April 10, 2034 - Daytime

Shujin Academy, School Gate

Kunikazu tried to rationalize his thoughts from the train ride as he thought to himself that he might be delusional. The Velvet Room... Igor... Lavenza... Wild Card... Persona... He wasn't sure if he was going insane or something but the thought felt surreal and vivid that he was practically shaken up. He wasn't the schizophrenia type of persona, but he started to wonder if he really was mentally sane.

"Wild Card...? Persona...? Trickster...? What the fuck does any of that even mean?" he thought to himself. The voices and everything that happened in the train ride to Aoyama-Itchome station. He wasn't sure that it was a dream or something. The image of that creepy red eye app still haunted his mind as he took a second look at his phone. He had deleted it, yet he wondered how it got to his phone. "What the hell was that red eye app...? How did it get into my phone without me noticing?" He decided to brush it off as he tried to forget it and focus on the bigger picture in front of him.

Kunikazu stood at the gates of Shujin Academy, staring at the familiar yet imposing building. The sight of it filled him with mixed emotions—an odd sense of awe, perhaps from hearing stories about it from his parents, and a twinge of dread, knowing its once-tainted history. The structure remained unchanged from the photos he had seen from his parents' old album from 17 years ago. Something about the school made him uneasy, but he couldn't put it into words on what he was feeling.

"So this is it," he muttered under his breath. "The place where it all started for them. Shujin Academy... this is going to be a hell of a day..."

Kunikazu takes a long admiration at the building as he reflected on his parents' words. "Create your own story..." Maybe it's true that he might make his own story here at Shujin. Despite his doubts on the school, he decided to give a chance and start his fresh new life as a high school student just like his parents', only without certain labels like a criminal record or something like that.

He was startled out of his thoughts by a voice behind him. "Kuni-kun! I knew I'd find you here!"

He turned to see a cheerful girl with blonde hair and a ponytail bounding up to him. This girl... she's... There are only two words to describe this girl... very cute... He knew her for years as he just looked at her. Just seeing her beautiful face, her eyes, her smile... it is enough to capture Kunikazu's heart and leave him staring at her in awe. He then snapped out of his hypnotized state as he looked at her with an unenthusiastic expression on his face.

"Holy shit... she's so cute... why am I suddenly nervous...? This feeling in my heart is too strong for me to handle... I just can't stop looking at her..." Kunikazu thought to himself.

Her name is Shiho Takamaki-Sakamoto, the daughter of Ann Takamaki and Ryuji Sakamoto, and his childhood friend. She was grinning from ear to ear. She wore the same Shujin uniform, though her red ribbon was tied slightly askew. She was very cute to look at. It gives off the impression that she was that one girl anyone has ever met that has a crush on. Except Kunikazu never wants to admit that he has a crush on her. This will be a major topic later in the story...

"Oh, great. You're here too," Kunikazu said with a sarcastic smile.

Shiho pouted. "What's with that tone? You should be happy! Guess what? We're in the same class, 1-D!"

"Yay... that's great..." he replied dryly, though he was secretly relieved to know someone he trusted would be around.

Shiho playfully punched his arm. "C'mon, try to sound at least a little excited. It's gonna be fun! You, me, the legendary halls of Shujin Academy… What could go wrong?"

Kunikazu gave her a half-smile. "You say that now."

"I'll be sure that you won't be in much trouble with me by your side. Now let's go, we're going to be late," Shiho exclaimed as she pulled Kunikazu into the building which caught him off guard.

"Hold on! Wait! Don't drag me like that! Hey!" Kunikazu protested as he was dragged by Shiho and into Class 1-D.

Classroom 1-D, Morning

The day began with little excitement. Kunikazu found himself seated right next to Shiho in class. If there's anything to compare, Shiho is that colorful and bright person with high spirits, while Kunikazu is all black and white and unenthusiastic. Their homeroom teacher came in, Ms. Takahashi, and set her supplies on her desk as she began attendance.

"Alright class, welcome to the first day of Shujin Academy. Now we are going to proceed with attendance before we go over what we have planned for the first day," Ms. Takahashi said to the class.

Kunikazu can only sit while listening to the teacher. The day dragged on and on, as Kunikazu just sat there, Shiho kept entertaining him as she whispered to him and keep him engaged with whispered comments about their teacher or the other students, only for Kunikazu's thoughts kept drifting back to the Velvet Room and the mysterious voice he had heard on the train.

During lunch, Shiho nudged him. "You've been out of it all day. What's up?"

"Nothing," he replied quickly. "Just… getting used to this place."

Shiho squinted at him suspiciously but decided not to press further.

"If you say so, but if you want to know, I decided to sign up for volleyball tryouts. It will definitely impress my mom when I tell her about volleyball tryouts," Shiho told Kunikazu as she said in an upbeat and talkative voice.

"Oh, that's nice to know..." Kunikazu replied. He wasn't sure what to say.

