Sokila wasn't present this time.
Nor was the Velvet Room, for that matter...even though the haze was familiar...
Instead, he observed a young man quietly rummaging through a dilapidated building: a music shop, from the looks of it.
"Hmm...this one has too much damage..."
He couldn't quite place the man's voice.
"...the things I do...just hope that she can be occupied for a day or two..."
There was the clatter and clanging of damaged musical equipment being pushed aside.
"Ah, found one! An Ibanez RG...model number's scuffed, but not like the girls will care..."
With a smile, the young man rested it on a jury-rigged strap, allowing it to hang off of his back.
"Now I just need to find an amp..."
The faint haze of SOMETHING (blue? Orange? Yellow?) began to brighten-
xxxx
/Friday: July 10, 2015/
/Room 23, 2nd Floor, Izanagi Dorms, Hakone Academy/
Shinji Ikari sat up with a start, blinking at the messy textbook in front of him. Wha...?
Oh. Right. He must have fallen asleep while studying. That's just great...I think I got drool on it. Grimacing, he looked over at his phone - showing a time 5:33 AM - and noticed a discreet message from a familiar source.
PILATE: GOOD MORNING, BOY.
PILATE: WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER SCENARIO OF SORTS
PILATE: AS BEFORE, YOU'LL HAVE A WEEK TO CONSIDER IT...THOUGH, GIVEN THAT THE NEW MOON IS IN SIX DAYS...
PILATE: MAYBE IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU TO BE QUICKER.
PILATE: DOES THAT SOUND GOOD?
Blinking wearily to try and get his brain to work (ha ha, you'll never catch me alive...wow, my thoughts sound weird in the morning), Shinji laboriously typed a response.
S. Ikari: sure
PILATE: EXCELLENT
PILATE: CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO
PILATE: SUPPOSE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ORDEAL UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER ENDURED BEFORE. YET IT WAS AN ORDEAL AT WHICH YOU SUCCEEDED, SAVING THE LIVES OF AN ENTIRE CITY AS A RESULT
PILATE: YOUR REWARD? TO BE SCOLDED AND YELLED AT. WHY? BECAUSE OF A TACTICAL DISAGREEMENT, WHICH COST THE LIVES OF NO ONE. NONE OF YOUR SUPERIORS CARE ABOUT YOU, WHO HAS GIVEN SO MUCH AND RECEIVED SO LITTLE IN RETURN
PILATE: SUCH IS THE PAIN OF IT THAT YOU RIDE A TRAIN FOR HOURS; YOU SLEEP IN A MOVIE THEATER; YOU WANDER THE WILDERNESS; ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN FEASIBLY THINK OF TO AVOID FACING THEM AGAIN
PILATE: SUCH IS THEIR CALLOUSNESS THAT THEY CAN HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WILLINGLY TAKE ON YOUR ORDEAL. IN THEIR EYES, YOU ARE UNNECESSARY.
PILATE: ARE YOU WITH US SO FAR?
Shinji frowned.
S. Ikari: kind of?
PILATE: NOW, WITH THIS IN MIND
PILATE: WE'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU RUN AWAY IN THIS SCENARIO.
PILATE: WE CAN CERTAINLY IMAGINE THAT YOU CAN EVENTUALLY FIND REASONS, OR PERHAPS EXCUSES, TO JUSTIFY STAYING
PILATE: TO AVOID BEING ALONE; TO "FEEL" NEEDED; TO HOPE THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER IF YOU SUFFER ENOUGH
PILATE: WE COULD GO ON.
PILATE: BUT WE ARE MORE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT WOULD FINALLY MAKE YOU DECIDE TO CUT YOUR LOSSES AND LEAVE.
PILATE: AFTER ALL, AS THOSE WHO HAVE USED YOU IN THIS SCENARIO ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU ARE NOT A NECESSITY.
...this seems...odd. Strange. Foreboding. And yet...
S. Ikari: i feel like im missing some context here
PILATE: TOO BAD.
PILATE: IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, YOU WON'T HAVE TIME TO GET ALL OF THE SPECIFIC DETAILS.
