Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or any content from the Megami Tensei series as a whole. I do not claim to own anything. All contents' right belong to their respectful owners. Once again, I do not claim to own anything.
In continuation of the previous chapter's author's notes so we can keep ourselves on track and flow, Reiji's representation in this novelization, in my opinion, which is biased technically, is very well handled. He and Masao are like the only two characters I think I effectively wrote. Though, I was heavy handed and ham fisted with Reiji's back-story and I apologize, but once again I had to make a justification. Also, Reiji's gets a legitimate character arc, though I do think Brown does as well. Brown's is one of my favorite moments in the novel though, but Reiji's is actually evident, just spread thinly. I think I went overboard with him in the beginning, like a demon riling under his skin making him this invincible badass who leaves a wake of corpses in his path. Like, he was some action hero who stepped out of the millimeter film, but as I progressed probably after Chapter 10, he definitely was deflated in zealousness for me, I brought him down to earth, like a lot of the characters really, but Reiji was the most obvious because of the way he acted. Then I made him have a temper tantrum. An honest-to-God temper tantrum. I wished I could change that and sequeway his big reveal better, because by God I missed big on that moment in terms of properly choreographing it.
I'M ANGRY! REIJI SMASH!
LOL! I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT CHURLISH OFFSPRING! *Maniacal laughter*
Masao, I've talked to death about before. He is my favorite character, and in this novelization and in the game. It kinda pisses me off he does not make an appearance in the P2 dualogy like all the other characters do, well except Ayase. He's like King in Django Unchained. You just can't help but like the guy. Even in his rivalry with Kei, he does not seem like an assailable character. He is hands down the best best friend of the Persona protagonists just for that. Yosuke is polarizing. I'd say barely a friend to you considering the amount of shit he causes to happen to you. Junpei is for the most part likeable, but can be considered annoying and also does things that are endangering. In Innocent Sin, there is no clear Lancer-like chum. They are all connected so there isn't an adjunct Chet Morton to their Hardy Boys. In Eternal Punishment, however, you can say Ulala, who is awesome. I want to see her, Reiji, Lisa, Akihiko, and Chie to have an all-out brawl with bare knuckles! TOO bad the fighting game doesn't want to include her, Lisa, or Reiji. *Sigh* What a wasted opportunity.
Kei…is Kei. He is the voice of the magical device known as EXPOSITION, as well as the voice of the Main Character who is the token Megaten silent protagonist. I got rid of Kei's brash side really early on, like Chapter 3, when he was supposed to be calling people monkeys for at least fifty percent of the game, but I had to do something to move him in the direction of motivation after Yamaoka's death. It was one of those moments were I was very obstinate in justification for the events that transpired. Kei's pretty much surrogate father died because he was worried about Kei and he somewhat brushes it off. So, I had Masao kick him in the ass and have him wake up from his despair to move on, ultimately earning Kei's respect. So, Kei was not as big of a jerk as he was intended to be. Though, his insecurity was shown. Though I consider that to be more meta on my part, because I was basically backseating him, when in the actually game he is the leader and the MC is just the standard you control the guy in the front to make you feel predominantly important. I also wish I made him say more proverbs and idioms, but when you have nine characters talking and are trying to distribute them equally in terms of dialogue and actions, it's difficult to interweave the intellectual man's lets-get-moving, this-is-how-we-do-it dialogue that moves the plot along with profound and philosophical statements.
SHIT! A BIG TURTLE!
He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster and when you gaze—
KEI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Naoya, Naoya, Naoya. I made him my own character. I hoped you guys liked him even though I felt at times he blended into the background until I specifically wanted him to shine, though in hindsight that was the intention so I don't know what I'm taking issue with myself for. It was after Chapter 10 that cemented where Naoya was going for me. His arc was perfected at that point and I really had him take a competent role in the leader position, but the reluctance of himself and his struggles with the alignment dogma were still minorly presented because I had to save his final revelation for the ending, so he had to have doubt, and I felt firstly it was out of nowhere, because after Naoya leaves the Velvet Room agreeing to think of his friends instead of his own selfishness. He really fulfilled the principles for the revelation, but then I remembered the meaning of the Emperor. You want to control life's events, but you can't. So, yes Naoya accepted something beyond his control, but did he really? He just found a way to deal with the situation without making an exact remedy, just chronic maintenance to the hardship. Or did he really find his place? I'm the author who wrote it and even I'm not sure. That's not good, btw. Then I devised the excuse in his reaction to Maki was the one behind the nightmares and therefore Naoya has to deal with an identity crisis. It was staring him right in the face but he didn't notice a thing. I forced it to stick and I'm terribly sorry. I went all Araki on you and broke my own rules or if you look at them another way just played ball around them. Naoya's whole "death" scene was meant to be played for shock value and pandering, but it also was to help me develop Philemon's and Nyarlathotep's relationship as well as Naoya himself. You see, I planned that scene back when I intended to write a series of novelizations and Naoya is meant to have this relationship with Philemon that has reluctance because Philemon is controlling and manipulative (Not to mention extremely shady if you think about it), but he is their only chance to win basically. They eventually build a bizarre, untrusting rapport. Yes, I realize that's a paradox, but who knows you may just get the option to see what I describing in motion.
With that aside, welcome to the final chapter of Persona: Be Your True Mind Chapter 30.
Chapter Thirty: Peace Diner on Joy Street
"Though the world's eyes were on Mikage-cho after the incident, normalcy eventually returned to our town. With the heavy media attention and the testimony of the emancipated scientists from the Haunted Mansion as well as Dr. Nicolai in his ardent guilt, SEBEC was indicted, put under totalitarian scrutiny. Investigations were launched to discern what role the company played and who responsible was involved. Takahisa Kandori was found inculpable, seeing how it is difficult to prosecute a man who committed seppuku with his own yoroidoshi knife. His brother claimed he left Kandori unharmed and we believed it from the bottom of our hearts. Chances are the despicable President crawled chaotically towards his goal, the merits of his expedition a slit throat from his strengthened hand which endured countless hours of Baoding ball rotation."
