Disclaimer: Neither Venku nor I own any of the referenced properties.
All the snips here were written by Venku (SB username). Please enjoy.
[Persona 4], [Five Nights At Freddie's]
Freddy's Family Expands 2: Dancing Fazbear Night!
Yu Narukami Awoke. Part and parcel ever since Igor informed him of the temporal flux, he sent out a Ping and received seven responses. Though he was surprised at the response, he was also a bit happy as well, as it indicated this would not be a Null Single Loop.
Accessing his memories, the leader of the Investigator Team, one of the many Wild Cards, he called Souta Seji, blinked. Having faced numerous gods in his baseline, tossed into a separate reality where he had to face manifestation of people's hidden truths, left him quite unflappable. Or so he thought.
His only response to accessing his memories?
"We're in Five Nights...weird."
…
As luck or fate would have it, Yu was met by Yosuke Hanamura and Rise Kujikawa. After confirming that each were looping by a separate passphrase, Yosuke was the first to raise his concerns.
"Yo! Partner. We're in Five Nights, man! Five Nights!" Yosuke replied, a bit of concern and fear in his voice. While wearing his typical headphones, Yu noted that Yosuke was also garbed in a bright orange shirt with the school jacket over it. Black sneakers and jeans helped to complete the ensemble.
"I don't get it" Rise commented. "Senpai" Rise addressed Yosuke. "What's so bad about here?" Yu had also noted that she was garbed in a short checkered skirt, black stockings with heels, a pink and white open blouse and pink ribbons. Seeing that Yu had noticed her outfit, she blew him a small kiss and gave a wink.
"Oh just your typical automations which will track you down and kill you!" Yosuke replied, the panic remaining in his voice.
"We..had to face our Shadow Selves which tried to kill us. So I'm..confused" Rise commented. "What's the concern here?"
"Oh. Right." Yosuke added as he let loose a nervous laugh before taking a few deep breaths. He turned his gaze to Yu. "Alright partner. So it's just us here. And judging by our outfits we're dancers. So what's the plan?"
As he spoke, Yu noted the outfit he had on. His standard attire would be the open school jacket he wore, with the untucked white shirt and pants. The only difference would be the yellow arm band. "Huh" Yu commented idly before shaking his head. Addressing the group before him, his voice adopted the 'Leader' tone.
"We're apparently here because the Tree is being cute. Also it appears that Five Nights is hiring for non automated entertainers. So with that being said…"
Yu struck an exaggerated pose and added. "Let's Dance!"
…
Arranging for the interview was no problem. Apparently the 'overnight' security guard was awake in the daylight hours and agreed to meet with Yu at the Pizzeria. With a minor discussion and confirmation that Mike was Awake, Yu made arrangements to return later in the evening with the others.
"So Mr. Narukami" Mike addressed Yu. "You all want to join our non-automation entertainment?"
"That's right! Together my friends and I will show you the power of Dance!" Yu stated with passion. "We will show you our true feelings!"
"Then let's see it!" Mike stated. He leaned back, eager to watch the show. The other automations were curious as well, as their gaze turned on the visiting Loopers.
As the show started, Rise spoke with a clear pure voice. "Come, Himiko!"
Rise's manifestation of her Will began to appear. As it did so, the woman with a cone shaped head began to shift and spread out. Melting into a ginormous stage and began to manifest itself.
Why is it becoming a big stage? Freddie wrote on his sign.
"Why is it about to destroy our building...?" Bonnie asked, noticing that the foundation was starting to crumble.
"Everyone out of the building!" Mike shouted.
…
"Just WHAT WERE YOU thinking summoning those things?!" Mike later shouted. The Loopers were all standing outside of the Pizzeria which was currently on fire.
"I don't know what happened" Yu replied. "This is the first time that.."
Chica screeched. Even if one could not understand them, the screen would indicate irritation and anger.
"Chica's right" Bonnie replied. Trying to smooth out their fur as baleful eyes turned to Yu. "I don't care what you summoned! You destroyed our pizzeria when that thing transformed into a huge frickin' stage!"
Rise opened her mouth but Freddie held up a sign. It'll take more than Risette pictures to smooth this over! said sign read. But you could make one out to Freddie.
As Rise dug into her Pocket for some pictures to sign, Yu turned to Mike. "So..uh. Do we have the job?"
Mike pinched his nose and let loose a loud exhale. "I'm not paid enough for this...no. No you don't have the job."
"You have five seconds to leave" Bonnie added.
Wisely, the Amala Loopers beat a hasty retreat. The only souvenier of this loop? A photo Freddie Fazbear pocketed of Rise with the inscription: To my biggest fan.
[Persona 4]
Stand By Me – Margaret's Awakening
There are two things that any resident of the Velvet Room will tell you. First is that the room will always take shape depending on the needs and the journey of the guest. It has been from an orchestra stage, to an elevator, a limo and even a jail cell. There were even times where the Velvet Room took on the shape of a movie theater or a multi tiered platform.
Regardless of the shape of the room, the second thing is that the Master of the Velvet Room is always in control. Oh, each resident knew about Philemon, the ultimate Master of the Room. And while his presence is always known, especially in the shape of a blue butterfly, the person most would associate as the Master is Igor. While his huge eyes and enormous hook shaped nose may be startling, people who have met him have always stated that he was calm and courteous. They also said he was cryptic as all get out but that's a different story.
Margaret, one such attendant, had awoken in a bit of a panic. She had remembered going to the Inaba region, where her last guest was with his friends and others. A physical manifestation from the Sea of Souls was manipulating events and people to gather Persona Fragments. Said fragments, formed when two Persona users clash, would allow the ability known as a Persona or Shadow to be suppressed. With the ego suppressed, this being known as Hinokagutsuchi, would be able to manifest in the world of man. Fortunately, while Margaret entered the battle along with her sister Elizabeth, each of the Velvet Room attendants were able to assist the groups present in stopping the manifestation of Hinokagutsuchi.
The group left to go about their lives. Elizabeth, her sister, continued on her journey to free the Great Seal, while Margaret and Theodore returned to the Velvet Room to continue their duties. At the end of the day, Margaret felt immense satisfaction with just how well the former guests had performed. She closed her eyes, intending to rest until the next day.
…
When Margaret awoke, the first thing she did was stretch and check the time. Even though the Velvet Room was a separate space between the conscious and subconscious, each resident was keenly aware of the time. The year itself was supposed to be 2013, though Margaret was unsure of the month.
The internal clock inside of the Velvet Room reflected 2011. More importantly, the room had manifested itself back into the limo at the start of her guest's journey.
