Here's the latest chapter! I might be slowing down over the next few months due to finishing college and job searching. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy!
June 23, 2009, Tuesday, After School
At Paulownia Mall, Seth had met up with Hotaru in front of the fountain to help her overcome her pathological shyness.
"Are you ready for today's speech therapy?" Seth asked.
Hotaru nodded with her mouth shut.
"Let's start with single-word sentences." Seth said. "Try saying 'hello' first."
She tried to speak up, but no noise came out every time she opened her mouth. This went on for a few hours and every few minutes Seth kept checking the time on his phone. It was taking so long that Seth had managed to complete all of his homework for the day and she still hadn't uttered a peep. Eventually, he looked toward the mall's entrance to see that the lighting outside was already changing color.
"It's getting late." Seth said. "We should head back to our dorms."
As Seth stood up, Hotaru looked like she was about to cry and had an apologetic expression on her face.
"Easy, it's not going to take a day for you to finally talk to me." Seth said with a smile. "I'll help you out as much as I can until you're finally able to speak to a guy. You want to confess your feelings to Kaito, don't you?"
Hotaru still looked like she was going to cry, but this time she had a giant smile. Seth held out his hand to her.
"At least give me a goodbye handshake." Seth said.
Hotaru slowly reached out to Seth's hand and eventually grabbed it. He shook it firmly, but gently and let go.
"There we go." Seth said. "Have a good night."
June 24, 2009, Wednesday, After School
Seth and Akihiko went to boxing practice and were having a friendly sparring match. The two kept throwing and blocking blows, though Akihiko was more of the aggressor compared to Seth since he kept blocking every blow he tried to deliver. They finally stopped when they heard a whistle blowing.
"Carter-kun! Sanada-kun! That's enough!" One of the other members shouted. "Take a break!"
"We can keep going, can't we, Akihiko?" Seth looked over at his boxing partner.
"I don't have any problems." Akihiko replied.
"Other people would like a chance to practice." The member said.
"Guess we got caught up in the fight, didn't we?" Seth chuckled.
Both Seth and Akihiko went over to their seats, the former guzzling down a bottle of water while the latter chugged down a protein shake.
"Shouldn't you be drinking pure water, instead?" Seth questioned.
"Protein is good for your muscles." Akihiko stated. "I get hydrated AND a boost to my strength."
"Whatever…" Seth said.
"Ya know, you're the only other person in the club who's been able to keep up with me."
"Well, I DO work out at the dorm every night."
"Perhaps it's because we're the only ones with a drive."
"You don't know that for sure. Some of these other guys might have drives, we just don't know anything about 'em."
"Heh, you may be right."
"By the way, where did you go after class yesterday? I tried to come to practice, but when I noticed you weren't here I just went off and hung out with someone else."
"I was just meeting a friend of mine at Hagakure."
"More important than me?" Seth jokingly asked.
"Actually, we've known each other since we were kids."
"… Me or-?"
"Him."
"Okay."
"When Mitsuru and I formed S.E.E.S., he was also on our team. Something terrible happened and he left."
"So he's a Persona-user, too?"
"Yeah."
"I won't ask what happened."
"Thanks… Why can't you just let go of the past, Shinji?"
Seth almost coughed out his water upon hearing the name.
"Go down the wrong pipe?" Akihiko asked.
"Is this 'Shinji' short for 'Shinjiro'?"
"Yeah?"
"Is he a big, scary-looking guy in a trench coat?"
"How do you know, Shinji?"
"That's my line! But if you must know, Emi and I went to the bad side of town and he answered some of our questions about those girls picking on Fuuka."
"Like I said, Shinji and I grew up in the same orphanage."
"You're an orphan?!"
Beep-beep-beep!
Seth pulled out his cell phone and saw the time. "Crap, I have to get going! Tell me another time, okay?"
"If you manage to beat me." Akihiko smirked.
Seth and Akihiko tapped their knuckles against each other before the former left.
June 25, 2009, Thursday, After School
Seth was passing by the Iwatodai strip mall when he saw a familiar woman leaving the bookstore.
"Tsubaki?" Seth spoke up to the woman.
Tsubaki looked toward Seth and walked over to him. "Oh, hello, Mr. Carter."
"Mr. Carter is my father, just call me Seth… Old American joke."
"Well, Seth, what brings you here?"
