Seth starts a couple more Social Links and finally gets to see the base of operations for SEES. I hope you all enjoy!
April 30, 2009, Thursday, Early Morning
Seth and Homura were heading toward their homeroom and about to walk up to the staircase.
"Seth, would you mind carrying me up the steps?" Homura asked.
"Why?" Seth asked.
"There are thirteen steps on each flight." Homura said. "I tried going over the last one, but I always nearly fall down."
Seth sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Okay. Get on my back."
Seth squatted down with his hands behind him and Homura climbed onto his back. As Seth picked her up by her legs, the other students in the area couldn't help but stare at the two going up the steps.
"Hey, that American transfer student is carrying Hottie Homura up the stairs."
"Does that mean they're a couple?"
"I bet she's just curious if he's got a big dick."
Seth overheard the gossip and angrily thought to himself. *Do they really think we're THAT shallow?*
They reach the top of the steps and Seth let Homura down.
"Phew, thanks a lot, Seth." Homura said. "I owe you one."
They started to make their way to their homeroom.
"By the way, you mentioned about someone in our class possibly being a Persona-user?" Seth quietly asked.
"You should know him when you see him." Homura quietly answered. "He has shaggy blue hair and blue eyes."
*She talking about him, isn't she?* Seth thought.
They entered their homeroom class and Homura slightly motioned her head and eyes toward Minato, who was simply sitting at his desk waiting for class to start.
*She is.*
April 30, 2009, Thursday, Daytime
As Ms. Toriumi was giving her lecture for the day's class, Seth kept darting his eyes between Minato and his note-taking.
*So my hunch was correct.* Seth thought. *Minato IS a Persona user. But who is he working for? And why? … Crap! I'm missing the lecture!*
Seth quickly returned back to his note-taking, trying desperately to keep up with Ms. Toriumi's lecture.
April 30, 2009, Thursday, After School
With classes done for the day, Seth walked over to Minato while Homura quietly watched him.
"Minato, how are you doing?" Seth asked.
"Oh, hey." Minato said plainly. "Junpei told me you got your arm cut off."
"Yeah, thank God they were able to reattach it." Seth said.
"I know what it's like to be in the hospital for a long time. I was in a coma for over a week recently."
"You're kidding! How did that happen?!"
"I must've just been tired." Minato shrugged.
"Bullshit… Anyway, I was wondering if I could come over to your dorm later?"
"Why?"
"… Because I love you, man…" Seth placed his hand on Minato's shoulder.
There was awkwardness in the air as most of the class stared at them. Homura just sighed in exasperation and slapped herself in the face.
April 30, 2009, Thursday, Evening
Minato and Seth walked all the way to the former's dormitory, the street lights and windows illuminating the dark city streets. Minato opened the front door and Seth examined the interior of the first floor.
"This is a nice dorm you've got here." Seth said. "Certainly better than mine."
"Yo, Seth!"
Seth looked forward to see Junpei coming down the staircase towards him.
"What brings you here?" Junpei asked.
"I just wanted Minato to show me the dorm." Seth answered. "So you live here, too, Junpei?"
"Sure do." Junpei replied.
"Is this just a boys' dorm?" Seth inquired.
"Thankfully this dorm ain't no sausage fest." Junpei said.
"The boys' rooms are on the second floor and the girls' rooms are on the third floor." Minato stated.
"Who else lives here?" Seth asked.
"Minato, who's there?"
A girl came down the same flight of stairs.
*Isn't she that girl Minato came to school with on the first day?* Seth thought before speaking. "I'm Seth Carter, a fellow classmate of Minato and Junpei."
"Oh yeah." She said. "You're that American transfer student. I, uh, didn't think you swung that way."
"Uh… yeah, I watched too many sitcoms growing up." Seth nervously chuckled. "Anyway, might I know your name?"
"I'm Yukari Takeba. I'm in the same class as you guys."
"Are you the only lady in this dorm?" Seth asked.
"Takeba, who are you talking to?"
Seth noticed another person coming down the stairs and it was the same woman he saw the other day.
"Misturu Kirijo." Seth said.