PILATE: BY CONSIDERING GENERAL PRINCIPLES FIRST, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO APPLY THEM INSTANTLY, REGARDLESS OF ANY ACCIDENTAL DIFFERENCES.
PILATE: WE SUGGEST THAT YOU LOOK UP SOMETHING CALLED THE "SUNK COST FALLACY" BEFORE GOING FORWARD.
PILATE: YOUR ANSWER WILL BE MUCH ANTICIPATED
PILATE: END OF LINE
And there was nothing else beyond that.
...huh. Now curious, Shinji did a quick search on the school's educational intranet for this 'sunk cost fallacy'; it didn't take long before he had an answer. Whispering to himself, he read, "related to plan continuation bias, it is a term used to describe the psychological phenomenon where people are more willing to proceed with a given plan or course of action the more they've previously invested into it. It doesn't have to be capital or any other monetary resource; it could even be applied to relationships..." That was...honestly rather interesting.
As Shinji quietly went into the shared bathroom to take a shower, he pondered his current circumstances; his time spent at the Academy; his burgeoning friendships; all of his bonds, in general. Is there something better for me...and I just can't see it? His initial gut reaction was to dispute that, because he was trying his best...right?
With a frustrated moan, Shinji rested his head against the slick tiles of the shower wall. I'm going to be thinking about this a while, aren't I...?
xxxx
/Gendo Ikari's Office, NERV/
Meanwhile, as Shinji pondered the applications of the "sunk cost fallacy" to his own life, one of the individuals it could apply the most to was having a rather unorthodox meeting.
After all, it wasn't every day that the Commissioner for the Anti-Terror Task Force of Japan visited.
"Egh, turn on the damn lights! Can't believe you haven't gone blind from sitting in the damn dark," complained Kinshiro Morooka as he walked in.
"Personal preference," calmly said Gendo; with a minor touch of a hidden button under his desk, the lights brightened. All told, the Commander's office was...relatively unremarkable in normal light. One certainly wouldn't have thought they were in the workplace of the head of one of the world's most powerful NGOs.
Either way, Commissioner Morooka didn't seem impressed. The buck-toothed man helped himself to an empty chair, plopping himself down without ceremony. Clad in a black suit with a white shirt and red tie, he cut a very professional image...which was immediately contradicted by his thin black bob cut of a hairdo, cantankerous expression, and the buck teeth. That he still retained such an appearance despite his position of authority was a sign that it was intentional: likely a living reminder to his subordinates that appearances could be deceiving.
"So. You seem to be running a pretty tight operation. Don't really hear much in terms of complaints from Katsuragi, and you cooperate well enough with the Task Force's Hakone contingent."
"If things are going so smoothly," remarked Gendo, keeping his hands folded in front of his face, "then why bother arranging a personal meeting?"
"Where the hell is Shiro Tokita?"
"His disappearance is a mystery, as far as we're aware," he answered without hesitation. "Law enforcement has not requested NERV's assistance in their investigation."
"Cut the shit. Nothing happens in this town without NERV knowing about it."
"You overestimate my influence," lied Gendo.
"So if I were to do a deep dive into the Metaverse and check the places you frequent, I wouldn't find it keyed to your influence and yours alone? You'll have to forgive my incredulity."
"You sound like you want to make an accusation, Commissioner."
The man huffed, reflexively letting his mental self weigh upon them both. "And if I am?"
xxxx
Leviathan snarled, gazing angrily with his imperious gaze.
Morooka's Persona saw nothing but an abyss.
xxxx
"Then it would behoove you to be specific. It's in our best interests to keep everything on the level."
Morooka snorted. "I don't begrudge the fact that your Evangelions have such power, or that they had a hand in rescuing one of our best Agents. The influence that Tokita was exerting on the Defense Ministry through his company was also too great to ignore." Left unsaid was the fact that such influence had been used against Morooka, which likely contributed to the man's anger. "I'd ignore the fact that you snapped up the JET ALONE girl were it not for the fact that Katsuragi has a bleeding heart."
"And yet you still suspect me of something."
