Sokila was playing with her toes.
"You've met a lot of people, recently."
Her yellow eyes shined with optimism.
"I wonder if this is what life was like, meeting new people?"
She leaned back, wiggling her toes at him.
"I wonder how many friends you'll make..."
The faint haze of blue began to brighten-
xxxx
/Tuesday: June 9, 2015/
/Room 23, 2nd Floor, Izanagi Dorms, Hakone Academy/
Shinji Ikari slowly woke up, staring at the underside of Nagisa's top bunk. Another unfamiliar ceiling...technically speaking. He also felt vaguely warm and sweaty...oh. Right. He had fallen asleep in his school uniform. That would explain it. I guess it's what I get for being so tired...at least I've got spares. He rolled over, coming face-to-face with someone who was right there-! "AAAAAAGGH!" Bolting awake, Shinji backed away, slamming into the wall. "What are you d-doing-?!"
"Waiting for our new roommate to wake up, obviously," answered the glasses-wearing boy; now that Shinji had a better look, it was the Aida kid from homeroom. "So, the mysterious transfer student ends up in our dorm room...some would say that it's a mere coincidence..."
"It absolutely is, Ken," groused another boy that Shinji recognized from Class 2-A, one with more tanned skin and a more muscular physique; he was in the middle of buttoning-up his shirt, chewing on a protein bar absentmindedly.
"...but those who say such things are merely deluded by their lack of imagination!" finished the boy with a boisterous flourish. "The name's Kensuke Aida."
"Toji Suzuhara," grunted the taller boy.
"...I'm Shinji Ikari," he blurted out, and then he felt foolish, because he had just introduced himself in class yesterday-!
"And I'm Kaworu Nagisa!" chirped the silver-haired youth from within the bathroom, overpowering the drone of a hairdryer.
"We already know, Nagisa," retorted Toji.
"But everyone else was doing it, Toji-kun!"
"...all of my roommates are weirdos, I swear..." Toji sent a detached look Shinji's way. "Just don't touch my stuff, and we'll be good."
"Er...okay..." Shinji nodded dumbly, turning back towards Aida, who was fiddling with a rather familiar phone and hey wait a minute. "T-that's my phone..."
"Just adding some important numbers to your contacts and done!" Kensuke tossed the phone to Shinji, and then whipped out his own cell phone, which was decidedly thicker and with a larger screen. "Now I can do this!" His fingers were a blur on his screen.
Shinji's phone buzzed, and he impulsively looked down at it: the envelope icon was bouncing. Clicking it opened a smaller chat window.
-The Room 23 Group-
KA: You are now a part of our collective!
KA: This way, we denizens of Room 23 can communicate effectively!
SI: okay?
"Aw, dammit Ken, why'd you have to give him my number?" groused Toji.
KA: You can't resist, Toji!
TS: fine dammit im joining you happy now
KA: Immensely!
Shinji felt strangely mollified by Toji's poor punctuation.
KN: Now I can also text Shinji-kun.
KN: yaaaaaay (^w^)
KN: now we are all truly roommates
TS: you're all frickin nuts. tomochika was **normal**
KA: A truly low blow! As a fellow teenager, you are equally weird in ways that are merely more typical and mundane!
KN: I think we're all perfectly normal! :)
KN: Kensuke-kun, what is an acceptable term for "normal people"?
KA: Normies!
KN: then I think we're all absolute paragons among Normies.
TS: seriously ken why do you encourage him
KA: Because you being a killjoy is getting old.
SI: who's tomochika?
And just like that, the jovial atmosphere of four teenage boys texting each other while simultaneously being within conversational distance died like a terminal cancer patient with gunshot wounds. "...no one you'd know," grumbled Toji, grabbing a tote bag and stomping towards the door. "See y'all in homeroom."
KN: but I'm not in Class 2-A. I'm in Class 2-E. ('~')
KN: such a cruel world
KA: Toji already left, Nagisa-kun.
KN: but he still has his phone, right?
