Author's Note: At last, another chapter! ;) The main plot takes a major step forward as we begin the next story arc...

XVI

Monday

April 15, 2013 — Early Morning

Clear Skies

That morning, in English class, Sandford-sensei was going over past participles. "For regular verbs," she said, "we usually add the suffix '-ed' in order to form its past participle. Here are some examples . . ."

She wrote out the words "finish," "paint," and "place."

"The verbs 'finish' and 'paint' are most certainly regular verbs," she said. She added the past participle suffix, changing them into "finished" and "painted." "We can consider the verb 'place' to be a regular verb in regards to past participles. However, as you can see, there's already an 'e' at the end of the word. In this case we need only add the letter 'd.'"

She changed "place" to "placed."

"Irregular verbs, however, are a lot more complex," Sandford-sensei said. "Unfortunately, there's simply no hard and fast rule. They must be learned individually." She wrote the words "run," "draw," and "cut" on the board.

Shou yawned. He'd been up way later than he'd intended, rehearsing his scene by himself. He felt himself drifting off . . .

But somehow he forced his eyes to stay open. He remained awake for the rest of the lesson.

His knowledge increased!

Monday

April 15, 2013 — After School

Clear Skies

In the afternoon, Shou met up with Reiko in the lobby, and they headed to the auditorium.

"Nervous?" she asked.

He admitted he was.

"That's normal," she assured him. "I always feel butterflies before I go out on stage."

They headed through the first floor west hallway, then out the double doors and onto a tree-lined walk that led to the Arts Building. Great gray granite colonnades flanked the stone-paved path; small but lush grassy fields lay on either side, replete with wooden benches, and even a pond in the left one.

Shou, however, had no eyes for the beauty around him. Instead, his attention was focused on the thick throng of students making their way into the Arts Building. Though he feared he already knew the answer, he asked Reiko what everyone was doing there.

"They're going to watch the auditions," she replied.

Shou blanched. He was going to audition . . . in front of the whole school?

When he'd imagined this, it had been in a small room, just him and Reiko and the drama teacher. He'd never gone out for the school play back in Kamikawa, but he knew that was how they did things there.

He shook his head. This was Morigami Academy! Of course things would be bigger here. He should've known better.

"Are you okay?" Reiko asked. "You look pale."

Shou assured her he was fine, even as his insides felt like they were being squeezed through a strainer. He grit his teeth and tried to put on a stoic face, though judging by Reiko's expression he wasn't sure it was convincing.

Slowly, they filed into the Arts Building. While most of the students congregated at the doors to the auditorium, Reiko led Shou around to a side hallway. They walked down a ways, until they reached the door onto the auditorium stage.

There, they found pairs of auditioners lined up, waiting for things to begin. And, of course, grabbing most of the attention was Yasuda Masaru.

"Yaruuuu!" he howled when he saw Shou and Reiko approaching. He pumped his arms and thrust his hips in his usual gesture. "If it isn't Reiko-chan! How ya doin', doll?" His Kansai accent was thick; apparently people seemed to think it was part of his charm.

"I'm fine, th—" Reiko began.

But Yasuda wasn't listening. "I hear yer the girl ta beat," he said.

At this, all the other girls shot Reiko dirty looks. To her credit, however, Reiko's incredible poise never faltered. "I'll do my best," she said. She offered him a respectful smile and nod.

"I bet," Yasuda replied. "So take a good, long like at yer Romeo, babe! Yowza!" He thrust his hips again.

"I look forward to seeing your audition," she replied mildly. Then her eyebrows twitched ever-so-slightly — the only sign that she was bothered at all. "Who's your scene partner, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Scene partner?" Yasuda threw back his head and laughed. "I don't need no scene partner! For my audition, I'll be reading Romeo and Juliet!"

For a moment, Reiko was actually speechless. Then she said, "I'm sure it will be very interesting."

"If by interestin' ya mean awesome, then hell yeah. Yaruuuu!" He grinned, and his gaze suddenly shifted to Shou. "And speakin' o' interestin', who's this stranger ya picked for yer partner?" He looked Shou up and down.

Shou gulped. He was distinctly aware of Yasuda's eyes moving up and down his body. Was . . . the idol . . . checking him out? No, that was crazy. "Yaru" was known for being a ladies' man. Yet Shou couldn't shake the feeling that Yasuda was looking at him like a piece of meat.

