Chapter 41: Star
"Buy the way, I've been meaning to ask." Metis suddenly asks, grabbing Yukari and Aigis's attention. "I've been wondering about this for a while, but what is in the room all the way at the top? Next to those large doors? I always get this strange feeling when I stand on the other side of it."
"Oh… you must be talking and Ren and Makoto's room." Yukari comments, brining a leg up. "I don't think there should be anything left in there. We cleaned all three of those rooms out. So you shouldn't be feeling anything from it at all."
"I see… but I do feel something from it. Maybe it's my imagination." Metis shrugs her shoulders as she sits down at the bar. The tension that hung around her and the others had largely started to dissipate after their fight with the Tower and seeing Akihiko's past. Not to the point that they would go out and be all buddy-buddy with her, but certainly not antagonists as before. "By the way, sister. Fuuka agreed to show me some Maths work that she found lodged behind one of the sofas upstairs. Do you want to look over it with us?"
"Of course. I would be happy to look over it with you both." Aigis replies, following Metis upstairs to a secluded table where Fuuka was waiting. Already looking over the book they had found with interest.
"Huh… this is the first time I've witnessed a school student fulfilling their educational obligations." Metis remarks, sitting next to Fuuka, seeing her write out all the calculations on the paper before writing up her answer. "Why do you write out all the calculations involved instead of the answer? It's inefficient."
"It's so that you can prove that you have guess it correctly." Fuuka replies, looking at Metis. "They take marks away if you fail to show how you arrived at the answer. Even if it is right."
"Oh I see. Providing the answer isn't considered efficient proof unless you show the process of reaching it. That makes sense." Metis replies, resting a hand on her chin. Although she could see that Fuuka seemed to be struggling as her gaze was narrowing on the paper. "Um… did I say something wrong?"
"Metis… you're distracting her." Aigis tells her softly. Metis for her part puts a hand over her mouth before looking away with some guilt as Fuuka lets out a sigh.
"It's okay. Somehow, this one is really difficult. I think this is from a third year class and not second year." Fuuka admits, looking over the question again. "But… I think that finding the answer isn't the important part. The main point is to actually learn the process of reaching the answer. It's about knowing what formulas or techniques will help you solve the problem. And once you know all that, finding the solution is easy. Even when you start on another problem with different numbers."
"So… studying is about acquiring different mindsets." Metis replies with a smile, looking back at Aigis. "Fuuka-san is a good teacher, isn't she, sister? She makes things easier to understand."
"She is." Aigis replies, nodding her head in reply, just as her world darkens. And just like clockwork, the High Priestess Tarot card appears before her as Lavenza's voice echoes in her mind. Even as Aigis tried to ignore the words being spoken to her.
I am thou… thou art I…
Thou hadst acquired a new bond.
It shall be the guiding light along your winding path,
to lead you to the answer you desperately seek.
With the birth of the Priestess Arcana,
I have been granted hope and resolution for a bright future.
"Oh, I'm not, really. You're just asking the right questions, Metis." Fuuka tries to deflect, brushing some hair away from her eyes. "Oh, and also… I think it's fun to write out the calculations. It's like I'm having a conversation with Futaba." Seeing the confused look from Metis and Aigis, Fuuka hums to herself. "How do I explain it…? When I figure out an answer, I feel like I understand the intent of the person who wrote the problem. For example, I can see when they're trying to mislead me, or I can tell they want me to use a certain formula. If I can figure out what the problems are getting at, I feel like I'll be more prepared for the exams."
"I suppose that is how everything is." Aigis replies as she stands up and walks away. Confusing Fuuka and Metis as Aigis heads back downstairs.
"What is wrong with Aigis… She's been distant with us ever since February…" Fuuka comments sadly, slumping in her chair. "All three of them have… It's like they are getting crushed by a weight of knowledge that they can't share with us. Why?"
"Let me see if I can get her to tell me." Metis suggests, standing up to chase after Aigis who was now standing at the bar with a despondent look. While Minato and Minako were once again nowhere to be seen. Most likely in their room for some reason or another. They even took those masks with them as well. "Sister, do you have some time right now…? There's something I want to show you."
"Hm? What is it, Metis?" Aigis replies, her mind seemingly some place else. Metis applauds to herself for getting her attention once more before pulling her towards the kitchen.
