?
Makoto feels his consciousness pulled along by an invisible cord. Blue, black and a shining silver take up his vision, melding together with the speed of however the heck it is he's moving. He feels his body flying backwards, almost like falling, but a familiar chair catches him.
"Greetings, once again." Igor, Elizabeth and a trawling invisible piano bombard Makoto's slowly adjusting senses. Igor was the one who spoke, leaning forward in his lavish seat with his strangely shaped head resting atop his hands. "The awakening of your Persona proved too much for your psyche to bear, and you fell unconscious. Do not worry. You are most definitely safe in the waking world."
"What… was that thing?" Makoto asks, the recollection of that monster bursting out of Orpheus sitting like bedrock at the forefront of his psyche. "I couldn't control it."
Igor doesn't reply immediately, as a weird mix between a grimace and his constant smile plays along his face. Elizabeth's stare catches Makoto's eye as he awaits Igor's reply.
She's watching him, sizing the boy up with an unknowable sheen in her yellow eyes. When she notices his attention, she smiles slowly and winks.
"There is much I wish to tell you, but the contract withholds me from doing so." Igor sounds almost apologetic. "Thanatos, that was its name. It is you, and you are it. However, it is not your natural Persona like Orpheus. The only advice I can offer is for you to be careful when wielding him. A Persona of Thanatos' calibre is not something you should have access to at your level of experience and strength."
"Are you saying I'm weak?" Makoto isn't offended; just curious. "How can I get strong enough to control him?"
"Weak is…" Igor tries to deflect his question before sighing. "Weak is too harsh a word. As a Wildcard, I explained in our last meeting that you are infinitely powerful as long as you can grow and nurture bonds. If you wish to control Thanatos, you must fulfill your potential."
"Something happened yesterday with Aki—Sanada-san." Makoto thinks for a second. "Is that what you mean when you say bonds?"
Igor pauses once more as something akin to shock washes over his features. With a wave of his hand, a deck of cards appears from thin air. Makoto doesn't question it, simply blinking to check if he sees things correctly. He is dreaming, after all.
A single card removes itself from the pile, and the old man stares at it for a good second before chuckling.
"Yes, this is a bond. My apologies, I just," Igor shakes his bald head. "I never expected you to be ahead of the game. I hadn't even explained bonds yet, and you already had one. Again, I apologize because I believed you would be a difficult guest."
"What do you mean?"
Igor smiles up at him. It's friendly but makes Makoto slightly uncomfortable simply because of how unnerving Igor's visage is. Big eyes and a massive nose. He's a strange looking dude.
"You were not our first choice as guest to the Velvet Room." Elizabeth straightens. Makoto can see her knuckles turn white with the grip on her colossal book. "There is another with the same power as you; The Wildcard. However, when we gave her the contract, she refused to take responsibility for her actions. You did, without hesitation. You were the backup." Igor bows his head, not noticing Elizabeth sharply staring daggers into the side of his cheek or not caring. "I hope you can forgive me for my insolent frivolity."
"It's fine," Makoto waves off the apology. "I don't really care."
This other person would definitely have been the better choice, though. Makoto knows he's not… he's not the most friendly person. But he's come to terms with that, and it's just who he is. He can't really blame Igor for voicing exactly how Makoto feels.
If the girl refused the contract, she denied it. Nothing more that they can do. Makoto won't go out of his way to form bonds, but if they happen as Akihiko's did, he won't complain.
Bonds don't necessarily mean friendship. Friendship and caring are both far down the list of Makoto's needs. If they help him get stronger, so be it. He can suck it up if it helps him kill those Shadow things.
He's been dead for ten years. That fight on the roof felt like the first time he's ever truly been alive—a brutal dance of mortality. Life and death are hanging by a thread so thin that it would snap at the slightest misstep. A single mistake would end it all.
It was exhilarating.
"…indeed." Igor eyes the boy for a silently long moment. "Regardless, you have all our support from this point onward. Do not hesitate to take advantage."
"I won't." Makoto nods. "Thank you."
Igor flashes him one last smile before Makoto's consciousness fades.
"This marks the end of our meeting, I'm afraid. The next we meet, it will be of your own volition. Until then, farewell, my dear young man."