Compelled to break the awkward moment, Shou offered a hand. "Um, I'm . . ." He introduced himself, and mentioned he was a transfer student.

"Shou-chan, huh?" Yasuda said.

Wait . . . Shou-chan?

"O' course yer a transfer student," Yasuda went on. "Woulda remembered a guy like you." He accepted Shou's handshake; his grip was soft, as was his skin. He stared into Shou's eyes . . .

And started laughing again.

Shou laughed too, albeit very awkwardly. Yasuda was totally weirding him out.

"Yer a ladykiller, just like me!" Yasuda exclaimed. "So how's about this? You can be the Mercutio to my Romeo!" He threw his arm around Shou's shoulder. "Whaddya say, ladies? Don't we make a good pair?"

The girls cheered. Shou gave Reiko an apologetic look, and though she shook her head at him, she was smiling in amusement.

Shou had the feeling his popularity had just gone up a notch.

His charm increased!

At that moment, a mousy girl with glasses opened the stage door. She held a clipboard in her hand. "Okay, we're going in order of sign-up. Kondo and Hirayama?" she called.

A couple toward the front of the line shared an excited, anxious look, and then entered through the stage door.

So it went for the next hour. When Yasuda entered the auditorium, a huge ruckus erupted, audible through the walls.

Shou felt a bead of sweat trickle down his spine. He didn't know how he was supposed to follow that! He found himself thinking how lucky all the people were who'd gotten to go before the idol had taken the stage.

As if reading his mind, Reiko said, "Don't worry. Just focus on me. On my words. That's one of the most important things about acting — listening to your scene partner. Even if you've heard the lines a thousand times. Okay?"

Shou nodded appreciatively. Since Reiko would be with him, he thought he would be all right.

At last, the mousy girl emerged from the stage door and said, "Ariwa and Tanimoto, you're up."

Shou's legs felt weak, like they were made of liquid. He thought that he was more nervous now than he'd been while fighting for his life in the Shadow world. At least then he'd had the adrenaline to carry him through; now he just felt like a bundle of apprehension. Yet as Reiko proceeded toward the auditorium, he somehow found the strength to put one foot in front of the other, and followed her inside.

His courage increased!

Within, Shou found himself in the darkened wing on the side of the huge stage. The stage curtain hung nearby, drawn back into a heavy red bundle. To the side lay a set of levers; their purpose, Shou didn't know. Above was a small balcony, where a couple of students were working the light and sound boards.

There was applause as the two currently out on stage finished their audition. They bowed, then exited to the opposite side of the stage from Shou.

"Next," called the drama teacher, Takahama-san.

Shou's heart jumped into his throat, choking him. He tried to hold his first line in his mind, but he found himself drawing a complete blank. Oh no, what if he couldn't remember what he was supposed to say? It wouldn't just be him he'd be embarrassing; it would be Reiko, too. What was he going to do?

He felt Reiko give his hand a light squeeze. "Remember, focus on me," she reminded him. "And breathe. You have to breathe."

He sucked in a lungful of air.

"If you forget what you're supposed to say, you can call, 'line.' The stage manager will give you the beginning of your next part."

Shou nodded.

"Well?" She beamed, radiant; Shou was seeing her in her element at last. "Shall we?"

He nodded again, and together they stepped out onto the stage.

For a moment, the lights were blinding, and Shou had to shield his eyes. As he and Reiko walked to the center of the expansive stage, there was another rush of applause. He glanced at Reiko, who smiled and waved at the audience; Shou recognized immediately that the clamor was for her. Despite his fear, he resolved to try his hardest to support her.

Even so, when his vision cleared, and he got a good luck at the packed auditorium, it was all he could do not to flee.

"Whenever you're ready," Takahama-san said. He adjusted his wire-framed glasses and tossed aside a lock of long, dark hair that had fallen across his forehead.

Reiko strode several steps away from Shou and faced him. She met his eyes.

Shou opened his mouth to speak . . .

And again drew a total blank.

Panic wormed its way through his abdomen. Then he remembered Reiko's advice. Breathe, he told himself. He inhaled deeply.

What was that first line?

Another breath.

But, soft . . .

