Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Welcome to the Velvet Room."

I opened my eyes, finding myself in the strangest room I had ever seen. I blinked blearily, wondering if I was seeing the right thing. Or maybe I was so tired from all the traveling that I was finally hallucinating from fatigue.

I seemed to be in an elevator—one of those old metal cage ones. Behind the intricately designed metallic walls, I could see that we moved rapidly, golden lights flashing as we rushed by. The other walls were lined with cushioned blue velvet, like upholstery, while the floor was covered in thick, plush blue carpet. Lone doors had been arranged in front of the walls on the right and left side of me, some of them covered with deep blue sheets. Directly in front of me was a round table, draped in a deep blue tablecloth. And sitting across from me, behind the table, in an extremely comfy looking chair made of the same upholstery as the walls, was the oddest man I had ever seen before in my life.

"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter."

The man was sat hunched over, making his already incredibly short body look even shorter. He was mostly bald, save for strands of white hair nearly at the bottom of his head. He had thick, bushy black eyebrows, bloodshot eyes that seemed to bulge out of his skull, and a nose so long and huge I couldn't help but wonder if that was humanly possible. He was dressed rather sophisticatedly in a black suit and tie, even with a fancy pair of gloves. What a weird little man… and what a weird place. I had to be dreaming… right?

"Welcome! Gosh, it's been a while since we've had a guest."

Another voice caught my attention. I looked over to see a girl standing on the left side of the weird man.

She couldn't have been much younger than me. She was short and petite—shorter than me, even. She had platinum blonde, almost white hair, done in low pigtails that curled into spirals, tied with black ribbons, her bangs curling off to the side. Her eyes were bright gold. She wore a dress the same color as everything in this room—deep blue. It had a long white peter pan collar with black embroidery lining the border, on a poofy deep blue blouse. The blouse had black lace lining the outside of black buttons that went down the middle. A black leather belt with etchings of butterflies engraved on it was bound around her waist. A poofy, almost hoop-like skirt extended below from the belt, reaching down to just above her knees. The skirt was also that same deep blue, with black lace trimmings at the rim, but it was lined with a sheer black fabric that also had butterflies embroidered on it. She wore black tights and black leather tie-up platform boots with lace on the top. In her perfectly manicured, black nailed hands, she held a thick tome.

"Indeed," the old man chuckled. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Igor, and this is my assistant, Lacey."

The girl, Lacey, beamed and gave a little wave. "Hihi, it's so nice to meet you!"

"...Am I dreaming?" I asked.

Igor gave an amused smile. "At this moment in time, yes. There will be times when we must summon you while you are sleeping. But that is a matter to discuss later. For now, let us focus on the matter at hand—your upcoming journey."

I frowned. While it was true I was currently on my way back to my childhood home, that journey would soon be coming to an end. Unless he meant something else… Something I was not aware of. So much has happened recently…

"Come," Igor said, and with a wave of his hand, a deck of cards appeared on the table, their backs the same blue as the room, with a black mask, "take these cards and shuffle them, then hand them to my assistant."

He wanted to do a tarot reading? I knew about tarot only vaguely. It was one of my Aunt Minako's interests, though she wasn't, like, super into it like some people. It was like a hobby she had on the side. I supposed it was harmless. I reached out to gather the cards and shuffled them like he asked. Then I held them out to Lacey, who accepted them.

"Here, now pick three," she said, spreading out the cards in her hands and holding the deck out to me again.

My gaze flickered back down to the cards. I did as she asked. I ran my fingers along the cards and picked the three that I was most drawn to, just like Aunt Minako told me to when she did a reading for me years ago. Before I left to officially start training to be an idol. I set them down on the table, while Lacey returned the deck of cards to Igor.

With the three cards resting on the table, Igor reached to flip over the first one. It showed a person, all alone, with a knapsack over their shoulder. They stood at the edge of a cliff, looking off into the distance, with a dog at their heels.

"Ah, the Fool Arcana," Igor mused. "Not wholly unexpected, but intriguing nonetheless. The Fool is the arcana of endless possibilities. It is the number zero—the emptiness from which all things begin. Yes, I sense vast potential within you… not much unlike a previous guest of ours."

Lacey's eyes widened. "Oh, you mean-"

Igor shook his head. "The time for that is not now, Lacey."

She winced. "Yes, Master."

Igor's gaze returned to me. "The Fool Arcana symbolizes the beginning of a journey—your journey, honored guest. Whether this journey brings you salvation or ruin, only time will tell."

…I wasn't sure how I felt about any of this. Or if I even felt anything at all. It was so hard to tell these days. I remained silent.

Igor moved on, flipping over the second card. This one displayed a tower, being struck by lightning, as two people fell from it. That wasn't ominous or anything…

"Next, it appears we have the Tower Arcana," Igor said grimly. "It serves as an omen of warning—a disaster yet looms in the future, if it has not already arrived. Indeed, ruin seems to follow your every step."

"But I'm sure everything will be okay!" Lacey exclaimed with a bright smile, clearly trying to sound positive and reassuring. "You have us to help you, after all!"

Help me with what? This really was a strange, incredibly lucid dream. When was I going to wake up?

Igor continued, flipping over the final card. Displayed on this card was a giant set of doors, with the sun above and stairs below. And in the middle of the doors, was a huge skull. Lacey gasped at the sight of it, covering her mouth with her hands.

"...Death," Igor said after a moment. "Perhaps the most misunderstood card of the deck. While it is true that the Death Arcana represents doom and often, physical death, it also represents the cycles of change. This arcana represents metamorphosis and regeneration—much like the butterfly. With death comes renewal and a new chance at life. Yes, great change is coming for you, honored guest—but with this change comes the chance for rebirth… if only you accept it."

I simply looked at Igor. What was new? I was already well acquainted with death. I shouldn't even be alive.

The clock chimed loudly, making Igor look up at it. "Ah, it appears our time together has come to an end. No matter, we will see each other again soon—when the time is right. And when that moment has arrived, I shall explain what it is that we do here. Until then, rest well, honored guest."

Before I could even consider what he could possibly mean, my vision blurred. I found myself waking up. I rubbed my eyes, disoriented.

Sunday, April 10th, 2039, Waning Gibbous Moon.

Where was I…? Oh, right… the train. I was on my way to my childhood home, where I had grown up… Tatsumi Port Island.

I hadn't been home for three years, since I was thirteen, and left to begin training to be an idol. It'd been three years since I'd seen my siblings in person… or any of my old friends. It'd been three years since I last visited my father's grave.

I leaned against my seat and let out a sigh. I wasn't even doing this of my own free will…

My thoughts shifted to that fateful day at the studio for that talk show… I couldn't even be bothered to remember the show's name. But when we were on set, live on television, the host began to ask me about my mom. He started talking about how beautiful she was and, of course, how it tied into her unfortunate reputation due to having three children out of wedlock. It began to get under my skin, to the point where I lost my cool. I blew up on live television, going off on the host about how dare he talk about my mom and family like that. I may have some issues with my mom, but I refused to listen to that garbage. But because of my outburst, there have been consequences. My manager, Alice, worked so hard on my behalf, getting Takura Productions to agree to simply allow me to go on hiatus to focus on myself instead of letting me go, since I apparently have 'issues'. I also heard that Rise-san played a part in these discussions.

Like, what was I supposed to do? Smile and nod while some random asshole all but outright called my mother a whore? Just thinking about it irritated me.

Scowling to myself, I shook my head and picked up my cell phone to check it. My phone was decked out with a new phone cover that Alice had given me; it was one of her own designs. Alice had once been an idol and fashion designer herself, but due to the aftermath of some bad choices she made, she left show business. She eventually returned, deciding to manage idols instead, but still created things on the side. Her fashion line was much smaller than before, but she preferred it this way. She also was very crafty and she made this phone case herself. It was a pink decoden case, decorated with charms of white crescent moons, pink ribbons and butterflies, white bunnies, and even a pastel rainbow. She gave it to me the last time we met before I officially started my hiatus.

I listlessly scrolled through my phone, checking social media. It was all the same. It was always the same. Fans were sad I was going on hiatus. Rumors were circulating about my outburst on television and the 'real' reason for my hiatus. It was the usual nonsense—rumors I had a secret boyfriend, whispers that I'd gotten myself pregnant, following in my mom's footsteps… Some rumors were as outlandish as I was dating another idol. It didn't matter if I tried to shut these rumors down; people would continue to believe them.

I turned off the screen and put my phone away, deciding to look out the window instead. It couldn't be much longer.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching Iwatodai Station," the conductor announced over the intercom. "I repeat, we are approaching Iwatodai Station."

Finally… my stop.

I began to gather my things. Most of my belongings were being shipped to the dormitory where I'd be residing. Because of my mom's busy schedule, she didn't want me to live alone at our house. And my older brother, the only one still in the area, was far too busy with his new job, two-year-old daughter, and his wife with another baby on the way, to have to take care of me too. But I had a duffle bag with me, full of my most cherished belongings, along with some clothes for the next couple of days until I could unpack everything.

My phone vibrated. I checked to see what it was. Oh… a text from my cousin?

Hotaru: hey hey, Sonomi's back in town so i thought i'd make a group chat for all of us!

Ryo: ew, Sonocchi's back?

Toshi: Ry-chan do you have to be so rude? Welcome back, Sonomi-chan

Michiko: oh! welcome home, Sonomi-san :) wait, does this mean you're our senpai now?

Oh… I was taken aback. I hadn't expected Hotaru to create a whole group chat just because of my return. Seeing messages from all my old friends…

Hotaru: Ryo, i'm gonna beat your ass

Ryo: HEY you guys know i'm kidding! welcome back Sonomi, we really missed ya

The scar on my chest itched. I ignored it.

Sonomi: hi everyone

Sonomi: and yes, Michiko, i guess i will be

It had been so long since I'd seen any of them. Too long. I was surprised they seemed so… happy that I was coming home. I'd assumed they'd want nothing to do with me. I had somewhat kept in touch with Hotaru, but the others… I'd neglected.

Hotaru: i know you're gonna be super busy tomorrow with stuff but we def should meet up at school! all of us

Toshi: I agree!

Ryo: yeah let's meet up at the roof after classes end!

Michiko: that sounds lovely, i'll be there!

The roof, huh… I knew that on the roof of Gekkoukan High School, there was a memorial to my father, who had passed away there almost thirty years ago. It was a reminder of how I shouldn't exist, yet here I was…

Sonomi: okay, i'll be there

I didn't care where they wanted to meet. Anywhere would work, but if they wanted to go to the roof, then so be it.

Hotaru: oh btw

Hotaru: Mom didn't tell me their names but i found out you got 2 roommates at the dorm already

Hotaru: we should all hang out sometime!

I fought the urge to sigh. I wished I could be as friendly and outgoing as Hotaru… and not just when acting as Tsuki.

Sonomi: sure

The chat continued. I followed it, responding when needed. But the next thing I knew, the train was stopping. So, I put away my phone, gathered up my things, and once it stopped, I filed off the train, along with a few other passengers. I stepped out. I tucked in my chin, keeping my head low in hopes that no one would recognize me. I hurried on my way, wanting to get out of public view as soon as possible. It was super late, anyway; the train had been waylaid because of some incident on the tracks.

I made my way through Iwatodai Station. I passed by a display of TVs in a window, coming to a stop when something caught my attention.

"I'm sure everyone has heard by now," an announcer was saying, "but two record-breaking idols going on hiatus at the same time is absolutely unprecedented! The official statements from Takura Productions say that Sorata of the popular boy group Yuukan is taking a hiatus for health reasons—and the ever popular Tsuki is taking a break after her unfortunate outburst on Good Morning Japan, claiming she simply needs rest."