—
04/17
Afternoon
23 Days until the Full Moon
Makoto awakens with a grunt. His mouth dry like a desert river. Rolling his tongue around, he slowly opens his eyes and glances around the room. Shiomi sits in a seat to the left of his bed, peeling an apple. She's humming, smiling at the slice she's carving bunny ears into.
"Shiomi-san?" Makoto weakly moans. "Where am I?"
The girl jumps, slicing her thumb with the knife. However, it doesn't stop her from hopping to her feet and rushing over to him, throwing her arms around his neck. "To-chan! You're awake! Thank god!"
"Your thumb…." He groans a bit at her proximity, but he's slowly getting used to her lack of care toward boundaries. He's more worried about blood getting on him.
"Huh?" She lifts her head from her chest, then checks out her hand. "Oh. Whoops!" Kotone laughs before removing herself from his bubble. Her cheeks are pink as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, wiping her bloodied extremity onto her blouse. "Sorry. Are you doing okay?"
"I'm fine." Makoto clears his throat of the dust within. He then repeats his question as he pushes himself up in the bed. "Where am I?"
"You're in Port-Island's Hospital. You've been snoozing away for just about a week now." She explains with a smile as she grabs a water bottle from her bag. "Are you thirsty?"
He nods, accepting the bottle. He then greedily gulps down whatever's left within.
"Woah," Kotone giggles. "Don't choke, okay?"
The conversation piddles like the droplets of water down his chin as Makoto gasps from the drink, finally feeling like a real person again. A question squiggles like a worm in the back of his head, and he can't stop himself from voicing it.
"Is Takeba-San okay? She got hit by that Shadow."
"She's fine," Kotone replies with a firm nod. "It was only a scratch, but it freaked her out. Yukari's still beating herself up for being unable to summon Io."
"Shooting yourself is scary," Makoto says. "I can't blame her."
"But you had no problem with it. You even summoned more than one." Kotone points out before furrowing her brow and giving him a severe look of something Makoto can't quite place. "What was that thing?"
Makoto thinks for a second, licking his lips as he tries to explain. "Uh… I-I don't know. Orpheus was fine, but Thanatos—"
"That was the other one? The big one? With the sword?"
"Yeah. He… there was something about him. The minute he burst out of Orpheus, all I could feel was… rage. I couldn't control him."
The girl visibly shivers. "Please be careful, okay? I swear, when I told you to control it, it glared at me. I've never seen a Persona do something like that before."
"I'll try." He affirms before deciding that he wants to continue this conversation. Kotone is attractive to him. Ever since seeing that image of the woman she summoned, he feels drawn to her. A desire he can't understand. "What's with the 'To-chan' thing? I've been meaning to ask."
"Ah—!" She jerks, blushing once again. "Sorry, I don't know why I keep doing that!"
"When we first met back at the dorms, you asked me if I remembered you." Makoto presses on, wanting an answer. "Did we know each other? How? When? Why don't I remember you if we did?"
Kotone looks like she's been caught in the act, like a child getting told off by their mother.
"I… we're pretty alike." She starts, her eyes refusing to meet his as they stare indefinitely into the chemically clean floor. "Ten years ago, we both lost our parents. While Yukari lost her dad in a similar accident, my parents and yours died in the same place."
Makoto narrows his eyes and confusedly shakes his head.
"On the Moonlight Bridge," Kotone clarifies as her hands tighten into fists atop her skirt. "They—our parents—worked at the same place on the same project for the Kirijo Group. My Dad would carpool with your Mom. They were close, so we'd play a lot." She huffs and wipes her eyes. "One day, they picked us up early, and the Dark Hour hit. There was an accident, and boom. They died. We were the only ones to survive."
"That doesn't explain why I don't remember you." He says with heat building. "I know the story. I was there. Who the hell are you, Shiomi?"
"I… the Dark Hour…" the girl flounders, only making him more suspicious. "It—it screws with memory. I got hurt in the crash, and you were already shipped off to another city when I woke up. I-I didn't even get to say thank you."
"Thank me? For what?" Is the 'Dark Hour' what they call the Hidden Time?
Lame. It's a cooler name.
She gazes at him weirdly, like he's grown an extra head. It's her turn to lick her lips as she takes a shaky breath.
"You saved me. After the car flipped, my legs got pinned, and I couldn't move. All I remember from it is you dragging me away." Her eyes look full of pain, glassy, like she's about to burst into tears. "I've been living with the guilt of not… it's been ten years, and you don't remember it… this sucks. I'm such an idiot…!"
