Disclaimer:

I do not own the story and the concepts represented in the fiction written. This fiction and all Persona-related fictions belong to Atlus, the fantastic company that created the games.

Author's Note:

Hey, everyone, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I like to think of it as the calm before the storm. Also, in the following chapters, I am experimenting a bit with my writing. You should see a noticeable difference in the next section. Lastly, as always, feedback is highly appreciated!

Comments to Reviews:

Erelia: Thanks for always reading my story and providing thought-provoking reviews. Also, I appreciate your concern for my laptop. Darn thing was old, but it was reliable. Anyways, while this chapter is short, I hope you enjoy it.

KingPlotBunny: Thanks, man, I appreciate your review and your consideration for my laptop. And, Haru walking in while Kawakami is there is hilarious! I wish I thought of that.

Prince of underbrush: Hey, thank you for the review and your kind words on my laptop. I'm glad my decision to lessen his apathy makes sense. As I continue to plan for future chapters, it's a continuous challenge to create steady growth for the character while showing that pass events (chapter 12) still weigh heavy on their mind.

Before

6/3

As with every morning, the melodious tune from her tomato-shaped alarm clock stirred Haru from her sleep. Stifling a yawn, she reached over, quieted the alarm's music, and sat up. The young woman's eyes fluttered a few times before slowly opening and taking in her room.

Haru eyed her reflection from the burgundy dresser across her bed and smiled despite her terrible bed hair. With Akio's help, Haru returned her styled hair to its natural curls and fluffiness, but this morning her left side was double the volume of her right.

Haru giggled mirthfully behind her hand. The dull and cloudy weather outside her arched window could not dampen the young woman's spirit. Everything around her seemed to glow and radiate. Leaving her bed, Haru conducted her daily ritual. As she finished prepping her hair and applying, words Akio-san had told her popped to mind.

You will never have a chance if you don't take a chance.

There was something else too, but the faithful saying eluded Haru. She moved to the small nightstand by her bed and opened the first drawer for the folded note on top. Haru picked it up carefully, folding it open, and smiled as the words imprinted themselves deeper into her mind.

Don't compromise. Reach for what you want!

Smiling brightly, the young woman hugged the note to her chest before folding it up again and securing it back in her drawer. When she exited her room and entered the kitchen area, she found Akio-san overseeing two newly hired maids as they prepared breakfast.

Noticing the madam of the estate, the head maid turned toward her, breaking her stern façade, and smiled discreetly. "Madam, good morning."

Both of the newly hired maids froze at hearing Akio-san's statement. Still, the head maid said sharply, "Do not, under any circumstances, stop in your preparation of the madam's morning meal. What would you do if it becomes contaminated?"

Both trainees fired an apology and returned to their tasks fervently.

"Apologies, madam," Akio-san stated. "If you would wait in the dining room, your meal will be ready shortly."

Haru nodded, holding back a giggle at Akio-san's stern tone, and took a seat at the long dining table. Minutes later, Akio-san arrived with French toast, tamagoyaki, fruit, and coffee.

"Will my father be joining me?" Haru asked.

"Your father is away, madam."

"Hm, did he say where he would be?"

"Apologies, madam, but I was not informed."

"Ah," Haru breathed. "A shame."

It wasn't, but she had to, at a minimum, convey some interest in her father's absence, even though it was a frequent occurrence.

"Akio-san," Haru called as the head maid was turning away.

"Yes, madam?"

"Will you…eat with me?"

"…Pardon?"

"If…it wouldn't be too much trouble. I would enjoy the company, and…I have something to tell you about, regarding…the boy."

It was as if a magic wand was waved, and Akio-san became an entirely different person. A broad smile and mischievous eyes replaced her professorial façade.

"Well, I can't stay for too long. I have to continue the training of those two girls. However, this is something that needs attention."

She maneuvered to Haru's side of the table and sat beside her. Like this, they were friends instead of maid and mistress.

"So," Akio-san urged.

Haru smiled. However, Haru did go into detail about their kiss, which she proudly told Akio-san she had initiated. She summarized her trip to the café shop Akira recommended, his temporary residence, while softening the more dramatic parts of their day.

"After everything," Haru continued, "I realized I wanted to know him better. He has so many different sides, and I find that the more I learn, the more I find myself intrigued."

Haru touches her face, her cheeks warm at the embarrassment of going into so much depth about her feelings. Luckily, Akio-san was an excellent listener, asking questions for clarification at the correct times. It made the whole emotional ordeal easier to endure.

"Nonetheless," voiced Haru, "I feel as if I'm selfish."

"Selfish?" Akio-san echoed.

"Yes," Haru affirmed. "While I want to help Akira as his school mentor, I also want us to become something more. I realize that I see him as an escape."

Haru's gaze falls to the ground with the feelings in her chest. "Akio-san…please, be honest with me. Do you think I am selfish? Do you think that I'm using him?"

The head maid doesn't hesitate to give her opinion, starting at Haru with a playful smile. "If anything, madam, I believe you aren't selfish enough. You have to start being more selfish. You have to continue as you are. Alternatively, well…you wouldn't want someone else to catch his eye?"

