Hi guys! ProjectSonizard here again. Thanks for the positive reviews, I'm actually suprised that I got to 3 chapters. This one's a bit bigger than two but I gotta ask, should I write it more like Personas 3 & 4 with social links and more character development, or like Personas 1 & 2 with a more linear plot and more action and dungeon crawling? I'll be answering any questions at the bottom of chapters.

Chapter 3 – The Golden Heart Hunters

February 14, 2018 - Friday [Classroom 2-C, Lunch Time]

The school day was nearly over. Ryo put his books away and got up, and Aimi was doing the same. Ryo was about to leave Aimi behind when a short and skinny girl with short, black hair walked up to him.

"Hello! My name is Hikari Imai, nice to meet you!" Hikari grinned. Her face was plain and she had huge dimples on her face. Her hand was outstretched and she appeared to want a handshake.

Ryo was confused. "…Hi…" He replied to the girl. Ryo weakly raised his hand and gave her a quick handshake.

"I wanted to personally welcome you to Chichibu Highschool for Advanced Scholars!" Hikari said overly joyful.

Ryo checked around the room. Everyone already left the room except for him, Hikari, and Aimi who still packing up. "Umm… Are you from some kind of club?" Ryo asked bluntly.

"What! No, no… I'm just being friendly that's all! I wanted to ask if you and your sister would like to come with me, Michio, and Takeo lunch!" Hikari said.

"What's up?" Aimi came over and asked.

"Oh! Your Aimi, right?" Hikari smiled wider.

Aimi hesitated. "Yeh… And this is-"

"Ryo! He and I were just getting acquainted." Hikari said to cut Aimi off. "I was going to ask you two if you wanted to come to lunch with us."

"I'd love to!" Aimi replied happily. "How about you, bro?"

"…I got homework…" Ryo weakly stated.

"C'mon it'll be fun!" Aimi pleaded. She flashed Ryo her infamous puppy dog eyes that made everyone do her bidding.

"You're in high school, and your still doing that?" Ryo complained, "*Sigh* Fine."

"Great! Now follow me and we'll show you to the roof!" Hikari exclaimed as she lead the twins out. Ryo was just wanted to play his games again. School was a bore, and the only reason why he's done so good up to this point was that he got incredibly lucky. He never paid attention in class, hell, most of the time he slept, but it was the nurse's constant bitching about getting good grades. Maybe now that he's out of the orphanage he can relax more often.

After a short walk up three flights of stairs, the tree students reached the roof of CHAS. The roof was quite large, but empty. It had a few potted plants and benches, but nothing special. Ryo looked to the right to find a view of the entire city. Ryo looked back and saw the same two teens that were talking this morning, now chatting on a bench. Michio and the burly teen with the five-o-clock shadow.

"Hey guys, I got them!" Hikaro announced as she ran towards them. The two looked over and saw the twins.

Ryo and Aimi walked up to the three, and Michio stood up. "Hello, my name is Michio Shimizu." He looked toward Ryo. "I apologize for my behavior this morning. I wasn't thinking straight and I was very… Aggravated this morning."

Ryo smiled and extended out his arm. "No sweat." The two shook hands and grinned at each other.

Michio then gestured to the burly teen, "This is Takeo Kimura, and I'm sure you met Hikari."

Takeo smiled. "Hi!" He greeted the twins.

Aimi spoke up for the two of them again. "Hello, I'm Aimi Fujihara and this is Ryo Fujihara. We just got into this school today, so we're surprised that you guys invited us like this so fast."

"Don't worry, almost everyone in this school transferred to this school I believe." Hikari said. "We are the most recent though. And we know how hard it is to transfer; I mean you leave all your friends and precious memories behind most of the time. So us three decided on making a club to help students in need!"

Takeo began to speak, "Michio-sensei says that not enough students care in this school, and most are lazy bums who only do dru-"

"Whoa, whoa Takeo-kun, that part of the conversation stays between us!" Michio sweat dropped as he stopped Takeo.

"Oh, okay sensei!" Takeo smiled again.

Ryo thought for a moment. "Wait, so this is a club…" He pointed out.

"Okay yeah, but were not asking you to join us or anything. We just wanted to let you know that you two got us if you ever needed anything!" Hikari replied with her usual smile.