"The Ideal World ceased to be. The DEVA System a dismantled scrapped crinkled inward at the loss of its core. The core itself permanently disintegrated in a deconstruction of matter. Our identities, the students central to the incident, remained hidden. Time passed, and the DEVA System's effects faded from people's minds. We young adults came away with a sense of our true selves as we took our first steps toward the unwritten future."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Yuka Ayase compressed her lips and smooched, her rouge-red lipstick leaving an impression of the steaming cheeks of Hidehiko Uesugi. "Like, there's the story. I swear if you laugh, I'll totally knee you in the balls."
"You are the love of my life." He mumbled, his eyes becoming hearts in a crude imitation of a Marin Karin possession.
"I'll see you in a while, 'kay?" She grinned in time where he newly crossed partner. "I, like, have amending to do."
"See you at the spot." He replied, titling his shades. "I have some mending in mind too."
Ayase walked across the cafeteria as Hidehiko parted momentary ways with her. She was approaching a crowded table. A inane argument taking place among the denizens.
"Like you fought demons, Tamaki Uchida," The glasses wearing Tadashi Satomi exclaimed.
"I did, Pharmacy Boy! At my old school," The auburn haired beauty Tamaki Uchida snapped.
"I believe, Tamaki-chan!" Kenta Yoruichi said aloud, slurping a bundle of Ramen noodles. "She's the glamorous heroine of the fencing club! Though, she is incomparable to Eriko-chan gracefulness!"
"No one asked you, Kenta!" Tadashi bitterly replied. "Plus, I'm the best fencer in the fencing club! I'm more than a match for Tamaki!"
"Please, Tadashi! You wouldn't know the difference between a rapier and a broom stick!" Tamaki endearingly stated.
"Who do you think is the best, Ayase?!" The two exclaimed at once, angling their extreme expressions to the recently arrived Yuka, currently stunned at the suddenness.
"Like, uh...Eriko-chan! She's like, totally, elegant! Fashionable in laying the total smack down on the bad guys,"
"Yuka-chan agrees with me! Life is sweet." Kenta swooned, actually forgetting his delectable noodles.
Tadashi's eye was twitching. "Ah, I still say I'm the best and Tamaki's a liar!"
"Am not, demons invaded Kurokozaka High School and sucked in into the Expanse! (A/N) I swear!"
"Like, when are those two gonna go on a date?" Ayase whispered to Yuko at the end of the table as she took her seat.
"They schedule their arguments because they take so long. Doesn't that count as dating already?" Yuko Himeno proposed and Ayase chuckled.
"Hello, my fellows!" Tsutomu Kurouri greeted, prying his demonically masked face on Ayase's and Yuko's shoulders.
"AAAAH," They screamed at his unsuspected presence.
"Would you all care to hear the riveting tale of the play of the Snow Queen?"
"Jackass, but I guess he's, like a friend, the same as them."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi traveled from the cafeteria, departing his requited affectionist. He went to the vacated Nurse's office, passing Ms. Saeko and Yukino in the teacher's lounge. He deposited the communicative box's sustenance and pounded each key accurately and surely. All these years, he remembered the exact string. He always entertained the notion, calling a cities in distance, offering what in the past he had considered falsities through the speaker of a plastic receiver. But, he was a changed man, no longer a coward with a doubtful prospect.
The line rang like a judgment bell. His previous tentative fingers were steadied, fixated on maintaining his keen sense of fortitude.
The incessant ring seemed to go on forever, enough for Brown to think of hanging up and trying again, but as quickly as the thought came, it justly went.
A voice crackled through the ring, an older woman. "Arimoto residence,"
"Hi, can I speak to Sota, please?"
"May I ask who is asking to speak to my son?"
"No problem, Miss Ari. Tell him this is Spade. He'll know who I am." A white lie powdered with a little truth never heart. Spade was a nickname to their mutual acquaintance. Brown's old friend remembered.
"Spade, shit, man, I haven't heard from you in ages!" Sota's voice was unwavering, exuding such keenness.
"Sorry to disappoint, I'm not Spade."
"What?" Sota was pissed. "Who the hell are you then? This better not be Hid—"
"I, Hidehiko Uesugi provoked Yoshida and ran away in cowardice. You can go back to forgetting you ever met me. I deserve it for what I've done. I'm sincerely sorry."
Brown hung up the phone, his penance made. The machine regurgitated the leftovers of its supper, the grief-lifted boy abandoning it for the next unfortunate soul.
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Yukino Mayazumi perceived the cluttered papers, loose mugs, sprawled pens and pencils upon the desks of the faculty through a screen on her mini-Canon. She was clicking shots of the posters, of the stains, of the bluebirds nesting outside the window, firing off the shutter with ferocity in jollity.
"This is fantastic, Miss Saeko! Everything so clear on the image! I have to take overhead pictures with this thing! I can capture the beauties of life splendidly on this baby! Nothing like my dad's ancient Polaroid,"
Miss Saeko amusedly laughed to the back of her hand. "I'm glad you enjoy my gift, Yukino. It is my thanks for protecting them."
Yukino silently shifted the lens to her homeroom teacher and friend. "Well, Naoya, did a fair bit of the protecting. I just watched out for them. Say cheese!"
"Naoya," Saeko's eyes bugged in surprise as Yukino's flash blinded her, signaling the printing of her distraught demeanor in the storage card of her student's camera.
