6/20 Sa - Gekkoukan high - Class: 2-E - Afterschool
Immediately after the bell rings, I get out of my seat and I go over to Fuuka.
"Yo, Fuu-chan, can you head back to the dorm now by yourself for today?"
"Why, is something the matter?"
"I'm totally okay, I just need over somewhere after school, and I don't want you to feel like I'm dragging around."
"It's okay, I'd be glad to go shopping with you."
"You see, I..."
"Excuse me, but are Kazuki Kei?"
M.G. approaches me with a "polite girl attitude". Her hands are tucked in front of herself.
"Y-yes."
"I'm sorry...did I disturb you?"
"Not at all."
"Great, as I said before, I'm Shizuka Rin. I hope we can get along during this year together."
"I'm Yamagishi Fuuka, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise."
She then looks towards me. "I've been told by Ekoda-sensei that you could show me around the school."
"Me?"
"If you cannot, then I would understand."
Is she trying to get me alone with her? Well, that was my plan from the beginning anyway, so why not.
"No, I don't want to be rude, I'll show you around."
"Excellent, let us depart now."
I turn to Fuu-chan, giving her a curt bow.
"Sorry, but I'll see you back at the dorm."
"Um, okay, I'll see you later."
We leave 2-E for the tour around the school.
"What are you doing here," I ask her after we got away from the classroom.
"Nothing really, I came to keep an eye on you."
"Why for?"
"To monitor you."
"You just answered that already."
"Does it matter? I am not here to hurt your teammates and that is all that matters. Now that we're alone, tell me what your question is."
"When I tried to use Ocean Stream last night, I broke the blade I was using. I did everything right, so did it do that?"
"Hm, maybe the blade you used wasn't designed for large energy intake, so it shattered upon such a thing."
"So I broke it cause I used too much?"
"Indeed." So that means I can't do that without the black blade...I see. "Is that all?"
"I guess, but you do realize Minako knows about you, right? She knows what you look like."
"I leave that to you. I'll be sure to avoid her until you resolve that issue."
"Seriously?"
"Did I stutter?"
As we end up at the entrance of the school, she takes on an innocent smile that would make you think she doesn't know how to kick ass.
"From this day forward, I'll be counting on you as a classmate, okay?"
Damn, she's got her act down perfectly. Nonetheless, if she's in the same class as me, then I can keep an eye on her as well. Though, I'm kind of scared of how this will play out.
Iwatodai dormitory - Command room - Evening
I return to the dorm by myself, Aki texted me saying to come to the command room; the meeting is about the irregular shadows that appeared on the last three full moons. I was right about them appearing on those days, and Ikutsuki confirmed it. But nobody mentioned the Empress and Emperor shadows talking. Maybe I'm the only one who's able to hear them...
"I also like to point something out something else. It was reported that there are other Persona-users besides you all."
"Is that true," Aki springs up from surprise. If only he knew.
"But they don't seem to be using their Persona abilities for good, quite the opposite really."
"Do you mean they're abusing the Dark Hour!?"
"Indeed they are Mitsuru."
Ikutsuki looks over at me...
"Kazuki, weren't you attacked by one of them?"
"How did you know?"
"I was informed by Yuki, who was informed by Arisato."
That explains that then, but how much did she tell him?
"Yes, while I was stuck in Tartarus with Fuuka and in and outside the hospital. Hell, they're the reason I wounded up in the hospital."
"You serious, they're were able to beat him that badly," Jun expresses surprise. "Well, at least he's a-okay."
Mitsu-chan seems to be thinking about something judging that she has a hand below her chin.
"It is strange how he recovered so quickly...Kazuki, allow us to see the skin of one of your arms."
"Why?"
"I wish to see something."
"Um...alright."
I take off my jackets and I roll up the left sleeve of my shirt.
"Remarkable, there are no scars on your arm. Did you heal them Kazuki?" Mitsu-chan asks.
"I didn't..."
