We all passed the exam safely, even Iori-kun, which quite surprised me. I think Hamuko must have done something to him, either is advised or threatened him, I don't care at all. What she has done bring no harm to the others. Never will she, I believe.

Hamuko and Ariato-kun both share the same grade, the top student in 2-F, while I'm in top ten in 2-E. Despite their tiredness backed from the secret exploration in Tartarus, they still manage to come up with this grade. I have to say, they're impressive. Anyhow, the grade doesn't matter me. No matter what grade I got in the exam, it'll never change the world's fate.

Like usual, I'm sitting in my assigned seat and flipping the textbook on hand in boredom, waiting for Mr. Ekoda.

I wonder if we really need to know the content in this book. Will reading this makes me more human? I doubt it. I've been so many—until I can't remember—countless insulting and badmouth thing. I think that's the true human's nature.

Filthy, arrogant, naïve, stupid…the hiding self behind their good side.

From what I've been through, that's what 'human' truly are. Even them, those in class, or in hallway, or down to the school ground, they're no exception.

Even Tsukikage Hamuko. Even Arisato Minato. Even Kamijou Haruka—myself.

But Hamuko and Arisato-kun, they're special. They're special than anyone in here, at least I think so.

Hamuko simply lurks into my world without flicking her finger. Out of all the people, she approached me in the first place, stretching her friendly hand to me, told me 'we're friend.'. She entered my life, and—

Fill my life with different color, painting my life as she wants, draw it and—

Ruin it, turning my life into a mess.

I don't mean to hate her or anything. There's no way I'll hate her, and Arisato-kun.

Arisato Minato doesn't do anything in his part. But since the day we first met—

He has painted my world with his calm color.

I suppose he, or the both of them, has the very right to do this.

The world with plain color. They have their right to paint it with what they desire.

Either with horror, scream, pain or despair—

Or happiness, bright, smile and laugh. It's all up to them.

I'll never born in this world without them. So my world belongs to them. And me, this personality of mine, will vanish when the time is right. I'm not belong to this world.

From the beginning, I'm not belong to this place.

"Hmm…g-good morning, Kamijou-chan…"

A timid soft voice breaks in, pulling me from my deep pondering. Out of surprise, I lift my head to see the tale haired girl standing beside me with a soft smile. I recognize her. She is Fuuka Yamagishi.

"…Good morning, Yamagishi-san." I greet her back.

She put down her bag and sits down. Her seat is just in my right side.

Fuuka Yamagishi, I remember she's sick the first day of school, and have been absent until recently. She resumes her study before the mid-term. She seems better than she uses to be.

She is someone very important to SEES. Without her, the team will have a difficult time in exploring the labyrinth. But thing doesn't seem too good to me.

"Fuuka?" Yukari walks to her as she sees the shy girl. "Are you feeling alright now?"

"Yes…thank you Yukari-chan." Fuuka smiles to the brunette. "I'm fine."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You know, you don't have to take THAT Mr. Ekoda's word too seriously." Crossing her arms, Yukari commented.

"It's fine. I'm use to it." Fuuka chuckles when seeing Yukari's look. Ever since she resumes her lessons, that teacher never stop from speaking something bad to her.

I steal a glance on her, and then back to the book on hand. Is that truly what she thinks of? Is that really fine to her? I don't know. Sometimes I just can't understand why human smile even in the most difficult time. They, or she, can just yells out their feeling.

This is what the world taught them. To be strong, to be false, never reveal your true self in front of the others.

"Fuuka? Fuuka!"

Another voice break in. I lift my head to the voice, finding a dark skinned girl running to Fuuka with worry expression on her face. That's Natsuki Moriyama, I remember. She is in our class too, but in the eyes of the teachers, she is more than a headache, a problem student if I have to say. Her face always covers with heavy make up. Her skirt is just too short in some of the teachers' opinion. Thinking about that, I take a look at Yukari's mini skirt. Well, Yukari is the same. But at least she is different with Natsuki.

Their skirts are not the matter. The most important matter is that…

"Natsuki-chan, I'm here." Fuuka greets her, calling her name.

"Hey Fuuka, are you really alright?" Natsuki takes a careful look at Fuuka, checking on her like a big sister.

Fuuka chuckles at that. "Yes I'm fine. Why are all of you so worried about me?"

Yukari leans closer to me, whispering through my ear.

"I never think Fuuka will get along with someone like Moriyama."

I agree. No one can link Fuuka and Natsuki together. Despite their family background, their natures are just so different. Fuuka is quiet and polite while Natsuki is noisy and can be rude sometimes. They're just like a sky and earth. None of their natures match each others, yet they're getting along well than anyone expected.