"Yep, our little Naoya's all grown up!" She took a follow-up shot this time Saeko solidly composed.
"I did some growing as well, Miss Saeko. This iron shell of mine has softened even more."
"I'm glad, Yukino. I knew you were capable of finding the truth in your heart. Now, how did your crush turned out in this evolution of Yukino Mayazumi?"
Yukino blushed in response, absent mindly snapping shots at further fixtures beyond the lone window pane in the lounge. "Well, we're meeting up today actually. He has some business to take care of, but I promised to pick him up at four. We going to Peace—"
"Yukino, it's ten to four right now!" Saeko interjected urgently.
"Shoot!" She cursed. "Thanks again for the camera, Miss Saeko! See you on Monday! Gotta run like a sonic boom!"
Yukino absconded from the room, hast imbued in her boots.
"Drive safely, Yukino!" Saeko called to her sprinting friend.
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Kei Nanjo ceremonious traipsed among the memorial graveyard dedicated to the shed blood of the dutiful servants and scions of the Nanjo Family. Kei, in solidifying reticence, propelled himself from the Chujitsuna (A/N) plot/subdivision of the Nanjo plot.
He unfastened the buttons of his black dress coat as he remembered the moments ago. Yamaoka was lowered gently to a peaceful, earthly rest. He was buried next to his father of the name Chujitsuna and his father's father baring the name running through the branches of the Nanjo Family's staunch butlers.
He tucked his emblazoned scarf well, properly securing the cuffs of his uniform sleeves. He was an intellectual, a student; therefore he wanted to remain empirically as such.
As they sealed the casket in compacted soil, Kei spoke words his father and his grandfather would never have spoken regarding their Chujitsuna man-servants. The latest generation of Nanjo spoke in kindness, compassion, and exceeding love towards his "father." Yamaoka Chujitsuna was honored in his respect, his devotion, and by his "son" for insurmountable bond they continued to share.
As Kei neatly placed the repaired glasses of Yamaoka on his nose, his soul shuttered at the seconds ago memory.
The glasses boy folded his hands, joining the fingers tightly. For the first time in years, Kei Nanjo prayed to the untold multiverse of gods who would listen.
"Master Kei, your speech at the service was…so very beautiful. I am in tears."
"Thank you…Yamaoka. It was hard to forge those words in the reality when you yourself live on within my soul."
"They were excellent words, Master Kei! I am happy to be always at your side! You're loyal servant till your last days."
"You are more to me than simple servant." Kei at last reached the entrance gates, hoping in his sullenness he did not inconvenience his ride.
"With you by my side, Yamaoka, I will fulfill your dying wish. I will become the number one man in Japan."
As Kei pronounced his dreams in adamant voice on the sidewalk, the sputtering of a tailpipe carried down the road. Yukino's car was speeding like a slung shot arrow.
At the pointed swiftness of the imagery in Kei's thoughts, he silently invoked the image of a friend who he hoped was fully "transformed."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Maki Sonomura waved leisurely to her mother, Setsuko, in the hallway. Maki was sitting at her dresser, blissfully combing her hair. The hospital had delivered her a clean bill of health, released her from their care to the open arms of her self-loathing mother. She was cured of what disorders plagued her, the feelings and development of her infolded stature practicing themselves inside her tangible form. She had changed her ways, wiles, and woes. She was the true and new Maki Sonomura.
Maki smiled in the mirror, her skin colored nicely, her body invigorated with a sense of rejuvenated euphoria. Her soul was literally singing as the Persona granted to her stirred gleefully at her mystical grooming. Her, when she was a receded soul in the Alaya Cavern, gazed upon her friends who risked their lives courageously for her. They diminished Pandora's influence, but ultimately her ideal personification of herself was the convincing factor. Her devoted friends combined strength was the additional ingredient blended with the audacious words of herself to herself to relinquish the nihilism of her soul. The hollowed corner of her heart, where her Avidya World previously fermented, was filled whole with the silhouettes of her friends, cheered on by two newcomers.
The girl tied up her iconic red ribbon, leaving her compact on the mahogany dresser alone. Jack Frost hopped on the desk, playfully poking the trinket quizzically. "Ho! It's not like-ho, Mistress Mai and Aki's compact anymore-ho!"
"You're right-hee!" Pyro Jack insisted, plopping his pumpkin body next to his snowman brother. "Its just-hee a normal-hee mirror here."
The Ideal Maki had passed on her revelations, her consciousness, as she ceased to be. Mai forwarded her mother's innate love and tenderness as she was hugged in the ending hour. Aki was consumed by Pandora, mutilating her inner malignancy. Pandora, her nihilism, was tremblingly shattered by her friends opposing force, evacuating the remaining shadows in her soul. The entire "paradise" she inadvertently brought to life with her distorted desires was gone, molecularly degraded as all the constructs produced by the scientific power of the DEVA System. The Ideal Mikage-cho, the demons, the angels, Kandori's Deva Yuga, and even the encompassing barrier secluding Mikage to dangerous turmoil were lifted and eradicated as if they never existed. The Jack Brothers; however, were an apparent special case; they existed as Personas. Personas contracted to the soul of the Ideal Maki, who in turn was an incarnation and facet of the real Maki Sonomura, in the same vein of her Ultimate Priestess remained with her. The two fascinated children were creation beget by the same power fueling Kandori's Mirror of Chaos, but only had come about by the creations of the DEVA System. They were a complicated anomaly. Maki had no excuse as to why they were in tact. Perhaps because they were as they were: a complicated creation. Or perhaps, her will, the Ideal Maki's will of communal ranking, respirited them, confirmed their identity in the sea of her soul. An answer was indiscernible; to Maki she was merely excited to retain her duo of new friends.
