Friday, March 5th, 2010


All S.E.E.S member remembered their promise. They rushed with their own feet to meet Minako, their best leader and best friend.

"Mitsuru-senpai, Is that Aragaki-senpai!" Yukari confused. "And what the hell he doing here!" Junpei screamed with loud voice. They surprisingly that Shinjiro also be in school too. Did he regain his memories after his comas?

"Shinjiro!" Mitsuru gasped.

"Yo, Mitsuru" Shinjiro chatted stands near the ladder. "So, do you regain your memories too, Mitsuru?"

"Ah- yes, yes I remember everything." Mitsuru replied to him and shook her hair "About Tartarus, fighting against Nyx, our promises, a life that we have been through…I finally remember all! How can I-" Mitsuru bewailed, trying to hold her tear.

Just how can they forget all about it? Those memories, it makes all of them can begin their own life again and find meaning of life, fight against Nyx.

"It's alright, it's not your fault, Mitsuru." Shinjiro encouraged her, hugging her shoulder.

Ken and Koromaru were the last group to arrive at the school. He surprisingly that he meets Shinjiro in this place too. He wonders if Shinjiro still remembers what happened in Dark Hours, especially conflicted thing between Shinjiro and him.

"Aragaki-san!, it...it's been a while. How are you?" Ken questioned. "I thought you still be coma in hospital I'm…I'm worried about you. I thought you might-" Ken murmured.

Shinjiro walk to Ken and held his shoulder. "It's totally fine, Ken. I don't hate you. In that time, you're just a child. You're not doing wrong at all. Don't blame yourself." Shinjiro reasoned with Ken.

"Aragaki-senpai…." Fuuka muttered aside with her low voice.

Shinjiro talked "Anyways, we should hurry, Minako Aki and Aigis might be together." Everyone nodded and hurry as fast as they can.

They finally reach the rooftop, Seeing Minako's sleeping on Akihiko 'lap. She looked peacefully and happy. But wait, something's wrong here. They saw that Akihiko is bawling as he tries to stop his tear to drop from flowing down on his cheeks. Even Aigis looked unusually silent and hollow. Just what's is going on here?

"Aki, what's going on! You look truly dreadful" Shinjiro exclaimed.

Akihiko made the eye contract with Shinjiro with a hollow voice "Shi...Shinji? Wha...What are you doing here? Akihiko questioned sobbed.

"Of course you idiot!, We all came here to see Minako." Shinjiro said angrily.

"Oh…yes…" Akihiko tries to remain calm, but his lame acting makes even worse. Shinjiro began to realize that Akihiko's different. He never acts like this before.

"No time to joke around, Aki! What happened to Minako? Shinjiro questioned seriously.

"I.. I..." Akihiko can't even to speak up from his voice, just like he drowns in his sorrow.

Everyone began to worry about Minako 'condition. It must be the cause that makes him looks like this.

"Aigis, do you know what happened?" Mitsuru asked about Minako.

But even Aigis couldn't even tries to rise her voice up, she doesn't answer anything to her. She's hollow just like Akihiko. Mitsuru clearly thought that must be something terribly bad happened here.

"Then I'll be check up on her" Fuuka volunteers.

"I'll leave that to you, Thanks" Mitsuru allowed Fuuka to check Minako's body up.

Fuuka began checking body up for a moment until one point, she became stressed and anxious. Even everyone can sense her fear.

"This is- Not…that can't be!" Fuuka began to tremble with fear. Her reaction even makes all of them began to worry even more.

"Fuuka, just what happened? Minako will be okay…right?" Yukari tried to be cheerful,calm, but her panic can be seen on face easily than she thought.

"Her heart rate, temperature, respiratory system's beginning to significantly lower than usual!" Fuuka tried to explain all of things while still being anxious. "And she doesn't even breathe anymore, it just like…. She's going to die!"

Everyone except Akihiko and Aigis shocked about what Fuuka's talking.

Ken rose his eyebrow up, shock what he heard. "She's what! Are kidding me! I'll never believe this" Ken tried to deny what he had heard. Even he had already saw what happened in his own eyes.

"Ca..Can someone tell me this is a joke, right? She didn't die…right? Tell me this's not true!" Junpei shivered while try to hold his sadness in his mind. "whimper" Koromaru looked more sadder even he can't truly understand human language. He walked, stayed near Minako's body, waiting for a miracle to happen.

"After she has been through… she should deserve more better than this fucking shit!" Shinjiro raged.

"Shinjiro…." Mitsuru said.

"She cares everyone in the dorm. She tried to be cheerful and playful. Wanna be a leader that anyone can rely on, even it makes me annoyed her sometimes. But she…need to do it because she wants to hide her own pain! She suffers from all of it…she…she even saves my life without knowing!"

"Aragaki-san…." Ken looked in his eyes as he began to cry.

"Just why! Why does she need to die! She still has her future ahead for her. She even has Aki at her side. I'm the one who should die, she should deserve to live more than me!... I-Ahh-Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Shinjiro cried loudly while punch into wall even Akihiko can notice.

"…Shinji…." He always understands what Shinjiro truly feels. He feels powerless. There's nothing he can do to help her. Just like he tried to help Miki, He failed. He tried to stop Strega about shooting at Shinjiro and Ken, He failed. Even this time, he failed to save Minako. How can he so powerless and useless?

Everyone was consumed by grief and fear. No one say anything for a moment, feel like being abandoned.

"I had enough of this!" Mitsuru sighed first, shout.

"Mitsuru?" Akihiko wearily said.

"Aki, we still can't give up yet! We need to get her to the Iwatodai hospital quickly! We might be able to do something, to save her life!" Mitsuru insisted.

"Ah!" Akihiko listened her, he return his usual form as he should be.

"You're right, I can't only keep blaming myself, just like I used to be. I can't let her see me like this." Akihiko decided as he must save her. "I..I must do something!"

Akihiko began to concentrate, begged everyone for rescuing Minako' life.

"Everyone, I know this is a kind of dire situation, but we can't drown ourselves to our guilt." He continued to speak "Minako had already give us a second chance to live again. I know what she had did a lot to us. Even she willingly to sacrifice herself to save the world and humanity but I... I had enough! I don't want to let her die like this!"

