After the incident at Port Island Station, the juniors decided to return to the dorm as soon as possible. They would not want another dangerous scenario to happen. If those thugs had a gun, they could have been shot.
As they make their way back home, Junpei's eyes are drawn to the big, beautiful moon above them. That moon is their only source of light in the pitch black alleyway.
Junpei: Man, that's a big full moon right there!
Yukari: You idiot, that's a GIBBOUS moon.
Junpei: I don't see the difference. A moon is a moon to me.
Yukari: You're hopeless...
Junpei: C'mon, Minato! You agree with me....rigghhhhtt?
Junpei puts his arm around Minato's shoulders playfully but he slaps his arm away.
Minato: Personal space.
Junpei: Hey, man. No need to be aggressive. We're best buddies right?
Minato remains silent. He did not even bother to look at Junpei. The more Junpei talks, the more his hands clench in anger.
Junpei: I mean, yeah, you DID punch me. But things could've gone worse. I told you it wasn't a good idea! If Shinjiro-san hadn't helped us, we'd be... Shit! I'm never going there again!
Minato: Oh yeah, definitely. We wouldn't want to be called goatee, right? That's just straight up terrible and offensive.
Junpei: DUDE! I'm serious! We could've die--
Before Junpei could continue, Minato shoves Junpei against the wall.
Minato: And I was serious about killing them back there too. So quit your whining and shut up.
Minato walks away while tucking his hands in his pockets.
Junpei: What's wrong with him?
Minako: I'm sorry, Junpei. He's just easily irritated, that's all. Don't mind him.
Minako's cheerful smile made Junpei forget the pain he felt. At least ONE member of SEES cares about him and that's all that matters.
[Dormitory] -Dark Hour-
Minato stares out of the window, looking at the creepy yellowish-green moon. Was it always this gigantic? He was worried. He was really concerned about that girl, Fuuka Yamagishi. She was missing for more than a week. Supposedly, she also has the potential to summon a persona. This means that she can be awake during the Dark Hour.
Minato: I'm overlooking something...
He mutters slowly to himself. Which piece of the puzzle was missing? Or did he have all of it but he is not piecing them correctly? What is the connection? He suddenly slammed his hand on the window in frustration.
Minato: I really hate mysteries.
There was a small crack on his window. It was tiny and barely visible. He looks at the crack closely.
Minato: Hopefully no one notices that. I really don't want to pay for it. My wallet hates me enough.
Through the cracked part of the window, he could see Tartarus. The tall building that is a school at day, but a monster dungeon at night. The eerie green glow of Tartarus, the blood dripping off the building... he hated it.
Minato: Wait... school?
His eyes widen in realisation.
Minato: I think... she's there.
Monday, 8th of June [School] -Lunchtime-
The school bell rings and it echoes throughout the whole school. Something had been on Minako's mind all day. She just could not forget about it. She silently hopes it would not affect her studies since her class today was a little tough to understand. Minato left the classroom a few minutes ago. Where did he go? Yukari walks towards her with a concerned expression.
Yukari: What's up, Minako-chan? You haven't been concentrating in class today.
Minako: Huh? You could tell?
Yukari: I mean, it's kinda obvious. It's weird that today's class is awfully quiet because you usually liven things up.
Minako: A-Am I usually THAT noisy?
Minako covers her red face in embarrassment. Yukari quickly puts her hand on her shoulders and acts all flustered.
Yukari: W-Wait! That's not what I meant! It's a good thing, y'know. You make the class more interesting, especially when you answer the questions correctly. I mean, sheesh, do they really expect us to know the answers all the time?!
Minako is taken aback by Yukari's sudden change of attitude.
Yukari: Anyways!
Yukari's face turns more serious. She holds Minako's hands tightly.
Yukari: What were you thinking about? It seemed important.
Minako: I was thinking of asking the Fuuka's homeroom teacher about her disappearance. He might know something about it.
Yukari: Oh, right! Yes, we should do that. His name is Mr. Ekoda. Let's go!
Junpei: Hey, hold on a minute. I wanna go too. Junpei Iori will find out what happened to the cute chick no matter what!
Yukari: Uhh..
Minako: Sure, let's go together.
The three of them rush to the faculty office. There, someone else is already at Mr. Ekoda's place. It is a very familiar redhead, Mitsuru-senpai and another brunette student.
Yukari: Oh, Mitsuru-senpai. Why are you here?
