?" Yukari exclaimed, almost freaked out.

"Hey, it's moving!" Junpei tried to open the door but it shut tightly like they're glued.

Instead of freaking out like the other two, Hamuko was looking the way ahead of them.

"…Wait, silent." She shut Yukari and Junpei by putting a hand in between them. "Do you guys hear anything?"

Yukari and Junpei exchanged a gaze before concentrated on listening what's in front. If you just kept silence during Dark Hour, silence could have killed you. It's dead silence, despite the sound of moving monorail. Anyhow, because of this dead silence, they managed to catch fighting sounds from car ahead. The three of them looked at each other, nodded agreed to go.

"…We have to hurry. I have a bad feeling if we don't." The train was still moving, no sign of stopping for now.

"What are you waiting for!? This train will soon crush into other train in front! Move now!" Mitsuru's voice cut in.

"C-Crush…?" Yukari snapped at the word. "CRUSH!?"

"You only have eight minutes left. Hurry up!" Mitsuru pushed them in urge. "To stop the train, you'll have to defeat the shadow in the first car. It seems the giant shadow has take control of this monorail!"

"Y-Yes!"

They grasped tight on their weapons, ran to the door to the second car and continued their way to the first car. On the way, they encountered no enemy and not even a human, they're only coffins. The fighting sounds were even intense when they got there. They nodded to each other before opening the door. When Hamuko grabbed on the knob, she felt her palm was froze, yet she still pushing opened it, ignored the freeze might hurt her palm.

Once the door opened, it revealed a shadow with half white and half black body woman sitting in the middle of the car with ice storm around.

"Hey…W-What is this thing…is this the target!?" The freezing breeze numbed their legs, stopping them from moving.

"Senpai, please analyze the enemy!" Thinking this would be the worst, Hamuko pulled out the evoker to her temper. "Eurydice!"

Eurydice cast the Agi skill to warm up the air. Hamuko looked around but found no trace of the presence Mitsuru mentioned about. The surrounding of the giant shadow was still blowing with icy storm. Hamuko again summoned Eurydice to use the fire spell on the enemy. The shadow let out a squeak, looks like it didn't work that much on it though, at least stopped the icy storm.

Once the storm faded a bit, Hamuko heard a light groan. She rushed forward, found a person kneeling on the ground.

"Hey, are you alright!?" She ran to the person. Suddenly blue light illuminated from the bottom of the person, Hamuko heard the name 'Orpheus' was being spoken.

Orpheus, despite the gender and appearance, it almost looked the same as Eurydice. The only different was it's having white hair and blue colored body. It cast Agi skill to heat up the air more so its master could move from freezing state.

"Y-You're…" Hamuko blinked when she recognized the person. "A-Arisato-kun!?"

"Talk later! We're out of time!"

It reminded Hamuko they were still in the middle of battle. "R-Right!"

"Tsikikage, that's shadow is Priestess. It doesn't have any weakness, and I don't think ice attack is effective against it. Avoid using ice spell." Mitsuru's analyze was just perfectly in time. "You still have five minutes left!"

"Yukari, please support with your healing skill…and Iori-kun…wait, Iori-kun!"

"The train is going to crush soon! I don't have time to listen to your so called instruction!" Ignoring the order from Hamuko, Junpei rushed to the Priestess by himself. Priestess stabbed him using its long solid hair by stopping him from getting near to it; somehow Junpei managed to dodge them and sneaked into it. "Got you!"

He slashed his sword about to touched Priestess, Junpei felt freezing wind brushed against his face. He knew something went wrong however, by the time he realized it was too late. The hands he used to grasp the sword were benumbed by the freezing wind and ice up. For now, he was all opened to Priestess.

"Holy shit-"

"Junpei!"

Junpei saw a smile across Priestess's face as its hair was just in front of him about to stab through him. His eyes widened, knowing full well this was all because he ignored the instruction from Hamuko, and he was no way to dodge. He shut his eyes, waiting the pain from the hair tear his body.

The next thing he felt was not tearing pain, but the momentum someone grabbed his collar and pulling him back. He rolled on the ground caused by the throwing from the person. When he opened his eyes, he saw a white haired figure blocked the attack for him, and the one standing in front of him was Minato.