KA: He probably won't look at it until he cools off.
TS: you all suck
KA: That was quick! :3
SI: whatever i said, i'm sorry
TS: ...whatever
"Don't mind Toji, he's been in an odd place since our...former roommate passed away." Kensuke awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "He'll warm up to you eventually, so don't take anything he says personally!"
"...if you say so." It certainly sounded and felt personal.
"Does anyone else need the hairdryer?" called Nagisa from the bathroom. "I am almost finished!"
"I think we'll be fine!" called Aida.
"Just thought I'd ask!"
...living with other people is hard, mused Shinji, wiping his eyes wearily. It was way too early to feel this tired.
And so began his second day at Hakone Academy.
xxxx
The second period class went on, with students taking notes as their mathematics instructor lectured.
"-being able to analyze data is not enough; one must be able to take the data and present it in a usable form, so that others may be able to more easily understand it and use it." Maya Ibuki, a slender woman with short brown hair and an amiable expression, rapidly created an x-y graph on the blackboard, dotting in several points at various points. "Scatter plots are some of the most rudimentary yet functional methods of visualizing discrete data based on two variables." She jotted down certain integers by the vertical and horizontal axes. "And one of the ways we seek to visualize the data is to tease patterns out of our observations, so that one can try and make predictions. Ikari-kun?"
Shinji, who had been quietly writing down in his notebook, jolted out of surprise. He was being called on already? "Er, yes sensei?"
Maya Ibuki gestured toward her graph on the board. "Based on the points from this scatter plot, what would be a good example of a linear equation that fits the data, using only integers?"
He blinked, staring intently at the graph. There were seven points overall, and the points appeared to increase twice as far vertically as they did horizontally...at least five points actually appeared to match up perfectly to the equation he had in mind. "Um, y equals 2 times x?"
Ibuki-sensei nodded sagely. "Very good, Ikari-kun."
Shinji mentally sighed. Okay, that wasn't too bad...
"Of course, a lot of what one can tell from a scatter plot also depends on where the data came from, and how we interpret it. For example," she wrote Cabbages beside the y-axis and Turnips underneath the x-axis, adding, "based on y = 2x, a rudimentary explanation of the data would be that there are twice as many cabbages as there are turnips. But there could be other interpretations, based on where the data came from. Suzuhara-kun?"
"Uh, yes?"
Ibuki briefly huffed at the blunt response. "What would be an example of a different explanation of the data?"
"...um...that cabbages are twice as tasty as turnips?"
The jocular answer, for all that it inspired several students to chuckle to themselves, was actually enough to get a nod from the woman. "It's certainly a reasonable one, Suzuhara-kun! The data on this scatter plot may have come from a restaurant poll, with the proprietors trying to figure out what their customers want more of. Knowledge of where your data came from and what you're measuring is as essential as trying to analyze and visualize it. After all, you can have all sorts of snazzy visuals and crisp graphs: it won't mean anything if the data's junk. Now, for another example-"
And so classes continued.
xxxx
Shinji Ikari looked up from the day's lunch - a bowl of udon soup, one relatively plain sushi roll, some pickled cabbage, a few apple slices, and the carton of milk - as another desk was dragged in front of his. "...hello."
Kensuke Aida sat down, the reflection of light from the nearby window making his glasses appear somewhat opaque. Were it not for the confident and boyish smirk, Aida would have gotten decent marks for a 'Gendo Ikari impression'. "Hello, Ikari-san." Then he folded his hands underneath his chin. Now Aida just needed some white gloves, and he would have gotten high marks all around. "So...how has Hakone been treating you?"
"...okay, I guess."
"Good...what exactly inspired you to transfer to our humble little academy in harmless, unassuming, not very interesting Tokyo-3?"
For some reason, Shinji felt like he was being set up. "...nothing much, I guess..." he murmured, slowly chewing some pickled cabbage. He wasn't exactly keen on telling a relative stranger that he had come here solely because of a redacted letter with a single word scrawled on it.
