Chapter 23
Minato wasn't exactly amicable on a good day. He wasn't known for being easy to get along with, or a good listener. God forbid someone call him eloquent, he'd quietly recommend they should be checked for a concussion (and with how often Rio talked with him, he was starting to consider getting her checked for insanity).
But even for Minato, his current behavior was pretty far from the gold standard.
"Okay, Minato, I'm gonna need you to stop squirmin' like a salmon for a sec."
"I'm not squirming."
"Y' know what? You're right. You're positively vibrating. Just hold still, kid! It's not like I'm cuttin' off your leg! Though if ya don't settle down soon I'm gonna do it outta pure frustration, you punk!"
He'd known this day was coming for a long while now. It was inevitable ever since he broke his leg. Rationally, he knew this was about as dangerous as lukewarm ramen, especially since the person he was facing had many years of doctoral experience.
However, even so, Minato was really not ready to have his cast removed.
The mystery number that texted him earlier from the hospital was indeed Hashino Shoji, giving Minato notice that his cast was ready for removal in the doctor's signature 'yes it's worded strangely but trust me it's an order' way. And Minato complied (though not before adding that number to his phone's speed dial, and picking up a few items from Paulownia's item store on the way. Phone and items were currently inside a bag in a corner of the room, beneath Minato's crutches).
And no, Minato wasn't stalling. He was… questioning.
Yeah. Totally not stalling.
"Is this even your specialty?" He, er, questioned.
"Don't be stupid, 'course not." Minato stiffened here, but Shoji missed it with his back turned, rummaging through a drawer. "But since I got saddled with being the on-call doctor for S.E.E.S., yes, I've had the chance to fix a few cracked bones in my time."
"Do you know if it's ready to be removed?"
"Y' know, Minato, usually I'm pretty happy when my patients take such an interest in their health, but you're makin' me reconsider. I know because it's been the right amount of time based on the initial x-ray when you got your cast."
He sighed as Minato continued restlessly moving on the medical chair. "And for th' record, Minato..." Here Shoji raised the saw he had found in the drawer, and turned it on. He lightly pressed it to his bare arm, showing it whirring away with no damage to his skin. "…you know that this saw is designed to not hurt unless you try, yeah?"
…Ok, Minato knew he was being really irrational about this.
He stayed quiet, and the doctor took Minato's silence as a "yes, I'm ready to have my cast removed." (In reality, Minato's silence meant "Do your worst, but please make this quick," but the assumed meaning was mostly the same.) Shoji blew out another sigh, now of vague relief. "Alright then, let's get this over with. Lie down on your back for me, and extend your leg out."
For once, Minato did as he was told, turning around and (with some effort) moving his casted leg out on the chair. His white knuckles gripped onto nothing at his side as the saw cut through his cast, the whine of its pitch dropping tone as it was cut in two, and fine dust spun into the air by the high rotation of Shoji's tool of mass destruction.
Shortly, (though Minato could've sworn it was at least an hour), the cast was off, split mostly in two, and Minato found his leg being inspected by lightly poking and prodding hands.
Shoji grunted. "There, done. Why the hell didja mind that so much, anyways?"
Minato stayed silent. He tried not to think about the other times he'd been strapped down to a bed, told not to move, that it wouldn't hurt…
He was so coiled in semi-anxiety that he almost missed Shoji's next words. "Hm. Looks like ya might have a persona in you after all."
The comment was so unexpected that Minato didn't even try to mask his shock. He whipped his head around, totally losing his previous focus. "W-what?"
For his part, Shoji was still snooping around Minato's leg, removing the last portions of the cast. "Your leg is much further along the healing process than I'd expect… especially considering your previous stunt with that whatever-the-hell shadow during that train-gone-to-hell mission. And if you didn't know, personas do allow for an increased ability to heal over time, in addition to those day-a spells, or whatever you call them."
"A persona…" Minato muttered. He had hoped that he had a persona in this world (it would be cruel and unusual for him to enter this world without one), but he had considered the possibility that he was without that ability here.
He really hated that thought. But fortunately, here at least was some slight evidence that he wasn't persona-less. That was a relief.
…Why was Shoji giving him a stern look?
"Minato." The doctor's word jerked Minato back to the present, and he looked up, raising an eyebrow.
Shoji sighed, a world-weary sound (though perhaps Minato-weary was more accurate). "If you could keep your head outta the clouds for a second, I was lettin' you know that despite your remarkable recovery, ya ain't totally healed yet."
Minato's back straightened as he changed his focus again. "Why?"
"Because your leg was in a rigid plaster support for well over a month, that's why. You'll need to do some physical therapy for a hell of a while to get back to normal, and don't do anything crazy while you're healing."
Shoji's look could have cut steel, but Minato nearly scoffed. There was an extremely high chance of crazy happening, and Shoji should know that.
"And don't think you can get out of this! Your ass is grass if I hear anything about you pulling any garbage like earlier this month."
I'm pretty sure anyone's ass is grass if they disobey Shoji.
