A Real Life

by The13thHero

The fight for the future is not over. One who twists truth to spread hate and destruction is upon them. Souji Seta, with old friends and new allies, opposes such a reality from coming true. No is immune to such feelings, however. Desires for Power, Good intentions, & even Love can lead down that dark path. But Love itself will save you, not condemn you. Sequel to Our Year Together.

12. Chapter 12 The Vengeful One

A/N: This was shorter compared to the last one, yet it felt like it took way longer to produce and revise. I made a lot of revisions and idea changes for this chapter, as it too was a highly anticipated one. Major thanks to my friend Brooke for her aid! She's the hard carry sometimes. I hope you all enjoy this and that I didn't let it drag out for too long. Here's Chapter 12!

Chapter 12

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Somewhere inside the TV World, a young man was putting the final touches on his scheme to strike back at those who wronged him. The non-corporeal voice that has been guiding him on his course spoke unto him.

"Only you would crave a plan this crude."

"Hey, I'm just going off what ya said! If they know I exist, then they can spite me and in turn, give you all the power you want! And if not… Well, I'll have my first set of true victims! And it's those uppity friendly brats who think they know what's right for everyone!"

"I shall leave this to you, then. But if things look dangerous, you must retreat. You need fear, surprise, and intimidation to best the strongest Persona users… for if you find any of these elements lacking… it would be wise of you to retreat. Our goals are long term, there is no need to rush to slaughter all our enemies at once."

"Hah, I'll have them all dead in no time! They won't be able to survive what I'm cookin'!" It seems Sho wasn't following his advice at all, too confident in his plans to think they could fail.

"Prove it, then. And I pray next time we speak, you will have their heads on pikes."

"Oh, you bet your ass I will! That Kirijo bitch is gonna be mine! And that so-called Champion as well if he shows up! You said they're here already, yeah?"

"Yes. You got their attention, just like last time. And because of the way you generated activity on their radars, they will divide their forces, making it much easier for you."

"Ha, I can't wait! It's almost time!" A loud cackle emanates from him that echoes throughout the wide open expanse.

07/25

Half an hour until the mission was to begin, and the members of both the Shadow Operatives and the Investigation Team had gathered at the Junes food court. The students all wore their Yasogami Summer uniforms, much to Akihiko and Fuuka's surprise.

"Hey, so, why are you all wearing your uniforms? Weren't your normal clothes enough?" Akihiko's brow twitches in perplexment.

"We always wore these when we went on missions to rescue anyone who fell into the TV World… so it's a habit at this point." Souji elaborated, his hand waving off the concern.

"Suit yourself, then. Mitsuru already called me. She's gotten her team assembled and we will enter at the same time." He was covered in his red cloak and hood, but Yukiko just started laughing at his outfit.

"Pfft, Ahahahahaha! That outfit's so, Bahahahaha!"

"...Does she always do that?"

"You'll have to get used to it." Chie and Souji spoke at the same time and tone, causing Yukiko's laughter to intensify further.

"It's nice that the tension isn't so bad right before we start. I was expecting you all to be nervous." Fuuka's soft tone was more reflective of her own expectations.

"You guys have such a casual way of approaching this kinda stuff." Labrys remarked, still in her trench coat, but her Yasogami uniform was underneath it and her weapon was folded into what looked like a bizarre mechanical prop. As for her handle… who knows where that was.

"I'd call it more… natural, I suppose. Lack of a better term…"

"I getcha. Sometimes I think some members in the S.O. could learn a thing or two from you guys."

"Fuuka-san, are you going to be outside of the TV World like before?" Naoto inquired, with a very valid question.

"Oh, yes, I will be staying here. Rise-chan, you can still support everyone in there, yes?"

"Um, I can, but is that fine? Your powers are great." Rise seemed hesitant, as she still had part of herself view Fuuka as her superior.

"Nonsense, you're very skilled! With you being there with them, we can communicate much better and amplify our powers together as long as we are synced up!"

"We can…?"

"Yes! I'm much better with being broad, but your powers are more focused. If we combine our best traits… then who knows what we can accomplish!" This sounded more like a scientific guess than something certain.

It took Rise a moment to buy into it, but she understood Fuuka was genuinely seeing the best in her.

"Okay, then I'll give it a try and do my best." Rise's energy returned to her! As she was saying this, Yosuke pulled his phone out and spotted the time.

"Hey, isn't it about time we get ready? I'll go and make sure the electronic section is quiet. This is usually the slowest time of the day there." Lunch rush sales were getting close to kicking in. The food court and downstairs grocery section were where most people were going to be at this time.

"Good call. Go ahead and let us know when the coast is clear." Akihiko nodded, impressed that Yosuke was more responsible than he let on.

After some minutes passed, Yosuke gave the all clear sign and the group would all venture forth to the Electronics section of the store. The group would huddle around the TV as Yosuke made one final trek around the department to make sure no one was around.

"Ooh, this is so fun! It feels like we're agents on a secret mission!" Yukiko had an odd fascination with these things that some considered cool.

"This isn't a game. We gotta be on our guard. We still don't know if the target is here or not." Akihiko snaps her back into reality.

"The coast is clear, guys!" Yosuke ran back, a thumbs up gesture formed from his hand as he took one final inspection.

"Alright, let's do this. We'll follow your lead. Fuuka is already positioned at a spot where she can focus with no disturbances."

