6/19 Tu - Gekkoukan high - Class: 2-E - Afterschool

The last bell for the day rings, waking me from my afternoon nap.

"Yo, Kei-chan," Minako greets me.

"Hey, Minako," I return the greet as I rub my eyes.

"You look like death!"

"Yeah, that woman knows how to work a guy to near-death."

"What did you have to do in there?"

"Well, I went into the labyrinth and I was running away from The Reaper for about 50 minutes in total for about five floors."

"That must've been torture."

"It was because it kept using a move called Megidolaon."

"What's that move?"

"An almighty attack that could, in a sense: tear someone apart."

"That's rough."

I get up from my seat, and I look around.

"I might regret saying this, but I need your help."

"What for?"

"I'll tell you after we get everyone else." "Um, okay, totally not acting like a weirdo right now, but alright."

We both started making our way to, 2-F

Gekkoukan high, Rooftop, after school

"Alright, nobody seems to be coming up here," Yuka-chan says as she comes back from lookout.

"So, what do you want to talk about Kazuki?" Makoto asks.

"Alright, this is a serious matter, whatever is said here is not to be discussed with anyone else, understand."

"This must be serious," Yuka-chan says.

"Yeah, he was acting a bit weird when he told to ask me to get you guys," Minako tells her.

"Kazuki, what's going on?"

"You see, the thing is...umm..."

"Just say it," Minako pressures me.

"...I need dating advice!"

Everyone goes silent, no one moves a single muscle.

"...Who is it?" Yukari casually raises a question.

"Huh?"

"The girl, what is she like? Are the two of you in a serious relationship? You going steady?"

"Well, um..."

"Judging by his 'um's', it's safe to assume they are," Makoto judges.

"Yeah, they were about to get all kissy, kissy one time."

"You were the one who wanted us to do it, you airhead."

"I'm a what!?"

"Enough. Continue," Makoto allows me to speak.

"A-anyway, I said we would go on a date." Everyone nods with every word I say. It's sort of creepy. "...But you see, the problem is...I sorta might have told her we would go basically everywhere in Iwatodai."

"Kei-kun did really need to do that," Yukari asks, shaking her head in disappointment.

"I know, I know, but I was overcome with a lot of feelings, and I was in her room-"

"You been in this girl's room?"

I just made this a whole lot worse.

"Did anything romantic happen in there? Like a smooch?" Minako pervertedly says.

"N-no!"

"Why did you hesitate?"

Crap, Minako caught that!

"Was there a bit of making-out?"

Minako forms a devilish snirk.

"You know what, there wasn't, I was going to, but I didn't!"

Minako looks at me, her expression taking on a pity. Yuka-chan however...

"Kei-chan, you suck," Minako says.

"You need to tell me more, like who is this girl," Makoto asks for her identity.

"I'll tell you, but.-"

"Actually, I know who it might be."

"Huh," I utter.

"Mako-kun knows all! Also I know too."

"I don't, who is it?

"Of course, it's..."

"No, let me say it!"

I release a sigh. To be honest, I don't care to reveal this, but for some reason, I feel embarrassed.

"It's F-Fukka..."

"Are you serious!?"

"Huh, I thought it was another girl I know from the student council."

"Okay, maybe Mako-chan doesn't know all..."

"Wait, when did you two start dating?"

"While we were in Tartarus."

"Oh, I see."

This suddenly gotten a bit awkward...

"Are you gonna continue with your story, Kazuki?"

"Right, I almost forgot. Originally, I was gonna ask her if she's game to go basically around town, but then I realized something else."

"That would be?" Makoto asks.

"...I need lots of money. I got a bit, but it would only cover a fast-food order."

Makoto puts his hand on his chin. I wonder what he's thinking?

"Then I propose we go to Tartarus after school," he suggests.

"Really, are you sure you're okay with going?"

"If you're up for it Kazuki."

"Of course I am! Thanks for the help!" I get up and I bow my head. "Thank you, guys."

"No problem, lover boy," Minako teases.

"Yeah, but now when should the date be?" I bring up.

"How about Sunday?" Minako answers.

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like a bad idea, coming from an airhead," I mock.

"I'll snap your neck if you call me that again!"

"Come on guys, break it up," Makoto calms Minako down as he puts a hand on her shoulder.

I get up and make my way towards the door back into the school

"Also, you guys can't tell Fuuka about this."

"Why the hell are you looking at me!?" Minako angrily shouts.

"Because Minako, you're the type of person to either slip up or to use this information to screw with me."

"Well, fu-"

Before she finished her sentence, I close the door behind me. Okay, everything is going, now I need to prepare! Oh, I know, I'll go by the police station in the mall to go and get some new weapons, and maybe some armor?

Iwatodai dormitory - third floor - Evening

I find Yukari-chan sitting by herself on the third floor. Good, I can speak to her alone.

"Yukari-chan...can I speak to you?" I sheepishly ask of her.

"Sure, what is it Fuuka?"

"It's about Kazuki."

"Oh...really?" Yukari-chan looks kind of surprised by me mentioning his name. "So, what do you need?"

"I need some advice."

"Okay, ask away."

"Nobody else knows this, but..."

