Chapter 3: New Bonds
After returning from Tartarus, SEES returns to the dorms to rest for the day. While Makoto was sleeping; he would begin hearing the ticking of a clock. The ticking wasn't that loud, nor was it too quiet. All that he knew was that he couldn't ignore it either. The more he tried to think about it, the more tired he became until eventually he drifted off to sleep. Opening his eyes, he finds himself back at the velvet room. Elizabeth, still sitting behind the table that is in front of him. "What a wonder to see you again. The winds of fate are changing once again. I wonder what that means for the future of your world. What challenges you'll face. The bonds you'll form. It's so exciting to think about!" Elizabeth's eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement. Anyone could tell that much. Which gets a sigh from Makoto at Elizabeth just acting like her old self. "It seems your first obstacle is getting closer by the minute. How will you overcome the threat this time, as you grow stronger so will your foes. Will you be able to take control of your fate or will you let someone else write it for you? That is the question I must ask you." But before Makoto could get the words from his mouth, a bell rings out. "Though it seems our chat must be kept short." Elizabeth gets up and bows. "The next time we meet will be on your own accord. When that time comes, I'll be happy to help you on your second journey once again." Makoto would black out after that.April 14th, Saturday.When he opened his eyes this time, he found himself back in his room in his bed. In the lounge Mitsuru is sitting on the couch, one leg over the other. She thought about what happened during their first trip to tartarus. All that was going through her head was, "Something was wrong". She couldn't stop thinking about it, but she also couldn't come up with an answer. "Kirijo-Senpai?" She gets knocked out of her thoughts when she hears Yukari's voice. She looks at her with her usual calm expression. "Yes Takeba-san? Is there something you would like to discuss with me?" "I've been wondering. Are you ok Kirijo-senpai? You haven't been yourself ever since we returned from tartarus last night. You also haven't even touched your tea since you made it 10 minutes ago." Mitsuru would look down at the cup that was set down in front of her, and behold, the cup remained untouched like Yukari said. Mitsuru just shakes her head and chuckles. "No, nothings wrong. Just deep in thought about things". Yukari did not put much thought into what her Senpai said and just ignored it. She sits down across from her with her hands on her lap. She would eventually pick up a book and start reading. A short amount of time passes, and Makoto walks down the stairs. He had planned to go out on a walk today. Makoto walks around Tatsumi Port Island, the first place being Iwatodai Station Strip Mall, there were many stores that he remembered visiting before. This is also where the Wildduck Burger is. Also where he met the old couple Bunkichi and Mitsuko. When he looked into the window of the book store, he saw a plethora of books everywhere he looked in the store. He thought about visiting and possibly buying one, until he lost his train of thought looking at the two couples, cheerfully talking like always. Continuing walking from the bookstore he would walk past the French transfer student, Bebe and his blond bob cut and Black fan with two golden butterflies printed on it. Making his way to Paulownia Mall, he sees the familiar stores that he would visit. The small police station where he would buy weapons, armor, and accessories for when they went to tartarus. There was a closed store where he knew they crafted stuff for tartarus as well. He didn't wait long before going on to the next location, the Port Island Station. The pillars that lined up diagonally with a fountain to the far right of the station. He saw the flower store and its well flowers on display in front of the store. The movie theater that happened to be in the upper right corner of the station. Looking to his right, Makoto would find a bench which Junpei just so happened to be sitting on. He made his way to Junpei, who was sitting down with his head hung low. "Yo Makoto! I see you're not the only one who decided to come here. Are you also here to try out the new games that have been added?" Makoto looks at Junpei's eyes. He seemed to be waiting for this game for quite some time. "New game?" Makoto questioned the anticipated teen. "Yep. It's said to help with fighting. And not to brag, but I'm kinda a pro at video games". Junpei said with confidence, and a lot of cockiness. He puffed out his chest after letting out a good laugh. Makoto sighs once