Naturally, this had confused Margaret. Was there an issue from the Sea of Souls? Another entity like Hinokatgutsuchi? What concerned her was that this was something else entirely, something with the ability to affect Time.
Though she wanted to scream and ask questions, Margaret was hit with another thought. Her guest was not like Elizabeth's guest.. This guest did not have that great of a fate, though he did have his own trials before him. Still maintaining within the rules that all attendants had to follow, Margaret was furiously working through her mind as to how she could help guide him past some rough patches ahead.
What she didn't know was that Igor was quietly watching her. When Margaret went to a deeper part of the Velvet Room for personal business, a blue butterfly floated past Igor and slowly thrummed. "Indeed" Igor commented as he slowly shuffled his Tarot deck and began to draw forth a reading. The Empress card was laid in the past in an upright position. For the present, the fool was overlain in a sideways position. Finally the Tower was laid in the future position as well, overlain in a sideways manner. "Her fate is like the others. Including Theodore and Elizabeth. Perhaps the Tree is acting. But I will keep an eye, as always".
Satisfied, the blue butterfly pulsed a few times before flying off. "One would think that being an Anchor would cause my master to not worry. However he is making sure that the wager would be ongoing, I assume" Igor mused.
…
As expected, her guest arrived. Slightly tall in appearance, his short grey hair framed his handsome features. Dressed in a student uniform, the shirt collar was 'popped' as the shirt was untucked. He stood there in a slightly aloof, yet friendly manner.
She wanted to say something as Igor spoke. To warn him of the fate which was to happen. Offering advice, guidance, or something tangible. Instead, all she would or could say is "My name is Margaret. I am here to accompany you through your journey."
Internally she cringed. This one great chance and she blew it!
What she did not see was that Igor gave a subtle hand signal to the guest, as Margaret 'disappeared'. When Margaret was out of earshot, Igor turned to Yu Narukami. He gently tapped his watch to indicate he was awake, as Igor nodded.
"Is she starting to Loop?" Yu asked.
"Perhaps. I need to have confirmation. Whom else would be Awake?" Igor replied, his gaze on the younger man.
"Everyone else on the Investigation Team. Dojima, Nanako and Adachi" Yu replied. A slight pause. "Adachi has no wish to be here, so he's claiming to take some time off at Tatsumi Port Island. Out of Kirijo's people, only Kirijo, Junpei and Yukari are awake. Kirijo said she'd keep an eye on him, while Dojima and Nanako are globe trotting. Surprisingly.." he looked at the other man. "Her siblings touched base with Kirijo before departing. They're Looping as well. A recent development?" he asked.
"Indeed" Igor replied. "Margaret, if she is awake, would be happy to know this. I will send word. Let this Loop play out normally if you will..but.." he turned to Yu. "I pray, do not tip your hand. And if you could handle Izanami no Mikoto at your earliest..?"
"Consider it done," Yu added as he slowly left the room.
…
Events were as before, as far as Margaret was concerned. With the rise of the "Midnight Channel" murders, the death of Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi played out as to be expected. This prompted the rise of the Investigation Team into the dungeons.
Margaret was always there, ready to assist with the Compendium. She even had given the guest, this Yu Narukami, occasional tasks to help out. Though she could have those Persona created herself, she wanted to see just how his 'soul' would respond to those requests. Though he gladly had those Persona manifest each time she asked, she was a bit curious at the ease with which he did so.
September, the herald of Fall. In a small town like Inaba, in the past it would be the beginning of the Fall Harvest. Traces of the past linger with the shifting of the colors, and the mark of the cool breeze.
Her guest had finished utilizing Igor's services. Instead of leaving to continue his task and his research, he turned his gaze to Igor before commenting. "We're done."
Confused, she was about to open her mouth when Igor replied. "Truly?"
A small nod of Yu's head was given before Igor turned his gaze to her.
"Margaret. I would beg your indulgence a moment" the Proprietor of the Velvet Room began to speak. "I wonder if you noted something. Have you ever had the strongest sense of deja vu?"
Margaret let loose a small gasp. "How.."
It was at this time Yu spoke. "Tell me" her guest commented. "What..do you know of Norse Mythology?"
…
"If I am to understand this correctly" Margaret had replied a few hours later. "Our universe is one of many branches on this Tree. Instead of it being a legitimate tree, it is a supercomputer which was damaged." she replied. The nice thing about the version of this Velvet Room? It had an open bar. She poured herself a drink as she sighed.
"And manifestations of power, literal Administrators.." she paused. "Some of which a copy resides in the Compendium, do their best to repair said branches. The only thing we..are responsible for is to not have these.." she turned to Igor. "Loops? Is that the correct word? Not have them terminate early?"
"Correct" Igor commented. "It is in rare conditions that a termination will be permitted. Such as to prevent further damage. However.." he shuddered. "Administrators rarely accept those and have creative ways to punish."
"And you're..always awake while.." she turned her gaze to Yu. "It will be questionable if you, my siblings or others are awake?" She had not missed that out of Theodore, Lavenza and Elizabeth, that two of the three were in the same situation she was.
"Correct" Yu replied. "A thing about it, and this may be a story for a later time, is that we do travel sometimes to other branches. Including.." he looked at her. "The same as some of the Manga near where you are."
Margaret let loose a small chuckle. Near her were copies of Steel Ball Run and Diamond is Unbreakable. "That..would be exquisite to see."
"While our guest would love to introduce you to the others.." Igor began. "Do you have any questions?"
"Plenty. But they can wait" Margaret replied. Yu took this as his cue to leave. "I'll check in later" he replied before vanishing out the door.
"Then. Margaret. As I told Elizabeth and Theodore.." Igor began before he cleared his throat.
"Welcome to the Looping Velvet Room, Margaret. You have the potential to be an amazing guest."
Margaret let loose a small smile as lyrics from an old song she heard on the radio played through her mind. It brought her comfort that her siblings would be with her on this, were they awake.
That song: I won't be afraid. No I won't shed a tear. Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
[Devil Survivor 2]
The Edit – Samsarana Brane #2 – Let's Survive
Responsibility was not anything new to Al Saiduq. As a Septentrione, he was responsible for enforcing the will of Polaris, up until the time he developed his own individual will and personality, eventually splitting from the Administrator. Even when Taira no Masakado informed him of his status as an Anchor, and of the World Tree, he took the main duty he was given seriously: do not crash the branch unless absolutely necessary.
There were times where he had to learn that lesson the hard way, but those are not relevant to this tale. Besides, when one lives forever, one is bound to make guesses to relieve the boredom and ennui.