But instead of saying that, Minato replied "Understood." He flexed his leg experimentally before starting to step-
GAH!
His step didn't go as planned. Pain shot up his recently freed leg, and Minato tumbled forwards in surprise. Fortunately, Shoji's hand snagged his shirt before he fell too far, saving him from a face plant.
"I do recall saying about twenty seconds ago that you ain't fully healed," the doctor remarked, his voice dry enough to grow a cactus as he hauled a sheepish Minato back to his seat. "You gotta take it easy on that leg, don't act like it's totally normal again. And for the time bein', don't think you've escaped your crutches either."
Said crutches, innocently leaning against the wall above Minato's bag, were suddenly fixed with a withering look from the recovering boy.
Am I ever going to be rid of these damn things?!
Minato's expression must have said it all, as Shoji chuckled, walking over to them with a swish of his lab coat and plucking one from the wall. He tossed it to Minato, who caught it with one hand (swaying backwards with the awkwardness of the thrown object), but released a light sigh as he placed his hand on its now familiar gel-grip.
"You've made it perfectly clear that ya want to be outta here, so I'll just send you the physical therapy exercises. But seriously, do them. You'll thank me later." Shoji opened the door for Minato "Now get out!"
Minato obeyed, grabbing his item bag and remaining crutch from the corner of the room, holding them both at his side.
The boy waved a lazy hand as a goodbye as he left the room, awkwardly balancing the bag and crutch. "Thanks for the help, Shoji."
Shoji's gruff voice returned. "Don't mention it, kid."
THe door closed behind Minato with a light clicking noise. Now having successfully escaped the death chamber with his dignity intact (maybe), Minato dropped his bag and one crutch to whip out his phone and send a text.
To: Yamagishi Fuuka
Come to the dorm west of the Iwatodai Station tomorrow after school.
He stared at the contact for a moment, hesitating for a beat as he tried to remember when he added her number to his phone, before mentally shrugging and hitting the send button. Flipping his phone closed, he grabbed his belongings and continued his slow trek out of the hospital. He still had some errands to do to prep for the next fight…
…oh, and homework. Though he might just be able to skip that if he aced the exam…
Decisions, decisions. Minato continued musing as he unsteadily made his way out of the hospital, stubbornly only using one crutch. Because now, he wasn't totally crippled!
He glanced down at his weakened leg, and the maligned crutch he was still leaning on.
…Obviously.
Come to the dorm west of the Iwatodai Station tomorrow after school.
Arisato Minato – 7:38 PM, May 28th
It had been an entire day since she received that text, but Fuuka continued staring at her phone's screen, willing its meaning to come to the forefront. Yet despite how hard she looked, nothing was forthcoming from the simple words.
"Fuuka-chan, how long are you going to look at that text? Nothing Minato-kun says is gonna make sense, no matter how much you analyze it. Trust me, I've tried."
A glance to Fuuka's left revealed her new friend Rio (and wasn't that still really weird to say), slouching in the bench in front of Paulownia Mall with a fully drained protein shake next to her (she'd chugged it almost immediately after purchase. By the time the two arrived at the bench, it was totally empty).
"Er, it's n-not really the text that's so confusing, Rio-ch-chan…"
Fuuka almost literally kicked herself at that last stutter. It was really hard for her not to stumble on most honorifics, but she still hated how she sounded when she spoke them.
Rio turned her head to look at Fuuka, brushing some of her long hair away from her eyes with a quick flick of her hand. "Oh?"
"How did… how did Minato-k-kun's number get in my phone?"
"Oh!" Rio chuckled, turning back around as she grabbed her energy drink and attempted to drink, only to make a face at its emptiness. "Ugh, annoying. Anyways, that's because I put it in there."
Fuuka's head whipped around. "Y-you what?!"
"Well, knowing you two, it'd take about a month for one of you to even think of asking the other for their phone number, so I just sped up the process."
"Then… thanks?"
"You're welcome!" Rio gave a huge grin to Fuuka. "See, this is why you're so much more fun to hang around than Minato-kun."
"Because I thank you?"
"Because you're not totally dense like he is!"
Fuuka laughed softly at that, somehow widening her companion's smile. "I doubt he's truly dense, Rio-chan."
Fuuka blinked. Oh! No honorifics stutter!
"I bet you'd be surprised," Rio replied. "But you'll see as you get to know him better. I mean, as an example: instead of texting you, why didn't he just tell you about the whatever-it-is he texted you about today? You know, during school, when he shares a class with you? Ugh, this is what I mean by him being dense!"
Another light chuckle escaped Fuuka as she stood up, dusting off her skirt. "Well, regardless, of denseness, I should get going to meet him. Thanks for keeping me company, Rio-ch-chan."
Drat!
"Oh, it's no worry. After all, you're the one who waited for me until volleyball practice was over."