more. "Since you're here anyway, why don't you try it out with me? It'll be a great experience, even if it doesn't compare to actually fighting shadows." Makoto thought about the offer and eventually accepted. "That's the spirit lets gooo!" Junpei, with the energy of a little kid, grabs Makoto's hand and makes a fine dash back to Paulownia Mall and goes to the Arcade that was on the right of it. The Arcade was pretty basic in design but had a lot of arcade machines than the eye can see. Junpei still holding onto Makoto's hand would drag him to the new and latest one. It was still brand new and no one has tried it yet. On the front of the machine were two buff looking people about to throw a punch at the other person's face. They inserted the right amount of yen to play the game. They started up the game and saw the start screen. Junpei selects a character with a bat, while Makoto selects the gray hair character that had a Katana. "Man, I was waiting so long for this game to come out! Now that I think about it… Doesn't this one look kinda similar to me?" Makoto would look between the character and Junpei, only to shake his head. "Nah, I can't see it". Makoto replies. Junpei was shocked at that reply. "Really?! Not even a little bit?!" Junpei hangs his head low. "Yeah, I guess I'll never look this badass. But enough of that. Don't go crying when you lose to me!" Confidence filled Junpei's face. A big smile accompanied it. After some time. "Player Two Wins!" The sound plays from the machine. Junpei stood there dumbfounded. "Woah, woah, woah. This can't be happening. I can't lose this. Let's go, a couple more rounds. I just need to warm up." Many rounds later the machine constantly repeated. "Player Two Wins!" By this point Junpei was tired of hearing that and decided to go one more time. As they played this time Junpei was playing at his absolute best. That was when he saw something that he realized that he can interpret into his fighting. He saw the character spinning around 3 times hitting the enemy with each rotation with the middle part of the bat, each hit knocking the enemy back further until the last hit where the character would light the end of the bat on fire and swing it at the other fighter at the same time, their partner fighter that they selected would hit the fire with an electric skill right as Junpei's main fighter hits the opponent causing a mini explosion to happen and launching player 2 to the edge of the screen. Junpei was inspired by this attack and wanted to interpret it into his own fighting. "Makoto, we could do this when we are fighting shadows! It would be so great." Makoto wasn't expecting that this game would inspire Junpei this much, he nodded to this and said "Yeah, let's do it." They played a bit more and after some time, Junpei would start talking. "Man. I normally don't like losing this much, but I don't know. I never had this much fun while losing so many times before." Junpei laughs as he puts a hand on his forehead. "Let's do this again sometime." Junpei smiled wide. Something would then click in Makoto's head. "I am Thou, Thou Art I. Thou hath acquired a new vow, with the power ofThe MagicianArcana, thou hath led to new power and new possibilities". Junpei takes a glimpse at his watch, "Jeeze it's that time already. I gotta go. My favorite show's about to start and I'm not gonna miss out on this!" Following that, Junpei would quickly walk out the arcade; having stuff to do. Makoto would later also exit the Arcade after some thought about what happened. He made his way to the Naganaki shrine. Walking by it, he hears a loud crashing sound. His head snapped to where the sound was coming from. It didn't sound good. He ran up the stairs to the shrine. The environment around him turns green as the Dark Hour begins again. When he made his way to the top of the stairs and to the gate of the shrine; he couldn't forget what he saw awhite shiba-inu with red eyes against one of the shrine gates on its side, blood dripping from its body as a puddle start to form below it. The blood staining its fur. The dog tried to get up seemingly not being able to fight back. Every time it tried it trembled, not even getting an inch before it falls back to the ground. It seemed to have had about 3, 10 inches slash marks on the front side alone, Its face also spilling blood as it slowly slides down its face and over its eye. On top of the shrine ahead of Makoto, would be a shadowy figure. The figure jumps down in front of the shrine. The figure Seemed to be the same height as Makoto, with a long scarf wrapped around their neck that reached to there waist, Black goo spots all over said scarf. The figure was being covered by a deep blue cloak. When the figure spoke, it