Actually, I never asked this myself, but who healed me? I never got to ask myself that since I was lost in all the action that happened at the hospital; plus, I went to sleep after Fuu-chan visited.
"Then is there another Persona user who healed him with a purpose?" Minako refers to the idea.
"There might be a possibility, but we should still be on our guard."
"Mitsuru's right, we need to train so we won't lose to anyone, Persona-user or shadow."
"You're right, we need to keep getting stronger for the next fight," I support Aki's statement.
I need to get stronger for everyone's sake and my own.
"Right, I think that's it, meeting adjourned," Ikutsuki calls for the end.
As everyone else left the room, Fuu-chan is the last person in here. Before she could exit, I grab her attention.
"Kazuki-kun, is something the matter?"
"Not really, but..."
Damn, my face is getting hot, why is it!
"Are you blushing Kazuki-kun?"
"No!"
"I think it's kinda cute," she giggles after telling me so.
"You're making it worse."
"I only said it's cute."
"That's exactly why."
I shake my head to clear my thoughts.
"All right, to the main question...Are you doing anything tomorrow?"
"No..."
"Then do you want to have that date, like I said we would? We can leave the dorm early in the morning...if it's okay with you?"
She tugs her hand behind her back, lowering her head for a moment, only to lift it to me, making us see eye-to-eye.
"I-I would like that."
"Great, then get plenty of rest, because tomorrow, we're gonna go all around the city."
"Okay!"
This is great, tomorrow is gonna be so damn exciting.
6/21 Su - Outside of the Iwatodai dormitory - Morning
"I hope this goes through."
As I was waiting for Fuuka, I'm praying to myself that the secret plan of mine would go through. It involves Shizuka's help. Hopefully, she doesn't turn it down.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kazuki-kun."
I face the entrance to the dorm to see Fuu-chan.
"So where are we heading to first?" she asks me.
"How about we go to the shrine first since it's close by."
"Okay, let's get going."
Nagaki shrine - morning
When we arrive at the shrine I look around the area. There is a playground on the left side of the entrance.
"This place is rather small."
"What was the one in Mikage-cho like?"
"The shrine wasn't an outside type of one like this, it was an inside type of shrine."
"What did it look like inside?'
"I only went inside there once - the day before I moved to the dorm."
"Oh."
"But before I prayed, there were a bunch of masks on the walls. Most of them looked the same, but one of them was different."
"What did it look like."
"There was no design at all. Although, it did have some teeth on the mouth part...they looked like fangs."
"That sounds like a rather weird mask design."
"Doesn't it?"
We went to the offertory box.
"What are you gonna pray for?" I ask her.
"We shouldn't tell each other what the other is going to be praying for."
Fuu-chan brings up a good point.
"You're right, but how much are you gonna be offering?"
"I don't have a lot of money, so I'll only be making a ¥500 offering."
"I can spot you some money."
"It's okay."
"Well then, if you're making a ¥500 offering, so will I!"
We both put in a ¥500 offering inside the box...
"God please hear our prayer..."
I start to put all my concentration into one wish: to gain the strength to protect everyone, especially Fuuka. After finishing our prayers, I look at the Fortune table before taking another step.
"Hey, you wanna draw fortunes?"
"Sure."
We walk over to the table, I wonder what type of fortune I'll get.
"You wanna go first, Fuu-chan?"
"Okay." Fuu-chan begins to dig around inside the box. "I think this is the right one." She pulls her hand out of the box.
"It's...great luck!"
"That's great! Well, looks like it's my turn."
I dig my hand into the box, I better get a good one.
I grab ahold of one of the papers and I pull my hand out.
"It says...Bad luck!"
"Sorry, Kazuki-kun."
"Why you apologizing, it's alright."
Hopefully, this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass later on.
"Well then, where to now?" Fuu-chan asks me.
"Paulownia mall."
"Okay, let's go then."
