The front courtyard is bustling with students heading in the opposite direction when you and Nisekao make it back to school. The last bell must have rung not too long ago. The air hums with chatter – small talk, idle griping, whispered rumors poorly concealed behind hands – all punctuated by the gentle percussion of black wingbeats.
You can feel their eyes as you and Nisekao pick your way through the crowd with silent determination. It doesn't matter if you end up getting in trouble for coming back. Right now, you're driven by a feverish desire for the truth, a compulsion that makes everything else insignificant in comparison. Before you know it, it's taken you all the way to the third floor of the south wing, right outside the small classroom at the end of the hall.
The Student Council room.
Nisekao glances about nervously.
"Shibutani-senpai isn't here yet…"
That is somewhat concerning, as you've never known Shibutani to be late like this. Then, you're struck with a sinking feeling as you realize that he's probably stuck dealing with the fallout from your fight in the locker room.
"I don't think he'll be here any time soon."
Your hand shakes as it hovers over the handle, more from anticipation than fear.
"We'll just have to go in without him," you say, and throw the door open wide.
Souichiro is busy poring over the contents of one of his binders when you enter. The Student Council president jumps as the door hits the end of its track with a loud crack, banging his knee on the underside of the table and sending a cup full of pens tumbling to the floor. For a moment, the room is silent save for the sound of pens idly rolling across the linoleum as the two of you lock eyes. The furniture that separates you is the only thing keeping you from leaping across the room and throttling him.
Massaging his knee, Souichiro straightens up and flashes you a smug grin. He knows it, too.
"Oh. I guess we're doing this today, then. I knew I overplayed my hand by showing you those bruises. That is what this is about, right?" He leans back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh and a shrug. "Oh well. Mistakes were made."
The nonchalance with which he admits his guilt throws you for a loop. Does he still think he has the upper hand?
"You're awfully laid back for a guy in your position," you shoot back. It'd be easy to lose your cool here, but this might be your only chance to draw some answers out of him. You've got to tread carefully.
"If it makes you feel any better, I am a little annoyed that we're having this conversation at all. I genuinely thought sending you into my father's Cloud would be the moment you finally walked into the buzzsaw. His Shadow adored me, after all. Dumb of me to think that a little motivation was all he'd need to kill you."
Beside you, Nisekao starts fidgeting, and clears his throat. Souichiro cocks an eyebrow at him as if noticing his presence for the first time.
"Oh, you're here, too." Then, to you he adds, "You know, it's wild how you guys treat him like one of you. Well, go on, what does the mascot have to say?"
It's fortunate for Souichiro that Nisekao answers right away, otherwise you'd be laying into him already.
"I d-don't understand. That giant Persona belonged to you, r-right? Tetsuo wasn't going to kill your father's Shadow, so why d-did you do it?"
Souichiro gently rolls his eyes.
"Why do you care? His Shadow might have fooled you into thinking he was worth a damn, but to me, he was never meant to be anything more than useful. His connections are the only reason I didn't slaughter him on the spot once I awakened to my powers."
As he says this, the veil slips, and you can see Soucihiro's true self properly for the first time; a dark, empty thing where one's heart should be, reeking of hate. Perceiving it triggers a sense of shame and disgust for having failed to notice.
"A Persona seems wasted on an asshole like you," you say, which elicits a delighted reaction from the boy across the table.
"Funny! I've been thinking the same thing about you. We might both be Persona users, true, but we're not alike, Tetsuo. You use your powers to live out some weird little hero fantasy. I use mine to fulfill a purpose."
"Oh, this should be good. 'Cause I've been wondering what exactly someone like you gets out of doing all this."
The president removes his glasses and fixes you with a dark stare.
"Simple - control. I learned very early in life that there are only two kinds of people – those who control what happens to them, and those who don't. Most of us are the latter. We spend our entire lives desperately trying to remove the chains from around our necks. My father gambled to erase his debts. I created G-Net in the hopes of escaping from him. By all rights, I should have been the one to succeed. But one day, I returned home from school to find my thumb drive with the source code gone, and my father nearly black-out drunk, gibbering that a startup called Madicce had accepted his pitch to launch a social network by the same name."
Souichiro shuts the binder in front of him and sets it aside before standing up and striding over to the window behind him.
"I've never felt lower than I did that night. But looking back on it, I did learn something important from that experience – nothing worthwhile can be gained honestly. The only ones who are truly in control of their fates are the ones who aren't afraid to trample on others. I resolved to never let myself be trampled again."
As his story continues, a sensation like hot bile rises in your throat, a phantom anger raw and red. You can't exactly articulate why you're reacting this strongly, but every word he says is like screeching nails on a chalkboard.
You think that excuses you?
You must have said that out loud without realizing it, because Souichiro reacts with an amused smirk.
"It's natural to feel upset, Tetsuo. You're just like everyone else, after all. You still think the world has an obligation to reward those who suffer, in spite of the fact that the limitations of humanity make that impossible. I used to think the same way. But now I know better, and because of that, the universe chose me to remake humankind."
