PART ONE: CONSEQUENCES AND YOU
For what is quite possibly the first time, you find yourself wide awake in the dim classroom, paying rapt attention to an underproduced 'educational' video. A quivering, unkempt Shadow stumbles onscreen while Shibutani's booming baritone narrates.
"This is Taro. Your average Academy student. Every day, he comes here to learn – not just academics, but how to become a respectful, responsible member of society. However, in order for this to be true for everyone, Taro needs to understand that his actions-"
In the video, "Taro" adopts a mischievous stance and sticks his foot out to trip another Shadow that wanders into the frame. Before the other Shadow even hits the ground, a cartoonishly gallant interpretation of Shibutani swoops in, catches the falling Shadow, and punches "Taro" right in the gut.
"-have consequences. Here at the Academy, these consequences come in the form of demerits. Chances are, if you're watching this right now, you're already familiar with the concept of demerits. We operate on a 'Three-Strike System' – much like baseball! Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!" the Shadow next to the door chortles dutifully.
"This means that once you accrue three strikes, you will be deemed UNSALVAGEABLE, and removed from the Academy." The word 'UNSALVAGEABLE' flashes obnoxiously across the screen in big, block letters as he says this.
"There are many actions that can earn you demerits. Some actions are worth more demerits than others. Particularly heinous acts such as-"
Here, the Dreamweaver pauses, and a litany of offenses speed across the screen at lightning speed.
" -will earn you all three demerits at once! Of course, these would only be perpetrated by the most wretched degenerates. As long as you act with a clear conscience, and a deep respect for your fellow students, these offenses need not ever cross your mind.
"As you already know, any student with fewer than three demerits is highly encouraged to report to the first floor for rehabilitation classes. Hopefully, by the end of this course, that won't describe you!"
That last line in particular catches your attention. If this floor is for rehabilitation only, what're the others for?
"Now! Time for your first quiz!"
The guard slides a small tablet under each of your fingers, and the first question appears on it as Shibutani's voice reads aloud:
"Which of the following Violations is worth three demerits?"
"Oh piss off," you hear Hayate mutter under his breath. Of course it's blatantly unfair, but maybe you'll be able to figure it out via process of elimination. The tablet reads:
"A: Murder
B: Targeted harassment of another student
C: Refusal to comply with a Disciplinary Order officer
D: All of the above"
As surreptitiously as possible, you slide your gaze towards your friends. All of them are doing the same, and holding up fingers as subtly as they can. Mariko, Hayate, and Koharu are holding up four fingers for 'D', but Nisekao is only showing two, and shaking his fingers furiously at the rest of you.
"Ten seconds!" your tablets chirp.
D certainly feels correct because all of those choices sound like they'd be reasons for the Dreamweaver to get rid of someone. But it also seems a bit too obvious, and the Dreamweaver hasn't given you many reasons to believe he'd be straightforward. You flash the others two fingers along with your most pointed glare and hope that they get the message.
"Time's up! Were you paying attention? The correct answer is, in fact, 'B'!"
Judging from the sighs of relief, it appears that the others managed to change their minds in time.
"Murder, while in most situations utterly reprehensible, is excused within the context of executions, and is therefore not always worth demerits. Refusal to comply is considered a lesser violation, though it is still worth a demerit. Always remember to obey your D.O. officers at all times!
"Targeted harassment, however, is harmful to both your victim and the reputation of the Academy, and the damage you do could last a lifetime. There are better ways to boost your self-esteem than to feed off of someone else's. People with that sort of wickedness in their hearts don't deserve second chances."
That strikes you as a rather interesting thing for a Shadow to believe. If it wasn't for the twisted logic wrapped around it, the Dreamweaver makes a good point. It makes sense why Nisekao latched onto the correct answer so quickly.
"So then, how did you do? Hopefully, you didn't find the answer to be too shocking! Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!" laughs the Shadow next to the door.
"Then without further ado, on to Part Two!"
PART TWO: AN ADAPTIVE CODE FOR A CHANGING WORLD
"That was only part one?" says Mariko, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling.
"Quiet down and pay attention!" shouts the guard.
After the title dissolves off the screen, Taro the Shadow wanders back into the frame.
"In today's world, life comes at us fast," narrates the Dreamweaver. As if to punctuate his point, several Shadows join "Taro", tripping him up, smacking him in the back of the head, and taking a picture of his battered body with a phone before high fiving and sauntering away.
"What may seem harmless one moment, could be the cause of someone's pain and suffering the next. In order to protect our Student Body to the best of our ability, we adjust our Student Code hourly to prohibit items and behaviors that present the greatest dangers. These changes are announced via the PA system, and all students are expected to stay abreast of the most recent revisions.
"That said, it's time for another quiz! A revision announcing a ban on healing items was made at 10:00, and it has been the derivative of the square root of thirty minutes since then. Another announcement will be made within the next half hour. Is this statement true, or false?"
Koharu makes a choking sound. Everyone is looking frantically at one another for guidance except for Hayate, who has his eyes shut tight. Then, suddenly, he flashes everyone a thumbs down. No one else seems confident enough to argue, so you put your fate in his hands and let your trembling fingers press 'False'.