Kotone shivers, her body wracking with whatever grief she's going through. Makoto doesn't understand. Why is this such a big deal for her? Why cry over something she can't control? Makoto doesn't remember saving her. He just can't relate to what she feels, her pain, her sorrow and disappointment at his lack of recognition. There's nothing inside of him that handles any sort of… anything. So, Makoto watches her cry her dry tears, unable to offer sympathy.
There's nothing inside of him.
"So, you're Eurydice?" He drawls, trying to change the subject as quickly as possible. "And I'm Orpheus? That has to mean something, right?"
The girl lets out a sharp and stabbing grunt, akin to a strangled cry of pain, as he points out the fact. She places a hand over her mouth and shakily stumbles to her feet.
"S-sorry, I—" She gags. "I need to go."
And with that, she's gone, leaving a half-peeled apple browning on the nightstand.
~Memento Mori~
04/18
Evening
Kotone sits impatiently in the Command Room, bouncing her leg up and down as she bites her nails. Her Senpai next to her sips her cup of tea nonchalantly as the opposite stretches out his hand, held in place by a cast.
"You shouldn't be stretching it, Senpai." Yukari chastises from a chair to Kotone and Kirijo-Senpai's left. "You're gonna make it worse."
"Ah, you and Mitsuru both gotta lay off." Akihiko grunts with a wry smile. "I'm fine. It's just a small fracture."
"I can make it a bigger one if you so wish," Kirijo-Senpai says as she clatters her cup onto the saucer. "That way, you'll be out of action longer. I always suspected you could use a break, Akihiko."
"Ah, uh…" Akihiko pales, immediately stopping his flexing. "Right. Sorry."
"Mh, I thought so." Mitsuru nods. "And you, cease your bouncing. It's distracting."
Kotone doesn't pick up on the fact that Mitsuru is speaking to her. She's too focused on watching the setting sun, waiting impatiently for Yuki-Senpai's triumphant return and whether or not he joins their little club.
"Kotone," Yukari says. "Are you okay?"
"Hmm?" She mutters, looking over at the girl in the pink cardigan with her fingers still in her mouth.
"Relax, Shiomi." Kirijo-Senpai puts her hand on her thigh. "The Chairman is going to be arriving soon."
"Hngh," Kotone replies, well, grunts in affirmative. She still doesn't take her fingers out of her mouth. While she appreciates the support her Senpai and Yukari are trying to give her, she's not worried about the Chairman's arrival. It's about whether or not Makoto — eck, Yuki-Senpai — decides to join SEES.
"Caveman?" Sanada-Senpai remarks with a smile, and she uses her unoccupied hand to flip him off. The boxer just laughs in retaliation.
Immediately after, Kotone's eyes are drawn back to the clock, ticking around and around. Time. Tiiiiime. Tick, tock—
The door to the command room opens with a thud, and she jumps to her feet.
"Yuki—!" She smiles before seeing the older man clad in a brown suit gently shutting the heavy oak door and freezing when he sees her reaction.
"Hello, Shiomi-kun." The man awkwardly waves. "Am I… too early?"
"No, we were waiting for you, Mr. Chairman," Mitsuru says. "Shiomi is just excited. Now, there's one more that should be arriving—"
The front entrance slams shut down the hall and audible from three floors above, and footsteps echo upon the carpeted floor.
"Jeez, he does know it'll close by itself, right?" Akihiko mutters aloud.
"Yuki is probably listening to his music. He was earlier, during the work period." Mitsuru replies.
Everyone (Chairman included), minus Sanada-Senpai, seems surprised that Mitsuru casually admitted she doesn't mind that someone broke the rules. The ordinarily serious girl appears to pick up on this. She angles her head slightly in confusion as she voices her thoughts.
"Why are you all staring at me? Is it— oh." She smiles a smidge. "Following the rules is important, but I'm not obdurate. He asked for permission. Mister Edogawa doesn't mind how you work so long as you get it done."
"He lets me use my grip trainer." Akihiko nods along. "He's cool."
"Yuki-Senpai's always listening to music," Yukari states with a wry grin. "I wonder what he likes?" The girl gives Kotone an eyebrow wiggle. "Idol music?"
The girl smiles weakly, exhaling lightly through her nose, but doesn't reply.