"Hmph. Just wanted to give you a reminder to step lightly. No one's above the law in this world."
And thus do you betray your utter ignorance of the truth. "I'll keep that in mind."
Satisfied at having said his piece, Morooka stood up and promptly sauntered out, slamming the door behind him. "What a very unpleasant man," murmured Gendo without a trace of irony.
His Other snorted.
"And we're such good judges of character, aren't we?"
The sarcasm was utterly manifest.
"Who better to tell, indeed..."
Gendo didn't answer himself, because there was no need to.
By force of habit, he dimmed the lights, and once more got back to work.
xxxx
Meanwhile, outside, Misato Katsuragi visibly winced as Morooka slammed the door behind him. "...did it go that bad?"
"Eh, guy's a cryptic bastard is all. Just letting him know what I think of his mannerisms," he griped.
"...sir, are you sure you're the best one to critique anyone about mannerisms?"
"You'll have to direct your complaints to my secretary." The two began walking down the halls, making their way for the elevator.
"I swear, I have no idea how Mishima-kun puts up with you...with all due respect."
"Yuuki Mishima makes sure my official press releases are politically correct, and I in turn teach him how to be confident and full of swagger!"
Misato apparently decided to change the subject. "...so, what was your impression of meeting Gendo Ikari?"
"Like being on the verge of falling into a vortex."
"Really? I don't get that at all. It's mostly...nothing, cognitively speaking. I only get irritated whenever he opens his mouth to talk to anyone...and you didn't hear that from me."
"Yeah, yeah," remarked Morooka, filing that observation away for future reference. So, you don't feel it, huh? Which means either Ikari felt sufficiently irritated by me to let his Persona simmer...or Misato's presence isn't one that he deems a threat. Feh. "Anyhow, let's get on to the Cognitive Protection Center. I need to see how badly Akechi's mucking everything up."
"Sir, the Chief Warden's actually been doing well-"
"-and I'll be the judge of that!"
xxxx
Shinji Ikari blinked as classes let out for cleaning time. "Track's cancelled today?"
"Yeah, a bunch of regulars begged the Captain to grant the team free time for studying. He wasn't happy about it...but he understood. Eventually." Toji Suzuhara shrugged, wiping off the blackboard with a wet towel. "Which is fine by me, cause I'm meeting with my custodian and Sakamoto-san this evening to iron out some details about my new arrangement."
"Ah. Well, good luck with that." Well, my afternoon's now free...now what? As he contemplated what to do (maybe I could do a mission or two? I still have that monthly quota...), he found the Class Representative walking towards him. "Horaki-san?"
Hikari - glancing towards Suzuhara's retreating back as he left - calmly asked, "do you need assistance with studying? I'm holding a study group in the library."
Shinji thought about it...for about five seconds. "Sure."
And that's how he found himself in the library, sitting amidst various students from the second year; Hikari Horaki coordinated with a couple of other Class Representatives, running things in an orderly fashion and helping to answer questions as best as they could. (Personally, Shinji took the opportunity to renew his check-out of the old Japanese-to-English reference he had been using whilst reading Hamlet.) It was an unusual experience, being part of such a large study group; most people seemed to shy away from him when it came to answers (a possible side effect of his association with Ayanami, maybe?), but he was able to provide assistance in some fashion.
It was oddly edifying, even though he was obviously benefitting from the experience. Connections were made that had eluded him before, to the point where answers came to mind that he was sure he hadn't read about before. Huh...is this what cooperation really does...?
His Other chuckled knowingly.
"It's almost like riding a bicycle..."
He certainly felt more knowledgeable by the end of it, that was for sure...even though it seemed like Horaki-san kept finding new ways to quiz him. As the next few hours rolled on, the number of students in their impromptu study group dwindled...until finally it was just the two of them.
"I hope I haven't been too strict with you, Ikari-san," said Horaki, as she quietly gathered her own papers and study supplies. "Given your extracurricular work, I wanted to make sure you weren't falling behind."