"Okay, you two, make like Digimon (A/N) and stuff animal yourselves!"
"Where are we-hee going, Mistress Maki-hee?"
"Are we-ho going to see-ho our amihos?"
"Uh-huh…but first we have to put some lust in the bust of Eriko-chan's bustier!"
"Lust-hee in the bust-hee," Pyro Jack titled his pumpkin head.
"Bustier-ho, what's that-ho?"
Maki's face became tomato-red. "Well…I'll explain it to your when you're both older."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Eriko Kirishima stood at her mirror, clad in her silk bustier. She was addressing the security of her stockings to the garter as she fiddled with her reddish hair. She had released the strands from her ponytail and allowed them to drape across her breasts. The conservative pencil skirt and full jacket of the St. Hermelin uniform often hid the exotic flair she decorated herself underneath with. The portions and pieces hailing from the many lands her father's business took them.
"I can't monopolize the time with rehearsing too much. Yukino said after she picks up Reiji they'll be there to meet with Masao and Naoya to start at four fifteen. I don't want to be late, today's important."
"I'm not strange, weird, off, nor crazy. (A/N)" Eriko recited to the mirror, attempting to quell the resurfacing of the despair and carnage associated with Kandori's omnipotent Mirror of Chaos. "I…care…no…like…no…I love…I love you."
Eriko dejectedly fiddled with the ribbon on her satin underwear. "Acting and doing are two different things as I suspected. It is futile to say aloud, when your heart races at the pace of Ganesha running the globe for his golden apple, expressing a true mind's affirmation is impossible."
"Don't say that, Eriko-chan!" Maki protested barging in Eriko's ajar door. "It just a mental block, you are always open with your affection to Nao-kun!"
Eriko partially smiled at Maki's obvious eavesdropping and arrival. "Proclaiming concretely is a challenge to my throat I suppose."
"Don't be silly!" Maki exclaimed, unpacking the Jack Brothers from her backpack.
"I think I am but a silly girl." Eriko said, wondering about the innumerous tomes of demonology, fanatical cultish posters, and various magazines issues of the Ayakashi Monthly (A/N) dotting the space of her room. "I have an extravagant obsession."
"Uh-uh!" Maki put herself between Eriko and her looking glass. "Obsessions aren't bad! Nao-kun loves obsessing! Like, the arcade, he was obsessed with that for years! Obsessing, obsessing, obsessing, Nao-kun is obsessive about obsessing!"
Eriko giggled at the brunette's blathering. "You're lunge has point. I do not hold a proper riposte."
"Okay!" Maki pumped her fists, her rosy cheeks blazing with happiness. "Let's make you over! I'll make you Nao-kuns favorite girl even if it kills me!"
"Please do not exaggerate about such—OWH" Eriko was startled as Maki immediately began handling her bosom.
"Nao-kun won't be upfront with me about it, but with Masao-kun, I know they prefer girls with big primed bazookas!" Maki explained, innocently stuffing a wad of handkerchief pressed under Eriko's breast.
Eriko was blushing. "I do not believe that is necessary!"
"Oh, Eriko-chan, those stockings are pretty! Nao-kun'll love the floral pattern!"
"I was planning to wear a skirt!"
"Why? You're legs are so…impressive!"
Eriko flicked her hair dismissively. "Please, I am imperfection. You are truly impressive."
Maki shook her head fervently. "Uh-uh! Get rid of that imperfection talk! You could model with the gorgeous body you've got Eriko-chan!"
Eriko was struck again at her friend's powerful complement, as she continued adjusting her.
"A model…really," She mused, completely humbled.
"Yeppers, you'd be a knock-out, I'm just making you a Naoya calibrated knock-out." Maki ducked to inspect her lower half more thoroughly.
"Hm…hot pink, you're so naughty Eriko-chan. I think Nao-kun likes pink though and panty lines."
As Maki pondered aloud, Eriko gazed at herself a second instance in the mirror. She saw Maki's strutting back and her lengthy scarlet hair dangling upon her endowed front.
"Woo-wee, those heels over there are deadly fabulous; Nao-kun'll love 'em. God, why haven't we ever done this before? This is so much fun!"
"Because I resented you long ago, pining for attention and intimacy is a juvenile notion now. I care for you as I care for all my friends. I'd protect you all the same, because I do not consider you a rival any longer."
"I'm thinking we should stuff a bra instead, it'll air the girls better plus give Nao-kun deeper pheromone shellshock."
"Maki," The hitherto craven Eriko asked for, running her fingers through her treated hair.
"Uh-huh, Eriko-chan,"
"Can you help me…cut my hair?"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Reiji Kido clipped his choker, jangling the chain as he moved to the living room. His scar hurt less this morning, the infuriation at Kandori's guile-less suicide had seeped through him for the few days since the incident. He made a promise to a girl, a promise which he kept but did not attain.
"At least that bastard will have a permanent reminder of me while he's being stewed alive in the circles of Hell. Still pisses me off. Today isn't a day to regret Inaba would say. He'll probably say it when he sees me at the victory buffet. Though I'm betting today he's regretting betting against Asshat."'
Reiji picked up his pace, checking his hallway clock. His mother was kneeling on a cushion by the coffee table, sewing in a humming tune of jauntiness.
"Mother," He quietly said, not wanting to interrupt her bout of flagrant optimism she had not possessed for decades.
"Yes, dear," Misumi Kido politely replied, knitting and pearling in the art of haberdashery.
"I'm heading out. I won't be back for a couple hours."
"Okay, dear, where may you be going?" She asked, whistling in accordance as her two-day fabric frenzy was nearing completion.
Reiji smiled at his mother, regretfully for causing her trouble and worry, painfully sorry she could not witness the heinous men who discarded her and ruined her life, pay in life's retribution currency instead of a spiritual assumption. "Out with some friends to Joy Street,"
"Friends," The word was like a penny drop resounding in noise dampened chamber.