Yukari and Junpei acknowledged what he wants to say. She's their best friend that they have ever met. They shared a lot of moment, even a sadness that they face together. They can't give up until the end. Both looked each other, nodded, answered his call "Yes, no time to waste. It's time for us to help her too." Yukari nodded. Junpei cheerfully smile and shed his tear off "Yeah, this is not me at all. Chidori would be disappointed in me if I only keep acting like a childish and cried out."

Ken rolled his eye around to shake his fear off. "Minako-san gave us a chance to live. She keeps looking after me, she's just like my big sister. I always love her and adore her, just like I love Mom. She has so meant to all of us. We can't leave her like this!"

Aigis began to sense a thing around her and found out everyone decided to save Minako's life even a chance to success is extremely low. She now knows that she can't keep sitting and drown a fear to herself. She swore to protect Minako at the cost of her life. She must find a way to do it.

She nodded and held a hand at her chest "When I let Minako-san sleep on my haps, I had spoken many things to her about protecting someone I love, learning about what human truly is. It makes me finally realized what meaning of life, what it means to live. And I... I always cherish every moment with her. I just want to share this feeling for everyone that I meet."

Akihiko slowly listens her speaking and thinking about what they had been through in those year. "Aigis"

I.. I already swore to her that I'll protect her. I can't let it end like this. Let's do it together, Sanada-san!" Aigis finally get her usual back, decide to help Akihiko.

"Aigis…. Thank you" "he replied to her help, nodded to her.

Shinjiro and Koromaru heard what Akihiko spoke. Koromaru walked to Shinjiro and sit down nearly him, just like he waits for Shinjiro's answer.

"Koro-chan….Do you want to help her too? " Shinjiro asked.

"bark! " Koromaru happily barked to him. Shinjiro smiled, rubbing his temple "Yeah, of course I need to help her. This is no time for me to be pathetic. We'll see this through together."

Akihiko could sense that everyone willingly to throw their sorrow away, have unanimous opinion together. Mitsuru nodded with others" We're ready, Akihiko."

"Everyone. "Akihiko began to beam. Everyone ready to do as Akihiko command.

Akihiko began to concentrate, command everyone for rescuing Minako' life, just like Minako used to in the past.

"Fuuka, keep checking her up. She might still breathe."

Fuuka decide to throw her sorrow away, take order from Akihiko "Yes, Akihiko-senpai. I'll keep checking her up."

Akihiko command others next. "Mitsuru, contact with your doctors and find the nearest ambulance you can fine. If you can contact directly to hospital, please tell them to send her to the hospital quickly!"

Mitsuru responded while shook her hair up "Understood."

Akihiko gazed at Yukari, Aigis, Ken and Koromaru for a while until he began to command them.

"Aigis, Koromaru, Ken, go to nurse officer and let's see if seeing some kind of medical equipment to do CPR."

"Roger that" Agis nodded.

"You can count on us" Ken nodded.

"bark!" Komomaru bark happily.

"Okay! Ah…Yukari, can you do CPR?" Akihiko asked seriously.

"I used to do some CPR when I saw someone passed out during practicing bow in archery club."

"Good! You should be here with me. We will perform CPR immediately after they find some medical equipment."

"Okay I'll stand by here!" Yukari nodded, stood by in her position.

After Akihiko ordered them, they immediately reach to the Nurse office as fast as they can.

Shinjiro and Junpei began to wonder about their task, asked Akihiko.

"Aki, About us? What do you want us to do?" Shinjiro grumbled.

"Yeah, Sanada-senpai Only us that don't receive any task." Junpei waited for his task.

"Well, two of you, stand by at the school entrance. Wait until ambulance will come, clear the path, and find safest route to go. I don't want Minako receive any damage during transporting."

"I got that." Shinjiro nodded.

"Yeah, yeah let's go senpai" Both Shinjiro and Junpei sprinted with their own feet to stand by at school entrance.

After Akihiko order all tasks to everyone, he decide to check her body up. Her heart is still beat, but it began to lower and lower. He needs to perform basic CPR with Yukari quickly before they bring some of medical equipment.

He always keeps checking her heart if it keeps beating.

"Minako, please... Hang in there! I still believe in you. You must be alive." He wished in his mind.

3 minutes later Aigis' group has finally arrived with a lot of medical equipment.

Aigis reported to Akihiko "Sanada-san, we asked Teacher Edogawa about using CPR equipment. He has still doubted our intention about using it, but he still gives us permission using those things."

"That's pretty good. Good work, Aigis" He complimented. "How about you, Amada, Koromaru, do find anything useful?"

Ken put his little bag down, point out that inside his bag, have some of CPR mask. It could be useful for short times.

"Good job, Amada. I'll make her equip CPR mask first."

"No problem, Sanada-san." Ken received Akihiko' compliment with happy smile.

"We have done our parts, Sanada-san. What would you like us to do next?" Aigis questioned.

"Then wait with Shinjiro and Junpei, stand by with them until ambulance will arrive."

Aigis nodded, received her task "Understood, come on, Amada-san, Koromaru-san, we need to meet up wih Aragaki-san and Iori-san"

"Okay then, see you around, Sanada-san."

"Ah! I got it, see ya!" Akihiko responded.

After they're gone to the school entrance, he continued to ask Mitsuru about timing.

"Mitsuru, did you contact anyone in Iwatodai hospital? He asked.

"I have already contacted with Doctor Hirasaki when Aigis' group go down to find medical equipment, it seems ambulance will be arriving here in less than 5 minutes."

"Thanks, Mitsuru"

5 minutes later, the rescue team and medical officer has come at school and take Minako to the hospital. Those incidents caused to all students, teachers and civilians who have been there confused a lot about what happened during Gekkoukan's high school graduate's ceremony.

All S.E.E.S members went to the hospital and waiting for Minako's body examination.

Those body examination's process has been taking too long until evening, making All S.E.E.S members begin to even more worry about Minako, especially Akihiko who already been depressed about her dire condition.

Mitsuru walked to Doctor Hiroaki.

"Hiroaki-san, do you find anything about Minako' condition." Mitsuru asked about Minako 'condition.

Doctor Hiroaki noted "Well, Kirijo-san…I have tried to find out the cause of the disease that Minako-san has been face out, but it seems her body and organ seems to be normal, no find cancer nor any cell that has been infected."