Another part of the responsibility that Al Saiduq took upon himself was the proverbial health and wellness of his loopers. Though they would only number for now Yamato Hotsuin, Io Nitta, Daichi Shijima and Hibiki Kuze, the Shining One, they were akin to being like a family. While each member of the family had their ups and downs, in the end they knew they could count on each other.
And when the family is threatened, they band together.
After his conversation with Io concerning her ennui and anger, Al Saiduq quietly went to dispose of Polaris. While the choice for that loop rested on Hibiki's shoulders, and he was personally pleased that the Shining One chose to 'reset everything', Al Saiduq wished to express his concern over the growing problem with the administrator. The only building safe to do so was the Astrolabe, with its access to the Akashic Records. The message was left and the anchor prepared for the start of the next loop.
With no response when Al Saiduq awoke, the man thought nothing of it. Obtaining three other responses to his ping, the white haired man went to the top of the Shibuya 108 building. When he confirmed that the others were indeed Awake, he informed them of his request to meet at said building.
Sitting on the edge of the building, sipping on a strange concoction called Bubble Tea, Al Saiduq was in the process of what some had called 'People Watching'. Enjoying this pastime, he paused as he heard three sets of footprints approach.
"We received your message," Yamato Hotsuin replied. His voice a little gruff while addressing Saiduq, the man added. "What was it that Masakado told you?"
Saiduq rose, and turned to face the others. Yamato was dressed in his standard JPS duster and pants, a look of sheer boredom residing on his face. Hibiki had a half asleep look on his face as he wore his standard white hoodie, while Io was still dressed in her atypical school outfit. She spotted the Bubble Tea as she asked "What flavor?"
"Matcha" the man replied idly. He chuckled wryly at Io's exxagerated facial expression. "The bitterness is something to savor…"
Unfortunately, the meeting was interrupted with the arrival of angels. Specifically Dominion-class. The angels with dark blue hair, garbed in robes of what they dubbed righteousness, and holding both a scale and a book descended before the group. "O FALLEN SONS OF MAN" the first Angel spoke. "YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND THE MOST HIGH HAST CAST JUDGEMENT."
"INDEED" another of the angels spoke. "IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR MAN TO REPEAT PAST. ONLY" and here the words were blurred and edged out. "HAS THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE PATHS OF TIME!"
"It is for that reason" a separate voice spoke as it descended from the clouds. This angel was garbed in purple robes, wielded a scythe and had a skull's visage with a cross branded on it. "That you who have been lost in time's embrace that the Throne has demanded your death. It pains me but when a Divine Mandate is given…"
"Who is this person?" Yamato spoke. His hackles were already raised with the interruption. Meanwhile Hibiki had moved to the side in a combat stance while Io went to cover the exit to below. Al Saiduq, meanwhile, began to glow in a corona of power.
"Be careful!" he called to the others. "This is Sariel. While he has the same dominion as other angels, this Herald dubbed the "Command of God" has dominion over death!" This spurred the others to adapt into fighting positions.
…
"Got it!" Hibiki spoke for the first time. Pulling out his Phone and activating his summoning app, twin demons formed behind him. Byakko, the White Tiger and the element of Autumn leaped out and roared in rage while Suzaku, the Fire Bird and season of summon let loose a screech of rage. They rushed forward, facing combat with the first Dominion.
Yamato had already summoned his two demons. Zaou-Gongen, Manifestation of Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future had already formed and was grappling with another Dominion. The angel used his scales as a club, and each strike was met with a blade from this demon. This Dominion had miscalculated a swing, and Zaou-Gongen struck it's unprotected abdomen. As the angel lay dying, a manifestation of light formed and struck, removing the other demon from the field.
As the Dominion and the manifestation fought, Yamato's other demon was locked in combat with the remaining angels. Neibros, Hell's Puppeteer, was flitting around the battlefield, throwing out random balls of concentrated darkness. Each time the darkness struck against an angel, it froze up and began to scream. After the scream, the angel moved to attack one of it's fellows.
As Hibiki and Yamato were in the process of removing the angels, Io decided to take matters into her own hands. Already having survived the channeling of Lugh, and her body crackling with his energy manifest, Io was lobbing her Almighty spell Aeradbhar at nearby Dominion enemies. In between battle Kikuri-Hime-no-Mikoto, or Princess Chrysanthemum, was floating between the battling loopers, healing any wounds with but a touch of her Chrysanthemum flower.
Seeing this continue, Sariel let loose a loud screech which forced the others to kneel and clutch their ears. "This ends now!" the Angel of Death spoke in a loud voice. Channeling divine energy which was unleashed against the Loopers, Sariel spoke. "Thus saith the Lord God of Hosts: Ye who travel time's road shall surely die!"
Watching Yamato, Io, then Hibiki fell, Al Saiduq attempted to move to slay this demon. Lifting his hand to channel a blast of energy, he paused as his hand was frozen! What madness is this? Trying to raise his hand to strike, he paled as Sariel turned his gaze on the Anchor. "And for you which ordains this blasphemy, your punishment shall be eternal" as Sariel swung with his scythe. Though Sariel meant for the blow to be fatal, Al Saiduq in a last minute burst of energy, teleported away.
While this loop did not crash, the arrival of the Archangel Sariel threw events out of order. Watching as the cities fell to the Septentrione assault, Masakado had only one thought:
This is unusual. Masakado needs to be made aware of this.
…
When Al Saiduq awoke at the start of a new loop, he sent out a ping and received four responses in return. Not allowing for the same mistake in the last loop to happen again, he utilized his baseline abilities to travel to Io, Daichi, Yamato and Hibiki to see if they were the ones Awake.
"Al Saiduq" Yamato replied, his voice slightly irritated. The four others had already grouped together after confirming they were looping. "What happened in the last loop?" The vivid memory of that battle was fresh in their minds.
"I do not know," Al Saiduq responded. "This is concerning and something which I will need to let our administrator know."
"Please do so," Io almost begged. "That was beyond scary."
"Yeah" Daichi added. "I mean we can handle things normally but an Angelic Hit Squad?"
Hibiki nodded his head. "What do we need to do?"
"I will head to the Astrolabe to send that message." Al Saiduq promised. "You all are correct. Masakado needs to be made aware of that situation. Maybe this is a glitch in the system. Regardless I would feel safe if he was notified." He looked at each of the others in return. "Please. Stay strong, stay together and try to survive. When I have sent the message.." he turned to Hibiki. "Consider steering this loop to one where everyone works together. I will join you this go round."
Hibiki nodded his head while the other three murmured agreement.
"Well then.." Al Saiduq quipped. "Let's Survive!"
[Persona 5], [Doki Doki Literature Club]
Coffee and Curry
"Are you sure everything is going ok?" Sojiro asked. It was a lull between rushes and the man was checking in on his ward.