"Time's up!" calls the Dreamweaver, practically sending your heart into palpitations. "So, how do you think you did? If you chose 'False', then I would give yourself a pat on the back! The square root of thirty is a constant number, and anyone who pays attention in Calculus will tell you that the derivative of any constant number is zero! Seeing as it would have been zero minutes since the previous revision to the Code of Conduct, the next revision wouldn't have been any time soon!"
Everyone goggles at Hayate incredulously. "Shit, dude. Pretty clutch," you whisper. The others nod in silent assent, even Koharu.
"Hey, don't just assume I'm some kinda idiot. I study," he says.
"If you managed to answer that question correctly, then congratulations are in order! I bet answering a math question didn't figure into your calculations! Hahaha!" the Dreamweaver continues.
"Hahaha!" chuckles the Shadow next to the door.
"Well, now that we've covered some serious and tricky topics, why don't we move on to something a little more exciting?"
PART THREE: RANKS AND REWARDS
"Welcome, scoundrels, to the third and final part of your rehabilitation course."
Final part? The cumulative passing score was supposed to be ninety percent, right? The Dreamweaver made it sound like there'd be room to miss a question, but if there are only three…
"…only sixty-seven percent if you miss one. That son of a bitch," whispers Hayate, evidently following the same train of thought.
"In this part of the video, we'll discuss the Academy's ranking system, as well as how you can use this opportunity to not only remove your demerits, but start working towards becoming a role model student. Let's check in with our friend Taro again, shall we?"
Onscreen, "Taro" is heaved out of a classroom labeled "Rehabilitation" and onto his rear end.
"All students undergoing the rehabilitation process are designated Rank 0. Rank 0 students are limited to first floor access and undergo intense monitoring until their rehabilitation is complete. They are strictly forbidden from integrating with other students Rank 1 and above until they have proven they are no longer harmful to the Student Body.
"Taro here has just completed his rehabilitation with flying colors! Congratulations, Taro!"
Taro the Shadow does a funny little dance and holds his ID card up close to the camera. The words "Rank 0" erase themselves and are replaced with "Rank 1."
"Taro is now Rank 1 again, and can safely rejoin regular classes on the second floor. As long he remains on the straight and narrow, he and his classmates will enjoy a safe, fulfilling school life. However…oughtn't we strive to be a little bit more than just a regular student?"
"Taro" nods enthusiastically.
"Hahaha! Of course! After all complacency breeds laziness, and laziness is a slippery slope back to our old bad habits. This is why all students are encouraged to further improve their rank by pursuing Commendations!"
The Dreamweaver appears again, and the camera zooms in on his chest. His uniform is covered with dozens of bright little gold pins, complete with chintzy sparkling effects.
"Commendations are proof that you have made a concrete effort to improve the well-being of others at the Academy, and are awarded by D.O. officers. But I can hear you asking – 'Commandant Shibutani – how do I earn a Commendation? What are they good for?' Both very excellent questions!
"Some of the ways you can earn Commendations are, but are not limited to:
• Reporting Violations immediately to a DO officer
• Restraining or incapacitating a student who is in the process of committing a Violation
• Reporting any student who appears to be considering committing a Violation
Of course, there are other ways to earn Commendations that are at the discretion of our D.O. officers, but at the very least, you should keep these in mind."
To you, it seems like it'd be a lot easier to get dragged off to rehabilitation than it would to receive a Commendation. Probably by design.
"Taro" reappears onscreen, tugging on the sleeve of a guard and pointing at another Shadow that's carving obscenities into a desk. A large cartoon cage drops over it, and the guard pins a Commendation to Taro's chest.
"Well done, Taro!" says the Dreamweaver. "You've earned your first Commendation and are well on your way to the coveted Rank 2! That's right – Commendations are necessary for attaining this high honor. Once you've earned at least five, you'll have proven that you're the cream of the crop here at the Academy – and worthy of joining the Disciplinary Order!
"That's right, once you've reached Rank 2, you'll be invited to my office on the third floor to be inducted into our sacred organization – a brotherhood of all those who hold our Code of Conduct close to their hearts, and their fellow students even closer."
"That's it. There's our in." you whisper to the others. Earning Commendations sounds like a real pain in the ass, but at least the Dreamweaver's saved you the trouble of figuring out where he's holed up. Of course, you'll need to get out of here, first.
"Hopefully, now you understand the Academy a little bit better, and find yourself filled with a renewed sense of purpose! But in order to prove that newfound dedication, you'll need to pass one last quiz! In the event that you pass, please remember to remain seated until your assigned D.O. gives you permission to leave. Ready? Then here we go!
"How many Commendations are required in order to be promoted to Rank 2?"
You're caught a little off guard. This question's simple compared to the others. The answer choices displayed on your tablet don't appear to contain any trickery, either:
"A: Five
B: One
C: Zero
D: Three"
Assuming that perhaps the Dreamweaver must have run out of creativity by this point, you confidently select 'A' and wait patiently for the timer to expire.
"Time's up! Well? How are you feeling? Ready to rejoin your classmates with a clean slate? If you selected 'A: Five', then wait no longer!"