"But I think you guys are so similar." The next second, Yukari comes up with other opinion, which surprised me.

"…What do you mean?" Turning my question face to her, I ask. I have no clue what she's trying to say.

Raising a smile, Yukari merely shrugs. "Look, just like I'll never think they become friend, no one will expect you and Hamuko get along, isn't it?"

Tilting my head, I nod. I get her now. "…I think so…" But that's the problem here.

I'll never happy to see Fuuka and Natsuki become friend.

This is not supposed to happen, but it's happening now. If so, what I should do? The fact that they're friend has making a twist in this world. This twist should never happen. I have to find a way to make the things right on its way.

"Get back to your seat. We're going to start the lessons!" Pushing the door aside revealing Mr. Ekoda walks into the class, it marks the start of the lesson of the day. However, I'm totally not in the mood of studying.

Excusing myself in the middle of the class, I go to the rooftop. Flipping open the phone on hand, I press the number that I hate the most. If I can…I'll never want to contact this person. Feeling my grasp on the phone tightened, I exhale to let out the annoying feeling. Pushing the unwanted and unknown feeling to the back of my mind, I wait for the answering from the other side.

"…Hello?" The male voice sounded from the other side, making a strange feeling in my heart.

Taking another exhale, I press down the almost-vomiting feeling back to the belly.

"…Haruka here. I need to discuss with you…regarding another persona user…and the next operation."

There's some strange rumor going through among the students. I was surprised to find that the rumor is related to Hamuko, Iori-kun and Arisato-kun. They said they're in triangle love. I doubt where this rumor comes from.

"Aww…why people keep talking about it!?" Hugging her head, Hamuko snaps, earning some glances from other students in the rooftop. "Say something to me, Haruka…"

"…What do you want to hear?" Biting the bread on hand, I really have no idea what I should say. "It's just a rumor. Don't take it too serious."

"I know…but they will give me some weird stare whenever I go! I can't take it anymore!" She's a victim here. Why people treat her like bad girl!? "I've done nothing…even Junpei-kun and Minato-kun seems pretty vexed too…"

I nod. I heard Arisato-kun's fan girls kept following Hamuko whenever she went. They did nothing, but the killing stares almost got Hamuko killed. If stare can kill someone, Hamuko might have died hundred times now.

I still finding no word can come out from my mouth. It's making me feel bad for seeing her in despair. Stopping from biting the bread, I hand it to Hamuko.

"…Eat. You need to eat something."

Hamuko looks at me with widen eyes. I see question in her crimson orbs. Am I doing something wrong? I ask myself, taking a look on the bread, and then to her face again. This time, Hamuko smiles, a bitter smile if I have to say, and takes my bread.

"…Thanks, Haruka." Taking a bite of the bread, I see mayonnaise split out from her corner of mouth. She wipes it using her palm. Cheerful smile again fill her small face. "You're right. I should not let the despair get over me. I should fill my tummy before the rumor takes me down!"

Again.

I see Fuuka in Hamuko, like what I saw few days ago. They all hiding their true feeling inside their heart, replace them with their most cheerful side.

"…Why still smiling?" Asking the question I want to know for the whole time, Hamuko only gives me a smile. A smile that I can't understand what she's trying to tell me.

"…No matter the surrounding of us is good or bad, we still have to live, to fill our life with meaning of living." Reopening her eyes after closing them for once, Hamuko shifts her gaze to the sunny sky, using a hand to cover her eyes from directing the sunlight. "Our life is filled with all the troubles. Some of them are what we hope to prevent the most, yet we still have to face them. Don't you think it's better to face the troubles with smile rather than crying face?"

Her answer surprised me. Though I must still remain my expressionless face, Hamuko will never know how strong her answer shakes me to the core.

"…You can yell out your emotion…" I still try to defend it, hoping she will tell more.

"Haruka, sometimes hiding the emotion is a way not to worry the others, especially those we care the most. Hiding the feeling doesn't mean we're false or a shame to be call to. We don't want our emotion get the best of us…like how I am now!" Her smile is even brighter. I almost see the spark within her eyes.

Her answer once again shakes me, gives me a punch on my heart. Avoiding her bright smile, I lower my head.

Was this how she overcame her fear during the fight with Nyx? Was she fighting Nyx with that smiling face too? And…is this how human live? Or just she?

"…You're strong, Hamuko." I mumble. "How can you remain your calmness and strength…" even facing that unbeatable monster?

How can she shoulder the world's fate when knowing she has to scarify her life in order to protect it?

Will she be able to keep this enthusiasm when knowing she has to face Nyx once again, and to throw away her life—her second life again for the world?