"I enjoy MUSES. Do you think he does as well?" The chairman smiles, looking excited as a thought passes across his face. The teens all grimace, knowing precisely what's coming. "I'll have to compose myself for our meeting!"
The man chuckles to himself at the pun while the teenagers groan out. One, however, finds his comment intriguing.
"Are we gonna talk about how the chairman listens to an old idol pop group?" Akihiko asks.
"We need to discuss how you knew who he referenced." Yukari shoots back with a laugh.
The boxer falls silent, immediately back to flexing his broken arm.
Mitsuru is about to rebuff him on that before the room's door opens with a thud. Kotone again jumps to her feet but doesn't say a word.
Yuki-Senpai stands there, holding his leather school bag and staring at the girl with unfaltering indifference.
"Yo." Kotone finally finds the ability to speak.
"Hey."
Silence follows. Awkwardly.
"Is there…?" Akihiko starts aloud, jabbing his non-broken index finger between Kotone and Makoto. "Did something happen?"
"Shut up, Senpai!" Yukari whisper-shouts.
In Makoto's case, the two continue to stare at each other, unwilling to break the contest out of fear or confusion.
At least, that's what Kotone assumes.
Mitsuru finally breaks it with a clearing of her throat. "Well, Yuki? Will you take a seat?"
"Sure." He says simply, proving to Kotone he was only following her lead. Without hesitation, he steps forward to the row of leather chairs and falls into the one next to Akihiko-Senpai.
"Yo. Music shop?" The silver-haired boy mutters with a grin.
"Yep." Makoto retorts.
"Figures. I'll get you to come to the gym with me one day."
"We'll see."
Kotone watches the interaction with a strange sense of dismay. It builds within her stomach, and her legs ache, sparking a familiar desire.
Ugh. Now is not the time.
"Let's just jump straight into it." Ikutsuki-San smacks his legs with a smile to Makoto. "Would you believe me if I told you there was a thirteenth, hidden hour within the day?"
"Yeah." Is the simple reply he receives.
"Yes, well—" Ikutsuki-san evidently wasn't expecting that, as he was about to try and explain whatever he wanted. Like he did with Yukari last year. The man freezes upon realizing the answer he received. "Oh. I… did not expect that answer."
The proof is in the pudding, Kotone muses to herself.
"I've known about this for longer than I haven't. No one other than me has ever been awake during the Hidden Time." Yuki-Senpai starts. "Even had a name for it. Dark Hour works better, though."
He's said more right now than he has in the four days he's been awake and known them. All around Kotone, she spies her Senpai and Yukari, looking shocked at the number of words spoken by the typically curt and cool boy.
Makoto said more to her, though. She just ran away and threw up. God, she's such a mess.
"You've… known for how long?" Mitsuru finds her nerve and steps up. "For as far back as I can remember, only Shiomi and I have been the ones to know since childhood."
"Ten years," Makoto answers immediately before shifting his cold gaze to Kotone. "You too, huh?"
Before Kotone can respond affirmatively, Akihiko and Yukari voice their thoughts.
"Ten years? Alone?" Akihiko grunts in what sounds to be respect. "Jeez."
"It must have been scary." Yukari shakily joins in. "I have nightmares now about the Dark Hour. As a kid, though? I don't think I'd ever sleep."
"I didn't sleep much." Yuki-Senpai waves off the concern with his cryptic answer. "Didn't really care, either. It was just another hour for me. I learned quickly not to talk about it."
"Fair," Ikutsuki-san tries to regain control of the conversation as he clears his throat. "How about Personas? Do you know anything about them?"
"Manifestations of our psyche. Our true selves used to face the Shadows." Makoto explains everything with a straight face. "Speaking of which, you all fight them, right?"
The Chairman is stunned, speechless, the winds of explanation and exposition stolen from beneath his sails as he falls limply into his seat with a thoughtful look running across his cheeks. Kotone never thought she'd see the ordinarily upbeat and excited man like this. It makes her feel a bit bad.
"Yes." Mitsuru-Senpai takes over. "We're in a club designed for their destruction. I'm sure you know what the guns are for."
"Summoning." Yuki-Senpai almost smiles. "I wanna join."
Silence follows his statement like a trailing echo. Kotone can't keep herself from breaking it.
"Just like that?" She says.
"Just like that," Makoto affirms with a curt nod. "If you keep letting me kill those Shadows, I'll do whatever you want."