He explained while shook his hair with confused looks "But her heart rate, temperature or even respiratory systems has begun to decay without the cause, her body is totally normal, no abnormality has been found at all! I never found this kind of syndrome before! It's just like she's sleeping! There's no way this is natural disease."

"Sigh…." Mitsuru sighed loudly with stress.

Doctor continued to explain "Anyways, she's still alive. She's breathing with our ventilator. It might be help her for a while. We'll still be continuing to check up on her until we found out about her disease."

"Thank you for help, Doctor." Mitsuru said, bowed.

"Always, Kirijo-san." He nodded before continued to work.

Mitsuru decided to discuss with everyone about what she's asking.

"Mitsuru, did you know anything? Shinjiro asked.

"Ah…No good...Nothing at all. They tried to find out about her condition, everything's totally normal but the most parts of her body began to decay. The cause of syndrome still mysterious. I'm…I'm truly sorry." Mitsuru told with truly sad expressions.

"Sigh…." Shinjiro sighed long with disappointed face.

"No…Minako-san…I…I.." Aigis began to cry, collapsed on the ground while trying to hold her tear.

"It…It can't be!" Junpei frustrated while bit his lips.

"This is truly despicable! After she's…. doing all that for us, and this is…. what she got deserved? To hell with that!" Ken raged loudly as he was never saying those words in his life.

"So, it must be the costs of her miracle she must pay to protect us all…. I wonder if I can swap with her and die instead of her …but, II still believe in you…. Please come back." Akihiko wished while looking at his palm. In his mind, he still believes in her.

"Sanada-senpai…. Amada-kun…." Fuuka mumbled to herself whing being stressed.

"If only I can use Isis here to heal her…. No, it doesn't help at all…" Yukari spoken to herself like a hollow tree.

The reaction of everyone in this hallway was no different from them. No matter they tried to find out the way to cure her, none of these methods was working at all. Can only using ventilator to keep her alive for a moment.

All those incidents in this day….is truly grief and hopeless to them.

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010


As time go by, Minako was still coma and sleeping like usual, no signal of walking up. After that day, Akihiko decided to stay at the hospital, continued to take care her. It has been 5 days since he stayed here, waiting for her to wake up. Doctor Hiroaki keeps checking her up for every morning and evening as usual to find a way to cure her.

Today, Fuuka and Yukari has come at the hospital brought a lot of presents to him since he never has a chance to go outside during taking care of Minako.

"How have you been, Sanada-senpai? Yukari asked with worry.

"Yes, Senpai. Your face looks more paler than I thought." Fuuka doubted just like Yukari feels.

Akihiko just realized, talked to her back "Oh! Sorry to make you worry, I'm totally fine. It always been like this since I must change her bedsheet and preparing her medicines during her body' examination."

Yukari listened, talked to him back as usual "Is that so? It must be a lot of burden upon you, Senpai. Sorry we can't help you that much. We have our responsibility to clear by ourselves too." Yukari consoled.

"It's all right, Yukari. I understand you" Akihiko said groggily.

He continued to prattle while looking outside of windows "It's been 5 days I have stay in here. Same views and same feeling. She still sleeps on this bed, no wakes up, nothing change."

"I just wish she'll wake up somedays." He gazes his lover with lovely care.

Fukka mumbled with anxiety "Sanada-senpai…."

While he looked outside of windows, he asked about others S.E.E.S member.

"What about others, are they okay? Akihiko asked.

Yukari told about other members "They seems to be quite well, Senpai. Aragaki-senpai decide to go back to study at the school in next mouth. So, he'll graduate with us. Oh! I found a rumor that Aragaki-senpai's in relationship with Kirijo-senpai too. I wonder they'll end up well…."

"Is that so, good for you Shinji, Mitsuru." He thought in his minds with a small smile.

Yukari continued to speak "Kirijo-senpai is planning to go to college while being CEO of Kirijo group too. She's quite busy during managing inside of Kirjo Group. She always carries all her burder to herself as usual. Amada-kun and Koro-chan, decided to stay in the same dorm. It seems he'll in Gekkoukan's middle school. Junpei is now officially dated Chidori too. Relationships between he and Chidori has been quite well and some of her memories began to return to her. It seemed he'll decide to return to baseball as he used to. Even he maybe annoys us for most of times, but I... I'm truly glad about him. I'm proud of him. He deserved it."

"I'm glad they can find their own ways there." Akihiko felt impressed in them, but meanwhile, he suddenly let the tears welled up in his eyes without knowing. Yukari noticed this situation quite well.

"Senpai..." She began to sit on the chair and continued to speak to him while holding his hands. "Don't worry, Senpai. Everything will be fine. She must be wakes up someday, I believe in her."

"I agree with Yukari-chan. She must be all right, Senpai" Fuuka agreed with Yukari.

"Both of you….Um." Akihiko nodded with a smile.

They continued to chat and shopping outside until nearly midnight.

"Oh, It's almost midnight now. I need to get back to the hospital now. I believe they have prepared her Nasogastric tube feeding and medicines already." Akihiko said.

Fuuka suddenly checked her own watch. "Oh! Senpai's right. It's nearly 00:00 A.M."

Yukari noted "Then we should return to our dorm, Junpei, Amada-kun and Aragaki-senpai has been preparing his dishes and waiting for us. Those leftovers might be still in the fridge. We don't really eat anything since evening."

Yukari waved to Akihiko "Senpai, it seems we need to be parting here. See you later, Senpai."

"Ah! Good day to both of you. Don't work too hard! Okay?" Akihiko nodded and wave to them back.

"Yoo too, Senpai"

Akihiko has been apart from them and decide to go back at the hospital. Inside of the room still be the same. A lot of medicines on the table, unknown equipment and Minako who still sleeps on the bed.

Akihiko has been wondering in his minds "I wonder If I can perform that miracle instead of her, would I change her fate…. She'll be happy and live normal life without me? Aah! Who knows."

After he did his own activity, she changed his clothes. He looks his lover, kissed on her forehead with gentle.

"Good night, Minako" He always speak like these to her before sleeping.

He always sleeps on sofa since there's no more bed for him to sleep. He was still looking at her until he began to drowsy and sleep without noticing.

I always have…. nightmares every time I tries to sleep. No matter how I try to not overthink and forget about it, it always come to me.