Human is strange and complicated living things in the world, the one you can never understand, the one you can never know what they're thinking. They're insane, yet they're normal.

"What is it you're saying Haruka? I can't hear you." Hamuko drops her head to see my face, where I almost jump up. "What is it, Haruka?"

"…I-It's nothing." I give her a shake, telling her I'm fine. I don't want her to find out my hiding emotion…

Am I trying not to worry her, like what she told me? I stun by the thought.

The weight of the world doesn't draw them back. They bear it with all they might, with their happiness and sorrow, with their joy and tears, blocking them from reaching the mortal living things in this world, locking them in the eternal time.

While I…I can't even bear my own life. I'm hoping for destruction, praying for the end of the world. Until now, I am.

Fuuka went missing. It's has been three days she's absent. Our classmate only considered she was sick again.

It's normal for people to think that way because she always absent due to sick. However, this time is different. She's not only absence, but kidnapped. Only Ikutsuki and I know the reason behind, and where she is now. Of course, Ikutsuki did that secretly.

In the same time, two of our Gekkoukan High students were found falling unconscious in front of school gate. It caused quite a commotion among students, and they all started to guess what exactly is happening. And so, rumor starts to spread, saying a ghost is behind this.

While people is talking about this, another rumor secretly rises up where Fuuka is not absent, but died somewhere in the school. Some link the ghost to Fuuka, saying she is the one that cause the two girls from falling unconscious. But the question is how Fuuka died in the school? About this, people even come up with lots of assumptions, and making the thing worst.

But thanks to this, their attentions were pulling away from the so-called love triangle rumor. Hamuko, Arisato-kun and Iori-kun secretly glad with this. Of course, they worry about Fuuka too.

With the rumor going on, I believe Natsuki can't hold any longer. She will do anything to find out Fuuka. Even now, I heard that she is searching for Fuuka everywhere, skipping the school or scarify her own time.

If so, I have to do something to her to draw SEES get into this.

In fact, they're started to get into this little by little, start with Iori-kun telling the ghost rumor. They went the whole school to get more information about Fuuka's death rumor, and the relation between the two girls with Fuuka. Yukari was the one suggest this since she is pissed off with Iori-kun telling the ghost rumor.

And all this, is exactly what I'm hoping for.

"Hello there. It's been a long time."

A soft voice makes me turn my head to behind me. There's a little child with a mole under his left eye, wearing a white and black stripe shirt. I know him. Of course I know him.

"…Yes, it's been a long time." Ignoring the eerier green light outside, I take a step forward to the little boy.

"What's your name in this world?" The boy asks.

"…Haruka, just call me Haruka... It doesn't matter what the name I have. I'm just merely a tool for you."

"Please don't say that. You're important for me too, not as a tool…" Furrowing his brows, he shakes his head as if denying what I said.

"…Stop that Pharos. I'm a tool after all, no matter what you say. That's the reason I was born." If I deny that, I'll be denying all the hard time I have came through, as well as denying the reason I struggled to live. "All I want is to see the end of the world."

"…Even that hurt them?"

"…Yes, even it's meant to hurt Hamuko and Arisato-kun…and the rest of them."

Pharos doesn't seem agree with me, but that doesn't concern me at all. I felt my chest is in ache. Pressing a hand on it, I really don't know what that supposes to be. I have experienced this feeling a few times, but I still can't figure out what is that.

"…Not attempting a change?" Pharos asks, looking outside the window in deep thought.

"…What change? World's fate you mean?" I shake my head. I don't even dare to think about it. What right I have to do that after all? "We can't interfere with the fate. The end of the world…it will happen as long as humans desiring and hoping for it. It's just the matter of time." It's has nothing to do with my wish, or our wish.

Pharos let out a sigh, seems defeated. Letting out a bitter smile, he turns his back facing me.

"…I'll visit you next time. Good night myself." Then, he melts into the darkness, disappear.

The world has decided its fate since the time human made their decision to attempt Death on their hands. We're just merely a tool in the process, way to the end, to the demise.

"This isn't interrogation. Natsuki, you don't have to say anything you don't want to." Natsuki's homeroom teacher, Mr. Ekoda says to her, more like telling Mitsuru 'do not overacted'.

Mitsuru-senpai, Hamuko, Yukari, Arisato-kun and I are now in faculty office with Natsuki sitting opposite of Mr. Ekoda.

One day before, we found Natsuki rummaged the gym room while calling for Fuuka. To find out the reason behind, Yukari reported this to Mitsuru-senpai, and senpai required a talk with Natsuki. But Mr. Ekoda tried to get in our ways as if he knows something behind.

