Time never waits. It delivers all equally to the same end. You, who wish to safeguard the future, however limited it may be…
You will be given one year; go forth without falter, with your heart as your guide…
In a nearby student dorm room, a girl splashes water on her face in an attempt to regain focus and courage. In her agitated state, she leaves the sink running as she leans back against a wall, trying in vain to steady her breathing. She lifts up a gun and points it to her forehead, slowly putting her thumb on the trigger and steadily pressing down. At the last second however, she loses her conviction and drops the gun, causing it to clatter on the floor. The girl starts to breathe heavily again, speaking to herself in a defeated voice:
"No...I can't do it…"
A boy stood at the window of a train, listening to somber music from his portable MP3 music player. The boy's name was Makoto Yuki, a high school student with unkempt blue hair, blue eyes, a white shirt, and a black jacket and pants. His destination was Iwatodai City in Tatsumi Port Island, as he was transferring to the high school established there: Gekkoukan High School. An announcement came on over the train's speakers.
"Attention passengers. Due to a malfunction in the switching system, the rail schedule has been altered. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause." The conductor said.
"Guess that means I'll be late." Makoto thought.
Makoto saw someone in the corner of his eye and turned to see who it was. To his surprise, it was a face he recognized, but hadn't seen in almost 10 years. It was a girl named Kotone Shiomi, a childhood friend of the family. While they weren't particularly close, the few interactions they had were pleasant enough for him to remember her. Kotone had auburn hair tied in a ponytail, red eyes, a red ribbon tie, and a black skirt. She was seated close to where Makoto was standing, listening to upbeat music on her own, almost identical MP3 player. Kotone looked in Makoto's direction for a moment before looking back down. When she realized who she just saw, she looked again with an expression of surprise.
"Makoto-chan?!" Kotone said in surprise.
"Koto-chan?" Makoto said in response.
Kotone stood up from her seat and went over to Makoto, mildly annoying the other passengers.
"Makoto-chan! How funny seeing you here!" Kotone said cheerfully.
"I didn't see you get on." Makoto stated.
"Me neither! It's been so long. I'm surprised you still remember me."
"Well, I do."
"Are you heading to Iwatodai as well?"
"Yes. I'm transferring to Gekkoukan High."
"What a coincidence! I'm transferring there too!"
"Oh. I see."
"Why don't we go together? We have a lot to catch up on!"
"OK."
The train made its final stop in Iwatodai, and the two students went on their way.
4/6
It was midnight by the time Makoto and Kotone arrived, and they resolved to get to their dorm as soon as possible.
"So they assigned you the same dorm as me, huh? I thought they might put me in a girls only dorm, but I guess not." Kotone said.
"Hm." Makoto replied, almost disinterested.
"Hey, what's wrong Makoto-chan? Are you nervous about attending a new school?"
"No."
"Oh, I get it. It's awkward talking to me, isn't it? I know the last time we saw each other was when we were kids, but you could at least try to get along with me." Kotone said playfully.
"I am." Makoto responded.
"OK then. Hey! My music player shut off! Didn't I just replace the batteries?"
Kotone fiddled with her music player, coming to the realization that it had stopped working, for no discernible reason. Makoto realized that his music player also stopped working, removing his headphones.
"Oh yeah. That happens sometimes at this hour." Makoto said nonchalantly.
"At this hour?"
At that moment, the lights around them stopped shining, and the night around them took on an eerie green glow. All around them, they saw dozens of coffins lining the streets, the moon shining brightly on them.
"You're seeing what I'm seeing, right?" Kotone asked.
"Yeah. So you see these things too?" Makoto asked back.
"I do. Ever since I was a girl. It's strange, I'm used to it, but it still creeps me out."
"Sometimes I wonder…"
"Come on, we have to hurry."
Makoto and Kotone stood in front of the dorm that was mentioned in their admission pamphlets.
"Well, this is it. Let's get inside." Makoto said.
"I hope we don't disturb whoever else is living here." Kotone said as she opened the door.
Makoto and Kotone were now standing in the lobby of the dorm, where they saw a reception desk, a TV, and several couches. It was dead silent in the dorm, which unsettled Kotone, while Makoto seemed unfazed.