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east . . ." The words rolled off Shou's tongue like a wave rolling to shore. He found himself swept away by the beauty of Shakespeare's language . . . and the beauty of Reiko herself.

Here, beneath these shining lights, she truly came alive. Her gaze brimmed with deep and powerful emotion. Her every movement was graceful and precise. Her voice was strong, yet silken, reverberating through the space; floor microphones, set at the lip of the stage, carried her lines to the entire auditorium.

Time seemed to disappear as they enacted their audition scene. Shou became so wrapped up in it that it took him a moment to realize Reiko was saying her final line. "Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow / That I shall say good night till it be morrow." She graced him with a final smile before stepping back toward the wings.

Shou turned to the audience, and this time the lines came easily. "Sleep dwell upon thine eyes . . ." The experience of performing for the first time on a stage, in front of people, made him feel more connected to his ability to express himself than ever before.

His expression greatly increased!

His expression went from Rough to Eloquent!

Reiko returned to the stage and took Shou's hand. Together, they bowed to tremendous applause. This time, Shou was sure at least some of it was for him.

"Nicely done," Takahama-san said. "Both of you. I'll be posting the cast list at the end of the week."

"Thank you, Takahama-san," Reiko said. She turned to the rest of the auditorium. "And thank you, everyone."

More applause.

Shou couldn't look away from her. She really was something.

They left the stage, and exited into the hallway parallel to the one they'd entered from. Immediately, Reiko turned to him and grabbed both his hands in hers. "Wasn't that amazing?" she asked. "Sometimes . . . I can't explain it, but I think it feels like flying! I . . ." Her eyes drifted down to her fingers gripping his; she gasped softly, blushed, and looked away, allowing her hands to fall. Instantly, the excited, effusive, vivacious Reiko was replaced by the elegant, yet restrained version of herself. She inclined her head to him. "Thank you for auditioning with me," she said. "You were wonderful."

"You're welcome," Shou said. "And thanks, but you don't have to—"

"It's the truth," she said. "I mean it."

She met his eyes again.

Snap!

Thou art I . . . And I am thou . . . Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Hanged Man Arcana . . .

Reiko's blush deepened, but this time she didn't glance away. "Walk back to the dorm with me?" she asked.

Shou grinned.

As Shou and Reiko exited the Classroom Building, heading into the square with the Yoshinori statue, he spotted Sayoko walking farther down the path. She was headed toward the trolley stop that went into town. He wondered what she might be up to. Maybe she was going to do some research on their "film project."

He grimaced. They really needed to say something to her . . .

But he had to discuss it with Kouta and Emi first. It would have to wait for another day.

Monday

April 15, 2013 — Evening

Clear Skies

That night, Shou decided to finish "One Punch: First Round."

After Ikko's defeat of Mikami, he advanced into the quarter final round. The last chapters of the novel dealt with the period of rest and additional training before his next tournament match, against Kobashigawa Keitaro, a newcomer known for being a powerhouse, just like Ikko.

Shou's fingers tightened on the pages as he read how Ikko prepared himself for a slugfest, knowing that in this case it would be the fighter with the greatest strength and endurance that would succeed. On the other hand, Ikko also had to do everything he could to avoid hits. Even if he won, if he took too much damage during the bout, he'd be in no condition to fight in the semi-finals.

The book ended on a cliffhanger, with Ikko standing in the ring opposite Kobashigawa, just as the bell chimed to begin the first round.

Shou closed the book and exhaled, his heart still pounding.

His courage greatly increased!

Tuesday

April 16, 2013 — Morning

Overcast

That morning, Shou met up with Kouta and Emi in the G Hall lobby. The moment they stepped outside to head to school, Shou's gaze was immediately drawn to the sky.

Ponderous gray swells hung above like a canopy of smoke, blotting out the sun. A chill wind blew across the campus, making Shou shiver in his uniform. It was just like the day he'd arrived in Morigami — a malignant, impenetrable pall shutting out all light and warmth.

He began to have a very bad feeling.

"Shou-bro, you even listening?" Kouta asked.

"Huh?" Shou said.

"I'm tryin' to give you a compliment, and you're just starin' off into space!"

Shou apologized.

"It's all good, man," Kouta replied. "I was just sayin' how good you were yesterday at those auditions."

"You . . . saw?" Shou asked.