"The hell are you talking about?"
"When my father stole G-Net from me, I stayed up long into the night writing a program that could worm its way into the source code and cripple it before he could officially present it to Madicce. At the time, it was the only weapon that I could use against my father, so I named it Avalon, after the island where the sword Excalibur was said to be forged. But it wasn't long before exhaustion caught up with me, and I fell asleep before I could finish.
"While I slept, I dreamt of a fantastic new world, one where the limits of humanity meant nothing, and reality could be shaped however I pleased. A world where Shadows lived, the echoes of humankind brimming with untapped potential. As I wandered that world, I could feel its strength welling up inside of me, calling me – choosing me. Eventually, I came face to face with a Shadow of tremendous power, revered by all the others – a king. It knelt before me, granting me not only its strength, but the power to link that world and this one. And when I woke up, I understood what I needed to do."
His lips peel back ever so slightly to reveal a mad grin that strips him of his humanity. It speaks to an animalistic, reverent fervor burning inside of him and marks his soul as unsalvageable.
"Using my own soul as a catalyst, I transformed Avalon into a tool that allowed humanity to pull parts of the Shadows' world into our reality – the Clouds. Individually, Clouds don't exert that much influence on our world. They aren't tangible to the average person in any appreciable way. The most they do is alter the perceptions of those connected to the dreamer in order to accommodate the existence of their Shadow. Given enough time, the Shadow assumes the physical, conscious body, while the human self fades into the subconscious, experiencing life through their Shadow's eyes as if it were still their own."
Again, you can't help but think about the app's power to save those beyond saving. You'd never admit it to him, but it could've been something truly incredible. If only it wasn't in his hands.
"And you wanna do this to everyone? Even if they're satisfied with their lives already?"
"C'mon, Tetsuo. You know just as well as I do that human beings are notoriously terrible at figuring out what they want. People will live their entire lives in misery just because it's comfortable and familiar. But deep down, everyone wants to become a more perfect version of themselves. The world I'm creating will make that possible.
"You see, each time a Cloud manifests using Avalon, the boundary that separates our reality and the Shadows' begins to dissolve. On a large enough scale – say, millions of people – that boundary will collapse entirely. Once it does, our worlds will become indistinguishable from one another, and Avalon won't be necessary for people summon their Shadows and make their dreams come true."
Souichiro takes out his phone, opens the Book of Avalon, and sets it on the table in front you as he scrolls through the names of thousands of people who have surrendered their will.
"From the looks of things, that moment isn't too far off."
"Do you even understand what you're doing?" you sputter. "You can't have a world where everyone gets exactly what they want! Do you think everyone's just going to get along like that? It's going to be-"
"-Chaos. And that's exactly how it needs to be. People with weak hearts have no place in my new world. Only those with the power to justify their existence will survive to see utopia."
"So it doesn't matter whether their dreams are right or wrong? All that matters is their strength?"
"God," huffs Souichiro as he plops back down in his chair. "See, this is why I wasn't looking forward to this conversation. It's such a chore talking to people this naïve. Of course I'm not going to allow anyone with plans for genocide or the like to run around unchecked. In the end, my strength will allow me to have to final word in curating the next stage of society. Does that satisfy you?"
"The fuck do you think? There isn't a single thing you've said so far that isn't completely mental. How do you figure we're just going to let you go and do any of this?"
"Easily. Tell me, what is your plan, exactly, now that you're up to speed?" Souichiro says, spreading his arms out wide with mock curiosity. "Contact the police?"
"Th-They aren't under your c-control anymore!" says Nisekao, albeit a bit pointlessly. You can tell where Souichiro is going with this.
"And? How far into your story are you going to get before they toss you out of the station? You'd be lucky if they didn't hand you a citation for making a false report. The police won't do a thing."
"That's fine," you retort. "We weren't planning to rely on them anyways. We'll take care of this ourselves. Just like we always have."
"Oh. Right. With the power of Persona, you can just brute force your way through any problem, right?" Souichiro responds, tenting his fingers smugly. "I suppose I'd be in trouble…if I had a Cloud of my own. Sorry to disappoint you, but you do remember that I'm a Persona user as well, right? As much as I'd love the opportunity to smear you across the dreamscape, I won't be taking my chances. I don't need to become a Shadow to see my dreams fulfilled."
Now he's truly got you at a loss for words. As much as it kills you to admit it, he's right on both accounts. As long as he stays in the real world, he's untouchable.
"Don't look so disappointed, Tetsuo," he says. God, his tone is insufferable. "You put up a good fight, but it was just pointless, that's all. The Long Dream is inevitable at this point. I'm sure even you've noticed the signs by now."
Images of the black butterflies from this morning flash through your head.
"If I were you, I'd keep my head down and stay out of the way. You're in a lot of trouble right now as it is."
He pulls a sheet of paper out of his binder and pretends to look it over, tutting to himself.