"You're late. I've been waiting a long time for you."
Makoto turned to see who was talking to him. It was a young boy with blue eyes and hair, and a black and white outfit, akin to those worn by prisoners.
"Makoto-chan? What is it?" Kotone asked, seemingly unable to see the boy.
"Excuse me. Are you just going to stand there?" Another voice said, this time referring to Kotone.
Kotone turned to see who was talking to her. She saw a young girl with red eyes and auburn hair, wearing a similar outfit to the boy.
"Don't mind my brother. He's a little less patient than I am." The girl said.
"Your brother? Who are you?" Kotone asked.
"Koto-chan? Who are you talking to?" Makoto asked.
"Wait, you don't see her?" Kotone asked.
"See who? I'm seeing a boy."
"Apologies for the confusion. It would seem you both can only see and hear one of us at a time. My sister is speaking to your friend at the moment." The boy explained to Makoto.
"My brother will take care of your friend. I suppose that leaves me responsible for you." The girl said, after explaining the situation to Kotone.
"If you wish to proceed, please sign here. It is a contract. It binds you to accepting full responsibility for your actions." The boy and girl said simultaneously.
The boy and girl held out a piece of paper to Makoto and Kotone. They looked at their respective pages and saw the words, "I chooseth this fate of mine own free will."
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Kotone asked Makoto.
"Guess we have to sign these." Makoto said with a shrug.
Makoto and Kotone sign their names on their papers, allowing the mysterious boy and girl to take it back.
"It is done." The boy states.
"Time waits for no one. It delivers us all equally to the same end. Wishing will not make it go away." The girl says ominously.
"And so it begins." The boy said.
The boy and girl vanish, leaving Kotone perplexed, while Makoto seemed unbothered.
"Who's there?" A voice calls out to them.
Makoto and Kotone turn to see who it was. It was another high school student, a girl wearing a red bowtie and pink shirt. She appeared to be holding a gun, and seemed scared and agitated. Afraid she was going to draw the gun on them, Kotone stepped back, but Makoto stood firm, while still being a bit concerned.
"Takeba, wait!" Another voice calls out.
Another girl steps forward, motioning the first girl to stay still. At this moment, the lights to the dorm came on, and Makoto and Kotone's music players resumed function again. They turned them off in order to speak to the girls.
"Um, hello. We're the...new transfer students." Kotone told them.
"Ah, good evening. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo. I'm one of the students who lives in this dorm."
The girl speaking was Mitsuru Kirijo. She had waist-length red hair that covered the left side of her face, and brown eyes.
"Who are they?" The other girl asked Mitsuru.
"The transfer students, of course." Mitsuru stated.
"I'm Kotone Shiomi. And this is Makoto Yuki." Kotone introduced herself and Makoto.
"Ah, hello. I'm Yukari Takeba. Nice to meet you two." The girl with the pink shirt said.
"Nice to meet you, too." Kotone said.
Kotone felt a bit awkward as a burning question nagged her in her mind.
"Um, I don't know how else to ask this but...why do you have a gun?" Kotone asked Yukari.
"Huh? Oh well...it's kind of a...hobby?" Yukari answered awkwardly.
"You know how it is these days. It's for self-defense." Mitsuru clarified.
"Oh, I see." Kotone said.
"It's not a real gun, of course." Mitsuru stated.
"Wait, what use is it then?" Kotone asked in confusion.
"It's a deterrence. Most people have the sense not to confront someone who appears to have a weapon."
"Oh, that makes sense, I guess."
"It's getting late. Yuki, was it? Your room is on the second floor. Shiomi, your room is on the third floor. Your things should be in your rooms already." Mitsuru instructed.
"I'll show you two the way. Follow me." Yukari said, prompting Makoto and Kotone to follow her.
Yukari showed Makoto to his room, which was at the end of the second floor hallway. She also showed Kotone where her room was on the third floor, also at the end of the hallway.
"Hey, was everything alright on your way to the dorm?" Yukari asked them suddenly.
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"You know what I mean…" Yukari said cryptically.
"Well…" Kotone began to say.