My stomach clenched. Of course they would talk about us. Sorata, or simply Sora, as was his real name, was my senpai at Takura Productions. I knew him from before our idol days, though we hadn't been close. I'd been friends with his younger brother, Haruto. Our moms were close friends, so naturally we met.

"Of course, Yuukan themselves are still reeling from the scandal with their late leader, Hiroyuki Mikami. What a sad state of affairs that was."

The other announcer on screen nodded. "As tragic as it all was, idols must follow the rules. No dating, no marriage, and most definitely no children. Mikami broke all of those no-nos. And he brought all of Yuukan down with him. Sorata had big shoes to fill, which he did an admirable job of, but it seems it may have come at the cost of his health."

I scowled. They could talk about it all they liked. It didn't affect them. I didn't know the full story of what happened with Yuukan's Hiro. I'd only ever met him once, in passing. But his death shook all of Takura Productions. Everyone felt it, because he was so well loved. I heard from Haruto that it hit Sora incredibly hard.

Not wanting to see any more of this bullshit, I took a step forward. But then the screen changed.

"Breaking news, emergency report on the Apathy Syndrome epidemic!"

That caught my attention. I looked back at the TV.

"This evening, at 10:30 pm, a young man with Apathy Syndrome wandered onto the train tracks leading to Iwatodai Station on Tatsumi Port Island," the announcer read off a piece of paper. "Unfortunately, the train could not stop in time and the young man lost his life. This is reminiscent of an incident that occurred almost thirty years ago, during the previous outbreak of Apathy Syndrome."

…So that was what delayed my train.

"Tatsumi Port Island continues to be the epicenter of Apathy Syndrome cases," the announcer continued. "Just today, a thousand more cases were reported. This morning, another person previously reported as a victim of Apathy Syndrome was found dead in his own home. The local police are currently investigating the cause of death. They have reported that they have not ruled out homicide."

Chills ran down my spine. I looked around. No one nearby was shambling around like a victim of Apathy Syndrome. I returned my attention to the TV. I had meant to continue watching to see if anything else important was shared. But the screen abruptly went black.

Suddenly, the lighting shifted. Instead of the clear white glow of electric light, everything took a sickly green hue. Confused, I looked up at the sky. The moon loomed above, mostly full, giving off that horrible green light. My skin crawled, goosebumps forming. I looked around. Where people once were now stood strange coffins. Puddles of red liquid lingered on the ground. The scar on my chest began to ache.

What… was this? I must really be hallucinating from fatigue now.

I adjusted my duffle bag's strap on my shoulder. And I continued walking to the dorm.

The weird green light, coffin, and blood puddle hallucination remained. But I made it to the dorm with no issue. I retrieved my key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. When the door clicked shut behind me, I was plunged into darkness. Frowning, I took out my phone to use the flashlight. Hotaru said I had roommates; I supposed they could be asleep already. I searched for a light switch, only to find that it was already on. Was the power out here, too? Or was it simply my hallucination? Well, I suppose it didn't matter. I needed to get to bed. Hopefully some sleep would do me some good.

I heard the creaking of stairs, and then a loud voice shouted, "HEY! What the hell are you doing?"

I turned my flashlight to the source of the voice. Immediately, the person who yelled at me squinted and waved his hand to move the light away. I did so out of politeness, aiming the beam of light at the floor.

"What the hell, your phone works? Mine stopped working as soon as the moon went all weird."

…Wait.

He could see it too?

I finally snapped to attention, focusing on the person in front of me. He had to be around my age—sixteen or so. But he towered over me. He was kind of scrawny, but somewhat broad-shouldered, like he was finally beginning to fill out to fit his height. He had curly ash blond hair, slightly parted to the side, with his bangs falling into dark gray eyes. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't remember from where. He wore a black sweater under a long black coat, dark blue skinny jeans, and black leather oxford shoes with red socks. He was kind of cute, I guess.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Who am I? Who are you?" He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. He seemed to study me, but not maliciously or uncomfortably. "...Wait. Sonomi Arisato?"

I immediately flinched hearing my full name. "...Yes."

Weirdly enough, he seemed to relax. "My aunt Makoto told me you'd be one of my roommates. Akio Amamiya, by the way." He cracked a smile, his demeanor shifting. "No need to worry about me being one of those crazy fans or something. I could care less about idols, honestly."

Akio… Amamiya…

"...Amamiya, as in the prime minister?"

"Aw, man." He immediately made a face. "Why does everybody have to point that out? It's always, 'oooh, your dad is the prime minister', not 'oooh, Akio, you're so tall and handsome'."

I just stared at him.

"Wow, you are really unimpressed," Amamiya stated, looking, well, impressed. "But yeah, my dad's the prime minister. We've got some real celebrities in this dorm. The other guy-"

"Hey, is everything okay?" I heard a familiar voice call down as once again the stairs creaked. "I heard yelling."

We both turned towards the stairs. I carefully aimed my flashlight to see who it was. My eyes widened as I immediately recognized who it was.

"Sora-senpai?"

I'd know Sora Narukami anywhere. He was a couple of years older than me, turning eighteen this year. He was taller than I remembered; he stood taller than Amamiya by several centimeters. In fact, he was a lot more… everything. Taller, broader—more like an adult. His auburn hair fell into his brown eyes, the back spiked out, probably kept in place with gel. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, with a red button-up shirt underneath, the first few buttons undone, black skinny jeans, and black lace-up boots. A white scarf was draped over his shoulders.

I felt my face heat up for some inexplicable reason.

As soon as he noticed me, his eyes widened too. "Sonomi?!"

"Aaand Akio!" Amamiya laughed. "Looks like we're all here."

I ignored him. "What are you doing here, Sora-senpai?"

"Oh, well…" He reached up to rub the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "Folks thought it'd be good to get out of Inaba for a bit, so here I am, for my hiatus. They thought some fresh surroundings would do me some good."

Amamiya raised an eyebrow, looking between us. "You two know each other, eh?"

Sora looked over at him. "We both work with Takura Productions, and our moms are good friends, so yeah."

"Huh." Amamiya shoved his hands into his pockets, before giving a slight shrug. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"You shouldn't," I said flatly. "Your father is the prime minister and your mother is a fashion designer."

He let out a groan. "Again with the reminder of my old man's job."

Sora coughed, fidgeting. "Uh, well… we all can see the creepy green moon, right?"

Amamiya sighed in exasperation. "Unfortunately."

"It would seem so," I said.

Sora pulled his phone out of his pocket. "All electronics stopped working when it showed up. My phone, too."

"My phone's not working either," Amamiya said.

"Mine is," I said, taking it out and turning on the screen. "It's… midnight."

Akio let out a sigh. "Well, no use staying up to wait for the power to come back on. Damn, this is annoying."

I gave a slight shrug. "I'm going to bed, then. I've been traveling all day." I glanced over at Sora. "Good night, Senpai."

His eyes widened. "Oh, night! Hope you sleep well."

Amamiya pouted. "What, no good night for me? I see how it is."

I simply looked at him. Then I headed for the stairs.

"Damn," I heard him say behind me. "Straight up ignored. The sweetheart Tsuki isn't so sweet in real life, huh? Not surprised, but damn."

I easily found the room that was supposed to be mine. It was the bedroom at the end of the hall on the second floor, the one filled with all the boxes. Seeing all the work I had to do tomorrow, I let out a sigh and walked over to the bed.

It was a simple enough setup. The bed had a pink quilt on it, pushed against the far wall in the back, with a dresser behind it that had a lamp. A wooden television stand with three shelves had an old flatscreen TV on it. On the wall to my left were three windows with pink curtains. In front of the middle window was a desk with a lamp and a small little bookshelf. To the left side of the door was a sink with a cupboard beneath it, a mirror on the wall above it, along with a towel rack. Next to the sink was a mini fridge.

I noticed a package sitting on the sink. I walked over to take a look and found a note attached. Picking up the piece of paper, I used my phone's flashlight so I could read it.

Welcome home Sonomi-chan!

I'm sorry we couldn't be there in person to welcome you home! But your Uncle Akihiko and I put together a little care package for you to help you settle in. We got you some towels and other toiletries. You still like sakura-scented things, right? I picked out some nice body wash and lotion for you! And all the towels are in your favorite color.

We may not be able to take you in, but you're always in our thoughts and prayers. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask, okay? If anyone gives you a hard time at school, please let us or Shinji and/or Fuuka know. We'll take care of any problems that surface, so just focus on resting up.

Love you lots! And please enjoy the sweet shop gift card, I know you love that place~

Lots of love,

Aunt Mina

I stared at the note. I… hadn't expected this either. I suppose I should have. This was very like my aunt. I decided to check out what they'd gotten me in the morning. Fatigue was beginning to catch up on me. I rummaged through my duffle bag to find my pajamas and changed into them. I took a moment to wash my face and brush my teeth.

When I crawled into bed, I realized I was missing something. I quickly got back up and retrieved my pink rabbit plushie. I couldn't go to sleep without Usa-chan…

I curled up in bed, hugging Usa-chan. Right as I closed my eyes, I noticed the clock flicker back on, still saying midnight. Odd… But I drifted off asleep before I could think too hard about it.

Chapter Text

Monday, April 11th, 2039, Waning Gibbous Moon.

I stood in front of the mirror, fixing my hair. I never particularly cared about my appearance, but I always tried to look presentable. As I was just being… myself, I had no need to dress all fancy or put on a lot of makeup. I wore my hair up in a high ponytail, tied with a black ribbon, the blue locks reaching down past my backside. My bangs were parted to the side, nearly falling into my electric blue eyes, some strands that didn’t fit into the ponytail framing my face. I’d applied the minimum of makeup—just winged eyeliner and a soft pink lip gloss that was barely noticeable. 

My hand dropped to fiddle with the crescent moon choker around my neck. It rested on top of my sleeveless black turtleneck. Over that, I wore a blue cardigan, with a black leather belt, a matching blue pleated skirt with a black lace slip underneath, thigh-high black socks, and black leather lace-up ankle boots. The choker had been a gift from my mom when I first left home. 

I’d be busy today. I had to unpack. I needed everything settled before school started tomorrow.

I walked over to my bed to fetch my mp3 player and earphones from the dresser behind it. I hung the mp3 player around my neck and draped the silver earphones on my shoulders. They were really old—over 30 years old. The mp3 player was a NW-S20x series from Sony, while the earphones were the clip-on kind, Audio-Technica ATH-EM700 SV. They once belonged to my father. My mom had given them to me when I was little, hoping it would help me feel more connected to the man I’d never met. Since then, I have never gone anywhere without them. I guess they were my security blankets. I had my own music on my phone, but I listened to my dad’s too. With the earphones and mp3 on my person, I now felt comfortable enough to head downstairs. 

As soon as I left my room and began to make my way down, I smelled the rich aroma of coffee. When I entered the kitchen, I found Sora and Amamiya, eating breakfast. Amamiya was nursing a cup of coffee, while Sora had a cup of tea. They both looked over when I stepped inside.

“Ah, Sleeping Beauty has arisen,” Amamiya mused, smiling wryly. “Morning, Sonomi.”

“...Don’t use my first name.” I walked over to the cupboards to see what cereal we had for breakfast.

“Ouch.” Amamiya winced. “An icy dagger right through my heart. Sure we shouldn’t call her an ice queen?”

Sora sighed. “Are you trying to piss her off?”

I found a box of my favorite cereal; Minako’s doing, most likely. Unfortunately, it was on the top shelf. I reached up to fetch it, only for my hand to fall short. Also… most likely Minako’s doing. I looked around the kitchen, hoping to find a stepping stool. There was none. Most definitely my aunt Minako’s doing. God, she was trying to make me ask for help, wasn’t she?