"I'm made some friends, Mother. They're good people."
"My darling boy," Misumi Kido wiped a tear, her lone aspiration for her son accomplished by his own strength. "I'm proud of you. Please, have fun."
"Thanks, Ma. I'll see you later."
"Oh, wait!" Misumi stopped her son's advance toward the sliding door. "I have a present for you."
"Present? What's the occasion?" Reiji asked.
"To the death of scum," Misumi Kido spit to the side at the unsavory poison accumulating the perceived thoughts of the father of her child and his despicable son.
Reiji grinned, behind his canine teeth he was whimpering at the misfortune.
"I noticed your gloves were gone."
"Well…" Reiji was devising an excuse. He could not simply exclaim they were destroyed in a battle to save reality. "I lost them. Sorry, I did not mean to be rash and ungrateful."
"I'm not angry. Your replacements," She laid a pair of newly sewn gloves in her boy's awaiting hands.
"Ma, these are…"
"Designed in the American flag, yes, (A/N)"
Reiji saw with clamoring eyes the star spangled banner laced into fingerless gloves. The stars pronounced his knuckles, the snug stripes complementing the density of his phalanges, the red, white, and blue echoing a noticeable symbol on his wrists.
"They fit right-on. Each finger is flexibly articulated. These are great, Ma!"
"I'm glad you enjoy them. I chose the American flag because of those boxers you are fond of. Some of the Americans wear their country's flag on their gloves. The Rising Sun would have been apropos, but the American flag on street fighting gloves is rather intricate."
"Street fighting, Ma, I…"
"I wanted to memorialize. Take care of them, Reiji. They are yours to use as you want, whether with your fists or not is not a concern of mine."
The manner in which his mother proceeded in conversation surprised Reiji. His mother knew what he was doing all along, the same way he realized what she had done to survive and understand. She trusted him in return he trusted her. He hadn't realized that until she had offered him the guarding clothe for a bred warrior's fists.
"I will take care of them, Mother. I won't let a scratch get on them. I promise."
Misumi Kido smiled as her son exited their home, delight splashing her at the car horn indicating the rush of her son.
"Find joy at Joy Street with your friends my dear child."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Masao Inaba was drinking the Dr. Salt he ordered at the table he reserved for the nine of them at Peace Diner. His best friend's chilled and un-opened Cielo Mist was sitting on a coaster in reach of the vacant seat.
Peace Diner was not a slapdash, grotesque, confined casino as found in the Black Market of the Ideal World. Peace Diner in the real Mikage-cho was a cozy, homely place of business. They were the biggest section of Joy Street for a reason. Their popularity came in forms compared to the old-fashion American steak-an-eggs, mom-and-pop diners. The establishment had red leather cushioned booths, national memorable framed on the walls, and a cordoned dance floor for the caffeine consumed teens to bust a move on to the open band playing the venue. Peace Diner popularization was imbedded exactly when the indie band D-VA (A/N) rocked the place in a tumult quake of vibrations. The place was jam-packed, lines forming at the door, you were lucky to get a stool at the counter. From that day, Peace Diner's was THE hang out for after school if you were in the in-crowd, read the latest Coolest (A/N), and air guitared to the regent beauty of D-VA, Yoshino Harusawa.
Now, Masao Inaba, was not one a avid reader of the teen magazine Coolest not like Eriko in her Ayakashi Monthly. He was also not in the in-crowd, because most girls found him to be a delinquent. He definently; however, air guitared to D-VA that fateful night, and for that, he'd eat an all-you-can-eat at Peace Diner.
"Sucks I gotta pay for half an all-you-can eat for eight because Eriko decided she wasn't in."
Masao slugged his Dr. Salt, reminiscing of the past days. Lieutenant Oda, his police dotter, was alive-and-kicking. Masao knew first hand when he arrived home Oda with the aid of his mother and father berated him with scolding at his tardiness, their concern for him maintained throughout the duration of the DEVA System incident.
"Man, Baldy, you gave me a scare. At some point I should tell him we perused the confiscated weapons. Nah, what he doesn't know won't hurt him. I'll just put his hidden key back the next time I unwillingly stop by."
Yosuke Naito and Chisato Kasai were invited to join there gathering by Maki. She guaranteed Masao and his compatriot donor to the buffet she would provide the wages to feed the awkwardly romantic boyfriend and girlfriend. Chisato was attempting to dance on the designated area with her boyfriend still in casts and bandage, a humorous feat worthy to be present at their celebration.
"The two of 'em, they are important people to Maki. I can't refuse her request. When she gets her, man, I'm gonna lay it all on the table. Full house to whatever three of a kind she's got. Down on one knee, heart in my hand, doesn't matter. I'm ready to show her my feelings. The words are there, the feelings bubble, and I'm gonna spill 'em…once she arrives."
Masao requested a refill for his Dr. Salt, having to belay the waitress questions regarding order. The all-you-can-eat special was the choice, but Masao did not have the necessary funds for the transaction in his wallet. He needed a quarter of the addition from Maki and the original half from his fellow loser.
"Shit, where are you dude? If you're late, Brown's gonna hound me for his pay-up till you get here."
Masao's senses perked as he witnessed the swing of the metallic door and heard the wispy flick of a simple hoop earring.
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Naoya Todo begrudgingly laid his month's allowance on the waitress tray with Mark's and surprisingly Maki as well as Ayase. The blonde had brought an entourage of Tamaki, Satomi, Kenta, Yuko, and Tsutomu to join the party with Maki's plus two of Yosuke and Chisato. The gang literal was all in Peace Diner on Joy Street, living in the elated era of the present. Naoya was blithely content. They had won a battle deemed unwinnable. They altered a psyche that seemed to be inconsolable. They survived, they changed, and they were better people than before.
