It takes about a half an hour of the four of you talking around her before Koharu, sitting on the end stool at the counter of your favorite beef bowl place, decides to speak up.
"So…you're all serious about this, then?"
Mariko perks up at the sound her voice. It'd been a little over a week since you returned from your trip, and today was the first time Koharu had responded to any of your invitations to hang out.
"Nah, more of a hobby, really," says Hayate without looking up from the book in front of him.
"Not what I mean, smartass," says Koharu. "I mean about wanting me to do this Shadow hunting thing with you."
"Why not?" asks Mariko. "You know what we're up against now. We could always use a little extra help."
Koharu frowns at her beef bowl. She's barely eaten anything since you got there. "I tried to kill you. And now you're going to ask me to help?"
"So did I," says Mariko.
"Same," chimes in Hayate.
"I don't think you should treat that Shadow like it's who you really are. The only thing that really matters is who you think you are," Mariko continues.
"Is it, though? I still wrote those things in the Book of Avalon. I still wanted all of you to…to go away during the trip. Those feelings were real. The feelings you entered in the Book were probably real, too. Putting aside whether I should be here for a moment – I don't even know if I want to be here."
Everyone falls silent and starts to study their food. It wasn't exactly an answer you expected, but you can understand where she's coming from.
"In the end, it's up to you, I guess. We're not going to force you to do anything, especially something like this. To be honest, sometimes it's still a lot for me to take in, too," you say.
Koharu chews on her bottom lip. "I really don't get how you can talk about all this so casually. Do...do any of you have any idea just how dangerous what you're doing really is? Have you ever stopped and thought about whether it's really your job to fix this?"
Hayate closes a notebook he's been writing in and leans over. "Hate to say it, but she's got a point. Kind of. You do remember we're on the Yatabuya's shit list now, right? I can't be going to school every day wondering whether I'm about to get jumped. We're in some pretty deep shit."
"I've been thinking about that, too," says Mariko. "But all the same, I don't think I'd stop now. We can do things almost no one else can, and we've saved three people so far. We're making a difference."
"I'm not about to quit," you say.
"Me neither, but that's not really what I'm saying. I think that if we're going to keep doing this, it'd be nice to have a plan for dealing with the criminals that want to kill us, y'know?"Hayate says, gesticulating with his hands for emphasis.
"It's a shame Nightmare c-can't help us," says Nisekao, absentmindedly swirling a couple noodles around in his bowl.
"I know, but it's not like it'd make a difference if they could. Their Personas are just as useful as ours in this world. We've gotta come up with something else," you say.
"You see why someone might be just a bit hesitant to get involved with you?" says Koharu, propping her head up on a fist and regarding you skeptically.
"Hey, do you have any bright ideas, or are you just here to act smart?" says Hayate.
"Just making a point. And I'm here to make up my mind. Trust me, there are plenty of things I could be doing instead."
"Ah, yes. Like reading online manga or drawing long-haired shirtless dudes."
Koharu snorts indignantly. "If that were true, I'd still have more going for me than you do."
"Oh my God, shut up, please," you say, putting your hands up. "Listen, if we're going to end up working together, we're gonna have to put a stop to this nonsense. I get that things are stressful right now, but…leave the rest of us out of whatever this is."
Koharu and Hayate exchange glares, but (thankfully) go silent.
"Better. Now, I feel like any solution we come up with right now isn't going to be perfect. It seems like the only way we're really going to get clear of all this is to get rid of the Yatabuya, and that's way more easily said than done.
"Koharu. Like I said, whether or not you want to join the Sleepwalkers is up to you. One hundred percent. When you're ready to make a decision, just let one of us know. But…we can't wait for you. You get that, right?"
She nods without meeting your eyes.
"All right. Just as long as we're on the same page. On the other hand, I think I might know someone who could help protect us around school and might be able to help us make some progress against the Yatabuya. Although…"
Hayate and Mariko exchange glances. "Although…?"
"It might be tough to get him to help us without telling him some things."
"Tetsuo," Mariko says, "you're sure about this?"
You shrug. "Unless you have a better idea."
• • • • • •
"And that brings us to the Disciplinary Committee. Take it away, Shibutani-kun," says Saito, shuffling a stack of papers in front of him. Beside you, Shibutani rises. His brow is furrowed, lips pursed tightly.
"Of course, thank you." He turns to address the other Student Council members seated around you. "To begin, I'm pleased to report that the number of incident referrals has dropped by 15 percent from last month." Several members mumble sounds of approval and nod their heads noncommittally.
"All right, great news, Shibutani-kun! Go on," says Saito. Shibutani clears his throat.
"However…of those referrals, all but twelve of them are related to Yatabuya activities – twenty-six more than last month."