Suddenly, out of our surprise, Natsuki grabs on Mitsuru's arm and starts to beg her, with unclear words where we cannot understand what she's trying to tell.

"Please…please save Fuuka…! Fuuka is in the gym room…someone told me…I can't find her anywhere…! Her phone is dead…I couldn't reach her…!"

"Hey…hey, calm down Moriyama!" Yukari and Arisato-kun pull her away from Mitsuru-senpai. Senpai seems quite shock by her sudden action.

But senpai is still from upper family. She quickly recovers from this kind of small matter, and regains her position.

"Moriyama, what are you trying to say? Explain it slowly and clearly."

After some comforting, Natsuki finally let go of her fluster. Hamuko pats her back tries to give her support. Inhaling deeply, Nastuki starts to picture up what she's in her mind, gathering the information she got a day before.

"…The night before, when I was searching for Fuuka, someone came to me and told me he knows where Fuuka is. He told me Fuuka is in gym room…so I went to search it." She sobs, almost choking.

"Easy, Moriyama." Hamuko tells her.

"…I couldn't find her! That's the only information I got, but still I couldn't find her! What am I supposed to do!?" She yells, like the stress she keeps inside exploding once in the moment. She covers her face, hugging her head in frustration.

Looking at all this coldly, I remain silence all the times like I usually do. I know all this. It was someone hired by Ikutsuki to do this act show so we can finally push SEES into this.

Hearing this making everyone sink into confusion and worry. I think they finally come up the place where Fuuka is right now. If so, my job is done here. The rest is all up the team now, whether they can rescue Fuuka, or not.

"…Mr. Ekoda, what's your intention in hiding this?" Mitsuru directs this to the disgusting looking teacher. I feel cold ice within the voice.

"I was thinking of the student of course. You children may not understand, but we have to consider the future of everyone affected." Mr. Ekoda doesn't feel ashamed at all, still trying to defend himself in this case.

"You mean, you choose not to report this to the police for the good of the student." Mitsuru-senpai concludes. She nods in comprehend.

"I-It was in her best interest! I wouldn't want her records to be stained by something like this. H-her parents agree!" He seems flinch at Mitsuru-senpai's dead glare. He adds force in his voice, intending to fight away her icy threat look.

"…So to protect your career, you ignored the responsibility as a teacher." She let out a snort. "…How despicable!"

Mr. Ekoda gasps. Though he is a teacher Mitsuru-senpai is, but a student, her position is still far higher then him, in where Gekkoukan High is owned by Kirijo Group. Not wanting to talk to this irresponsible teacher, senpai looks at us instead.

"…I heard voice…when I went to gym room to find Fuuka…I heard a creepy voice." Natsuki speak timidly, out of all the sudden. "…the two other girls that were unconscious…are my friends. I want them to search for Fuuka for me…Maki…now I know why she's found in front of the school gate. She must be tried to look for Fuuka in the gym room too!"

"Senpai, could it be…" Getting closer to Mitsuru-senpai, Yukari speaks out her suspicious.

"It's them, no doubt about it." Senpai straightens her posture. Everyone in there do the same. "Until now, there was no way of knowing how or why some people are conscious during Dark Hour. But it's the voice, it draws them. It's not a phenomenon." Perhaps having a feeling she might get the hint, Mitsuru-senpai furrows her brows, in which I can read she's in deep worry. "This whole thing has made me realize, they're clearly targeting humans. Shadows are the enemy of mankind."

Yes, shadows are the enemy of mankind, I won't deny it. But in other words, shadows are the opposite side of mankind. The side that humans try to hide it, not wanting to admit. They're their enemies, as well as themselves.

In fact, personas are the shadow of humans too. The different is persona users are capable to control their personal feeling so they can use the ability of the persona.

They may not realize, but the fact always remains there.

"Stay at our dorm tonight. It's the safest place for now." Senpai tells Natsuki, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "If you hear the voice again, tell us immediately, and don't leave the room no matter what. If you can do that much, you should be fine."

I secretly let out a sigh. That's it. That should do my part.

"Listen all of you; we'll meet after school in the Student Council room to discuss tonight's operation."

"Y-Yes senpai!"

And so, the operation is decided.

A/N: Do you find this chapter weird or something? If you do, please tell me what do you think. I was pretty uncertain when I wrote this. It's moving a bit too fast, so there should be a little confusing. I'm sorry about that.

This chapter is from Haruka's POV. I thought I should give a chapter in telling a hint what she actually is, and what her role in this story since she is the OC I insert here. So you might find the grammar use in this chapter is…weird. I found so difficult to describe her in this chapter. So again, sorry.

Next chapter will back to usual third person view.