"Got it." Souji nodded, looking to see everyone else nod at him. "Alright, let's go." His blunt words were firm as he turned around, sticking his hand and body into the TV, the others following suit one after the other. One by one, the rectangular shapes pass them by as they reach their destination, the backstage; the frequented location that they all started out in each time they arrived to rescue a victim. Despite all the time that passed, they all still land like they're so used to it, a far cry from how their first time entering was. Akihiko and Labrys land perfectly. Not bad for their second time here.

Everyone got settled in quickly, but there was no need to put on their glasses like before since the fog was lifted months ago, back in March.

"Alright, our gear should still be around here." Souji walked over, kicking a spot near the corner of the stage, his Persona Izanagi fading into existence, pulling out a piece of the floor and revealing many hidden weapons underneath it. "They're still here."

"A weapons cache… that's pretty good." Akihiko nodded, genuinely impressed by his long term thinking.

"It beats having to sneak them all into the store every time." Souji commented as everyone started to surround the opened section, gathering their preferred weapons of choice.

"Say, that reminds me; I may be in charge of the operation, but you know your way around the place. How about you lead us into battle? You're already your group's leader. I'm fine with passing the baton to you. I can follow orders no problem."

"Sure, I'll do my best for the mission." Souji's leadership skills have not rusted at all. He is more than capable of stepping up to the task.

"Good. I read you can use multiple Personas. You're perfect for the job. Get set, 'cause all I need are my Fists. They're my weapons!"

Labrys was away from them, removing her long coat and assembling her weapon. She then folded it up to be attached to her back, her wire behind her head now fully exposed, alongside her Yasogami uniform.

"I'm ready ta go whenever you guys are."

"Fuuka! Can you hear me?" Akihiko would call aloud, expecting a response immediately.

"Yes, I can! Rise-chan, can you summon your Persona? I'd like to begin scanning the area with your help." She sounded like an echoing voice from up high.

"Okay!" Rise would step into the center and Kouzeon appeared, the ring shaped visor would rest around Rise's eyes and her hands clasp in a prayer shape. "I'm going to scan for any sign of high Shadow activity." She fell silent as her powers felt even stronger. Fuuka was supporting her, amplifying her scanning features as they started as far back as possible to sense anything that was likely beyond the farthest reaches they've traversed.

"While they're scanning, I should mention this; my Persona's skills are Electric attacks and debuffing enemies." Akihiko shifts his look to Labrys so she can share style of combat.

"Oh yeah, I've done some trainin' back in the city and figured out how my Persona fights too." Labrys realized it was her turn. "Ariadne is good at physical attacks. And I got this newly discovered type of attack; Mitsuru-san and Fuuka-san say it's the first they've eva' seen of it. I'll show ya if we get the chance."

"You guys! I'm picking up something…!" Rise called out, everyone turning instantly.

"Rise-chan's right! I sense it too! It's faint, but it's from behind where she's standing. I sense a gathering of, wait-! What's going on?"

"Fuuka! What's the problem?" Akihiko exclaimed, a touch of concern was in his tone.

"Something's wrong! I can't sense them anymore!"

"You what-!?"

"Fuuka-san is right! They just… disappeared all of a sudden!"

"That's not normal, is it?" Souji asked, feeling like he already knew the answer to that.

"No, Souji-kun. It's not." Fuuka answered. "Shadows don't just disappear like that. And I don't think they were destroyed by anything, either… It was so instant."

"Well, can you tell us the location? We absolutely need to check this out."

"Senpai, I think I know where it is… It's where Adachi was." Rise's tone grew more disgusted, recalling the man they spent all year trying to capture.

"You mean…"

"Mhm… the Destroyed version of Inaba." After she gives the clarification, Souji turns to face the older Persona users.

"We know the way there. Are you both ready to go, Akihiko-san? Labrys?"

"Mhm. I'm ready when you all are, Souji-kun!" It was Labrys who answered first, a fist up in the air to signify her enthusiasm.

"Like you should even ask that. I'm always ready." His arms tense up, as if setting up to punch something's lights out.

"Haha, alright; let's go everyone!" Souji raised his shorter than usual sword, the team all shouting in unison. It was time to see if the one behind the incidents in May was here or if this would be Mitsuru's problem. As everyone was walking along the narrow platform, Labrys was with Teddie, asking him about this world's Inaba that they mentioned.

"Teddie, what didja mean by 'Destroyed Inaba'? Is the whole real world recreated and messed up here or somethin'?"

"Oh, you don't know? Well, whenever someone enters here, the area takes shape based on their deepest, suppressed thoughts. Like when you fell in here, you thought of being around others, so the world created how you imagined Yasogami to be!"

"Oh, yeah… so who thought up this place? It's pretty messed up if ya ask me…!"

"That would be Adachy-baby! He's the one who killed two innocent ladies last year! When we discovered him, this place was created."

"What? That's… he sounds like he's the worst!"

"Oh yeah, but Sensei and us taught him his lesson! He told Sensei and his Uncle that he plans to play by the rules from now on while he's in jail. But even though he's gone, the places built here remain."

"Then… could the one who threw me in'here… want Inaba destroyed too?" They finally stepped off the narrow platform, a wide flat path was before them, leading to a series of apartment complexes with a playground that was still a few minutes of slow walking away from.

"Don't you worry, Labby-chan! We won't let whoever is doing this smash up our home!"

"Hell yeah!" Kanji would turn around and interject. "They don't mess with one of us and think they can get away with it!"

"You… think I'm one of you guys?"

"Of course, Labrys." Now Yukiko entered the conversation. "You're our friend, and you wear our uniform, doesn't that mean you like Inaba?"

"Mhm… it's where I met you guys. You're all the first people I met when I finally left where I came from." Despite not actually fully seeing the town, the people she has met so far have only increased that desire.