"I'm sorry, have we met before?" Mitsuru asked.
"No, I just heard about you from my friends." Seth answered calmly. "I'm Minato, Yukari and Junpei's classmate, Seth Carter. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, Carter-kun." Mitsuru said.
"Please don't call me that." Seth said. "Seth-kun is fine."
"Well, sorry to be rude, but you should head home now." Mitsuru said. "It's getting rather late."
"You have a point." Seth said. "My friends are probably waiting for me back at the dorm. Thanks for letting me see your dorm, Minato. Sorry I couldn't stay any longer."
Seth left the front door and walked away on the streets. When he was gone and out of possible earshot, Mitsuru had a serious look on her face.
"I'm sorry to send your friend away so early, but something was off about him." Mitsuru said.
"So it's not just me." Yukari said.
"You think Seth is suspicious?" Junpei questioned. "C'mon, he's harmless!"
"Didn't you say his arm had to get reattached?" Mitsuru asked.
"Well… Yeah, but maybe he got in an accident." Junpei replied.
Mitsuru then turned to Minato. "Minato, have you noticed anything suspicious about Carter? Anything at all?"
"Well…" Minato said as he thought back to when he first met Seth. "I met him when I first got here, just before the Dark Hour came. But when it did, he never turned into a coffin like everyone else."
"… I see…" Mitsuru contemplated the information just given to her.
"Wait, Mitsuru-senpai…" Yukari said. "Do you think Seth might have the potential?"
"It might be more than that." Mitsuru replied. "It's best to be wary around him for now."
Seth returned back to his dorm where Homura, Daichi, Nobuo and Emi were waiting for him.
"So, have you found out anything?" Homura asked.
"I couldn't stay long, but I did find out who lives in the dorm." Seth answered. "Of the people I met there, there was Minato Arisato, Yukari Takeba and Junpei Iori of Class 2-F, and the Mitsuru Kirijo."
They all looked surprised at him hearing that name.
"K-Kirijo?!" Homura asked.
"Yeah, that woman I saw yesterday back at the movies." Seth responded.
"I wonder if she knows about Heiwa…" Daichi said.
"I'm confused here." Seth said.
"The Kirijo Group may not have founded Heiwa, but they are the ones that provide us with funds." Daichi said.
"So she's our ally?" Seth asked.
"Well… You see…" Homura said.
"To keep Heiwa secret, the only person who knows about it is the current head, Takeharu Kirijo." Emi stated.
"So, what should we do?" Seth asked.
"For now, there's nothing we can do." Homura answered. "There's nothing we HAVE to do. If Mitsuru Kirijo is involved, I don't think we have to worry about them."
"… I'm sorry. Could you go into more detail, please?" Seth asked.
"Our intel says that the Kirijo Group is seeking a way to destroy the Shadows." Daichi said. "Our only concern is keeping our operations low profile."
May 1, 2009, Friday, After School
After another day of classes, Seth was getting up from his desk when Daichi came into the room and walked up to him.
"Hey, Seth, if you're not busy, can you do me a favor?" Daichi asked.
"If it's to get your hands on some dirty magazines, I don't want any part in it." Seth said.
"Come on, have more faith in me." Daichi said. "I just need to pick up some computer supplies for the dorm. I'd take care of it myself, but there's too much stuff to take on my own, everyone else is busy and it's too risky and expensive to have it delivered."
"How far is this place, anyway?"
"It's in Palownia Mall, why?"
"Even if it's expensive, wouldn't it be safer to have the stuff delivered in packages? That way no one jumps either of us on the way home and steals it?"
"Heheh… You have a point… But too late now. I'll be sure to remember it for next time."
"Well, for now I'll help you out."
Seth and Daichi walked all the way back to the dorm and put their packages of computer supplies down on the floor.
"Thanks for the help." Daichi said. "Now I can get started and build our new communications systems."
"I didn't know you were good with machines." Seth said.
"I've always had a fascination with machines." Daichi said. "Especially with the birth of the internet. I still remember how mad my dad got when I took apart our tower. Anyway, Homura tells me you have a little brother back at headquarters."