"That so?" Aida seemed inordinately pleased by his answer. "You're kind of reluctant to talk about yourself, aren't ya?"
Shinji decided to not respond. Mostly because he didn't trust himself to stay polite (seriously, was Kensuke going out of his way to be creepy?), and talking felt like a bad idea right now, especially when it seemed that every single thing he said gave Aida an impression he wasn't quite sure he liked.
"I get it, I get it; new place, new peers, one slightly unfriendly roommate, one way too friendly roommate...growing pains, you know?"
"...I guess?" Had someone put Kensuke up to this?
"And that's why I'm just the guy to help break the ice. See, there's a little something I want to show you after school. At my place. Nothing big or fancy, trust me; but I think, given your particular background and skill set...I think you'll find it very intriguing."
...what background?! What skill set?! "Uh..."
"It'll be a quick bus ride from the Academy, it won't take long at all, if homework's what you're worried about. Toji won't really mind, since he's been spending a lot of time at the track lately, and Nagisa...well, he's Nagisa. He has his own thing. Heck, I'll even spot you for a meal! Sounds like a great deal, wouldn't you say?"
"...I...guess...?" What was he doing? WHY WAS HE AGREEING?! "...do I need to bring anything...?"
Kensuke's smile widened. "Don't worry, Ikari-san...you just bring yourself. That'll be all you need!" And just like that, Aida continued devouring his lunch.
...what have I signed up for? Shinji robotically ate another piece of his sushi roll. Well...at least he's offered to buy dinner...so, at least that's a positive?
xxxx
Shinji's second day at Hakone Academy came to an end, and sure enough, he was proverbially whisked away by Kensuke Aida...well, no, that wasn't accurate. Aida had just moved with a sense of excitable energy, and he had followed along because he had said he would. It's not like he had anything better to do...at least, not until NERV finally called to collect their due and that just sounded depressing.
These thoughts percolated in his mind as they rode the public bus to the apartment blocks that sat in tight clusters to along Lake Ashi's western shores. At least the view's nice, thought Shinji with a sense of casual acceptance, as if commenting on the weather or the geography was all he could muster the energy for. Maybe he was just saving himself for whatever crazy thing Aida was wanting to show him?
Yeah, that sounded good. Speaking of which...the bespectacled boy had been rather quiet during the trip, sitting with a sense of nervous energy. Was he psyching himself up? Was he that anxious? Shinji had no idea why; it wasn't like he was that big of a deal...Evangelion and other things aside...
xxxx
A sardonic chuckle, knowing and...rueful?
"How often you wished that you weren't anyone special..."
The chuckle suddenly stopped.
"And yet you chose nonetheless, in spite of yourself...correct?"
xxxx
A sense of weary resolve settled in Shinji's gut as he followed Kensuke up the stairs to his apartment. He impulsively went to remove his shoes upon entering-
"Leave them on."
"Eh?"
Aida was looking back at him with a barely-restrained expression of...apprehensive glee? Joyous jitters? "We might need them where we're going."
"...where are we going?"
"Oh, I think you know. I get why you probably don't like talking about it, but it's why I wanted you to come along, right?"
...what is he talking about?! Shinji could have asked some important questions. Probably should have. And yet, instead of asking, he followed Kensuke into his room, blinking and marveling at the clutter of computers and tech occupying what appeared to be an entire wall. Of pride and place was the large flat screen television that sat at about waist height. "...that's a lot of stuff."
"Yeah...it is, ain't it?" Aida inhaled. Exhaled. Trying to calm himself down, but for what? "Dad thinks it's just a hobby...I guess it started that way...but if it'll help me get what I want, then maybe...ah, I'm rambling now. Sorry. Kinda nervous."
"...why?"
Aida actually grinned. "Man, you're just a stone-cold kinda guy, aren't ya? But hey, this is all second nature to ya, right?. I bet the things you've seen are crazy."
Shinji blinked dumbly.