"There is a strange, cup-like object with a hole in the kitchen. Amada-san said he would teach me how to use it once I was finished with Fuuka-san. Come on!" Aigis allowed Metis to drag her into the kitchen where Ken was already waiting with a drip coffee maker before he suddenly found himself having to teach Metis how to make a coffee. As he did so, Aigis couldn't help but think to how Ren would have reacted to this. After all, he did teach Ken how to make coffee when he was here. So seeing Ken help teach Metis and herself would have made him proud. And only made Aigis wished that the Thieves were back with them…
Unfortunately, when Ken was done and served it to them, Metis was unable to even taste the coffee much to Ken's disappointment. She even ended up drinking Aigis's coffee for good measure, but still failed to find a taste. Ken wasn't sure if he should take that as a compliment or not as he walked away thinking about the process in his mind over and over again. But as the two androids sat at the bar, Metis decided to ask.
"Sister, is there something wrong?" Aigis blinks, looking at Metis with surprise. "Fuuka-san has mentioned how you have been distant from everyone since February. And not only that, but Minato-san and Minako-san have also been distant as well. Why? Is there some burden that you three are carrying? But why haven't you told anyone about it to share it?" Aigis looks at Metis in surprise, before closing her eyes and letting out a sad sigh.
"We want to… Metis. We want to tell everyone, yet no matter how much we try the words never leave our lips. As though we are forcing ourselves to remain silent about the truth. And it's eating me up from the inside."
"Then, why don't you tell me?" Metis suggests. "Surly you can tell me, right, sister?" Aigis looks at Metis, opening her mouth to speak only to close it again as she shakes her head.
"I'm sorry… but I can't." She replies getting off the stool and walking away. Leaving Metis behind as she watched her with a sad frown. Just what was this burden that they were carrying? And why couldn't she share it with them?
Eventually, the team gathers up once again and head back down into the Desert of Doors. Finding to no ones surprise that a new figure was walking towards another door. A shadowy figure of Fox as it slips through the door like a mist.
"No surprise about that." Ken remarks as the team walk towards the door. "If Fox is next, does that mean we only have four more doors to go through?"
"Let's hope so." Aigis replies, walk up and opening the door. Teleporting the team into Antenora. But the moment they do, Fuuka lets out a surprised gasp.
"Fuuka? What's wrong?" Minako asks, looking at her as Fuuka rests a hand on her headphone.
"Just now… I felt more than one presence here… and they all felt human in shape. But… that can't be possible, right?" Fuuka looks at Metis who shakes her head in response.
"No, it shouldn't. Only those who enter the Dorm are trapped in the Abyss, but you all locked the doors before we started." Metis replies, tapping her chin. "Which begs the question, what is Fuuka-san sensing?"
"Only one way to find out." Minato replies, looking down the dark halls of Antenora. "We press forward towards the source, just like what we've been doing." It was all they could do as they descended once more into the Abyss of Time. To keep walking forward, no matter what. Even if each step was painful to take.
It seemed all of the path were the same length as they reached the bottom in the same amount of time as before. Something that they were all secretly grateful for as it helped conserve their strength for the coming fight. Which if it was fallowing the set pattern, would be against the Star Arcana Shadow, a given since all of the Shadows here had masks with the number XVII on them. What form it would take would be anyone's guess, but there was something mildly concerning when they approached the final portal."
"Strange… that presence I was following… it's gone." Fuuka announces to everyone as they near the portal. "I could feel them just on the next floor, but they just vanished as we got near the portal. Now… all I'm picking up is what has to be the Star."
"That's not concerning at all…" Minato comments, shaking his head with a sigh. "Just what is this place trying to tell us?" No one had the answer to that as Aigis and Metis walked towards the portal. Teleporting themselves to the next arena. But what they found waiting for them was not what they expected.
The platform was encased in a circle of purple fires, forming a star shaped pentagram on the floor that glowed with a purple light. While above, floating in the air was a giant sphere of purple and black fire. Irradiating a deep purple light while small bursts of black fire escaped from its surface. As though they were looking at a dark sun.
"Um… is this suppose to be the Star Arcana? Looks more like the Sun Arcana to me!" Junpei asks as the team appear behind Aigis and Metis. They couldn't really blame him for thinking that with what was hovering before them.
"No… it is the Star Arcana Shadow. But it's inside that sphere of fire." Fuuka comments, narrowing her eyes at the black Sun.
"Then lets waste no time!" Shinjiro shouts, rushing forward and jumping into the air. Brining his axe down on the sphere of fire only to bounce off the flames hard. And leaving a burn on his arms a she lands hard on the floor.