Ever since he was made aware of time stuck on repeat, there were certain traits which came out whenever Sojiro Sakura was 'Awake'. One of those traits was, as he always felt as the adopted parent of the group, looking after his daughter and her friends. He did not care that each of the kids which came into the shop were Phantom Thieves and dangerous in their own rights, nor that each were also aware of time being on repeat. They were still teenagers and in need of a strong parental figure, dammit!
"More or less." Akira replied as he was doing the dishes in the back of the coffee shop. It was a Saturday afternoon, and school was out for the day.
Out of those in this region, , only one of those was not responding as a looper. "I'm thinking we have a guest" Sojiro commented to Akira. "Would you mind telling me where everyone is?". With a small nod, Akira turned off the sink and faced the older gentleman.
"Haru stated she had a bad loop and needed to work off some issues." he began. Brewing a cup of coffee for both Sojiro and himself, he stopped the update to Sojiro until the Mocha Matari was finished. The cup was then offered to Sojiro, who nodded his approval. Enjoying the subtle spices and the blend of chocolate, Akira continued. "Her, Futaba, Ryuji and Morgana are handling any 'Palace' concerns up until the Big Bang Burger incident. Ann and Makoto are visiting Inaba and the group there with Shiho, and Yusuke is focusing more on his art this loop. Something about being the understudy of Hokusai a few loops ago. He had requested to be on standby this loop. We also made him promise not to lose track of time this loop and eat" Akira added, forestalling Sojiro's next question.
"Hoo boy" Sojiro responded as he heard the recap. "It sounds like you all had a hell of a time. It does amaze me that you can stay so strong. Also makes me proud." he added. Even with time on standby, Akira at heart was a young man who did not receive as many compliments from most figures in this town. A small nod of thanks was given.
The door opened, interrupting their brewing discussion. In walked a young woman, standing slightly smaller than Futaba with short pink hair. Wearing the Shujin uniform and carrying a backpack over her shoulder, she looked around the room and saw it was near empty. Nodding her head once, she hopped on the nearby barstool.
"Can we help you, Miss.." Sojiro started.
"Natsuki." the woman responded.
"Alright Miss Natsuki." Sojiro replied. A small wave of his hand. "Welcome to LeBlanc. We have curry and coffee."
She wrinkled her nose for a moment before replying. "I suppose that I should give it a go. Some curry and.." she looked at the lists on the wall, a bit lost.
Sojiro interrupted. "New customer to coffee?" he asked. Seeing Natsuki's 'soso' response, he nodded. "I see. Here." as Sojiro brewed a cup and slid it over. "Guatemalan SHB. It's a medium cup with a rich citrus and chocolate taste."
Natsuki took a sip and nodded. "Not bad," she replied. "But..got any cream and sugar?"
Sojiro's left eye started twitching.
…
The twitching intensified with the amount of sugar and cream that Natsuki put into the cup before she nodded her head. Akira, watching this, decided to try something as he finished the fresh batch of curry on the stove. Honey was already added as the secret ingredient. When it came time for the spice, a pinch of cinnamon was thrown in with the other ingredients.
Pouring a ladle over a serving of rice, he slid it in front of Natsuki. "Try it," he encouraged. Ignoring the woman's glare, he watched as she took a bite. Then another. "Thish..ish..good!" Natsuki responded between mouthfuls as she devoured the plate.
"So what's this batch?" Sojiro asked. He saw her response to the food and he was a bit concerned for now.
"Some apples, honey, and cinnamon." Akira replied. He turned to Sojiro and nodded his head at the raised eyebrow. Like Sojiro, Akira had a few questions about their guest. Primarily, was she the proverbial "Guest" this loop.
While Akira walked to the door, to flip the sign to close, Sojiro cleared his throat. "Young Lady" the man replied as he leaned forward on the counter. "If I asked you about a World Tree, what would your response be?"
…
"So what gave it away?" Natsuki asked as she confirmed she was looping. Akira had also confirmed he was a Persona user when she asked. Surprised with the knowledge, she explained how her base branch had some Amala loopers visiting.
"Other than the fact we were missing a looper when we pinged, we didn't know," Sojiro responded. "However my baseline self had government intelligence training and you were holding yourself back in a reserved matter. I was going to ask about your age but I had a feeling it'd be a bad Idea" Sojiro responded, emphasizing the last word.
"Yeah, it would have," Natsuki confirmed. She ordered another cup of the coffee and added a lot of cream and sugar, thus rendering Sojiro temporarily mute. Seeing Sojiro's response, she paused. "There a problem?"
"He's a coffee connoisseur," Akira replied. Dishing out another plate of curry, he took over the discussion. "Another of our baseline Loopers, Ryuji, drinks the same way you do and he always chides Ryuji about being a kid."
"That's because that much sugar is bad for you" Sojiro grumbled.
"It's too bitter though!" Natsuki responded. This had Sojiro grumble and Akira bark out another laugh.
"That's why I added those seasonings to your curry," he replied. At Natsuki's quizzical look, Akira elaborated. "The honey? Cinnamon? Things to enhance a natural sweetness."
"Yeah. Better than.." she paused. "Are you familiar with others Persona Loopers like yourselves..?" With Akira's confirmation, she nodded. "Fuuka, Chie, Rise and Yukiko came in recently and.."
"That was you?" Akira asked, surprised. Natsuki looked at him for a moment in confusion, as he began to elaborate. "Our Anchor keeps tabs of the knowledge that we gain as Loopers. Those of us with the ability to summon multiple Persona need to always 'expand' and meet new people. And he encourages others who can summon one to learn new skills to keep their Persona strong."
"So when they met with the Anchor.." Natsuki began.
"Right. Just as he's aware of another who had problems here" Akira paused. "Her name was Sayori, right?" With Natsuki's nod, he continued. "He's aware of how Sayori felt about Kirijo's group, and he did get Naoto's later message. He was also aware that you had helped the girls learn how to cook. So expect the Inaba crew if you ever go there to.."
"..shower me with affection. Got it. Well at least they'll know how awesome I am!" Natsuki struck a mock pose, which got a chuckle out of Akira. Natsuki continued. "I had a question about what's going on."
"Sorry to cut this short," Sojiro interrupted. He had disappeared to take a phone call and had just returned.
"Everything ok?" Akira asked.
"That was Futaba" Sojiro responded. "Apparently Haru sprained her ankle working on that project so they're calling it an early night. She's heading back to the house with Morgana, and both are pushing for sushi tonight." Sojiro snorted. "Got to open up soon. You need to clean the dishes and see Takemi in case Haru needs medical attention."
"I'm sorry to ask as this may be awkward" Natsuki interrupted. "But are you his son?"
