A/N: You guys complain that I don't update, and then when I do, you don't even review... ._. Like, really? I just don't...

Scene 4: Classroom

I push open the door. There was no one there yet; that was good, but...

I had a bad feeling... Out of nervousness, I fiddled with my whip, curling it in between my fingers, and it was then that I realized I wasn't alone.

▶ "Oh, if it isn't my fellow actress~!" The redhead in front of me laughed tauntingly, and bowed.

I gasped.

Erin Suzuki. One of my first friends.

She was so easy to talk to, and for some strange reason... I could tell she was somewhat like me.

She had her own 'mask'... But that was probably the only thing between us that was the same.

I wouldn't know...

Our first meeting was an accident. I just went to buy some tea, maybe some sweets too while I was at it, but as soon as I stepped into Junes, I slipped on the wet floor.

It turns out that Erin was cleaning the floor, and she forgot that it was still wet... Or something like that.

Erin was so kind... She let me rest, and when I realized that I should buy my tea before Junes closes, Erin told me it was too late. But she bought what I was going to get.

When we introduced ourselves, I wondered why Erin asked me to call her 'Rin.' I knew what Rin translated to. Rin was translated to cold. But Erin... I don't think she was cold. I think that... That she was left alone. That she felt... Neglected.

Her smiles... They were mostly faked. She never showed her true smile until Yosuke showed up. It was obvious that she liked him. And I was happy for her, but her emotions seemed to conflict with her mind. So, sometime after I gained my Persona, I talked with Erin. I guess I encouraged her to confess.

She told Yosuke how she felt later on, and the next day she was all smiles. They truly loved each other, and I was glad that they were together.

I felt happy, that I managed to help her...

...After all, what are friends for?

I stared at her wide-eyed. My mouth closed, and opened for awhile, but no words came out. Finally, I cried,

▶ "E-Erin?! W-What happened to you?!

She raised an eyebrow, and flashed me a sweet smile.

▶ "What ever do you mean, Chiyo-chan?"

I frown.

It was obvious that she wasn't herself! Just like Yu!

▶ "Oh man... D-Don't tell me you're my next opponent!"

Her laugh catches my ear, but it was different from her usual ones. It sounded almost... Mocking...

She was making fun of me...

▶ "Wow, smart and beautiful... Is there nothing you can't do?" She slipped on her knives, and got into a fighting stance. I instinctively take one step back.

W-Wait, that makes it sound like she was jealous of me!

...Was she? Why didn't she ever tell me?!

▶ "O-Of course! A-And I'm not that smart!"

▶ "Smart enough to dupe everyone with your 'nice girl' act..." She fired back, "Give it a rest already, wouldja?"

I never acted like I'm nice! That's just the way I am! I shake my head, standing my ground.

▶ "I'm not acting nice! That's the way I really am!"

Geez, this isn't going to be easy...

Rise appears on the screen of a nearby monitor (I completely forgot about her...), a similar expression on her face.

▶ "Reow~ The claws are out! Time for the second round to begin!"

▶ "Dammit, I hate this!"

▶ "Aww~" Erin frowns, and steps closer, "Afraid I'll outperform you?" She lunges forward, knives out, but she's too slow, and I'm able to get out of the way before she can cut me. I dust myself off, and uncoil my whip.

▶ "I don't care whether you do or not, Erin!"

Well, here I go...!

▶ "Nnnh..." Erin looks up at me, and I manage a small smile. She stares at me for awhile, until she remembers our battle, and begins to panic.

▶ "M-Michiyo-chan... I-I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking straight!"

▶ "I-It's ok... Geez, I hate this tournament!" She suddenly inches closer, and stares hard at me. Our noses are almost touching. I blush slightly. "W-What?"

▶ "Hey... You're back to normal~"

I wrinkle my nose.

What the...

I-I wasn't the one acting crazy!

▶ "I'm back to normal?" I knit my eyebrows in confusion, "But you were the one who was acting strangely..." She looks just as confused as I am.

▶ "I-I was just defending myself! You were the one who kept telling me that I was weak, a-and... and..."

My eyes widen.

I-I'd never say anything like that! Erin was one of my best friends, after all!