I fought the urge to sigh. Why did my aunt have to be so meddlesome…

“...I could use a hand,” I admitted with extreme reluctance. “I… can’t reach the top shelf.”

Both boys looked back over at me. A moment of silence passed as they must have realized I was asking for help. And both of them began to stand up. But when Sora noticed Amamiya was also getting up, he sat back down. He let Amamiya be the one to walk over to where I was standing and effortlessly retrieve the box of cereal from the top shelf. With a theatrical bow, Amamiya held the cereal box out to me.

“One Happy Charms for the lovely Sonomin,” he said melodramatically.

I stared at him. “What did you just call me?”

“Oh?” He stood up straight, raising an eyebrow. “Sonomin? You did say not to call you by your first name… so a nickname it is!”

I've been trying very hard not to lose my temper here. Ever since the incident on Good Morning Japan, I’d found myself more testy than usual. But Amamiya… He was making it very, very difficult to not get angry. I squeezed my eyes shut, my lips pressing into a hard line as I forced myself to take a deep breath. 

It was fine. It was totally fine. He was being extremely disrespectful, but I could just ignore it. I could totally ignore it. He was harmless. And if I was stuck living with him, I’d have to learn how to deal with it anyway. 

“...Fine. Whatever.” 

I grabbed the box from him, fetched a bowl from another cupboard, and then went to the fridge to get the milk. He just grinned at me and shoved his hands into his pockets.

I couldn’t believe I thought he was cute.

After pouring my cereal and milk into the bowl, I returned the carton to the fridge and then sat down to eat. Sora gave me an apologetic look as Amamiya sauntered back to the table and returned to his seat.

“I hope you slept well,” Sora said. “Last night was kinda crazy, with the weird moon and all.”

“I slept well enough,” I answered. “Is there any tea left?”

“No, but I can put another kettle on,” he offered.

“Or there’s coffee,” Amamiya suggested, leaning back in his seat and holding up his mug. “Gramps sent some of his best beans with me.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t care for coffee.”

He gasped, placing a hand over his heart. “You don’t like coffee? Sacrilege!”

I looked over at him. “Is this the moment you say that we can’t be friends because I don’t like coffee?”

“Nah.” Amamiya shook his head, taking a sip of his coffee. “How could I not be friends with Sonomin? Perish the thought.”

…Dammit.

Sora smiled sheepishly. “I’ll put the kettle on. It was a gift from Mom and Dad, so I want to get some use out of it.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Senpai.”

Sora pushed back his chair and stood up. I watched him walk over to the stove. And then I forced myself to focus on my cereal before it could get soggy.

Today was going to be a long day. 

Breakfast went by uneventfully, save for Amamiya being a nuisance. I was heading back upstairs to start unpacking when I heard a knock on the front doors. I went to see who it was. I unlocked the doors and opened one of them.

“Sonomi-chan!!!”

The next thing I knew, I was being squeezed to death by a heavily pregnant woman.

I heard a familiar exasperated sigh. “Oh, Airi, let her breathe, will you?”

With a big pout, my sister-in-law released me and stepped back. She put her hands on her hips and turned to her husband, my brother. “Oh, hush, you! I’m not gonna suffocate her!” She huffed indignantly and then faced me again, her bright smile returned. “Welcome home, Sonomi-chan! It’s so good to see you!”

It would seem my older brother, MJ, and his wife Airi had come to see me. They even brought along their daughter, Chouko.

MJ’s full name was Minato. He was named after our father. We called him ‘MJ’ because Aunt Minako suggested it as a nickname she learned from English, from Minato and ‘Junior’. And MJ was the spitting image of his namesake. His hair was blue, like mine, and straight as silk, his bangs swept to the side. His eyes were the same blue as his hair. He was dressed in a dark blue blazer, a white turtleneck sweater, dark blue slacks, and black loafers. He held their daughter, Chouko, in one arm. He was twenty-eight years old, turning twenty-nine later in the year. 

I was always struck by how gorgeous Airi was; she looked like she belonged on the big screen, not at home, as a housewife and artist. But that was her choice and she liked staying at home. She kept her straight red hair long, her bangs in a hime cut, with a black headband. Her eyes were amber-brown. She was especially fair, which stood out against the black and white gothic lolita fashion she favored. Today, she was wearing a loose-fitting black dress that still hugged her heavily pregnant belly. If I recall correctly, she was seven or eight months along. She was about twenty-three years old.

Chouko was about a year and seven months old. She’d turn two in September. She was an adorable little toddler, with chubby cheeks and pouty lips. She had MJ’s blue hair, soft and smooth, done in short pigtails tied with white bows, her bangs falling into her amber eyes, which she got from Airi.  They’d dressed her up in a frilly white dress very reminiscent of Airi’s fashion sense.

“It’s good to see you too,” I said.

Airi smiled. “Aunt Aigis wanted to visit too, but Mitsuru-san needed her for a job or something.” Her smile turned into a wince. “Strange things have been happening on Port Island, after all.”

“No need to worry about that right now,” MJ said, shaking his head. “We’re here to see how Sonomi is settling in, after all.”

Airi looked up at him and smiled sheepishly. “I know, Minato. It’s just hard not to worry sometimes.” She returned her attention to me. “Let’s go inside! I’ve never been in this old dorm.”

I nodded and stepped aside, letting them enter. MJ gestured for his wife to go inside first, which she did, and then he followed suit, shutting the door behind him. Airi wandered further in, looking around the main lounge.

“Wow! This is so cute. Exactly how Papa described, with some modern additions!”

While she looked around, MJ lingered behind with me. He adjusted his hold on Chouko, who looked rather indifferent about being here.

“There are some things I need to talk to you about,” he said, getting straight to the point as usual. “But for now—it’s good to see you doing better.”

I nodded, not sure what else to say.

“Also,” he continued. “Miyako will be moving out here soon, just for the year. She wanted to be closer to the whole family. Kenshin won’t be able to stay all the time because of work obligations, but he’ll be around when he can.”

MJ and Miyako were my elder siblings, twins. They were born the September after our father’s death. Long story short, our mother had been a teen mom. She found out she was pregnant after our father passed away, and chose to keep the pregnancy because of that loss. Our childhoods hadn’t been easy because of that fact—because we were bastards. But MJ and Miyako… They had it far worse than I did. I didn’t know to what extent. But yet, they rose above it all. They were both happily married and successful. Despite all the judgment and ridicule, they built the lives they wanted. My brother even recently got a new teaching job that paid better than his previous one.

I loved my brother and sister a lot. I wished… I wished I could be like them. But I wasn’t… normal. I had enough self-awareness to know this.

“It’ll be good to see her,” I said. I tried to smile, but it probably came out forced.

MJ looked down at me, nodding and giving a smile of his own—his way of silently acknowledging that I had tried. “Indeed. Now let’s catch up with Airi before she wanders off too far.”

As if on cue, there was a loud gasp from the kitchen. “Oh my gosh! This kettle is so cute! Minato, you have to see this! We have to get one, it’s so adorable!”

MJ closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh. “...Time to go see what tickled her fancy now. I should tell you some of the weird cravings she’s had this pregnancy. It’s been pretty wild.”

Seeing my brother instantly relax at hearing his wife start her usual antics was enough to make me try to smile again—maybe not so forced this time. Whatever he had to talk to me about, I assumed it was serious because of his initial demeanor. Together, with my niece in tow, we walked to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, MJ handed Chouko over to Airi and then asked me to head upstairs with him. He took me to the second floor, where the boys’ rooms were. He walked down the hall, to the door at the end—the sealed door. When he stopped in front of the door, retrieving a key from his pocket, I found myself balking. I knew what room that was… and I had no idea why, after almost three decades, they wanted to open it back up.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

MJ looked over at me as the key clicked in the lock. “I thought it was time for this room to be unsealed. Mom agreed. We can’t keep running from the past, no matter how painful it may be.”

I…

The scar on my chest burned. My hand jerked up to rest on the painful spot over my heart. It would itch from time to time, sometimes hurting, even, but not as frequently as it had since I’d returned to Port Island… It was a peculiar scar, shaped like a butterfly—and I had no recollection of how I gained it.

MJ’s gaze flickered down to my hand and then back to my face. There was a look in his eyes—something I could not read. But it vanished as soon as it came. He turned away from me, remaining silent as he wrapped his fingers around the doorknob and gave the door a solid push, breaking the seal and forcing it open. It popped open with a crack, dust exploding everywhere. I coughed, covering my nose with my hand.

This room had been my father’s—Minato Arisato’s.

My brother gestured for me to go inside first. I hesitated for a moment, but forced myself to walk through the doorway. My earphones and mp3 player felt exceptionally heavy on my shoulders, my scar continued to ache. To make matters worse, MJ shut the door behind him, signaling that he wished to speak with me in private.

I didn’t belong here. I didn’t belong anywhere.

The dust was settling, floating in the air. I watched my brother walk over to the windows and push back the blue curtains, letting sunlight fill the room for probably the first time in almost thirty years. I lingered at the door, looking around. The furniture was arranged very similarly to my own room. Everything was covered in a layer of dust, smelling of age and neglect. I noticed, though, on the dresser behind the bed, sat an array of framed pictures. My curiosity piqued, I walked over to take a closer look.

I immediately saw that they were photographs—pictures of my dad with his friends and dormmates. There was one of my parents together, in what must have been a selfie he got printed out. It was weird seeing my mom so young, with such a bright smile on her face as she leaned against my dad in the photo. To think she’d been happy once. 

There was another picture that caught my eye. I picked up the frame to take a closer look. It looked like a group photo, with my dad, mom, aunt, uncle, and their friends. Their dog was even there. However, there was a middle-aged man with an eye patch that I didn’t recognize. Something must have happened while they were taking the picture, because everyone was looking at Junpei in surprise as he fell backward, his hat flying. Ken was trying to control the shiba inu, who was barking at something. I noticed the dog had a red armband on… How odd.

“Why did you want to come here?” I asked, setting the picture back down and looking up at my brother.

MJ leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, his gaze trailing around the room. “A lot is changing on Port Island. And with change, comes forgetting the past. Though we must carry on, we must never forget. If I learned anything growing up, it’s that.” His eyes landed on me. “Almost thirty years ago, there was the first epidemic of Apathy Syndrome, along with the rise of the Cult of Nyx. Port Island recovered from both, but now… they plague us once more.”

The Apathy Syndrome epidemic was all over the news. But this was the first I’d heard of… of the Cult of Nyx.

Ice-hot pain shot through my scar. I winced, my hand reaching up to rest on my chest again.

“The… The Cult of…” I suddenly struggled to find words, like my lips did not want to speak that name.

“Yes.” MJ’s gaze remained on me, steady. “They’ve been quiet of late—but their presence can be seen, if you know what to look for. Oddly enough, the son of the Vice-CEO of Phlegethon seems to be involved with them.”

Oh, Phlegethon… That was a common household name nowadays. Phlegethon was a conglomerate that rivaled the Kirijo Group in both finances and influence. They’d risen out of nothing almost twenty years ago. They dabbled in pretty much everything.

“Hasn’t Phlegethon been buying out Port Island?” I asked.

MJ made the subtlest of winces. “Yes. They completely own Paulownia Mall now. The Kirijo Group had no choice but to sell, as far as I know. You know the Kirijos aren’t doing well. It’d be best not to mention it around Michiko.”

I nodded. “Of course, I don’t want to upset her.”

“But if you hear anyone preaching that humanity is doomed and the only way to salvation is deliverance through the Fall…” MJ’s eyes narrowed, darkness glinting in his irises. “Do not listen to them. Do not go near them. Avoid them at all costs. Do you understand?”

With my scar aching and the horrible way my gut twisted at the mere mention of a ‘Cult of Nyx’, I had a sinking feeling that there was something my brother wasn’t telling me.