"Baseline had me on probation in Tokyo for a year" Akira elaborated as he cleaned up her plate and cup, as well as the cooking pot. "Sojiro was my guardian. Didn't like me at first but I warmed up to him. That and.."
"He saved Futaba. Though not by biological daughter, she and I are like a family." Sojiro finished. He nodded his head to Akira. "Due to his baseline past he needed a person to act as a guardian here as well. He grew on me, so we act as if we're family. Sometimes the baseline has Futaba and him as a couple and then they really enjoy playing tricks on me" Sojiro clarified in a rueful manner.
Natsuki nodded. Hiding a smirk as she took a sip of her coffee, she asked "Are you seeing anyone?" of Akira.
"No"
"Interesting." Though she didn't take stock of Monika's romantic life like Sayori, she also wasn't blind. While she thought Akira's hair was a bit too unruly, she couldn't deny he had a sense of charm about him.
"Anyway, we're about to open up" Sojiro responded. "Any conversations about what you kids do needs to be kept clean."
"Got it" Akira responded. He slid a sheet of paper to Natsuki with his phone on top. "Boss's likely to ask later but, if you don't have a spot to go he knows some people. And if you have more questions about Persona, or meet the others."
"I'm set for this loop, thanks. However," Natsuki palmed the number. "I'll text you later, alright? I do have some questions, though if possible I'd rather not be fighting this loop."
Akira nodded.
Natsuki smirked. This would be an interesting loop.
[Persona 3], [Doki Doki Literature Club]
Overdue Meeting
Sayori Awoke. Ever since time was stuck in infinity mode, there were a few things that she did. Check her Pocket for her notes. See if there were any Ping responses. And finally, access her loop memories.
She paused. Surely this could not be right. Surely the Tree would not place her back here.
Standing in front of the mirror of the girl's bathroom, she looked at her uniform. The small symbol on her breast indicated she was at Gekkoukhan High. If she was there then she was in one of the few places she'd rather not be.
The sounds which came from her lips upon discovering she was in the Amala Branch were the sounds of an angry kitten who just had a bath.
...
Settling down, although furious about the joke being played on her, Sayori went about the loop. In this loop, she was one of the recent transfer students who had won a scholarship for the full year. Housed in one of the nearby dorms, her life for this loop consisted of school, Volleyball Team, and Fashion Club. Though curious why those were selected, Sayori figured she would be able to make use of the Fashion Club to work on some of her cosplay ideas.
Navigating a hallway, Sayori was intercepted by a call of "Excuse me!"
She paused and turned her head to the sound of the voice. A small internal sigh was made as she recognized the speaker, a Mitsuru Kirijo. Her red hair standing out against her smooth skin, and her body something that a model would enjoy. Though Sayori's eyes narrowed some. Did Kirijo seem nervous with her here?"
"Yes, Senpai?" the visiting Doki asked.
"Would you come with me to the Student Council room?" Mitsuru asked. She wanted to place her hand on the younger woman but had a feeling it'd not be smart.
Sayori paused as she asked. "Is this something to do with the time issue on my schedule?"
Mitsuru nodded, pleased that Sayori did signal she was looping. "Yes! I must apologize but you've been booked for too many classes. There'll be a chance to go over your schedule there." Not the best answer, but in the open hallways she was trying to avoid undue stares.
Sayori nodded her head and followed the other woman.
...
Arriving inside the Student Council room, Mitsuru turned to face the other woman. "I'll start first by saying the Anchor had received your message" she added. "Though since you're here I had thought to clear the air" she added. Mitsuru recalled the last time that Sayori was here. Most of the Tatsumi Port Island loopers made it their mission to avoid the peach haired Doki if they ever ran across her in that loop.
Sayori cocked her eyebrow. "What's there to discuss?" she asked. After motioning to the chair and receiving a small nod from the other woman, Sayori turned her gaze on the redhead. "When I first looped here, your ability to summon your Persona involved using a modified gun to simulate suicide. Considering one of my close friends in baseline manipulated me into hanging myself, it was a sore point" she added. A slight pause. "I might have overreacted but I will not apologize."
Sayori looked at the other woman in curiosity. "What is there to dsicuss?" she asked a she took her seat. "I am aware that your Evokers were used to summon your abilities. Modified from actual guns. Mind you, I had a close friend who manipulated me in my baseline to commit suicide. Those references are a sore point" she added, idly touching her fingers together.
"Understandable" Mitsuru replied as she brought a tea pot closer. "Want a cup? It's not as good as Iroh's but it is quite refreshing."
Sayori gave a brief smile. "Thank you" as she fixed her cup of tea. Taking a sip, Sayori nodded. "Impressive. Might I get a bag later for my pocket?"
"Of course" Mitsusu responded. She took a sip then asked. "You're familiar with other Persona users?"
"Naoto, Fuuka, Chie, Kanji, and Yukiko all looped into our club" Sayori commented as she took a sip. "Naoto elaborated that you utilized your evokers to invoke death's embrace while there's another group in Tokyo who rip off their mask to show signs of rebellion" she added. Looking at Mitsuru for a moment longer as she added. "I do not object to what you can do. In fact I might like to have a discussion with your group or another with a concern I have. I do strongly object to the methods used, for reasons stated."
"I see" Mitsuru replied as she closed her own eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "Though our Wild Card is the Field Leader, I do lead the S.E.E.S. squad and the Shadow Operatives overall. We did not take into account how our abilities might look to an outsider. I do apologize for any offense caused."
Sayori paused for a moment longer before slowly nodding her head. "I've forgiven the person who manipulated me into what I did in my branch. While I'll never like" and here she put emphasis on the word "the way you utilize your ability, I cannot and will not fault you for having it. Apology accepted. Was that the purpose of this visit?"
"One of them" Mitsuru explained. "It's something the other Wild Cards from this group, the Inaba group and the Tokyo group had mentioned that I'd like to try with you." Seeing Sayori's expression, she elaborated. "They each said that sometimes just sharing common stories or anecdotes might help bridge the gap. I'd love later to discuss some literature with you but for now I'd like to share some stories from our baseline."
Sayori blinked for a moment and nodded her head. "I'm interested. In both the literature discussion and the story." She leaned back, listening to the other woman talk.
…
"So let me get this straight. Your baseline has your MC" Sayori had used the term to describe Minato "in essence flirt with every female he runs across?"
Mitsuru nodded her head as she took a sip of tea. "Yes. Oddly enough we get rather jealous when we catch wind of him with someone else. He also was invited into each of our dorm rooms."
The Doki shuddered. "Please tell me he didn't try this when Awake. Or that it's a common trait among the 'wild cards'?"