Fuuka had done that. She was worried that she was being too clingy to the raven-haired girl, especially since it seemed Minato had basically forced her into a friendship with Fuuka. But those fears were quickly dispelled when Rio came to say hi to Fuuka as soon as she gave the other players a water break. Rio had plopped herself right next to Fuuka, who had been sitting rather awkwardly on the bleachers (actually, in the same spot where Minato had helped her escape from Natsuki and her friends all that time ago), and insisted that they both go to Paulownia afterwards.
Then, Minato's sister (his total inverse to a hilarious degree) bounded up afterwards and all too cheerfully introduced herself ("Call me Hamuko-chan if you're normal, or Hamu-tan if you're a weirdo like Junpei, or just Hamuko if you're into that!"), inviting herself to Rio and Fuuka's impromptu get-together… before quickly disinviting herself. She didn't disinvite because she thought she was being rude, of course not, but instead because she had another important commitment to deal with. But, as she said told Fuuka, "Don't worry, I'll crash one of your get-togethers sometime soon!"
That wasn't paraphrasing either; Hamuko actually said that. Fuuka had to wonder: if you averaged the Arisato twins, would you get a normal person?
Dragging herself back to the present, Fuuka realized she had yet to reply to Rio. "Well, still, thank you. But I should probably get going now."
"Not without me you're not!"
Fuuka blinked at Rio.
"See, Fuuka-chan," Rio continued, rising from her seated position and snatching her empty protein shake bottle before chucking it into the recycling bin (Fuuka approved), "since it's how I met you, I'm glad that Minato-kun dragged me along with him on his last adventure – though do not tell him I said that, he'll never let me hear the end of it. But normally, I don't trust that boy to show a lady a proper good time."
Peering down at her shuffling feet, Fuuka tried to keep her rising blush down. "R-Rio-chan, I don't think Minato-k-kun would…"
"Oh, I don't mean he'd make a move on you. He's far too… I dunno, far too Minato-kun to do something like that. I just know he'll do something very weird and you'll be taken for a crazy ride, and you'll want back-up for that." Rio stretched her back with a groan, swinging her arms around in a light stretch. "Ready to go?"
I have a feeling you won't give me much choice in the matter.
And with that thought, Fuuka nodded, and the duo went on their way, past the approaching-worn doors of Paulownia and through the streets of Iwatodai. The roads were still full of people bustling about in the mid-afternoon, marching to and fro around the street, quickly heading somewhere or another. A few people were standing still, talking on cell phones or waiting in line for a payphone, while others chatted in tight circles by the side of the road, bumped and prodded by the occasional passer-by.
The two girls were quiet as they continued their walk up towards the dorm, listening to (or ignoring) the chattering white noise provided by the crowd. Fuuka was so preoccupied with watching the pedestrian activities around her that she stumbled on some chinks in the pavement, Rio catching her with one arm. The teal-haired girl looked up sheepishly, giving a quiet "thank you," before turning back to the road…
And noticing a blank-eyed man in a Kirijo-emblazoned business suit by the side of the street, arms and expression slack as he stared straight ahead at empty space.
Fuuka froze. That was textbook Apathy Syndrome: a condition that had only began occurring in Iwatodai a few months prior. It was described by symptoms of decreased interest towards everything: work, hobbies, relationships, themselves. No successful cure had been developed yet, and it was hard to test due to the lack of motivation on any of the patient's parts to get their condition cured. And perhaps scariest of all, there was essentially no notice of when Apathy Syndrome would strike you; most cases seemed to happen to people undergoing lots of stress or emotional turmoil, but other than that there was essentially no precursor to being struck with the affliction.
(So Fuuka might have gotten sucked into a huge article about Apathy Syndrome a few weeks ago…)
Rio hmmm'd beside her. "Another A.S. case. Doesn't it seem like it's been getting more frequent lately?"
It was getting more common as of late. Just last week there were 4 more confirmed cases as reported by several medical websites. The A.S. affliction rate had done the same thing last month, right up until around May 11th (perhaps a bit earlier), when many people afflicted with the condition were suddenly cured. The community was totally confused (the medicalcommunity more so) but relieved that the epidemic was over, and was just starting to relax… but now these cases were coming back.
And no one was any closer to an answer for why it was happening.
The girls steered clear of the vegetative man and continued along their way, much more subdued than before. But after several more minutes of walking (and unfortunately, another noticeable A.S. case), they came to the doors of the dorm that Minato had directed them to.
At least, they were pretty sure it was the right dorm. It seemed a safe guess, given the peppy girl who popped out of the front door as they approached.
"Yo!" Hamuko grinned as she hopped down the stairs and ran (not jogged, ran) over to the two other girls, throwing her arms wide open at her volleyball captain. "Rio-chan, what's up? C'mere, you! And heya, you must be Fuuka-chan, right?"
"Hamuko-chan, slow down, you're gonna freak her out," Rio said, rolling her eyes as she accepted Hamuko's hug. "Yeah, yeah, good to see you too."
"Actually, that's for giving my brother a friend! Good lord, you have no clue how much I've wanted him to be friends with someone. What drug did you use? Frienderall? FriendSD?"