I nodded. “I understand.”

“Good.” This seemed to satisfy him, the visible tension in his shoulders loosening up. “But worst case scenario… you need to be able to protect yourself. Take this.” He reached into his blazer and pulled out something—a gun. He held it out to me. “It belonged to Dad.”

I stared at the gun in his hands, the metal gleaming in the sunlight. I noticed the letters S.E.E.S. engraved on the barrel… the very same letters I saw on the red brassard worn by old Koromaru. I… had no idea what was going on anymore. I accepted the gun from him. It felt light in my hand, lighter than any real gun should probably be. I turned it over in my hands once before looking at my brother.

“...What am I supposed to do with this?”

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

I… Okay. My brother wasn’t exactly the cryptic type but… he had to have a reason for this secrecy.

“Trust me, Sonomi,” MJ said, offering me a small but strained smile.

“...Okay.”

“And onto the last matter of business,” MJ said, crossing his arms again. “Your dormmates. You know Narukami. He’s a bit flighty, but a good kid. You also met Amamiya when you were very young, but I imagine you don’t remember that. But he is my concern.”

Oh, good. He was my concern too.

“This needs to stay private, as he’s the prime minister’s son. But he was expelled from Shujin Academy in Tokyo for assault.” MJ closed his eyes. “I don’t know the full story, but Mom knows his parents and believes he hasn’t done anything wrong. Regardless, be careful around him.”

…I see.

“Understood.”

MJ gave another small smile. For a moment he was quiet. He looked like he wanted to say something else, opening and closing his mouth several times before he finally spoke.

“But… try to have fun in Gekkoukan, okay? It might be good for you to get out more. School isn’t all dreary, you know. You could join a sports club right away, I think. I believe it depends on the culture club, though… I know that the club Miyako started is still going on.”

I listened to my brother, giving nods to acknowledge what he was telling me.

I didn’t know if I wanted to join a club though. I was really… indifferent to going back to school. I was okay with school, though I always struggled with math.

“But have you finished unpacking?” MJ asked.

I shook my head. “I haven’t really started. I was tired and had a late start.”

“I can help you get started with that, then,” MJ offered with a smile. “Come on.”

He then headed for the door, opening the door. He turned to me expectantly.

So… I followed him out. 

“Annnnd that’s everything!” 

It hadn’t been long until Airi came looking for us and when she saw us unpacking, she quickly offered to help. Chouko was pretty well-behaved, sitting at my desk and sipping on a juice pouch that Airi had given her, watching us with those big amber eyes of hers.

“It wasn’t much,” I said. 

“Still, it must feel good to get it done,” Airi said, cheerful as always. “Though, we should get you some decorations! You know, like a housewarming gift!”

“Aunt Minako and Uncle Akihiko gave me something already,” I stated. “It’s not necessary.”

Airi puffed out her cheeks. “Well, that gives me more reason to do it! Oooh, maybe a record player with how much you love music? We would have to get some records with that, though… Or maybe I can paint you something! It’ll really spruce up your bedroom wall! Or…”

“You’ll have plenty of time to decide, Airi,” MJ interrupted, as Chouko slid out of her chair. He looked down as she toddled up to him, latching onto his hand. He reached down, hoisting her up with a soft smile before glancing toward Airi. “I think Chouko could use some lunch, actually.”

“Ooh, I think we could all use some lunch,” Airi said with a smile. “How about we stop by Uncle Shinji’s restaurant then? We can invite Sora-kun and Akio-kun?”

“Airi…”

Airi put her hands on her hips. “Uh-uh, Minato! Akio-kun might be in Sonomi-chan’s class! You’ve got to let go of the whole ‘any boy who comes near my sister sucks’ attitude.”

“I do… not have that attitude,” MJ muttered. “I said Narukami was a good kid.”

“And they’re without their parents,” Airi huffed. “So, I’m inviting them!”

Without another word, she marched out of my room.

“Narukami’s been without his parents for years now,” MJ muttered almost petulantly.

“I heard that, Minato!”

MJ grumbled some more before adjusting his grip on Chouko and heading out of my room. I followed him out, going down the two flights of stairs.

"-really nice of you to offer but I don't want to intrude on a family thing," Sora was saying.

"Eh." Amamiya shrugged, resting his hands behind the back of his head. "Free food is always a plus. I'll tag along."

"Akio-kun has the right idea!" Airi exclaimed. "So let's go, Sora-kun!"

"H-Huh?!"

Without warning, my sister-in-law grabbed Sora by the arm and dragged him toward the door. It kind of looked ridiculous, given how tall Sora was.

"So he's the type of guy to be under a girl's thumb, huh?" Amamiya commented, folding his arms over his chest and cocking a brow. "Should've known he's a b-"

MJ coughed, shooting Amamiya a warning look. "Watch it. Especially around my sister."

Amamiya snorted. "Who died and made you queen?"

MJ's lips tightened, his jaw working. As if he wanted to retort, like how he and Miyako would banter back and forth. But he pursed his lips even tighter and brushed past Amamiya.

"Let's just go," he said curtly. "You wanted lunch, right?"

Without another word, MJ walked away. I turned to stare at Amamiya.

"What?"

"What did my brother do to you?" I asked.

"Nothing on him exactly." Amamiya shrugged. "Let's just say I don't exactly vibe with being told what to do."

I watched him leave, giving a small huff. Amamiya was just so... irritating. And I had to live with him? This was going to be a long year...

But Amamiya and I caught up with the others. Airi chattered away, pointing out stores and restaurants as we walked along. There were some new stores I wasn't familiar with, like the souvenir shop. I couldn’t help but wonder… how much had my hometown changed in my absence?

"Oh, oh, and Bookworms is fun if you need an afternoon to unwind! It's a little book cafe, though originally it was just a bookstore. Aunt Mina hired a really great cook who introduced some amazing desserts! Right, sweetie?" Airi directed her question to her daughter.

Chouko gave a nod. "The mooncakes are yummy."

"And you know the Pepper Pot, Sonomi-chan," Airi finished with a smile. She then turned to the boys. "The Pepper Pot's run by our parents' friend-"

"-Shinjiro Aragaki," Amamiya finished.

When Sora looked at him in surprise, Amamiya shrugged. 

"I know he used to be Uncle Ken's guardian, is all. Though I really doubt his cooking is better than Gramps's."

"I'm sure it'll be great," Sora blurted out.

MJ shrugged. "Well, see for yourselves. Come on."

He stepped forward, opening the door. My stomach clenched as I noticed that the lights were shut off. I never liked the dark. I always felt something was going to jump out at me...

But I swallowed, pushing that thought aside. I'd be fine. I was with my brother and-

"SURPRISE!"

The lights flashed on and I heard a popping sound before confetti exploded.

A banner hung in the air with the words WELCOME HOME SONOMI written in it. I blinked, rubbing my eyes.

"Surprise!"

My cousin Hotaru suddenly was standing in front of me, hauling me into a tight hug.

"Agh—Hotaru..." I choked out.

"Sorry, but it's great to see you!" she said, her red eyes sparkling. "How you've been, Sonomi?"

Typical Hotaru. She always was... I guess you could say, brimming with energy. She didn't bother hiding how she felt. 

I shrugged. "Okay. I guess."

I took a moment to glance over my cousin. She looked well. When we were kids, Hotaru's hair was silver like my uncle’s and her older sister, Sayuri’s. But over the years, it gradually lightened to white. Probably because she spent so much time outside; she always hated wearing hats. She had Aunt Minako's red eyes. Her hair was long and wavy, reaching down to the small of her back, mostly down but partially pulled back with a pale pink ribbon. She wore a white and hot pink varsity jacket, a white undershirt, black leggings with white markings, white sports socks, and hot pink sneakers. She also had on silver star earrings and a black leather heart choker. She stood taller than me now, though only slightly.

Hotaru opened her mouth to say something but I suddenly felt an arm wrap around my shoulders.

"Hey, hey, Sonocchi!" Ryo cheered. “Didja miss us?”

Hotaru scowled, putting her hands on her hips. “Of course she did! Don’t be an idiot, Moryon!” 

“Come on, guys, don’t bicker,” Toshi sighed.

Ryo and Toshi were two of my other childhood friends; Toshi was born a month after me, but due to… chronic health issues, he had to start school a year later. So he and Ryo were in the same year, along with Michiko, while Hotaru and I were a year above them. Ryo never bothered with honorifics though—he was kind of like his dad in that way.

Ryo was the younger of the two—and the shorter one, but only by a few centimeters. He still was the skinny kid I remembered, but it looked like sports were finally putting some muscle on his bones. He had slightly shaggy black hair, parted to the side, his bangs nearly falling into his amber-brown eyes. His black and yellow baseball cap sat backward on his head. He wore a white hoodie under a yellow and black flannel, jeans, and black and yellow sneakers.

Toshi had always looked sickly growing up, but today he was… vibrant. There was color in his skin, a stark contrast to how deathly pale he’d been before. His teal hair fell into his gray eyes in waves. He wore an oversized dark teal sweater with a pale gray button-up shirt tucked underneath, the collar folded over the sweater’s neckline and the shirttails sticking out below. His jeans were dark gray and he wore black oxfords. His clothes hung loosely on his thin frame, but this was the healthiest I’d ever seen him.

Ryo just grinned, placing his hands behind his head. “Hey, it’s like you never left, right, Sonocchi?”

“...I guess.” Then a flash of white caught my eye. “Michiko, it’s good to see you too.”

“O-Oh, Sonomi-senpai!” Michiko gave a small wave, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “I-It’s good to see you.”

Most people were… surprised that Michiko was a Kirijo. She definitely took after Mitsuru, with her long, deep red hair and fair skin, but her demeanor was more… reserved. And her taste in fashion was… softer than what Mitsuru preferred wearing. Today she wore a white blouse with flowers embroidered at the collar and a red ribbon under a brown suspender skirt, which went down to her knees. She had on white tights and black doll shoes. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail, fastened by a white ribbon.

I looked over to Hotaru and then to Michiko. Did they really remember our promise?

“You too,” I murmured.

Then Ryo’s gaze flickered over to Sora and Akio, his eyes widening. “Whoa-whoa-whoa, is that Sorata?!”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s your celeb crush, big whoop.” Hotaru rolled her eyes. 

Ryo’s cheeks went red. “Sh-Shut up! He ain’t my celebrity crush! That’s totally Hime!”

“Sure, sure.” Hotaru scoffed, her tone all but screaming that she didn’t believe him.

“And you’re not surprised about Amamiya?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought that would be a bigger deal.”

“Uh, well…” Toshi rubbed the back of his neck. “You know how Aunt Makoto’s friends with his parents, right? She called to ask if my parents had space for him or his sister.”

“Sister?” I asked.

“Yeah, she’s a year under us,” Ryo said, gesturing to himself, Toshi, and Michiko. “My folks had room, what with Aneki having moved out. So she’s now in Aneki’s old room.”

That was weird… Why would they move out to Port Island like this?

“She has a name, Ry-chan,” Toshi chided.

I looked over to Sora and Akio. A girl was standing by Akio now. My friends had distracted me so much that I hadn’t even noticed.

She looked a bit nervous, her shoulders hunched over. She glanced up; maybe she sensed that I was staring. She gave a timid wave.

“Okay, okay, jeez, enough with flapping your jaws.” Shinjiro gestured to the food laid out on the tables. “You gonna eat or what?”

Toshi huffed, even as a smile played on his lips. “Typical Dad.”

“Has your dad ever smiled, Toshi?” Ryo asked in a stage whisper.

“Don’t think I didn’t hear that,” Shinjiro all but growled out.