"Well, how about after this is over, we show you around the town? If things aren't too busy for you, we can make a day out of it!" Yukiko suggested.

"That's a great idea, Yuki-chan! We can show her all the fun stuff like the River, the arcade in Okina, and-"

"Teddie, that place isn't in Inaba, that don't count!" Kanji cut him off. "You might be a bit disappointed there, Labrys; the town isn't known for big tourist spots… except maybe Yukiko-senpai's Inn."

"It's fine, guys; really! Long as I can hang out with you all, then it's all good with me!"

"Aw, Labrys…!" Yukiko felt moved by Labrys wanting to grow closer with the team.

As everyone got closer to the center of the complex, Souji raised his arm signaling everyone to stop.

"Souji-senpai… What seems to be the problem?" Naoto stepped up, noticing his eyes were scanning around the area.

"I feel like… we're being watched."

"What? You mean, the enemy is here?"

"Rise, Fuuka-san, can you scan the area? I think someone or something is around… it's a gut feeling, but I feel something is off. It's still too quiet."

"...I sense it too." Akihiko stepped up, his fists raised. "If we have company, how have they not sensed it yet? Weapons up, everyone!"

Before Rise or Fuuka could speak up, the sound of distant clapping from up high was heard from the top of the building they were meant to scale.

"Well, well… looks like you guys are sharper than I gave ya credit for! I drop it for a minute and one of you normies are the guys who catch on…. Looks like you need to hire better Support!" That voice sent Rise shivers down her spine. It sounds so… familiar.

"Who are you!? Show yourself!" Souji called out, laughter from the anonymous voice rang around the area.

"Ahahaha, why so serious…!?" The silhouette was visible to all as it jumped off the top of the building, which was about six stories high, with no hesitation.

"Is this guy nutso!?" Labrys commented loudly as the figure stuck the landing, the cloud of dust surrounding him would start to dissipate, revealing his red mane of hair.

"Heya kids! How's it going? I'm Sho! Sho Minazuki! And let me tell you, it's a thrill to finally meet you all!" He sounded too casual and leaning into an inclination of… the unorthodox. Like this was a mere game to him. Even more so than Adachi treated it. "Welcome to my world! I went through all this trouble just to meet with you guys! You and your freakin' lame ass friendship…" He metaphorically jabs at their values as one hand rests on the top of the hilt of a sword. He had two of them. His outfit looked like part of the Yasogami uniform, but his top was an olive green button up with a pocket on each side of his chest, the long sleeves rolled up. His scars on his face were a very prominent feature.

"That's him!" Rise spoke up, fear in her tone. "He's the one who did all this!"

"What? Then let's get him." Chie would cut from the back to the frontline, planning to charge, electing to shoot first and ask questions later.

"Chie, no-!" Akihiko and Souji call together, both getting ready to follow after her.

"Ah, ah, ah!" His eyes and scars glow red! "Red light means stop! Haven't you played the game!?" He cackles as the atmosphere tenses up, everyone now being stuck in place. "C'mon, no need to act like you got a pole up your ass! I came all this way to meet you guys and say hello!"

"W-What, ugh! Is this…?" Yosuke squirmed, unable to move his feet and his arms looked like they were being held in place by something they could not see or even feel.

"I've waited all this time, surely I'm not gonna just get to the fun part right away! Don't you wanna savor the feeling of finally meeting up with the guy behind everything?"

"W-What!?" A collective question from the extroverts of the team only makes him laugh again.

"My legs… ain't responding-!" Labrys grunted in frustration. It wasn't even a malfunction, something was holding her here!

"M-My legs…! I can't move…!" Chie elaborated, Akihiko was barely able to raise his fist and straighten it out.

"What the hell are you? Who are you?"

"Ahahahaha! The look on your faces… I wish you could see them! They're so epic! Good stuff, lemme tell ya! This power's pretty useful!" It took him until now to register Akihiko's questions. "Oh, right, back to the script! To answer your dumb questions… Good evening! I'm Sho, Sho Minazuki! I'm the guy behind all these shenanigans!" He said this already.

"You are-" Before Souji could finish his retort, Sho spoke once more.

"Now hold on, you may have misheard me! I am the one who set all that shit up back in May! Getting the toaster kidnapped, making all those guys take the plane hostage, and getting that weak excuse of a Persona user in the TV world to make you guys fight! I'm the one who did all of that. I'm the one that invited you here, and here I am, SHO-wing myself right now! Now that you're all here, it's time for a SHO-down with Sho! Ahahaha, I love name puns! Ya get it?" How he just got eccentric all of a sudden; it bothers everybody in attendance.

"That… is bullshit… that ain't… funny at all!" Yosuke tried to mock his sense of humor, despite the stiffening of his body making it hard to really sell it.

"Laugh, funny man, laugh! You're the funny guy who does stupid shit and says funny things, sometimes even saying some messed up takes on social issues; you should be laughing!" His face soured instantly, before scanning and spotting Yukiko in the crowd. "And you! Innkeeper bitch! You laugh at any little thing, you should be laughing at this like it's the funniest shit you've ever heard!

"Ugh, how do you…?" Yukiko was definitely not enjoying his sick sense of humor.

"Always with the questions! All you need to know is the guy in the back tells me everything I need to know! I know all the things you know! All the shit you did last year, I learned all about it! That shit ain't important right now." Sho barked, realizing someone was missing from this party. "Wait a sec, time the hell out, stop the clock! Where's the bitch!?" No one responds and an awkward silence fills the area. "Oh, my apologies, I wasn't specific… Where is the Kirijo bitch!? She should have been here! Is she late? I'll give her a sec to get her makeup on before I kill her!"