"Looks like you're both alright. I better get going to bed as well." Yukari said as she started to walk to her room on the third floor.
Yukari turned to look at them one last time.
"I'm sure you have other questions, but let's save them for later, OK?"
"OK then." Kotone said with a smile.
"Good night." Yukari said.
"Good night." Makoto replied.
When Yukari left, Kotone spoke with Makoto herself.
"Doesn't this all seem a bit strange?" Kotone asked.
"Not really." Makoto said.
"Well, I guess it's not worth obsessing over right now."
Makoto entered his room, and was about to close the door behind him when Kotone spoke up again.
"What did you think of Yukari and Mitsuru?" Kotone asked.
"I don't know." Makoto replied.
"They're really pretty!"
"I guess."
"Well, I'll stop bothering you. It's great seeing you again. Let's talk some more at school."
"OK."
After Makoto closed his door, Kotone went to her room for the night.
4/7 (Kotone's POV)
Kotone was stirred awake by a knocking on her door.
"Coming!" Kotone said.
She quickly got dressed in her uniform and opened the door to find Yukari standing there.
"Ohayo! Did you sleep well?" Yukari asked.
"I slept alright. Thank you." Kotone said.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Totally! Let's go!" Kotone said enthusiastically.
"Great! Let's hurry so we're not late."
Kotone stood next to Yukari on the passenger train to Gekkoukan High, with Makoto standing nearby, seemingly drowsy.
"What's wrong, Makoto-chan? Didn't want to get up this morning?" Kotone asked playfully.
"I don't want to talk about it." Makoto said.
"I bet your last school didn't have you take the monorail to get there, huh?" Yukari asked.
"Not at all. This is completely new to me. It's like we're gliding across the ocean!" Kotone said cheerfully.
"Ha ha ha, that's how I feel too!" Yukari said with a smile.
"Well, here we are. Welcome to Gekkoukan High!" Yukari stated.
Kotone and Makoto stood in front of the school entrance, watching the other students walk into the enormous building.
"Wow! This is a high school? It's bigger than some colleges I've seen!" Kotone exclaimed.
"You're gonna love it here, I can tell." Yukari said.
Makoto made no comments, but his eyes still displayed a small sense of wonder.
"The Faculty Office is to the left. You'll be OK from here, right?" Yukari asked Kotone and Makoto.
"Yeah, I think we'll be fine." Kotone said.
"Arigato." Makoto said.
"You're welcome."
Makoto went ahead of Kotone, clearly trying to avoid social contact. Kotone was about to follow Makoto when Yukari stopped her.
"Hey, about last night. Don't tell anyone what you saw, OK?" Yukari whispered.
"What we saw last night? Oh, you mean you see it too?" Kotone asked.
"Shh! I'm serious, Koto-chan! Not a word!" Yukari hushed.
"Oh, OK. Lips sealed." Kotone whispered back, making a gesture of zipping her lips.
"Good. See you later!"
Kotone giggled as she walked to the Faculty Office.
When Kotone walked into the Faculty Office, she apologized for interrupting the teacher inside.
"Oh, there you are. You're the other new student, right?" The teacher asked.
"Yes, ma'am." Kotone said politely.
"Let's see here. Makoto Yuki and Kotone Shiomi. Both juniors this year." The teacher said as she flipped through her files.
The teacher's name was Isako Toriumi. She had short brown hair, grey eyes, a brown jacket, and black heels. She was the Composition teacher, and was to be Kotone and Makoto's homeroom teacher in Class 2-F.
"In 1999, ten years ago, your parents...*gasp* Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't have time to read this beforehand, and it caught me off guard." Toriumi said.
"It's alright." Makoto said.
Ten years ago, Makoto's parents died in a car accident, leaving him an orphan. Coincidentally, and unfortunately, Kotone's parents were killed in a similar incident.
"It's alright, ma'am. We get sympathy a lot." Kotone said.
"My name is Ms. Toriumi. I hope to welcome you to our school."
"We feel very welcome, Ms. Toriumi!" Kotone said politely.
"That's good! What enthusiasm! You'll both be in my class, 2-F. Before that, however, we have an opening ceremony to attend. Follow me."