"Takeba, one of our Loopers, decided to teach Minato a strong lesson" the redhead replied. A small lazy grin as she pulled out some photos from her pocket and placed them in front of Sayori. "And the Inaba team, per Shirogane and Kujikawa...Naoto and Rise" Mitsuru elaborated with Sayori's confused expression. "Confirmed that in their baseline, if Narukami cheated, they had their suspicions, while the Tokyo people" and here she cleared their throat. "Injured Kurusu in his guardian's shop. Said guardian did nothing as his daughter was one of those that confronted him."
"I assume that Looping Wildcards learned not to do that?" Sayori asked. When Mitsuru nodded her head, she smiled. "Good."
…
"Did I ever tell you about the hot springs incidents?" Mitsuru asked. She disappeared for a few moments to handle a phone call. "And my apologies on the call. Shirogane and Akihiko are part of the Shadow Operatives and awake this go-round. Had to coordinate plans for this Loop."
Sayori nodded her head. "Understandable. And what hot springs incident?"
Mitsuru chuckled. "Our baseline has a class trip to a local inn with a hot spring. Naturally, it's a major attractant. Segregated of course. Men have their own time, women another."
Taking another sip of tea, Sayori asked "Did someone sneak in when they shouldn't have?"
Mitsuru nodded. "I think the boys just didn't realize they overstayed their welcome. And they tried to sneak out. Mind you, with someone who acts as mission support, another who is an android, a sharp archer, and myself it would be difficult. Sometimes they succeed." She then had a predatory smile on her face. "And sometimes they don't."
Intrigued, Sayori leaned forward. "I see" she replied as she took a sip. "What happened when they don't suceed"
"Execution. Normally I'd just stab my rapier through an icicle but as I wish no harm to them, just a lasting lesson, I have them encased in blocks of ice" Mitsuru elaborated. A slight tap on the table. "It lasts sometimes from six to twelve hours. To make sure the point stuck, even though I did not stab them, I still called it an execution."
Sayori giggled as she nodded. "Those meanies" she muttered.
Mitsuru leaned over and grabbed a sheet of paper. Writing two phone numbers on it, she gave it to Sayori. "One's Shirogane's phone number. The other is Haru Okumura's phone number from the Tokyo group. Both are awake and each have their own version of hot spring stories if you're interested."
"Might be more one of my friend's interest. But I'll definitely give them a call. Thank you" Sayori added as she pocketed the number.
...
Time had passed. The simple art of sharing experiences can, if both parties are receptive, share experiences, and allow insight into the psyche of the other. Mitsuru and Sayori shared experiences from their baseline as well as various loops.
The tea had started to taste the same, so Sayori cleared her throat. "I think we have shared relatively enough experiences, right?" she asked. A small sigh as she leaned back for a moment. "I've got my own questions though it seems like I might need to talk to the Inaba crew on something." Making a mental note to look precisely where Inaba was to Port Island, she continued.
"We got off on the wrong foot. I'd like it if we could spend some time later this loop. Just to get to know each other?" Seeing the shocked reaction on Mitsuru's face, she continued. "I'm not going to lie. How this is set up really does suck. Blaming you for this is just silly though. Friends?" she asked as she held out her hand.
A genuine smile spread across Mitsuru's face as she shook the other woman's hand. "Friends."
Sayori grinned. "Yay! Oh I still want to discuss some literature with you later. And.." whatever else Sayori was going to say was stopped with the chiming of the bell. An 'Eep!' came from the Doki's mouth as she grabbed her stuff ran out the door. "Gottagotalktoyoulater!"
Mitsuru chuckled, pleased with the outcome.
[SMT I]
The Edit – Genesis Brane #3 – Appreciation
An ancient proverb once said that "Mastering others is strength, Mastering yourself is true power." Ever since time began to play on repeat, Steven found wisdom in that statement. After all, one of the purposes of the Loops was to improve yourself.
Mind you, the person who spoke that was someone he interacted with every time the Loop reset. Taishang Laojun, otherwise known as Laozi, would always interject himself in the battle between the forces of YHVH, under the Messian church, and Lucifer, under the Cult of Gaea. As benefiting his beliefs, he would always try to offer a moderating influence between both extremes. Sometimes Futsuo would accept Taishang's guidance. Other times he would go his own way and follow the polarizing beliefs of the Gaeans or Messian church.
Regardless of Futsuo's beliefs or choices for the loop, the man would always spend time with Steven before the Great Cataclysm. This Cataclysm was one of two pivotal events. Heralded by the forces of YVHV under the American Ambassador Thor, it would jump-start the apocalypse and send Futsuo and his friends to the Diamond Realm for their safety.
"You seem like you're contemplating something," Steven remarked as the young man approached.
"Have you heard from Masakado?" Futsuo asked.
"I have," Steven remarked. When he Awoke, there was a note in his pocket from Ganesha. Writing on behalf of Masakado, Ganesha had informed the Anchor that there was a problem with the base Amala code. Besides Ganesha and Masakado, a few of the other Administrators were assisting in repairs and debugging.
Ganesha had also warned Steven that something was attempting to influence the outcome of the situation. Ganesha, via the note, had also asked Steven to report any extreme loop variations.
Explaining that to Futsuo did not have the desired effect on the man. Instead, Futsuo's face remained in a sour expression.
"What is it?" Steven asked.
"It's the same argument, I suppose," Futsuo responded. "I understand that having the chance to learn and to repeat time can be a blessing and a curse. However, this all seems tedious and pointless."
"Waruo and Yoshio" Futsuo began, referencing his two friends who would later become the champions of the Gaean Cul and Messian Church. "Still have not learned that they are cosmic pawns. I have to wind up seeing their death every loop, sometimes at my hand." Futsuo uttered a deep sigh, muttering under his breath that it wasn't the main problem.
Steven paused. "Then what has you in this state?"
"I'm not blind, you know." the other man responded. "I'm aware that we're in effect reliving the Genesis myth every loop, near the end." He gave the man a contemplative look. "If Ganesha and the others are trying to find out what's wrong with the branch, can they figure out why I don't have an Eve to share the loops with?"
Steven looked at the younger man in askance. "You have a valid concern" he began. "But you're not seeing one thing."
"What is it?"
"Appreciate what you have instead of mourning what you do not have," Steven responded. He began to count off what he viewed as the positives. "With time repeating, you know what's coming. With the conflicts itself, you know how best to prepare. You also have learned empathy. To not see your friends as just mere pawns, but as valuable individuals."
"Very few people can claim that," Steven remarked. He looked at the other man for a moment longer. "It is rough, Futuso. And dangerous, with someone trying to interfere. However, you cannot give up one thing. Hope. What is it the old man always told you?" he asked.