"Yeah, he means everything to me."
"You seriously need a girlfriend."
"Well, that's your opinion. While we're on topic, what kind of girls do you like?"
"Well, I'd really like her to have a nice body, for one."
"Of course."
"But I'd also like her to be nice, a good cook and great with kids. How about you?"
"Honestly, I don't care about her body."
"Wow, how lame, man… Don't go telling me you didn't enjoy Homura-chan's breasts pressing against your back when you carried her up the stairs this morning."
"I didn't even notice." Seth's face became flushed.
"That blush on your face says otherwise." Daichi chuckled as he turned away and rummaged through one of the boxes. "Anyway, could you help me organize some of this stuff? That way things are easier to find."
"Done."
Daichi turned around to see that Seth had already organized everything from the box he was carrying.
"Wow! That was quick!" Daichi exclaimed.
"I'm kind of obsessive-compulsive." Seth said. "If I see something unorganized, I have to… Well, organize it. My brother's the same way except he's even worse than I am. He must wash his hands at least ten times a day."
"Heheh, I thought you would be boring, but you're a lot more interesting than I initially thought."
"Need help with anything else?"
"No thanks, but it's nice that you asked."
May 1, 2009, Friday, Evening
Seth was in his bedroom reading manga on his bed when he heard a knock on his door.
"Seth, it's Homura." Homura said from the hallway. "Would you mind coming upstairs? There's something we have to show you."
"Hold on, I'm almost done with this chapter." Seth said.
"Can't you just-" Homura was about to say.
"Done." Seth got up and went to his door to see Homura. "All right, let's go."
Seth and Homura went to the third floor, which had four rooms like the second floor, and she led him to one of the rooms where Daichi, Nobuo and Emi were waiting with a large computer behind them.
"Thanks again for the help earlier." Daichi said. "Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to finish this."
"Just think of Daichi as our tech expert of the group." Homura said.
"Where does that leave everyone else then?" Seth asked.
"Emi is recon, you're the leader and I'm the medic." Homura answered. "Which just leaves Nobuo as the muscle."
"I resent that." Nobuo said.
"Anyway, we can now communicate with headquarters thanks to this large computer behind us." Daichi said. "And it can operate during the Dark Hour, too."
"That's good." Seth said.
"That's all you have to say about it?" Daichi questioned as he slumped in disappointment.
"Yeah." Seth replied.
"… I'm just going to curl up in the corner now." Daichi said as he walked away.
"So, you guys up for Tartarus, tonight?" Seth asked.
"Are you sure?" Homura asked.
"I've been itching for some Shadow hunting these last few weeks." Seth answered.
"I know the feeling." Nobuo said. "When a man's blood is boiling, he needs to let out that pent up energy."
Emi sighed. "Why am I not surprised that you agree?"
May 1, 2009, Friday, Dark Hour
Seth, Homura, Daichi, Nobuo and Emi arrived at the main lobby in Tartarus and Seth noticed a blue door standing to the left of the staircase.
"Do you guys see that door over there?" Seth asked.
Everyone looked over to where Seth was pointing, but they didn't see anything.
"Didn't we go through this when we first came here?" Daichi questioned. "You said you saw a butterfly last time."
Seth thought about it for a moment and figured it would be best not to worry everyone, but he was still curious about the door.
"Perhaps I just need a moment to clear my head." Seth said as he walked toward the door and opened it up to be blinded by a bright light.
The light faded and Seth found himself in the Velvet Room once again, with Igor and Theodore in the same place as last time except Elizabeth wasn't there.
"It is a pleasure to see you again." Igor said. "And it seems you have already established your Social Links."
"Social Links?" Seth asked.
"Do you remember when I said that the strengthening of your ties with others increases your Persona ability?" Igor asked.
"So I've gotten stronger by simply hanging out with my friends?" Seth inquired.
"Indeed." Igor answered.
"Allow me to explain." Theodore said. "When you encounter the Shadows, you'll notice that you have more Personas to choose from in battle."
"So that's the power of the wild card…" Seth muttered to himself.