"She's… in Tokyo." Akihiko replied, teeth grit in frustration.

"Whaaat? God damnit, that was the distraction! I was expecting you over there and she would come here! I made it obvious! You know, the true suspect always returns to the scene of the crime? Ya really never seen that cliche done to death?" He groaned in frustration. "Well, I guess you idiots will have to make due for now!"

"What do you… are you a maniac…!?" Labrys asks, much to Sho's annoyance.

"I'm not here for the questions, you goddamn Toaster! But, since you didn't bring the Kirijo bitch here, I guess this is where we say goodbye…", he takes many steps back, but not to retreat, but to set something up. There was a menacing aura emanating from him. "I did wanna take part in taking that bitch out, but it seems my friends will have to take care of you all first! Maybe that will have her come running!"

"Guys, you need to run, I sense something big forming up!" Fuuka warned, but Sho heard her loud and clear.

"Oh, there's another one? …Sounds like she's too far back for me to track and kill... Good! I got my messenger! The rest of you can die! So why don't you make like a flock and fly on out of here… in pieces!" He snaps his fingers as his red glow fades, their bodies no longer stuck in place.

"S-Senpai! They're here!" Rise warned, as all around them from the tops of the buildings to between them, hordes of Shadows would start to form.

"These guys don't like me that much… but they hate you even more! I made sure to hide them since they were the friends I invited to this party! Sorry, but they didn't bring any snacks! Ahahahaha!"

"Senpai… this is too many! I think more are coming!"

"Oh yeah! I made sure to stir the whole hive for this! You ever played those shooter games where you survive as long as you can!? That's what you're playing today! But don't worry, I'll be sure to put your high score on your tombs… it'll make for a nice epitaph!"

"You bastard…!" Souji would draw his blade. "I'll stop you myself!"

"That's the spirit! Put on a good performance for me because I believe it's Sho-time! Go got'em, boys!"

The shadows started taking various shapes while some remained as globs with masks. Others turned into things like the Hablerie, Fuzz, Minotaur, Musha, Giants, among other types.

"Everyone, get ready! We need to capture Sho and defeat all these Shadows." A Sun Arcana tarot card was descending from the Sky.

"Dude, there's too many…!" Yosuke had his knives ready despite sounding so fearful.

"We make our stand. We have to attack carefully, and take out as many as we can with every move we make."

"Well said." Akihiko pulls out his Evoker, a grin on his face. His blood was already pumping! "We gotta last all nine rounds if we wanna win this!"

"Yukiko, Naoto, Teddie… you are all in the backline. Kanji and Chie… you form the middle line. Everyone else… we are the front! Get in position!" Kanji and Chie were the wall of muscle guarding Yukiko and Teddie, the supporting healers but Yukiko brought ranged firepower. Naoto was a mixed attacker, but the backline suited her thanks to her pistol and style of spells. Rise was behind them all. Labrys, Souji, Yosuke, and Akihiko formed the front line from left to right.

"Let's go! Tam Lin!" The opener of every battle, Tam Lin appears and grants all of Souji's allies his blessings. All their stats rise!

"All right, that's pretty clever there, Souji!" Akihiko comments as he starts to hop in place, his evoker twirling in his hand as he stops in motion and calls forth his Persona. "Caesar!" Bang. His head jerks as if he actually got shot, but his Persona would come forth, sword in one hand and a globe in the other. "Let's do this!"

The Shadows were close at hand, everyone called upon their respective Personas and all were ready to fight for their lives. Souji counted Hundreds of Shadows funneling in. He called back Tam Lin and made a switch. He knew of one Persona who could easily slice through many enemies with ease.

"Yoshitsune! Hassou Tobi!" Shadows within the radius of a circle that spanned a few yards wide would find themselves shredded piece by piece. The battle has begun with a drop in the bucket against the Shadows led by Sho.

"Five of them! Good job!" Akihiko nodded, his dukes up and ready for anything that got close. "Maziodyne!" His Persona would launch five bolts of Lightning, striking each target as they fizzled out of existence as fast as the bolts struck.

Sho kept some distance as Shadows zoomed right past him. How long can that formation, and their stamina for that matter, last? He was eager to find out how many of these disgusting freaks it took to break them all. Perhaps he might jump into the fray, as well. To him, however, they weren't worth the effort as things stood. It took a while to get these shadows all corralled for this moment; so he wants to see them put as much work in as possible, to tear them apart piece by fleshy piece!

The group attacks were incinerating, zapping, blasting, and freezing everything that they could target, yet more shadows kept taking the places of those that fell. Bodies of these things would break apart and fall like lines of soldiers being mowed down by a heavy machine gun. But eventually, they needed to stop and ready the gun again. And what happens if they run out of munitions? What happens when the team can no longer attack with their magic or physical attacks? What happens then? This is what Sho was looking forward to the most.

"Fall with the Petals!" Yukiko exclaimed as Sumeo-Okami would burn a dozen Shadows with those bright petals that incinerated all that touched them.

"Souji-kun…! We can't keep doing this forever!" Labrys spoke as she pulled her axe back that broke apart a Tower shaped Shadow.

"I know! …Yosuke, with me! We're going for Sho!"

"What, dude? But didn't you want to hold this formation?" Yosuke tried to have Souji back down, but Akihiko would interrupt him.

"He's right! We have to take down Sho…! He's the main target, after all! Look, we'll hold the line while you two see what he's got. Be ready for a Persona, however!"

"Yeah. If we can take him down, maybe these Shadows will back off. Yosuke, are you with me?"