Kotone and Makoto went with Toriumi to the auditorium where the ceremony was being held.
"I'd like each of you to remember this proverb. 'If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.'" The principal said over the microphone.
Kotone sat next to Yukari and Makoto, listening intently to the principal's speech. Makoto seemed disconnected, opting to wear his headphones to block out the noise, much to Kotone's disappointment. She suddenly overheard some students gossiping about her.
"Yeah, that's the new student. I heard she came over here with Yukari. You think she's a…" A male student muttered.
Kotone sighed and chose to ignore it. She had enough problems dealing with rumors at her previous school.
4/7 (Makoto's POV)
"Yeah, that's the new student. I heard she came over here with Yukari. You think she's a…"
Makoto overheard a male student talking about Kotone in a rude manner. While he would normally ignore such things, the stuff the student was saying was particularly nasty and unjustified.
"Shut up." Makoto told the student.
"Huh? You talking to me?" The male student asked.
"Yes. Shut up. Don't call her that." Makoto said again.
"I hear talking!" A male teacher said sternly.
The teacher's name was Mr. Ekoda, the Classic Literature teacher. He had grey hair and a striped tie. He didn't particularly care for the students of Gekkoukan, always claiming that the youth had lost appreciation for their homeland.
"It sounds like a student from Toriumi's class!" Ekoda stated.
"Be quiet! You're going to get me in trouble!" Toriumi responded in irritation.
Makoto put his headphones back on.
(Kotone)
After class had ended, Kotone prepared to leave when a student called out to her.
"'Sup, girl!"
Kotone perked up and looked at the boy talking to her. He had facial hair on his chin and a ball cap on his head.
"Heh heh heh! You look like a deer in headlights!" The boy said with a laugh.
"Can I help you?" Kotone asked.
"Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Junpei Iori! Nice to meet ya." The boy said.
"Nice to meet you too." Kotone said awkwardly.
"I know how hard it is to be the new kid. Let me show you around!" Junpei said with a smile.
"*sigh* At it again? Is there any girl you won't hit on?" Yukari asked.
"What? I'm just being friendly." Junpei said defensively.
"Right. Sure you are." Yukari replied.
"I glad you ended up in the same homeroom as me, Yukari-chan." Kotone told Yukari.
"I know, how lucky is that?" Yukari said with a smile.
"I'm here too!" Junpei whined.
Junpei adjusted his cap.
"By the way, do you two know each other? I heard you two came to school together this morning! Couple of cuties walking side by side. The whole school was talking about you!" Junpei asked.
"Oh, yeah they were…" Kotone said, thinking back to what that one student said.
"Will you cut it out? I hate dealing with rumors like that. Did someone say something rude to you, Koto-chan?" Yukari said in annoyance.
"Not directly to me, but…"
"*sigh* Sorry you had to hear that. It's not fair to you." Yukari apologized.
"You heard what they said?"
"Not exactly, but still."
"It wouldn't be the first time. It is what it is."
"Well, I have to go take care of stuff for the archery team. Don't do anything funny, alright Junpei?" Yukari said before departing.
"What is she, your nanny? Hey, I really didn't come up to you just to hit on you, honest." Junpei said.
"I believe you." Kotone said with a smile.
"Cool! If you ever need anything, just let your pal, Junpei, know!" Junpei stated.
(Makoto)
"'Sup, dude?"
Makoto took off his headphones to direct his attention to the boy talking to him.
"Huh?" Makoto asked.
"You're the other new kid, right? I'm Junpei Iori! You can just call me Junpei!" Junpei said.
"Too close." Makoto commented, hoping Junpei would get the message.
"Hey, don't be like that! I transferred here when I was in eighth grade, I know what it's like. Why don't we be friends? I'll show you the way around!"
"Still too close." Makoto repeated.
"Come on, Junpei. Don't you think you're bothering him?" Yukari said as she walked by.
"Really? Am I overbearing?" Junpei asked.
"What does it look like?" Yukari asked rhetorically.
"Hi, Yukari." Makoto greeted.
"Interesting how you and Kotone ended up in the same homeroom, huh?" Yukari said.
"I guess." Makoto replied.