Mitsuru: Same reason as you.
She takes a good look at all three of them before returning her gaze towards the brunette in front of her. She is looking at the floor, as if she has done something bad and is awaiting her punishment.
Mitsuru: Mr. Ekoda, I'm here to ask you about a student named Fuuka Yamagishi.
The brunette, who was sitting silently, yells loudly.
Brunette: NO!! I-I never thought it'd turn out like this... Fuuka...
Yukari: Wait... You're that girl...
Yukari suddenly remembers that she was one of the girls who talked about bullying someone. Could it be that this brunette was the one who bullied Fuuka?
Mitsuru: What did you do to Yamagishi?
Mitsuru's voice is firm. It is obvious that she wants her answer immediately. Before the brunette could answer, the male teacher interjects.
Mr. Ekoda: Hold on, Mitsuru. This isn't an interrogation. Natsuki, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. You wouldn't want to give her the wrong idea.
Despite this, the brunette, Natsuki, speaks.
Natsuki: Fuuka... she... She always looks so frazzled whenever I gave her a hard time. Then, I realised... She's an honour student, but deep inside, she's just the same as us. I knew exactly which buttons to push. We were just messin' with her that day, too!
Natsuki pauses and takes a deep breath, trying to remember the details of what happened.
Natsuki: May 29th... We took Fuuka to the gym... and locked the door from the outside.
Junpei: What!? You locked her in!?
Natsuki: That night, Maki returned to school alone. She was afraid we'd get in trouble if Fuuka committed suicide. But, she never came back... and the next morning...
Yukari: ...she was found lying on the ground by the gate.
Natsuki: I went to the gym to let Fuuka out, but the door was still locked. So I opened it and went inside, but she wasn't there.
Minako: What did you do then? Did you tell the faculty members?
Natsuki: No, we all freaked out. Starting that night, we went out looking for her. But every night, another one of us went missing... and they each ended up like Maki!
Mitsuru: I see.
Mitsuru looks at Mr. Ekoda with her icy cold glare.
Mitsuru: By the way, Mr. Ekoda... All this time, you've attributed Yamagishi's absence to "illness". But in reality, she was missing. You must have been aware of that... What was your intention?
Mr. Ekoda: I was thinking of the students of course. You children may not understand, but we have to consider the future of everyone affected.
Mitsuru: You mean, you chose not to report this to the police for the "good of the class".
Mr. Ekoda: It-It was in her best interest. I wouldn't want her record to be stained by something like this. Her parents agree!
Mitsuru: So to protect you career, you ignored your responsibility as a teacher...
Mitsuru raises her voice in rage.
Mitsuru: How despicable!
Mr. Ekoda gasped and shrivels from fear. He tries to come up with excuses to save himself.
Mr. Ekoda: I-I didn't... I was just...
Mitsuru ignores him and turns her gaze towards Natsuki.
Mitsuru: About your friends... Did you notice anything unusual before the incidents?... Anything at all?
Natsuki: They all heard a voice... A creepy voice... Right before each of them went missing. They said it was calling their name.
Junpei felt a cold shiver down his spine. His voice is audibly shaking.
Junpei: Oh, man...
Yukari: Senpai, could it be...!?
Mitsuru: It's them... no doubt about it. Until now, there was no way of knowing how or why some people are conscious during the Dark Hour. But, it's the voice; it draws them in. It's not just a random phenomenon.
Minako: But senpai... what are they after?
Mitsuru: This whole thing has made me realise... They're clearly targeting humans. Shadows are the enemy of mankind.
She turns to face Natsuki again.
Mitsuru: Stay at our dorm tonight; it's the safest place. If you hear the voice, tell us immediately. And don't leave the room no matter what. If you can do that much, you should be okay. Don't worry, Yamagishi should be alright as well.
Natsuki: Fuuka...
Mitsuru: Arisato... Iori and Takeba too. We'll meet after school in the Student Council Room to discuss tonight's operation. Please inform Minato-san as well.
Junpei: Oh yeah, speaking of Minato-kun, where did he go?
Minako: I don't know myself...
Junpei: He was pissed yesterday... Maybe he wanted to cool down?
Yukari: Anyways, what's going on tonight, senpai?
Mitsuru: We're going to rescue Yamagishi. If my guess is right, she's still inside the school.
Yukari: U-Understood. We'll be there.