"D-Dude!?"

Hamuko summoned Eurydice once again to heat up the air for all of them. Yukari on the other hand was casting Dia for Junpei's benumbed hands and legs. Instead of grumbling like she usually did, she just kept silent but her face had told him how she felt.

Without bother with him, Minato went back to Priestess prepared for another attack.

"Iori-kun, please support us with your fire skill! We're counting on you!" Having checking Junpei was alright, Hamuko followed Minato back to the battlefield.

Dodging the attack from Priestess, Minato found Hamuko entered the battle behind him. He pointed Priestess's mask for Hamuko, telling her to aim for it. Hamuko took a glance on the mask, shook after realizing she couldn't reach to it with all the hair attacking her and blocking her way like that. Even she cut it; the hair would regenerate within a second.

"I can't get through!"

Cursing, Minato blocked the attack directly using his sword to shield him. The momentum sent him back and hit on the car. Quickly catching up his pace, he ducked and dodged the hair that kept coming avoiding them to hit him.

"Tsukikage, I'll support you! Focus your attack!" He shouted, assumed the girl heard his call.

Hamuko leaped back with one hand sustained her body. "Okay!"

With tacit understanding, Minato rushed ahead ignored the scratches the hair narrowly shaving through, knowing Yukari behind would support with healing skill, the scratches healed instantly. Blue light illuminating, he called out the name.

"Surt!"

The huge flaming red god appeared in front of Minato, released the spell Ragnarok on Priestess. Raging flame burst out from underground engulfed Priestess with hell fire.

Seeing the chance, Hamuko grasped firmly on her naginata, ran toward Priestess. Without those annoying hair and having the Priestess on flame, nothing could block her way anymore. Summoning Eurydice on her run, she ordered her persona to toss her up to Priestess. Raising her naginata, Hamuko stabbed into Priestess's mask with all her might.

Letting go of her weapon, Hamuko jumped down and landed safely with the help of Eurydice. Priestess let out a grieved scream and struggled. Its mask split into two, melted into dark mist dissolved into the air. Within the dark mist, a piece of shattered glass was left floating on the air, splintering into small pieces and then dissolved.

"W-We did it…?"

"It's not over yet! The train is still moving!" Mitsuru's voice reminded them they were yet safe from the danger. "Stop the train!"

"S-Stop the train!? H-How are we suppose to stop it!?"

The other train was just coming in sight. They would crush into it not more than a minute—

Some of the images flashed across Hamuko's mind. On board the same train with Yukari and Junpei behind her, under the same scene going through, she saw—

Eeeeeeeekkkkkkyyyyyyyy—

Everyone in the train almost slammed forward. Yukari screamed and fell down, Junpei tripped while his hand grabbing on the pipe. Everything went silence by the time Hamuko opened her eyes in heavy pant. She closed her eyes all the time waiting for the crush, but she found nothing happened. Everything was fine as ever. Lifting her head in confusion, she felt a light warm covered her hand on top. She looked down at it, saw her hands was on the hand break on the control panel of the monorail, and another pair of hands on top of her. That's Minato's.

"A-Arisato-kun…" Her voice appeared to be shaky than she could imagined. Minato lifted his head meeting her crimson eyes, his face filled in confusion as well.

Did I just pull the hand break? Hamuko had no memory she had moved just now. She only remembered she saw some images that appeared to be inside the train as well, and—

Yeah…it told me to pull the break…but then, did she move from the position she was earlier? Was it…my body moving itself?

"W-We're safe…?" Junpei and Yukari barely recovered from the terrible shock they experienced a moment ago.

"M-My legs is shaking…!" Yukari chuckled bitterly. She just let herself rested on the ground without bothered to stand up. Not that she could either.

Hearing that, Hamuko started to realize her legs was trembling as well. Letting go of the break, she staggered and almost tripped. She let out a light squeak, having leaned over on Minato. Fortunately the cool boy managed to sustain her weight without falling behind.

"I-I'm sorry, Arisato-kun…" She chuckled dryly; knowing she won't be able to balance herself for now, just leaving her body leaned against him.