"I may play dirty, but I wasn't going to drug your brother," Rio rolled her eyes again (Fuuka was already starting to see that becoming a pattern when talking to Hamuko). "Only thing I did was add his number into Fuuka's phone and vice-versa. Ended up being a good thing since he texted her yesterday about your meeting today."
"Rio-chan." Hamuko put her hands on Rio's shoulders, looking down for a moment before slowing raising her head to reveal her face covered in soap-opera levels of happiness, complete with Hamuko wiping away an imaginary tear of joy from her cheek. "For putting a girl's number into Mina's phone that's not you or me, I bestow a million blessings upon you and your descendants."
Rio tossed her head back and laughed at that line. After a moment, she got herself under control, shrugging off Hamuko's hand and sinking back onto a hip, shaking her head at Hamuko. "Y' know something, Hamuko-chan? You're crazy. I dunno how you stay that excited all the time naturally."
Rio clearly meant it as a friendly jab at most, but a flicker of… something glanced upon Hamuko's face at that instant. Fuuka couldn't tell what the emotion was before it got wiped away with the girl's usual smile.
"Well, you know me. But wait, did you say Mina texted Fuuka-chan yesterday? He was at school today, why didn't he just tell you?"
Rio threw her hands up in exasperation. "That's what I said!"
Shaking her head, Hamuko turned around. "Well, clearly, he's still got a lot to learn. Send me some of that frienderall if you've got any left, Rio-chan."
"I didn't drug Minato-kun! Jeez!"
Hamuko just snickered at Rio as she beckoned Fuuka towards the dorm. "Heh, whatever you say, Rio-chan. But we've gotta get this Fuuka-chan here inside, our club president wants to talk to her."
Rio cocked her head in confusion and Fuuka froze as the meaning of that set in. "Wait, isn't this the dorm that Kirijo Mitsuru runs…? Mitsuru-senpai wants to talk to Fuuka-chan?"
"Sure does! Guess Mina didn't mention that tidbit, huh?"
"Did you just say tidbit?"
"Talk to you tomorrow, Rio-chan!"
And thus, Rio was left nonplussed as Hamuko grabbed Fuuka by the elbow (good lord, what is it with these Arisatos and grabbing people?) and began dragging her towards the dorm.
"Hold up, Hamuko-chan!"
At Rio's voice, Hamuko stopped and turned around. "Yert?"
"…I'm not even going to ask about that word. Fuuka-chan." Rio looked at her, expression turning totally serious. "You sure you're ok with this?"
Fuuka hesitated, surprised, but then let out a small laugh. "Yes, Rio-ch-chan, I believe I will be just fine. Thank you for the concern though."
"Well, someone's gotta look out for you." With a swish of her black ponytail, Rio turned away, rolling up the sleeves on her jacket before tossing a wave goodbye at the other girls. "See you tomorrow, Fuuka-chan. And Hamuko-chan, don't scar her!"
"No promises!"
"Yeah, I know, that's the problem."
Fuuka smiled at the duo's antics, before following Hamuko in (well, actually, she was still being dragged in, but Fuuka just let it happen). And soon enough she was inside the well-decorated interior lobby of the S.E.E.S. dorm.
She knew the name of the mysterious club that all these people were in. Research was what she loved, after all.
"Hey dudes, gather around!" trumpeted Hamuko, finally releasing her grip on Fuuka's elbow. "Fuuka-chan's here!"
"Yeah, we can kinda see that, Hamu-tan."
The distinctive voice of Junpei came from the couch, which currently seated Junpei, Yukari (Fuuka briefly wondered why the popular girl was frowning so hard), and Minato, out of his cast and resting his leg on the table.
The other members of S.E.E.S. were also present, the (in)famous Kirijo Mitsuru seated primly in a red armchair to the side of the couch, with a small silver briefcase resting at her side. The boxing star Sanada Akihiko stood to her side, and even the S.E.E.S. club advisor and Gekkoukan High chairman Ikutsuki Shuji was present, standing at Mitsuru's other side.
So with every single member of S.E.E.S. here, it was pretty clear this meeting was S.E.E.S. related. As if it wasn't obvious from where Minato asked Fuuka to meet him.
"Oh, right." Hamuko turned to face the rest of her crew. "Well, here she is!"
Suddenly, all eyes in the room were on Fuuka like a spotlight had clicked on above her. She bowed her head in greeting, movement jerky and awkward.
"Thank you, Arisato." Mitsuru spoke up, directing her distant gaze on Fuuka. "Yamagishi, was it? Would you mind coming a bit closer?"
Actually, yes Fuuka did mind, but she didn't have much choice in the matter, did she?
So she stepped forward until she was next to the coffee table at the center of the congregation, still feeling far too much like the center of attention.
"Alright, Yamagishi, I'm sure you are wondering why Arisato Minato asked you to come here," Mitsuru continued. "And I will divulge that information momentarily. But I would like to ask that you withhold your judgments until the end of my discussion."
"A-alright, Kirijo-s-senpai."