I saw Minako, I saw here there. But every time I tried to reach her; it never succeeds. She walked ways, she's so far, far away from me. And after that, the orphanage has been burned in my dream…. Even an incident that Shinjiro has been shot, it's here too.

Just how long I have been like this since Miki has died? Or since that daythe day that Minako is comas? This is a punishment for me for being alive? What kind of my sin has committed to make me face such a disgusted fate like this?

These nightmares began in that day before I have been adopted by my current parents. Miki gave this medal to me, she said I always be strong, kind brother to her.

"Big bro, I want to get this." Miki gives this to me.

I confused, wonder "What's that, A medal? Why do you want to give this to me, Miki?"

"I specially made this for you. Big bro always stays with me when I have no friend to talk with, You're strong and kind to me, big bro. I should you give you a reward for being good old brother to me." She complimented me.

"Oh really! Then I'll take it. Thanks, Miki. I'll keep it."

"Um!"

To be honest, I wish I can keep these happy memories with me forever. During that, I was truly happy, especially with them. Shinji...Miki... you two are truly special to me.

But I never thought that this is the last thing that left of her. The orphanage was burned to the ground, just like nothing existed there before. My orphan babysitter, my sister, even my friend, they're all died there.

The moment I see my orphanage was being burned in front of me was too much painful I could hold. My sister, Miki, including everyone is dead, and Shinjiro and I are only two persons who survived.

There's nothing I can do. I can't help even my real sister. How can I call myself being her brother if I can't even save her life at all! I'm powerless. I want to forget, my pain, grief, those suffering…. I want to get rid all of it!

After her death, I swore myself to become stronger. I joined boxing club since I was 9. So, I can learn to fight, how to become stronger. So that...I…I can protect anyone.

But I was wrong again.

During that time, I, Mitsuru and Shinji became the first S.E.E.S., we all made this up together, to fight a Shadows. everything was still normal until that day.

October 4th, 2007, the day that Shinjiro had lost control of his Persona.

His Persona began berserk and suddenly kill one civilian, Amada 'mother. Since that day, I and Shinjiro began arguing more than usual and he…he left S.E.E.S. immediately after that. So, I use the incident as my motivation to become more stronger, so I can't be like Shinji. I don't be the one who abandon my friends when they want my help.

But again, I failed. I didn't realize about Amada's intention to join S.E.E.S. and making Shinjiro has been shot by Takaya. Even he survived from that incident, how can I sure it'll not happening again? Also, Amada must carry this guilt for the rest of his life too…. I'm speechless.

The more I felt worried, the more I felt terrified.

March 5th ,2010, Minako has been coma since that day.

She fell sleep but her body felt cold, colder and colder like she's gonna die. She didn't even breathe at all. I tried to wake her up many times, but…. nothing happened.

I felt afraid she'll leave me again. The promise that I'll be never apart from her began to shake. I talked many things to her, our forgotten memories, our love…. I didn't even know that she still be listening or not.

I wish I could change my fate in some ways…

But a familiar voice has been echoed in my mind.

"Aki, you can't let yourself falling into the past, you need to keep forward."

This voice! It maybe quite a low voice, but I'm sure about it! This is Minako' voice! Just where is she! Where can I find her?

"Minako! Minako! Where are you? I…I want to see you again. Just tell me where you are!" Please tell me!"

I tried to find her, shout as loud as I can. But…. I can't find her anywhere. Just where the hell she is? No matter I go, I can't find her anywhere. It's just like I'm trapped in the labyrinth.

I began to give up, sleep on the ground. I'm so tired. But another voice has been spoken to me.

"You will find her, eventually. We'll meet again soon, in the Velvet Room."

Velvet Room, what kind of room is that? But before I'll gather my own thought and thinking, I was passed out.


I woke up in the place that I don't know. I tried to look around what I saw about a place I have been stuck. I'm quite confused. I…I hear something. It's just like elevator's sound. When I gazed it closely, it's totally giant elevator's door! There's clock above that elevator too! It feels like, it feels like endlessly ascending itself, never ending.

"Where the hell is this place!"

I had feeling strange about this. Those walls, doors, the floors or even this table is even all blue. There're also many doors here too, some doors have a curtain, closing it. I don't even where it does lead.

The more I tried to discover this place, The more I confused. What's this place for?

Before I'll think about something, I heard someone. Some kind of footfall? After that I began to hear the voice.

"Who's that!" Wait, this is a female voice?

I don't know why but I'm truly familiar this voice. I'm not sure what I think about. Her voice is too low. Maybe I should wait her stance. Waiting her to be here closer.

She slowly walked to me. But after I seen that face, I'm totally shocked with that.

This is Minako! Even her appearance is not actually her, she's here. More important that-

"No way...A…Aki! This is really you?" She expressed shockingly but more than that, she actually called my nickname!

There's no mistake. I finally found her here.

"Minako!" I rushed to her without thinking and hugging her tightly while my tear began to flow down to my cheek. This feeling…. the feeling I used to have it. Warm and gentle.

"Aki…. I…I'm sorry I make you wait for me. I'm truly sorry." Minako expressed her grief with sadly face.

"You don't need to say that! I…I tried to wake you up, but nothing is worked at all. I thought you'll die. I feared that you'll leave us again." Akihiko said while these tears still continued to drop. "Even this is a dream, I'm glad I can find you."

But Minako insisted it while whipping his tear away." No, Aki, this is not a dream."

Akihiko confused "Not a dream? What do you mean? I thought I still be sleeping."

"If you can enter in this room, that's mean you may have a difficult path await you, Aki."

Her speaking is made even more confused. Difficult path? What's that mean?

"Minako, could you explain clearly about what this is place about and….and…just what happened to you?"

Minako ruminate carefully before she'll speak again "Maybe it's time to tell you everything, About Velvet Room and what happened to me."

Minako decide to explain everything about this room. According to her speaking, This Velvet Room exists between dream, reality, mind and matter. She said only those who have been bound to "Contract" may enter. The shape of room what I see, is states of the situation that Contractor has been faced with. Every contractor will not have the same shape room and can't even directly connect each room each other, it completely separate.

At first, I don't understand what she was trying to say at all, but thinking back, every time she goes to Tartarus, she always goes to some spot and standing there like mindless person, she even mumble something that quite creepy. It began to make sense at some points.

But I still didn't get it what this is place for. So, I continued to ask her.