That assertion alone runs a bone-like finger to run down Kotone's spine. Is that what he wants? To fight?
Is that the only thing keeping him here?
"You and I are gonna get along great." Sanada-Senpai reaches over and pats Makoto on his shoulder. "I can say right now that you'll get your chance."
"Great," Yukari mutters under her breath. "Another Sanada-Senpai."
"Indeed." Mitsuru grimaces and then bites her lip as she forces onward. "I find your knowledge of everything quite concerning, along with the lack of genuine hesitation. Yuki, you have to understand what it is we do here. This is more than just fighting the shadows. It's about the destruction of Shadows as a whole. There is no room for indecision."
"I like psychology." Makoto indifferently replies like that's supposed to explain everything. "I'll give it straight; I don't care about your primary goal. If you let me fight them, I'll do whatever you want—even their destruction. When I fought that big Shadow last week, it felt amazing. Like I was alive for the first time in years. I'm going to fight them with or without you."
Kotone feels her heartbeat pick up in tempo.
That is his true desire? Maybe Kotone and Makoto genuinely have more in common than she had assumed.
Her thoughts are interrupted by an icy bite within Mitsuru-Senpai's retort.
"You'd need an Evoker," Mitsuru sharply glowers. "Without us, you wouldn't be able to fight them."
"I'll fight with my bare hands if I have to." Makoto cooly angles his head toward the girl. "I don't need a Persona."
The two stare hard enough into one another's eyes that Kotone almost sees sparks between their gaze.
"There's a fine line between fighting for a cause and because it makes you feel good," Akihiko says. His tone is different. Before, he was excited to have another member. Now it's filled with a particular emotion Kotone can't correctly parse. Indignation? Regardless, the boy continues. His body language alone tells the room he's unhappy. "We're a team. How can we be sure you won't run off in the middle of something important? I can't abide by that. You're just an adrenaline junky."
Kotone feels out of place right now. She can guess Yukari feels the same, judging by the nervous fidgeting and how she bites her thumb. How fast the negotiations have devolved from wanting him on the team to derision from her two Senpai.
"You all know how I feel." Yuki-Senpai continues, not slowing from the attacks on both sides. Either he honestly doesn't care or stands firm in his ideals. Whichever one it is, Yuki-Senpai is a formidable opponent for their older teammates. He pushes on, refusing to submit. "If you can't find a way to make it work, there's no place for me here."
Silence follows his statement, leaving an uncomfortable lull in the conversation. Makoto sits lazily in his seat while Akihiko and Mitsuru share a slight glance of uncertainty.
Kotone finds it within herself to intervene. "W-well, he did protect Yukari and me. I think that proves Yuki-Senpai at least can work within a team."
"Shiomi, you're letting your relationship with him cloud your judgement." Mitsuru immediately scolds.
"I'm not!" Kotone cries in offence. She then looks over to Yukari for assistance. "Did he not keep us moving and protect us when that Shadow busted through the window?"
"Ah, that's why it was shattered…" they hear Akihiko-Senpai mutter under his breath. "Explains the dent on the extinguisher, too."
Yukari nods rapidly but doesn't say a word.
"Be that as it may—" The chairman starts before being interrupted by Mitsuru. She holds a hand up, looking straight at Makoto with a discerning look in her eye.
"Fine then. Considering our Kouhai's feelings, how would you feel about a more," The older girl trails her sentence, hooking every one of them on her words. "Specialized role? One where you'd get all the fighting you desire?"
"Mitsuru…!" Akihiko doesn't offer anything else. Mitsuru gives him a look, but nothing else, either. What's that supposed to mean?
Whatever it means, Sanada-Senpai sighs and slumps.
"Depends." Makoto shifts in the chair to get more comfortable. He doesn't even flinch under Mitsuru-Senpai's glare. That's no small feat. "What're the details?"
The redhead offers the faintest glimpse of a smile before gesturing to the door. But not for Makoto. "Akihiko, would you be so kind as to fill our Kouhai in on their new teammate?"
"Huh?" Kotone says. "But—we know Yuki-Senpai?"
"It's not Yuki." Akihiko grins and jumps to his feet. "C'mon, ladies. Someone new is coming to live in the dorms tonight."
The girls join him, standing up and following him to the door. Kotone can't help but throw back a look at Makoto in worry.