Minato closed his arms around her, finally lost weight on his legs and fell down. Hamuko felt the arm around her was shaking lightly. She smiled, patted his back.

"It's over…"

"Yeah, it's over…"

Haruka opened the door, revealing the panted Ikutsuki outside of the dorm with his bicycle laid on the ground. She only spared him pity glance, urging him to be quick with her monotone.

"S-So h-how's the t-thing…?"

"…It's over. Priestess was killed." Haruka answered while handing him a glass of water. Ikutsuki immediately took it over and drank. "…You should hurry to upstairs. Mitsuru-senpai is probably reporting."

"Phew…I'm alive!" Putting down the glass, he sighed in satisfactory. "Don't worry about that. I already know the result. So, tonight's encounter ended perfectly without scratch right?"

She nodded. "…However, we found another persona user."

"Really? Who is the person?"

Avoiding meeting his gaze, Haruka slowly turned away her head.

"…Arisato Minato."

I'm glad today is Sunday… turning over and over on her bed, Hamuko used her arm to block the sunlight shined through from the window. Stretching her hand to her phone, it showed the time twelve in the noon.

Yesterday was such a disaster. Fortunately they managed to defeat Priestess without a scratch. Thanks to Arisato-kun…oh hey, I need to talk to him! Having this in mind, immediately Hamuko jumped from the bed, rolling to the door ran down to wash herself.

When she finished up all the morning ritual (or rather afternoon ritual) and changed to her casual winter clothes, down at the lounge she found Mitsuru was there reading a book.

"Good morning senpai!"

"It's already afternoon Tsukikage." Mitsuru corrected her. "Anyway, did you have a nice sleep?"

She shrugged. "Barely. Where are the others?" She could understand about Yukari and Junpei though, but what about Akihiko?

"Akihiko went out fro exercise." Mitsuru knew it's probably because he couldn't join the team yesterday. "As for Takeba and Iori…you should understand more than I do."

"Well yeah…" Thinking about the scene from yesterday, Hamuko couldn't help but let out a sigh. "It's terrible."

Mitsuru put down the book on hand and shifted her position. "Indeed. If weren't the both of you pulled the break avoiding the crush, those people on the trains might have…"

"Don't talk such terrible thing senpai! It's over." Having a thought for the scene was enough to weaken her spirit. Shaking the fear and imagination, she walked toward the door. "I'm going to have breakfast. See you senpai!"

"Before you go Tsukikage." Mitsuru stopped her. "Please tell Arisato to come here in the evening…regarding what happened yesterday."

I should have known…probably about joining the team or something. But having Arisato-kun to join…is not bad at all. Thinking about their cooperation attack from yesterday caused a smile on her face. "Yes senpai~" I'm gotta ask him the same thing too…

She grabbed a tokiyaki at Iwatodai Strip Mall before heading to boy's dorm. Biting the food on hand along the way, Hamuko picked up the phone and pressed the number. Luckily she got the cool boy's number beforehand.

He's properly still asleep…let's see…Hamuko remembered Minato was a sleepy head like Junpei sometimes. If he was not listening to his MP3, then he must be sleeping on his table. However, though Ms. Toriumi had tired to lecture him anymore, she would reprimand the capped boy and just let go of Minato. It's a scene to see sometimes.

No respond from the other side of the phone…just exactly what she thought. Putting the phone back to her bag, she walked to the door attempting a knock. As she was about to knock, the door was pushing opened almost slammed on her face. She squeaked, pushed back the door and it slammed against back to the person that opened it.

"Uwwwaaaahhhh!"

The boy with brown hair covered his nose in pain and cried out. Hamuko winked a few times, had a hard time to realize what just happening.

"Tomochika-kun?" Tomachika Kenji if she was right. Junpei would hang out with him sometimes with Minato along. "Are you alright…?"

"T-Tsukikage-chan?" His eyes filled with water. "Do I look alright to you…?"

"I-I'm sorry…" Sighing, Hamuko felt bad for the guy. But why am I feeling bad? He was the one almost slammed me with the door. "Err…is Arisato-kun here?"

