I watched Ekoda all week, and yep, He's hiding something. You can practically smell the fear coming out of him.
That's not all I noticed though, there's been talk of bullying all over the place. Rumours and rumours of rumours, but things are starting to fall into place.
And now it's the first of June, and we're wearing summer uniforms now. Which means shortsleeves, no jackets and no more ties. I kept my tie loose around my neck though, just because I like it.
Anyway back at the dorm, me and Akihiko were practising our energy control. We were basically arm wrestling, only instead of pushing with our arms, we pushed with electricity. Junpei could set his hand on fire and Mitsuru could freeze stuff. Yukari was starting to use wind manipulation, but I'm having difficulty seeing how that could help. Unless it's like Naruto and it'll let her make balls of sharpness, but I doubt it.
And yes, I got the scrolls of armaments. They were a bit of a letdown actually. I mean, yeah, they are awesome, but it's hard to open up the correct scroll, find the right section, and activate the seal in the heat of battle, so it's no bat belt.
"Man… I'm bored…" Junpei groaned, closing a fireball in his fist.
"You're always bored Junpei." I reminded him.
"Yeah, but not when there's this much going on…" he turned around in his seat to lean on the back of it, facing me and Akihiko. "You know those rumours about the girl that was found outside of the school gate?" the one who was found unconscious? "Well, there's this one rumour that says that it was an angry ghost who did it…"
Ooh, ghost? I glanced at Pharos, who shrugged.
"H-hey, come on!" Yukari shouted, as Akihiko slammed my hand against the table, but I didn't care at the moment. "No one believes that stuff…" she looked over to me an Akihiko. "R-right?"
Yeah, she was getting scared, clear as day.
"So. What's the ghost story about?" Mitsuru asked Junpei, walking into the room. Man, she has great timing.
"Wha-!" Yukari exclaimed. "It-it's probably made up… so why bother!"
Ooh, she's getting aggressive defensive now…
"This could be fun." My thoughts exactly Pharos.
"I'm interested." Akihiko stated, turning to face Junpei. "Go ahead and tell us."
Yukari looked around for support, but I shrugged. "Go on then Junpei." I said.
I wasn't that interested in the story itself, I just like to see people suffer. Not sadistically, just in situations like this when people are thrown out of their comfort zone.
And from the expression on her face, Yukari was obviously so far out her comfort zone, she was at sea and sharks were beginning to circle her.
I am evil.
"Huh." Pharos said. "Thought you had the hots for her."
Quiet you.
Junpei leaned forward and pulled out a torch from somewhere. He turned it on and pointed the light under his face just as Mitsuru dimmed the lights. It felt like camping all over again.
"Good evening." Junpei sneered, almost as if he was trying to imitate Igor. "Welcome to 'Junpei's Believe it, or Don't.'…"
They get that show over here too?
"There are many strange things in this world…" he said mysteriously. "According to one story…if you get caught at school at night, you'll be devoured by a maniacal ghost that roams the halls!" That's true, except the Reaper probably wouldn't eat you.
"He's more likely to shoot you." Pharos told me. Thanks for reminding me, Pharos.
"The other day," Junpei continued, "A Friend of mine… Let's call him… Shu."
"It's Kenji isn't it?" I asked him.
"Perhaps… Perhaps not…" Junpei said smoothly, giving me only a tiny glare. Yep, it's Kenji. "But Shu, he came up to me and said 'Junpei. I saw something strange...'
"He sounded serious," he continued, "So I asked him what he'd seen. It was about the girl in 2-E. He, Claims that he saw her go into school on the night of the incident…"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Yukari squirming uncomfortably.
"I couldn't believe it… She's not the type of girl to be out at night." He shook his head. "But Shu was white as a sheet, he insisted that it was true!"
"Then… It hit me…" Junpei whispered, and I felt myself leaning forward.
Junpei paused for suspense. "That ghost must've tried to make her its dinner!" he shouted. "And that's why they found her lying on the ground by the gate!" Akihiko and Mitsuru looked thoughtful, but Yukari just about jumped out of her skin. "I felt a chill run down my spine, and I broke into a cold sweat... Yes, there are strange things in this world... Believe it... or don't..."
He turned the torch off and someone hit the light switch. Mitsuru hid a smirk as she glanced at Akihiko. "What do you think?"
Akihiko grinned. "I think it's worth investigating."