"And what's this place for? Why's it important to come here." I tried to ask directly, so I might understand for a little bit.

"Do you have any doubts why I always have a new Persona to fight a Shadow? Because this room is created to fusion a new Persona. Those who use this ability was called "Wild card user"."

I now completely understand, so that' why she always has a multiple Persona during a fight.

"So, everyone who enter in this room, can using a multiple Persona?"

"Most of them, yes" She conformed.

He continued to ask her "But wait, how could you sign to enter in the Velvet Room in the first place?

She ruminated, pointed out "Do you remember about Ryoji? He's Pharos, the one who make me sign that contract while arriving to the dorm for the first time." She mumbled "I thought it was just a normal signing paper. It turns out it's a contract."

"Sigh…Damn you, Ryoji" I raged inside of my mind, if she didn't sign it, she may not be to meet her fate like this.

But I'll put aside that, I need to know about what happened to Minako.

"I believe I quite understand in overview, but…."

"Aki, what's the matter?" She questioned with worry.

I tried to put the piece back together, asked her seriously "Just why does your appearance change like that! it…it doesn't like human at all!"

When I was looking at her again, I have something on my mind. Why does her appearance change like this? Her hair is short, silver, grey hair, like me. More than that, her eye color is completely change. It's a crystal, golden eye. Her clothes are just a long, white t-shirt and long, black trousers. She just looks like Miki!

She quite hesitated to answer me for a moment. Her face expressed with strongly sad emotions. No, good…I have a bad feeling. She began to concentrate herself alone, tell the truth.

"Aki, I know you already your own burden to carry out, but it seems I must tell you the truth, what I regain from my real memories."

There's no way for turning back. I…I need to know…the reason she still didn't return to us now.

She began to talk first "Remember what our final battle against Nyx, right Aki? The moment I performed the miracle."

"I never about it…You truly tried to help us, after all." I wondered why she brought this out. I continued to listen her.

"The power I use to defeat Nyx, the power of Universe Arcana, The Great Seal."

"The power of Universe Arcana? So, this is the power you use to defeat Nyx."

She nodded "Yeah, that's completely right." "The Great Seal granted an ability to seal anything in the universe off. It's extremely hard to wield such a power." She noted what the Great Seal.

But she looks depressed while explained things. "But, in order to use that power, Life essence will be lost…."

I suddenly shock what I heard "Don't tell me you are-"

She didn't act anything; she can only nod to me. "Your life will be endyes."

You'll die by using that power! That's bullshit! How could she have such as strong courage to use a power while she knew it'll kill her? Just why!

But I could only hold this feeling inside of my mind. I let her continue to speak. There's something odd. If she truly dead, how can her body keep it alive?

"Wait, then how can you still be in coma, if you're truly dead?"

"Well….it should be like that as usual but-" She suddenly stopped, just like she didn't want to say it. I even more confused what kind of situation she faces.

"Because Nyx who all of you want to defeat….is me." She said it out of the blue.

I…I totally shocked about it; my heart began to ache. Just how! How could she's Nyx? That's impossible.

She lied. It must be a lie, a lie for sure. But when I thought back clearly, Ryoji is also a Shadow too. He even stayed inside her body for 10 years. Could that mean she's also a Shadow too? For entire time?

But it seems she noticed my reaction, strongly insisted "No, Aki, I'm not like Ryoji. I am the truly gigantic entity who used to consume the world before."

And now, I must listen this whole thing…About her true self.

She took a deep breath, began to talk about herself.

"Long time ago before humanity will be existed, I…I was floating in the space without any direction to go. In that moment, I am nothing but a shallow, mindless entity… My real mind used to stay inside of the Cosmic Egg. I didn't actually have free will. …. I…I know nothing but consuming the planet to planet…." She exposed about herself while being serious about it.

"Minako…." I thought that I should be terrified of her, but I didn't sacred of her at all.

I don't know why I didn't feel that from her. Maybe because I.. I truly love her. Maybe that's why I slowly began to accept her.

"Go on, Minako. I'm listening"

She nodded, continued to speak "But until one day, I have been crashed into the Earth…. My own mind has been separated from my real body."

"Your real body? You mean the moon that we always seen in the Dark Hour?"

"Yeah, that's correct. The moon itself is my outer body."

The more I have been listening, the more I feel being astonished. Is she truly that powerful? I know Ryoji has been telling us about this, but I never thought that I'll hear it from the Nyx herself again.

I began to ask her about it more "Wait a minute, you're saying you already have been separated from your body, how can the Cosmic Egg activate the Fall by itself?"

She looks like she didn't feel okay about it, maybe she always stayed with us, making her changed. Or she's gonna blame herself…Just like me in the past…

She began to talk to me again "It's totally complicated to elucidate about that, I might be starting with this one first."

"Aki, do you know about a Shadow actually is?" She questioned me.

To be honest, I have my doubts about a Shadow too. Why do they exist in the first place? Even the Dark Hour, Apathy Syndrome…all of that too. Wait, how can even that made sense? She has been being a human with us for all times. Even a Shadow attacked her too. If she's real Nyx, shouldn't it able to recognize their own creator?

"I understand you. It's quite difficult to understand all at once. Then perhaps we should start with my story about the incident that I have been crashed into the Earth first."

She seems she can catch up my expression again. She sighed loudly, began to explain her whole thing again. Quite boring, I assure you. I could only sit, continued to listen her.

"When I have been separated from my body, "My psychic power" has been scattered across the Earth. Those psychic-waves create the feeling of death, and forced all living beings to evolve itself, so they can develop themselves, to create "Collective unconscious" to be materialized which create the place where all living 'soul will be return and reborn. It's called "Sea of souls".

She explained further "When all Shadows has been reunited with the Cosmic Egg that stay inside of the inner body, The Egg will command all Shadow to be ripped out of human, and descend the body, crashing down to the Earth by itself."

What the hell! I thought I listened about some kind of old myth or something. Nobody would definitely believe this if they don't face the Dark Hour like us before. This is just…too crazy. But everything what she said until now is completely made sense. That explained everything I have a doubt.

"But if you're Nyx, why did those Shadows attack you? I asked.