Ryo let out a squeak, quickly darting behind Toshi. “Don’t let your dad kill me, Toshi!”

“Idiot,” Hotaru grumbled out.

“Aw, Shinjiro-senpai, don’t be such a grump!” Junpei called out, a broad grin on his face. When Shinjiro glared harder, he gulped before nervously adjusting Chouko on his lap. “C-Come on, not in front of Chou-chan!”

“Papa, don’t antagonize Uncle Shinji!” Airi chided, shooting Junpei an exasperated look.

Amamiya’s sister looked uncertainly at him but he shrugged, walking over to the table. Taking a closer look at her, she… didn’t look much like Amamiya. She had long, voluminous dark hair which she tied back in two braided pigtails, and bright blue-green eyes.

She quietly filled her plate, sitting down before taking a bite. Her face suddenly lit up, changing entirely.

“Wow, Shin was right! You’re really a good cook, Aragaki-san!”

Shin, or Shinichi Amada, was Ken and Makoto’s son; he was a couple of years younger than me. If she was a year below Toshi and the others, she was around Shin’s age.

Fuuka smiled. “Please, eat your fill, Suzu-chan. Shinji made plenty.”

“Mm, thank you!” she said, nodding. “I can see why Shin and Hana-chan always talk about your cooking so much! It’s really, really good!”  

Shinjiro simply huffed, his cheeks turning slightly pink. “W-Whatever… They exaggerate shit.”

Fuuka smiled in amusement, leaning up to kiss his cheek. How she managed it with her being so short… I didn’t know. But that just made Shinjiro’s blush deepen.

We all decided to walk over and get our own plates before Shinjiro got on our cases for still standing around. I ended up sitting between Hotaru and Michiko. Ryo ended up on the other side of Michiko, while Toshi, Suzu, Amamiya, and Sora sat on the opposite side.

“It’s nice to meet you in person, though,” Toshi said, sitting by Suzu. “Shin talks a lot about you when he’s visiting all of us in Port Island, you know.”

Suzu tilted her head, blinking. “O-Oh, really? Well, he must talk about Keiko, Atsuko, and Atsushi too, then.”

Toshi hesitated for a moment, an odd expression crossing his face. “...Sorta.”

Amamiya took a bite of food. “I still say that Gramps’s cooking is better.”

Sora sighed. “Do we really have to make this a competition…?”

I’m pretty sure for Amamiya, the answer was yes.

“So uh… Narukami-san?” Ryo leaned forward, eagerness in his eyes.

“Sora or Senpai is fine,” Sora said, shrugging. “Narukami-san makes me think of my dad.”

“Are you really going to Gekkoukan with us?” Ryo blurted.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hotaru roll her eyes and mutter under her breath, “Not his celeb crush my ass.”

“Yeah?” Sora smiled sheepishly. “It’s really not a big deal. Just think of me as your senpai, like how Sonomi is your classmate. Besides, this party is for her.” He looked over at me and smiled. “Give her your attention, not me.”

My eyes widened and I felt my cheeks heat up. I looked away.

“It’s not a big deal…”

“Of course it is,” Ryo insisted. “We’ve missed ya! I just, uh, wasn’t expecting to be surrounded by celebrities.”

I looked up at him. “I’m a celebrity.”

“You know what I mean!”

I felt compelled to glance over and my gaze landed on Amamiya. He was leaning back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest, watching the others quietly. And then his gaze flickered over to me. For a moment, our eyes met. We’d only known each other for a few hours, yet it felt like he saw right through me. A chill ran down my spine. I quickly looked away, reaching for my glass to take a drink of pink lemonade.

This… was my new life. 

Chapter Text

Tuesday, April 12th, 2039, Waning Gibbous Moon.

I struggled to sleep that night. I kept waking up, tossing and turning, fighting the urge to get out of bed and stretch my legs. I never was one to wander at night; I hated the dark. I figured I was simply still restless from all the new changes in my life. Unfortunately, that meant I was still tired when my alarm went off in the morning.

But I had no choice but to get up and prepare for the first day of classes at Gekkoukan High School.

I found myself sitting at the dining table, nursing a cup of tea as I picked at my bowl of cereal. I wasn't really hungry…

"Wow, someone looks like a zombie," Amamiya commented as he took a seat across from me, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.

"Akio!" Sora made an exasperated sound from over at the counter while retrieving a bagel from the toaster. "That's rude."

Amamiya gave a slight shrug. "Just speaking the truth."

I just gave him a flat look from across the table. He flashed a brilliant smile at me before raising his mug to his lips and sipping. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction, I returned my attention to my cereal.

"I'm surprised that we have to take a train to school, though," Sora commented suddenly as he sat down to eat.

Amamiya snorted. "I'm not. I had to take the Ginza Line every day to Shujin."

"I-I guess Inaba's still small." Sora smiled sheepishly.

"There's nothing wrong with that," I spoke up. "Visiting Inaba is always nice."

The last time I visited Inaba was when I was thirteen. It was kind of a sleepy country town but there was still a charm to it.

"Yeah…" Sora stared down at his bagel, a small frown curving on his lips. "I haven't been home in like three years."

"How come your parents wanted you to come here, then?" Amamiya asked, leaning back.

Sora winced. "They thought I'd be bombarded with too many questions back home, I guess. They thought a completely new environment would be better for me. Like a fresh new start."

Amamiya watched Sora, something glinting in his eyes. There was some kind of emotion in his eyes that I couldn't quite put my finger on. But then he looked down at his cup and picked it up to take a drink.

"A fresh start… Bad news follows all three of us around, huh?" He took a sip of his coffee and set the mug back down on the table, only to crack a lopsided smile. "Three unlucky bastards, all stuck under one roof. Nothing will go wrong, eh?"

"B-Bad news?" Sora practically squeaked. "I wouldn't say that…" He tugged at his collar. "Takura Productions is just going through a rough patch, is all."

"Oh, yeah." Amamiya remained leaning back in his seat but cocked his head to the side. "So I've heard. First, the leader of their main boy group breaks the rules, then he commits suicide when shit hits the fan. Then the new leader runs himself so ragged he sabotages his health. And then their star idol loses her head on national television. Quite the string of bad luck there."

I found myself bristling at his comments, but Sora only winced, his gaze flickering away. "…Hiro-senpai didn't deserve what happened to him. He fell in love. Is that so wrong?"

Amamiya shrugged. "Society demands that idols act a certain way. If you stray... well, it's never pretty. They have this weird fantasy in their heads but no god can help you if an idol shatters their fans' fantasy. Honestly, just looking in from the outside, I'd quit day one."

Sora looked back up, eyes slightly wide, opening his mouth and then shutting it. "There's… There's more to it than that." His gaze flickered over to me, before turning to Amamiya. "I've wanted to be an idol since I was a kid because I wanted to inspire people... make them happy."

"Yeah, my mom got into modeling because of a similar reason." Amamiya tilted his head. "But you know... it seems you're struggling to be happy yourself."

The color drained from Sora's face and let out a strained laugh, reaching up to rub the back of his head. "Don't be silly! Of course I'm happy! S-Sure it was stressful but like I said, I've always wanted to be an idol! A-Anyways, we'll be late for school! Gonna head off now!"

I watched him bolt, leaving the kitchen. Then I turned to Amamiya to give him a flat look.

"Sora-senpai's been through a lot. Leave him alone."

With that, I stood up and began to gather my dishes. We'd spent enough time here. I didn't want to be late on my first day.

Gekkoukan High School was not unknown to me. My older siblings attended when they were teenagers, as did both of my parents. That was how they met. There was even a memorial to my father on the roof, where he died. That was how much of an impact he made on the school, despite the… unfortunate circumstance of knocking up his girlfriend. But no one ever talked about that.

And yet, standing before the gates, I found myself balking.

The campus was beautiful as ever, with perfectly manicured verdant lawns and bushes, trees lining the cobblestone path, and pristine white sidewalks. The school itself loomed in the distance, modern and white, with so many crystal clear windows looking out at the students making their way to the front doors.

This was the place where my parents met. This was where they fell in love.

Where my father died.

My scar itched. I reached up to touch it out of habit.

I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, some students slowing down, noticing me. Some whispered, pointing not so subtly at me. They probably recognized me. But I paid them no mind. I had expected this to happen.

I realized I was holding my breath. I let it out with a sigh.

This was fine. It wasn't a big deal. It was just a high school.

"Sonomi!"

I looked up to see Hotaru waving at me. With a brilliant smile lighting up her face, she walked over. She wore her varsity jacket over her uniform's blouse, her skirt rolled up to make it shorter, most likely with spats underneath. She completed her outfit with white knee-high socks and black loafers.

"Hotaru."

She shoved her hands into her pockets as she came to a stop next to me. "Morning! Can't believe we actually get to go to school together."

I nodded. I didn't really know what to say to that. I didn't have any particular feelings about any of this.

"Oh, by the way," Hotaru continued, "Dad told me that the PIPD decided to hire Rui to investigate the recent deaths. So we might see her soon."

I stiffened. Rui Shirogane was our cousin on the Arisato side of the family. Her mother, the famous detective Naoto Shirogane, was the younger sister of my dad and Aunt Minako. For as long as I could remember—which wasn't all that far back, honestly—I hadn't really gotten along with her. If she was coming here… Great, another thing to look forward to.

Hotaru remained smiling, clearly ignoring my sour expression. "It's practically a family reunion!" She paused for a moment, almost like hesitation. "I guess it's fitting." She glanced ahead at the school building. "Next year it'll be thirty years since… Well, since Uncle Minato passed away."

My gaze flickered down to my feet.

"And I mean—not to get all gloomy, but—this is where it all began, you know?"

I forced myself to look back up at my cousin. Her eyes were on me again, inscrutable crimson, watching me carefully.

"How are holding up?" she asked. "This can't be easy for you."

"…I'm fine."

It was a lie—pure and simple. And Hotaru would see right through it. But what else was I supposed to say? I couldn't put it into words—how I truly felt. If I felt anything at all. Everything that had happened over these past two weeks… If I allowed myself to think about it, I'd want to curl into a ball and cry. So I simply did not think about what happened.

Hotaru pressed her lips in a hard line. It was obvious that she wanted to say something more, but for some reason, she held her tongue.

"Well, we should probably head inside," she said, moving on like nothing happened. "You have to visit the faculty office first, don't you?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"I'll show you the way." Hotaru turned back towards campus. "C'mon!"

I followed her down the cobblestone path, looking around to take in my new surroundings. Gekkoukan's campus was beautifully pristine. It felt… surreal, being here.

"Oh, it's Hotaru-san!"

"Hotaru-san!"

"Oh my gosh, this is Hotaru-senpai?!"

"I missed you so much, Hotaru-san!"

"You're cute as ever, Hotaru-chan!"

I snapped to attention. Almost immediately my cousin was swarmed by a group of female students. I was practically pushed aside so they could all gather around her. I stared at them all for a moment, blinking. I watched as the girls fussed and fawned over Hotaru, gushing and asking her questions.

"Are they finally gonna let you join the boxing team, Hotaru-san?"

"Your hair is so soft!"

"I could get lost in your eyes forever…"

Well. At least I wasn't the one being rushed by fans. For once.

I decided to just stand there, wrapping one arm around myself as Hotaru addressed the crowd. I hadn't really expected her to be popular like this. But finally, after what felt like forever, the crowd dispersed, allowing Hotaru to rejoin me.

"Sorry about that," she said with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of her head. "I'm, kind of popular."

"Kind of?" I shook my head. "You drew a crowd like I'd see at one of my autograph signings."

Hotaru let out an exasperated sigh. "It's frustrating, to be honest. 'Cause none of it is real." She shrugged. "As soon as we graduate, they'll 'grow up' and start dating men. It's such bullshit."