What's this role? Why can't she and Yukari know? Mitsuru-Senpai is so infuriating. All she'd need to do is explain. Why is that so difficult?
Questions and questions… All mounting without an answer and dividing the once strong relationship between SEES' members.
—
Makoto glances away from the retreating form of Kotone and Yukari, joined after that by the boxer he's slowly coming to like. The girls exit the room, and Makoto's alone with the Chairman and an icy redhead staring daggers into his soul.
He waits for her to start speaking as the Chairman crosses and uncrosses his legs, no doubt unsure of what to say.
Considering Mitsuru could silence him with a hand, Makoto warily acquiesces that she might be more than just a figurehead as he had assumed. The girl is trouble; that much he can bet on.
The girl clears her throat, echoing throughout the tensity of the harsh quiet. "Do you carry any qualms about fighting other people? Humans?"
Makoto finds his head quirking subconsciously. "I'm… I'm sorry? I thought I'd be fighting shadows?"
"You will," Mitsuru confirms with a nod. "However, there's also another group that I have… withheld information about from our Kouhai."
"Another group? Fighting shadows?" Makoto repeats. "Why keep this from them? This is kind of important, Kirijo-san."
"I-I'm aware." She winces, looking like she wants to defend herself but doesn't. "This is why I had them leave. This group, they're… violent. Brutal. The less they know, the better."
"So they're the enemy?" Makoto asks.
Mitsuru takes a moment to respond. She stares at her crossed legs, grimacing harshly into her skin like it's heinous, heretical. "Yes. Our last member was in your shoes. The job entails keeping Strega busy as we complete missions. He… left."
"Too much for him?"
"No. There was an accident." That's all she says. Makoto doesn't push the subject further. After a second, the redhead takes a breath and continues. "I won't push you into this. I want you to be aware of all the risks. You might have to kill them, as they are fanatical and willing to do the same to you."
"Alright, I accept."
The girl blinks. "Uh, while I heard what you said, I wish to repeat myself. I don't wish to pressure you. However, I must make you aware that this job is critical. Without you, our kouhai will have to defend themselves against these zealots—"
Makoto cuts her off, silencing the spewing word salad with a cough. The girl's mouth forms a taut line as she straightens in her seat, awaiting his answer.
"I'll take the job. I wanna know more about Strega."
Once again, her eyebrows raise. "You're positive?"
"Absolutely." He replies immediately.
"…very well." She does not smile. Not even a ghost of a grin passes her lips. Mitsuru does not want anyone to do this job, that much Makoto can garner. As she says, he's got his work cut out if necessary. It's gonna be dirty.
Mitsuru shuts her eyes, takes a breath, then opens them. When he sees the gleam, he knows it's right back to business. "What would you like to know? I'll tell you everything I can."
Makoto likes her attitude. "How many are there?"
"There are three cells with forty known members, each currently under surveillance and working out of Paulownia Mall. They've been inactive since the last full moon, but we expect recruitment to occur again before the next New Moon."
The Chairman must have noticed Makoto's subtle head quirk as he explains what that means.
"The New Moon is when Strega starts their sermon. A… sabbath, if you will."
"So it's a club," Makoto affirms with a nod.
"A cult is a better term," Mitsuru says with disgust. "Their leader, Takaya, is a snake. He's calculating, cold, and willing to do whatever he has to in order to achieve his goals."
"This Takaya guy, how'd he create a cult?"
"He was one of the" Kirijo-san bites her lip, weighing the pros and cons of saying whatever she wants to get out. Makoto can gather that much from her face alone. She twists her lips and eyebrow, continuing. "The Kirijo Group has a shady past. One involved with the testing of the Dark Hour. Takaya and his main cell were… members."
Makoto narrows his eyes at Mitsuru's avoidance of the subject. "You're hiding things. If you want trust, you have to give it, Kirijo."
"I don't know if I trust you, Yuki."
"That makes two of us, then."
The two stare at one another, holding each other's gaze with sparking fury. Makoto's cold, dead eyes meet Mitsuru's frozen, icy peepers. Chairman Ikutsuki immediately steps between them, creaking the couch with his sudden stand.
"Now, now," He starts with a bright smile. This guy has gotta be on some kind of substance because if he can rock an attitude like that and not be stoned twenty-four-seven, he's either psychotic or drunk. He grins, holding his hands out placatingly. "You both must realize that trust goes both ways. As the oldest members of the club, you all are role models. How would you feel if Takeba-San and Shiomi-San started speaking like you?"
