7/8 Wed - Gekkoukan high - Rooftop - Lunch
I hear footsteps approaching from the entryway with my heightened hearing. The door swings open, Kazuki is the one to appear before me. He seems rather lively despite last night.
"What book are you reading?" he opens with.
"Do you need something Kazuki?"
"I need to ask you something."
"That would be?"
"The night of the third full moon, did you see what happened!?"
"Yes." On a whim, I decided to watch his team operate. That night proved to be rather fruitful in what I wanted to see. "You're going to ask me why I didn't stop Katsu, is that correct?"
"Originally I was, but I decided not to since it's pointless to."
"That's a surprise."
"Is it really?"
The door flies open, Yamagishi walks onto the rooftop.
"Kazuki-kun," she calls for him.
"I'm here. How did you know I was here?"
"I asked around."
"What do you have in your hands Yamagishi?" M.G. points out.
"Well..."
She unwraps the bag that is in her hands.
"A bento box."
"Bento!?"
Kazuki scurries over to her, stopping right in front of her.
"Aw, man, Fuu-chan you rule!"
"Thank you."
"Hmm..."
"Is something the matter Shizuka-chan?"
"Nothing, it's just..."
"...I can just smell the goodness from here!"
There's something afoot here, that bento is emitting an odd aroma.
"M.G. you look tense," Kazuki detects my anxiety "Oh, I was just thinking something."
"Must've been something important."
"Y-Yes..."
Yamagishi opens the bento boxes, showing what one would regularly pack inside a bento. But that's it, it gives the appearance of an ordinary bento, yet not the feeling.
"Oh my god, this looks really good," Kazuki expresses utter joy.
"I hope you all enjoy it."
"You know I will."
Yamagishi hands him one and me one as well. This intense, ominous sensation
"Wow, this is so cool!"
I gaze over to Kazuki's bento. Everything is in order. The meats she packed into the bento form a heart shape. She must have put a lot of time and effort into it.
"What do you think, is the heart shape a bit too much?"
"It's great..." Yamagishi turned around and began blushing intensely, mumbling to herself as well. "Well, time to eat!"
Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I don't sense anything dangerous about Yamagishi. Perhaps I am just not used to such a thing, eating a bento from someone else. Maybe I'm permitted to relax. I open my bento and I try to smell the food in question. This foul smell it's...Foul!
"This is gonna taste good!"
My eyes dart over to Kazuki, who puts the food in his mouth.
"Kazuki, wait a moment!"
It is already too late, he swallows it down.
"What's the matter M.G.?"
"Nothing, it's nothing important."
That's odd, I'm sure that I smell something foul within the food. Maybe it is my imagination? That is until I peer at Kazuki's face.
"Kazuki-kun, are you okay?"
He fails to respond to Yamagishi's call.
"Kazuki, do feel like your organs are shutting down?"
In a silent reply, Kazuki puts down the bento and unwraps the hoodie around his waist.
"Kazuki-kun, why are you going towards the door?"
"Because I need the bathroom..."
Kazuki places his hoodie on the bench I'm sitting on, nice and neatly.
"Hey, if I don't come back for my hoodie before lunch ends, can one of you take it with you back to class. Thanks."
Kazuki races off for the door. Ah, so that's it.
"Oh, the food is not poisonous, it's just tasted terrible," I conclude.
"What!?"
"Did I say something out of line?"
Tatsumi hospital - Afterschool
Fuuka and I arrive at the hospital after school so we can talk to Mitsu-chan about Fuuka's room placement. To be honest, I don't see this going well. This feeling only intensifies as we're standing outside of her room.
"S-So, which of us should ask her?" Fuu-chan nervously asks.
"Calm down Fuu-chan. I thought of our reason...it should be good enough."
"You don't sound so confident."
"Because I'm not."
I slide open the door to find Mitsu-chan staring right at the door. Did she hear us?
"Yamagishi, Kazuki...is something the matter?"
