Chapter 1: Paradise

"How absolutely dreadful…" Shinn Asuka, Age 14, is trying desperately to get his school uniform done right. He has been trying to get it done since the start of this morning, and his only achievement? That chick nest style hairdo of his right now…

My brother is a genius when it comes to hair style, Yu thinks to himself rather sarcastically for once, "Here nii-san, let me help you."

He takes out a comb from his pocket, and starts to comb his brother's rather messy hair.

"Thanks Yu, don't know what I'll do without you." Shinn let out a sign as if defeated by his own incompetence.

"It is ok nii-san, sometimes you just try too hard." Yu takes the comb back into his pocket, and start to work on the collar of Shinn's school uniform. Knowing his elder brother since birth, there's no doubt in Yu that Shinn is a good man, it's just like what he says, sometimes he tries too hard on things, "Let's leave a good first impression on everyone, to start our new life here."

"Sure." And you say I try too hard. Annoyed, Shinn thinks to himself again. As if we can just return to our so-called normal life.

After the Asuka brothers hear their homeroom teacher, Talia Gladys calls out their name, they enter the room together. The classroom obviously surprised to see a set of twins, look at them rather curiously. That's what I hate about going to a new school, you get inspected like some endangered animal.

"My name is Shinn Asuka, that's all." Rather annoyed at the class' reaction, Shinn just wants this to get over quickly.

"Nii-san, don't be too cold with our new classmates. Good morning everyone, my name is Yu Asuka. My brother and I just moved from Orb to Aprillius City yesterday, and we hope we can make some new friends here."

Speak for yourself.

"That's great Asuka. Yu, you sit besides Maya in the third row and Shinn… You sit besides Rey by the Window."

Shinn takes a good look at the boy named Rey. He has long blond hair to his shoulder, and blue eyes. Shinn is actually very happy about the teacher's choice, since Rey was one of the few guys in the classroom who didn't seems to care about him and his brother.

Well, at least he won't annoy the hell out of me. Rather satisfied, Shinn sits down in his desk without complain.

-

The morning classes went through rather smoothly. Although he doesn't look like the smart type, Shinn used to get really good grade when going to Orb's school. And Yu, He could probably go straight to university with the amount of knowledge he accumulated during his home study.

Good at study, better at sports, can make Chinese cuisine like some world famous chief, and plays violin like a master… Is there anything Yu can't do? Shinn thought to himself during lunch break. Crisis of being an elder brother just arise…

Shinn isn't, or at least doesn't believe he is jealous of Yu. He is very happy and proud for all the achievement his younger brother did. It's just… with him better then him at everything, Shinn fear there'll be one day Yu will no longer need him.

"Yo, Shinn." Shinn hears a voice calling him and raises his eye, it's one of his classmate named Kenji, "Heard from Yu you play soccer back in Orb, are you good?"

"Of course, nii-san was our star forward player. He makes three goals on average." Yu added proudly.

It's because we have a good CM who makes all the good passes. Shinn thinks to himself while looking at Yu.

"Cool, our school soccer team could use a good forward. You haven't joined any club activities right Shinn?" Kenji looks very excited, while a few more boys join on their discussion.

"Nii-san, I'll join the music club." Of course, it's a real shame to let your violin skill go to waste. "What about you? Are you going to join the soccer team like before?"

"Actually…" Shinn takes a sip at the strawberry milkshake he purchased from convenient store, "I'm thinking about joining kendo…"

"Ken… kendo?" Yu is rather surprised on Shinn's choice. Shinn was always the harder, more competitive one of the brother, but he never showed any sign of taking some competitive sports as kendo. Until now, a team sport like soccer is what he contents himself with.

"Yeah, I figured I can learn how to protect myself this way." Not having eye contact with his brother, Shinn pretend to look outside the window. There's no way he'll let his brother find out the truth.

I need to really blow some steam, or I'll simply go insane. Hit people with a bamboo sword will have to do for now.

Shinn couldn't explain this, but after the lose of his family he feels he needs something to be angry at, something to hate… Hatred is like poison, bitter both on the outside and inside, yet he found he can't truly live without it.

What a messed up brother you have, Yu… Shinn thinks to himself, rather annoyed at himself now.

"Aww… how sweet, an elder brother wants be strong to protect his younger sibling." A rather creepy voice made Shinn shiver. He turns around to see some girls blushing and all excited, where they from drama club or something?

"I love you, Yu." "I love you too, dear nii-san." "Chu." They made some kissing sound, which literally knocks Shinn out of his chair.

Out of all the annoying behaviors he expected out of his new classmate, this certainly goes up to a new level of pure wrongness… the nightmare about the blue angel? Forget about it! This is hell!

"Nii-san, you have to be strong…" Yu, kneeling besides his KO'ed brother, says with a rather embarrassed bitter smile.

"This has to stop." Shinn, who comes to his senses jumps up from ground, crashing the empty strawberry milkshake box in his hand and start to hammer his desk hysterically, "Look you stupid damn ditz! Stop this nonsense… or else… or else I'll impale you all on my anti-ship sword!"

He lost it… everyone in the class think.

"Look, everyone stop bothering me with your nonsense… I'll go to the roof to sleep!" Shinn puts his hands in his pants pocket kicks the class door open, and vanishes outside.

"But nii-san, what about classes…"

He run away, was he embarrassed? Everyone think to themselves again.

-

When he gets on the roof, Shinn finds he is not the first. His cousin Kazuki, who disappeared from the classroom without him realize is sitting on the edge. Besides him, a expressionless boy stands, what was his name again… wais it Soushi?

"They are coming, you know it." Soushi stares into the distance, not seems to speak to Kazuki in particular, "Only people with Persona will be able to fight it."

What is IT? Curious, Shinn thinks to himself.

"Yeah, I know." Kazuki stares down on his hand, then as if realizing someone is ear dropping he turns back to see Shinn, "Cousin Shinn… Have you been here long?"

"Nope, just got here, the classes are such a bother, so I decided to skip and take a nap here." Shinn acts casually, as he climbs the ladder to the top of roof entrance, "You two should go back, class start soon."

"Very well." Soushi nodded, as he and Kazuki leaves the roof.

But after Shinn get on top, he realizes he is still not alone. A boy about his age is lying on the roof top, looking at the sky, "Oh? Hi."

The boy greets Shinn with a warm smile. Shinn couldn't help but realize he has something similar with Yu… Could it be the same warm, and gentle smile they have, "You are Shinn right? My name's Ryou Masaoka."

"Yeah, name's Shinn." Shinn nodded as he lies down besides Ryou, "Didn't expect someone else to skip class like me."

"It's ok for me. The school board knows I have an illness so even if I skip the class once or twice they won't hold it. Just don't tell them I skipped on purpose." Ryou puts his right index finger on his mouth, Shinn couldn't help but feels his own expression soften, "It's a very nice day don't you think? Why the long face?"

"Couldn't help but think how screw up my life is… but it's not your concern is it?"

"You are right, we are mere… how do you say this, partner in crime is it?" Ryou let out a soft laughter, Shinn feels all the anger he built inside somehow disappeared.

He was going to spend his whole afternoon know dreaming, and hating about the blue angel. But maybe this change of plan is better…

To live a new life in this paradise… Shin thinks to himself as he closes his eyes. It might not be too bad.