"Mitsuru-senpai is fine. Now," Mitsuru leaned forward, expression neutral as she clasped her hands together.
"What would you say if I told you the day has more than 24 hours?"
When Minato told Fuuka to visit the dorm, she hadn't been expecting to join a cult.
It had taken a bit of time, especially with a few interjections by the other members of the club, but eventually Mitsuru finished her explanation of the "Dark Hour" and S.E.E.S.' goal to end it. Not to mention the concepts of Shadows, how they caused Apathy Syndrome, Personas… etcetera.
But there was too much unexplained for Fuuka. Her eyebrows were already furrowed as she cranked the gears of her mind, and her engine started to churn ideas.
"So your claim is that I am a persona user, and that I have the ability to call this power from within myself during the dark hour. During this dark hour, normal electronics no longer function, and shadows appear. These shadows, manifestations of people's inner turmoil or problems, can cause havoc in the world during this time, and they vary in size and shape."
Mitsuru nodded. "That is correct. For instance, the damage of the monorail train last month over the lake was, unfortunately, partially our doing, as a large shadow had taken residence in that train. It took the train over and began moving it, and we only were able to stop it at the location where it was discovered the next morning."
Fuuka knew exactly what Mitsuru spoke about. She had followed this news story about the 'Phantom Train' (as it was later dubbed) since it was such a complete and utter mystery.
On the morning of May 10th, monorail operators were baffled to come to work and discover an empty section of rail where they expected a train. Shortly afterwards, they received an equally surprised call from other operators, who had found the missing train in the middle of the tracks over the lake, scorched with burn marks and ruined with water damage (which, confusingly, appeared to have been caused by melted ice colliding with the train at high speeds). There were even rumors of fresh bloodstains on large chunks of the train, but that story was left unconfirmed, as Kirijo Group contractors arrived later that same day to remove the train from the tracks, apologizing to the public for the inconvenience and promising to replace the train with a new model.
That same night, there were also reports of stores with similarly confusing damage from high winds, despite the mild weather that night. Those stories didn't get as much publicity as the 'Phantom Train' (with a name like that, it was hard to compete), but they were just as curious. Especially given that all stores damaged by these odd circumstances were quickly given insurance money to pay off the damages… and a of bit extra research showed that this insurance money was mostly provided to people thanks to a suggestion to these insurance companies by the Kirijo Group CEO.
A train heavily damaged in odd ways in the course of one night. Similar damage appearing at other locations nearby during the same time. And Kirijo Group sponsored clean-up in both situations. Suspicious. And now, here was a club run by the Kirijo heir, claiming that this was due to her and her shadow-fighting squadron, fighting a monster with magic spells.
That would indeed check out with several facts. Perhaps the damage to the other stores were caused by other shadow activity in the area. The Kirijo Group collecting the train and prodding insurance companies to pay back shop owners damaged by their supernatural outings also made sense; they would want to cover their tracks, and keep people happy and not complaining about these odd occurrences. Not to mention, that train battle and the subsequent destruction of coincided directly with the decrease in cases of Apathy Syndrome, which they claimed were caused by Shadow activity.
But that was presuming what they said was true. And although Fuuka had nothing to disprove their statements, she still had her doubts.
She continued. "I see. So, you know that I am a persona user because of scans that Ikutsuki-san performed during this dark hour."
"Indeed." Mitsuru nodded, continuing to direct all of her attention at Fuuka.
"Then why have I never experienced this dark hour before? If I already am a persona-user, and have been for as long as you have been tracking that signal, I would guess I should have woken up during the dark hour by now. Based on your explanation, most persona users naturally wake up in the dark hour after their persona awakens within them, whether or not they are aware of it."
Mitsuru's eyebrows raised slightly at Fuuka's line of questioning. "Very perceptive, Yamagishi. Often, it is the case that a persona user will naturally awaken during the dark hour. However, given that persona users make up a very small population, it is difficult for us to discern whether that is true in all cases."
"Understood. However," Fuuka paused here for a moment. "Apologies if this is rude, but Ikutsuki-san cannot summon a persona, correct?"
The chairman nodded, arms crossed in front of him, but a thoughtful look on his face as he watched Fuuka.
"Then," she continued, "How is he able to stay awake during the dark hour? I believe you said that all normal people lose their memories during the dark hour, if they are not consumed by their shadows and become afflicted with Apathy Syndrome."
Mitsuru gave a slight nod in the teal-haired girl's direction. "Again, very astute Yamagishi. Non-persona users normally cannot recall what occurs during the Dark Hour, but if exposed enough to the dark hour, normal people can become aware of it and even can awaken regularly during it like persona users. However, given that they have no means to defend themselves, this is highly irregular, and not recommended except in special occasions."
Fuuka hummed an acknowledgment, too concentrated to register the blatant shock on the most of the others' faces as any more than a distraction. "Alright, that's understandable. Moving on, if you do believe that I am a persona user, you must want to test this hypothesis. What happens if I still do not awaken during the dark hour naturally?"