"Shinji!" Akihiko shouts as Minako moves to patch him up.
"Those flames reflect anything we throw at it!" Fuuka tells them, stopping Metis and Aigis from launching a counter-attack as a distorted whimper escapes from the dark sun. "Unless we find a way to remove it, we can't damage the main body!" As the team wondered what to do, one of the five flames making up the star pentagram attacks the team with a Maragidyne. Followed up by another one attacking them with Mabufudyne just as the remaining three unleash Maziodyne, Magarudyne, and Primal Force.
"Watch out for those flames!" Mitsuru shouts, ducking under a bout of flame as Junpei rushes at one. Slicing his sword against it only find his sword bounce off it harmlessly as the flame he tried to attack only grew.
"The hell!? Are these things also immune to everything as well?!" Junpei shouts, avoiding the retaliatory blast of ice from the fire as Metis tries to attack another with Garudyne. Only for her attack to be nullified as well while the flame only grew bigger. As the team started to feel themselves run out of options, Koromaru dashes between two of them that try and blast him with Agidyne and Ziodyne. Fortunately for Koromaru, the two attacks miss him and slam into the opposing balls of fire only for something interesting to happen. The one casting Primal Force and other Physical moves was struck by Ziodyne from one of the flames and suddenly became a lot smaller as a result.
"Did that attack weaken it!?" Ken asks as Fuuka lets out a gasp.
"That's it! They are weak to their own spells! Everyone! Try to get the flames to attack each other! If we can take one out, we should be able to see what they are weak against!"
"You heard her! Let's go!" Yukari calls out as she rushes in front of one of the flames. Predictably, it tries to attack her with Bufudyne only for Yukari to jump out of the way. Instead, the ice slams into another one of the flames, shrinking it as it tries to attack back with Garudyne. Only to have the same result as the wind flew past Akihiko and into the flame casting fire spells. In desperation, the flame attacking with Elect spells lashes out with a Maziodyne at the team, only to miss them and hit the flames around it. Shrinking them even more with the flame responsible for physical attacks almost completely gone.
"One more good hit, and it's gone!" Shinjiro shouts as Metis rushes past the one casting fire spells. Proving to be too good of a target, the black flames attack Metis. Sending a spiralling pillar of flame at Metis. Only for her to dodge out of the way and let the flames slam into the opposing black flames. Wiping it out and disrupting the star pentagram that loses its glow as another distorted and pained whimper escapes from the dark sun.
"That did it! I can see their weaknesses!" Fuuka calls out to everyone. "They are all immune to Light, Bless, Dark, and Curse! They also Repel Fire, Ice, and Wind! But they are vulnerable to everything else!"
"That makes things easier! Akasha Arts!" Metis cries, lashing out at the remaining flames as they grow weaker. Now that the field protecting them was weakened with the defeat of a flame, they no longer could shrug off the teams attacks. Yet, the dark sun proved to be impenetrable as it retaliated with blasts of Eigaon for the death of a flame. But the team powered through, wiping out two more flames and weakening another before the dark sun grew even more desperate.
With a distorted cry, it attacks the team with Mamudoon and Megido, taking them off guard as the two final flames retaliate with Inferno and Ice Age. Putting the team onto the back foot as Yukari and Minako move onto healing duty while the team focus down the remaining two flames. It was hard thought, as they were facing through the severe magic spells thrown at them, but eventually, they brought the final two flames low.
It was then that the dark sun evaporated, revealing the Star Arcana's true form. A decadent black jar with brown trimming around the size of Koromaru hovered before them, while the torso of a woman who appeared to be made of the same purple and black flames as the dark sun formed out of it. As though it was trying to force herself into the jar, while grasping onto itself and looking away from the team. As for its face, there was none, not even a neck.
Instead, all it had was Fox's mask floating where it should be. Devoid of any paint, and bleached a cold dark grey like stone.
"So it WAS wearing Fox's mask!" Ken shouts as Koromaru lets out a bark at the Star Arcana.
"It's exposed now! Let's finish this!" Mitsuru calls, pulling her rapier back. But it was then that the Star Arcana decided to bring out the big guns as it blasts the team with a Megidolaon. Catching them all by surprise before casting Tetrakarn while is lets out a distorted moan. It clearly expected to turn this into a long-drawn-out fight as everyone pushed themselves back up. But the fight with its flames had left them drained with all the dodging they had to do, leaving their stamina low as the Star Arcana prepared to attack them once again.