The shackles binding your arms and legs immediately release, and you and your friends spring out of your seats, laughing and shaking with relief.
All of a sudden, two more guard Shadows burst into the room, unholstering their truncheons.
"Hold it! Sit back down at once! That's one demerit each for refusal to comply with instructions!"
"Excuse me?!" Koharu rounds on the guards, her hands planted on her hips. "We passed the test. Why are we getting more demerits?"
"Aren't we supposed to rejoin our classes now?" Mariko asks.
The monitor at the head of room flickers. The video is replaced by what appears to a live feed of the Dreamweaver's office. Shibutani's square jaw twists into a triumphant grin.
"Indeed. Well done on the test. Not many Miscreants are perceptive enough to pass on their first try. Although…perhaps I shouldn't be all too surprised, considering it's you lot. However, you seem to have glossed over one crucial detail – were you not instructed to remain in your seats until told?"
"You've got to be kidding me," you spit.
"Couldn't be more serious. How am I supposed to trust you if you can't even follow simple instructions? And with one demerit on your IDs again, well…it looks like you'll have to take the course again. Why don't you have a seat?"
"Nah. I don't think we will. Right, guys?" you say, glancing towards the others. Mariko unholsters her gun, and Hayate pulls on a pair of studded gloves.
"Yeah, screw that. Been ready for this since we got in," he says.
"Tch. Disappointing. Shibutani thinks awfully highly of you, for some reason," the Dreamweaver says. "But it appears to me that you're little more than rotten trash like the rest. Officers, I trust you'll settle this quickly."
The Shadows salute the monitor, and it shuts off.
"Don't resist!" shouts the Shadow in the middle, and they rush towards you with truncheons raised.
"Let's get it! Kay!" shouts Hayate, releasing his Persona. Kay grasps one of the Shadows by the truncheon with one of its massive fists and tosses it up in the air. Before it hits the ground, Kay's other three arms pummel the Shadow's body until it explodes in a cloud of black mist.
Beside you, Nyneve fires a bolt of electricity from its sword like a sniper rifle, punching straight through another Shadow and sending it writhing to the floor.
The last Shadow topples over desks as it backs away from you.
"Yaksini!" you shout. Your Persona swiftly closes the gap and presses the Shadow against the monitor screen, its two blades crossed over the Shadow's neck.
"W-Wait! Hang on, let's not be hasty!"
The three of you slightly lower your weapons and stride closer.
"Y-You all know me! I was your guard during the video, remember? We certainly shared a lot of good jokes!"
"Oh yeah," you say. "Yaksini, finish h-"
"N-N-No! Please, give this some more thought, I beg of you! W-We…we're more alike than you think! I-I'll tell you what – if you don't kill me, I'll let you have my ID."
"Why would we want that?"
Mariko taps your shoulder. "No, think about it. Our IDs already have demerits on them again. If we use his, we'll be able to get access to the second floor."
"Precisely!" says the Shadow.
"Huh. Guess so," you say.
"And how about tossing a couple of Commendations on that thing for good measure?" suggests Hayate.
"A-Are you suggest I distribute fraudulent Commendations?" asks the Shadow, mortified.
"Friend, I hate to burst your bubble, but they're all fraudulent. Is it something we can do or not?"
"I-I'm not certain…"
Your eyes drop and notice that the Shadow is fiddling with something at its side.
"Yaksini!"
Yaksini pulls its blades up under the Shadow's chin and lifts it off the floor. A small pager-like object falls out of its hands and clatters to the ground.
"Oh, hell no. And here I thought we were getting somewhere," you say. Time to wrap this up.
"Please! Please, I'm ever so sorry! I was simply…panicking in a situation like this – not thinking clearly whatsoever! I'll grant you your commendations, show you where to go, whatever you like! Just spare my life!"
"Then let's get with the program already. Yaksini, ease up."
Yaksini lets its swords fall to its side and disappears in flash of blue light. The Shadow drops to its hands and knees in front of you.
"I am Principality. Order and discipline come before all else. I will become a part of you, and we shall defend our honor together."
The Shadow's form collapses into a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a card emblazoned with the scales of Justice. An ornately clad angel bearing a tall staff is pictured on the other side. Another ID card also clatters to the floor at your feet.
Koharu rushes up beside you. "Wait, what just happened? Is it gone?"
Hayate straightens his suspenders as he replies, "Oh, it's like this thing he can do. Gets as many Personas as he wants for some reason. Speaking of which, that one you had out just now was different. Where'd she come from?"
"I'm not getting out my Persona again so you can look at its boobs, dude."
"I didn't ask! Jeez, I say one thing…"
"It's pretty much Agathion and Bifrons anyways, if that changes things at all."
Hayate makes a face. "Ech. Yeah, a little bit, it does. Not that that was my intention in the first place."
"Mmhmm. Of course," says Koharu, lowering her eyelids at him.
"Hey, don't start gettin' all judgmental about perverted shit. I've seen the kind of books you buy."
"They're for reference!"
"All right, kids, settle down," you say, putting yourself between the two of them before they can start up again. You snatch the ID up off of the floor and wave it above your head.
"We got places to be, after all."