"Remember, what I said before? My mind and Cosmic Egg have separated in that time. A Shadow want to reunite with the Cosmic Egg, not a mind itself. And when I still be human, I don't have my past memories until I gained that power. That was the same case of Ryoji too. Since Twelve Arcana's Shadows can sense where The Appriser is, they all want to be reunited with Death and bring the Fall." She tried to explain clearly.

I asked again about that accident" Let me guess, it's because Aigis sealed Ryoji into you, but your mind always be with the Death. Is that it?... Are you saying your mind has been merge to that girl!"

She nodded with sadly face "To be honest, even my mind has been separated, I still be a shallow, empty mind, wandering around all Shadows, including Death. Until Death was sealed to that girl, I...took up place her while receiving her memory. I still wonder If I'm Minako or not."

That incident caused the Dark Hour, more than that, it gives Nyx a chance to live as human while still being in that body too. When she said that she's mindless entity, she's not joking. Truly terrified, I can feel it.

"Then…. what happened after that, I mean after Collective unconscious has been materialized?" I asked.

"During that time, Sea of seas has been collected positive side of emotions. It's strongly enough to seal the Fall, the Great Seal is totally not necessary."

I confused about it at first, if the Great Seal isn't really necessary, then what's this created for? But when I think about everything I have been experienced clearly, I began to feel terrified, my body suddenly tired without noticing.

"Minako, don't tell me…All of these happened because-" I hypothesized while trembling, I hope that what I really think is not true.

She suddenly interrupted and nodded to me with sad looks. "Yes, Aki-san. It's all true."

I shocked everything that what I understood, I feel broken feel hatred about them while my fingers grated on the ground.

"Because…. because of them? That' why you end up being suffering like this? ….."

"….." Minako didn't say anything back to me, I knew it.

I continued to ask about her intentions "Why…. why do you still want to help them?"

Minako confused "Hm? What do you mean by that?"

"You know about being left behind, don't you? They forget everything that happened in Dark Hour, only us to remember. Why still wanna help them? They don't even care about their life at all!"

"Aki …I" she silenced for a moment. "No, that's…. that's not true!"

"Ah!... " I suddenly boggled without realizing.

"The… The reason I chose to sacrifice myself because… our friend…. OUR FRIEND STILL WANT TO BE LIVE YOU KNOW! I WANT TO SAVE ALL OF YOU!" she loudly shouted while her tear flowed down.

Those word hurtfully strikes into my chest. I thought she did that because she wants to protect humanity.

But I was wrong. She did all of that because she wants to protect us from herself….

Minako shed her eyes, spoke "At that time, the moment I have been granted this power, I… I had already made up of my mind, I was ready to be abandoned. Even I'll be forgotten from my own friend, I'm ready to seal myself forever, so that I can't hurt anyone that I love, especially…you…. Senpai.

I…. I don't know to say about it. I don't even know how much she cares for all of us. I feel…. a shameful to myself.

"But I… I'm still here. I don't even know why. I guess Cosmic Egg and me has been merge by the Great Seal…. so, the moon is no longer need anymore. It'll be no more the Fall anymore. What a twisted fate I have become." She said it with humorous smile. But deep down… she didn't actually smile. She just tries to hold her pains….

"Then…why didn't you return to us? I mean, you're still alive and the Dark Hour is gone. You should return to us already." I begged her to go back with me.

But her face completely told me that she didn't want to go back. Just why, Minako? Everyone's waiting for you.

"I… I can't go back…I'm sorry, Senpai, but I can't!" she refused while holding her hand at her chest.

"Minako…"

"What if…What if I can't control myself, and keep hurting everyone again? Will I bring the Fall to the world again or the catastrophe that even worse than the Fall itself? I don't wanna be a threat to humanity anymore! I… I don't know what to do anymore…." She said harshly like she's gonna to blame herself.

"*sob*…*sob*" Minako collapse to the floor and cry more than ever she used to…. I don't know how to help her. It's just like…. I see Miki's crying over there…. I felt…painful when I see her like that…. Maybe, in deep down…. she might want someone stay by her side for a long time.

I decide to stand up, slowly approached her, hugged gently. "It's all right, Minako. It's not your fault."

"Aki…" She slowly stopped crying.

"Even you become a threat to the world, even you'll be against by the entire world…. I'll protect you. You're still you, Minako. You…. you have been carried your guilt enough." I comforted her.

"Akihiko…senpai..." She said while still hugging me. "Thank you for being here with me" she beamed with happy smile. She still has a childish on her own. It would take a while calm her down.

Everything began to be normal and slowly peacefully.

When everything began to calm down, we decide to discuss about our current situation together. "So, are you saying, you followed that voice and end up being here? Same as mine."

"Yeah. But I fulfilled my journey and used the Universe Arcana already! This room shouldn't be appeared anymore. I'm totally lost." Minako doubted about Velvet Room.

We both questioned each other and tried to find the answer behind this room's intention.

Wait a moment, she said that those who only bound by contract can enter this place. But I didn't do anything to enter here. I just sleep…. Or there's another purpose that allowed me to be here? It's more complicated.

But suddenly, we both heard this voice again, but this time was totally different.

"Frfree…..pain….help…..truth"

A man voices? But it's too low that I can describe what the sound like. Some words have been cut off and there were so many eerie' sound effect during listening.

Minako tried to mindfully listen those voices, made a hypothesis.

"Hm….it maybe only from my pure feeling, are those voices it looks painful to you, Aki?"

"Now you mention it, he said "free, pain and help too". He must be suffering from something. Poor thing.

That sound became more higher; it seems it has a clear voice this time. It come outside of the elevator.

"Free…. them…. from…. thepainhelpthem…. find…. the…. truth"

It said, "free them from the pains, help them find the truth." What does that mean, free from what? I'm sure that this is not Minako's doing because we both heard it.

But when I looked at Minako, she still stands there like a pilar. She thought, arranged her own thought while sitting on the chair.

"No way! Don't tell me those vision I kept seeing in my dream was created for-" Minako realized about something and tried to tell me. A vision? What does she mean? What did she see there before being here?"

But something is happening. The elevator suddenly stopped, and a glowing light thing that above us was dropped on Minako' hand. The lights were faded away, it's a key.

An ultramarine-colored key, totally well crafted. It has a mask image here. It's a beautiful key.

But this key, what would I use for?

But before I'll thinking anything else, another voice spoke again but this time, it's the voice that I hear in my dream.