Hmph! Such cowardice for a Shadow Arcana! Allow us to shred this foe to ribbons!
We will show it not to underestimate our determination.
"I know…" Aigis replies to herself as she stands, locking eyes with Fox's mask as she glows red. "This has gone on long enough! Psionic Ice Storm!" At her call, Goemon and Milady appear before her. The two Personas bow to each other eloquently as Goemon summons a field of ice flowers. All of them with sharp forms along the petals. Milady chuckles at the sight before conjuring a psionic tornado that snaps all the ice flowers off their stems and into the tornado. Then, once every flower was spinning in this icy cyclone of spiked death, Goemon sent out a path of frost towards the Star Arcana and trapped it in ice, with Milady sending the tornado of psionic ice right into the Star Arcana, slicing it to ribbons as it lets out one final distorted pained cry of desperation.
As Goemon and Milady return to Aigis, Fox's mask falls to the floor with a heavy thud as thought it was made of stone. The Star Arcana Shadow nowhere to be seen.
"Man… that Arcana Shadow did not want to fight fair." Junpei comments as they gather around Fox's mask. "Anyway, guess we all know what's coming now, huh?"
"Yeah." Minako replies as Ken reaches for the mask. With no surprise, the team found themselves being transported to a different place. Yet, the venue around them was not what they expected. A large cylindrical room with golden walls that had black trees on them that seemed to be constantly evaporating. Long golden couches lone the walls while two exist lay on either end. One leading to what looked to be a reception area while the other lay at the top of some ramps. Banners draped from above while a golden and black statue with people lay at the centre of the room.
"Okay… where are we now? Cause I don't think this place belongs to Kamoshida." Yukari asks as the team look around at the place. Until they hear the door at the top of the ramp opening. Revealing Joker as he looked around with a worried look before motioning with his hand behind him.
"Come on! It's clear!" He shouts before rushing into the room, followed by Skull, Mona, and Panther who pauses to hold the door open.
"Kitagawa-kun! This way!" The S.E.E.S team, expect Aigis, freeze as Yusuke appears in the door. Looking nothing like the proud artist as they came to know him as. Instead, he looked around with both fear and horror in his eyes as the Thieves escorted him down the ramp.
"We're almost at the exit!" Joker calls out until squelching explosions erupt at the door. With two security guards with heart-shaped masks blocking their way. "Damn it!"
"The exit is right there!" Mona groans just as a distorted cackle erupts behind all of them. All eyes turn to the ruler of this place, dressed in a golden robe fit for a shogun, complete with a ceremonial knot for his hair.
"Who the hell is that?" Metis asks the team. "That isn't that 'Kamoshida' person from the last visions."
"No… it's Madarame. Yusuke's old teacher." Minato replies
"Talk about bullshit clothes! First a king, now some kinda shogun!?" Skull shouts in annoyance as Yusuke's eyes widen at seeing his sensei's shadow.
"At least he's not dressed in nothing but pink pants…" Minako comments as the girls all nod as one. Anything was better than Kamoshida.
"Welcome to the museum of the master artist Madarame. I do hope you have enjoyed the sights so far." Shadow Madarame greets with a wide grin, the team now only noticing that his face was powdered white, and he had red lipstick on his lips.
"Sensei…? Is that you?" Yusuke quietly asks with unbelieving eyes. "That attire…" He shakes his head, unable to comprehend what he was seeing before him. "This… This is all one big lie, isn't it…?"
"Yusuke… he's having a hard time believing it." Shinjiro comments, shaking his head.
"Well, he did say that Madarame was like a father to him until he saw the truth. I suppose any child would find it hard to believe what their parents are truly like, even when it's right before them." Mitsuru comments as Shadow Madarame lets out a chuckle.
"My usual ragged attire is nothing but an act. Besides, a famous person living in that shack? I have another home… under a mistress's name, of course.
"This is absurd… what makes you think you have a right to toy with people like they are tools!?" Joker shouts, throwing a hand out. "Do you know how many you've ruined! Over 200 by my last count!"
"And that is but the tip of the iceberg." Shadow Madarame gloats, infuriating the Thieves, while the S.E.E.S team is in both stages of shock and anger.
"If the 'Sayuri' was stolen, why was it in your storage room? And if you had the real one, why make copies!?" Yusuke shouts, wanting to know why he would do that to such a famous piece of art. "If it's really you, Sensei… please tell me!"