"Of course I am, Partner. Let's strike him from both sides!"

"Right! Akihiko, Labrys, can you clear a path?"

Both give him a nod as they begin a chain attack to clear the way.

"Maziodyne!"

"Heat Wave!"

The two cast their spells one after the other. Maziodyne hits around a group of shadows to keep them contained while Heat Wave dispenses with the ones closest together, clearing a path for the two to attack Sho, who quickly sees their plan.

"Tch… didn't I tell you guys…" He shrugged, hands up for a second before pulling his twin blades. "You aren't worth my time!" He raised them to block both Souji and Yosuke's dual strike with their sword and knives respectively.

"What? He must have-!"

"I don't need a Persona to mop the floor with you two!" He mocked, his teeth now grit and his eyes looking bright with life. He gave them no quarter as the Shadows started to ignore the three, as if letting Sho's bloodlust override their urges to kill Persona users.

He charged at Yosuke, who could barely hold and deflect his strikes, then to Souji who held up well, his training with Kendo offering some support, but that was never the real thing; life and death is a different beast compared to sparring for sport.

"Yoshitsune!" Souji's Persona would appear behind Sho who… caught the blade with his own?

"What!? He can hold back a Persona like that? How strong is he!?" Yosuke commented, ready to charge him, but something held him back… those scars would glow red again!

"I told you to back off!" Souji's Persona had to move in front of him to protect the user, who was immobile thanks to Sho's unknown method of freezing targets in place.

"Damn… we're sitting ducks!"

"Go back to your little group and die together! You try this shit again and I can't promise I'll hold back." His scars recede in their colored hue, the two released from his grip, as even Sho was catching his breath somewhat.

"Yosuke!"

"No way, dude! He's right here!"

"We have to go back."

"Senpai! We need you two back. They're pushing us further back!"

"You heard the weak ass Brat! Get back to your posse and die as a group! Or I'll sic'em on you two alone! And let's see how long that'll last."

"Grr… Why, you-!"

"Yosuke-! Clear a path behind us. I'll follow up."

"Fine!" With a look of frustration and discomfort with this tactic, he called Takehaya Susano-o to use Brave Blade, the circular blade slicing one shadow after another, with Souji switching to Satan to cast Magarudyne, keeping the Shadows back!

"Gun it!" The two would sprint with all the energy they had to make it back to the main group, Labrys was looking exhausted, still swinging her axe to anything that got close.

"Magarudyne!" Yosuke would cover their tracks with another wind spell, but this was stronger than Souji's own attack, pushing them away even further.

"We're back! Sorry, but he's-!"

"It's okay! Get some healing in so we can push them back!" Akihiko insisted, still trying to hold the line by himself.

"I got this! Let the Winds blow!" His Youthful Wind skill would activate, healing everyone moderately, but their agility and vitality would return to them as well.

"Thanks, Yosuke." Souji breathes heavily, his vitality coming back to him.

"Souji! I'm starting to wonder if we can make it past round five rounds, much less nine! Is there anyone else who can step in? Even if Fuuka contacts the others, I'm not sure they'll make it in time!" There was wear in his tone; not quite exhausted but it's clear that his endurance is being challenged.

Souji tried to think as hard as he could, while switching to Kohryu to bring down the heavy bolts of lightning. There was someone who came to mind!

"Fuuka! Can you hear me!?" He called out to the outside support for help.

"Yes, I'm here!"

"Try and find someone out there! Her name is Marie or Mariko Kusumi! She should be in Inaba!"

"O-Okay! I can try and search for her, but…"

"Just tell her my name and that I need help here! She'll understand! I promise!"

"But I can't leave you all alone-!"

"Fuuka! Trust him and do it! We need someone, anyone for this!" Akihiko would override her doubts, knowing even one more person can increase the odds of surviving this.

"Right! I'll begin my search! Hang in there, all of you!"

Sho could hear everything, a smirk still on his face.

"They calling this broad over? I doubt one more fool can save them…"

In the real world, Fuuka searched with her Persona, looking up who Mariko was, but… she had no clue where to begin. The panic of this extreme situation was putting her in a jam… wait! There's someone who may know of her!

She scrambled to pull her phone out of her bag, dialing the number she saved from the last time she was here.

"C'mon… pick up…!"

On the other end, the smartphone was buzzing at the table, the person sitting down writing notes would reach forth and grab it. He couldn't even get a word in before hearing Fuuka cut him off.

"Is that you, *BZZT*-kun!?" A bit of distortion from the weakened signal made the words a touch hard to comprehend, but the other person knew what they heard.

"This is Masato, yes. What's wrong, Fuuka-san?"

"Everyone is in danger! The culprit is here in Inaba!"

"What!?" He stood up from his seat almost immediately. "Have you called Mitsuru-san about this?"

"I told HQ and they haven't sent anything back! I think she's dealing with Shadows on her end! The Tokyo Location was bait to split us apart!"

"Dammit! But what can I do? I can't fight, remember…?" His fist was clenched, concerned for everyone's safety.

"I need information. Do you know who Mariko Kusumi is?"

"The weather girl? Yeah, she's also called Marie, I think. What about her?"

"Souji-kun said that she can help. I need to find her so we can ask for her assistance! Souji-kun insists that she can fight Shadows!"

"Wait, she can!?" This was news to him. In his spying efforts, he recalled seeing her with some of the team, but after December she wasn't seen again until summer had begun in June, so he had assumed she was not a part of that group in such a way.

"Okay! I think… you're in a car, yeah? Or, you have one, right?"

"Mm. With a Driver and all."

"Great! Meet me in the Shopping District!"

