"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence. Overbearing silence engulfed every corner of the room. Not even a cricket made a sound. Yu furrowed his brow.

"Uh...", Yu started, breaking the silence. "Does no one have anything to say?"

"Not particularly", answered Tadano, a newcomer to the room.

"I'm with him. What are we supposed to say? It's been like, 2 years since we've even seen each other.", Demi-Fiend responded.

"Yeah I wonder who's fault that is.", Ren spoke up, glaring at Demi-Fiend in particular, who shrugged in response. "Be thankful that ATLUS has decided to give you another chance with us.

"Yeah I feel so lucky and grateful.", Demi-fiend said, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his tone.

Ren scoffed. "Anyway the part about not seeing each other isn't even true, us Persona protagonists have seen each other plenty for the 25th anniversary events."

"Yeah just to pose for photo shoots. The only "worthwhile" thing that was announced was the ports of the modern Persona games, the rest was garbage no one cares about."

Yu perked up at that. "What about the Persona 4 Arena Ultimax remaster?"

"Yeah so like I said, garbage no one cares about."

Yu slouched into his chair and made a 'hmph' sound. "You know you could stand to be less of an asshole about things."

Ren smiled and nodded. "Exactly. You know Demi-fiend, its not very healthy to lash out at others just for being more popular than you, why I could-"

"Aaaaaannnnyway", Demi-fiend hurriedly cut him off, "Lets talk about someone I do want to see. Where the hell is the emo? Usually you guys make up the "golden trio" wherever you three go."

"Just like Persona 4 Golden...", Yu whispered cheekily like he had said something funny (he hadn't), and then opted to answer the question, only to find his mouth clamped shut immediately by Ren's hand.

"Mph!?"

"Uhhhhh how about we switch topics yeah? I heard the uh, Shin Megami Tensei 30th anniversary event was this year?"

Demi-fiend narrowed his eyes and looked to question the sudden change in topic, but Nahobino jumped in before he could. "Oh yeah, it was really cool to hear all the music of all the games and review our series' history-"

"Boring!", Demi-fiend rudely interrupted. "There were no new game announcements, or really anything that's actually exciting."

"Um, well it was recently announced that something related to SMTV is going to be released soon so-", Nahobino started, but was once again interrupted by the sounds of loud, exaggerated snoring coming from Demi-Fiend, Yu, and Tadano.

"Yeah, sure, reaal interest stuff there 'beano." Demi-fiend muttered, stifling a yawn.

Nahobino pouted. "Hmph! Well you guys are just haters!"

Yu shrugged. "Sorry man, but unless its the 15th Persona 4 spin-off, I'm just not invested.", while Tadano frowned. "Yeah well maybe I would have more respect if SMTV was a good game."

"Just a wait a-", Nahobino said, looking to refute that last remark, but Tadano continued to talk over him. "...and if Strange Journey was acknowledged. Like at all. Its a mainline game dammit, and yet its gotten neither any promo art nor was it even part of the concert."

"Eh to be fair, SJ's music isn't that exciting. You could get the same experience from going to the opera.", Ren reasoned, prompting Tadano to scoff in kind.

"Yeah, well, not the music's fault for the audience's lack of taste. It still deserved to be there more than fucking if... at any rate."

"Thats true." A voice rang out behind them, making everyone turn in its direction.

"What the... you guys?"

Sho raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, us." Aleph raised a hand in greeting, then returned to focusing on the magazine he was reading.

"Since when did you guys get here?"

"Uh, I dont know, how about last time we were all gathered here? Did you really not notice us?"

"Why the hell didn't you say anything then?"

"We simply weren't interested in your conversation back then." Aleph answered.

"But now we," Aleph shrugged at this "Ok now I am interested. SMT if... being part of the concert was so dumb. It stole practically all of the soundtrack from our games. Mostly Aleph's though." He finished, jabbing a finger in Aleph's direction.

"To be fair, if... was made only a few months after SMT 2.

Sho nodded. "That is true. However, I like being petty." A sentiment that Demi-fiend in particular agreed with, nodding in support.

"Why isnt the if... guy, girl, whatever their name is, here?", Ren inquired.

Tadano answered. "Because no one likes if..., except the people who watched the Marsh video, but they're disqualified."

"Her name is Tamaki.", Sho supplied, "but yeah no one really likes if...; it has no narrative, bad mechanics, the dungeons, especially...", he shuddered, "domain of sloth and envy... suck balls, and its status as 'Persona 0' and simulateously a mainline game doesnt give it much love from either side of the fanbase. Plus.." he leaned forward to not so quietly whisper: "She married one of the devs self-insert..."

Everyone flinched in disgust, making Ren frown. "Hey now, I don't think we should judge the love of others so harshly...", earning a glare from Tadano.