"Foolish child. You still don't see? The painting being stolen was just a false rumour I spread! It was all a perfectly calculated staging!" Shadow Madarame reveals, shocking Yusuke, as the S.E.E.S team finds themselves wanting to bash this guy's head in just as much as Kamoshida's. A shame they could only watch. "Let me see… How does this sound? 'I found the real painting, but it can't go public… You can have it for a special price, though…' Haha! How's that for preferential treatment? Art snobs'll eat it up and pay good cash at that!"
"No…!" Yusuke shouts, falling to one knee as he feels his entire world shatter around him. His entire life crumbling away to reveal the lie that it was.
"The worth of art is purely subjective… Thus, this is a legitimate business transaction! Though I doubt a brat like you would ever come up with such a brilliant scheme!"
"Legitimate, my ass! He's robbing them!" Junpei shouts as Minato and Minako growl at Shadow Madarame.
"You keep goin' on and on about money this and money that… No wonder you ended up with this disgusting museum!" Skull shouts at Shadow Madarame, iron pipe in his hands, even as the Shadow Guards threaten to attack them.
"You're supposed to be an artist, right!? Aren't you ashamed of plagiarizing other people's works!?" Panther shouts, her whip creaking in her hands as Shadow Madarame laughs at her.
"Art is nothing but a tool! A tool to gain money and fame! You helped me greatly as well, Yusuke." The S.E.E.S team blink in confusion at that remark as Yusuke looks up at Shadow Madarame.
"But what about the people how believe in you…? Who think you're a master artist…!?" Yusuke asks back with a plea in his voice. Shadow Madarame lets out a long sigh as he shakes his head at the boy like he was still a babe.
"…I'll tell you this alone, Yusuke. If you wish to succeed in this world, I'd advise you don't rise against me. Do you believe that anyone could find success with my objection holding them down?! Hahahahaha!" Yusuke closes his eyes, looking at the ground as the words act like a dagger in his heart. "And you still believe that I took you in out of the goodness of my heart? Plucking talented, yet troubled artists allows me to find promising pupils and take their ideas… After all, it's much easier to steal the futures of children who can't fight back."
"That bastard!" Minako shrieks as she rushes forward to throw a punch, only to phase through him.
"Remind me not to get anything from him." Akihiko tells Mitsuru, who nods with eyes filled with rage.
"I'll put in a boycott with the Group and remove any of 'his' artwork from us. He won't be able to stop us."
"Livestock are killed for their hide and meat! This is no different, you fool!" Shadow Madarame shouts as Yusuke, who had fallen silent while the Thieves forms a barrier around him to keep him safe. "…But I tire of this little chat. It's time that I…"
"…You are unforgivable." Yusuke says aloud as he slowly looks up and Shadow Madarame. His voice was eerily calm as he stood up with narrow eyes. "It doesn't matter who you are… I won't forgive you!"
"So… you repay my keeping you around all these years with ingratitude…? You damn brat! Men! Dispose of these Thieves!" At his call, some of the guards turn into Koppa Tengus while one transforms into an Ippon-Datara.
"Get back, Kitagawa-kun!" Panther shouts as the Thieves ready themselves for a fight. But Yusuke remains in place as he calmly looks around him.
"How amusing… It seems the truth is stranger than fiction, hm…? I wanted to believe it wasn't true… I had clouded my vision for so long… My eyes were truly blind… Blind, and unable to see the true self behind this one horrible man…!"
"Even when shouting, he does so poetically…" Aigis comments as she shakes her head. Just as a voice echoes around them all.
Have you finally come to your senses?
Yusuke lets out a painful gasp as he grasps his head, spinning around in place as the pain rampages inside his brain before falling to the ground.
How foolishly you averted your eyes from the truth… A deplorable imitation indeed. Best you part from that aspect of yourself!
Digging his hands into the ground, Yusuke drags his left hand along the stone floor. Trailing blood from all five of his fingers as the S.E.E.S team winces at what pain Yusuke must be going through.
Let us now forge a contract… I am thou, thou art I… The world is filled with both beauty and vice… it is time you teach people which is which!
At that, Yusuke looks up at Shadow Madarame, eyes narrow and glowing gold as his mask form on his face. Shadow Madarame steps back with fear in his eyes as Yusuke stands up like he had only woken up. Even as blood dripped from his fingers.