Junpei leaned back against the wall with a smirk. "Wow Yuka-Tan, I had no idea you were afraid of ghosts." he chuckled. "I gotta say, that's kinda funny!"
Yukari glared at him and smacked the table with both hands. "Hey, Watch It!" She shouted.
She frowned as she got off the table and folded her arms. "Fine… then let's investigate…" She looked around at us. "We'll each ask around for the rest of the week." What? I'd been doing that all of last week… "I'll prove to you that this story is just an urban legend!"
"I appreciate that." Mitsuru told her, ignoring Junpei's groan. "The story is a bit unnerving."
"Then I'll let you guys handle it." Akihiko stole my evil smile. "Just make sure you sleep with one eye open…"
"So, what do you think?"
That was the first thing Pharos asked me once we got into my room.
"Honestly?" I replied, "Story was close to my theory, but with a few key mistakes."
"Want to borrow a flashlight?"
"Nah, I'm fine." I sorted pieces of information in my head; what I'd heard from rumours, Junpei's stories, what I've learned through my bullying investigations, what Pharos had told me and what I already knew, then sprinkled a large portion of imagination.
"I reckon that girl was up to something she shouldn't be, or got caught up in something she shouldn't have… possibly both…"
I thought for a moment. "2-E is Ekoda's class right?"
Pharos nodded.
"He's the teacher who was hiding something about bullying, so either that girl was being bullied or she was a bully…"
Something else came to mind. "She collapsed and has nothing wrong with her except unconsciousness right? Does that make her one of the Lost?"
Pharos smiled, as if he already knew the answer I was getting to. "But if she has Apathy Syndrome, then that means that the Shadows are involved…" The penny dropped. "When's the next full moon?"
"One week from today." Pharos smirked.
"It's the Empress next right?"
"Most likely."
I reached for the Tarot guide and flicked to the correct page. Glancing at the text, I noted that 'Empress symbolises Motherhood, Comfort, Pleasure, Health, Sensuality…' so on… so if reversed, that makes a bad mothering, distress, pain, sickness… I tried to think of the opposite of Sensuality, but I stopped.
"Distress, Pain, Sickness…" they were the results of bullying… Bad mothering…
"Abuse…" I whispered.
Pharos smiled as I reached the conclusion. "So, what's your theory?"
I put the book down and shifted into a crouch. "Someone in class 2-E was, or is, being bullied." I explained. "I don't think it's the girl who collapsed, but it's likely she was involved. Most likely as a bully… but if the girl was the bully then the victim is most likely a weaker female…"
"Got anyone in mind?"
"No, but bullying is different for girls." I said, shaking my head. "All we guys have to deal with usually is a few bruises and some torment, and even when it gets evil, it's still mostly physical, since we're basically run on testosterone…"
Come to think of it, isn't abuse of power the reverse of Emperor? "So since Emperor represents fatherhood, Reverse makes physical abuse… but since girls get attacked emotionally and mentally, it does more damage in the long term… making reverse Empress…" Getting there…"Most victims of female bullying tend to be quieter… more withdrawn… so bullying often goes unnoticed, and eventually the victim becomes the same to the students who aren't tormenting her…" Which means that… "So the girl would be someone you wouldn't necessarily know personally…" wait, that sound familiar…
"Yamagishi…" Yukari began "Oh, that girl in 2-E? I heard she gets sick a lot, so I don't see her very often."
CLICK
"Fuuka Yamagishi…" I said. "She's got the potential, but we gave up on her since she wasn't cut out for battle…"
"So, she's a weaker female?" Pharos asked, paraphrasing what I'd said.
"Most likely… and sick a lot?" I asked. "More likely she's faking it so she doesn't have to come into school…"
"You think she's the victim?" Pharos asked.
"Most likely…" I nodded. "I'll go see her tomorrow."
Turns out, that was impossible. Ekoda said that she was sick, and he refused to tell me her home address. No one else in his class seemed to know where she lived either. I saw guilt and fear on a couple of girls faces, but when I asked them about it, they clammed shut and left.
"Um… M-Minato-san?"
I looked behind me. "Oh, Hey Chihiro-san." She looked somewhat concerned. "Is… everything alright?"
"Um… Yeah… C-can we go to the rooftop?" she asked. "I-I need to speak with you…"
She seemed pretty bothered about something.