Emi laughed. "The whole school saw!" She made a dramatic gesture. "A star is born!"

Shou flushed, feeling mildly embarrassed.

"Aw, come on, man, nothin' to be modest about," Kouta said. He clapped a hand on Shou's shoulder. "The ladies are gonna be all over you now, I bet."

At this comment, Shou thought he caught the hint of a frown on Emi's face, but it passed as quickly as it had appeared. Maybe he'd only imagined it.

"So, sports team tryouts are today," she said, changing the subject. "I hope it doesn't get rained out."

Shou told her he didn't think it was going to rain. Not that he knew why; it was just a gut feeling, the same as the one he'd had on the train prior to his arrival here.

"You a weatherman now, dude?" Kouta asked. He chuckled.

Shou didn't know what to say to that, so he shrugged.

They walked on toward school.

That morning, Shou and Emi sat in homeroom, listening to Abe-sensei drone on.

Sayoko's seat was empty.

Shou glanced out the window, looking again at the overcast skies. He remembered how he'd spotted Sayoko heading into the city yesterday. Could she have taken the metro? His stomach did a flip? Could she have ended up in . . . ?

The door opened, and Sayoko walked in.

She looked terrible. Dark circles ringed her eyes. Her skin was paler than usual, and her hair looked lank. What had happened to her between yesterday and today? Had she come down with a flu or something?

Abe-sensei harrumphed loudly. "The youth of today!" he spouted. He launched into a tirade as Sayoko took her seat, but the Class President appeared to pay him no mind; she didn't even bother to explain herself. Her gaze was distant and glassy. She, too, looked out the window at the gray skies; she appeared almost mesmerized by it.

Shou whispered to her, asking if she was all right.

"No talking," Abe-sensei growled. "The youth of today, so lacking in respect! Hmph!"

Inwardly, Shou groaned. He would have to wait until lunch to talk to her . . .

Tuesday

April 16, 2013 — Lunchtime

Overcast

. . . Only when the bell rang for the lunch period, Sayoko left the room so fast that Shou had no time to catch up with her. He could only stare after her as she essentially fled the class. He shared a look with Emi.

"What's up with her?" she asked.

Shou said he had no idea.

"Maybe she's sick," Emi said. "Spring colds are going around."

Shou told her he hoped that was it . . .

But he wasn't so sure.

Tuesday

April 16, 2013 — Afternoon

Overcast

In Japanese lit class, Nozaki-sensei was talking about fiction writer Yoshimoto Banana. "Yoshimoto Banana, whose real name is Yoshimoto Mahoko, is a powerful and important writer for today's society. Her works encompass themes of love and loss, family, friendship, and the impact of tragedy on the human spirit. These are all things with which every one of us will be familiar with, at some point in our lives.

"For the next week, we'll be discussing 'Moonlight Shadow,' her seminal debut novella. 'Moonlight Shadow' revolves around Satsuki, a twenty year old young woman who lost the love of her life, Hitoshi, in a car accident. She, along with Hitoshi's brother Hiiragi — whose own girlfriend died in that very same accident — must learn to come to terms with their grief and move on. Fortunately, they are aided by the old woman Urara . . ."

Shou found his mind wandering.

Baseball tryouts were today. Which meant that he would finally come face to face with Kageshiro Ryuu.

And then there was Sayoko to think of. She hadn't returned after lunch; her desk was vacant. It was completely unlike the Class President to skip out like this. Unless she really was sick. Maybe she was in the nurse's office. Or perhaps she'd gone back to her dorm to rest.

He sighed. There was no use thinking about this now; it would do him no good.

He refocused his attention and listened to the lecture.

His knowledge increased!

His knowledge went from Informed to Broad!

Tuesday

April 16, 2013 — After School

Overcast

After school, Shou and Emi decided to check the nurse's office for Sayoko. Unfortunately, when they arrived, she was nowhere to be found — the place was empty save for Nagihara-sensei. The second the vampy doctor saw Shou, her eyes lit up. "Well, well, if it isn't . . ."

Shou darted out of the room without another word.

A minute later, Emi emerged as well. "What the heck's wrong with you?" she asked.

Shou made up an excuse about doctors making him nervous. It wasn't like he could tell the truth that Nagihara-sensei made him fear for his virginity.