"Kotone? Oh, so that's her name!" Junpei said.
"Ugh, whatever you're gonna do, don't do it." Yukari said in disgust.
"I'm gonna go say hi!" Junpei chimed as he walked over to where Kotone was sitting.
"Hey! *sigh* There he goes." Yukari groaned.
"He's really chatty." Makoto commented.
"Yeah, he'll talk to anyone who'll listen."
Yukari watched as Junpei introduced himself to Kotone, which clearly made her anxious.
"I'm gonna go make sure he doesn't try anything. See you later, Makoto-chan!" Yukari said as she walked over to where Junpei and Kotone were talking.
Makoto put his headphones back on and walked out of the classroom.
"Thank you for making it here, Takeba." Mitsuru told Yukari.
Yukari was asked by Mitsuru to meet with her in the meeting room of the dorm, where the chairman of the school board was also waiting.
"It was unusual to see you at the school, Mr. Chairman." Yukari commented.
"Yes, well, when Kirijo told me about them, I couldn't contain my curiosity." The chairman said with a smile.
His name was Shuji Ikutsuki, a middle-aged man with glasses, brown eyes, wavy brown hair, and a goatee beard.
"These two are rather unique. Even those who have the 'potential' are unstable at first." Ikutsuki stated.
"And yet, they arrived at the dorm as if it were a normal night." Mitsuru noted.
"Are you saying they're not normal?" Yukari asked.
"Takeba, I'd like you to monitor them for a few days." Ikutsuki stated.
"You mean...spy on them?" Yukari asked in an uncertain tone.
"Mmm...yes, I suppose so." Ikutsuki confessed.
"I feel bad doing that though…" Yukari said.
"It's necessary to determine if they are qualified to know." Mitsuru insisted.
"It's fascinating. They've moved from school to school, and both their parents died in the accident in this city ten years ago." Ikutsuki said aloud.
"It's a strange coincidence. It would be strange enough if it only happened to one of them, but both?" Mitsuru stated.
"Ten years ago…" Yukari muttered.
4/8
Makoto and Kotone were both asleep in their dorm rooms when they heard a voice call out to them.
"Masters Makoto Yuki and Kotone Shiomi…"
Makoto and Kotone opened their eyes and found themselves in a strange place: a large blue elevator with a giant hanging clock whose hands turned at an unusually fast rate. In the center of the room sat a mysterious old man with a black suit and white gloves, pointed ears, bulging eyes, and a long nose.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room." The old man greeted.
"Oh, hello. Um...who are you?" Kotone asked, while Makoto remained silent.
"I am Igor. I am delighted to make your acquaintance." The old man stated.
"Where are we?" Makoto asked.
"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. Only those who have signed the contract can enter here." Igor explained cryptically.
"Those contracts we signed! That's what they were for!" Kotone thought.
"Henceforth, you shall be welcome here in the Velvet Room. You will both awaken to a new power, and you will need my help to hone it. Take these. One for each of you."
Igor conjured up two key-like objects that somehow ended up in Makoto and Kotone's hands.
"It is rare that we have to accommodate for two guests at once. I would like to introduce you to my assistants."
When Igor said this, two figures appeared before Makoto and Kotone: a man and a woman, both wearing outfits as blue as the room they were in.
"This is Elizabeth. And this is Theodore." Igor introduced them.
"I am Elizabeth." Elizabeth said with a flourish of her hand.
"And I am her brother, Theodore." Theodore added.
"We are here to accompany you on your journey." Elizabeth stated.
"You will come here of your own volition, next time. For now, we must bid you farewell." Igor said with a grin.
Makoto and Kotone departed from the Velvet Room, or rather, were plucked from it, returning to the waking world.
4/9
It was evening in the dorm, and Yukari, Mitsuru and Ikutsuki were watching the surveillance cameras monitoring Makoto and Kotone's rooms.
"How are they?" Ikutsuki asked Mitsuru.
"Their vitals and brainwaves are remarkably stable. It's true, they have the potential." Mitsuru stated.
"It is understandable. If they didn't, the 'Shadows' would have preyed on them by now." Ikutsuki said.