Eh, I'm a week ahead in the investigations as is, I can easily spare some time for social linkage.
I agreed and went up with her. Whatever it was, it was most likely private and urgent, so I didn't ask about it until we were alone. When I did, I was surprised.
"Um… R-remember when you saved me from that creep, Minato-san?" I nodded. "W-well, from that day on… my health hasn't been so great…" Huh? Bit odd, but I chose to remain silent until she'd finished. "The doctor said I'm fine, but…"
Chihiro shighed. "I guess I'll tell you Minato-san… S-since you've been so nice to me… But don't think I'm weird, okay?"
I nodded. Yeah, I had seen her a couple of times over the last week, but I wasn't expecting what came next. "L-Last night, I… Um… You see, I had this…"
She stopped hesitating and blurted it out. "I have dreams about you every single night, Minato-san!"
WHAM.
"I… I dream about you every night…" She repeated, almost to confirm it to herself… "This has never happened to me before…"
This was getting serious. "I appreciate how nice you've been to me, Minato-san, but…" She looked down at the ground. "One of these days, I… I might want to be… more… than just your friend…"
SMASH
Thou shalt have our blessing when though choosest to create a Persona of the Justice Arcana…
She seemed to catch herself. "Oh! Sorry! I've been babbling like an idiot… I…" She turned away. "I just get so nervous when I'm around you… especially…" She glanced back at me, then her head snapped forward. "Especially when you look at me that way…" What, tired? She seemed almost ashamed. "…Sorry."
"Don't apologise." I told her.
"Well, I'm sorry for wasting your time… Oh!" She seemed shocked. "Sorry, I- I didn't mean to say…" She seemed to getting confused... and upset...
Chihiro held her head low and moved past me. "Sorry…"
I couldn't just let her run off, seeing as how she looked like she was about to burst into tears, so I grabbed her hand just as she brushed past. "Wait…"
She snapped around, almost surprised at what I did.
What did I just do?
Was I accepting her as a girlfriend?
In her head? Probably.
"Oh… Minato-san…" She blushed and squeezed my hand. "It's so rough… and strong… and warm…" It felt like she'd never let go.
She didn't, as a matter of fact, until we were half way to the dorm and she had to turn off to her house. Again, she refused to let me walk all the way home with her, but ah well.
Next day afterschool I was with Yuko in Paulownia mall, since she needed to stock up on supplies for the team and I need to stock up on supplies for a completely unrelated team.
"Hey, wait up!" she said behind me. "I'm not as tall as you, so I can't walk as fast!"
Pausing, I realised she was carrying more bags than I was, so I reached out my hand for hers so she could give some to me.
Yuko paused for a second, before actually taking my hand. Not that I'm complaining, but it's a bit of a bad move for someone who apparently already has a girlfriend, isn't it? I doubt this is a Japan thing...
"Wait... um..." I turned around. Yuko seemed surprised.
"Well, not that I mind, It's just…" Yuko blushed slightly. "I didn't think we were going out just yet…"
Wait what?
"She thinks you just confessed to her." Pharos told me. "Two girls at once eh? Not bad…"
SHIT.
I was about to clear it up with her when suddenly she was talking to some kids.
"They live across the street from me." She explained to me, breaking out of her conversation with them temporarily. Turning back to them, she added "This is no place to be playing tag, you should be playing in the playground."
"We can't play there…" One kid told her. "Some bigger kids from our school are playing soccer there!" FOOTBALL! IT'S FOOTBALL! DAMMIT AMERICA!
"What?" Yuko replied. "Well, why don't you share?"
"We tried to…" Another kid said, "But they said that they'd move if we could beat them in a race, but they're too fast!" Ah, so she's reprimanding them for playing tig here… gotcha.
Yuko sighed. "Alright, come with me, just this once."
Why do they call it tag anyways? Tig is a much better name. And Soccer, why do they call it that?
I blame America. But America would kick my backside in a fight, so the blame shifts to Junpei.
"Minato!"
"Uh, Yeah?" I asked.
"Can you get this stuff for me?" Yuko asked, proffering the bags. "I'll meet you up at the school."
"Yeah, okay!" That'll give me a chance to clear this up.
The boyfriend girlfriend thing, not the sport names thing.
When I got back to school, the kids were running around the running track. Well, I suppose that's what it's there for, but… Why?