"You, who has been stood and bound by the "Contract". It is time for you to bestow them freedom from their pains. Find them, Help them. Lead them to the real answer, to life. Trust in their bond they have been created together." he declared before he disappeared. Both of us have confused for a while. I wondered who he is.

She worried and panted more than usual. "Ah…. If this is our destiny that we must face, it seems I can't avoid it anymore. "She loudly sighed before bringing a key to me.

"This is the Velvet Room's key, if you have it, you can use this key to come here, for fusion a Persona…."

"Fusion a Persona? Do you mean I can use a multiple Persona too?" I asked bemused.

She nodded and explained further "Not only you, I'll try to find a way to make them able to access a power just like you do."

Not only me, but everyone too? This must be a lot of strength to us, thinking when you can use a multiple Persona…. A lot of possibility that I can presume.

"Wait, how're you gonna do that?" I asked.

"I have my own method, don't worry about it." Minako answered bluntly.

She looked at me with regret "It seems you have been bound by contract from now on, Aki. I… I'm sorry that you have been dragged here because of me. I don't know what kind of fate will be waiting for us."

"I said it's not your fault, Minako. My resolve has sent me here, not anything else." I insisted.

"Aki…."

Suddenly, we hear an opening sound. Both of us turn our back to the elevator. The elevator's door began to open, Minako seems to know about it.

"Aki, it's time for me to go."

"Aa! Minako, where're you going?" I asked worryingly. She'll leave me again? No way!

She notices my feeling "I must go to that door, to do my final task. I…I…" she hesitated to talk but she looks painful.

"I promise I'll return to you, to everyone if I can fully control my own power…I promise..." She vowed and kissed my cheek.

"Goodbye" She said, not looking at me and rushed into the elevator' door without hesitation.

"Minako! Wait!" I tried to follow her, but the door was closed in front of me. Minako disappeared again.

My body has been collapsed and lay down on the ground. I… I couldn't reach her again. Why…. why does she always be like this? She never asks for help or anything. She just….do anything by herself again….

What was she left is a key. I couldn't…. think anything else. I'm tired. I fell sleep eventually.

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010


Akihiko woke up during morning. He feels still tired after what happened in his dream. He failed to reach her again. But at least, he could meet her and talk everything he want to with her.

But suddenly, his trousers' pocket was put with something that he didn't know. He picked up and checked, it's Velvet's key! He finally realized that everything he experienced in that room is not a dream. More than that-

"Ah! Minako! She disappeared!" he shocked what happened. Her body disappeared. It's because she went through that door? Just where's she going?

He tried to contact with staff and tried to find her, but nothing found. He began to use his smartphone to call Mitsuru as fast as he could.

Mitsuru was staying in her mansion while looking about Shadow's research document.

Mitsuru noticed that Akihiko has called to her, she decides to pick up.

"Hello, Akihiko. It's been a while. Ho- "

"Mitsuru! Call everyone to the dorm immediately!" But before she could talk, Akihiko suddenly interrupted anxiously.

"What's the matter. Akihiko? Your tone looks anxious! Is something wrong? Mitsuru asked curiously.

"Minako just disappeared! I tried to find her and look at security camera, but I couldn't find her anywhere!"

"Ah! Is it true, Akihiko! How can be possible! Is she supposed to be coma on the bed?" She looked quite shocked what she heard.

"It doesn't matter now, I need to you to contact everyone, right now! I have a lot of things to explained. I will meet you at the dorm" Akihiko said and hanged up.

"Wait, Akihiko! *bulp*…. He hanged up" Mitsuru quite shocked and hold her hand around her forehead.

She decides to call to Yukari because she heard that Yukari's still be in the dorm to prepare for being part-time model. After for a short while, Yukari picked up."

"Hello. Oh, Mitsuru-senpai! It's been a while since we last meet at the dorm. Is there something do you need?" Yukari asked.

"It's good to talk with you again, I know it's not good moment to call you but-"

"What's the matter, Senpai? Your tone looks dreadful!" Yukari began to worry.

She quite anxious while shook her hair "Akihiko just called up to me. He said Minako has been disappeared from the hospital! He tried to find her, but nothing was found."

"What! Are you serious? Then, what should we do? Should we help Sanada-senpai to find her?"

"No need, he said he'll meet and discuss with everyone at the dorm later, can you contact everyone for me?" Mitsuru requested.

"Not to worry to about, Senpai. I'll try to contact everyone! Yukari agreed to help.

"Thank you, Yukari." She thanked and hanged up.


Everyone except Akihiko, Shinjiro and has finally arrived at the dorm. The atmosphere in the dorm was dark, cold, tense atmosphere. All of them shocked after learning that Minako has been disappeared.

"Oh man! Is she a ghost? There's no way she can escaped like that without being seen." Junpei scared Yukari.

"If you keep telling another ghost story or sick jokes, I'll crush you down, Stupei!" Yukari angrily.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to it. I'm tried to mood up for everyone." Junpei apologized, disappointed face.

"Ah! Whatever…. Anyways, where's Sanada-senpai going, Mitsuru-senpai? I didn't see him since morning." Yukari asked about Akihiko.

"It seems he and Shinjiro tried to track her down since morning. I doubt where she can be." Mitsuru sits, mumbled.

"But I never thought that Minako-san can disappear without everyone knowing. Even Persona' power can't do that." Ken confused.

"Fuuka may able do that, but the Dark Hour is already gone. There's no way we can attempt to use that power again. With a normal method, it's impossible." Mitsuru agreed with Ken' idea.

"But it means we can't find out about Minako-san's disappearance. I must find her. I can't wait here." Aigis expressed with sorrowful looks.

"*Whimpers*" Koromaru disappointed that Minako had disappeared.

"We're all get it, Koro-chan" Fuuka stroked Koromaru' head.

1 hours later, Akihiko, Shinjiro came to the dorm with depressed expression.

"Shinjiro, did you find her?" Mitsuru asked.

"Nothing…. I couldn't find her body anywhere. Sorry." Shinjiro said, sat on a sofa.

"Sigh…" Akihiko deeply sighed. "It doesn't matter anymore. I decide to call you all because I have an important matters to discuss."

"Senpai, what would you want to tell us?" Fuuka curiously asked.

"Just…. look at this." Akihiko said, pick a key from his pocket, showed to everyone. "This is what she left."