"You have a long journey ahead of you and for that, you'll require our assistance." Igor said. "Just training your current Personas is not enough. The most efficient way to get stronger is through Persona Fusion. I can fuse multiple Personas into one that is far more powerful. That Persona is further strengthened through the power of your Social Links."
"I like the sound of that." Seth said. "I appreciate the help. Well, I should probably get going. My friends are waiting for me."
"Before you go, I have a favor to ask." Theodore said. "I feel awfully confined in the Velvet Room. When you get a chance, I would like to see the outside world sometime."
"No problem, Theo." Seth said.
"Thank you very much." Theodore politely bowed.
"Until we meet again. Farewell." Igor said.
Seth found himself back on the first floor of Tartarus with his friends waiting by the staircase.
"Alright, guys!" Seth said. "I think I've cleared my head long enough. Before we go, can you tell me what you guys specialize in?"
"I'm basically a glass cannon medic." Homura said. "I fight best with my fists and my magic skills aren't particularly devastating, but I have a massive pool of spiritual power so I can heal us. My Persona can use Lightning skills, but I'm weak against Fire skills." (In other words, good physical attacks and weak magic attacks, low HP and high SP.)
"I'm kind of the exact opposite." Daichi said. "I have high defense and attack power, but my magic isn't very good at all. I'm good at Ice skills, but Wind skills can tear through my defenses."
"I'm really good with magic, but my defense and physical attacks are very low, especially to Lightning and Light skills." Emi said. "But that won't matter should my Darkness and Wind skills strike first."
"I have powerful physical skills and decent defense, but my magic is slightly below average." Nobuo said. "And my Persona can use Fire skills, but I'm weak against Wind skills."
"Good to know." Seth said. "Now I know you're strength and weaknesses so I can plan accordingly. I'd rather ask you now than in the middle of a fight."
"Good thinking." Daichi said.
Seth looked down at the floor and mumbled to himself. "I'm not going to let anyone die on my watch… Even if it costs me my life…"
"Did you say something, Seth-kun?" Homura asked.
Seth shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Homura. Let's get going."
The five of them went up the staircase and into the labyrinth of Tartarus, which had a different layout from the previous night they were there. As they made their way through the corridors with their respective weapons and Evokers in hand, a trio of Cowardly Maya came toward them.
"You already showed us your Persona, now it's time to show you ours." Nobuo said.
Homura, Nobuo and Emi walked forward, pulled out their Evokers and pointed them at their heads.
"Aphrodite!" Homura fired her Evoker.
"Hephaestus!" Nobuo fired his Evoker.
"Persephone!" Emi fired her Evoker.
Aphrodite appeared as a gorgeous woman with her flowing blonde hair completely covering her face and bare breasts with her only article of clothing being a violet toga and a golden sash keeping it tied. Hephaestus was a large, red giant holding hammers tied to chains that were wrapped all around his body, but not enough to restrict his movements at all, and his entire body completely charred to the point where it almost looked like it would crack from the slightest touch. Perspehone was a skeleton woman with an elongated black robe that seemed to trail far behind her. With a blast of lightning, wind and fire striking each of the Shadows, they all disintegrated into nothing from the power of the attacks.
"We haven't just sat around doing nothing while you were in the hospital." Homura said.
A new type of Shadow started to float toward them.
"That's a Muttering Tiara." Nobuo said. "I'm in charge of the names, by the way."
"I've got this!" Daichi walked forward and pointed the Evoker at his head. "Heracles!"
A muscle man with bulging abs and silver armor appeared and punched the Muttering Tiara into dust.
"Wow! You guys sure are tough!" Seth said. "Come on, let's see how far we can go!"
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I don't think I'll be getting to the Reverse Priestess until after the next chapter, as I want to start the Social Links for Nobuo and Emi next time as well as his. Speaking of Social Links, here are the current states and Personae relating to them:
Heiwa (Fool) – Rank 1 (Jason)
Junpei (Magician) – Rank 1 (Nekomata)
Homura (Lovers) – Rank 1 (Pixie)
Daichi (Strength) – Rank 1 (Valkyrie)
Anyway, stay tuned for next time!