Wednesday, 29th of April -Dark Hour- [Tartarus]
Minato: Make it quick, guys. A few more and we're done!
Minato's voice echoes in the labyrinth. Junpei, Yukari and Minako nod at his command. Before entering Tartarus, everyone were scared that Minato will go hulk-mode again but thankfully, he manage to control himself this time. This expedition gave them more experience than the first one. After all, how can you get experience when there is a shadow-destroying godzilla having a rampage in the building?
Junpei: Ta da da da! Junpei has leveled up!
Yukari: Yes! My skill level has increased!
Minako: That's the last of them, brother!
Minako cheers after defeating the last enemy. She throws her hands in the the air like she just don't care. Yukari and Junpei are happy and exhausted too.
Minato: Alright. Good job, guys. That's enough for tonight. Let's get back to the dorm.
Yukari: Ah... thank goodness it was over. I am so tired..! I'm gonna sleep right after I get back.
Junpei: Heh. Really? That's all you got, Yuka-tan?
Yukari: Well, look who's talking! You're the one who's obviously tired!
Junpei: Oh, yeah?! You wanna do round 2?
Yukari: Bring it on, Stupei!
Minato ignores the quarrel. His eyes are looking directly at Minako. She is looking at a blue card hovering in the air. On one side, there's a picture of a black and white mask while on the other side, there is a picture of an auburn-haired fairy wearing a purple one-piece bathing suit with long gloves and socks. With slight hesitation, she grabs the card and it immediately disappears. Then, she realizes that her brother is staring at her.
Minako: Brother....what is that?
Minato: It's a--
Junpei: HEY DUDE! LET'S GET OUTTA HERE!
Junpei yells from an Access Point, which is a green teleporter that brings people back to the entrance, several meters away.
Minato: I'll explain it another day. Don't worry, it won't harm you.
Thursday, 30th of April -After school- [Classroom]
In the classroom, Minato's cellphone rings. He looks at the screen. He is unable the recognize the number. Who could it possibly be? Usually, he would ignore the random calls. Out of curiosity, he answers it. A familiar female voice begins talking. Undoubtedly, it is Elizabeth. In the past, Elizabeth contacted him once in a while too. She will always tell him useful informations. He could never understand one thing though: How can the residents of the Velvet Room use phones?
Elizabeth: Hello? This is Elizabeth. Please come to the Velvet Room. There's a matter we need to discuss.
Minato: I guess I have to use the door I found the other day?
Elizabeth: Yes. You may use the alternate entrance located in Paulownia Mall.
Minato: Only NOW you decided to tell me? Why don't you tell me earlier? I have to go out of the dorm to look for the door for 7 hours with a chance of getting executed by senpai!
Elizabeth: *chuckle* I'm sorry, Minato-kun. However, isn't that what makes life interesting?
Minato: Well, I did save her in the end so...yeah, thanks for not telling me.
Elizabeth: I'll see you soon.
The call has ended. Just as he wants to keep his phone in his pocket, Minako immediately appears out of nowhere.
Minako: Brother! Did you get the same message too? From Theo?
Minato: If it's about the Velvet Room, yes. It's Elizabeth who told me.
Minako: So, what do they want to talk about?
Minato: Who knows. Let's just go and get this over with.
Minako: He said the door is in Paulownia Mall but where exactly?
Minato: Follow me.
As they walk to Paulownia Mall, Minato recalls the recent events. He became friends with Kenji who is apparently interested in a teacher in their school. He joined the Kendo club and met someone named Kazushi Miyamoto who rivals his skills in swordsmanship and the team coach which is Yuko Nishiwaki. Mitsuru-senpai asked him to be a member of the student council because she needed a hand. In the process, he met the disciplinary committee representative, Hidetoshi Odagiri and a shy treasurer, Chihiro Fushimi. Of course, when he forms a bond with them, he felt his strength increasing.
Upon reaching the mall, they head to the back alley. Minako just follow him without any doubts. There, they see a glowing blue door. The exact same door they saw at the entrance of Tartarus. The alley is quiet because nobody is there except them. Anything that happens in the alley will not be known to the people at the mall. It is an ideal place to do crimes. Anyway, they take out their keys and enter the door. Igor's voice greets them as they are seated at their usual place. This time, both Elizabeth and Theo are standing beside him. Elizabeth at his left and Theo at his right.
Igor: Ah, there you are. Welcome to the Velvet Room.
Minako: Hello, Igor. Why did you call us here?
Igor: Well...I suppose it's time for me to explain what I really do here. It is my job to create new Personas. But in order to do so, I must fuse your Persona cards together. In other words, I shall merge them into a single Persona.
Minako: Merging them? That's awesome! How many Personas can I have altogether?
Minato: The number of Personas we have buried within us is approximately 170.
Minako: 170!? That's a lot!
Igor: Indeed. We've never seen a visitor with this many possibilities before. If you establish social links, you may be able to create even stronger Personas too. *chuckles* This should prove veeery interesting...
Minako: So... that card I got yesterday....
Minato: Yeah. It's a persona. As we accumulate cards, it's best to bring them back to Igor. By the way, I already know all of this. If you want to let Minako know about this then you should've just call her alone...Unless...is there's something else you want to tell the both of us?
