9/1 - Tue - Gekkoukan High - rooftop - morning
Shizuka pushes open the door to the roof. The autumn wind brushes past my face, pulling my hair back. Shizuka's long black hair sways as she stares out at the city. She leaps into the air, landing on the thin rail.
"From here, I can sense something. However, its power is vague, but I can sense an ethereal presence." Amazing, even I'm having a difficult time sensing anything from here. Without Lucina, I can only vaguely make it out, but even then, I can tell that it's coming from the city. "There are several bodies on the ground, just like the others in the classrooms."
Before we came here, we investigated the other classes, only to find everyone asleep, including our senpai. No matter what we did, they never woke up. Whatever is doing this holds great magical power, and it's surging from downtown to the school.
"We're heading to the dorm first. I need your analytical abilities."
Of course. Without that, I would be useless for the fight we would be facing.
"But how are we going to reach the dorm? The monorail is probably–"
Wait! If everyone is asleep, then who's operating it!?
"Mostly likely no longer operable." She must've figured that out a while ago since she doesn't sound too shocked. "We'll have to go on foot."
I know we have no choice, but as embarrassing as it sounds, I'm…weak when it comes to running, not to mention slow.
"Shizuka-san, I…"
She comes down from the rail, landing perfectly on her feet. "Since you're weaker, I'll carry you." Well, you didn't have to say it like that! Then again, she is right… Maybe I should start exercising? "...Come on, we don't have much time."
"Oh, r-right!"
Now's not the time to be lost in thought. We need to end all of this as soon as possible. I'll do everything in my power to save everyone. Although…why do I have to get on her back, especially since we're on the roof?
Regardless, I get on her back, wrapping my arm around her neck and her arms secure my legs.
"Hang on tight."
"I can walk downstairs."
"We'd be wasting time. This is faster."
"What–"
She kicks off into the air, leaping over the safety rail. Air rushes past as we descend from the sky, screaming my lungs out. Once we touch the ground, we're going to die!
Our fall ends with a hard thump, shaking up everything in my body… We're…not dead? We're not dead! Oh, thank goodness!
"Are you okay?" she asks, keeping her head forward.
"Y-yes! But did we need to jump off the building like that!?"
"As I said, it was the fastest. Now hold on."
"Wait, le–"
She speeds off, cutting past the entrance in less than a few seconds. My eyes aren't able to keep up with the escalation in speed. Shutting my eyes is all I can do to keep myself from vomiting.
Going this fast shouldn't be possible, even with buffs. Actually, she's never shown off her Persona abilities. Even trying to feel its presence yields nothing. But it's weird; there's nothing, yet something…
"Shizuka-san, do you…"
"What is it?"
"Nothing, never mind."
I don't have the right to ask her. Me and her can't even be called friends, not that I hate her, it's just… I don't know, maybe I'm complaining about nothing. Either way, I'll try to keep my curiosity to myself.
"Yamaguchi, do you sense anything?"
Sensing anything at this speed is impossible.
"We need to stop so I can start sensing."
Her momentum came to a full stop. My body rocks forward but her grip keeps me from flying off.
We're on top of the monorail, a mile away from the school now.
"Amazing. It's barely been 10 minutes since we left."
"Amazing?"
"Yeah. You're really amazing! Not only are you fast, but you're incredibly strong… I wish I was like that, too."
Shizuka-san's face sullens, irritated by my comment. "How asinine."
"Huh?"
Her expressionless features return. "We're wasting time. Start searching."
A sharp, yet critical glare pierces my nerves. They're more animated than usual, but that makes them even scarier.
"Right! I'll do the best I can!"
This is going to be hard, but without an Evoker, I can use a bit of Lucia's power. I need to sink into my mind, deep in. It's like drowning in a bottomless sea. Eventually, the noise fades, light stops reaching the bottom, and I'm all alone. However, losing all these senses, my sixth sense awakens…
Wha–what is this…? This isn't a Shadow, or a human! This is too…too unnatural!