"Very well… Come, Goemon!" With an elegant flourish, Yusuke rips his mask off without issues as he envelops himself in the azure flames. As his Thief attires forms around him, Goemon makes his appearance in a dramatic pose as Yusuke slams a foot into ice building around him while holding a hand out towards Shadow Madarame. "A breathtaking sight… imitations they may be, but together, they make a fine spectacle… Though the flower of evil blossoms, be it known… Abominations are fated to perish!" With that, he sends out a wave of ice that managed to freeze several of the Tengus, leaving only four remaining alongside the Ippon-Datara.
"Even his awakening speech was poetic!" Fuuka comments as the team shake their heads at him. It truly was a Yusuke thing to do.
"The children who adored you as 'father'… The prospects of your pupils… How many did you trample upon…? How many dreams did you exchange for riches!? No matter what it takes, I will bring you to justice! With me, Goemon!" And just like all the other visions, this one comes to an end just as Goemon launches his attack. Sending the team back to the arena while Ken holds on to Fox's mask. Fully restored.
"Another one of your friends?" Metis asks Aigis as she stares at the mask in Ken's hands. But it wasn't Aigis who responds to her question.
"Yeah… Yusuke-san was the fifth member of the Thieves. And he was the one who designed and wrote their Calling Cards for their heists." Ken tells her, attacking the mask to his coat. "He might have been odd at sometimes, and always focused on art most of the time, but he always cared about everyone around him. Even if his advice was always poetical, he always managed to get his message across to us."
"Which leaves us with three more memories to look at, at least." Minako remarks as she lets out a sigh before quietly mumbling to herself. Quiet enough that no one but Aigis could hear her, and it was something that she was always wondering about.
"What's the point of all this?"
Aigis couldn't come up with an answer for her, not could she find one fore herself as she walked over to the door an opens it. Time to see what memory was hidden behind this door as the team soon found themselves back in Paulownia Mall, their bodies transparent as people walk past and through them without issue. But it soon became clear whose memory this was as Past Junpei walked by them. Sitting down at the bench before the fountain as he glares at his hands.
"That dumbass… Seriously, getting drunk on cooking wine? That's damn pathetic, even for a deadbeat dad. But… so am I, I guess, for running out like this every day. Man… What am I going to do now? I got nowhere to go."
The spectral S.E.E.S team stand in silence while Junpei pulls his hat over his eyes. He really didn't want to remember this until a familiar looking dog walked past them and over to Past Junpei. Something that caught both Past Junpei and everyone's else attention.
"Sup, pooch? You got nowhere better to be, either?" Past Junpei asks Past Koromaru who walks up to him and lets out a happy bark at him. Managing to put a smile on Past Junpei's face as he gives him a rub on the head. "Sorry, bud, I don't have any food for ya. Would give you some if I did, though… Y'know, you look kinda familiar… Have I seen you 'round here before?" Past Koromaru tilts his head at him, just as two teenagers walk over to Junpei with recognition in their eyes.
"Yo, it's Junpei!" One of them calls out, grabbing both Past Junpei and Past Koromaru's attention.
"Huh? Oh, hey, guys." Past Junpei replies while his mind is some place else.
"Aw, why the long face? You sad we're in different homerooms now?" One of them asks with Past Junpei shaking his head at them.
"Nah, only sad thing here is your IQ." Past Junpei replies as the S.E.E.S team all glance at their Junpei who rubs the back of his head. "Wait, ain't it way past your Dorms curfew? What're you guys doin' out here?"
"Oh, you know, we snuck out. Once you're a second year, you learn where the secret exit is. Anyway, we're heading to Escapade to celebrate my guy here finally striking out. Wanna come with?"
"Whatever! I still have a shot!" His friend shouts back, only for him to chuckle back at him with an amused look.
"Heh, still in denial, huh? C'mon, face it, man. Yukari Takeba is way out of your league in the first place. I never expected her to hook up with those two transfer students right off the bat, however. Guess she's into the dark and mysterious types."
"Oh, now I remember him… He always tried to hit on me for the past year." Yukari groans, shaking her head. "I think he tried to do the same with Ann as well."
"And me…" Minako adds with a disappointed sigh.
"I dunno, they seemed like a normal dude and gal to me." Past Junpei comments leaning forward.
"Nah, dude. Get this… those two transfer students? Rumour has it their parents died when they were younger, right before their eyes. Someone got a peak at their files when Toriumi left it lying around. Who knew they were twins, huh? Even if their names were a dead giveaway."