Elizabeth and Theo exchange glances. They are slightly smiling.
Elizabeth: I'm truly sorry to bother you, but I- *clears throat* we, have a big favor to ask. I- *clears throat* we, have been looking for someone with exceptional strength.
Theo: If you don't mind, would you please accept our requests?
Minato: That's new... Well, what kind of quests?
Minako: They mentioned 'someone with exceptional strength' so... we have to hunt for certain shadows?
Once again, Elizabeth and Theo exchange glances and their grin grow broader.
Elizabeth & Theo: Not only that...but some of our missions will require you to....
After that, they pose cheerfully beside Igor while say in unison.
Elizabeth & Theo: ESCORT US AROUND!!
Theo: I've always wanted to see the real world.
Elizabeth: And this is our opportunity!
Elizabeth & Theo: YAY!!
The twins and Igor sweatdrop and facepalm as they watch the siblings dance happily together. Once Igor clears his throat, both of them stop. They clear their throats as well.
Theo: Of course, there will be a suitable reward upon completion of the request.
Elizabeth: We anxiously await for your cooperation.
With that, they bid farewell to one another and they leave the Velvet Room.
Friday, 1st of May -After school- [Classroom]
The weather is getting warmer. After all, it is already May. It's amazing how time flies. Minato felt like he just came here. That's good. That means he is enjoying himself after who-knows-how-long of torture. School no longer seemed like hell to him because when ever he is in trouble, he can count on his friends. However, there are other things he need to worry about. The number of Apathy Syndrome is not decreasing lately. Those Shadows won't stop no matter what, huh? Well guess what? Minato ain't giving up as well.
As always, he have a small chat with Junpei and Minako after the bell had rung. Junpei told them something that catches their attention.
Junpei: FYI, Akihiko-san's at the hospital getting a checkup. He called me earlier and asked me to bring something.
Minato: You?
Junpei: Yup, he knows who to count on.
Yukari appears out of nowhere and answers him.
Yukari: He only asked you cuz you don't have anything else to do after school.
Junpei: H-Hey, I resent that!
Minako: *giggles* She's just kidding, Junpei. So, what he want you to bring?
Junpei: The class roster for 2-E.
Minato: Class roster? For what?
Junpei: I dunno.
Yukari: Well, I don't have practice today, so I'll go with you. Both of you are coming too right?
Minako: Definitely! What about you, brother?
In Minato's mind: I got lots of things to do now... Kenji wanted to hang out, student council business, Kazushi wanted to train with me and Elizabeth's requests. *sigh* I'll do it. For my friends...
Minato: ...........Sure.
Yukari: Cool.
Junpei: W-Wait a minute...
Yukari: What? Is there a problem?
Junpei: Well, it was ME he asked...
Despite what Junpei said, the juniors still go there together. When they reach the right room in the hospital, they open the door and go inside. Someone unexpected is sitting there. And no, it is not Akihiko-senpai. His brown hair is concealed under a beanie and he has steel-colored eyes. He wears a maroon peacoat, black pants and brown shoes. He looks fierce. One wrong word and you're barbecue chicken. Thankfully, Junpei realizes this and he chooses his words carefully.
Junpei: Umm...Is...Akihiko-senpai...in this room? By any chance?
Visitor: ... *stares at them*
They hear footsteps behind them. It is Akihiko.
Akihiko: What are all of you guys doing here?
Minako: We came to see you! Are you okay, senpai? It doesn't seem like anything is wrong with you.
Akihiko: I'm just here for a checkup.
The mysterious guy stand up and begins talking with a voice deeper than Akihiko's. Judging by the way they talk, they must know each other pretty well.
Visitor: Is that it Aki?
Akihiko: Yeah, thanks.
Visitor: Tch... I don't have time for this shit.
He walk away. For a moment, he looks at Minato. Then, he continue walking. Clearly, all of the junior except Minato are intimidated by him.
Junpei: W-Who was that?
Akihiko: A friend from school...sort of.
In Minato's mind: I never see him before. Based on the reaction of my friends, they don't know him either even though they've been studying in Gekkoukan High. Maybe, he's a dropout.
Minato: Why is he here?
Akihiko: You know how the number of Apathy Syndrome cases has been increasing? Well, he knows a few people who are suffering from it so I was asking him about it. Hey Junpei, did you bring what I asked?
Junpei: Of course, senpai.
Akihiko: Sorry for the trouble. Well, let's get going.
Akihiko moves his arm in excitement. He is slightly exercising.
Minako: You shouldn't move your arm, senpai.
Akihiko: It's nothing. I've wasted enough time already, I need to get back to my training.
Junpei: Yeah! Gekkoukan's golden boy. He was born to be in the ring.
Minako: By the way, senpai, why boxing?
Akihiko: You mean, why did I choose that sport? Well, it's not the sport itself I like: I just wanted to learn how to fight. I know what it's like to feel powerless....and I don't wanna feel that way again. Besides, I'm curious to see how strong I can get. It's like a game, only I'm competing against myself.
Junpei: That's an interesting way of looking at it. Ya know, I'm into games too!
Yukari: Yeah...VIDEO games.
Junpei: Hey, they're good for hand-eye coordination! Oh, I like fighting games too!
Yukari: Whatever...