"Well, Nagihara-sensei said she hasn't seen Sayoko at all today. So that's a bust." She sighed. "Anyway, you were right about it not raining. So I've gotta get to the tennis court to watch the tryouts. Can't keep Akiko-senpai waiting." She smiled. "The sports fields are through the east hallway. I'd show you the way, but you should probably stop at your gym locker first and change. Just . . ." Her smile faded. "Be careful around Itami and Kageshiro. Okay?"

Shou thanked her and told her he would be.

They parted ways, and Shou headed for the locker room.

When Shou finally arrived at the baseball field, the tryouts were already underway. A large crowd of students waiting their turn were gathered on the bleachers. Most of them were in gym clothes like Shou, although there were a few who were still wearing their school uniforms. Shou was grateful Emi had reminded him to change; he wasn't sure what he'd be able to accomplish dressed in such restrictive clothing.

He took a seat on the bleachers alongside the others. The thick cloud cover had left the afternoon unnaturally dark, but no one appeared to pay it any mind.

At present, a number of guys were out on the diamond and in the field, playing different positions. Itami occupied the pitcher's mound, looking cool and confident. And there, off to the side, was a tall young man who could only be . . .

Kageshiro Ryuu.

He looked to stand at least three inches taller than Shou, putting him over six feet tall. He wore a Morigami baseball uniform, and his limbs were wiry — not thick like Kouta's, but still packed with hard muscle. His face was slim and angled, incredibly handsome, yet slightly feminine — uncannily similar to Shou's own features. They could have passed for cousins, even brothers. And just the thought of that made Shou feel more than a little confused, and disturbed.

Yet Kageshiro's most striking feature, by far, was his hair.

Tied in a ponytail that trailed halfway down his back, Kageshiro's hair was a stark bone white. And Shou had the overwhelming impression that the color wasn't dyed, but natural.

For the next couple hours, Itami ran the tryouts, while Kageshiro spent much of the time simply watching. Waiting. Arms folded, his eyes scanned the baseball hopefuls like the predatory gaze of a hawk. With each group, Itami gave every individual six pitches, then moved on to field drills. First he sent pop flys into the air, testing depth perception and catching ability. Then he pitched to some of the current baseball team members and had the tryouts play the field as if it was a real game.

At last, 1715 rolled around — Shou's sign-up time. Itami called him and several others out onto the diamond. When he saw Shou, he flashed a wide, not-at-all-friendly smile, as if to say he'd show no mercy.

All the guys lined up for their turn at bat. Shou was fifth on line, and as he waited his turn, he kept his vision on Kageshiro.

Kageshiro looked in Shou's direction, and locked gazes with him. His eyes were dark, almost black, like charcoal. They bored into Shou . . .

And he was the first to look away.

A cold fear spread through him. Did Kageshiro know who he was? Had Kaede spoken to him? No, she wouldn't have, but . . . Shou couldn't shake the feeling that Kageshiro knew something.

One by one, each of the students took their turn. Shou had the sense that Itami was going easy on them; his throw was somewhat languid, rather than the sharp movement Shou expected for a real pitch. Even so, only one of the guys was able to hit the ball more than once.

Then, it was Shou's turn.

He took a moment to gauge each of the baseball bats lined up against the fence behind the catcher's box. There were bats both aluminum and wood, from Japanese brands like SSK and Mizuno. But Shou's eyes immediately went to the maple wood Louisville Slugger on the far end. It was battered, as if it had seen a lot of use, but it hadn't splintered, or snapped.

He laid his hand on the grip, lifted it, tested the weight.

Shou knew the science; he knew metal bats were lighter, hit harder. But he'd always favored that reassuring heaviness of a wooden bat in his hand, and the notion that he was depending purely on his own skill.

He took a couple practice swings. The bat felt good. Really good. It reminded him of his own bat back home, which had broken the year before. He hadn't bought a new one because he and his dad had saved everything to pay his tuition.

He felt a prickling on the back of his neck.

He looked to the side, and realized Kageshiro was staring at him.

Shou took a deep breath, clearing his mind. He was in his element now; he wouldn't let anything shake him, not even the leader of Hope/LESS.

He stepped up to the plate.

Itami nodded at Shou. Then he wound up, and threw.