"That we are a part of this life, and yet connected to everything else around us," Futsuo responded. A small nod. "I get it, Steven. I just get so frustrated."
"I understand, my young friend. I am always here to listen" the Anchor responded.
Futsuo gave a small smile as he walked onward. Picking up his phone, Steven heard the faint words as the other man left his line of sight: "Hey. Yeah. Waruo, I think I'll take you and Yoshio's offer to crash at my house tonight..."
Steven smiled. The battle ahead, as he was concerned about what caused the deviations, would be fierce. What made him more content was this victory Futsuo had within himself.
"Keep Mastering yourself my young friend" the Anchor murmured.
[Persona]
The Edit – Monado Brane – Call to Action
Igor's primary responsibility as a resident of the Velvet Room was to facilitate a guest's journey. That had been his task ever since Philemon had given him this instruction. Others were in the Velvet Room to assist him in this manner. Each assistant was under the same aegis as him: to never outright interfere in the guest's path.
Since becoming aware of time's repeat, he had found that his responsibilities had not changed overmuch. His primary focus was to shepherd his guest through their path. If a guest were to 'awaken' to time's flow, he was to teach them everything required, as well as assisting guests from other branches. Rarely was his participation required. Those times, as he would tell Philemon later, were heralded with apocalyptic news.
The note in his pocket was a perfect example.
Written by Lord Ganesha, a fellow administrator, the note was simple yet profoundly eloquent. Igor's home branch was called Amala by the Administrators. His domain was an offshoot of that branch. The main branch of Amala itself was under attack by a malicious code, and Igor, per the note, was informed to report if there were any unique variables.
He closed his eyes and cleared his mind. The Tarot, guide to the hidden universe, was in front of him while his primary hand rested on the deck. Three cards were pulled from the deck, as Igor sought only a past-present-future read.
To begin this read, Igor pulled three cards then opened his eyes. The past was the upright Fool itself, indicating unlimited and untapped potential. Present was a reverse Emperor, giving rise to an authoritative figure imposing their will. Confirming the less than positive future was the inverse Tower, signaling destruction without a chance for rebirth.
Concerned, he left word with the attendants to reach out to the loopers who were Awake. He went to his private quarters to commune with Philemon. While Philemon was not one of those Awake, he was Loop Aware. This information was something that Igor felt Philemon should know.
...
Of those who were Awake, three were ready to meet with Igor. Naoya Todou, otherwise known as the boy with the earring, was from the group which handled the S.E.B.E.C machine crisis. Tatsuya Suou was from the group which was responsible for the N.W.O. and rumors affecting reality, while Mitsuru Kirijo was from the group which handled the arrival of Nyx.
Each met Igor in the Velvet Room, which had adapted the shape into a mobile military command center.
"This is new, Igor" Nayoa remarked. Tatsuya was in conversation with Belladonna while Mitsuru was monitoring the situation.
"I've asked for your presence," Igor began "Due to a growing crisis."
"Crisis?" Mitsuru asked. Her attention turned to Igor while Tatsuya finally noticed the discussion.
"Who all can explain the difference between our branch and the main branch?" Igor began, asking those present. Tatsuya was the first to respond.
"The deviation happened during what some called the 'Tokyo incident,'" the man explained. "During that time, instead of the ICBM missiles launched by Ambassador Thorman, both Thorman and Gotou were placed under arrest. A benefit of this was that their attempted coup was discovered and subsequently quashed."
Mitsuo Kirijo picked up the explanation. "There was an incident concerning Karokuza High. While there was one survivor, a Tamaki Uchida" and here she nodded her head to Tatsuya, who was familiar with the story, "what exactly happened has been kept under wraps."
Igor nodded. "Very good," he replied as he slowly spread the cards from the earlier read on the table. "The future is always changing. Those with the power of Persona, especially the Wild Cards, are proof of such."
"I have been informed by the branch administrator that there is an attack on the main branch." This caused a reaction from those present, even stopping the blind singer Belladonna's aria.
"Sounds bad" Nayoa replied in a laconic manner. Meanwhile, Mitsuru was looking over the cards herself. While she preferred to face problems with a clear and logical understanding, there were times where a supernatural answer was the only answer. To be prepared, she brushed up on occult and esoteric material when Awake.
"Is this why you called us?" Mitsuru asked as she tapped the reading.
"Yes," Igor responded. "While they are not certain that our part would be affected, an attack on the main branch would affect all of us."
"Why?" Tatsuya asked.
"Domino effect" Nayoa replied. "If a domino falls and crumbles, it knocks down surrounding dominoes. Ever built a house of cards?"
"Oh."
"So you notified us," Mitsuru responded. "What do you want us to do?"
"Speak to your people. See who would be willing to assist should our help be required."
Each nodded their head as they disappeared.
…
Igor received a response later in the loop. He was not surprised by what was said. He wrote the information out on a piece of paper.
"To Administrators
From: Persona Branch
We offer our help concerning the problems affecting the main branch.
Signed: Loopers of S.E.E.S., Seven Sisters High School, and St. Hermelin High"
[SMT I]
The Edit – Genesis Brane #4 – Never Fade Away (Aoi's Awakening)
Imagine, if you will, that the various stories you heard through your childhood about angels serving divine beings were real. These stories also mention fairies frolicking in the woods and mythical beasts roaming sight unseen. Men and women, who exhibited proper virtues, were rewarded.
Spoken in whispers was the other side of that coin. These stories tell of hideous demons who thrived on human suffering. These tales mention malignant spirits who despised the living and sought to inflict horror and death. These spirits served as a warning to impressionable young boys and girls. Each lesson was the same: Do your chores, Honor your parents, Listen to the priests. Or you will be trapped eternally as a horrid youkai, forever denied salvation.
As adults, the belief in the stories faded over time. Rational thought replaced religious superstition.
What if those stories were real? That the stories of Michael defeating Lucifer, of Amaterasu hiding due to Susanoo's cruel pranks, and of Thor slaying Jormungander were real? Would you still believe?
Would you believe even if the motive was not as pure as the stories state?
…
As expected of one living in a metropolitan city like Tokyo, the young woman who sometimes went by the name of Aoi was exposed to various faiths. Missionaries, Shamans, and Mikos spoke to the young woman and expressed that their way was considered the one way.
Strong in her beliefs and convictions, Aoi harbored a personal take on everything. A major catastrophe was brewing. While she would be responsible for leading a resistance, her ultimate fate would be with another. She spent her formative years training in the mystical arts as well as martial discipline.