When we were about to leave the shrine, a dog comes up from the stairs, running over to us.
"Is that a-"
"Koro-chan?" Fuu-chan finishes for me, kneeling to pet the dog.
"Who?"
"Koromaru - he's a dog that comes around this shrine."
"Really."
"Come here, boy."
Koromaru comes straight over to me after I said that.
"Aren't we a smart boy?" He lets out a bark. "Wait, do you understand me?" Koro lets out another bark. "Alright, in that case, give me paw." To my amazement, he actually gave me a paw. "You can actually understand me, that's so cool!"
"Koro-chan is a smart dog."
"Ya hear that you're pretty cool koro."
I get up from the ground.
"Well, it's been cool to meet you, Koromaru, but we have to go somewhere."
"See you later Koro-chan."
He lets out another bark. I wave goodbye towards Koromaru as we go down the stairs of the shrine...
I notice that Fuu-chan gazing at the playground.
"Hey, Fuuka...Is something the matter?"
"No, nothing is wrong. It's just, I always wanted to play on this playground."
"Really, didn't you play here as a child?"
"I never had anyone to play with."
I couldn't bring words out of my mouth. Must've been pretty lonely.
"Kazuki-kun...?"
I grab Fuu-chan by the hand and I lead her to the playground.
"What are we doing?"
"We're gonna hang around the playground for a bit."
"Are you sure we won't look weird doing so?"
"Who cares. Today is only about us, so let's do this."
In the end, Fuuka is on the balancing beam while I'm on the ground, waiting to catch her if she falls.
"I don't think I got this!"
"It's okay, I got you."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
She continues to balance on the beam until I caught her when she fell.
Next, we went over to the jungle gym.
"Um...I think I'm stuck," Fuu-chan declares.
"Nah, you're fine."
"But I really think I am."
Huh, she really is. I didn't think she would get stuck in there. I try to help her out of there, however, entering it, I ended up getting stuck myself.
"You need help getting out?" Fuu-chan mimics what I asked her with a smile.
"Haha, pretty funny."
Did I forget to mention that Fuu-chan got out a minute after I got stuck?
"Okay, let me help you..." Koro barks as he approaches us. "You'll help too Koro-chan?" He barks to confirm. Now I just feel stupid.
After a couple of minutes of complicated navigation instructions, I finally got out.
"Well...that was complicated."
"Sorry."
"Hey, at least I'm out. But aside from that, you what else do you want to do here?"
"I think I'm satisfied, we should get going?"
"Are you sure?"
"I am, we won't be able to go everywhere if we don't start going."
"You got a point. Okay, let's get going."
We walk over the stairs but stop when Koro walks in front of us.
"Sorry, boy, but we need to get going."
Koro lets out a whimper
"It's okay Koro-chan. We'll come back to visit."
He lets out a bark, maybe showing that he's glad to hear that.
And with that, we began to descend the stairs. Before we were off the stairs, a thought snapped in my head.
"Wait, Fuu-chan, we forgot to tie our fortunes to the pine tree."
"That's right, let's go back."
We went back up to the shrine to tie our fortunes to the tree. The bad luck fortune made me wonder if it was about the current events going on. And that leads me to whether or not I should tell her about Philemon, and everything else. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't tell her. I don't want her to worry about that stuff, besides, I'll fight this "Nyarlathotep" thing, and his players to protect her.
Iwatodai strip mall, Evening
Leaving Hagakure ramen, I was stuffed. But before we came here, we went to most of the shops in Paulownia mall; we took some pictures, went to Karaoke, but it wasn't late enough for that nightclub to be open yet. Actually, maybe that's for the best.
"Maaaan, that was too good!"
"It really was good."
"Yeah, but it wasn't better than your singing," I say to compliment her.
I really don't think that it was a good line, but I had to try.
"R-Really?" "
You know it, you sounded amazing."
Although, she did mess up a bit, overall, she was fine.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I open it to find the message I was waiting for.