Strangely, this elicits almost no reaction from the other councilmembers. You'd have thought he'd said exactly the opposite. Shibutani seems to have noticed as well. He goes on, speaking somewhat louder.
"Fourteen accounts of extortion, nearly thirty detailing out-and-out assault! And those are just the ones occurring during school hours!"
Saito tents his fingers pensively. "It's still getting worse, then. And they're getting bolder, too. What do you propose, Shibutani-kun?"
Shibutani sighs. For the first time since you've known him, he looks tired. "Although I am loathe to admit it, this infestation of degeneracy has surpassed the scope of the committee's ability." He suddenly bows so deeply, his nose almost touches his knees. "I implore you to make a plea to Principal Handa for a police presence at Toshima! Its students can no longer be asked to contain the presence of a criminal organization!"
From where you're sitting, you notice pearls of wetness pool in the corner of Shibutani's always beady, onyx eyes.
"Shigesato, have a seat," says Saito, calm as can be. "I understand that it can't have been easy to say that. But the truth of the matter is that I've already spoken to Principal Handa about the gangs on campus on multiple occasions by now."
"And nothing has been done?"
"I wouldn't say that. I'm positive he wouldn't ignore something like this. But a police presence might simply be asking too much. Toshima is a large city, and I doubt our school is the only place where the Yatabuya are active. Unfortunately, Shibutani-kun, I'm afraid we've been left to our own devices for the time being. It pains me that this is the only advice I can offer, but I must ask you to continue your diligent surveillance until circumstances change."
"Are you serious?" you hear yourself saying. "He just said there's nothing we can do! These people are-" You stop just short of saying anything about the Clouds. Saito raises an eyebrow, as if just realizing you were there. To be fair, it's also the first time you've said more than two words during one of these meetings.
"These people are insane. They're not afraid of anything, not us, not the principal, and probably not the police. You've got to talk to Handa again."
A few exasperated sighs escape the lips of some of the councilmembers around you. What is wrong with these people?
Saito swallows before speaking again. "Katsuji-kun, right? You're new, but I hope I haven't given you the impression that we don't care about the safety of Toshima's students. I do plan to speak with Principal Handa again after the meeting. But we've done this before, and I wouldn't hold out hope for a different result than last time. At the very least, you should take pride in the fact that you're exceptional role models for the rest of the school. I'd like to think that counts for something."
"I suppose…" you say. Shibutani stares at the open binder in front of him as if expecting to find the answers to your problem in it.
"An optimistic attitude goes a long way. Even the most difficult problems are solvable one way or another. With that said, let's move on to the Treasurer's report…"
"Hey, are you all right?" you ask Shibutani as the two of you descend the stairs after the meeting. He's unusually pensive, and his eyes haven't left his immaculately tied laces since you left. He stops, and sits down heavily on the steps.
"I must apologize to you, Katsuji-kun."
"For…?"
"For getting you involved in such an insurmountable task. I chose to leverage your punishment for my own gain, and in turn, I've put you in a dangerous situation. What you said during the meeting was correct. Discipline means nothing to these wretches. If you continue to fight with me, I fear you may find this to be more than you can handle."
"What if I said it wasn't?"
Shibutani raises a skeptical eyebrow. "Katsuji, the Yatabuya are a criminal organization. Your courage is…admirable, but ultimately misplaced, I'm afraid. I'm not going to hold you to any further obligation to handle the matter, you know."
"No, no, you don't get it. They're…different, but not the way you think. Just hear me out."
And so, in too deep to back down now, you tell Shibutani what you about the Yatabuya, and the way they've been using Shadows to spread their influence. He listens to your story with a stony-faced expression, although his brow furrows deeper and deeper as the story grows more and more outlandish. By the time you've finished, you can't tell whether he's bewildered, furious, or a combination of both.
"This…this is a lot to process," he says at last, wiping his face in his hands. "But supposing I were to believe this, what, exactly, would you expect me to do?"
"Huh? What do you mean? We can fight them. Not here, but in the Clouds, the Shadows' world! But as long as they know we're doing it, we're not safe in this world. That's why we need you."
However, Shibutani shakes his head. "No. I do have some respect for you, Katsuji, and it's because of this that I'm entertaining this notion at all. But you cannot prove that what you've told me is true. I doubt that Principal Handa or the police would even let you finish talking. But setting that aside, I am not the person you want nor the one you need."
"Why?"
"If I am unable to protect this school from a group of thugs, I doubt I am suited to protecting you and your friends from…whatever it is you are suggesting these people are. My apologies, Katsuji, but I am in no position to accept any additional responsibility."
With that, he picks himself and descends the rest of the stairs, leaving you sitting alone, and without a plan B.