"No, nothing's wrong," my voice cracks under the pressure "...It's just..we..."
"Is there a problem with the dorm," she questions with a level of stern in her voice.
"Not at all, all though, we do have a request for you," Fuuka's voice squeaks.
"That would be?"
It quickly grows quiet in the small hospital room. Gah, we can't be standing here all day, I'm gonna go for it!
"Screw it, I might as well say it."
"Be careful, Kazuki-kun."
Why is she telling me that n- Oh, I get it...
"Kirijo-senpai, this is going to sound...wild, but may Fuuka Yamagishi room with me?"
"Excuse me!?"
Senpai jolts up from her bed, hissing in pain the moment she did.
"Senpai, take it easy. You're still hurt!"
She lays back down on her back.
"Why would you ask me if that, you both know that it contradicts the dorm rules?"
"I know, but..."
"...He's trying to protect me!" Fuuka suddenly finishes for me.
"Excuse me Yamagishi?"
"Kazuki-kun is just trying to protect me from whoever tried to attack us the other night. We think they were targeting me because of my support abilities."
"That's it. I also promise nothing inappropriate will happen if you allow us to sleep in the same room together. So please."
We both bow our heads. I don't know what to expect from her at this moment, but I just hope it's not a tongue lashing.
"This is quite a troublesome request you two are making..." Yep, here it comes. "...However, your reasoning is acceptable."
"Does that mean yes?" I sheepishly try to confirm
"It means I'll allow this to happen."
"R-really!?"
I shoot a glance at Fuu-chan with a victory smirk on my face. I can't actually believe she said yes to our request!
"But before you leave Kazuki, a word, alone..."
Fuu-chan nods her head. "I'll wait outside for you Kazuki-kun."
She walks outside of the room, closing the door behind herself.
"Kazuki, I heard you two were attacked last night, during the operation, is that true?"
"Yeah, it is."
Mitsuru looks out the window. She looks over to where the helicopters are circling; near Shirakawa Boulevard.
"Our enemies don't care who they hurt, they'll destroy this city if they're left alone."
"I know."
"Despite the damage being limited to the hotel, I heard some people died inside the building last night." My heart skips a beat hearing that. Some people...died!? "The one is responsible for all of that destruction is nothing short of a monster!"
I felt a pain in my chest when she said that. Monster...
"Hehehe, monster, now doesn't that word sound familiar."
"Shut it!"
"Hmm, did you say something Kazuki?"
"No."
That voice is louder than it was last time. What the hell is going on with me?
"Kazuki, I also wanted to ask something else: what is your relationship with Yamagishi?"
"Our relationship...well I guess you can say we have a...intimate relationship."
"Is that so?"
"Is that a violation of the rules as well?"
"No, it's not...it's just..." Senpai gives me a serious look, it's sending shivers down my spine. "Our enemies want us dead, that much is clear now. Albeit, they seem strong, we have a few cards up our own sleeves."
"That would be?"
"You and Arisato."
I hate to admit that she's right, but she's right. Minako is a lot stronger than she was a month ago.
"But why me? You and Aki are pros?"
"You have a certain strength about you that most people don't have."
"Really?"
"Your Persona powers are nothing but a mystery to me. Even when it was half-awakened, you still managed to put up a fight. And you even don't need to use an evoker."
"When you put it like that, it makes sense."
"So I have no fears for the unforeseeable future. However, until I recover, I like for you, Yamagishi. and Arisato to not go to Tartarus."
"Got it, anything else?"
"No, I believe that's all I have to say."
"Then I'll be taking my leave."
I walk to the door out of the room. Opening it, I see Fuu-chan standing beside the door.
"Oh, before you two leave, I do have something to say about your room placement for you and Yamagishi."
That is?"
"One: You two are not to partake in any type of inappropriate actions that go beyond a kiss."
"Alright."
"Two: You two are not allowed to tell anyone about this arrangement."