His lack of a response only seemed to encourage his roommate, bizarrely enough. "Now...to take the plunge." Kensuke turned on his large TV monitor, stepping back as it slowly flickered on, glowing brightly. To Shinji's surprise, Kensuke actually wrapped his right arm around his shoulders, gripping tightly and ouch it was actually kind of hurting. "Sorry. Emotional support. I'm actually really nervous."
"...why?" he asked, now insistent. The thought that maybe Kensuke Aida was kind of crazy finally hit him, but he was just a junior high schooler, there was surely nothing to worry about, right-?
Then the television spoke. "Cognitive tunneling: permitted."
Shinji's eyes widened. That voice, it was like when Misato had-!
"Well, here we go. Please take care of me, senpai!" exclaimed Aida.
Strangely, it was that exclamation which finally got Shinji to ask a question. "Wait a minute, how am I your senpai, we're in the same grade-!"
His question was cut off as Kensuke Aida all but dragged him along, falling into the television WHAT WAS HAPPENING-?!
And just like that, the two teenagers had vanished from reality.
xxxx
Elsewhere within the real world, Rei Ayanami suddenly paused, having been walking aimlessly around the Hakone Academy campus.
Shinji Ikari's presence had vanished from her senses...the explanation was immediate, yet no missions or excursions had been authorized...?
The blunette sighed. "Trouble seems to follow him, no matter what..." Resigning herself, Rei turned towards the Izanami Dorms.
She needed to get her gear.
xxxx
There were no whispers this time; no flickers in the shades of crimson and gold, as reality slowly peeled away around him; this time, there was only the sensation of falling, as the real world was forcefully ripped away-
SMACK.
"...ow..." grumbled Shinji, slowly sitting up. "What just happened...?" He looked around, trying to ascertain his surroundings. Although various computer monitors and mechanical circuitry lined the walls, the sepia tone that colored everything, and the wavy flashes of black smoke and ash were enough to clue him in as to where he had ended up.
"...so, this is the Metaverse, huh?" Shinji turned, realizing that part of the apartment had seemingly fallen away, revealing the outside world: the black and red sky, the orange tendrils digging into the distant buildings of Tokyo-3, the great sphere of the Anti-Terror Task Force, the wandering rainbow eyes; those were familiar features. However, from here, he could also see the cognitive double of Lake Ashi: the water was a bright and bloody orange color, reflecting a sky mixed with puffy clouds instead of the strangely terrifying tableau above. Kensuke Aida stood at the edge, looking...though, for what, Shinji had no way of knowing. "Man, the artist renderings and documentaries don't even come close..."
"...how did we get here?" How did Kensuke Aida have a way to get here? Hadn't Dr. Akagi said that one needed the MAGI to enter the cognitive world?! "How...?"
Aida turned around, a tired yet satisfied smile on my face. "I put in for a lot of the tests, you know? To see if I could be selected to joint the Anti-Terror Task Force, to see this place with my own eyes. Always got turned down, though...was told I didn't have the right stuff. But the right stuff can come later, you know? All I wanted was a chance...and now I've got one."
"A chance for what?"
"To find my Shadow, of course. All I gotta do is find it, make it my friend, and then boom! Instant Persona!"
"...uh..."
"And that, my dear roommate, is where you come in!" Kensuke smiled, looking awfully satisfied with himself. "I gotta say, NERV's got a reputation for being secretive with its stuff, but the way they introduced you to Tokyo-3 was kind of obvious, wasn't it? A big Angel Syndrome incident that ends with a rail car exploding...and then two days later, a kid sharing the same surname as NERV's leader transfers into our school, all calm and aloof? It just screams super secret agent!"
For once, Shinji was actually at a loss at how someone's perceptions could go so fantastically askew. "...eh?!"
"Maybe that's why I felt so easy around ya; you're so mellow! For my first ever foray into the Metaverse, I knew I had to get the help of an expert."
...oh. So that was why...? Then...oh no.