The look of alarm and worry in Haru's eyes was enough of an answer, as well as her sudden reach for her cell phone.

O

Akira had lost track of how long he'd be standing in the dark alleyway in Shibuya, staring at the Velvet Room door. Fortunately for him, neither Justine nor Caroline was outside of the room as they sometimes were to escort – or kick – him inside.

Akira was thankful for that. He didn't think he could enter the room as he felt lost and confused. But then, he knew he could push those feelings aside if necessary. He knew it would cost him nearly nothing to have the twins summon a few personas and create Arsene again. Akira knew this, yet he couldn't make himself take the few steps needed to reach the door.

Absent-mindlessly, the raven-haired youth reached for the center of his chest, imaging a hole from the absence of his initial persona. Again, the urge to enter the Velvet Room wormed itself in mind. He almost followed the call but felt an invisible hand creep over his shoulder and stop him in place.

Akira realized that the invisible hand was fear. A fear which brought back memories of restraints on his hands, feet, and mouth. Moreover, the creeping sensation followed a pattern: traveling up his spine, to his shoulder, and then disappearing before progressing further.

There was no rationalizing how Akira felt. He focused, reaching inside of himself, and found comfort in the existence of his many different selves. Their presence in his soul made him think he was not an empty cup, but one filled up daily. Eventually, Akira would enter the Velvet Room again, and when that time came, he would be ready. For now, that was enough.

The slight stirring from Akira's school bag caught his attention, and he looked down to see Morgana. "Akira, can we go now? You're going to miss the train."

Akira nodded and turned away from the glowing blue door in favor of the entrance to the subway. As he walked, he heard frantic whispers from Yaksini of the Empress Arcana, so he quickly donned the mask just as his phone beeped.

Akira pocketed the device and maneuvered to the side of the subway entrance, away from the increasingly crowded street. He had received a text message. The sender's identity was not a surprise to him. His persona usually stirred when it involved someone of the matching arcana, but Haru's message confused him.

It was simple. Haru wanted to meet at the rooftop after school despite not being a Tuesday or Friday when they usually met. Usually, Akira would have mulled over the invitation longer. He would have consulted his planner – which Morgana bullied him into purchasing – before making a spur-of-the-moment decision about his time. However, when he thought about his mentor and what she had said to him the previous day, he could not respond with anything other than yes.

X

Akira was scarcely prepared for the onslaught of material being taught in class. It was a struggle to make sense of the teachers' new concepts, and Akira knew he would be playing catch up in the following days. What he was not prepared for, however, was being questioned by his friends.

There was no moment in class when he did not feel Ann's worry radiating from her. Ryuji was not subtle, either. The blond nearly tackled him in the hallway for everyone to see, which did not help either of their pitiable reputations. Even Mishima, the quiet yet passionate admin of the Phan-site, asked Akira about his wellbeing.

Only after Akira had sworn to go shopping (Ann), exercise (Ryuji), and something later at night (Mishima) was he able to escape to the roof.

With an umbrella in hand, Haru was waiting for him at the top of the stairs. Akira donned Yaksini. His throat constricted at the sight of his upperclassmen when their eyes met. He realized that he had wanted to see Haru the whole day. With those realizations firmly situated in his mind, Akira shallowed the lump in his throat and closed the distance between him and Haru. What he was about to do was potentially the stupidest thing he had done since arriving in Tokyo. It was even more ridiculous than fighting monsters, jumping into peoples' minds, and stealing said peoples' distorted desires.

Even then, he had to know. Throwing caution out the metaphorical window, Akira placed a hand on Haru's hip and lower back. The umbrella in her hand fell, chattering on the floor.

She did not move to push him away. Instead, she whispered his name, then admitted, "I…wanted to see you all day."

Something warm swelled up in his chest at her words, her acceptance of him, and Akira leaned closer to do something equally as terrifying as it was exhilarating. Her mouth was warm and soft against his, robbing him of his ability to think.

6/4

Akira woke up on his day off to a text from Haru, and Morgana curled up against his face. An exclusive broadcast aired later in the day, as Akira sat on a stool in Café Leblanc, featuring Madarame. Just like with Kamoshida, the older male revealed all of his wrongdoings; Akira, enjoying a warm cup of coffee, felt satisfaction at the truth being exposed.

In the afternoon, the gang met to discuss the change of heart and their success. Yusuke was silent, understandably needing time to process the situation and its ramifications. Even he, though, was pleased with justice being served. After the meeting, Akira went shopping with Ann – not of his free will – and felt the strength of their bond increase despite the trying ordeal.

As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, Akira spotted Mishima and Ryuji huddled together by the records store, whispering conspicuously. When he approached, they turned to him with matching grins.

"What are you guys planning?" Akira asked, mildly concerned.

Mishima eagerly handed the raven-haired youth a flyer about housing cleaning services, and Ryuji enthusiastically said, "Operation Maid Watch!"