"Son, you can date 4 separate adults, one of them being your own teacher. I don't think you're in any position to speak on what love is or isn't weird.", eliciting a flushed face from Ren and a snicker from Demi-fiend.

Aleph made a face. "Yeah her choice in romance is... strange, but regardless I just think its better to live and let go. Turn the other cheek so to speak."

"So you just don't care."

"Yeah not really."

Demi-fiend let out a chuckle. "You sound like the emo." Pausing at his words, he slowly turned back to the two Persona protagonists. "Hey, you never did answer where he even is."

"Err, so about uh, Soul Hackers 2-", Ren started, but a snore that came from simultaneously everyone in the room (Even Aleph, though he tried to regain his bearings quickly so as to not seem too biased) erupted as a result.

"We, do not care.", Demi-fiend yawned, before quickly snapping out of it. "Now answer the damn question. Where is he!?"

"Uhhhm...", he looked around desperately for some kind of escape, and both an opportunity and a danger presented itself to him as the door to the establishment opened, revealing none other than Minato Arisato himself... along with his fellow Persona 3 protagonist, Hamuko.

"Ugh that conference was soooo long... and it sucked too!", Hamuko complained before pushing Sho out of his seat.

Ignoring the indignant "Hey!" from Sho, Minato plopped down into his own seat. "Meh, it was whatever."

Forgetting about the four-eyes behind him, Demi-fiend grinned at his friend. "Well if it isnt the man of the hour! Where the hell were you?"

"Ren didn't tell you?"

"No, purposely in fact.", he narrowed his eyes at Ren, who was desperately shaking his head to Minato, clearly wanting him not to reveal the truth. Minato, of course, did not care, and so obliged the Demi-fiend. "I-", "and me!", Hamuko cut in, recieving an eye roll from the male. "And her, were at the conference for Persona 3 Reload."

"Persona 3... Reload?"

"Yup."

"So is this like a spinoff or-"

"No, its a remake."

Gritting his teeth, Demi-fiend groaned, "Of course, of fucking course! The special persona kids always get the good stuff from ATLUS! Wasn't enough that you guys got remasters literally this year, you guys needed more!"

Ren face palmed. "See? This is exactly why I didn't want you to know. Your undying jealous-"

"Shut up before we get a repeat of what happened last time you pissed me off.", the fiend growled, earning the desired silence from the bespectabled teenager.

Minato shrugged. "Hey it wasnt my decision. Suprised you weren't there Ren, yet another Persona 5 spinoff-", Minato paused at the groan that echoed through the room, "was announced."

"Oh you mean Persona 5 Tactica? I already knew it was going to be announced, its why I opted not to go to the conference." Ren said smugly.

"Ah I see. Maybe it's better that way, so you wouldn't have to be devastated when you saw no one react to it.", Minato casually, earning a distraught "What!?" from the phantom thief.

"Yeah no one cares about P5 anymore bro." Yu shrugged. "There's only so many spinoffs and promotions you can get before the audience loses interest. Besides for Persona 4 of course."

The Demi-fiend smirked. "Well, thats good at least, people finally getting over that overrated game. Now about that Persona 3 Remake..."

Tadano sighed. "Knowing ATLUS they're going to ruin it somehow by changing or added something unnecessary."

Nahobino put on a reassuring smile. "Dont listen to them guys, they just hate on everything. Even though I'm not exactly..." he faltered for a second, "...fond of Persona 5, I'm sure the games will be good!"

Unfortunately, Hamuko put an end to his reassurance by saying, "No its gunna suck."

"Huh?"

"Its just like Space Marine said, they made unnecessary changes and it sucks!"

"Like what?"

"I'm not in the game! What kind of remake doesn't have me in it! Oh and also The Answer. I guess."

Tadano started stroking his chin. "Hm, maybe this remake won't be so bad then..."

"Grrr, screw you!", she shot back, "The fans have wanted a definitive version of P3 for years, and when the opportunity finally presents itself, they waste it!"

"Hm, maybe its going to be a DLC expansion."

"Ah yes, that would certainly make it better."

"Wouldn't put it past ATLUS.", Tadano concluded cynically.

"Well... it makes sense logically.", Sho proposed. "The Answer is very unpopular, people only like it for the cutscenes, and putting in Femc is like a whole game by itself."

"Grr, I don't care about the logic I want my attention!"

"Oh well, sucks to suck.", Demi-fiend said insincerely. "Speaking of The Answer, why isn't Robot girlfriend with you?"

"She went back to the dorm, no doubt to sulk about The Answer being cut."

"So instead of comforting her in her time of need, you went to bitch and moan to us."

"Pssh, you could say the same to Mr. popular here", she nodded her head in Minato's direction. Minato attempted to placate to her, saying, "I sent her a text asking if she's fine."