"So, what do you say? Feel like helping a kid out?"
Kensuke had gotten the entirely wrong idea.
"Maybe we can make a thing out of this, go exploring! Maybe you can teach some of the tools of the trade? I'll make sure to return the favor when I make it to the big leagues!"
And of course, it fell to the him to be the harbinger of disappointment. "...Aida-san..." He breathed deeply, telling himself that running away wouldn't help. "...my first time going into the Metaverse ever was only two days ago." His breath slipped away, along with his confidence. Yet, somehow, he managed to keep talking, if only because his words didn't paint a good picture of himself. "I...I don't even have a Persona of my own." Shogoki didn't count, in the cognitive world...could he even summon his Evangelion, here? "...I'm...sorry to disappoint you."
If he had to be honest, Shinji had never seen someone deflate so spectacularly before. "...oh."
xxxx
Back in the real world, Kensuke Aida's room was empty of organic life...and yet, it was not empty.
sssh
sssh
SSSH
SSSH
The sharp static accompanied all colors bleeding away from the world, muting the very atmosphere and inherent character of the room...fitting, for the presence that had manifested there.
There was a brief patch of void, floating like a mote of dust. Something flashed out of it, as quick as a striking serpent.
Snikt, went the power cord to Kensuke's modded television set, cut in twain. With a putter, the device powered down, the portal drawing down to a mere pinprick, and then to nothing.
The void vanished, and color returned to the world.
The air smelt of satisfaction and anticipation.
xxxx
In the Metaverse, the portal that Shinji and Kensuke had fallen out of suddenly vanished.
Kensuke went from deflated to brown pants in a matter of seconds. "...oh. Oh shit."
"...that's not what I wanted to hear," murmured Shinji, trying not to panic, no matter how much he wanted to.
xxxx
Kensuke Aida had a certain conception of how things were supposed to go. He had cross-referenced available media regarding the Anti-Terror Task Force, from news articles and editorials to shoddy cell phone videos of agents emerging out of thin air. He had read personal accounts of A.T. agents facing down Acolytes, of their struggles against the Ghosts. He had gleaned what he could from his workaholic father regarding NERV's contributions in the struggle against Angel Syndrome, which were slowly becoming more and more public.
And that wasn't even going into his mother and her influence.
Alas, right now, Kensuke Aida felt like a big screw up, because his portal connecting reality and the cognitive had inexplicably died. "...okay...just a minor setback..." He could work with this. They could work with this. "...no need to panic..." There were bound to be A.T. agents on duty throughout Tokyo-3's cognitive double. All they would have to do is catch the attention of one of the many Ocular Drones on patrol, and hopefully not get into too much trouble. Aw man, I am SO grounded for this. Thinking about being grounded was good, a net positive, even! After all, the cognitive world could reflect his own thoughts, and being calm was something that A.T. agents were always taught-
"Uh...Aida-san?"
-because if you couldn't keep calm, your own thoughts could quite literally turn against you-
"Aida-san?!"
-and there was no way that was going to happen to him, he knew what he was doing, he was going to find his Shadow and he was going to be a hero-!
"AIDA-SAN!"
"I'm thinking, what is it?!" Kensuke looked towards the boy-who-was-actually-not-the-badass-he-assumed and promptly blanched. "...oh." Tiny Archetypes were beginning to emerge out of thin air, from cracks in the floor and gaps between furniture.
"He thinks he's a big man..." chirped a tiny little snowman, wearing blue elfin cloths. A Jack Frost. And there were quite a few of them.
"Big man, strong man...but he's in over his head," laughed a dark-bodied woman with feline features and white fur, with piercing yellow eyes. A Nekomata. Also tiny, but why were they growing?
"Too big for himself!"
"Maybe we should cut him down to size, put him in the place where he belongs!"
Kensuke gulped as they started getting to more 'typical' sizes. Not that he had a proper baseline of what he was even doing, oh gods, why had he come here this was such a damned foolish idea-!