"Thank you very much, Horaki-san," said Shinji, feeling honestly grateful. (Inwardly, he felt Kensuke would have said something cheesy like "my Knowledge definitely ranked up after this!", but that felt a tad...silly.) "It was very helpful."
The pigtailed girl glanced around the library; there was no one else to be seen. "...is Suzuhara-san okay after awakening to a Persona?"
Shinji paused, looking slowly at the Class Rep. "...huh?" How did...?
The girl quietly sat down at the table across from him, a solemn expression on her face. "I was updating records for the Student Council when I saw that Suzuhara-san's profile had been changed to reflect his status as a Persona-user. For safety reasons, so that the faculty can be aware in case anything supernatural happens." The girl paused. "After Aida-san became an intern with NERV, I wasn't surprised to see his profile eventually get updated...but to see that Suzuhara-san got a Persona? It was...surprising."
"...ah."
"It...sort of explains his change in mood he's had lately...I was unsure, because it was so sudden..." The Class Rep sighed, glancing towards the library window; the pleasant hues of the late afternoon sky were surely giving way to darkness. "...does awakening to a Persona really make such a big difference?"
"...I think it depends," cautiously answered Shinji. "I'm...really not sure how much more I can tell you. You would have to ask Suzuhara-san."
"I know," muttered Horaki, looking uncharacteristically sullen.
"...did you talk with him? You know, after you talked with me on...Tuesday, was it?" Is it really Friday already?
"...no Ikari-san, I haven't."
"How come?" he guilelessly asked. "You don't have trouble talking to him normally."
"...well...it's just..." Wait, her face was getting red.
...wait.
His Other grinned.
"Surely, you're not so dense..."
Shinji impulsively blurted out, "you like Suzuhara-san."
Hikari's pigtails flared, her eyes widening with shock. "Who told you?!" she quietly hissed.
His Other sighed.
"But alas, you still lack tact in certain things..."
"Um, no one, it's just...well, you're blushing really hard right now..."
With a frustrated whine, the Class Rep - normally so fastidious and proper, a model of manners for her peers - buried her face into her arms, looking like a stereotypically lovestruck schoolgirl. It was so 'normal' that it felt out of place.
"...I haven't told anyone," he offered as a helpful note.
"I know," muttered Hikari, sitting back up. With a frustrated huff, she rubbed her hands over her face, trying to will her emotions away. "It must seem silly..."
"Why?"
"...I don't know, but it seems silly to me. I mean, I'm fairly certain Suzuhara-san doesn't even like me in that way..."
"...well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm sure he doesn't hate you."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because I'm pretty sure he hated me when I first arrived, and he's never acted that way with you."
"...thank you for the support, Ikari-san. It...seems strange, from the outside looking in. I'm...not used to this sort of change happening so suddenly. Usually, things develop, bit by bit...because quick changes without warning is a sign that's something wrong...at least normally. But I guess that's not the case with Suzuhara-san...?" As he shook his head in the negative, the Class Rep smiled sadly. "I see...I guess I should really talk to Suzuhara-san about what he's been through...I'm just not used to a lack of control over things at school..."
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing. Forgive me." The girl gathered her effects, lightly bowing in his direction. "Thank you for indulging me with this study session."
"Ah, it wasn't a problem," he quickly answered. "It...really helped me out."
"Good." The girl gulped, unable to stop her face from flushing red. "Um...please don't tell Suzuhara-kun about my feelings."
Shinji nodded gravely. "Going behind your back would be...well, it would be mean."
"...true. Yet that wouldn't stop some people." She smiled sadly. "You're very sweet, Ikari-san."
He blinked dumbly. "...thank you?"
With a light bow, Hikari Horaki quickly made her out of the library, leaving Shinji by himself.
...well, THAT happened, he thought with a bewildered expression.
xxxx
/The Cognitive Protection Center, Tokyo-3, Metaverse/
Within the bowels of the floating fortress was a dedicated training room, which could expand in size and scope as needed.
Right now, Commissioner Morooka was providing a crash course in Persona tactics to the A.T. Agents stationed in and around Hakone. Goro Akechi, alas, had been chosen as his punching bag.