"I still feel bad for doing this…" Yukari muttered.
Suddenly, the control panel made a beeping noise, indicating an incoming transmission.
"Operations Room. This is Kirijo!" Mitsuru stated.
"You're not gonna believe this! This shadow's huge!" A male voice said on the other side.
At that moment, the building shook, startling everyone inside.
"What was that?" Mitsuru exclaimed.
"Everyone! To the entrance!" Ikutsuki ordered.
The three of them went downstairs to the entrance, where they saw a male student enter and shut the door behind him. He leaned against the door, clutching an injured arm and ribcage.
"Akihiko-senpai!" Yukari exclaimed.
"Sanada-san, are you alright?!" Mitsuru asked upon seeing his injury.
"I'm alright, but that thing will be here any second now. Get ready for a fight!" Akihiko said in anticipation.
"This is no time to joke around!" Mitsuru scolded.
"Sanada-kun, is it one of them?" Ikutsuki asked.
"Yes, but this is no ordinary Shadow!" Akihiko stated.
The building shook again, the tremors causing objects to fall off tables.
"Chairman, stay in the command room! Takeba, go wake up Yuki and Shiomi and take them out the back!" Mitsuru instructed Yukari.
"What about you two?" Yukari asked.
"We'll handle it." Mitsuru said with determination.
Makoto and Kotone were startled awake by a loud noise. Kotone had already left her room, spotting Yukari running with Makoto in hand.
"Koto-chan! There's no time to explain! Come with us!" Yukari said in a hurry.
"OK!" Kotone replied.
"Here, take this."
Yukari handed Makoto a short sword, and Kotone a naginata.
"Yukari-chan? Why do we need these?!" Kotone asked.
"No time! We're heading out the back!" Yukari exclaimed.
Yukari, Makoto and Kotone ran up the stairs as the building continued to shake. Suddenly, Makoto stopped running to look out the window.
"Makoto-chan?" Kotone asked.
"The moon…" Makoto muttered.
"Makoto-chan! We have to hurry! Do you want to die?!" Yukari said in a panic.
"...I don't really care." Makoto said bluntly.
Both Yukari and Kotone gasped in shock at this statement, causing Makoto to redirect his attention.
"Is dying that scary to you?" Makoto asked.
"How can you say such a thing?" Yukari asked in disbelief.
The building shook again, and the three of them saw a large black creature with a blue mask peer into the window.
"What is that?!" Yukari shrieked.
The creature reached through the window, breaking the glass.
"Koto-chan! Look out!" Yukari screamed, leaping toward Kotone.
Yukari grabbed Kotone and pushed her out of the way of the window, shielding her from the glass shards. One of the shards managed to cut Yukari's leg, drawing blood. Kotone recovered from the shock and sat herself up.
"Yukari-chan...you saved me!" Kotone whispered.
"Come on, we need to get to the roof!" Yukari shouted, grabbing Makoto's arm and dragging him along.
Once they made it to the roof, they looked around for the creature.
"Yukari-chan, you're hurt!" Kotone said, noticing the cut on Yukari's leg.
"I'm alright." Yukari reassured her.
The creature managed to climb up to the roof, revealing its entire form. The Shadow comprised of a mass of arms, each one wielding a blade.
"Both of you, run!" Yukari shouted, drawing the gun from her holster.
"Wait, what are you doing?!" Kotone asked.
Yukari grit her teeth and put the gun to her head, urging herself to pull the trigger as the Shadow ran at them. But despite her best efforts, she was unable to bring herself to do it, and the Shadow managed to smack her to the side, causing her to drop the gun.
"Yukari-chan!" Kotone shrieked.
The Shadow directed its attention to Yukari, crawling over to her with intent to kill her.
"Makoto-chan, we have to do something!" Kotone pleaded, gripping her naginata.
Makoto stood in shock, staring at the gun on the ground. He instinctively picked it up, inspecting it in his hand.
"Makoto-chan?" Kotone said, looking at Makoto.
As Makoto looked at the gun, images of burning cars and moonlit bridges flashed in his mind, causing his breathing to hasten. The mysterious boy from earlier appeared in his mind, giving him a message:
"Go on."