"Don't you have an interest in what you'll be signing up for?" Shiho asked.

"Nope... nothing. Not one thing caught my interest." Kunikazu bluntly said.

"Damn Kuni-kun, at least be interested in something. You'll find something you'll like," Shiho said.

"Yeah sure..." Kunikazu said sarcastically.

After School

When classes finally ended, Kunikazu felt a wave of relief. "Well, that was… uneventful."

Shiho grinned. "Give it time. The year's just starting. Also you have some nerves and Guts to zone out during history class."

"It wasn't my fault that I found everything boring... it is just a bad habit of me," Kunikazu said defensively.

"So you think that I am more fun than everyone else?" Shiho asked brightly.

"Don't push it. Besides, we should get to the train station now," Kunikazu said to Shiho.

A while later, Shiho and Kunikazu boarded the train home, and the steady rhythm of the train wheels began to lure Kunikazu into a his mind. Suddenly, the voice of the figure he had seen earlier echoed in his mind.

"The time draws near, young Trickster," it said, its deep tones resonating within him. "Tomorrow, the gears of fate will begin to turn. You will encounter the first of many trials. The day will be unavoidable for now."

"What trials? What are you even talking about?" Kunikazu thought, gripping the strap above him tightly.

But the voice offered no further explanation, leaving him alone with his racing thoughts.

"Am I fucking delusional?" He muttered to himself.

"Are you okay Kuni-Kun?" Shiho asked him with concern.

"I'm okay, just... lost in my thoughts," Kunikazu lied as he assured her.

Ginza Line Gate, Shibuya Station

Stepping off at Shibuya Station, both Shiho and Kunikazu realized they had taken the wrong exit and ended up lost in the maze of the Ginza Line. Of course, anyone will know how confusing the Shibuya Station is and finding the Ginza Line, and let alone getting from Shujin to home and vice versa. They wandered the crowded station for quite a long time.

"Why does this place have to be so confusing?" Kunikazu muttered to himself.

"I hope we can find our way back home soon, this place is a huge maze," Shiho said as she clung to Kunikazu's arm.

"Yeah, no shit! I barely memorized the layout," Kunikazu said while he helped navigate Shiho back to the surface.

3 minutes later, the duo finally exited out of the Ginza Line Gate and out of the Teikyu Building, out on Shibuya Station Square, past the famous Shibuya Crossing, and finally back to the residence area of Shibuya.

"Finally! For crying out loud..." Kunikazu groaned as they made it to the suburbs of Shibuya.

"Now we can finally rest for tomorrow. Hope to see you again with a happier attitude, Kuni-kin~" Shiho said to Kunikazu as waved to him as she left.

"This girl..." Kunikazu thought to himself.

The Okumura-Amamiya Household

As Kunikazu opened the door to his home, he was immediately greeted by the voices of his parents coming from the living room. Peeking inside, he saw his parents standing close together on the couch. Haru was has her hands on Ren's shoulders, and Ren had his arm wrapped around her waist as they shared a quiet moment. This looks like a celestial dance as they slow danced and then shared a long kiss.

"You are quite charming, my dashing prince," Haru whispered to Ren.

"You're still quite the cute one here, my dear Noir-chan," Ren whispered back.

"I'm always glad to be yours, my dear Renny-kun," Haru replied back as she kissed him again.

"Seriously?" Kunikazu muttered, rolling his eyes. "Can't they save that for later?"

Not wanting to interrupt, he quickly retreated to his room, tossing his bag onto the floor and flopping onto his bed.

"Sometimes, I wonder why they are so affectionate like they missed each other, or what? Their display of affectionate is just hard to watch..." Kunikazu said to himself as he just laid there on his bed until dinner time.

Evening

Later that evening, the family gathered for dinner. Haru served her signature vegetable stew, and the table was filled with the comforting clinks of utensils and light chatter.

"So, how was your first day at Shujin?" Haru asked with a warm smile.

Kunikazu shrugged. "It was… alright."

"Just alright?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Nothing exciting happened?"

"Nope. Just normal stuff," Kunikazu lied, avoiding his father's gaze.

"Give it time," Morgana chimed in from his spot near the table. "The first day's always boring. Things tend to get a lot more… interesting."

Kunikazu glanced at Morgana, wondering if the cat somehow knew what he had experienced earlier.

Haru reached over and placed a comforting hand on Kunikazu's. "We're so proud of you, Kuni. Starting at a new school isn't always easy, but you're going to do great things. I just know it."

"Yeah, kid," Ren added with a small smile. "You're a part of the Okumura-Amamiya family. You'll handle whatever comes your way."

Distracted by his swirling thoughts, Kunikazu nodded absently. "Yeah… thanks."

As the evening wore on, he couldn't shake the feeling that his parents' words held more weight than they realized. Could he really be the "next Trickster," as the Velvet Room attendants had claimed? And what exactly was he supposed to do?