"Deadly Fury!" A monstrous tail slapped the ground, unleashing a wave of power towards Robin Hood. The beleaguered Persona leapt to the side, yet the aftershock of the blow still sent the muscular hero flying into the wall of the arena.
Akechi winced, resisting the urge to glare as various Agents went 'ooh' and 'aah' over the Commissioner's performance. If I could unleash Loki...or Hereward...or you...I'd utterly destroy this reprehensible moron...
The quiet stranger chuckled. "That would be far too inconsiderate."
"It would make me feel better."
"Fair enough."
"Let that be a lesson to you brats!" exclaimed Morooka, running a hand alongside the leathery side of his monstrous Leviathan; equivalent in size to an adult sperm whale, the red beast snorted with a long snout, looking akin to a vicious alligator with far too many teeth compared to its animal counterpart; with purple scales of spikes and mottled bumps running along the top of the spine. Yellow reptilian eyes, hidden behind a plain white mask, glared viciously at his opponent. "Lots of Archetypes and Personas with demonic appearances are normally weak to Bless skills, cause that's what people think of them. But if you consciously think about it, and really make an effort at it...you can will your Persona to evolve, and conquer its weaknesses!"
It's not that simple to simply change your cognition, snidely thought Akechi. You're setting Agents up for failure by making it seem so easy...
"Or, perhaps, he believes that his Agents will be able to persevere?"
"The Commissioner doesn't deserve the benefit of your doubt."
"Perhaps. I'm giving it anyway. It would be rude not to."
"I'm sure."
"You would be far less agitated if it had been someone else the Commissioner had chosen for his demonstration."
"Yes," Akechi readily admitted.
As the Commissioner dismissed his Persona and ordered the Agents to get back to their normal duties, Misato Katsuragi walked over towards him with an amused smirk on her face (because it was way too smug to be a mere smile), offering him a hand. "Luck of the draw, Akechi-kun."
He grimaced, muttering under his breath as he accepted the woman's hand; as his manacles clinked and clanged, the Commissioner waddled (because that slouched form didn't deserve to even be called a 'walk') over towards them, a stern expression on his face. "So, this place seems to be well-kept. Not bad, overall."
"I'm glad your opinion has improved," he calmly answered, alluding to the Commissioner's decision to keep him from searching for Katsuragi during her brief 'disappearance'.
Morooka apparently caught on, judging by his snort. "Oh please, you gathered by now that I got the screws pressed on me from up high. Not like it stopped you from trying to find Katsuragi anyway through more underhanded ways." Glancing at the woman in question, the Commissioner asked, "speaking of which, how's that pet project of yours?"
Misato blinked. "Well, it hasn't been that long, but Mana-chan's adapting well...also, could you not refer to her as a 'pet project'?"
"Until she's become a productive member of society, she's nothing but a pet project to you as far as I'm concerned. There are already enough people in the Defense Ministry barking up my ass about NERV poaching the fruits of NHCI's black project."
Misato frowned. "Wait...people are actually complaining about that? Why would they go to you when it's done under NERV's auspices?"
"Because as our liaison to NERV HQ, you represent both the A.T. Task Force and Ikari's NGO. It ain't fair, but there's enough power-hungry jerks and sleazeballs who want to use it to drive a wedge for their own purposes."
The woman huffed, resisting the urge to run a hand through her follicles (mostly because of the cloche hat she had taken to wearing over the large gap in her hair, no thanks to Tokita). "Gee, how wonderful."
Morooka turned back towards Akechi. "Any progress in finding out how Hanamura's Shadow got yoinked out of the Panopticon?"
Akechi frowned, thinking about what had happened during the last new moon. "Unfortunately, no."
"Tch. Well with the disaster that just went down in Atlanta, governments are starting to scrutinize the MAGI and the A.T. Task Force more closely. Ungrateful idiots," spat the buck-toothed Commissioner. "Now we've got this Strega group to worry about...like we don't have enough on our plate." Looking over towards Misato, the man said, "by the way, heard through the grapevine from Niijima that Ryuji Sakamoto's in town. That true?"