I knew exactly what she was talking about. It was a strange mentality I'd never really understood. But because I was an idol, I never really thought about romantic relationships. It wasn't an option for me, so it wasn't a concern. But the Hotaru I knew had always been so driven and focused on sports. She was on the volleyball team and also participated in boxing outside of school, since she wasn't allowed to box for the school. She kept herself very busy.

I tilted my head. "Since when do you care about dating?"

"Huh?" Hotaru's eyes widened. "I mean—it's not my biggest concern. I just can't help but wonder about it sometimes, y'know?" She shook her head, her cheeks tinting the faintest of pinks. "Never mind that! Let's go."

She grabbed me by the wrist and proceeded to drag me towards the building.

I stood before the door to the faculty office. Hotaru had left me to go find out what class she was in. May as well get this over with… I opened the door and stepped inside.

A man with blue hair stood at a desk, his back facing me. There was no way-

He turned around to face me.

"Nii-san?"

Indeed… It was my brother. MJ was dressed in a navy blue suit with matching slacks, a white dress shirt, and black shoes. His black tie was done neatly, held in place by a silver clasp. His hair was brushed out of his face, which helped him look more professional.

"…I'm not calling you Arisato-san."

MJ let out an exasperated breath. "It would be rather weird if you did."

"You're my homeroom teacher?" I asked. "Really?"

He gave a slight shrug. "Mom requested it. Odagiri-san saw no reason to deny her."

I supposed there were worse things.

"…I should have known your new job was at Gekkoukan." I gave him a look. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged again. "You never asked."

…Typical MJ.

A light knock sounded on the door. It opened and in stepped another man. He appeared middle-aged, perhaps in his late forties, with swept back graying black hair and dark eyes. Dressed in a black suit and tie, he appeared rather serious. Despite that, he gave a warm smile to both of us.

"Ah, good, you're both still here," the man said, his gaze shifting from my brother to me. "I wanted to say hello and welcome to Gekkoukan High."

"This is the principal, Mr. Hidetoshi Odagiri," MJ introduced, gesturing to the man.

Principal Odagiri continued to smile. "I was good friends with your father, and am still good friends with your aunt. It brings me joy to see you both here, both as students, and now as one of our teachers, in your case, Minato. Your father would be very proud of you."

MJ managed a smile, but I stood there, not really reacting. Would my father actually be proud of me? What was there even to be proud of?

"It's come full circle, I suppose," MJ mused, closing his eyes.

"That's a good way to look at it," Odagiri agreed. "Regardless, I hope you enjoy your time here at Gekkoukan. My daughter, Asami, is also starting her first year here, so perhaps you'll meet."

"…It's nice to meet you."

The principal smiled again and gave a nod, before looking over at my brother. "I won't keep you any longer. I hope you both have a great first day. And Sonomi-" He returned his attention to me. "-if you need anything, do not hesitate to ask. You're welcome in my office any time."

With one last smile and a wave, Principal Odagiri excused himself and left the faculty office, once again leaving me alone with my brother.

"We should head to the classroom," MJ said, turning towards the door.

I followed him out of the office and into the hallway. He led the way down the hall. We passed a few students. I was unfortunate enough to catch some of them whispering.

"Oh my gosh, is that the new teacher?"

"He's sooo hot…"

"Forget the teacher, is that Tsuki?!"

I wished I could bleach my ears. I would have to deal with this all damn year, wouldn't I? Could this year get any worse?

"We are in class 2-E," MJ informed me as we came to a stop in front of a door on the second floor.

He opened the door and gestured for me to go in. I stepped inside, immediately taking in my surroundings. Students were sitting at desks, chatting among themselves. The teacher's desk was at the top left corner of the room, paperwork already in neat stacks. The picture frames probably had photos of Airi and Chouko.

I glanced around to see if I noticed any familiar faces. Much to my relief, I spied Hotaru. She caught my glance, her face lighting up and giving a short wave. But then… much to my chagrin… I spotted Amamiya. He caught me looking at him too and flashed that insufferable lopsided grin of his. I glowered at him, before following my brother to the front of the classroom.

MJ cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"We have another transfer student," he announced, before looking down at me. "Please introduce yourself."

All eyes were on me. It didn't bother me. I turned around to pick up a piece of chalk and write my name on the board. Then I turned back to face the class. Part of me wondered if I should slip on the mask—if I should act like Tsuki. But… what was the point? This was just… high school. I would most likely never see these people again.

"…I'm Sonomi Arisato. Nice to meet you."

Gasps and murmurs resonated throughout the room. The expected reaction.

MJ returned to me. "You can have the seat…" He looked out at the sea of desks, lips pressing in a hard line. "…next to Amamiya."

Of course that was the only available desk. At least Hotaru's desk was in front of that one. Hefting my bag over my shoulder, I made my way over to my desk and took a seat. I set my bag down on the floor, ignoring the smirk on Amamiya's face. Hotaru turned in her seat to give me an apologetic look.

This really was going to be a long year.

The day went by uneventfully, save for lunch, when I was bombarded with questions from classmates who apparently liked my music. Hotaru had to wiggle her way in and invite me to walk with her while we ate so I could get away. Regardless, I was grateful when the final bell rang.

Hotaru hopped out of her seat and stretched. "Finally free…"

I glanced over to see Amamiya also rising from his seat. He grabbed his satchel and threw it over his shoulder.

"I dunno about you, but I'm out of here."

Amamiya hadn't altered his uniform that much. The main difference was that he left his white dress shirt unbuttoned at the top, without the string tie. I supposed it was easier to not stand out that way. I figured he didn't want to draw attention to himself.

Hotaru eyed him. "Just stay out of trouble, okay?"

"Me? Cause trouble?" He dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Sanada."

Hotaru rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Amamiya."

He flashed her a grin, before his dark gaze flickered over to me. "See you back at the dorm, Sonomin."

I opened my mouth to tell him not to call me that, especially here, but he already walked away. I gritted my teeth, watching him leave the classroom. If he kept that up while we were in school, people were bound to get the wrong idea. And I did not need to deal with that on top of everything else.

"…He'll call you by your last name but not me," I muttered, turning back to my cousin.

She gave a slight shrug. "Hell if I know what's going on in his head." She paused to pick up her satchel. "C'mon, let's find the others. The rooftop awaits."

I nodded.

Together, we left the classroom. I followed her down the hallways and stairs, since she was more familiar with the building than I was. As we walked, more students whispered and watched us. I was used to attention, but not like this. But as soon as we entered the first year's hall, I spotted the boys.

It was hard to miss Ryo and Toshi. They stood by the wall near one of the doors, talking. Toshi watched Ryo with a soft smile, holding some books in his arms. Ryo spoke, his eyes bright as he gestured excitedly. He clearly was pumped up about something.

"Hey, you two!" Hotaru called to them, giving a short wave.

Both of them looked over at us. Ryo still had his baseball cap on, backward as always, with a yellow hoodie underneath his blazer. Toshi wore an oversized teal sweater over his dress shirt. The sweater had white and turquoise stripes along the v-shaped neckline, the cuffs of the sleeves, and the bottom. His string tied was done neatly.

"Oh, hey!" Ryo grinned. "We've been waitin' for ya!"

We walked over to join them.

"Hello," Toshi greeted with a smile. "Did you have a good first day, Sonomi-chan?"

"It was fine," I said.

"Could've been worse." Hotaru shrugged. "We got MJ as our homeroom teacher. It's weird as hell. But Amamiya's in our class and we have to sit by him too."

Toshi smiled sheepishly. "He can't be all that bad, can he?"

Ryo shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, Akio-senpai seems really cool."

"You obviously haven't spent time with him," I muttered.

"Well, he was chill with us," Ryo said, before smiling mischievously. "Maybe he teases you 'cause he thinks you're cute!"

Before I could even have a visceral reaction, Toshi gave Ryo a stern look. "No, Ry-chan, let's not further the 'boys are mean to girls they like' mentality."

Ryo let out an exasperated sigh, folding his hands behind his head. "Aw, c'mon, I was just joking!"

Hotaru rolled her eyes. "What do you even know about boys liking girls, Ryo?"

Ryo's eyes widened and his face went red. He opened his mouth, shut it again, and then opened it again.

"I know plenty about liking girls!" he insisted. "Girls are super cute! And smell nice! And have pretty hair!"

"Um… why is Ryo-kun shouting?"

We all looked over to see Michiko standing before us, holding her satchel out in front of her. She wore a black vest over her white blouse, with a fluffy red ribbon tied around her collar.

"Michi! Perfect timing!" Ryo immediately turned towards her. "See Michiko? She's really pretty! And has nice hair!"

Michiko's eyes widened, her cheeks tinting pink as she hastily looked away. "Oh, um…"

"Oi, Ryo, knock it off." Hotaru made an exasperated noise. "We get it. You don't have to embarrass Michi-chan like that."

Michiko glanced back up, a tiny smile on her lips. "It's okay, Hotaru-senpai. I know Ryo-kun means well. I'm just, um… not used to being complimented, is all."

Hotaru seemed to study the younger girl for a moment. "Anyone giving you a hard time? Not using your name? Wrong pronouns?"

Again, Michiko's eyes widened as she looked up at my cousin. "N-No, Senpai, not at all."

Hotaru watched her for a moment, but then nodded. "Good. Because if anyone is, I'll beat their ass. Just like I did in middle school." She looked at the boys. "And that goes for any of you. Someone gives you a hard time? I'mma beat their ass." Then she turned to me. "And you too, Sono-chan."

"…Can you-"

"Sonomi, he's barely done anything."

I looked away, pouting. "He exists…"

"Well…" Toshi's voice drew our attention back to him. "Now that we're all here, why don't we head for the roof?"

Hotaru smiled and nodded. "Let's go!"

With that, my friends showed me the way upstairs, to the roof. And it… wasn't what I expected. I wasn't sure what I expected, but it wasn't this.

The roof was as pristine as every inch of the school campus, with a stone-tiled floor. There were two sets of backless stone benches, two surrounding a square pot of flowers. They overlooked the sea. White windmills gracefully spun in the distance. There were high railings all around the edge, most likely to prevent anyone from jumping. But there, on the other side of the roof, directly opposite from the door that led outside, was a single stone monument, engraved with writing. A bouquet of forget-me-nots sat in front of it, next to a singular framed picture that even at this distance, I could tell it was of a young man with blue hair, faded with time.

The memorial to Minato Arisato.

My scar ached.

"Here we are!" Hotaru exclaimed, walking past, before turning around to face us. "This was my favorite place to hang out last year. We should make this our spot!"

"Oooh, like a hideout, maybe?" Ryo asked, eyes sparkling.

Toshi folded his arms over his chest. "Ry-chan, why do we need a hideout?"

"I dunno! It sounds cool."

Michiko smiled softly. "It's lovely up here. I can smell the sea air…"

I ignored them all to walk over to the monument.

"Oh, Sonomi where are you—oh."

I stopped in front of the memorial. It was a stone slab, similar to a tombstone, but with more weight to it, angled slightly towards the sky. I reached down to pick up the frame. The photograph was of my father, a candid shot of someone coming up from behind him with a camera and him looking back and smiling at whoever it was, looking like he was about to laugh and maybe shove them away. The flowers appeared fresh. I wondered who put them here.

Engraved into the monument were the words:

In loving memory of

Minato Arisato

May 21st, 1992-March 5th, 2010

Beloved student of these halls

Thank you for everything you've done for our school

Rest in peace, Minato

My scar burned more. I couldn't help but press my free hand against my chest, wishing the pain would go away. I heard footsteps and soon my cousin's shoes came into view.