"What'd she say."

"I am fine."

"Thats it?"

"Yeah."

"Oh you moron, clearly shes upset and doesn't want to bother you with her troubles!"

Minato quirked up an eyebrow. "Aigis isn't one to be subtle."

"No you don't understand women like I do. I can see through such subtle misdirection."

"Yeah yeah thats nice but I'm not interested in your complicated love life.", Demi-fiend cut them off. "Except of course if you want to talk about my successful love life."

"I'm sure its very fullfilling Naoki.", Minato sacastically said. If Demi-fiend noticed his tone, he didn't bother calling him out, and instead took the opportunity to discuss his beloved Pixie.

"Oh brother", Sho said. "This is going to last a while isn't?" Ren responded with a resigned "Yep."

"Of course even after all the years, our love is still strong. Inferior idiots just say to fuse her away but only a real blah blah blah-", he continued on, boring the occupants of the room to death.

"Bleh, she wasn't that strong when I faced her in the dlc..." Nahobino mumbled under his breath. Unfortunately, it seems he wasn't quiet enough, as the Demi-fiend stopped and looked straight at the godly fusion, freezing him in place, and by extension everyone else, who knew what was going to happen next. "What did you just say?...", Demi-fiend asked darkly.

Minato, not wanting to deal with the same righteous Demi-fiend rage again, thought it best to stand up and start taking his leave. "Well guys, it was an okayish time we had here, but I think its time I left. You know, to comfort my totally and uncharacteristically distressed girlfriend.", he explained, glancing at Hamuko for the last part, who scowled at her male counterpart but nonetheless got up to follow him.

"Sure see ya later...", he half-heartedly waved goodbye, about to advance onto a trembling Nahobino.

However, right after the two protagonists left through the door...

BANG!

The deafening sound of a gunshot cut through the air, following the thud of a body and the panicked shriek of Hamuko.

Everyone stared at each other stunned and then rushed out the door. On the concrete floor was Minato's body, with Hamuko kneeling over him and shaking.

"Holy shit!"

"What the fuck!?"

"Oh my God!"

"Whuh, whuh, what just...", Nahobino stammered, while Demi-fiend frantically looked around for a possible assailant, but the cover of the night's darkness limited any perception and so any chance of catching sight of the assailant in the empty street.

"We just... just.. w-walked out and then there was a sound and then Minato fell and i couldn't doanythingandI-", Hamuko's explanation started getting more and more frantic which lead to her hyperventilating, forcing Sho and Aleph to, somewhat awkwardly, try to soothe and comfort her.

"Hey, uh... try not to feel too-", Sho stopped at the dangerous look on Aleph's face. He sighed. "Yeah sorry, not the time."

"Did you see who did this?", he questioned, to which Hamuko despondently shook her head. Demi-fiend angrily kicked the air and looked down on his friend's body. "Minato..."

Yu squatted down reached out to him. "Minato... bro... say something..."

"..."

"..."

"...I think my phone's broken."

"Huh?"

Everyone stared dumbfounded as Minato, who was very much alive, sat up a little and started acting like he always did: apathetic to the situation.

He gazed at his phone, whose screen was splintered in every which way imaginable. "...Now I gotta get a new phone- Hrk!", he suddenly grunted as Hamuko threw herself at him in tears.

"You, *sniff*, ass! You just survived an assassination attempt, and you're worried about your phone!?"

"How the hell did you even survive that? Now that I look at you more clearly, you don't even have any wounds?", Sho inquired, leaving Minato to continue on with his nonchalant tone. "Messiah learns absorb pierce. Thankfully, I had him equipped today. Honestly, I'm trying to distract myself from the fact that one slightly different decision today could've resulted in my death, so I would prefer it if I didn't have to acknowledge that." He paused. "Which I just did. Great." With that, he closed his eyes and lay back onto the floor. "You guys can handle the rest of this mess; I suddenly don't feel like doing anything anymore."

Everyone looked at one another worriedly.

"Arisato...", Ren began softly.

"Hm?"

"Is this going to cause any problems in your schedule? Since ATLUS is going to rely on you to back most of the advertising of Persona 3 Reload-"

"Ren. Shut the fuck up."

"...Ok."

TO BE CONTINUED


So hi! In case you were one of the original people who viewed my fics a few years ago this chapter has been a long time coming. Unfortunately I wasn't really happy with how some of my fics came out, and as a result I felt like whatever I wrote wasn't good enough, so I didn't write at all. Recently I've been feeling creative again, and I feel confident enough to create stuff that I'm sure you will enjoy reading, and that I will enjoy writing. (I say this like I have a dedicated audience or something lol). Regardless, hope you look forward to whatever else I write if you liked it :).