Misato nodded. "Yeah...he's probably going to be hanging around for awhile, from what I've heard..."
"Hmm. Then I'll arrange for a meeting with him before heading back to Tokyo-2. Some of the classified reports I've read about what went down in Atlanta might catch his attention...anyhow, I'll catch up in a minute, Katsuragi." Those words were clue enough for the woman to realize that he wanted a word alone with the Chief Warden. Nodding, Misato calmly left the training room - which had been slowly yet subtly reverting from a wide arena to its standard 'karate dojo' format as the number of Agents dwindled - to let her superior have a word. "So. Been keeping track of the events in Kyoto?"
"...vaguely," admitted Akechi. "Last I had heard, Governor Toranosuke Yoshida was still on the mend from his stroke."
"Yeah, well his condition took a rotten turn as of late last night. Poor bastard kicked the bucket this morning."
"...I see." I wonder if Joker's aware? "And that has relevance...how?"
"You know why. Yoshida's backup now holds the governorship."
"...that man has no relevance to me," he bit out.
Morooka was unimpressed by his irritation. "Tough shit. If Shido starts feeling antsy, he may start using his new leverage as a prefectural governor to get you transferred to a posting in the Kansai region. Hell, I might even be inclined to agree; your abilities are too impressive to be the Chief Warden of the CPC for a single city."
Akechi narrowed his eyes. "You gave me your word that I would be left alone."
"So long as the man never found out about you," he not so subtly reminded him. "And you're a damn idiot for thinking that the fact you became a Chief Warden at such a young age wouldn't draw curious eyes."
"...I abandoned my name. I want nothing to do with that old life."
"Well, Goro Akechi, you should have thought about that before joining the A.T. Task Force. Did you think your past was such an easy thing to drop and forget? Newsflash: the past has a nasty way of biting you in the ass when ya least expect it." With a frustrated sigh, the Commissioner said, "I gave you my warning. Just don't make me regret it." With those words said, Morooka departed.
And thus was Akechi left alone. Masayoshi Shido...hmph. That man was meaningless in this life, a mere annoyance; there were far more important things to worry about.
The quiet stranger hummed thoughtfully. "You know, Shimaru Shido isn't that bad of a name..."
"I'm not in the mood."
"There's always a silver lining."
"We have a new moon in less than a week. There'll be time to think about it later."
"You are frustrated."
"Do I not have a right to be?!"
"You may think of this unpleasant happening as a trifle...yet the trifles of life have a way of enduring."
That, Goro Akechi - legally born as Shimaru Shido - couldn't deny; despite the dire circumstances facing the world, people still found a way to live life...for good or ill.
Humanity was stubbornly resilient like that.
xxxx
END OF 7/10/2015
xxxx
Author's Note: Knowledge has grown to level 3 (from Studied to Cultivated), and Shinji's Empress Confidant (Hikari Horaki) is now at Rank 2! But of course, I'm sure most of you are more curious about a fellow we haven't heard from since June 29, 2015: Morooka!
Now, just as a brief aside: what's the deal with King, er, COMMISSIONER Moron?
He slipped into the Metaverse during 2nd Impact, awoke to his Persona, realized this new world could be subject for abuse by the "perverts and assholes" of the world, and sought to leverage his prior government worker career into this burgeoning field. After all, he wants to ensure that the next generation of Metaverse warriors is instilled with a sense of virtue!
(He's certainly not as pure as the driven snow, given that his Persona is a demonic sea monster.)
Longevity and tenure, more than anything else (beyond combat ability or the support of those he trained over the years) is why he rose to the position of Commissioner.
(It's also a position filled with paperwork and administration more than frontline missions, which means less opportunity for Morooka to work overseas. This is a plus for some in the Defense Ministry, who consider his gonkish face and brusque demeanor a bit of an embarassment on the geopolitical stage.)
(Morooka realizes this on some level and takes an almost snide sense of pleasure in succeeding despite his appearance and personality.)
But the tale of Commissioner Morooka is another story, alas.
/I had fun just slipping in Morooka quotes during his casual dialogue :V
/also, RIP Sun!Dad from P5 :(