"Wait, why there?"

"It's past noon. She's always there on weekdays. There's a shop she frequents. Just, go!" His voice was getting shaky, but out of concern for the others as it clouded his judgment and made him more reckless with his emotions. He was already sitting down to put his shoes on. "Just meet me there! I live close by, but I'll be running over as fast as I can!"

"O-Okay! I'll be going ASAP! Good luck… Masato-kun!"

"There ya go! Alright, I'll be going!" He hung up as he opened the door and almost jumped down the steps.

He wasted no time, sprinting down the sidewalk to hurry towards the shopping district. In his haste, he didn't even realize he could have taken his scooter. His thoughts were focused on his boss, his friends, and the girl he admired. He was in little position to make rational decisions as his roles melded together in this panicked state of mind.

Once he entered from the North, he ran all the way down until he was at Souzai Daigaku, and sure enough, a woman in a black business suit with some light frills just finished her last skewer.

"Marie-san! Forgive the intrusion, but I need your help!" He stopped in place, catching his breath… he is absolutely going to feel his legs get sore in the morning.

"Um… who are you?" Her tone was blunt, and a little snobby.

"I'm Masato Yoshida, and I was… sent to find you…!"

"Okay, weirdo. I'm kind of eating right now, so…" she pointed the skewer stick in his general direction, not to threaten him, but a clear indicator she was getting annoyed. "And how do you know that name? I'm Mariko! Are you some kind of stalker?" She was nothing like how she acted on TV. Rude and irritable was his new impression of her. But he had no time to combat snark incarnate.

"Mariko, I was told you can help us! Your friends are in danger, and-!"

"Friends? They're fine, why are you so interested in-you know what, forget it. I'm going. This is stupid! You're creepy!" She stood from her seat, already trying to leave to go get ready for her afternoon news shift.

"SOUJI SETA, YOUR FRIEND, IS IN DANGER!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, a black car now in the distance behind them.

"Souji!?"

"Yes! He told us to find you! There are Shadows trying to kill him and all your other friends! I need your help getting into the TV world and saving them!"

"How do you know about that-" She sensed he was a normal person, without the power. But she was cut off by his more dreaded tone.

"It doesn't matter how I know! I don't want them to die! Please, believe me!"

She could feel his genuine concern. There will be time for questions later. And what perfect timing as the black car Fuuka arrived in yesterday has pulled up, with the Supportive expert herself stepping out immediately.

"Oh, thank goodness! Are you Mariko-san?"

"Yeah. Are you with him?"

"Please! Come with us! We can explain on the way to Junes." They definitely weren't lying. Too many details were correct that only a Persona user could know. With a stern nod, she took quick steps to the car, a sigh of relief from Masato as he entered the Passenger's seat, the girls being together in the back. They needed to hurry and thankfully with their method of transportation, they'll reach the others as fast as they possibly could.

Inside the TV World, Akihiko was just tossed by a Gigas, straight into the chest and arms of Kanji's bulky Persona.

"Nice save…!" Akihiko praised the tall Persona as he was set down. It was clear his moves were getting sluggish, his body starting to grow exhausted; like he ran all around Tartarus all over again.

"I'm using the Soma!" Souji declared, smashing it into the center of the ground they were maintaining. The team was all running out of SP, but he maintained a strong will to keep his friends motivated. Morale falling would be catastrophic!

"Souji-kun…! There's still so many!" Yukiko whined as in her mind they haven't even taken out half yet. And she may have been right. Just how many did this guy even assemble?

"I know! We need to have faith in Fuuka-san! Marie will come! I believe in them both!" He raised his hand, switching to Surt.

"Mm… alright. Then let's buy them some more time!"

"Make a wall of fire with me then!"

"O-Okay!" Sumeo-Okami would move beside Surt, Souji had to give out a warning.

"Everyone, stay close!" Souji ordered all the others close the gap as he and Yukiko prepared to use their fire attacks in unison. This was something they planned for sometime just in case.

"Pillars of Flame!" The group saw spire after spire of intense fire, pushing out from the ground, incinerating all who were beneath them. The flames persisted, not breaking away so easily.

Yukiko was already gasping for air as this must have taken a lot of her. Even with Souji's Spell Master skill on Surt, this also took a bit out of him. The Damage output was optimal, but the cost of keeping this flames around rather then simply treating it like a moment of bursting energy was what led to this sense of light fatigue.

"Everyone, be on your guard… This will only buy so much time." Shadows that are immune to fire might still cross through. And it didn't take long to start seeing some push through, while others still tried anyway, despite being turned to cinders and ash.

"What the hell!? They're crazy!" Yosuke pulled his knives up, ready to intercept those that got too close."

"He must be forcing them to attack us against their will. Shadows are not usually this hellbent or reckless." Naoto commented, her gun ready.

"I hope we hear from Fuuka-san soon… We can't keep doing this forever… But I'm not going down yet…!" Souji remarked with a weary tone, his blade back into a defensive position.

In the real world, the three had arrived in the Electronics section of Junes; Marie opting to take the paths with the least amount of people so she would be less likely to be recognized.. They had walked to the front of the TV everyone would always enter from, Masato scrambling to look around to see if any customers were around.

"I don't see anyone, go, go…!" He urged the two ladies to enter, Marie giving him another glare.

"Uh, you're coming with us. Can't you fight?"

"I… don't have a Persona." He stammered, his body feeling uneasy. Looks like her initial feeling was correct.

"Huh…? How do you know-whatever, you're coming with us!" She would pull him by the wrist. Such strength! He found himself unable to break away as she walked along into the TV world with no care for his feelings on the matter.