Naoya cleared his third helping of the protein deluxe offered by Peace Diner. He was seated in a way he could watch the entire restaurant and all the events culminating to the dance floor unfold.
Ayase and Brown were huddled together in a soiree of unnatural grinding. Ayase was pulling Brown in, as she performed her professional dance moves. The two were incongruent in flow and motion, but they were having a blast. Naoya even saw the sleight of hand of Ayase removing her garbing underwear and shoving the unmentionable into the craving, lecterous hands of Brown, who received a whisper Naoya only assumed was "Your thanks."
Kei and Yukino had eaten a fine number of portions in the booth beside Naoya's. The conversation was silent, comatose until Kei politely asked his colleague/love interest for a waltz. Yukino slightly chortled at the strange choice of a formal dance, but she kindly took his hand in hers and the two waltzed to the unheard Nutcracker of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Masao had ushered Maki to an undisturbed corner. The compatible rapture mutual conducting inward to them each from the other was of a magnificent charge. Naoya could see the clearness of their feelings in their eyes even seated several feet from them. He thoughtfully cheered for his best friend for finally achieving the goal he sketched in providence. The boy in the yellow turque was on one knee to the girl with the red ribbon. Masao Inaba's hand was on his heart; Maki Sonomura's hand was cupping her breast. The two exchanged fondness, curtly embracing in their terse corner filled with diction of love. In the inaudible speech to Naoya, he saw his two best friends in the world, his familiar family, rush to the dance floor to groove a sedated groove.
In the indistinct crowd of vocalization Naoya had a difficult time hearing the exact things Reiji was saying to the booth of the exterior St. Hermelin students. What the boy with the earring could see was Reiji's waving hand gestures and various forms of motions upon his audience of Tamaki, Satomi, Kenta, Yuko, and Tsutomu. It was when the scarred boy plucked a ten yen coin from behind Tamaki's ear did Naoya comprehend he was executing magic tricks to amuse his nubile nakama.
Naoya slyly inserted a open can of Mad Bull and bag of chips to the incision of Maki's backpack. The Jack Bros were ecstatic to gain their gift of alien humanely nourishment.
"They're situated. That's not everybody. Where's…Eriko."
The demonic-knowledgeable student of St. Hermelin had arrived with the others, Naoya was sure, but for the life of him he could not remember witnessing her presence in the restaurant. The lights had dimmed to accommodate the gyrating duos on the dance floor and he was gathering a pang of anxiety at the absence of Eriko.
"Where is she?"
Naoya was standing on his feet, scanning the light negated surroundings, desperately wanting to see Eriko leaning against a wall, salsaing on the floor, or at the counter hydrating.
"Naoya," An unmistakable voice asked from his rear.
He swiveled around in the open space of Peace Diner in a whip-lash of joints.
There Eriko stood in honed heels beneath convoluted floral stockings. Her sundress was tan, sleek and fluid along her leanness. Her breasts were much more noticeable than before. They were tightly contained in the top of her dress, the plunging v moderately proportioned to not denote her as too orthodox or too loose. Her aroma was intoxicating. Her sent was sensually permeating Naoya's neural complexity. He was drawn to her appearance, but met the apex of the surprised make-over of Eriko Kirishima. Her lengthy red hair usually smoothly done in a ponytail was gone, replaced with a ruddy-colored bob cut. Her ascot was wrapped around her neck, as she coltishly bounced her shortened locks.
"What do you think…Naoya?"
"You're…stunning, Eriko. Really…beautiful," Naoya was breath-taken with her.
"Do you like…my hair?"
"It looks great. When did you…"
"Maki helped me with it. I wanted to change it so…"
The two were quiet, the reluctance to affirm their intentions reserved in their minds.
Eriko's lips opened to speak, but no words came.
Naoya tried to initiate the negotiation, but he was muted.
They stood themselves stationary for a few seconds until Naoya merely took his hand in hers and lead her to do what they both wanted to ask the other, but were unable to do in words: dance.
Persona: Be Your True Mind
The roof of Joy Street was a nest in which you could observe the horizon encompassing Mikage-cho in its primal gold magnificence. The nine Persona Users responsible for preserving this enriched and treasured city were on the roof top engulfing their minds with the taking view. The celebration was finished, their bellies full, their energies spent, their bills paid, and their honest friends off away. Just the nine of them and the Jack Brothers stood on the stone slab boxing the shopping mall. They were standing in a circle, called to be at the location at Naoya's request.
Filled with brevity, Naoya as concisely as possible, informed his comrades of the dissonance he suffered when he was falling to the grasp of the reaper. He recounted the tale being summoned to the realm between unconsciousness and consciousness, speaking with, being proposed to by Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, and Philemon, the Guiding Monarch. He plunged the story to the visions of the future, the ones which seemed bleak but were inevitably resurrected in hopeful march. The precognitive visions of the later future which tranquilized what he believed to be his dying soul in the ticking stopwatch of reality. They were astonished at occurrence. The interstellar happening drove a new cognizance on the incredibly terrifying affair.
"Now, I ask you as my friends and my comrades…for your help. Not help for now, but help in the future. For posterity, for those in the future who will be involuntarily compulsed within the outcomes of a wager between two strident gods, I ask for your help. I ask you to help them to your fullest capacity. I want to guarantee the futures I saw remain the futures that will be. I want to forever return to this place, my home, and see this view from up here. I never want to see it tormented and disintegrated in mutation or destruction again. Till the infinite worlds bordering the universal confines unravel, I do not want to see this world harmed. You do not have to help me, you are not obligated to. Me, I feel obligated. I saw those succeeding others and I feel a responsibility to help them on my own accord. If you guys are in, tell me, if you're out, I don't think any of us would think less of you after what we've experienced."