Before his panic could grow, his vision was partially blocked by Shinji Ikari's back. "...what are you...?"
xxxx
Shinji Ikari stared at the Archetypes, which seemed to react to his movement with suspicion. Possible animosity. They never acted like this around Misato-san. Then again, Katsuragi was grown-up. She might have had her act together, thus mollifying the rampant offspring of unconscious human thoughts. Aida, apparently, had no such control. What am I doing?
What was he doing, indeed...
xxxx
"Quite simple: what you must. That's what you accepted, correct?" The voice belonged to someone who looked like him...no, was him. On some deep and fundamental level. "Even in the face of something unknown, something frightful..."
"...what else am I going to do?"
"You could always run."
The very idea made him want to wretch.
"Ah...such an impulsive disgust, for that facet which you despise the most."
...I swore I wouldn't run...not anymore..."
"And when did you make that oath?"
He couldn't remember.
His yellow-eyed double smiled."I suppose you still forget yourself...but that is fine. You accepted the pains that would come with the choices you make."
"...I did, didn't I...?" There was a weight to these hidden, secret words, known by none but himself. "...and yet...I still don't know where I'm going..."
"There are more things in the realms of the gods and the lands of the dead than you have ever conceived or dreamed of, and yet here you are." His double stepped forward. "Dark is the shadow of the dream you carry; heavy is the weight upon you; even so, standing aside was something you swore to no longer do...am I wrong?"
He wasn't sure. Maybe he never would be. "...but I'm here, aren't I?"
"...an acceptable answer, for your current state. But look around you: we are in a realm of infinite imagination, constrained and bound by a wicked design. On the outside...your soul, with all its bestial rage and impassioned bulwarks, could protect the you that thine own self has conceived...but now, in the face of a realm where the spirit means nothing, and all you have is your mind...can you still find the strength to stand?"
"...yes." He had come here for a reason. He had come for something important. And besides...he couldn't leave Kensuke Aida alone, in spite of himself. "...I do."
"Very good. Then let us recall our oath."
xxxx
...he was doing whatever he could do.
The Archetypes suddenly seemed to hiss at him. "Those eyes!"
"...Ikari...?" dumbly murmured Kensuke Aida, transfixed by what was happening before him.
Shinji pressed a hand against his temple...
xxxx
"I am thou. Thou art I. Thou art one who has been called to make decisions no child should make. Thou, who has stood aside for long enough, waiting for the world to decide for him! Reject that wretched philosophy, that coward's creed..."
xxxx
...and it phased into his head, gripping onto something tightly. There was none of the violence and brutality of Shogoki's awakening; there was simply the seamless removal of a blazing spark of blue fire, living within the palm of his hand.
xxxx
"...and regardless of what may come...CHOOSE FOR THYSELF!"
xxxx
"Take a stand..." Shinji clenched his fist, breaking the orb into tongues of fire. "...HAMLET!"
The fiery wisps grew and blossomed, taking a more tangible form: the very room itself seemed to expand to accommodate his presence, standing tall at twelve feet. Clad in a dark blue tunic with green leggings and a white cravat, wearing a royal purple cloak billowing with unseen force; truly, the figure was a mesmerizing sight, also wearing a golden amulet with a triad of gems: sapphire, ruby, and amethyst. Within his right hand was a simple Carolingian-style sword, with little ornamentation on the hilt and grip; within his left hand was, startlingly enough, a human skull. The cowl of the cloak covered his head, leaving only a faceless mask of ivory; its only features were two eye holes, allowing piercing yellow irises to gaze with impunity. "I am the tragic prince: Hamlet!" The figure turned towards Shinji Ikari, speaking aloud so that all could witness. "If you so choose, I shall grant you the power to see this through to the end...but you must decide."
Kensuke couldn't see Ikari's expression from behind, even as the ethereal flames began to dissipate, and hey he had different clothes darn it Kensuke, focus! His thoughts were interrupted by his roommate's calmly answered, "you know what I choose."