It was an easy throw — a standard fastball — assessing Shou's ability. To Shou, it felt like it was moving in slow motion. He didn't think it could be moving any faster than 60 mph.

He swung.

Crack!

The ball sped into the distance — a straight shot to left field. It sailed over the fence.

A home run.

The rest of the guys began to cheer. It was the first home run of the day. A few others had come close, but their hits had fallen just a bit short, or sailed a bit too low and smacked into the fence.

"Well, well," Itami said. "Finally, someone who can take the heat. Time to turn it up a notch. Ball!" A team member on the sidelines tossed him one.

Again, he wound up, and threw.

It looked like another fastball, moving at least 75 mph this time, but Shou knew better. Now Itami felt like he had something to prove, and there was no way he'd just throw on a little more speed and call it a day. Shou had absolutely no idea what sort of pitches Itami was capable of, so he had to prepare for everything. Would it be a forkball? Sinker?

Shou swung.

At the last second, the ball curved toward the outside of Shou's strike zone — a cutter! He realized too late he probably should've let this one go. Instead, the ball hit the tip of his bat and flew wide — a foul.

"Maybe I spoke too soon," Itami said. "Whaddya think, transfer?"

Shou told him to show no mercy.

"Fine," Itami said. "You asked for it."

The next one was a slider, and Shou managed a decent hit that sent a line drive down center field. In a real game, it was barely even a single, but it was better than nothing, and Shou was glad to have managed solid contact on a breaking ball from an unfamiliar pitcher.

The fourth was the shuuto, or "shootball," perfected by Hiramatsu Masaji — it cut to the inside of Shou's zone, jamming him up. He couldn't extend the bat enough to get a good hit, and instead ended up making a fairly pathetic bunt attempt, bringing the bat in tight so the ball didn't hit the handle and shatter the wood. But the ball skewed low, barely touching his bat before skimming past.

"Dai!" A strong voice cut through the air. It was Kageshiro. "Don't break my bat."

Shou's eyes widened, and he looked at the Slugger in his hands. This was . . . Kageshiro's bat?

"Sorry, cap," Itami said. "I'll take care of this guy the old fashioned way." He looked at Shou. "Last pitch, transfer. You're good, so you only get five. Now, you ready for the real burn?"

Shou took a deep breath, and nodded.

Itami's body language changed — he stood straighter, his stance looking more disciplined. Rather than the looseness of his previous pitches, when he wound up this time there was not a single wasted movement.

Itami threw.

The fastball blasted toward Shou like a rocket, easily breaking 95 mph. Maybe even 100.

He didn't have time to think.

He swung.

Crack!

Up, up, and away. Once again it sailed over the fence.

The entire field fell silent. The other tryouts stared at Shou in disbelief.

Itami spit on the pitcher's mound. "Lucky shot," he said. "Care to try it again?"

Shou shook his head. He knew that Itami was right. In that moment, Shou's instincts had taken over, and he'd managed to nail it perfectly. But he'd be hard-pressed to replicate that, especially against Itami. The guy was unbelievable. Still in high school and already a world class pitcher. A professional career wasn't just a good bet for him — it was basically a sure thing. It was no wonder Morigami Academy had been undefeated for two years running.

The last few guys took their turns at bat, though after Shou's performance, Itami was no longer in the mood to go easy. No one else landed a hit.

The field drills were a standard affair. While Shou wasn't a great baseman, he was pretty good as a left and center fielder; his long legs let him move quickly, his height let him catch higher balls, and he had the arm strength for the necessary throws. By the time his group of tryouts was finished, Shou was all but certain he'd made the team . . .

Unless, of course, Kageshiro decided not to recruit him for other reasons.

There was one last group before the tryouts ended at 1815. It had already begun to grow quite dark; what little of the sky was visible had turned the ruddy orange of sunset.

After a few moments of conferring with Kageshiro, Itami stepped back onto the pitcher's mound and addressed the bleachers. "You guys all suck hard!" he bellowed. "But some of ya got potential! You'll be hearing from us in a couple days. All except . . ." He pointed directly at Shou.

Shou's stomach did a somersault.

"Tanimoto," Itami said. "You're in. Welcome to the team."

Shou exhaled in relief. And now he was no longer, "transfer," but, "Tanimoto." It was a start.

