A/N: Even though this isn't an interlude, I've included a song: The Stranger, by Billy Joel. It fits perfectly for this entire game. Any way, enjoy. Please read and review. I value your feedback.
Edit: I've added a bit to this chapter and fixed a few things. Persona and The Stranger are copyrighted by their respective owners and are use here without permission.
Borderline of Madness, Part 1: Secret Lab
Chapter 4: Strength of Heart
Well we all have a face
That we hide away forever
And we take them out and
Show ourselves
When everyone has gone
Some are satin some are steel
Some are silk and some are leather
They're the faces of the stranger
But we love to try them on.
"Acceptin' your true self is hard, but you ain't alone, man. You ain't alone." The voice was far away, as if out of a dream.
Even so, Naoto was ready to argue. "I am alone. And I'm not a man. I am a girl. Only a girl. Nothing but a girl. And going to be a woman—only a woman," she thought. "Yes. They know what I am now. What could they possibly want with me now that they know this essential truth?"
This essential truth that she had attempted to deny for so long. So long, that it had, in fact, become personified in that juvenile lab coat-clad doppelganger.
"Naoto-kun?"
The voice again. Sharper. Concerned. Most definitely male.
"Just leave me be," she muttered. She didn't want to open her eyes and see the looks on Seta and his friend's faces. Surprise, disappointment, anger, confusion, disbelief, disgust, or worst of all, pity.
She felt a strong hand lift her head and a bottle press against her lips.
"Drink this." It was the same voice again.
A warm and rather vile tasting liquid trickled down Naoto's throat. She coughed and sputtered, bolting up to a sitting position. Her eyes flew open and observed nothing but blur.
As her vision cleared, and she noticed Tatsumi crouched near her. He held a bottle of something—that vile tonic in all likelihood.
"Naoto, you're awake. Are you alright?"
I art thou.
Naoto clutched her head as a voice seared through her mind like white-hot steel.
"What…what is going on?" she stammered.
And thou art I.
Ignoring Tatsumi's attempt to assist her, Naoto dragged herself to her feet. The rest of Seta's group was standing near her, but she pushed through them, not even able to hear their voices or see their faces.
Fortune, accept me. I art thou. And thou art I.
All she could hear was that voice. That buzzing voice that had taken over all her senses. It was coming from the center of the room.
Naoto walked toward the voice. She found the lab-coat clad figure leaning against the operating table. It turned to look at her and a searing pain shot through her head.
I art thou. Thou art I.
The doppelganger was subdued and seemed to be in a lot of pain.
Accept me!
Hesitantly, Naoto stretched out her hand and placed it on the reflection's shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I kept ignoring you, pretending you didn't exist. But you are me…and I am you. You've always been inside me. What I should yearn for…No, what I must strive for isn't to become a man. It's to accept myself for who I really am."
Her other self nodded and with a faint smile, disappeared in a flash of blue light.
Naoto watched, eyes wide, as a glowing card appeared in the air in front of her. She reached out and took the card. It shattered and blue light flowed from between her fingers. A shimmering and ethereal image appeared briefly before her eyes.
A voice buzzed deep within Naoto's mind. It seemed to be emanating from her very soul.
The strength of heart required to face oneself has been made manifest. I am Sukuna-Hikona. I am the façade you use to overcome the trials and hardships of life. Thou art I and I art thou. I am your persona.
"Persona…"
The image faded and Naoto suddenly felt light, as if a great burden had been lifted from her. Her mind swam and she fell to her knees.
Seta's group closed in and Tatsumi said her name. Perhaps it was her imagination, but she thought he sounded concerned.
The world suddenly seemed to come back into focus.
"Are you awake?" Yukiko asked.
"You saw everything." Naoto sighed. Now they would leave. They'd abandon her.
Listen. Listen.
Dear god. What in the world was that buzzing?
I art thou. Remember? Listen. Listen.
Sukuna-Hikona. Persona. Naoto's head swam again.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Yukiko Amagi kneeling near her.
"It's alright. We've all shown our darker sides."
"I…" Naoto stammered, unable to form words.
"You must know already that what you yearn for isn't to become an adult or a boy." Yukiko smiled kindly.
"You're absolutely right. All I want is…to be accepted." Naoto sighed.
"It's all right. We all have things we hide." Souji smiled. "It takes a strong heart to accept yourself. The first step to being accepted, is accepting yourself. And that's the hardest step of all."
Yosuke grinned mischievously. "And if you're ever interested, I've seen all these guys' Shadows. I can let you know how crazy they all were if it'll make you feel better."
"Hey! No you won't." Chie punched him in the side.
Yukiko grimaced, Kanji made a strangled sort of choking noise and Rise bit her lip.
Souji shook his head and glanced sharply at Yosuke. Turning to Naoto, he smiled kindly. "Shadows are only a part of you. The rest is up to you."
They accept us. Listen.
Naoto smiled at Seta's group. She silently spoke her thanks as she looked at each member of the group.
"In any event, you're a devious bunch. I can't believe you kept something like this hidden for so long." She attempted to chuckle, but it came out sounding closer to a wheeze. "No wonder the perpetrator has eluded the police." She tried to stand and failed. Frowning, she leaned over her knees. "But it's apparent now. This case is far from over."
Yosuke smiled at her. "That's right. And you proved it, Naoto." He paused and offered a hand to help her up. "But we need to get you out of here."
She looked at his hand skeptically, and finally took it and he helped her up. Her legs felt wobbly. She tried to take a step forward, and collapsed to the ground.
"You don't gotta do everything by yourself, you know."
Naoto looked up at Kanji, whose rough voice had just sounded from somewhere high above her head. "I am perfectly capable of—"
Kanji suddenly frowned, his eyes narrowing. "You're too frickin' reckless, dammit."
"I never doubted that you'd all come for me." Naoto breathed heavily.
"Tch. What a dumbass. You're no genius at all. We were tearing our hair out over you!" Kanji glared at her, his arms crossed.
"So you did worry about her, Kanji. Awww." Rise squealed in delight.
Kanji was visibly shaken, his cheeks reddening. "Shuddup! M-mind your own damn business!"
Naoto wasn't quite sure what to think of this exchange, so she settled for collapsing sideways on the floor.
The group ran to her side, murmuring words of concern.
"I don't think she's going to make it out of here by herself." Yukiko said to Souji as she crouched down near Naoto's prone figure.
"It's…all right…I can…" Naoto attempted to stand and through exhaustive effort, managed to push herself to her knees.
Kanji shook his head again and effortlessly scooped her up and slung her over his left shoulder. "No way. We just saved your damn ass. I ain't lettin' you mess that up by tryin' to be tough." He sighed. "Ain't nothin' tough about refusin' help when you need it."
If she hadn't been so exhausted, Naoto probably would have protested against Kanji's needless behavior, but for now, all she wanted to do was sleep.
Naoto didn't remember much of the trip out of the TV. She kept fading in and out of consciousness. Only a few fragmentary memories stuck in her mind: green light everywhere, some sort of red and blue creature—was that a bear? Kanji's smell—sweat tinged with something like clothing dye—oddly not unpleasant, and the feeling that she was not alone. Her mind was full of indistinct buzzing from Sukuna-Hikona. She had no desire to decipher what it was saying. She'd have the rest of her life to do that.
After all, Sukuna-Hikona was a part of her.
You may never understand
How the stranger is inspired
But he isn't always evil
And he is not always wrong
Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along.