"So THAT'S how everyone found out!" Minako shouts in annoyance while Minato shakes his head. "Toriumi-sensei… why!?"
"Man, you're so gullible… That stuff only happens in soap operas." Past Junpei dismisses with a shake of his head. Not believing a word of it.
"Hey, I did say it was a rumour. Look, man, forget that. Let's get going! I know a guy who knows a guy who can grab us some booze!" Past Junpei flinches at that, his mind racing back to his deadbeat dad as he leans back on the bench.
"Booze…? Uh, sorry, I… think I'm gonna pass." Past Junpei declines, closing his eyes while Past Koromaru looks up at him with curiosity behind his red eyes. The two classmates looked like they wanted to push him, but a look from Past Junpei's face told them his answer wasn't going to change as the two went for Escapade. Leaving Past Junpei alone as he lets out a long sigh of disappointment. "Heh… Just had to turn 'em down. Today's really not my day."
Past Koromaru lets out a sad simper, rubbing his head against Past Junpei's knee to cheer him up. Past Junpei lets out a faint smile as he rubs his head, thanking him for the comfort as he looks up at the ceiling.
"Man, I wonder if I'll actually be happy with my life one day. I wish I could, like… change the word somehow. If only I could do something that no one else can do… Like, having some kinda special skill or power, you know?" Past Koromaru lets out another whine, prompting Junpei to rub his head once more. "Aww, don't gimme that. I'm sure someday… Someday, we'll be able to make real friends. Friends who actually understand us." With that, Past Koromaru lets out a happy bark as the world flashes white before them. Taking them back to the arena, Junpei rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, you got your wish in the end, Junpei." Minato tells him, placing his hands into his pockets.
"I did… but that definitely wasn't my proudest moment there." Junpei admits, rubbing the back of his head. "But still, I can't believe that the dog I met that day was you, Koromaru! What were the chances?" Koromaru lets out a happy bark as Minako pats him on the head with a smile. "Come to think on it, that was the same day that Akihiko found me."
"It was… talk about extreme chances, huh?" Akihiko remarks, shaking his head. "You just happened to be chilling in the convenience store when the Dark Hour hit, if memory serves."
"That sounds about right, readin' magazines." Junpei confirms as Akihiko lets out a chuckle to himself.
"I also remember that you were pretty much a sitting duck, about to burst into tears. Man, your face was more terrifying than that of a Shadows." Akihiko adds, causing everyone around him to start laughing as Junpei looks away with a pout.
"Aww, come on! It was my first time experiencing it!" He shouts in defence before turning to the twins. "It was the same with you two, right?!"
"Nope." Minako replies with a smile, one that Minato matches her with. "To be honest, we didn't even pay it much attention when we arrived." Junpei shakes his head in acceptance as he places a hand on his waist. Looking out at the falling sand around them.
Y'know, my life back then, what with my old man and all, was… I dunno, not boring, but… Well, you saw what it was like. So staying at the Dorm, fighting Shadows, interacting with friends from the future, and everything else… It's been unreal." As everyone started to mingle with each other, remembering the days of back at the Dorm, Metis was standing next to Aigis as she lets out a curious hum.
"Interesting… Unlike my sister and me, other people usually have a reason to awaken… I comprehend."
"I had a reason as well." Aigis tells her, grabbing Metis's attention. "However, in my case, it happened in reverse. I possessed the power, then discovered my true feelings later. Speaking of which, do you—"
"Hmm… I think I'm starting to get it." Aigis blinks, stunned that Metis cut her off like that, but also curious as to what she had discovered. "The doors only show us memories of great significance. Once they serve their purpose, they disappear. Those that remain have yet to fulfil their roles."
"Their purpose…?" Aigis asks, even as she sees the Eclipse Tarot card and Fool Tarot card gain their sixth stars. "What purpose?"
"I'm not entirely sure… But if we keep exploring, I think we'll be able to find out. So let's keep going together, okay?" Aigis blinks in surprise, taking a moment to glance at the S.E.E.S team with the walls that had seemingly appeared after January started to come down. And feeling something inside her that gave her a slim hope for the future.
"O-Okay then… Let's." Aigis replies as Metis does a victorious fist pump. But as Aigis's eyes fell on Yusuke's mask hanging on Ken's jacket, she couldn't help but wonder about its significance.
Or why they were even finding them in the first place.