sounded a little more high pitched with a slight craze to it. "Isn't this a fine sight? Never thought I would see you here so early." The figure said with forelonged intrigue. Makoto was then put on guard as he grabs a nearby bar and holds it like a sword. "What is it you want? Who are you?" Makoto questions the mysterious figure. "No need to show so on edge," The figure chuckles. "I'm just here for the dog." Makoto couldn't see the figures face but he could tell that they looked mad. Makoto by that time would be in front of the dog that he knew as Koromaru, the dog that guards and protect the shrine. "Interesting, intriguely interesting. I don't think you belong here. You shouldn't be the one here. Not at all. So why are you here?" The mysterious figure says with a hint of a smile cracking through the shade of the cloak. The figure's tone got a little scratchy and more higher pitched. "NO MATTER! I'LL JUST DEAL WITH YOU NOW THAT I HAVE THE CHANCE, PREPARE FOR YOUR DOWN FALL YOU FOOL!!!!" Makoto was still on edge, slightly puzzled at what the figure said, but before he could ask what the figure meant, he would realize at the last second that an attack was already by his face. Makoto swings the bar up, sending the attack upward; scraping his face, leaving him with a cut. He was serious about taking their lives. Makoto takes out his evoker and tries to summon his persona, but before he could, the figure would be in front of him. Only a second but Makoto was able to see a hint of his face. When he looked at his eye, he saw one normal eye and one golden glowing eye, sorta like the shadows they fight. The figure would then slash the bar that Makoto had, effectively cutting it in half; but before it fully broke apart, Makoto throws both of the pieces at the figure who jumps back far. The figure. "That was a blast! No wonder Igor acknowledges you as his most remarkable guest. It saddens me that we have to cut our spar short, but don't worry, your head is already mine, you just don't know it yet." The figure smirks through the cloak and laughs maniacally out loud before dissolving into a black goo, the surroundings turn back to normal, insinuating the end of the Dark Hour. After a while, Junpei and Yukari would rush in on the scene with clear concern on their faces. Yukari was the first one that tried to get a handle on the situation. "What happened?!" Makoto would then immediately reply "We need medical care, now". The next day. Koromaru was sent to a vet, SEES would be told that Koromaru would be fine and just need to recover for a while. It would be quite some time before Koromaru would be able to even stand on its own. Back at the Lounge. Makoto thought about what just happened. That mysterious figure, was one that he never seen before when he did this last time. He also thought about what he meant when he said "You weren't supposed to be here". As that thought went into their mind, Mitsuru would speak to them. "So what happened? Why was that dog hurt so badly?" Mitsuru didn't know much about Makoto but despite that, she had this feeling that he wouldn't hurt someone for no reason. So something must've happened. "Someone attacked us. Someone around my age, dark blue cloak, and a long emerald scarf. They were out to kill us, and they somehow knew who I was. They were quite strong and really fast. I couldn't even see or feel their attack until it was dead in my face. I didn't feel any bloodlust though. It was almost like they were toying with us. They left a couple minutes before the Dark Hour ended." Makoto could still smell the blood that covered Koromaru's body. His body was still aching from the aftershock of the encounter. If it wasn't for him blocking and parrying his strikes, he would've definitely gotten hurt, even if it wasn't fatal, he had a persona that Nullified physical attacks and the fact that he just broke through it somehow, says a lot about their strength. Mitsuru looked at Makoto, only getting more skeptical about him. She wondered who he was and how he was able to hold his own against this unknown entity. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow marks the next full moon. And we need to be fully prepared for it." Makoto nods and goes to bed. Sleeping. Once more, he heard the ticking of a clock. The ticking is louder than before. He then remembers something that the figure whispered to him before he left. "When the moon is at its highest, that is when our game finally begins. Hope to see you there and let's have a nice and clean match. The prize this time is gonna be more than a light beating, but the death of the Priestess" He didn't think much about it then. And like before the only sound of the ticking of the clock puts him to sleep once more.