Makoto, suddenly understanding what he had to do, took the gun and pointed it to his head.
"Makoto-chan, no!" Kotone shrieked.
Makoto put his finger on the trigger, muttering a single word.
"Persona…"
Makoto fired the gun, causing a burst of blue energy to erupt from his head. The energy began to coalesce into the form of a spirit, with white hair, red eyes, a mechanical body, and a silver lyre.
"Thou art I, and I am thou! From the sea of thy soul, I cometh. I am the Master of Strings, Orpheus!" The spirit shouted.
Makoto clutched his head, dropping the gun and screaming. Kotone stood in shock at what she was witnessing, until she heard the voice of the girl from before:
"Join him."
Kotone, suddenly knowing what must be done, ran to pick up the gun. Her hand trembling, she put the gun to her head, shouting with conviction:
"Persona!"
Kotone fired the gun, and from the energy, another spirit took form. A woman with blonde hair, orange robes, and a flute.
"Thou art I, and I am thou! From the sea of thy soul, I cometh. I am the Mother of Muses, Calliope!" The spirit shouted.
The Shadow turned to see what was happening, enraged by the sight of the two personas. Makoto and Kotone harnessed their personas and set them toward the Shadow. The Shadow attempted to strike them with a blade. Orpheus responded with a burst of fire, setting the roof and the Shadow ablaze. The Shadow fled from the flames, prompting Calliope to attack it with a wave of ice, covering the roof in a frigid sheet of snow. This was still not enough to subdue the Shadow, and it continued to reach out and stab. Makoto screamed again as Orpheus began to transform. Kotone dropped to her knees and clutched her chest as Calliope went to Orpheus, combining her power with his. The end result was a dark reaper, with wings made of caskets. With a furious roar, this persona attacked the Shadow with ravenous wrath, tearing it apart limb from limb. It finished off the Shadow by slicing its head in half, causing the Shadow to dissipate. Having completed its task, Orpheus and Calliope separated and returned to their masters, who had fallen unconscious from their strenuous fight.
"Makoto-chan! Koto-chan!" Yukari cried out, having recovered from the Shadow's attack.
Makoto and Kotone found themselves back in the Velvet Room, where a smiling Igor was waiting for them.
"Welcome back. So nice to see you two again." Igor said.
"What...happened?" Kotone asked.
"I see that Orpheus and Calliope have heeded your call. Fascinating." Igor stated.
"Orpheus and Calliope? What does it mean?"
"This power you have is called a Persona. It is a manifestation of your psyche. Think of it as a mask that protects you as you brave hardships. However, your Personas are still weak at the moment." Igor explained.
"Your abilities will evolve as you develop Social Links, the emotional ties you form with others." Elizabeth stated.
"As your bonds grow stronger, so too does your Persona." Theodore added.
"Now then, time marches on in your world. I shall not keep you here any longer." Igor said.
"We await your return. Until then, farewell." Elizabeth says, as Makoto and Kotone are thrust back into the waking world.
Author's Note (5-12-23): Hello. If you're familiar with my other Persona fanfic, Arcane Shift, here's its Persona 3 contemporary. If this is the first fic of mine you're reading, welcome. Like Arcane Shift, Arcane Convergence is a bit of a retelling of Persona 3, with the twist that Makoto and Kotone now exist in the same universe. While this idea has certainly been done before, I wanted to use it as an exercise in writing from the perspective of two protagonists, exploring their interactions with each other and the other characters. I'm not as familiar with Persona 3's story as I am with Persona 4, but my hope is that the creative liberties I take do not majorly hinder the main plot. One such liberty I've taken is giving Kotone her own unique Persona, rather than borrowing it from Makoto. Since Makoto's Persona is Orpheus, I wanted to have Kotone's Persona be related to Orpheus in some way. Calliope, Orpheus's mother, seemed like an appropriate choice. Another reason for starting a Persona 3 fanfic is to set the precedent for one, and provide context to the next chapter of Arcane Shift that takes place in Iwatodai. Because of this, don't expect this fic to be updated for some time, as most of my attention will be devoted to Arcane Shift. That being said, I hope you enjoy it.