"Just passing by on my way back to the dorm. You?"
"Just getting some books on interviewing, resume writing, stuff I'll need to get a new job."
"That's the spirit. I'm sure whatever place hires you will be very lucky."
"Oh, please stop." Tsubaki laughed. "You're going to make me blush."
"Yeaah, that's probably for the best. I AM still a high schooler."
"I've got a lot of work ahead of me, but I need to push through it. You gave me a second chance in life and I won't let it go to waste."
"Wow, you've come a long way in a single month."
"As I've already told you, it's all thanks to you. You helped put me back on the right track."
"Well, you should get started on the job searching. From what I've heard, it's gotten a lot more complicated and exhausting as technology evolved."
"Yeah… I'm not exactly looking forward to that." Tsubaki sighed tiredly.
June 26, 2009, Friday, After School
Seth was getting his regular shoes out of his locker and as soon as he closed it, out of nowhere appeared Emi.
"Bah!" Seth exclaimed upon seeing the young Goth. "Emi, don't sneak up on people like that!"
"Whatever."
"… By the way… are you the one who's been taking photos of me working out in my room and selling them around school?"
"Please! If I was taking secret photographs of you, I'd keep them to myself… Just like the real thing…"
"… Okaaaaay… Is there something you want to tell me? You wouldn't come up to me if you didn't."
"I just need help with some homework."
"… That it?"
"That's it."
Seth and Emi went back to the dorm, with the young man standing still with his right arm raised and the back of his hand facing her while she was painting something on a canvas set up on an easel.
"I didn't take you for an artistic type, Emi." Seth said.
"Stay COMPLETELY still." Emi said. "Which includes your mouth."
*I wonder what she's painting?* Seth thought. *Knowing her, it's either me as a nudist or something absolutely horrific and disturbing. I know I shouldn't judge until I see it, but… Why does this feel creepy?*
After an hour had passed, Emi wiped the nonexistent sweat on her forehead.
"It is done." She said.
"May I see it?" Seth asked.
"If you want…" Emi replied with a groan.
Seth walked over to the canvas and stopped when he got a clear view of what was painted. The portrait was a demonic, humanoid being in the same pose he was in, only with vibrant red skin, eyebrows on fire, a somewhat muscular build and black, hardened scales over his arms, around his neck and covering every inch of flesh below his waist. However, the hair was more unruly, barbed horns protruding from his forehead, skeletal wings on his back, and a draconic tail. The art was very stylized, but at the same time all the details could be made out clearly. Speaking of the detail, there was a great attention to it as each part of the body looked like it felt with its respective texture and every facet of the design just popped.
"Wow, Emi!" Seth exclaimed with a smile. "Your skills with a brush could revive 2D animation in America… Okay, that's hyperbole, but it's still really good. Are you in the art club?"
"Why would I waste my talents with those who would filter my work?" Emi questioned.
"Come o-"
"They tried recruiting me once and when I showed them one of my paintings, they immediately said I should restrain my creativity, along with my soul."
"… Well… that sucks… Anyway, what's that supposed to be?" Seth looked over the painting.
"My ideal version of you."
"…" Seth remained silent and immobile upon hearing that.
"Since it's my homework, I had to censor the lower extremities and change the face. Don't worry, I plan to make an… uncensored version."
Seth had no idea how to respond to Emi's comments. Emi picked up the painting and made her way to the staircase.
"Thanks for the help… Sexy…"
When Emi left, Seth finally knew what to say.
"… I'm not sure if I should feel uncomfortable, aroused… or tell her how generic that nickname she just gave me is…"
June 27, 2009, Saturday, After School
Once again, Seth was walking past the cemetery just as Makoto was leaving.
"So you DO leave the cemetery!" Seth joked.
"Real funny." Makoto sarcastically responded. "I have a job and a life outside of mourning my father, you know?"
"Yeah, but every time we meet, it's here. So what's your job?"
"My father and I worked with the same company. You could call it a family business."
"Thanks for bringing that up, but what do you do specifically?"
"We're blacksmiths. Well, mostly props purchased by cosplayers and collectors. Not exactly legal to sell bladed weapons to any average person. Although, we dull the blades so our clientele don't hurt themselves."