Lying in bed that night, Kunikazu stared at the ceiling, the silhouette of his mysterious Persona lingering in his mind.

"Whatever this is… I'm not ready for it," he thought. But deep down, he knew that his life was about to change in ways he couldn't yet comprehend.

He then wrote down everything he has experienced in his notebook that he recently has on him, to record the events that has happened, before setting it to the work desk across his bed, before finally dozing off to sleep.

April 11, 2034 - After School

Afternoon at Shujin Academy

Kunikazu sighed as he leaned against his desk, tapping a pencil rhythmically. It had been a long day of mundane lectures, and the Velvet Room experience from the day prior still haunted his mind. It feels so vivid and surreal, yet he can't quite put his finger on it. He wondered if there's a hidden meaning to this he is experiencing.

"Hey, Kuni!" Shiho's cheerful voice snapped him out of his thoughts and almost scaring the living daylights out of him. She leaned over his desk, her bright grin making her enthusiasm contagious. "Wanna hang out after school? Let's hit up Harajuku! It'll be fun!"

Kunikazu raised an eyebrow. "Harajuku? Isn't that your go-to fashion paradise? You know, with the trendy clothes, crepes, and a huge crowd there..."

"Exactly!" she replied, her hands on her hips. "And besides, you could use a little fun. You've been acting all moody since yesterday."

He groaned. "Fine, fine. I'll go."

Shiho punched the air in victory. "Yes! Meet me at the station after school. Don't be late!"

"If this is one of your shopping marathons that you usually do, I'll be leaving with misery," Kunikazu said dryly.

"No promises, let's meet up at the station," Shiho replied as she beamed with joy.

Later...

The train ride from Aoyama-Itchome to Harajuku was brief, and the two chatted casually about their day. Shiho talked excitedly about a new fashion shop she wanted to check out, while Kunikazu nodded along halfheartedly, trying to ignore the nagging feeling of unease building in his chest.

When they arrived at Harajuku Station, they stepped off the train into the vibrant district. The streets were filled with trendy shops, colorful signage, and bustling crowds.

"So, what's first? Ice cream or clothes?" Shiho asked, spinning around to take it all in.

"I don't know, you can do whatever the hell you want, I am only just there to accompany you there," Kunikazu said with sarcasm.

"Come on, be more energetic. Can't have you being all gloomy and grumpy like usual," Shiho said as she smiled happily.

"Ugh, I'll try to, just don't expect me to be all amazed by whatever you have in your mind," Kunikazu replied.

The whole interaction goes as Shiho drags Kunikazu to every single place in Harajuku which doesn't pleased him in the slightest, only half listening and also complimenting positive feedback to every outfit Shiho showcased. It was only a few minutes later that they saw what looked like an event was starting. A stage performance is taking place at one part of Harajuku. There was an elegant woman performing a concert on stage with a huge crowd surrounding everywhere. Kunikazu and Shiho couldn't believed their eyes.

"What the hell is happening there?" Kunikazu asked in surprised.

"What?! You never heard of that singer on stage?!" Shiho asked in shock.

"Nope. Nothing. Who is that woman there?" Kunikazu asked.

"That's Emi Inoue, the best influenced singer ever in Harajuku! She's always charmed the crowd with her best songs and stage appearances. I'm surprised that you never heard of her," Shiho explained to Kunikazu.

"That's because I don't, I am honestly surprised how much influence she gained from performing a concert almost every week here in Harajuku," Kunikazu said.

"Well, that's Emi Inoue for you. The best performer ever in these streets here of Harajuku!" Shiho exclaimed.

Kunikazu thought to himself that this is what feels like a drag just listening to Emi's performance right now.

"Thank you everyone for coming! I love you all!" Emi shouted to the crowd as she left the stage as the audience cheers loudly, as Kunikazu and Shiho are surprised.

Something about Emi made Kunikazu think that there's something more that meets the eye. He often wondered how much influence she is gained when the audience always attends to her concerts. He is having an uneasy feeling.

Before Kunikazu could get his thoughts together, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see the strange red-eyed app he thought he had deleted the day before.

"What the hell?" he muttered, staring at it.

There displayed a few keywords on the screen: Emi Inoue and Harajuku

"What's up, Kuni-kun?" Shiho asked before she sees the screen on Kunikazu's phone. "What the-?"

Suddenly, the screen glitched, and everything around them began to distort. A sheer headache inflicted on Shiho and Kunikazu as they clutched their heads as the entire scene became warped and started to distort. The bright and colorful streets of Harajuku melted into a twisted version of itself. The entirety of the scene has transformed in to a distorted realm of only be describe as pure nightmare fuel. This is was only the beginning of what is happening, as the entire of Harajuku is suddenly a world of distortions...

This is the beginning...

The start of something that will change their lives forever..