To her credit, Mitsuru grimaces, and a faint blush runs up her neck and toward her cheeks. "...It would be disconcerting."
"I don't care." Makoto sighs.
That comment sends Mitsuru over the edge. She stands up, joining the Chairman and points her long, elegant finger right into Makoto's face.
"That right there is why I cannot trust you!" She all but roars. "Have you no common decency?! Your attitude will be the death of us all!"
"Give me my damn Evoker, and we won't have to deal with my 'Common Decency,'" Makoto jumps to his feet as well, meeting the girl's aggressiveness with a passive rage permeating through every word. It's cold, unfeeling. Uncaring, like the frozen dirt of the grave. "I'll do my job. You do yours. Keep your secrets, and I'll keep mine, got it?"
Her face twists, looking like a demon. Kirijo's got pride for days, a monstrous level of hubris that shifts her form at Makoto's immediate admonishment. With her arms crossed, she kicks over a silver suitcase beside her chair and doesn't say another word.
Makoto gives her one last lingering stare before reaching down and picking up the case. He sets it on the coffee table and clicks up the levers.
"W-well, welcome to the club, Yuki-Kun!" Chairman Ikutsuki pats Makoto on the shoulders. "I, for one, am looking forward to opening new doors with you!"
Makoto pauses his reach for the handle and slowly turns his gaze to the older gentleman, smiling happily at his pun. Instead of saying anything, Makoto simply exhales and shakes his head. Pointedly ignoring the redhead, who's surely trying her hardest to burn holes into the side of his head with her glare, Makoto lifts up the case lid and lets out an involuntary chuckle of approval when he gazes upon the silver engraved replica. A beautiful hand cannon rests before him. A stenciled ebony S.E.E.S sits elegantly upon the slide written in Empiric Roman.
It's pretty.
"Ah, you like it, huh?" Ikutsuki says over Makoto's shoulder. "Custom made. Fit to Shiomi-Chan's specifications."
That catches Makoto's attention. "Shiomi's?"
"You aren't the only one able to summon multiple." Kirijo sparks up. "Shiomi has been able to for as long as I've known her. Her Evoker is designed with a magazine." She gestures to the gun, motioning for Makoto to pick it up. He does. "Press the release."
He does. It ejects a glowing blue row filled with a strange… liquid?
"The fluid is Plume extract. The magazine allows for quick switching and rapid summoning. While I and the rest of SEES have a single feather within ours, Shomi's are special. This was her spare." The girl explains with a slight smile, looking down almost lovingly at the pistol. "Take care of it. The magazines generally last longer than a regular pistol would, but refills are still needed. I'll order some extra."
He reaches for the gun, lifting it and testing its weight. A white holster, the same as Kotone and Yukari were wearing, rests beneath it like a blanket and a single red armband with the club logo stitched along the arm.
One thought standing out to him that really gets down on his brain is that Kotone can summon multiple Persona's. Yet another thing he and she have in common.
Well, that's the way she goes, he guesses. Whatever it means doesn't matter so long as he gets to fight Shadows.
Flourishing, he spins the gun around his finger and looks at Mitsuru. "When's the work start?"
Her smile doesn't disappear this time. "Tonight. Get some rest. We have something for you to meet."
"Something?"
Chairman Ikutsuki lets out a slight laugh. "You'll see for yourself in a minute. Mitsuru, do you mind gathering her from the garage?"
"Her?"
God, more and more questions. This whole operation is a shitshow of eggshells and secrets. Might as well get some sleep, he guesses.
A/N: Hey, what's up? This fic isn't a new one, I've posted it before on Ao3, and I'm just crossposting it now. There are a few more chaps to go before it's fully caught up.
I'm pretty new to (First-time poster, long-time reader), So if you spy anything that you know is a formatting issue, don't hesitate to tell me. I know this site doesn't do Review replies, so I'll reply to them here, I guess.
Nightlyy: Thanks for commenting; your review is welcome. I wanna ask though, what do you mean by 'Persona 5-like'? Genuine question, as I've written a P5 fic and have more experience in that fandom than the P3 one, so it's probably true that style is leaking through to this fic. I'd rather that didn't happen, so how would you describe a persona 5-like story? Thanks in advance!