This time, a new voice responded. "Well," began Ikutsuki, "we were hoping that the presence of persona users would help facilitate your awakening during the dark hour. Perhaps your knowledge of the dark hour and the consistent presence of other persona users would hasten your awakening. However, I will admit, currently we are not sure what to do if you do not awaken during the dark hour naturally. One possibility is to remove you from your coffin, although that would require, of course, your consent if you joined us. Which does beg the question, Fuuka-san-"
"Ok, sorry, I really can't be quiet anymore." Fuuka swiveled her head to face Yukari, who finally interrupted, her disgruntled expression etched harshly into her face. "You're really assuming a lot here. She's not going to believe us on her first time, trust me. Shouldn't you be giving her some time to digest all of this?"
"No one is presuming anything about Yamagishi." Mitsuru's voice responded. Yukari turned to face the Kirijo heir, eyes narrowing further at the comment, while the redhead began to match Yukari's expression, although keeping her back straight and hands neatly folded in her lap. "We are simply wishing to explain the situation and our intents to her."
"Well, it sounds to me like you're already assuming that she's going to accept. Discussing the possibility of removing her from her coffin already? And Ikutsuki was about to immediately ask if she wants to join us."
"I understand that is a difficult choice, but it is one that we must ask she makes now. There is much to be determined from her choice here."
"Alright, this is-!"
A cough cut off the two school queens' squabble, and furrowed red and brown eyes snapped to the source of the interruption: Minato, who was faring quite well with two intense glares suddenly directed at him.
"Before you both continue guessing what Fuuka thinks, you should ask her if she wants another day of thought."
As Minato's words sunk in, Mitsuru blinked and Yukari deflated, both turning (with varying degrees of sheepishness, difficult as they were to detect from the proud girls) to face Fuuka.
And so, once again, Fuuka was the center of attention. But she was still deep in thought, processing everything she was told.
Personas… shadows… apathy syndrome. Did she believe it? Of course not, it was too much to handle.
But despite that…
She glanced up. All eyes were still on her, waiting expectantly. And it truly was all eyes: even Minato's lazy stare was fixed on her. Being the complete and total center of attention made her uncomfortable, for sure. But they looked at her. And Minato had done nothing but nice things for her so far (though, she had an ugly, nagging thought in the back of her mind, one that she would have to ask Minato about later).
Rio also trusted Minato-kun, enough to where she let him drag her into a back alley all alone, without him even telling her what he was doing. Admittedly, Rio didn't know about the crazy things Minato supposedly believed, but that still spoke volumes.
Fuuka completely trusted Rio. Rio completely trusted Minato. Minato brought Fuuka here. And here was a place where she was actually wanted.
However, these people were insane. As much as Fuuka wanted to experience more of this foreign, uncomfortable feeling of people wanting her around… it would be reckless to fully join them immediately. And that was presuming what they said was true. It could be possible that they were lying, and this was all a cover for something else… but even if that was the case, Fuuka wanted to get to the bottom of this.
So, a compromise.
Fuuka took a breath. "I don't need another day. Frankly, I don't believe everything you're saying… but I'm willing to join S.E.E.S. club meetings, though I would prefer them to be at school. I presume you would normally want me to live here, at this dorm, but I want to stay at home for the time being."
Because she might be ignored and lonely at home… but she was, at least, safe. And Fuuka would like to be as safe as she could while joining a cult, even one as seemingly nice (and well-funded, just look at that spotless plush carpet) as this one.
At that phrase, Mitsuru and Ikutsuki glanced at each other, and Yukari's eyes widened.
"…That is… understandable," the redhead began, glancing back at Fuuka. "That should work just fine. Normally I understand that what we are discussing is hard to believe, but I appreciate you attempting to be open about this at all."
Fuuka offered a tremulous smile. "N-not a problem. But if I'll be joining the club, how should I describe its, er, activities to my parents?"
Because she knew they would ask why she wasn't home, starting to study, of course.
Now, Mitsuru and Akihiko made eye contact, and after a moment, both cracked a smile.
Akihiko shrugged, cocking his head slightly. "Why not go with the usual?"
Pausing, Mitsuru considered, before allowing herself a brief, amused sigh. "Very well. Speaking technically, S.E.E.S. is a club 'focusing on the continuing safety and health of the people living in the Iwatodai and Port Island area, while ensuring the same as well as the continued education of its members.' I would tell your parents the same thing."
"Huh." Junpei was deep in his hard thinking pose, face contorted in consideration. He raised his hat slightly to scratch his head underneath. "I guess that is our true goal, isn't it?"
"Indeed it is, Iori." Mitsuru turned her focus back to Fuuka. "Very well. I shall require you to ask your parents for permission, but I shall leave that discussion to you. Please alert me when you contact them so the necessary paperwork can be filled out."
I don't think they'll care at all if they know it's a club run by Kirijo Mitsuru.
Fuuka nodded, and Mitsuru stood from her chair, nodding at the group. "Excellent. In that case, this meeting is adjourned. I shall go upstairs and prepare a plan for how we shall bring Yamagishi up to speed in terms of training, as well as a plan for when she awakens her persona. Chairman?"