"Shi-Shizuka-san, t-this isn't normal!"
"I know. That's because it's a demon."
Demon!?
Then, a sudden presence strikes me. From below!? How can that– Wait, we're over the ocean right now…!
"Shizuka-san!"
The monorail tracks cave in from below. Rubble and steel beams burst into the air. Shizuka-san's hands wrap around my back, lifting me. She takes to the air before the tracks we were standing on were torn to pieces.
In the ocean, shadows unlike any I've ever seen tear through the ocean. Their bodies are similar to koi fish, but their multiple bulging eyes and malformed mouths give a more disturbing image than regular shadows. But are they even shadows? They don't have a mask on their person and they feel evil.
"Shit!" I've only heard her curse rarely, and even then, nothing good comes of it. "Hold on to me!"
We sink from the air to the water. With those things in there, we'll die if we land in the ocean. However, Shizuka-san lands on top of one of them. Its swimming speed is ridiculous, from the monorail to the moonlight bridge, it's covering so much land. Though, as fascinating as it is, I'm starting to hate going this fast.
"Yamagishi, get ready to–"
Another presence goes off. Three more monsters fly out of the water, soaring above us.
Once again, Shizuka-san leaps to a dizzying height. We land on another one. Taking to the air, moving faster than we should, it's giving me a headache, and no matter how you see it, we're at the mercy of these things. Getting out of the water is our only option. With this splitting headache, I can't judge the distance well, but we should be 500 yards, give or take.
The monsters behind us jump out of the sea, hovering above us. It's going to crush us!
"We have to move!"
"I know!"
Shizuka-san squats. Her muscles betray the slender build that she usually has, taking me by surprise. Her grip around me tightens, squeezing me with the muscle in her biceps. Exploding off the back of the monster, we shoot through the air, rattling my brain and the rest of my innards, soaring upward to the moonlight bridge.
"That was a close shave," Shizuka says, sweat rolling down her cheek. "...Barely sensed their approach. As if they came out of nowhere."
"Me too. I doubt they were hiding their presence in the sea; even in there, I was able to sense them."
Plus, I had no trouble picking them up once I realized they were there, so it makes no sense why they would've been able to hide from me earlier.
"I suspect someone made the demon appear to halt us."
Someone created that thing!? But it felt so inhuman, unlike Personas or even Shadows. Something like that being man-made is unthinkable. Yet, she might not be wrong. It suddenly appeared out of thin air. I didn't sense a human presence though, so what could've made those things?
"We're almost at the dorm. Can you keep going?"
With a sharp exhale, I face her. "Yeah, I can continue."
It doesn't matter. Her speed makes me sick, but if it means saving everyone, I'll get over it.
"Fine, but I'll make sure to go slower."
"Slower?"
"What? Wouldn't that be more comfortable?"
"Um, no, I mean, yes! But how did you know?"
"Your face says it all." I turn from her, trying to hide my face from her. My face is burning hotter, embarrassing me even more. "What's the point in hiding it now? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no! I'm f-fine! It's just… I don't want to be a burden to you is all."
"Slowing down my pace isn't an issue, so I doubt it would be much of a burden…"
Her calm demeanor, along with her confidence in her abilities offsets her from me. All this time she had to carry me around, helping me to keep up, and if it weren't for her, I'd be dead. No matter how I look at it, what right do I have to complain? It's thanks to her superhuman physical prowess that I'm even able to be here…
"Let's keep going at the same pace."
"Are you sure?" she asks, showing no concern for my choice.
"I'm sure… We don't have time to worry about my well-being."
Shizuka-san doesn't raise any further argument, instead turning her back to me. "Then climb on." I climb on as instructed, wrapping my arms around her neck, and tightening the grip my legs have on her stomach. "We'll arrive at the dorm in a few moments, so endure this for a little longer."
She suddenly kicks off, racing across the moonlight bridge. My brain rattles inside my skull, nauseating me to no end.
…/Kazuki
"Kazuki-kun, now!"