"Fuu-chan, before we head back to the dorm, let's go to one last stop."
I take her hand, walking towards the station.
"Kazuki-kun, where are we going?"
"You'll see."
It's 10, so we'll be able to get in and get out before the Dark Hour.
Gekkoukan high, Class: 2-E, Evening
We came in through an emergency door. We made our way into our classroom, needless to say, Fuu-chan gives me some worried comments about sneaking into the school at night.
"Kazuki-kun, I don't think this is a good idea."
"Don't worry, we won't get caught."
"How are you sure about that?"
"I have my ways."
"Still..."
"Trust me on this one Fuu-chan..."
As we enter our homeroom, I stand in front of the podium.
"Now, let me take attendance."
"Huh?"
"Everybody take your seats."
"What are you doing?"
"Taking attendance."
"Seriously?"
"Absolutely, now take a seat so we can begin."
Fuuka sits at her desk.
"Alright, first and only: Yamagishi Fuuka?"
"Present."
"Very good."
I walk over to Fuuka and I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Your turn."
She gets up and goes over to the podium, and I take a seat at my desk.
"I'm going to take attendance now."
"You're looking beautiful today, Yamagishi-sensei."
"S-stop it."
"I thought it was okay to pay you a compliment."
She lets out an embarrassed laugh.
"Okay, I'm taking attendants."
"Fire away."
"Kazuki Kei?"
I get out of my seat, Fuuka comes over to me. I take her hands into mine. Even when I held them today, I failed to notice that they're soft.
"Present," I tell her.
I stare deep into her eyes, as she stares into mine. There's something in me telling me to go for it. I lean my head towards hers. I closed my eyes. I feel something pressing against my lips. We were kissing... I feel like everything during this didn't matter; I don't care if we got caught, I don't care about Nyarlathotep's game, I don't care about anything else. Right now: everything is in this moment, and it feels great.
We separate our lips from each other.
"Fu-chan..."
"Yes..."
"...If it's alright with you, can I sleep with you tonight?"
"I would love that."
Her cheeks are even redder, and so were mine.
There's a light coming from the window, it's the moon.
"It's a blue moon tonight."
"Yep."
"I will never forget this moment," She whispers in my ear.
"Me neither..."
Fuuka and I make our way out of the school, hand-in-hand. Up until now, I've only wanted to protect Fuu-chan, but I don't just want to do that. I want to make her happy, in any way I can!
Iwatodai dormitory, Kazuki's room, Evening
I'm inside my room, waiting for Fu-chan to arrive. I switched out of my street clothes the minute I got in here to my loungewear. Three silent knocks are made against my door.
"Kazuki-kun, it's me," Fuu-chan says in a hushed tone. I went up to the door to let her in.
"Hey."
"Hello."
She's in front of my door with her a bag of clothes in hand. She lets her way inside my room.
"So, I guess we should...lay...on...the bed," I suggest.
"HUH!?"
"Sorry, did I say something wrong!?"
"Not at all Kazuki-kun."
"Oh, okay."
I'm a total mess right now. This is just beyond what I'm capable of handling, my heart is going a mile a minute.
"Look, let's just relax," I tell her, trying to keep a cool head.
"Mm-hm."
Fuu-chan sits her bag on my desk, then sitting right next to me on my bed.
"...Are you uncomfortable," I ask her.
"Not uncomfortable, just nervous."
"Yeah, me too."
I lay down on one end, and she goes on the other.
"Hey, Kazuki-kun."
"Yo."
"Are you sure everything is fine?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, with your battle against those Persona-users."
"Yeah, I'm fine. The cuts I got from the first one I fought are gone."
"...And I am glad, but you almost died back there. When did the fight start anyway?"
"While you were sleeping."
"I see."
I can tell from the tone of her voice that she's downcast from that. I don't want her to think she's at fault. Hmm...I got it! I turn around to see her already facing me. I get closer to her to the point where there's no personal space anymore.