"A key? Why would she leave something like this?" Yukari confused.

"More importantly, if she left this key to Akihiko, which means it must be an important to her." Mitsuru guessed while she was drinking tea.

"I don't know why, but I can feel that this is not a normal key." Ken said.

"But damn, it's so beautiful, guys!" Junpei felt impressed.

Akihiko ruminates for a while until he decides to speak with everyone.

"Guys, I think it's time to tell you everything…. what I experienced in my dream." Akihiko said while holding a key.

"Your dream, it's connected to this key too?" Shinjiro inquired.

Akihiko took a deep break, decide to tell the whole things, about Minako, Velvet Room, about her true self, what happened between them. He spends a lot of times, trying to clarify those things to everyone. But after he completely told everyone, the atmosphere returned to be dark, gloomy again.

No one said anything after that. They quite freaked out that Minako has been Nyx for the entire time, even only as a mind. They didn't aware that they were …. spending time together with a mindless entity that they want to defeat after all. They didn't even know that she's Minako or not. More than that, they can now access to the Velvet Room.

"But is she truly evil?" Shinjiro tried to change situation, warned everyone. "I don't think she was actually lying to us."

"I agree with Aragaki-san. If Minako-san really wants to eliminate all of us, she could just let the Fall end our life. She gained her real memories, wasn't she?" Aigis supported Shinjiro 'idea.

"Thinking back, she protected me from a Shadows while I couldn't summon a Persona that time. If she didn't really care about us, she wouldn't sacrifice herself…to stop herself…. for us." Yukari mumbles, reminisced what they cherished those moment together. "That moment we were together, it was actually fun, truly."

"Yukari…." Mitsuru looked with sadly face.

"*bark*" Koromaru seemed to agree."

"Then, how're we gonna do with a key? I didn't find any door that we can't use there. Instead, we don't know for sure if we can use a multiple Persona when we enter to the Velvet Room. Moreover, we don't quite sure what Velvet Room's door looks like either." Junpei puzzled a detail of Velvet Room.

"Iori's right. Akihiko's only one who has entered that place. We can't risk about something we can't know uncertainly without researching information." Mitsuru agreed with Junpei' thought.

But suddenly, Fuuka began to sense something around here. She thought that she lost her ability along with the Dark Hour. Her body collapsed while felt painful about her headache.

"Ack!" Fuuka screamed, making everyone freaked out.

"Yamagishi! What's wrong?" Mitsuru asked.

"Something…. Something's coming to the dorm" Fuuka shout while trying to rub her head.

"…...!" everyone seemed began to realize, standing up.

"No…way, guys. this is…" Junpei felt tense.

"But I thought our power has been erased along with the Dark Hour! How can this be?" Ken freaked out on his face.

Shinjiro, Aigis and Mitsuru tried to be hypothesized about what happened.

"Shinjiro, maybe this is…."

"Yes, Mitsuru. there's only one logical conclusion here."

"Yes, I too agree with that statement too. There's no mistake about it" Aigis confirmed.

Akihiko deeply sighed, told everyone what happened. "Because the Dark Hour is the only thing that disappeared, our Persona and a Shadow never disappear to begin with."

The rest of S.E.E.S member who didn't know about it shocked, what they heard. They thought that eliminating the Dark Hour will make a Shadow disappear along with them. But they were wrong.

Akihiko explained further "Think about it, if a Shadow only appear only in the Dark Hour, how can they-"

Mitsuru figured out what Akihiko tried to say, suddenly interrupted. "That's right! That experiment!"

Everyone her Mitsuru talked and began to understand what Akihiko said about. The experiment to bend the time by using a Shadow's power before began to downfall by their devoting for yearning Nyx.

Yukari seemed to realize about that too. "Experiment to control the time' flow…. Father…."

"Yukari…." Mitsuru worried about Yukari.

"So that means a Shadow had already existed before the Dark Hour? That explained a lot that how they can find those Shadow if the Dark Hour is lost. I always curious about that" Fuuka mumbles.

"So, everything that Minako-san told to Sanada-san is completely true…." Ken said.

But suddenly Koromaru noticed something unusual, growling to that direction.

"*growl*"

"What's the matter, Koromaru? You look not happy at all." Junpei doubted.

Shinjiro notice something wrong about Koromaru, began to look at what Koromaru was trying to growl. He saw that light-blue light began to appear!

"Everyone! Stand back!" Shinjiro warned aggressively.

Everyone hurries fell back, looking at a glowing light in that spot. A glowing light begin to shape, it's a blue door while blue light still appears under the door.

"A door?" Aigis looked confused what she saw.

"It is just me or it's just my imagining things. But does this door looks suspicious to you guys?" Yukari questioned, confused.

Fuuka told everyone what she could sense "Everyone, remember what I told you, this is a what I could sense."

*growl* Koromaru continued to growl.

"Hey, Akihiko. Is this a door you refer about? Mitsuru asked to Akihiko.

Akihko nodded "Yes, this is a door I tried to find while trying to track Minako down."

Aigis ruminate for a moment while holding her hand "That must be not a coincidence. This door appears in front of us and all of us can see that too. It must be a reason for being here."

A key in Akihiko's hand glow, surrounded around Akihiko. Those light went through Akihiko, went through into the door. Akihiko realized that it's key for unlocking that door.

Akihko considered for a long while, decide to open the door.

"I think…. our answer may lie in that door. We should open and go inside" Akihiko suggested.

"Wait! We don't know if there'll be dangerous inside that door. We should prepare before entering." Mitsuru suggested with better plan.

"But we don't have much time to prepare right now, I don't know this door will be disappear or not." Akihiko disagreed.

"Ahh…I know, Aki. but we don't really sure if that door leads to Velvet Room or not, we need to prepare what will come next. It would quite a pain in the ass if we meet a Shadow and we can't fight them." Shinjiro seemed to agree with Mitsuru.

Everyone accepted Mitsuru 'idea, nodded, picked their Evoker from silver suitcase, their weapons and been prepared to enter the door.

"We don't sure what is inside that door, are you ready, Aki" Shinjiro asked.

"Um! I'm ready" Akihiko nodded, decided to touch the door, A door slowly open itself. Everyone slowly walked into the door.

This would be a long journey for them. He wondered what will be waiting for them.