"W-Wait! No-! I can't go in-!" His complaints were ignored as the two were disappearing into the TV despite his initial presumption, Fuuka entering afterwards after they were out of sight.

Inside the TV World, the pillars of flames funneled shadows to a much more manageable degree, but something was amiss.

"Senpai! Above us!" Rise sensed, her hand pointing up; Souji would look in that direction, immediately Yoshitsune would appear to catch the target aiming straight for him.

A hard clash of metal rang around him as his would-be assailant bounced off and landed behind him.

"What a freakin' Killjoy! And I thought that was the Kid Cop's thing!" It was Sho who fell from the sky, now wanting to join the fray. "These flames are killing my toys! And you know what they say about Fire safety… you go put it out straight for the source!" He cracks his purposely ill timed joke while turning tail and going after Yukiko!

"Yukiko! Watch out!" Souji calls out to her as he tries to run after him

Another clash of Metal rang out, but this time it was Sumeo-Okami herself who blocked his dual swings.

"Again!? Well, I still get what I want-!" He puts more pressure on the physically weaker Persona, the flames around them starting to break apart.

"Yosuke! Use your wind to send those flames after the shadows around us!"

"Right!" He sees where this is going; compounding fire and wind makes them lethal together if you can control the direction.

"Scorching winds flow; A True Heat Wave!" A compound attack of the supercharged Maragidyne was being hit by the winds of Magarudyne from the inside, pushing outward to send the flames burning everything around them with no discrimination; all were valid targets!

"Leave my friend alone, ya creep!" Labrys was airborne, bringing down the axe, but Sho would back off.

"You freakin' toaster! Back off!" Her axe and strength were able to challenge Sho's unusually high strength.

"You bastard! You're mine!" Souji would enter the duel, his blade crossing with Sho's.

"What's this? I touch a nerve? Ahahaha, maybe I shoulda played with fire instead back in May! That weakling felt easy, but now I know! I'll mess you up where it hurts most!" He used his other blade as a thrusting tool, to push Souji back, but he was not done yet.

"Izanagi!" The Original Persona had arrived, and its gaze looked more fierce than when it last appeared for battle.

"Ohohohoho, this is the guy who won you the tournament! I've been looking forward to this!" His teeth grit, yet a wide grin was on his face, as if he enjoyed the thrill of battle more than Akihiko! "C'mon then! Come at me!"

"With pleasure!"

"Souji-kun, calm down! We gotta attack togetha!" Labrys reached out to him, but his desire to protect his beloved overpowered rationality… just like Sho was hoping for! "Tch! Why I oughta…!" She followed him with reluctance, wielding her axe a bit tighter than usual.

"Hagh!" Souji would go for a jumping attack, Sho feeling it was such an obvious pattern of attack and easy to exploit. His scars would glow red, stopping Souji from moving while he was still airborne!

"Gotcha!" Now to finish it off…

"Souji-kun!" Yukiko and Labrys exclaim simultaneously.

But someone else wasn't restrained… it was Izanagi himself, appearing now in front of the descending Souji!

"Wha-!?" Sho had little time to react against his horizontal swing, , having his blades both be parallel to his left while his right arm was angled over his head to keep it vertical.

Holding the Persona's attacks well, he pulls back for distance and then lunges after Izanagi, only for his attacks to bounce back and push his body back, turning his momentum against him!

"The hell-!? What's going on!?" His peripheral vision spots someone from his side, forcing him to move back.

Akihiko went for a hard jab, stepping forward as Sho growled in irritation.

"Son of a-! Go fist something else!" His scars' colors fade away as he swings to force Akihiko to back off, a smirk on the Boxer's face. Suddenly, Sho is frozen stiff! "What the hell!?" His body is able to shift back to where Souji was, seeing him only a few feet away.

"Let's end this!" Souji's left arm and hand were extended, his other arm folded up with the sword horizontally behind him, his elbow perpendicularly placed in front of his shoulder. There was a faded image of a tarot card holding Sho in place! With his hands now clasping the sword together, a downward vertical swing to the left would descend and slash through the card, hurting Sho without fatally cutting him down, but another card would hold him down as Souji swung in the opposite direction, a one handed swing to the left, a swing to the right, a upward swing that causes Souji to jump, and bring down another slash from above; he was striking him with a flurry of strikes that sent Sho airborne two yards in the air, Souji charged up his swing, both literally and with a bolt of electricity riding around on the blade like a circular current, a card forming into being as Sho got closer to the ground.

Slice! He struck through, leaving the Culprit writhing in electrical pain. Souji's blade was now horizontal and across from his face, his right hand pointing at Sho.

"I'll show you… Our Strength! Thunder God Dance!" Izanagi would appear one more time in front of Sho and swing skyward, slicing so hard with his Lightning blade it almost looked like it created a tear in reality itself.

"Aghh!" Sho was launched back, farther away from everyone.

"Senpai! That was so cool!" Kanji flexed in pride and admiration.

"Ohmygosh, Senpai! That was powerful!" Rise shouted, almost jumping like a fangirl.

"We're not done yet." He exhaled a heavy breath, as if his heart stopped during that entire attack sequence.

Sho landed yards away, about nearly half a football field away. But he wasn't down for long. He lifted himself off the ground, using his legs to get him up quicker via a kick towards the sky.

"You bastards! Don't think I'm out yet! Shadows! Charge with all you got! Show no mercy!" He was having fun earlier… Now, all he's seeing is red as bright as his own locks.

"Tch, there's even more than before…!" Kanji grit his teeth, his Persona using a broad swing to smash and slash them all back.