"I just wanted them to have a place to play," Yuko explained. "But then I corrected one of the boys running styles, and, well, next thing I knew I'm coaching them so they can race against the sixth graders." Ah, okay. Yuko turned to me and asked "Am I doing the right thing, Minato-kun?"
"That's really up to you." I'm currently in no place to be giving anyone ethical advice, not until I cleared this up.
Yuko seemed excited. "Then, what am I waiting for?" She smiled. "Once they called me Coach, well, I couldn't resist…"
"Who could?" I shrugged.
"Yeah… Hey…" Yuko seemed concerned slightly. "Is there any chance you'd be willing to help me train them?"
I didn't get chance to reply as she continued "I only know a little bit about racing, and, well, you're pretty athletic…" Well, yeah, but not sports athletic. "Please, I'd be really grateful… I'll be lonely teaching them all by myself…"
Wow, she really trusts me. "Sure." I answered, without thinking.
Wait, was that the right decision?
SMASH
Too late…
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou choosest to create a Persona of the Strength Arcana…
"Well, there's no turning back now." Pharos told me, placing a hand on my shoulder from behind. "Congratulations, you are now officially a two timing scumbag. You'll have those social links done in no time!"
Doesn't make me feel any better though…
"Hey Minato."
"Hey Yukari…" I replied, trudging through the front door of the dorm that evening.
"So, how's your investigation going?" she asked.
"Huh?" I frowned. My brain was a bit occupied with my new position as cheating scumbag at that moment...
"Don't tell me you forgot already?" she snapped.
"No, I haven't." For a few hours I had. "It's going okay. I'm getting results."
"Well, keep them to yourself until Friday, okay?"
"Sure, okay." I trudged up to my room. I needed Sleep. Sleep would make it all better.
"Good Evening."
I was in some kind of blue jazz bar. It didn't seem to be open, since the only other people in there were Elizabeth and Igor. "Welcome, to the Velvet Room."
"Isn't that a Lift?" I asked.
Igor grinned his grin. "The Velvet Room takes many forms. However, a recent change has led to this one."
Change? "Is this about the two girls I'm currently dating?"
"That is why I summoned you here, yes…" I noted the lack of a Pharos. "What you are doing is extremely risky."
"I know… If one finds out about the other, they'll never trust me again, will they?"
"It may not be that severe, but you are thinking along the right lines." Igor looked right at me. "When something adversely affects the bond between two people, it is not uncommon for the Social Link to Reverse."
"Reverse?" I asked, feeling an explanation coming along. "Like the Shadows?"
"Indeed." Igor looked serious for once. "A Reversed Social Link cannot progress forward, not until the problem is rectified."
"So, if they find out about each other and reverse, I can still save it?" I asked hopefully.
"Not quite." Igor took a drink from the glass in front of him. "If the damage is repaired, then the Reversed Social Link will be rectified. However, this would in turn damage the other Social Link, thus Breaking it."
I gulped. "Breaking it?"
"A Broken Social Link is next to irreparable. If you made any move to repair one of the Reversed Social Links in your scenario, then the other would inevitably be Broken." That's not good.
"Will the path you have chosen produce a sour melody of pain and jealousy?" Igor asked me, "Or a sweet nocturne of blissful ignorance?" Igor looked right into my eyes. "Nonetheless, whichever path you choose, you have our full support."
"That only makes me feel worse." I pointed out. He was basically saying I had no life support out here...
"Well, then perhaps we will be listening to the Blues tonight." Igor commented. "I hope you visit us again soon, but until then," Igor lifted his glass in a toast, "Farewell."
-}+{-
I'm going to say this again, just so everyone gets the message.
This is a rewrite.
Persona 3: Fairly English Story, has been completed. This is just me going through, adding content, correcting mistakes, and sorting out the formatting. If you are reading this for the first time and want to complete the story from the latest chapter of the Rebuild, go to my profile, scroll down, and you will find the full, 108 chapter-long version of Persona 3: Fairly English Story.
I'm saying this here because I can't respond to anonymous reviews. Each chapter here corresponds to the same chapter in Persona 3: Fairly English Story. Chapter 23 of the Rebuild covers the same events of Chapter 23 of Fairly English Story, and so on. Just pick up that story where this one ends and you can continue enjoying the experience.
At least, that's what I'd like to say. You really should read both stories from start to finish. They don't quite match up.
SamJaz out.