"You know that energy reading you picked up in Tartarus the other day?"
"...It was you, wasn't it."
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"I was thinking about it for a while, then I realized: it felt like the same energy reading you had when you first summoned your Persona fully."
"You really are smart, you know that."
"But...what were you doing with that much energy?"
"I was gonna do something amazing."
"Did you do it before?"
"I did, but I don't got it down yet. But I'll show you when I'm able to use it more effectively."
"Okay, I'll be waiting until then."
I'm starting to feel tired.
"We should probably sleep in for the night."
I felt a hand clasp mine. "Goodnight, Fuu-chan." "Goodnight, Kazuki-kun"
I feel Fuuka's head on my chest. This feels right. I just hope we don't get caught.
Iwatodai station - Midnight
It's late night, Makoto and I are sitting on a bench near the station. We notice the blue moon that's out for tonight. Sure is beautiful.
"So, how was it Minako," he asks me.
"It was the best! Dude, I can't believe the movies are open this late though."
"I'm surprised as well. Still, though, we could've watched that action movie."
"Nah, it's cool, I'm fine watching whatever you want to watch."
"Why, you clearly weren't paying attention to it."
"I know...it's just I like when your happy, so even if I don't like it that's fine with me."
"Why?"
I get up from the bench, walking around in front of him.
"Because...Well...I..."
Damn it, this is so embarrassing! No, actually, why is it, I don't know why I should feel embarrassed about how I feel?
"Okay, if you want to know, I'll tell you. You're the only reason I can be happy."
"How so?"
"...You might know this by now, but I was a miserable girl back in the orphanage. Losing my parents was a shock to me, so much that it kind of killed most of my emotions or at least parts of them. I still had suppressed negative emotions rattling inside me, but not enough to make me...well, give up on life, but at the same time, I didn't care much for mine either, so I was on neither living nor dying; I just existed."
"I never knew you felt that way."
"That's what I wanted. This continued for an entire year until you came to the orphanage. I knew you were different, I knew that there was something about you, but that wasn't enough for me to talk to you. But as you know, you came to me, showing me a gentle, warm feeling I haven't felt. It was unforgettable. You gave me life, and ever since then, I promised that I would do whatever it took to make you happy...I'd sacrifice anything for you because I..."
Just then, the Dark Hour hit. The street lights are off, the world takes on a dirty green hue, and blood appears from nowhere. I'm still not used to this yet.
"Seems like we should be on our way." Makoto gets up from the bench. He approaches me, hugging me when he closed." "I care for you as well, you're like a sister to me. I'm glad you care for me that much."
Hearing him call me a sister is a bit disheartening, but as long as I can make him happy in any way, even if I'm not in the picture, that's fine. His happiness is mine as well. So I'll keep this to myself to not inconvenience him.
Makoto lets out a gasp. "Move," he shouts as he pushes me back. A few seconds later, somebody lands where we were standing. I land on my butt while Makoto is still on his feet.
"Damn, I missed," the mystery assailant says with an irritated tone. His speech is abnormal, maniacal even. He's wearing a dirty, tattered jacket that covers his whole body. A paper bag covers his face. He rises with a single-handed sword.
"Which one of ya is Yuki Makoto?"
I immediately go in for the attack. However, when I got close, the enemy swiped his sword my way. I duck to avoid it but he kicked me right in the chest. I can feel the air leaving my lungs, forcing me to take in larger breaths. Despite what feels like a chest-shattering kick, I get up to help Makoto.
"Makoto, are you okay!?"
"I am! Minako, you need to run!"
"No way, not a chance in hell!"
Right when I take a single step forward, I sense a dreadful presence. I wanted to look behind me, but a primordial sense of fear; it's making me not turn my head to face out of fear of it killing me!
"Sleep," The presence commands me, and with no resistance on my part, I immediately fall to sleep. I don't care if I'm killed, but if Makoto can escape then I'd be glad.