"Senpai! We won't be able to hold on for much longer…!" Naoto exclaimed, reloading her last set of ammunition into her revolver.

"She'll be here! Believe in her!" Souji readied his blade, slicing a Shadow that lunged at him, but Izanagi would be slammed by a large chunk of sharp ice from another Shadow closing in faster than he could anticipate. "Khh!"

"Souji-kun!" Yukiko would run to her lover, holding his body steady.

"That hurt…"

"Souji-kun, we need to keep fighting…!

"I know… I can stand." He shook it off as best he could, Yukiko still had a hand against his back.

"...You will not harm him, or anyone again." A heavenly, yet ignited voice would echo.

"What the shit? That's a new one! Who's here now!?" Sho would look back and forth, seeing no new Person except… two people way in the back! A green haired broad and a… normal guy? But they weren't the source of that declaration.

"It's her!" Souji exclaimed.

"You threaten my town. And for that, you shall pay! Shining Arrows!" Marie was above all of them! Way higher than anyone could reach, above even the apartment buildings!

Circles of light form around her, her Persona Kaguya appearing as they all would rain down one at a time, piercing into the ground and any Shadows that were in their range. And each one made contact with at least a shadow or two.

"Fuck! Who is this bitch!?" Sho's smiles were all gone as he dodged all that targeted him, stepping further away as more Shadows began charging at them.

"You're a pest…! All of you! I'll show you who I really am!" Her hands would raise up together, a black ball with red streaks of lightning encircling it. "My true name is Izanami-no-Mikoto…!"

"...Guys, we need to move!" Rise warned of imminent danger, that power… was off the charts!

Her body would glow as a white cloak would envelop her. Souji recalled what this was! She was using her true power! Her Divine Power!

Her body began to surge with blue lightning, the ball off dark energy surfing as both a magnet and an amplifier.

Sho was stuck in place…. For he felt fear for the first time in his life!

Move, Sho!

A thought inside his mind forced through. This wasn't his conscious, but rather something or someone else entirely pushing him. He sheathed his blades, turning around and running. This was the perfect time to follow Kagutsuchi's advice. Retreat was all he could do at this point! He can't fall here!

Her charging was complete; Marie had a fierce gaze as her eye changed to the pattern of Ameno-Sagiri.

"Oho Ikazuchi!" Lightning would strike all in front of them, the Shadows vaporizing instantly! This was divine lightning at play, their resistances and weaknesses mattered not as the Shadows would disappear as quickly as they first burst onto the scene. Fog would descend however as an after effect of her power being used. Likely to be temporary as the original source of said fog was now "under new management".

Marie's body would descend as things looked all clear from here. Her body returned back to her normal, more mortal look.

"Marie…!" Souji stepped forth, still weary from that last hard hit he took.

"Hey… welcome back. Didn't think you'd get into trouble so soon." She shrugged with a smile on her face. "You're a dumb kid."

"Yeah, a lot has been going on since I got back."

"Are you all okay?" She looked to all the others with genuine concern.

"Souji, who the hell is she? That's some insane power…!" Akihiko was for once, reeling from someone's strength.

"I'll have to tell you about it another time." He could tell Akihiko would not be ready for this surprise of a story he had on her. He does turn back to face Marie once more. "I owe Fuuka-san big time for this. I was actually a bit concerned that she couldn't find you in time, if I'm being honest." Even the stoic leader had his doubts laid bare.

"Glad I made it, but… she wasn't the one who told me."

"What? Then did you know on your own…!?" From the distance, a certain young man was barely coming into view from within the fog, not ready for the consequences of his actions.

"Uh-uh, the one behind all of you did. That weirdo told me you were in danger."

"Weirdo…?" Souji turned with a suspicious gaze, that title was too vague for everyone. As everyone looked back, they saw two silhouettes with one being obviously Fuuka… the other one however took a little longer for the others to decipher. Two young ladies were fast to figure it out.

"Masato-kun!?"

"What…!?" Souji, among the others, was surprised to see him here.

"H-Hey guys… I didn't think this is how I would be discovered." Oh, did he have some explaining to do. This was not how he was hoping everyone would find out. But the truth will always come out eventually. That eventuality just so happened to be today.

The Impostor has been caught.

A/C: How was all that? That was a crazy fun action piece, but to be honest, I still wonder if I wrote enough of the battle and its scope. I felt like I was dragging it on. And I actually wanted to split this up, cutting off when Marie was spotted, but I couldn't find a satisfying spot to cut it. So I just kept the ideas merged after. So this is Sho's debut to the entire team! His motives are going to be mostly the same, but I'm changing up the events obviously. And this conflict will drag on. He will be meddling in small to huge ways to help his "partner's" restoration of his power. Themes of Hatred are a big factor here, so we can't just have Sho go down after one chapter now, can we?

Another thing to spice up combat is Compound attacks! They're based on Fusion spells, but I like the word Compound as most will be just melding elements that work well together, like Fire and then wind as you saw with Yosuke. I'll be giving them unique names too, and some may be references! But as to how far we go with them, you'll see for yourself. Speaking of, I got one more twist to add on to the exploration stuff, but that's for the next chapter to show you.

Today's Musical reference is "The Vengeful One" by Disturbed. A band I really jammed out to back in High School, but these songs fit Sho pretty well, so we're gonna see them again for other Sho-centric chapters.

So now, the jig is up; Masato is outed. And the team is not going to take this well. How bad is this going to end up for him? What will change between his relationships with Yosuke, Yukiko, Souji, and especially Rise? You'll find out in the next chapter. Summer's only starting to heat up, you know!