The rest of the students began pounding the bleachers with their feet in appreciation. A few of the guys nearby clapped Shou on the back and shoulders.

"The rest o' you can go," Itami said. "But Tanimoto, you stay put. Captain wants to have a word with ya."

The anxiety returned. What did Kageshiro want with him?

The field cleared out, leaving Shou and Kageshiro completely alone.

The tall third year strode to the bleachers. On his way, he picked up the bat that Shou had used — his bat. Shou grimaced at this, but really, it wasn't as if he thought Kageshiro would actually attack him or anything. Not on school grounds, and certainly not when he'd just been added to the team roster.

Kageshiro took a seat next to Shou on the bleachers, balancing the bat across his knees. He glanced up at the sky. "I knew it wouldn't rain today," he said. "I could feel it." He looked at Shou. "But you knew that too, didn't you?"

Shou didn't respond.

"I'm impressed you chose my bat," Kageshiro went on. "You're the only one who did." He smiled faintly. "It's actually flawed, you know. It's lighter than it's supposed to be. Yet it has the length of a heavier bat. Advantageous for a Japanese player, since on average we have less physical strength than Americans. Dai excluded, of course.

"I tried nearly a hundred before I chose this one. Of course, I have to be extra careful with it. Its handle is weaker than usual. One hit to the wrong spot and it'll break."

Shou continued to remain silent. Where was Kageshiro going with this?

"You don't have to worry, Shou," Kageshiro said. "I'm not going to bite. I know who you are, and what you're capable of: Persona."

For a moment, Shou feared a transparent figure would erupt from Kageshiro and attack. But no, this wasn't the Shadow world. It was everyday life.

"I apologize for Kaede," he continued. "She can be overzealous, and sometimes interprets my words to the extreme. The truth is I have no desire to bar anyone access to that world. Shadows . . . are for all mankind."

At this, Shou finally found his voice. "What do you mean?"

Kageshiro waved away the question. "A conversation for another day, I think. But understand this: I won't try to stop you from doing what you feel is necessary. However, I can't speak for my friends. They have their own convictions, and I encourage them to follow their hearts."

Shou frowned. Basically, he was saying that while he wouldn't fight himself, he wouldn't keep the other members of Hope/LESS from coming after the Exploration Team. "Why are you doing this?"

Kageshiro laughed, but it was dry and mirthless. "I think we can be friends too, you and I," he replied, ignoring the question. "In fact, I'd like that very much. Think about it, Shou."

He offered a hand.

Reluctantly, Shou accepted the handshake.

Snap!

Thou art I . . . And I am thou . . .

Thou hast established a new bond . . . It brings thee closer to the truth . . . Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Death Arcana . . .

Some of the color drained from Shou's face. He thought of Igor's Tarot reading, and the Death card that had arisen. What did it mean?

And who the hell was Kageshiro Ryuu, really? What were his motives? How had he become the de facto leader of this pro-Shadow group? All Shou knew was that the power of the Social Link was indeed telling him to strike up some sort of friendship with Kageshiro. "All right," he managed to say. "I'll think about it."

"Good," said Kageshiro. "In the meantime, regular practice will begin next week. It's held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I look forward to seeing you then. Shou."

Shou nodded.

Kageshiro stood, and left the bleachers. As he was walking away, he turned back to Shou. "You and your group may wish to act quickly," he said. He pointed to the sky. "I don't know if she'll be able to do it on her own."

Shou felt like he'd just been dropped down a hole. Was he talking about . . . Sayoko? Who else could it be?

Before he could question further, Kageshiro was gone.

Next time, on Persona Gaiden: New Class . . .

The ominous overcast skies, and Kageshiro's cryptic comment, spur Shou and friends to action! The Shadow world awaits . . .

Social Links

Fool — Morigami Exploration Team — Rank 2

Magician — Hayabusa Kouta — Rank 2

Justice — Kazami Kaede — Rank 2

Strength — Shirogane Naoto — Rank 1

Hanged Man — Ariwa Reiko — Rank 2!

Death — Kageshiro Ryuu — Rank 1!

Sun — Narukami Yu — Rank 1

Attributes

Courage — Rank 2 — Reliable

Knowledge — Rank 2 — Broad

Expression — Rank 2 — Eloquent

Understanding — Rank 2 — Kindly

Charm — Rank 1 — Plain