Naoya flattened his hand and extended it forward to his allies.
Masao's callous palm slapped itself down on Naoya's in enthusiasm. "What do you think, Nao? We always got each others backs no matter what, right? Let's get funky!"
Maki lightly laid her hand on top. "I owe you all more than I can imagine. Please, allow me to help you."
"I suppose it's my move." Kei sophisticatedly added his hand to the convergence. "I will use my power to stop the pain I have had the displeasure of feeling from happening to others like me."
"Leave it to me, N.T.!" Brown prominently dunked his hand on the pile. "I've got this Persona and I'm not getting rid of it! Man, the world's ever in trouble, yo, I'll solve it!"
Ayase instantly went with Brown's drunk. "Like, here! If Brown's in, I'm in. I'm like, totally not gonna be alone on this!"
Yukino clutch her hand on the extending limbs. "Ha! You knuckleheads need someone to look after you. Ms. Saeko'd be crushed if I let this large number of you off without my supervision."
Eriko accompanied her friend. "I will do my best to offer whatever services I may to whoever is in need. I'll protect you all with my wildest strength."
"Hell yeah, Punk, I'm in." Reiji swung his brawny fist on the very highest. "I owe you guys just as big as Sonomura. No way am I letting you kick all the demon ass alone."
Naoya felt the significant weight of his friends on his own power. "Thank you…everyone. If humanity, Persona Users, the world is ever in dire straights again, we all promise, we abide by our contract, to come together to help whoever we can stop it!"
"HEE-HO!" Jack Frost and Pyro Jack exclaimed in admiration as they leaped upwards and smacked themselves on the mess of fingers.
"Should we say it, guys?" Masao asked.
"Why not, Inaba," Reiji replied.
"Just once more," Eriko added.
"For the time being," Yukino stated.
"Then, let's say it!" Brown exclaimed.
"Yeah, like, the loudest we can be!" Ayase chided.
"Well, not the loudest we can be." Maki corrected.
"We do not desire others to discover our secret." Kei informed.
"Then, we'll say it moderately!" Naoya offered.
"DO-HEE IT-HO NOW-HEE, AMIHOS,"
"PERSONA!"
Persona Be Your True Mind
A/N: Tamaki Uchida is the female version of the protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei: …if, She is legitimately fitted into the game known as Megumi Ibunroku Persona and the remake Shin Megami Tensei: Persona. Technically, the events of …if are constituted as canon, because Tamaki makes references to fighting demons in a similar situation if you talk to her in the game.
Chujitsuna is meant to be the Japanese translation of the word loyalty. Yamaoka is the loyal butler, his family is the loyal subsidiary, hence why I offered him the last name of Chujitsuna. Why I made up one for him? Yamaoka does not have an established last name, but in Revelations: Persona they call him Alfred. Yep. Guess Kei is some crude effigy of Bruce Wayne in some ways.
Not those Digital Monsters guys! It's funny though how abbreviations work. You can infer Digital Demons or Digital Monsters from the name Digimon. Digital Demon is the intended part of the unintended pun. Digital Demons of course comes from Digital Devil which is not only based in the Megaten titles Digital Devil Saga, but also the novels in which the whole series was spawned from and bases off of entitled Digital Devil Story.
Eriko's opening is a part of a quote from Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carol. I mean, the Wonderland bibliography holds some of my favorite literature, next to a lot of different mythos penned by an abundance of deft and avid authors, but I partial referenced it, because the last line is like my reality is just different then yours which in my rendition of Eriko I don't think is to far off as an appropriate idiom. Plus I'm sure you can actually apply Through the Looking Glass to this game's story in a way. I wouldn't be surprised if it served as an influence. Ayakashi Monthly is an occult magazine prominent in Nocturne which is written by the character who helps you out called Jyoji Hijiri who is pretty much confirmed to be *spoiler for Shin Megami Tensei 2 inserted here* I think its useless to censor, because I'm positive you'll just wiki his character and see the answer anyway.
Well the American flag gloves are a stable of Reiji's design that I for some reason or another omitted in his original appearance. Then after I destroyed them when he had his hissy fit I kind of shot myself in the foot, because in Innocent Sin Lisa Silverman's ultimate weapon is Reiji's USA Gloves. He actually gives them to her when you meet him in the Abandoned Factory, because she admires them as the gloves used to beat up yakuza and a gang leader I believe. So, I said fuck in dismay, and then said Hell why not have his mother make them for him in the epilogue, give a significance to his staple characteristic. *Pats self on back* Good recovery, except you kind of messed up the passing of the gloves, because they hold sentiment value to Reiji, so he won't want to give them up to the O.G. martial artist fan girl. FUCK! *in dismay*
D-VA is a band in Devil Survivor. The character Haru WAS a member of the band. Since I assume Devil Survivor takes place in 2009, and this story takes place in what I am retconning to 2004, it makes sense because Haru does indeed go solo for certain reasons in Devil Survivor. Why the reference, because Devil Survivor will be kind of relevant, not exactly story, but a cameo of a character, plus I needed a recognizable band and it's not like I could use Risette or Gas Chamber this early in the timeline of Persona. Added to that their name that makes the pun diva actually looks like the abbreviation of the DEVA System, in the Japanese version it is simply called the DVA System. So, they're exact which is cool. Speaking of cool, Coolest is the magazine that is published by Kismet Publishing which is where a certain deuteragonist of the Persona 2 dualogy writes and works for.
Well, guys, its finally completed. Persona: Be Your True Mind is now—
YOU HAVE UNLOCKED AN AUTHOR ADDED SECRET EPILOGUE
WHAT? I didn't authorize this!