*Maybe Makoto and his grandfather can help improve our weapons…* Seth thought. *On second thought, pretty much everyone would find it suspicious if I were carrying weapons all the time for upgrading. And that would also attract the attention of the Hands of Anarchy. I really don't want to get lectured again.*
Seth was worried that he was stuck in his head long enough for Makoto to question, but luckily he was reading a text on his cell phone.
"Sorry, I had to take this." Makoto said.
"No problem." Seth said.
"By the way, have you heard about the couples that went to Shirakawa Boulevard lately?" Makoto asked.
"I think my dorm mates mentioned Shirakawa. Isn't that a pretty seedy area?"
"Well, any pair that enters one of the love hotels comes back with Apathy Syndrome. It seems like there's a constant rise in them every month or so."
"Heh, must be a coincidence." Seth feigned ignorance.
"Though it's just a rumor."
*I have a feeling that's where the next big Shadow's going to show up.* Seth thought before speaking. "Yeah, maybe it's true, but perhaps not."
"Well, I should get going and help my grandfather. I'd rather not keep him waiting long."
"I'll see ya another time then!" Seth waved goodbye to Makoto as he walked back to the dorm.
As the sun was setting and Seth was heading back to his dorm, he came across Minato who looked bloated and sickly.
"Dude, are you feeling well?" Seth asked.
"I don't want to talk about it…" Minato groaned as he continued walking.
Seth stared at Minato and wondered what the hell happened earlier to put him in that state.
June 27, 2009, Saturday, Nighttime
As soon as Seth was getting out of the shower, his phone went off and he answered it.
"Hello?" Seth asked.
"Mr. Carter?" Theodore's voice responded.
"Theo! What do ya need?"
"If you're not doing anything, I would like you to take me to see this 'Iwatodai Station' sometime."
"I've got no plans for tomorrow. I'll come by the Velvet Room at… Now that I think about it, how does time work in there anyway?"
"Thank you very much, Mr. Carter! I will see you tomorrow."
Theodore hung up and Seth was left perplexed.
"… Did he not answer on purpose?"
June 28, 2009, Sunday, Daytime
Seth had brought Theodore from the Velvet Room to Iwatodai Station. The young man got on the escalator and as soon as he reached the bottom, he looked up to see that Theodore was still standing at the top and staring at the moving staircase.
"These stairs… they're moving…" Theodore said. "I've heard of these! It's an escalator, no?" He continued staring at the escalator in hesitation. "I-I shouldn't have a problem riding this, should I?"
"It's not going to bite…" Seth said before making a mischievous smile. "Provided you get off in time."
"Eep!"
"I'm only kidding! That only happens in cartoons! It's really harmless!"
Repeatedly, Theodore tried to get on the escalator, but would retract his foot almost as quickly as he lifted it.
"… This is going to take all day. Theo, just take the stairs!"
"N-no! I can do this!"
It took a few minutes, but Theodore eventually managed to get on the escalator.
"This is rather… slow." Theodore said as he rode the escalator.
When he got to the bottom and off the escalator, his demeanor of uncertainty changed to that of pride.
"Hah! That wasn't so hard!" Theodore said.
With that ordeal over with, Seth took Theodore to the strip mall.
"So this is a strip mall…" Theodore said to himself. "It's a lively place, indeed."
A delectable scent blew by the noses of the two men.
"That smell…"
"It's-" Seth was about to say.
"No, no, don't tell me!" Theodore interrupted him.
Theodore followed the scent to Octopia and told the cook the secret ingredient for the restaurant's takoyaki.
"Whoa, you can tell what our secret ingredient is just by its smell?" The cook asked. "How 'bout it? Wanna buy one? It'll make you smile so wide, your cheeks will fall off!"
"Why would I eat something that will make my cheeks fall off?!" Theodore asked.
"Theo, Theo…" Seth put his hand on Theodore's shoulder. "It's just a metaphor."
"I-I knew that!" Theodore replied. "As if such a thing could possibly happen…"
Theodore still looked at the takoyaki with wariness.
"… Would you like one?" Seth asked.
After Seth had bought both of them takoyaki, they took a seat at a nearby bench.
"97 degrees Fahrenheit…" Theodore examined the takoyaki. "And this texture… There's no mistaking it…"
"Yeah, if you bite out of it now, your cheeks really will fall off." Seth joked.
"There is actually another reason why I would think that."
"What is that?"