"You're looking for Minato? Ah yes, he's a sleepy head you know him." Rubbing his poor nose, he might consider to see the doctor if his nose has broken or not. "His room is on the second floor the last one at the left. Do as you please."

"I-Is it alright?" She blinked. This was a boy's dorm after all…Kenji only waved it off, with that Hamuko stepped in the dorm and closed the door behind.

She brought herself to the second floor to Minato's room. She knocked a few times, hoping a response from inside. However, no response or voice was coming to her. She frowned; surprisingly found the door was unlocked. Pushing the door opened, Hamuko saw the room was gloomy as the curtain blocked all the light from coming into the room.

Seeing the boy still on his bed, Hamuko raised her brows. She walked to the window and shoved the curtain aside; let the warm light shined through the room.

Letting out a light groan, the boy intended to pull up his blanket to cover his head. Hamuko knew exactly what's in his mind, grabbed the blanket and took it away before he succeed in doing so. He growled, turned around he buried his face into his the pillow.

What!? Even so he still attempting on a sleep? Hamuko snorted, formed a smug smirk as she leaned forward to his ear. Taking a deep breathes, she shouted out of her lung.

"WAKE UP, ARISATO MINATO!"

"Uwwwwaaaaaahhhhh!"

Minato immediately jumped up from the bed, losing balance as he tried to sustain his weight with his hand, ended up rolling down with back hitting on the floor. "Urgh…!"

"Good morning, Arisato-kun!" The moment he opened his eyes, he met her wide grin as if it's hiding a hint a mischief inside.

Looking around and having recognized the place he was in, he shifted his gaze back to the girl. Her bright smile sent him a freezing chill like the fight with the Priestess yesterday. An indeed freezing breeze if he must said. A layer of sweat formed on his forehead.

"M-Morning…wait, why are you here in my room?" His ears were still aching caused by her loud voice.

"Tomochika-kun told me I can come in and do as I please." She widened her grin.

"He told you? Argh…" He better remembers this. "So, what brings you here?"

"Mitsuru-senpai wants me to tell you gather at our dorm this evening. You know, about the thing yesterday."

Minato snapped his phone looking for the time, pissed by what showed on the screen. Giving the girl a glare, he once again climbed up to his bed.

"H-Hey!" Hamuko tackled his pajama pulling him from the bed. "No more sleeping! You still owe me an explanation!"

"I can explain tonight when we're having discussion…" He struggled to get back to his bed.

"No, I want it now!"

Looking at his determined face, Minato finally surrender to her stubborn request.

"…At least let me change first."

…

"Thank you. Please come again!"

Taking the foods from the shopkeeper, Minato and Hamuko were heading to the shrine at the back as Minato claimed that was a perfect place to have private talk. Biting the burger as they sat down on the bench, Hamuko was waiting for Minato to open up the topic while Minato was waiting for Hamuko to do so. Awkward filled between them as none of them spoke up. Hamuko took a glance at the boy, found he had no intention on bringing up the thing, she had to do that.

"…Don't you think you should start to explain to me?"

"I'm waiting for you." Rubbing the packaging he had finished the content, he leaned against the bench behind to have a comfortable position. "Now, I have to make it clear. I'm not doing this in purpose in hiding you. But things are a little…confusing to me."

"Confusing?" She frowned.

"…I'll tell you if you promise you won't laugh at it." Hamuko nodded to him. His gaze fell on the ground as he started to drift his mind. "…I have no memories about myself or the things around me. But things like Dark Hour or persona…it just seems I know them from the start. Things just make sense when the time is right approach…weird, huh?"

Hamuko widened her eyes as every word spoken out from his mouth. He was like a mirror she saw at herself. He was the same like her!

"Wait…where were you the first day in Iwatodai?"

"…I was in boy's dorm when I woke up. What's up?" He saw something in her eyes as if she experiencing the same thing. "Don't tell me…"

"I was in monorail, but the most frightening was I didn't know where I was heading! And I was…having no memories too…" Her voice trailed off, sounded uncertain and frightened at the same time.

"You're the same…?" Now his eyes filled with shock and slight uncertain. "Did you see a boy named Pharos?"

She gasped. "Y-Yes… he said I'm his half!"

"He told me the same thing…and the end."