▶ "W-What?! I would never—"

I trail off, and then it hits me.

I can't believe it! Something must be making us hear something else...

But what...?

My head's starting to hurt from thinking so much, and I groan, and cover my face with my hands.

Geez... This tournament's getting more and more confusing!

General Teddie appears on the same monitor Rise was on a few minutes ago. He seems disappointed for some reason.

▶ "Over already...? Huh, I thought you'd do a better job than that, Rin-chan~!" She scowls, and then her features soften.

▶ "I forgot... Only the winner can move on..."

That means... I let out a sigh.

I'll have to leave her behind... I didn't want to, but... Yu was the one who told me that that was the rules. I tie my lips, and stand up. On my way, I help Erin up too.

▶ "I-I guess I'll see you later, Erin?"

▶ "Yeah... Be safe, okay?" She smiles, and unlike before, this one was real. I smile back, and nod.

▶ "I will! You better be safe too when I get back!"

Without looking back, I blindly run down another hallway.

Scene 5: Hallway

Hmm... It's been quiet... No sign of General Teddie, or my next opponent... Maybe the tournament was over? After all, Yu said the rest of the Investigation Team was here too, so...

I squeak as an Agi spell is hurled in my direction. I jump back, nearly missing it.

D-Dammit if that hit me...

My Persona's weak to Agi...! W-Where did it—... I look around, and suddenly, someone comes crashing in through the window in front of me; shards of glass are everywhere.

W-What the heck?! The guy stands proudly, hands on his hips, staring up at the sky.

▶ "It's the Legacy himself~! Oh? And who might this be?"

▶ "Eh? Narashino?"

He was here too...? I blink.

▶ "You're damn right!" He cracks his knuckles, then gives me a smirk. I shiver.

▶ "Are you ready for the pain I'm about to bring?!"

Huh?!

▶ "H-Hey wait! We don't have to fight!" I frantically waves my arms, but he holds his hand up, and silences me. I bite my lip.

I could already see where this was going...

▶ "Uh-uh! That's now how we roll in the shire! Persona!"

Ack! Dammit... Guess I gotta do this!

I get my whip ready.

▶ "Sorry, Narashino!"

I hold my hand to my chest, and try to calm my breathing. I can hear my heartbeat. Ba-dump... Ba-dump...

Damn it... It's getting tiring to fight... Wiping the sweat from my brow, I turn to face him. Narashion is cradling his head in his hands, looking completely defeated.

I feel a little bad, but...

▶ "Dammit, how I'd lose..." He eventually lifts his head up, and our eyes meet. He flashes me a look of concern, "Oi, you okay? You look spent."

I was a bit winded, but...

I-I think I can keep going... I'm in one piece at least.

▶ "I-I'm fine... Are you? I think I hit too hard..." I wince as the burning in my side increases... How much more can I take? I watch as he eases into a smile, and winks at me.

▶ "Heh, that was nothing sweetheart~" And then he starts to wheeze...

I sigh.

Geez, really? Now's not the time...

Idiot...

▶ "That was definitely not nothing." I counter, folding my arms over my chest. He flicks his wrist.

▶ "I'm fine, promise!" He cracks his neck, and jumps up, getting energy from out of nowhere it looked like. I'm a little jealous, "And anyways, shouldn't you be gettin' to your next opponent?"

My opponent...?

Right!

I nearly forgot...

▶ "R-Right... In the meantime, you better be ok when I get back! I still have to find everyone else too..." His face softens into a smile.

▶ "Hey, you better win this, you hear?" I smile back.

▶ "Got it! I hope I find Rise and everyone else too..." I bow politely, then run to the next hallway, ignoring the persisting ache in my side...

A little shorter. I'm starting to think I should write this in third person, so I can add a bit more detail... The only reason I chose first was so it'd feel like you were playing the game *rolls* This seems so back, and forth.

My computer's still shit, and I updated this ish on my friend's computer. I love Toshiba laptops; this is the second one that's stopped working on me. Sometimes it bluescreens on me when I open a program, and other times it won't even let me use Internet Explorer. It could be a virus, but I don't think so...

Hey, did anyone else think Narashino sounded like Kanji in this...? Yes? Ehe, ooooops...