"Right behind you. I've already drafted up plans in the event of Yamagishi-san joining us, though I will make some adjustments as I assumed she would be starting to live with us."
"A-ah," Fuuka winced, glancing away and fidgeting with her pointer finger. "I apologize about that…"
"Oh, not at all." Ikutsuki had already donned a look of quiet respect when she raised her head to look at him. "I certainly wish that you were more accepting of the topics we discussed. However, your decision to join our meetings but not live with us, when we have provided no proof of what we say, is an admirable compromise. In fact, it is very kind and open-minded of you to even consider joining us at all." He chuckled, gently resting his hands inside the pockets of his blazer. "Combining your gentle nature with your sharp intellect… Well, I am expecting great things from you, Fuuka-san. I may very well ask for some help from you later."
At that statement, Minato's eyes swept across the room to focus on Ikutsuki, narrowing for a moment before darting back to the ground.
That was confusing, but Fuuka was starting to get used to it.
"One last thing, Yamagishi." Mitsuru turned and gently picked up the silver briefcase by her side with one hand. "I want you to take this briefcase. I would keep this in a safe location close to where you sleep at night." Mitsuru briefly revealed a small, wry smile. "Normally, I would ask that you not open the contents of the briefcase before we direct you to, but in this case, I have a feeling we should explain before you open it yourself."
Fuuka couldn't really reply to that. She herself wasn't sure how quickly she would crack under her own curiosity.
Mitsuru clicked open the case, revealing a S.E.E.S. armband, a holster, and most alarmingly, a silver gun. Fuuka drew backwards, eyes widening as shock and some fear began to descend upon her, but Mitsuru held out a hand. "Please hold for a moment. Despite appearances, this is not a gun. It is incapable of firing bullets, and is only dangerous when wielded by a persona user. This is what we call an evoker, and it is what we use to summon our personas. When the time comes, we shall explain more of its use to you, but for now, I want you to keep it. In the event of you awakening during the dark hour away from this dorm, you should have some means of protection, and this is a very good option."
Fuuka nodded slowly, and Mitsuru continued. "Thank you, Yamagishi. Now, since you will be staying at home, we do need to provide you with a methods of contacting us in the previously mentioned event where you awaken to the dark hour away from the dorm. I believe the best option is a phone, since we have designed some to function during the dark hour."
Fuuka's eyebrows sank in confusion. "You have the ability to make certain electronic objects function during the dark hour? How?"
"I believe that is a discussion for another time." Another short smile snuck its way onto Mitsuru's face. "And when we give it to you, I would ask that you refrain from tinkering with the phone while you are living at home, Yamagishi."
Fuuka looked to the side, slightly sheepish. Guilty as charged, again.
With all of the formalities out of the way, Mitsuru rose from her chair. "As the chairman mentioned earlier, I sincerely appreciate your willingness to be open to what we discussed today. I understand it is incredibly difficult to believe, and I too appreciate your generosity in considering the truth in our words at all. I shall be seeing you at school, during the next club meeting. I shall schedule that club meeting shortly, and one of our members will inform you of that date."
Fuuka nodded, and Mitsuru replied in kind. "Thank you once again for your time."
Turning on a heel, the Kirijo heir exited the room and began heading up the stairs, Ikutsuki and Akihiko moving to do the same slightly behind Mitsuru.
As soon as the trio disappeared from view, Yukari turned to Fuuka, brushing her bangs to the side to reveal her expression, eyebrows still drawn together and mouth pointed downwards.
"Are you really sure you're ok with this?" Yukari grimaced even harder. "I don't want you to feel like you have to just because Mitsuru-senpai was making an offer."
Fuuka tilted her head, digesting the other girl's sentence. "Ah, no, th-thank you for the concern, Yukari-s-san, but that really wasn't why I accepted this."
Yukari stared for another moment longer at the girl, seemingly wanting something to say something else… but before she could, an arm draped over her shoulders and Hamuko started cooing at her.
"Aww, is Yukari-chan jealous? Don't worry, I pwomise to keep looking after you!"
Yukari's eyes cut across to the auburn-haired girl hanging off her, narrowing again before shrugging off the girl's arm and turning away, stalking back towards the stairs. "Not now, Hamuko-chan…"
The remaining S.E.E.S. members (though Fuuka supposed she should now include herself in that) seemed surprised, but it was Hamuko's face that Fuuka zeroed in on, noticing once again the fast-as-thought flicker of something across her face before it was wiped away. Fuuka glanced at Minato, hoping for some clarification, but he gave no reaction at all, not even the slight micro-reactions that Fuuka had noticed occasionally from the boy when he was trying to mask his emotions.
Did no one else really see that?