Talking about the end Pharos had once mentioned, Hamuko felt terribly uneasy and cold inside. Her heart started to race. Her fists gripped tightly on her skirt until they turned pale white. Minato saw her trouble, patted her to release her fear.

"Are you alright?"

Panting, she assured him. "Y-Yeah…so, that's mean we're on the same boat?"

"I guess you can say so. It's a wise decision to have a talk ahead than with the others." He lifted his head to see the sky. It's quite chilling today, odd to have such weather since it's nearing summer season. "The others know nothing about your situation, right?"

She nodded. "Let's just keep it ourselves." She doubted they would believe in them though. "Hey, why are you there before we headed to the station?"

"Pharos had warned me about that. I guess you're the same." She remembered he went back in rush after school. "I knew you guys would be there, but I wanted to see with my eyes what the 'trial' Pharos talked about is."

Letting out a yawn, the cool boy closed his eyes in rest. He still hadn't recover from yesterday exhausted mission.

"…You know I'm in SEES the whole time?" She raised her brows in slight anger. They were fighting hard in Tartarus while he was observing them instead of lending his hand? It brought up her fury.

"…I know it since you and Kamijou moved to Iwatodai Dorm. Thinking I need to have more understanding with the situation and gather more information, I decided to observed before doing anything…hey, don't give me that look." He winced after seeing her expression.

"…Okay, I'll let it slip, but no next time! We're on the same boat, so you need to discuss with me." She swelled her cheek, looked away from Minato.

"Yeah…got it." Smirking, Minato closed his eyes again. This girl is interesting, isn't she? Life will be fumy with someone like this beside, huh? "I'm going to take a nap, what about you?"

"What!?" She exclaimed. "Sleeping again? You're just a sleepy head!"

"Whatever you say, I'll sleep." Ignoring the girl, Minato went ahead to lay his head on the bench. Seeing that, Hamuko snorted, sighed for his laziness.

Letting out a yawn after looking at his sleeping face, she felt her eyes was started to get heavy. Cursing for his sweet sleeping face, she laid her head beside him and closed her eyes.

Guess I'll need a nap too…

"I just cannot stand the both of you…geez…" Yukari grumbled as she watching their yawning face.

Yukari and Junpei went to look for them when the girl hadn't back from her lunch time. Mitsuru was worrying about her and had Junpei gave a call for the cool boy, but got no respond too. She figured they probably were together somewhere else, and had the two to look for them. At last, they found they're sleeping on the shrine's bench.

"Blame him…" Hamuko pointed at Minato beside her. He barely gave her any response.

Mitsuru, Akihiko and Ikutsuki went down from the stair, taking their seat at the lounge. Now, everyone of them gathered there with Yukari and Junpei sitting together, Haruka, Hamuko and Minato on same sofa, and Akihiko was with Mitsuru. Ikutsuki was alone on the individual sofa as always.

"I think you should have known the reason we call you here." Mitsuru spoke first.

"If you're going to talk about persona and shadow, then you can skip it. Like Tsukikage, I know most of them already, and she had given me a brief talk regarding the situation."

"…Hey…you two are just freaking damn." Junpei said in disbelief.

"Agree." Yukari chuckled dryly. She looked rather uncomfortable with the situation.

"Then, I'll straight to the point." Mitsuru took out a case and opened it. It contented the evoker and red band. "Will you like to join us?"

Minato gave the others a glance before answering. He didn't need any consideration about the question. "Of course."

"Welcome aboard, Arisato." Akihiko raised a playful grin.

Yukari, on the other hand, remained silent. Hamuko noticed her unusual silence, wondered what got into her. She remembered Yukari acted strange the day Mitsuru asked her to join as well. Is it something to do with Mitsuru-senpai?

"This is indeed good news. Our member suddenly jumped to six in a short period. Exploring Tartarus will be more and easier with the power we got." Ikutsuki said. He sincerely stretched out his hand to Minato, but like Hamuko, Minato barely responding to his welcome. Instead of giving his hand, he just nodded to him.

"I'll make adjustment regarding your move to our dorm. Is there any problem?" Mitsuru asked. Minato only shook. "Then, welcome to join SEES."