"Say it aloud, so that none may doubt!"
"...then yes. I will use your power, if you'll have me."
"And so the die is cast!" exclaimed Shinji Ikari's Persona, turning his piercing gaze towards the Archetypes that had been watching with trepidation. "Depart, or suffer the consequences!"
"...oh yeah?" retorted a Jack Frost. "Try this on for size! Bufu!" An orb of living ice shot from the snowman's palm-
SMASH!
Hamlet's sword slashed through the icy sphere, nullifying the attack before it could strike. "You were warned." He held the skull forward, from which a horrid light shined. "Mudo!" A sickly aura erupted from the skull, striking the Jack Frost and wrapping around with flickers of red and black...and in the blink of an eye, the Archetype faded away into wisps of black fog.
The other Jack Frost and Nekomata Archetypes suddenly seemed less sure of their chances, despite the numbers advantage.
Hamlet did not wait. "Tentarafoo!" This time, the skull flashed a stark yellow, and it looked like a switch had been hit; the Archetypes now seemed to shrink in upon themselves, fear and panic evident upon their faces.
Ikari finally spoke, strangely more intimidating for how calm and pleasant he sounded. "Please leave."
The Archetypes did so, fleeing the room without hesitation, dispersing into stray bits of cognitive thoughtstuff.
The battle cut short, Shinji Ikari's Persona turned back towards them, looking down upon the boy that he had emerged from. "Remember your choices, no matter what may come." Hamlet dissipated in a flash of blue fire, yet his presence still clung to Shinji like something tangible, something real.
The young man in front of Kensuke sighed. "...that felt...weird..." Ikari slowly turned around, looking at him with nervous eyes. "Are...are you okay?"
"...am I okay? Am I okay?" An impulsive grin came to Kensuke's face, his own doldrums temporarily suspended. "That was AWESOME!"
"...eh?"
"Oh come on, that was as epic as all get out! What with the dramatic timing, the authoritative tone, and your last words!" Kensuke modulated his tone, trying to mimic Shinji's pitch and timbre. "Please leave." His smile returned. "That was just so classy!"
"...I...I guess...?"
"And you're sure that was your first time calling a Persona?!"
"...yes, I'm pretty sure it was."
"...well, faulty assumptions on my part aside, you still did great! Like I thought you would! Although..." He briefly took in Shinji Ikari's appearance, trying hard to square his roommate's current image with the cool look of the A.T. agents, and failing rather spectacularly. "...your Metaverse get-up's not what I expected it to be."
"Huh?" Shinji finally looked down upon himself, as though suddenly realizing his outfit had changed, and that he was holding a weapon. Of sorts. "What the?!"
"Within the Metaverse, whenever Persona-users call upon their inner power, their appearance shifts to reflect their self-image. Anti-Terror agents go through a lot of mental training and self-discipline to get a uniform look, but they all have some quirks that shine through..." Kensuke was honestly at a loss for words, because how in the world did Hamlet correspond to this? "...I just didn't expect yours to be so...domestic?"
Indeed; clad in sturdy brown boots, weathered workman's jeans, and a long-sleeved white shirt, Shinji looked the part of your average manual laborer. The shovel he held in his right hand only added to it. The two clashing items were the fact that he wore yellow latex cleaning gloves, as well as light blue apron, which actually bore the words 'PLEASE DON'T HURT THE COOK'...and, right beneath it in smaller font, 'he makes all your food'. It was a different kind of laborer, yet the whole vision could be summarized rather succinctly, as Kensuke proved when he blurted out, "you kinda look like a house husband." Damn it mouth, why do you say things?!
Fortunately, Shinji Ikari didn't seem upset. Rather, he just looked down at himself with a more appraising glance. "...I...kind of like it, actually."
Kensuke didn't know whether to be amused or bewildered by that admission.
xxxx
TO BE CONTINUED
xxxx
/June 9 ended up going longer than expected
/this seemed like a good place to stop