"…Everyone from back then," Hotaru said quietly. "Teachers. Students. Our principal, even. They've had nothing but good things to say about Uncle Minato. Even with… you know… MJ and Miyako. Everyone in the school loved him. Even with Aunt Yukari, they never talk badly about her. All they say is that it was a very sad situation."

I stared at the slab of stone. "…Mom told me once that he asked her to marry him. That they got permission to marry after they graduated. But that was before he died. He just became ill out of nowhere… and passed away. On this very rooftop."

"…Yeah." But there was hesitation in Hotaru's voice, so I forced myself to look up at her. She couldn't quite look me in the eye. "I don't really know much else about it. Mom doesn't like talking about it, for obvious reasons. And I can't pry it out of Dad."

Why did I feel like… there was something she wasn't telling me?"

I crouched down to return the framed picture to its spot. "I just… don't understand."

Hotaru tilted her head. "Understand what?"

"How I'm alive…" I wrapped my arm around myself, staring at the words carved in stone. "He died more than a decade before I was born. I… shouldn't exist."

I didn't… want to exist.

Hotaru's eyes widened. "Don't say that! You do exist, and we're all happy you do!" She turned back to our friends. "Right, guys?"

Toshi nodded, unfazed. "Yes, we're very grateful you're in our lives, Sonomi-chan."

"Yeah!" Ryou exclaimed. "It wouldn't be the same without ya, Sonocchi!"

"You're our dear friend," Michiko said softly. "I can't imagine what it would be like if we never met, Senpai."

They all said that, but… I turned away from the memorial and shook my head. There was no point in ruminating over it. Like I'd ever find out the answer.

"You wanted to hang out," I said. "Let's hang out."

We hung out on the roof for maybe half an hour, spending the time catching up. I listened more than talked. I didn't have much to say. But eventually, we had to leave, so we gathered our things, said our goodbyes, and left the school. Hotaru and I headed out together though, as the dorm and her house were in the same direction.

Hotaru talked and talked as we got off the train at Port Island Station, telling me about the volleyball team and how she'd been elected captain this year, despite only being a second year. And the drama surrounding the school board not allowing her to box. She'd been through a lot lately, it seemed.

"It's disappointing, but can't say I'm surprised," Hotaru said with a shrug. "Japan's changed a lot for the better, thanks to the prime minister, but getting rid of ingrained prejudice is a whole other story altogether."

Something caught my attention up ahead. I stopped in the middle of the stairs, my scar beginning to itch.

"…What's going on?"

There was a gathering of people dressed in robes—black as night, with pointed cowls covering their heads, reminiscent of the Grim Reaper. In the front of the gathering was someone in a white robe instead, speaking to a smaller crowd of regular citizens. Their backs were to us and the stairs.

My skin crawled, the itching of my scar slowly turning painful. This… whatever this was. I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all.

Hotaru froze, her eyes widening, only to quickly regain herself, scowling and clenching her hands into fists.

"…Dammit, I should have known the Cult of Nyx would be here."

The Cult… of Nyx… the group that my brother warned me about.

A sharp pain shot through my skull. I winced, reaching up to touch the side of my head. I had a horrible sense of deja vu. I'd seen these people before, somewhere. But I couldn't place it. Where had I seen them? Why did they look so familiar? I couldn't… remember…

"Sonomi…"

A voice echoed in my mind—clear and feminine and vaguely reminiscent of my own.

"Sonomi!"

I snapped out of my daze, looking up to see my cousin gazing at me with a frown and furrowed brow. No, she must have been the one talking to me. I wasn't hearing things. That was ridiculous.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "You kind of zoned out there."

"…I'm fine." I dropped my hand and stood up straight. "What's going on, though?"

Hotaru eyed me for a moment, before looking out at the robed crowd again, crossing her arms over her chest. "Probably one of their sermons or whatever. All they do is preach about the end of the world and shit."

The end of the world…

I could see why it appealed to people. The cessation of all life would also mean the end of all suffering. No more pain. No more despair. In a certain light, death could be comforting—that the end is inevitable. That the end can be brought sooner if one so chooses. Living was a choice—to live your life to the fullest or to simply exist as a hollow shell.

I often wondered if my own life was worth living. When I first became an idol, it was in hopes that music would lead me to discover myself, to find the emotions locked away inside me. But that hadn't happened. Instead, my desire was ripped away from me. I felt no more than a puppet on strings when I was on stage. This life of mine—I hated it. If it could even be called a life.

My brother had said to stay away from them, but…

"I want to hear what they have to say."

Hotaru's eyes widened. "No! Are you crazy? Sonomi-"

It was too late. I had already headed down the stairs. The closer I got, the clearer the speaking became. I heard Hotaru hurry after me. I made my way around the cultists to stand with the civilians. When I got there, I immediately noticed that the cultists were wearing white skull masks to hide their faces.

"Humanity was not meant for this world," the white-robed cultist was saying. Their voice was warped; a voice scrambler must be hidden in their mask. "We are a miserable species, squandering what resources this planet has so graciously given us. This greed begets suffering—a suffering that sees no end. Poverty and starvation are only two issues that constantly plague us. For the average person, life can quickly become a burden stagnated by mediocrity. So many of us are filled with a lack of fulfillment, which easily leads to feelings of despair. The loss of hope is what plagues our society."

Well… They weren't… wrong.

"To be free of this misery—this is what Nyx will bring. There is no hope for mankind. The only solution to our suffering is to cease all life." The white-robed cultist looked out at the crowd, gazing at person after person until finally, their skull-masked face turned to me. And their gaze never left. "Nyx's arrival will bring us a peaceful end. The tranquility of death brings the end of our pain. Of our trauma. No more will we have to live our futile, meaningless existences."

My scar burned. But I refused to touch it. Not here. But the white-robed cultist lifted their hand to place it over their heart, still looking at me.

"Believe in Nyx," they said. "And she will bring peace to us all."

I couldn't help but stare back at them, completely mesmerized by their speech.

"…We need to go." Hotaru suddenly grabbed my arm. "Now."

I looked at her, mildly surprised. "What-"

"Come on, Sonomi, there's no point in listening to these whack jobs."

I decided not to fight her. I let her pull me away from the crowd. There was no point in resisting. She was stronger than me anyway.

Hotaru insisted on walking me all the way to the dorm. And wouldn't leave until she saw me go inside. I had no idea why she or my brother made such a big deal about this Cult… It was true that the name Nyx made my scar hurt, but… what did that even mean?

But I supposed it didn't matter. Nothing really mattered. I was only a hollow shell.

I couldn't sleep.

The rest of the evening had gone uneventfully. I quickly discovered that Amamiya left me alone if I was wearing my earphones. So I kept them on even when I wasn't listening to music. It allowed me to read my book in peace.

But now I tossed and turned in bed, unable to find a comfortable position. Now I lay flat on my back, staring at the ceiling, wondering why my body hated me so much to not allow me to sleep.

The moon was mostly full tonight. Moonlight seeped through my curtains, illuminating the room. And then it darkened to that sickly green, just like the first night I arrived.

I needed to move. I couldn't stay in my bed any longer.

I flipped off the covers and slipped out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cool floor. I padded over to the window and pulled open the curtains, enveloping myself in the green moonlight. I found myself staring up at the moon. It loomed in the sky, so large and eerie. If it got any bigger, it would surely fall out of the sky.

Yet, even as I gazed upon the moon, I felt myself become more restless. I couldn't stay here… I needed to go outside. I had no idea why, but I needed to. I couldn't be bothered to get dressed either.

I moved away from the window, walking over to grab my cardigan. But I paused as I was about to pass the mirror. I couldn't help but look at my reflection, my eyes shifting down to the scar on my chest. I wore a tank top, so the top of the scar—the butterfly's larger 'wings'—could be seen. It was carved into my skin, like someone had cut open my chest. But that was insane. Surely if someone had done that, I would have died.

I continued on to fetch my cardigan, throwing it on. Then I slipped on my slippers. I wouldn't go very far. I just needed to get some fresh air.

I left my room, shutting my door behind me. Quietly, I walked down the hall and down the stairs. I was passing by the boys' hall to get to the next set of stairs when I heard a door open. Pausing, I glanced over to see who it was and immediately bristled.

Amamiya rubbed his eyes, shutting the door behind him. Then he noticed me.

"...Sonomin?" He raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing up?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

He let out an exasperated breath. "Needed some water. Is that a crime?"

I looked away. "…I guess not."

When he didn't respond immediately, I took to the stairs.

"Wait," he said.

Against my better judgment… I halted.

"What are you doing?"

"…I'm going outside. I need some fresh air."

"What? At midnight?" he demanded incredulously. "When the moon's all creepy and green?"

"It doesn't bother me. I just need some fresh air." I took another step down the stairs.

"Sonomi, creepy green moon or not, girls should not be going outside at midnight. Especially not in their pajamas."

I forced myself to look back at him, surprised that he used my real name. There was clearly concern in his eyes, the way he frowned at me. I really doubted he actually cared about me. I shook my head and took another step down.

"I don't need your concern."

Then I continued on my way.

"Dammit, at least let me come with you!" I heard him shout after me and then footsteps as he followed.

Whatever… I guess it wouldn't hurt to have some company.

Amamiya followed after me as I left the dorm. We stepped out into the cool night air. It felt refreshing, yet at the same time… The air felt heavy, settling down upon my shoulders. My scar itched, but I ignored it. Because something else had caught my attention.

"Holy shit, what is that?" Amamiya breathed.

There, in the distance, where Gekkoukan High School surely was supposed to be… was a tower. It was a haphazard hodgepodge of buildings stacked on top of each other, illuminated by the haunting full moon behind it. And even more unusual than that were the ghostly white masses covering the tower in patches. I was too far away to make out what it was.

All I knew was that I needed to go there.

I started walking towards the tower.

"Sonomi? Hey, where are you going?"

"I have to go to the tower," I told him.

"Are you crazy?! That thing just spells trouble-"

I ignored him and kept walking, leaving him to follow me if he chose.

It was like my feet moved of their own volition, taking me to that tower. The compulsion to go there was so strong, I couldn't think of anything else. I needed to go there. I needed to go inside—to the top. Only there would I find peace. I was so, so sure of it. Everything would be okay if I reached the top of that tower.

I wasn't sure how long it took for us to get there. We passed more of those coffins as we went along. Some of them were gathered in pairs or trios, like they were people. The closer we got, the more my scar ached. By the time we arrived there, my chest felt like it was about to burst open.

But I had… to go inside the tower. I had to.

We came to a halt in front of the massive tower. I found myself staring up at it in awe.

The white patches were of flowers—spectral blooms that resembled asphodel flowers, eerily swaying in the otherwise stagnant air.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

"I wouldn't call this… beautiful," Amamiya said slowly. "You, beautiful? Yes. The creepy tower with ghost flowers growing off of it? No."

"I… have to go inside," I said, taking another step forward.

"What? No way, you are not going in there, Sonomi."

Before I could go any further, he snatched my wrist. Without even thinking, I yanked my arm out of his grip. I meant to bolt for the entrance, but then he grabbed my hand, stopping me.

"No, Sonomi-"

A horrific, skin-crawling growl came from above. I blinked, slowly looking up. Something large sat on top of the first building, hidden by the shadow of the tower. Amamiya tightened his grip on my hand, tugging me back closer to him. I couldn't take my eyes off that shadow, a sense of dread settling upon my skin.

"What… what is that," I whispered.

"If it is what I think it is…" Amamiya said slowly, his voice low. "We need to get out of here. Now."

As if the creature heard him, it leaped off the ledge.

The ground trembled as it landed in front of us, knocking me off balance. I fell to the ground, my hand torn out of Amamiya's.