"But?"

"...But Kazuki and I are...dating."

"Oh...that's news to me," Yukari-chan feigns surprise.

"Recently, I've been conflicted about where to go with him on a date. But Kazuki told me he doesn't mind going anywhere with me, in fact, he wants to go nearly everywhere with me."

"Is it okay with you?"

"Of course."

"Then what type of advice do you need?"

"I need your opinion on how I should act."

"Well, this is Kazuki we're talking about, so I'd say you should act normal."

"Act normal?"

"Kazuki-kun is the type of guy who you can act naturally around, so I say you should just act the way you've always been acting like."

"I see. That does seem to make sense. Thank you for the advice. But what should I wear though?"

"If I'm gonna help you with that, I need to see your wardrobe."

"Um, okay."

Yukari-chan takes me by the hand and starts to lead me to my room. My face is flushed, I never thought I'd be able to do this with another girl my age. It's kind of exciting.

Second block Arqa - FL: 45

We set foot onto a new floor in Tartarus. Junpei, Minako, Makoto, and I are the four to go in.

"Watch out shadows, because the great and almighty Junpei is here."

"Is the great Jun gonna strike a home-run?"

"You know it!"

We begin to scatter around the floor. My main priority is to collect as much money as possible, so I need to be on my toes when it comes to money. My body is ready to fight any shadows that come my way.

I went around the corner of a hallway. Mako-kun is on the other side, and he's surrounded by a bunch of shadows.

"Makoto, you need help!?"

"No, it's okay Kazuki, I can handle this."

He put his Evoker to his head. "Combination attack: Justice."

A bright light shines from the ceiling; a giant hand appears with a hammer.

The hand brings down the hammer, a stream of light spread throughout the area.

The shadows weren't dead though.

"Hm, it seems it doesn't kill them but instead, it just doing some damage, interesting."

"Makoto now is not the time to be amazed!"

"Sorry, you're right."

I go after the last few shadows around him. Then, out of nowhere, a lion shadow appears. It tries to slash at me with its claws. Luckily, I'm able to block them, but this thing is tough. I guess that means I can pull out the big guns.

"All right let's do this!"

I begin to change up my energy. Focus all of it on the sword I'm using.

"I detect a large amount of energy coming from somewhere!"

"Now, let's do this!" I am readying to unleash all the energy stored in my blade. "Ocean's stre-" As I'm about to finish the name, the blade breaks, shattering into tiny pieces. "What the...What the hell happened!?"

I did everything correctly!?

"Kazuki get down! Oberon!" Following the Evoker shot, the Persona zaps everything in the area except me and Makoto. "Kazuki, are you okay?"

"Yeah...I'm fine."

I stare dumbfounded at the broken sword. What in the hell happened?

The lobby of Tartarus - Dark Hour

We all return to the lobby safe and sound. I walk over to Fuu-chan. I need to see what she detected.

"Hey, Fuuka you said you sensed something, can you tell me what it was," I ask her.

"I don't know what it was, it may have to do with the mass amount of energy it was producing."

"I see..."

"You don't think it was the Reaper, do you?"

"Who knows."

"But I should know."

"It's okay, you don't have to know everything, you just need to get us by in battle and that's it."

"But still..."

"Besides, I have a feeling it wasn't the Reaper."

"How come?"

"A gut feeling."

Mitsu-chan calls our attention from the entrance.

"All of you did good today, let us regroup back at the dorm."

Everyone begins to leave Tartarus. Well, we might as well get going, nothing else to do here, and besides, I can't call M.G. while in the Dark hour.

Iwatodai dormitory, Kei Kazuki's room, Midnight.

Midnight is here, I've taken some time to think to myself before calling M.G. I pull out my phone to call her. She gave me her number after our first training session. Told me to call her if I have any questions. Pressing the last number on the phone, I dial her number. It takes three rings for her to pick up.

"Kazuki, why are you calling," she asks in a frank manner.

"I need to ask you about something."

"Can this wait until tomorrow?"

"Why?"

"Don't fret, you'll know why soon enough."

"Pretty vague, but okay. Guess I'll hear from you then."

"You shall."

She hung up the phone. I take the phone from my ear. Why did she want to talk about it tomorrow? Maybe she just wants to hit the hay?

Gekkoukan high, Class: 2-E, Morning

Everyone in the class was talking about a specific topic; a transfer student coming being assigned to our classroom, to be honest, I'm not listening in on what exactly they're saying, but I know that it's a girl. Natsuki and Fuuka are talking to one another about the new student as well. I was a transfer student too, why didn't anyone make a big deal out of me? Wait, they did for Makoto and Minako as well, what the hell is with this!? Gah, whatever, it doesn't matter.

Ekoda-sensei enters the room with the new student; Her long, jet black hair is flowing as she walks into the room. I can hear some of the boys drooling over her.

"Settle down everyone, settle down! I'd like to introduce a new student, please introduce yourself."

"It would be my pleasure." That voice is familiar. She writes her name on the blackboard. In the end, it spelled out Shizuka Rin. She turns around to reveal herself to us. "My name is Shizuka Rin. It is a pleasure to meet you all."

No way...What is M.G. doing here!?