Persona: Be Your True Mind
"You're queen's gambit was quite unexpected, my competitor?" Philemon complemented as his opponent crushed his crude Pandora chess piece to dust.
"Smug bastard butterfly," Nyarlathotep sneered.
"Technically, your king was already forfeit several turns previous. Does that mean I have won twice over?"
Nyarlathotep saw his tipped over Takahisa Kandori chess piece and wiped the board furiously clear in anguish. "Damn guinea pigs! Goddamn guinea pigs!"
Philemon proceed to guffaw venerably at his competitor frustration. "An interesting game, when shall we play the second round, my competitor."
"Sorry to disappoint you smug butterfly, but there will not be a second round."
"You are quitting your purpose haphazardly? After one defeat,"
"No! There won't be a second round! There will be two! You heard me, two! There is sinful fruit on the vine of events deliciously ripening to a savory composition."
"How is that? That is preposterous! Two omens forthcoming is impossibility! I would have foreseen this!"
"I haven't cheated if that is what you are suggesting, my competitor! You are merely not reading the strings in the proper locations! I orchestrated two rounds in the past! I seeded the events nicely!"
"When will they occur, fiend? I need ample time to prepare my side as indicated by the rules of our game!"
"Harvest season for round two is in three years! Your choices are preset thanks to me! Fruit two, round three that is if round three exists, will be in five years time! Gather your wits; prepare your contracts, because you are in for a hellish venture redefining deformed reality!"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
WHAT? Shit, damn you, Nyarlathotep now you've forced my hand! Now, that I've showed it I have no choice but to acknowledge it. That's what Persona 2 has taught me and hopefully will teach you. So, yes, as indicated by the Author Added Secret Epilogue, I guess Charon must be real close to the United States, because Persona 2: Your Innocent Sin, the novelization of Persona 2: Innocent Sin, the first P2 in the P2 dualogy, will be started by me. Notice I said started. Also, to keep myself from growing tedious at the linearity of the clean cut novelization of Persona 2: Innocent Sin, I will also be accompanying that project with the start of the less monotonous in transcription but incredibly redundant Persona 3: Burn Your Dread, the novelization of Persona 3: FES with my own additions including the return of my version of the protagonist of this game. The boy with the earring, soon to be the man with the earring, Naoya Todo! He'll be there to help SEES out during the whole Dark Hour scenario in Tatsumi Island. They kind of need it like the P2 casts needs the help of the remaining Persona 1 cast to deal with the threat of Joker and his gang of misfits in a place where rumors become reality, Sumaru City! Both to be started and written in tandem, three Burn Your Dread chapters and then two Your Innocent Sin chapters in that order until the 30 Chapter novelization of Innocent Sin and the 50 Chapter novelization of Persona 3 are both completed.
Okay, with that out of the way. We are finally done. Persona: Be Your True Mind is complete! WOOH! I AM IMBEDDED IN THE ANNALS OF TIME! At having a pretty mediocre recreation with a bunch of pointlessly added shit. Well, I don't feel as bad about it anymore. And I don't think it's that awful, but I will be giving you guys my top three favorite chapters and top three worst.
Since I'm a cynical son of a bitch, we'll get the worst three out of the way. The first four chapters I've talked to death about how I think they're shit so they aren't included. One is Chapter 14. This chapter was rushed, I was in a place of mind were I was honestly really insecure about my skills at taking on this project. I just didn't think the way I wrote it was effective. The evocation and blatant shipping honestly did not help cater to my enjoyment of it. It was repetition, Kei was not Kei enough for my liking, and I wish I could have properly fashioned that flashback better it just was horrendous. Chapter 16 is a contender as well, mainly for the same reason. Shit flashbacks, poor characterization of the subject of the chapter, not enough emotional evocation properly interwoven, terribly terribly ridiculous and over the top elaboration. It sucked and I fucking hated how I did it. Kandori was generic and hammy as all hell and that pisses me off because I hate the cliché villain who sits on his ass and laughs like a maniac. But that is technically his character. Third is I don't know, I really can't think of the worst chapter so I'll just say an combination of the first four, and the initial two Lost Forest chapters, because they didn't accomplish appropriately what they needed to accomplish.
Best three are easy: Chapter 12, Chapter 15, Chapter 21. Reasons I had full control over everything, everything turned out amazing. It was swimmingly written and executed. I feel really proud of myself whenever I go back and read each of these chapters. Each beats at a perfect percussion and the rhythm is fast and loud and honestly perfect. I wasn't entertaining a linear train. I was doing what I know I can do, which is create. I created backstories. I create notions. I created revelations for these characters that have never truly had revelations before. The interactions were spot on, the dimensions are weaved as well were enjoyable, I think some when meant to be were pretty humorous which is also a plus because my sense of humor is usually too dry to accurately convey in written form. Each of those chapters embodies and accomplishes what I wanted to achieve with this story, the unfortunate aspect is that not all the chapters are as good as these three.
For a little fan interaction, if you would like list your least favorite three chapters, or favorite three chapters, or both. You don't have to explain why, but explaining why will allow me to grow as a writer so I ask nicely if you would if you care to participate. Also you can disagree with me. I have no ego. It was physically ripped out by my own hands. I also have no self-esteem. That was spiritual killed with my own self-indignation. So don't concern yourself with hurting my feelings. If you want to say the story sucks, please go ahead, I'll probably agree with whatever reasons you give that's just the kind of person I am.
Either way I hoped you enjoyed Persona: Be Your True Mind. I thank all of you who have reviewed, favorited, and put me on alerts. You guys make my day and made this fic to its end. So, you deserve the most praise and virtues. Thank YOU! I'll see you guys in the next story. Peace!