My katana rips through the shadow's liquid body, splitting it into halves. It lets out a ghastly cry before fading into nothingness… I did it, I defeated the last Full-Moon Shadow!
"Kazuki-kun, you did it!"
I did, I did!
Everyone from SEES surrounds me, congratulating me, and praising me, even Aigis is telling me what a good job I did. All of them, everyone is praising me. They all love me…
"How revolting."
Crack. The sky shatters like glass, dispelling the false sky above, then, everyone freezes, breaking apart from the seams, like patchwork dolls coming apart. They disperse when they hit the ground, turning into lumps of clay, and melting into the ground. The world around me turns gray, losing its character. I. alone, am the only being that exists… Oddly enough, I feel nothing. Did I break along with the world, or did the world alone break?
Gekkoukan High School - Class: 2-E - morning - Kazuki
I jump out of my seat, hitting my ass on the floor… Ow! I swear, that's gonna leave a sore down there… Huh? Everyone, the teacher, my classmates, everyone is asleep, sprawled on the floor or their seats. Fuu-chan and Shizuka are missing. Is this an attack or something? Did someone take them…!? Hold on, if it's Shizuka, then I doubt someone could've done that; they'd need to be either brave or stupid to try.
"Hey, are you okay…?" Shaking one of my classmates, they're unresponsive. "What's going on? It's not the Dark Hour, that's for sure. But how the hell do you explain this?" Wish I had Shizuka to fill in the blanks. Seeing how she's smarter than me, she'd be able to tell me, or Fuu-chan… Someone smarter than me! I know someone else like that! I barge out of my homerun, running to the third-year's floor. Opening the door to Kirijo-senpai's class, she's unconscious on the ground.
"Senpai!"
Patting her shoulder does nothing. Though, I don't know if I'm glad about that or not? Pinching her might wake her up. Although, the idea doesn't sound all that great to me. So, I'm completely alone…
I sit on an empty desk, slumped on ideas. What do I do now? No one is waking up, and Fuu-chan and Shizuka are missing, and I'm alone… Ah! I'm such an idiot! I can just use my phone!
Flipping it open, I have reception! Oh, yes! I punch in Fuu-chan's phone, waiting for her to pick up. Whatever is going on, the two of them must've left to investigate, that's the only way I can see them being missing. For now, I'll get ahold of them and try to link up somewhere.
As I wait for the other end to connect, the classroom door slides open. I turn around to see who it is.
Standing in the doorway, soaked in blood, a malformed monster, its head like a worm, but its body that of a human. Its legs are strained, trying to carry its upper body, and the eyes stare down at me near its mouth, constantly gasping for air. My breath runs short… Wha–what the hell is that thing?
"You…Ka…Ka…kA…KA…KAZUKI KEI!" Is this thing a shadow? Then where's the mask? "KILL YOU!"
"Who's blood is that?" A question that slips out of my mouth. It in itself scares me, chilling my entire body to the very bone. "Who's blood is that!?"
"Stu…stu-dent… Tasty!"
Something in my brain snaps. Maybe my sense of reality or perhaps my sanity, but I know something is missing. It…ate someone?
"Who did you eat?"
"Girl…Ta…ta…At…TAAAAAAA….TAAAAAASTY!"
The– No way… No, it couldn't have! This disgusting…thing…! This goddamn abomination!
"You… Piece of shit!"
Rage echoes from my lungs, and my Persona answers the call. Darting toward him. The creature's mouth contracts, then shoots at me with the force of a bullet leaving a gun. It grows wider, pushing Janus out of the way. Ripping apart the ground and ceiling with just the force of its forward momentum. Baring its jagged teeth, it's getting ready to take a bite out of me. Blood dirtied its teeth, and there is a… Gekkoukan badge!
The monster closes its mouth, biting down on me using its bloodied teeth. But, that's what I wanted this thing to do. Disgusting. Holding this thing's jaw open is the worst. The smell from this monster is putrid, wafting into my nose.
"We're going outside, you disgusting bastard!"