"Well, how about some lunch?" Aimi pointed out.

"Oh yeah well… We didn't get you anything, cause we didn't know you were coming today." Hikari began slowly, after thinking for a second, she gets a thought. "I know! You two can have my lunch!" She started to search through her bag and found a single peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "It isn't much, but I hope it can hole you over!"

Hikari handed the sandwich over to the twins. Aimi took it happily and started eating like a bear who just came out of hibernation. Ryo though rejected the offer. "Sorry, I couldn't…"

"Oh okay then…" Hikari seemed disappointed, but when looking down, her face showed relief. Ryo took noticed and made a note of it in the back of his mind.

"Hikari, I know you're generous, but you can't just be eating half a sandwich every day." Michio scolded.

"Yeah, yeah I know…" Hikari rolled her eyes at that statement. She then started to eat her half of the sandwich hungrily as well.

"So… Uh, do you have a club name?" Ryo asked Michio.

"No not yet. We keep pitching ideas, but we can't decide." Michio answered.

"Sensei, are they going to join?" Takeo rose and asked Michio.

"Shhh Takeo-kun, you don't say that out loud!" Michio said angrily.

"Oh, sorry sensei…" Takeo slumped back down onto the bench.

Ryo noticed something was wrong with Takeo, but he didn't want to ask to be rude. Instead to distract himself he thought of a conversational topic. "So… What are you guys studying?"

"Yeah, good question. I wasn't getting anything they were teaching in class today." Aimi said swallowing her last bite.

"Well, right now we're on Biology in science class. Really fascinating stuff. I wish they taught more about evolution and such." Michio trailed off.

Hikari was just finishing her slice when she chimed in. "I forgot to mention, Michio here is a friggin' genius. Hundreds in all classes I swear!

"Yeah, and sensei tutors me on Sundays. He helps me a lot with my homework!" Takeo said.

"Wow, those are even better than our grades!" Aimi said mystified. "And we were like the smartest in the orphanage!"

"Oh my god! You two come from an orphanage!" Hikari said, mouth agape.

"Well yeah, we don't-" *Ding-Dong* Like with Takeo that morning, the school bell cut off Aimi.

"Oh no! Well listen I think I finally though up a name that we all will like!" Hikari announced to the two club members. "How about 'The Golden Heart Hunters'!"

Michio looked ambivalent. "Meh, works for me." He said.

"I like it! It sound like a manga fro Jump!" Takeo happily said.

"Exactly! It'll draw people in!" Hikari winked at the two. "Okay it's settled. We are now called 'The Golden Heart Hunters'!"

Aimi and Ryo looked at each other. Sometimes they didn't need to talk to converse. Sometimes they could just think it, and the other would somehow understand. Ryo couldn't explain it any other way then twin super powers. "Hey Hikari, I think Ryo and I would like to join The Golden Hearts." Aimi said for the two of them again.

"Really? Yes! Now we can apply to the principle and become a real club!" Hikari jumped with glee.

Everyone was smiling, including Ryo, for their new found friendship. All of a sudden, Ryo's eyes flashed and he heard a sound from somewhere deep in his mind. His sight dimmed and a card appeared before him. It was the same card that appeared the night in the Velvet Room. 'The Fool'. It had a man being chased by a dog, and the number zero imprinted on it. A voice chimed in his head.

'Thou art I… And I am thou… Thou hast established a new bond… Your journey to fulfill life hast taking a step forward… Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Fool Arcana… The Golden Heart Hunters will become a great asset, cherish thy bonds.'

The voice faded with that last sentence. The card evaporated into a glowing light that enveloped Ryo. He felt warm and comforted afterward. When his vision came back, everyone was staring at him.

"Bro… You okay?" Aimi asked.

Ryo blinked at the statement. "Yeah… I'm fine."

*Ding-Dong* The bell for class chimed again. "Oh crap! We're going to be late for class!" Michio yelled as he bolted down the stairs. Soon everyone followed suit trying to avoid being late aswell.

009nhalf: What you said about the mood is completely right, and to answer your question, you'll find out later. :)

Also, I know I should've saved the Fool Social Link until they at least get their Personas, but I didn't want to have chapters where nothing happens in the end.