"Of course we won't Kirijo-senpai."
Senpai sticks up a third finger.
"Third: If I find out that the both of you disregard these conditions, an execution will be the proper punishment for the both of you, is that understood...?" "Yes!" We both simultaneously agree to her terms. Honestly, my heart skipped several beats; she nearly killed me by just saying "Execution"
"Finally, condition four: Protect our support no matter what, is that clear?"
"It is, Kirijo-senpai!"
I give her a thumbs-up as I close the door behind us.
Iwatodai dormitory - Kazuki/Fuuka's room - Evening
I open the door to mine/Fuuka's room. I left the room so I could go change into something more comfortable. Although the room is only meant for one person to sleep in, which in itself would've been a problem if I hadn't bought a futon already. And as for clothes, were sharing one closet. But other than that, I think we're looking alright.
"Sup, Fuu-chan."
"N-Nothing!"
"Why are you so jumpy?"
"Sorry, I guess it has to do with the fact that we're sharing the same room."
I can understand the feeling, hell, it's taking everything in me to just keep my nerves. Whatever, I'll just turn on the tv, see what's on right now.
I get up from the bed, and I turn on the TV. I switch on the tv, the channel for the news is on.
"...In recent news, a hotel located in Shirakawa Boulevard, as well as other buildings near the area were destroyed due to unknown reasons. There are reports of 3 severely injured residence of the hotel, and 5 deceased. No evidence of an assailant, so until proven otherwise, this will be considered an unfortunate accident."
5 dead...That thing inside me did it, that thing caused it, and took delight in the fact that he did! I want to know what this thing is, why the hell it's in me, and why it took control of my body now.
"Fuuka, can you see something for me," I request of her.
"What is it?"
I hold my tongue before I say another word. No, this is too risky for her. Besides, I don't know if it's possible for her to even do it, and even if she can, what if it hurts her?
"You know what, forget it, it doesn't matter."
"Was it related to the thing that took over your body?"
"No."
Damn, I forgot how observant she is.
"It is, isn't it?"
"It wasn't!"
"Kazuki-kun, you don't need to lie to me. Just tell."
"It's not."
"Yes, it is, just tell me."
"I said it wasn't, Damn it!"
Realizing that I raised my voice on accident, I stare away from Fuuka.
"Oh...well then...I'm sorry Kazuki-kun...I'll go change in the girl's restroom."
Fuuka walks over to the door without glancing at me.
"Fuuka, wait!" She exits the room without stopping. "Damn!" I slam my fist on my desk. "I'm such an asshole."
Iwatodai dormitory - Kazuki/Fuuka's room - Dark Hour
Kazuki is sleeping on the futon again. I get out of the bed and I knell down in front of him.
"Kazuki-kun, I'm sorry I ran away. I didn't mean to do that. I don't want to do that ever again to you." I get inside of the futon. "I know you don't want me to do this, but..." I put my hands on his head. I began to concentrate on linking my consciousness, with his soul. "...I'll find out what that thing was."
But before I do that, I lean in forward and I kiss Kazuki-kun on the lips. I established the link towards Kazuki-kun's soul. All I need to do now is focus, and I'm in.
"When this is over, I'll apologize to you."
With my mind made up, I decide to use my ability to see into his soul. My finger touches the center of his chest, my surroundings become black, a singular building is not shrouded in darkness. An eerie, overpowering aura is coming from the top of the building.
"How dare you invade my space?"
His voice carries power in it. His tone is cold, empty, yet it has a hint of anger in it. He raises his hand slightly. My body reacts by taking me out of Kazuki-kun's soul. Waking near him, I can feel sweat rolling down my face. Its presence in there was stronger than it was out yesterday. Going back in there might prove to be fruitless; he would certainly kill me. I hug him tightly...I didn't understand how bad it was, or why he didn't want to talk about that thing, but I think I'm coming to an understanding. However, I will do anything in my power to help him, so I'll learn as much as possible!