Power surges through my body, filling me with inhuman power. Twist and turning, I shift my weight and use all the strength in my arms to slam him out of the building. I follow behind it, ready to smash its guts the moment it hits the ground. Debris hits the ground, and so does the monster, with me about to tear its ass apart.
"YOU MEAN!"
Its arm whips at me, forming another mouth. It reaches out for me, flying at me. I punch the head of the mouth, composed of muscle, steering it away from me and launching me over it. That little diversion gave it time to run from me.
"Come back here!"
This thing is slower than me. Catching it shouldn't be a problem.
"STAY WAY, MEAN KAZUKI!"
Another mouth forms from its back, formed by its back muscle. I take to the air, soaring above the monster. This thing could probably form a mouth everywhere on its body and launch it. But they aren't that fast, so getting close enough shouldn't be a problem. Speeding down the campus, I'm attacked by extended mouths, dodging and deflecting every attack sent at me.
This thing is using its mouths to keep me at a distance while it runs, and seeing how it isn't human, it probably has loads of stamina. I can run for a long time too, but Shadow-mog doesn't last long. Taking too long is gonna bite me in the ass, so rushing this thing sounds like my only option.
Accelerating in speed, I speed across the campus, evading the dozens of mouths it sicks on me. They smash the school walls, crushing the stone to dust. Finally, passing its mouths, I'm close enough to strike.
"STA… AWAY!"
It morphs its whole body into an enormous mouth, stretching wider than a mouth should, overshadowing me, priming to eat me whole. Closing its mouth, its teeth, reaching closer to my body. Those jagged that had ripped through flesh will rip through mine as well, and I'll… No! Not yet!
In that brief window of life and death, a moment that could pass by in the blink of an eye, I drive my fist toward its upper teeth. My knuckles crush them, turning them into dust. The monster whales out, giving a disgusting cry that hurts my ears. Time to shut this thing up!
With more of my strength, I punch through its guns, ripping its body apart with my sheer strength. More, and more, I'll keep tearing this thing apart from the inside until it can't form any more mouths to feast with. Its cries are drowned from the smashing, tearing, and ripping of its body, pressing forward until… A bloody mess, nothing about it can resemble a monster, just a mess…
"Did…did I win?" Suddenly, my head cleared up enough to remember why I was angry. "Fuu-chan!"
I dig into my pocket for my phone. Punching in her number again, I wait with bated breath, hoping, praying she answers it. Come on, please tell me this thing didn't get you. Please…
"Kazuki-kun?"
It's her! She's alive, she's alive!
"Fuu-chan! You're okay!?"
"I am, but how are you awake?"
"I…I don't know. Everyone else is asleep right now. Where are you? Are you with Shizuka?"
"Yes! We're heading to the dorm."
So she is with Shizuka. Good, good… And of course, the dorm is the best place to meet up and gather information, so going there is a no-brainer.
"Alright, I meet you there."
"Okay, but Kazuki-kun, be careful on your way here. Monsters are roaming around, and they're not Shadows. Also, you'll have to take the moonlight bridge; the monorail was destroyed."
"Got you. I'll be careful. Fuu-chan… Please stay safe."
"You, too."
We hang up on each other, leaving me with that satisfying click at the end.
"She's okay… She's really okay…"
All the built-up stress makes its way through my throat, coupled with a sense of relief. It's not nausea, not the urge to puke, but the urge to laugh. My lungs expel oxygen, wasting it all. My body rocks back and forth, and my head feels empty. It's not her, thank you, God. I thought…I thought I…
"W-why am I…laughing?"
My head is foggy, and a putrid smell wafts into my nose, worsening my headache. In front of me, the body of a monster sits, emitting that smell.
"Why, why did I…?"
I didn't mean to do this. It was just, I just wanted to win, so I– This isn't right, this is not right! Fighting like that, that wasn't me, not at all!
"No, it was just a monster. That's all it was."
No time to waste, I needed to get to the dorm. My feet slug forward, moving past the monster's body, heading for the school exit. Fuuka is waiting for me… I need to get to her.