"This kind of physical violence is pretty serious, you know. And property damage on top that! All things considered, I'd have to think that you're looking at expulsion, even if it was to protect a spineless loser like Fukui. That said, so long as you promise to behave yourself, I can have the victims change their stories and pull some strings with the principal to ensure that you at least get to finish out the school year. Whatever's left of it, that is."
An invisible vise clamps down on your throat as you realize what he's just said. Forget the expulsion – that doesn't really matter anymore. But there's no way the bullies from this morning would have mentioned Nisekao if they wanted to save their own asses.
"How did you know Nisekao was there?"
For the first time, Souichiro grimaces.
"Oh. That. Just a stupid project. Again, I think you have more important things to worry about."
"H-Huh? Wh-What project?" stammers Nisekao.
"I think I'll be the judge of what's important here. You'd better explain yourself," you hiss, unable to keep the venom out of your voice any longer.
The president begins idly twirling a pen between his fingers as he answers.
"Well, there was a point early on when I was curious as to whether or not a single, overwhelmingly powerful Shadow would be strong enough to tear open the boundary between worlds by itself. Since adversity creates stronger fantasies, and stronger fantasies create stronger Shadows, I decided to satisfy my curiosity by experimenting with how much adversity a person can handle."
A choking noise escapes Nisekao's throat as he stares in rapt horror. Your knuckles go white as you clutch the edge of the table, hoping that Souichiro doesn't notice how much your body is shaking.
"You're the one who's been sending those bastards to harass him?"
"Me? No, I'm the Student Council president, I've got an image to maintain! Taishi and Chikara handled that for me. One of the few things they do well, as it turns out. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a complete waste of time."
He turns his attention to Nisekao.
"I thought it would help you, you know. You'd have ended up with a ridiculously powerful Shadow, and put an end to all that moping around you're always doing. It's exhausting enough just being around someone like you, I can only imagine what it must be like to actually be you."
"Wh-What's the matter with you? What have I ever d-done to you? I never wanted anything like this!" Nisekao cries.
"C'mon, Fukui, don't be like that. I was giving you an opportunity. I was only trying to be your friend."
I was only trying to be your friend.
As those words rattle around inside your skull, something in your memories loosens, unleashing a cascade of hot fury that immolates the last of your restraint.
"How dare you. Sit still for a second, I'll show you some friendship," you growl as you round the table with your arms outstretched. With a short yelp, Souichiro pops out of his seat and backs up against the wall. Your hands are centimeters from his throat before the door slams open behind you and Shibutani barges in with Taishi and Chikara's limp bodies under his arms. Upon seeing the scene unfolding in front of him, he dumps them on the floor and rushes over to restrain you.
"Tetsuo, no! This isn't the time or the place!"
"Senpai, you don't know what this son of a bitch has been doing."
He spins you around by your shoulders so you're standing face to face.
"Perhaps not. But this isn't like you. Consider the consequences you'll face if you let your emotions get the best of you here. We can't afford to lose you at a time like this, so please, even if it hurts to do so, you need to get ahold of yourself!"
You wouldn't be able to break out of Shibutani's grasp even if you tried, so reluctantly, you heave a deep sigh and let your muscles relax.
"Wh-What're they doing here?" asks Nisekao, nodding at the unconscious Yatabuya members sprawled across the floor.
Sneering, Shibutani says, "They were outside. Although it seems I've missed a lot, their presence speaks volumes." He then turns to Souichiro, cracking his knuckles. "So you're the one I have to thank for ruining my gang. And to think I trusted you, admired you, even!"
"Yeah, I'm sure it's all very traumatizing for you, Shigesato-kun. If it's any consolation, you put up a good fight against my boys. I actually had to accelerate our operations here at school to wear you down."
Shibutani grits his teeth like he wants to say something, but holds his tongue. Realizing that he won't get a reaction from him, Souichiro shifts his focus back to you.
"You're lucky Shigesato-kun showed up when he did. I don't need the police on my side to have you arrested for simple assault and battery. To be honest, it'd be an awful letdown if you ended up in juvenile prison when all the fun starts."
With that, he pulls one of the binders in front of him and starts filling out forms again.
"Anyways, it looks like we're done here, and I've still got a lot of paperwork to finish before this year's school festival. The world as we know it may not exist in a few weeks or so, but I feel like I still owe it to the student body to give them something to enjoy before it happens, right?"
He flashes you one of those familiar, winning smiles. Your stomach turns.
"Maybe you ought to do the same instead of beating your heads against the wall trying to stop the inevitable. Your homeroom hasn't even submitted a theme yet, Tetsuo! I think this would be a wonderful opportunity to use that natural leadership ability of yours and channel that frustration into something more constructive."
"This isn't over," you say before turning your back and heading to the door. It's a weak response, practically an admission of defeat. But there's not much else you can do.
You can't see his expression, but you can tell that he's grinning from ear to ear.
"No, it is. See you tomorrow, Tetsuo."