"There are some things you are better off not knowing."
Seth blew on the takoyaki and took a bite out of it. Without any warning, Theodore pinched his right cheek.
"Your cheeks don't seem to be in any danger." Theodore said.
"That's because I waited for mine to cool off."
"Thank goodness… If anything were to happen to you… Well, you are one of our valued guests, after all. Though I am sorry if I hurt you."
A few minutes later, Theodore was holding a takoyaki cell phone strap he had received from the takoyaki cook.
"Well now, isn't this charming?" Theodore said. "A souvenir for today's tour."
*I can imagine better souvenirs… but there are worse ones.* Seth thought.
"Know that it's your fault you won't be able to have this." Theodore said.
"I would've let you keep it, anyway."
Seth continued giving Theodore a tour of the strip mall.
"Thank you for making this a delightful day." Theodore said. "Strange… Time moves at a fixed rate, but there are times when it feels like it moves far too quickly."
With their tour over, Seth took Theodore back to the Velvet Room and called it a day.
June 29, 2009, Monday, After School
Once classes were over, Seth was getting up from his desk as Mitsuru entered the room without any warning and walked up to him.
"Carter, I would like to speak with you at your dorm later tonight." Mitsuru said in a way that was more of an order than a request, but wasn't necessarily cold either. "Your teammates are expected to join as well."
Mitsuru left the room without another word, leaving the rest of the students, including Seth, baffled and confused as to how nonchalantly and quickly she came in and went off.
June 29, 2009, Monday, Evening
In the lobby of the Heiwa dorm, Mitsuru was sitting on the couch while Homura and Daichi sat in individual chairs, Nobuo standing up and Emi poked her head out from behind the support beam. Eventually, Seth came in with a steaming tea kettle and teacup, set them down on the table between Mitsuru and the other Heiwa members and poured some tea into the cup.
"I figured you would like some tea, Mitsuru." Seth said.
Mitsuru picked up the teacup, lightly blew on it and took a sip.
"Not bad." Mitsuru said.
*Which means it's not the best…* Seth thought with a hint of disappointment.
"As you know, in one week's time we will all be facing another powerful Shadow." Mitsuru started. "To prepare for the coming threat, both of our teams will combine forces exploring Tartarus. I know it will be somewhat exhausting, but the payoff of seeing another Shadow eliminated will be worth the effort. Also, with this many of us fighting, the others are less likely to get sick or tired after exploring."
"That's not a bad idea!" Seth said. "No wonder you're Student Council President!"
"Now if you will excuse me, I shall take my leave." Mitsuru said. "That was all I had to say."
Mitsuru finished her teacup, stood up and was about to walk out the door.
"Wait!" Seth grabbed Mitsuru by the arm, catching her by surprise. "I know you've been hiding something from us this whole time. Be honest with us. What do you know about Tartarus and the Dark Hour."
"… I'm sorry, but now is not the time." Mitsuru replied sullenly. "I promise to explain everything soon. Just know that it is a responsibility I must burden alone."
Seth was reluctant to let go, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to pry the answers out of Mitsuru at the moment. He let go of her and she turned to him.
"You promise to explain yourself soon?" Seth asked.
Mitsuru nodded. "Those were my exact words."
"… Alright. You may go."
"Before I leave, I should warn you, Carter. Don't be so trusting of others… It might be your downfall someday."
Elsewhere in the city, a figure in a white cloak held a photograph of Seth and tightened his grip on it.
*Mark my words, Carter!* The figure thought. *Vengeance will be mine!*
A/N: That's it! I got that done sooner than I thought I would! Next chapter will be the Reverse Hierophant and Lovers! Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed! Stay tuned for next time!
Heiwa (Fool) – Rank 4
Junpei (Magician) – Rank 5
Fuuka (Priestess) – Rank 2
Mitsuru (Empress) - Rank 3
Akihiko (Emperor) – Rank 3
Homura (Lovers) – Rank 5
Theodore (Hermit) – Rank 3
Nobuo (Fortune) – Rank 3
Daichi (Strength) – Rank 3
Makoto (Death) - Rank 4
Hardcore Gamer (Temperance) - Rank 3
Emi (Devil) – Rank 3
Troubled Woman (Tower) – Rank 3
Leliana (Star) - Rank 2
Shy Stalker (Sun) – Rank 2