When Stephen, a famed scientist, opened a gateway to the Expanse, Aoi paid attention. It was newsworthy at the time. A man as famous as him being permanently crippled. The scandal involved seemed momentous, to say the least. Even more so as he was researching a 'Terminal' system.
As Stephen created the Demon Summoning Program to speak with creatures from myth, she was one of many who downloaded the program onto a portable arm terminal.
The arrival of these creatures prompted the American Military to attempt to enforce Martial Law. This move, done by Ambassador Thorman, had a hidden purpose. Primarily it was to give cause to launch ICBM missiles to nuke Japan and bring about the fabled Millennial Kingdom of God.
Thorman's attempt met with resistance from the Japanese Special Defense Force, or JSDF,, which staged a military coup. This coup, led by Gotou, was made with a dual purpose. Pushing back American aggression was the primary focus while preaching the Cult of Gaea's doctrine was another. This doctrine stated that the old gods, including Lucifer, were being abandoned. The worship of Lucifer would be enough to protect Japan from what was happening.
Aoi led a rebellion against Gotou and Thorman. She saw the extreme view of both sides and knew that whoever won, humanity would lose. While Thorman did not make any overt moves against her, Gotou would begin to apply pressure.
This pressure led her to the person who would change her life.
…
She never caught his name. Some would say he was called Kazuya. Others, Futsuo. Regardless of his name, she would remember how he entered her life.
A waking dream was what first gave her a vision of him. She was bound, fated to become a sacrifice to a demon lord when he burst into the room. Romantic of its nature, she first heard of his name and the feeling in her soul of destiny. She implored him to seek her out.
He did, in an underground mall. Any happiness at this meeting was cut short as Yuriko, working with Gotou, kidnapped her. Yurkio had set her up as the main sacrifice in an auto de fet. He burst in, with his friends, and rescued her.
Though her emotions welled, she managed to give her friends the information required for their journey. Joining him, she went to try to sway Gotou and Thorman from their purpose. Her plans did not work out, as both attempted to kill them. Concerning her was Thorman's words, which stated that as he died for God's Millennium Kingdom, Tokyo would be annihilated in 30 seconds. Channeling the last burst of magical energy, she sent Him and his friends to a spot where they would be safe.
As the Great Cataclysm destroyed the world, she perished. Her soul was reincarnated in the body of a young woman of the Church of Messiah. Remembering the religious doctrine taught, she also had memories of what she had learned. Of her longing to see him, her mysterious savior.
Fate would have her set up to be tortured. Ozawa, a local ruler of Shibuya, had placed the daemon Ariadne in her mind, to slowly torture her until she died. As before, He came to rescue her. To free her of her mental and spiritual torment.
She joined him on his journey. Where the world suffered another flood, and the Great Cathedral was the site of a bloody battle. Four Major Demons from the Cult of Gaea and the Four Archangels perished. A mysterious old man, the avatar of Taishang Laojung, met them at the top of the tower. He confirmed that the path walked was one that required balance between both extremes.
Happy and content, Aoi went to sleep. Her goal for the new day was to help Him usher in a new world.
…
She awoke with the blurring of the alarm. Smacking it awake, she went to the window. Looking outside, she did not see a world ravaged by nuclear devastation. A glance at her desktop calendar showed that it wasn't even 203x.
Aoi murmured. "What in the world?" She was afraid a demon had did something in her sleep.
She stepped outside and began to walk crisply to the mall. Stopping at one of the large display monitors, she listened as Gotou went on his spiel concerning the coup.
"This is weird. But maybe.." she murmured, talking to herself. Plans began to form. Though her group was not openly violent, perhaps she could prepare for the ICBM destruction. Free the girls who shared her name. Cause some difficulties for both sides. The possibilities were endless.
What she didn't see was a young man standing a few feet behind her. With eyes that told a different tale than his youthful face, the young man who was called Futsuo this time was cautiously optimistic. Could it be after all this time someone 'else' would be able to join him?
Pausing briefly to find Stephen, Futsuo walked with a spring in his step.
…
At the mall, Aoi was energetic in her plans. "I don't care what I said yesterday. We need to send some people inside the JSDF Compound. Other girls with my name are there and they need to be freed!" she barked at one person.
To another: "Tighten up security. Two men to a post. Space them out!"
A soft cough let her know that she had guests. Turning to see Futsuo and his friends, a grin formed on her face. "Even better!" she exclaimed. "Welcome!" she added, addressing the newcomer.
Of course, he was not alone. He was with his friends, and she had committed their faces to memory. A harsher man with a sports jacket which seemed to always seek power at a cost. Another man who had an almost androgynous face that belied a stronger conviction. She knew what they had done, and she had plans for the both of before she could say anything, Futsuo motioned her to the side, in private.
Her cheeks blushed for a moment before she asked him, "Is there something you need?"
"Have you noted anything weird?" he asked. "Of what appears to be a strong sense of deja vu...?"
…
She had sent his friends along on the assault against Ozawa and the JSDF while they talked. His story, had she not experienced what she did, would have sounded far fetched. Literal gods supervising their level of reality? Her reality suffering from a computer glitch?
The arrival of Stephen, who confirmed Futsuo's story, helped ease some of her concerns.
"So besides the Great Conflict which will happen regardless, we're having a bit of a situation?" she asked them both.
Stephen nodded. "Yes. The main force behind the Messian Church is not happy with what's going on and is causing problems. The Administrator.."
"Taira no Masakado" Aoi interrupted. While she was leery of gods in general, the legendary folk hero overseeing this branch did calm some of her nerves.
"Yes. He's obtaining assistance from others to try to isolate the glitch. While we're stuck on this repeat path, odd variants would pop up" Stephen confirmed. Futsuo had explained on some cases where Ambassador Thorman would launch the nukes early. Of other cases where the flood would stop people from even reaching the Cathedral.
"I see. And I'm.." she asked, wanting to confirm why she was being told this.
"You're here to help our young friend. Nothing more. Nothing less. Anything else happens, as long as the branch itself is not damaged.." and here Stephen rose from his chair, channeling forth a glowing ball of Magnetite energy. "I do not care."
Behind him, a rogue Orochi was sneaking up on the trio. Aoi was rightfully nervous, while Futsuo pulled from a hidden satchel a modified pistol. Stephen, however, threw the ball of Magnetite energy behind him. The Orochi screamed in pain as it started to compress on itself, before disappearing with a loud squelching sound.
Stephen sat down. "I'm not without sufficient skill. Nor is our young friend here. We do have some lessons for you to learn overall, but this is about your growth. And stopping issues with this branch."
Aoi smiled. Regardless of what would happen, this memory would not fade. She turned to Futsuo and gently caressed his cheek. "What do I need to learn?"