But then Hamuko darted off after the other junior, saying more serious apologies while Junpei just shook his head. "Ah, girls… weird as ever." He then turned his attention to Fuuka. "Just wanted to say 'hey', Fuuka-tan." He halted himself for a moment, digesting that before a delighted, bright as a sunbeam grin appeared on his face. "Hey, that works really well!" He glanced back down at Fuuka, patiently waiting for him to finish his internal dialogue. "Er, sorry. Anyways, glad you'll be joining us, even just for the meetings. It'll be awesome to have a new badass girl on the team."
Maybe Fuuka was already starting to go crazy. She was fairly confident she just heard someone call her… badass?
"I, er, I'm definitely not a b-bad a-a-a-ass, Junpei-kun."
"Ha! You kidding? Did you see the way you were questioning Mitsuru-senpai and the Chairman? Holy cow, if that's not badass, don't show me what is, my eyes won't be able to take it!"
Fuuka just stared at him, unsure of how to react. "I… that was simply fact checking. It's a p-pretty common research thing."
"Ahh ok, so you're a researcher, huh?" Junpei looked up in thought and lost himself in the jungles of his imagination again, while Fuuka was lost to him in the underbrush. "A badass researcher... yeah, I like the sound of that." Remembering his audience, he looked back down. "Well, regardless, it's good to have ya here, Fuuka-chan. I betcha you'll come to see how cool you are in time."
And with an abrupt wave goodbye. Junpei gave one passing farewell grin before turning on his heel and heading up the steps, following the noise of Yukari and Hamuko (mostly Hamuko) talking above.
That left only Minato and Fuuka. And that put the newest member of S.E.E.S. in a position that she really did not want to be in.
Because she had a question to ask, only for Minato's ears.
Fuuka really didn't want to ask this. She would almost rather take a biology final than do this (yes, even an advanced one). Yet she had to. Because during the explanation of all these crazy possibilities and events, there was one other thought that she had. And if she didn't get it out of her mind, it would eat her alive.
She took a gulp of air, drowning in anxiety.
"Minato-k-kun…"
At her words, the boy turned his head in her direction. She hesitated, licking her lips, eyes set steadfastly at a very interesting blank spot on the wall facing away from Minato.
"Did… did you, um… did you only t-talk to me because I was a p-persona user?"
Minato remained silent after the question, and quiet remained supreme for several long moments as the boy thought. Fuuka stood still as a statue, willing herself to show no emotion (and for God's sake, please no fear). But at last, he sighed through his nose, blowing an errant strand of hair up before it gently landed on the same spot where it started.
Then he spoke.
"I talked to you because you're a persona user. But I befriended you because you're Fuuka."
His words took a moment to sink in. But when they did, the teal-haired girl snapped her head around, jaw agape as she stared at the boy, whose gaze remained steadfastly forward.
After a pause, he turned to meet the girl's stunned expression, before tilting his head at the stairs. "You should go and meet the others. I know Hamu would love to talk."
"…Uh, er, r-right. Th-thanks, Minato-k-k-kun."
In a daze, Fuuka stood up and meandered forward, legs moving forward while her mind was in the past, repeating the boy's simple words over and over.
I befriended you because you're Fuuka.
I befriended you because you're Fuuka.
I befriended you because you're Fuuka.
And as Minato watched Fuuka walk away, he couldn't help but enjoy the warm, pleased feeling rising up his chest. Because with all the posturing and pretending he was doing, it felt damn good to tell someone he cared for the whole, undeniable truth.
AN:
(Updated on Oct. 20 2018 to update my beta's username/links)
That cast saw thing that I have Shoji use? Surprisingly, it's not made up! Apparently, the saws that doctors use to cut off casts are designed to not cut through skin. I have no idea how they do it, but it's pretty damn cool!
Thanks also to reviewer blarg7865 for reminding me that there was an entire train destroyed in chapter 18/19, and people definitely would've noticed. It fit in nicely here to help convince Fuuka there was a possibility of these crazy people being right, so I added that reference here.
Also, I was a bit of a butt this week and didn't get this chapter ready in time for my beta, DisasterNoj, to edit it for grammar... so this chapter actually doesn't have his grammatical help. If you're having trouble reading this, I apologize as that is certainly why. But go ahead and check out his work at www(point)disasternoj(point)tumblr(point)com, or at www(point)archiveofourown(point)org/users/Disasternoj.
Shout-outs to:
rotkrotk, Bloodhiles, Akugitsune328, Tower Knight, NigmaShady, Maximusace9, Fujinami, TheJasoMaster, WafflesRUs17, FyeFlourite, Fellowman, and Revontulitikku for following;
rotkrotk, OathkeeperRoxasXNamine09, CPU Azure, Bloodhiles, Akugitsune328, NigmaShady, Maximusace9, TheJasoMaster, WafflesRUs17, FyeFlourite, Fellowman, and Revontulitikku for faving;
and Bloodhiles, Biscione, and KageFuego4 for reviewing!
I am in a rush this morning once again, and especially since I didn't give MasterNoj enough time to read through this, I want to apologize in advance for any errors I didn't catch.
Other than that, not much else to say this time. But as always, thanks for reading everyone, and I'll see you all in the next update!