A massive monstrosity of bulging shadowy mass. It had too many limbs, writhing in every direction, thick muscles pulsing like a heartbeat. In six of its clawed hands, it held razor sharp swords that reminded me of guillotine blades. But one of its claws held a blue mask with the Roman numeral I on the forehead, having no face to wear it.

"Fuck," Amamiya swore loudly.

The monster's entire body shuddered as it let out an earsplitting screech, taking a step closer to us. I couldn't breathe.

"…Guess it's time to see if this really works."

Amamiya pulled something out of his pocket—the same not-gun as the one my brother gave me. Not wasting another moment, he put the barrel to his temple. He closed his eyes. And pulled the trigger.

"Odysseus!"

Glass shattered out of the other side of his head, the sound of a gunshot reverberating through my ears. Something dark emerged from him—some sort of being. At first, I thought it was wearing a cloak, but no, it wore a black long coat that joined a flowing robe that faded to red, tattered at the edges. A black belt was cinched around its waist, with a skull engraved into it. It had pale skin beneath the robe, its face hidden by a cowl. Metal cuffs bound its wrists with chains, with one attached to the scythe it wielded.

The being—this Odysseus—slashed forward with its scythe, an arc of darkness carving into the monster. The creature snarled in rage, before one of its limbs came flinging towards us. It swiped at Amamiya, missing me completely as I was on the ground. It struck him hard in the gut, knocking him backward. Odysseus vanished in an explosion of light.

"UGH!"

My eyes widened with horror, as I staggered to my feet. "Akio! No-"

Agony erupted in my skull. I cried out in pain, clutching my head and falling to my knees. Even in the agony that pounded through my head, I could see the scar on my chest glowing a brilliant electric blue.

No. No no no. Not again. Not again-

The ground trembled as the creature took another step forward.

I retched, black bile splattering on the pavement in front of me.

"Sonomi…"

That voice echoed in my mind, but I could hardly pay attention. My chest burned, the scar throbbing in searing agony, the blue light pulsing in time with my heart.

"No," I breathed. "No no no-"

I couldn't think.

A man in a pale robe, his face hidden by a pointed cowl and black skull mask. I wasn't sure how I knew he was a man, but I did. He stood over me. I was strapped to a table. Black spots danced in my vision. In his hand, he held some sort of feather-like object—it gleamed brilliant electric blue, dazzling my fading eyesight.

It hurt. Everything hurt. There was blood everywhere. Screaming, so much screaming—was it me?

Familiar voices, so distant. Calling my name.

Blasts of wind. A bovine being with wings, a sun disc resting between its horns.

Ice. Some sort of armored woman in a dress, holding a chained whip.

My mother crying. Wake up, she says. Wake up, wake up. Hold on. Hold on. We're almost there, Sonomi. We're almost there.

"Sonomi…"

Sonomi.

Sonomi Sonomi Sonomi.

SONOMI.

I screamed. I clutched my head, jerking back. I felt my ribs crack, like something was prying its way out of my chest. Still, my scar gleamed and I swear out of the corner of my eyes, I saw more of that blue light leaking out of them. Black ooze began to bubble out of my scar, forming a hand. And then slowly, it solidified, clawing its way out of my chest.

The next thing I knew, the creature had emerged from me. It was a tall, gaunt figure. Its limbs were thin, almost to the point of being skeletal in appearance and each of its nails ended in a fine tip. Around its body, floated what appeared to be a series of floating coffins, all connected with chains to a bandoleer. At its side was a simple katana, the only weapon that the creature seemed to possess. Its head was reminiscent of a creature's skull, a shock of white amongst the rest of its gray appearance. The eye sockets were void of light, gaping holes of shadow.

Brandishing its katana, it lunged forward. It slashed at the monster, the blade slicing through the thick, pulsing limbs.

My hand went to my chest and came back bloody.

"N-No…"

I scrambled back, trying to get away from that thing that came out of me. My fingers brushed over cool steel. I glanced down to find Akio's not-gun right under my hand. It was… an Evoker. I wasn't sure how I knew that, but I could have sworn I heard someone call these weird guns that... somewhere…

"Sonomi…"

Again, that voice… Crystal clear and feminine and so much like my own.

"Have faith. This is not the end."

Blood was seeping down my shirt, dripping down to the floor. My scar felt like it had been ripped open. My body wouldn't stop shaking. I felt more bile fill my mouth and I retched, spitting out more of that black ooze.

"Everyone has their own battle to fight. We have ours. Do not fear Death, for Death is not the end."

Shifting back onto my knees, now badly scraped and bleeding, I picked up the Evoker. I wrapped both hands around the grip.

"Will you allow Death to control you, or will you control Death?"

My bottom lip quivered. The thing that came out of me continued to hack and slash at the monster, until it was finally reduced to a puddle of ooze. Then, slowly, it turned towards me. It raised its katana.

My thoughts turned to Akio, who had tried to protect me, only to be smacked aside like nothing. I… I had to… I couldn't—I couldn't let anything happen to him. I closed my eyes and pressed the barrel to my forehead. I didn't care what happened to me. I never had. But I couldn't let Akio die. I'd never forgive myself.

"I…" My voice came out faint, barely above a whisper. "…will control Death."

I pulled the trigger.

My head jerked back from the force, the sound of something shattering behind me. I opened my eyes to see the creature lunge at me. But then it stopped, abruptly, mere meters away. It looked around, and then down at itself. A singular bright electric blue line began to grow down its torso. And then, out of nowhere, a white blade that gleamed with blue flame thrust out from inside it. My eyes widened as I watched the thing be sliced open, another being bursting out of it.

"I am thou… thou art I."

The voice from inside my head resonated throughout my mind. Her fiery blade vanished in a glitter of blue light. I had never seen anything like her before. She seemed to rest against a silver stake, from with ivory wings sprouted below. Her body was black, save for electrifying blue eyes, and the deep blue and white dress she wore. Sky blue laces bound her legs. Silver manacles chained her hands together and she wore a matching helmet. And there, on her chest, right where my scar was also, was a gleaming blue butterfly.

"I am Jeanne d'Arc. From the sea of thy soul, I come from thee. Together, we shall vanquish the darkness in man's hearts."

And then she vanished, tiny crystals of light left glittering in the air.

For a moment, I stared at where she once hovered in the air. And then everything went black.

Chapter Text

As long as I could remember, there was something wrong with me.

My earliest memories are hazy at best. I remember the white hospital walls and the pungent smell of antiseptic. Nurses coming and going. Doctors examining me. My mother crying. Tight bandages wrapped around my chest, all but suffocating me. I would lay in bed all day, staring listlessly at the ceiling, barely cognizant of what happened around me. I had to be hooked up to an IV, as I would not eat or drink.

People came and went. I vaguely could recall one day. My aunt Naoto brought my cousin Rui to see me. She was older than me by a year—seven at the time. Her blue hair framed her face in a bob, her grey eyes studying me with confusion, before looking up at her mom.

"What's wrong with Sono-chan, Mommy?"

Naoto winced. "She… is very sick, Rui. She has Apathy Syndrome."

Rui frowned, before reaching for the ledge of the bed and heaving herself up, trying to get a closer look at me. I didn't move. Rui waved her hand in front of my face. No response.

"We won't be able to play for a while, will we?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm afraid not, Rui."

I vaguely recall my mom spending hours sitting by my bedside. She'd talk to me, read me books, and tell me how my brother and sister were doing. Sometimes MJ and Miyako visited with her. They were nineteen at the time, in college, so they couldn't visit often. They did bring my bunny plushie so I could have Usa-chan while hospitalized. Not that I noticed.

I remained in this state for months after the incident that left me hospitalized. But it didn't feel like time… passed.

I still remember the day I finally… woke up.

The sun shone through the windows, warming my skin. I remember blinking, suddenly noticing the way the sunlight gleamed against the ocean waves outside the windows next to my bed. I turned my head to look outside, in awe of the brilliance and warmth.

"…Sonomi?"

My gaze shifted away from the windows, to the other side of me. There sat my mother, in a chair off to the side of the bed. Her eyes were wide, her body tense, her hands gripping the armrests like she was on the verge of jumping up from her seat.

"…Mama?" My voice was faint, barely a whisper. That was the last word I would speak for a while.

Tears welled up in her eyes and suddenly she was on her feet and by the side of my bed, pulling me into her warm and gentle embrace.

"Oh, my baby," Mom had sobbed. "You've finally come back to us."

But even after that, it was obvious that I was no longer… the same.

I had to stay in the hospital for another month, regaining my strength. I attended physical therapy. I still spent hours sitting in my bed, staring at nothing. Phantom pains plagued the wound on my chest, even as it scarred. I was tormented by nightmares. Certain sounds terrified me. I would freak out if my doctor, a man, was wearing white.

I heard the nurses' whispers. I heard what they said about me.

"There's something wrong with that girl… Ever since she woke up from her Apathy Syndrome, she's acted as emotionless as a doll…"

"I know… Every time I come to check on her, she's sitting listlessly in bed, not looking at anything in particular. It's not much improvement from her sickness…"

"She doesn't always respond when you talk to her either. She stares off into space. It's so unsettling…"

"Honestly, if you ask me… They should have taken her off life support. This is no way for a child to live."

"She acts more dead than alive…"

I remember being discharged from the hospital. I remember my mother holding my hand, refusing to let go of me until we got to the car. I remember holding Usa-chan in my free arm. I remember gazing out the window as she drove, listless as ever. I remember arriving home, Mom taking my hand again and not letting go until we were inside the house. I remember looking around. And something felt… off.

Something was missing. But I couldn't remember what.

Our house wasn't small and it had more of a modern style. Mom had worked hard to invest in a home for MJ and Miyako. There were only three bedrooms, so when I was born, I ended up sharing with my sister. I could remember that much. When my siblings moved out, I got the room all to myself.

But as I stepped back into our living room, I got this nagging feeling that something was wrong. There was an electric fireplace, you see, and on the mantle above, framed photographs were arranged. But there were… open spaces between some of them, like a picture had been removed. When I looked closer, I saw that there was no dust in these spots, in the shape of a frame. I would later discover that several pictures had been removed from the house.

I remember returning to my room. Nothing had changed. When Miyako moved out, I'd been allowed to pick a different color to paint the walls. My room was painted pastel pink, with lacy white curtains framing the windows. All my furniture was white, from the twin-sized canopy bed with gauzy pink curtains to the toy box. Stuffed animals were piled on the bed. On my dresser, there were framed photographs too—of me and Hotaru and Rui, of me and all my friends together, and one glaringly empty spot. On my desk where I doodled and colored, sat my Featherman Pink charm, along with a charm of Featherman Red, but I didn't remember owning that one.

I remember sneaking out of my room that night, to peek into my brother's old room, curious to see if that had changed too. But the door was locked.

I never got any answers about the missing pictures or the locked bedroom. But I didn't pry either. I didn't have the energy.

I remember being sent to live with Minako and her family, as Mom had to go shoot a movie and could not take care of me. I remember overhearing my aunt telling all of my cousins to not let me out of their sight. I didn't understand why. But I was never alone after that.

My emotions never came back. I continued to sit listlessly, withdrawing into myself. I didn't speak. I was afraid of the dark. I got scared if my aunt or uncle were not around. I cried a lot and had meltdowns when I became upset. I struggled in school and was considered a difficult child. I would draw pictures of what my teachers thought was the grim reaper—cloaked figures with skulls for faces. I would tell them that the grim reaper gave me the scar on my chest.

I remember Mom giving me my father's earphones and mp3 player. She limited what I could listen to because of my age, but also gave me my own phone to put music on… and to use for emergencies.

I remember being taken to see a child psychologist. I remember being diagnosed with PTSD, though I didn't understand what it was at the time. After that, I started seeing a therapist—Yu Narukami, to be exact. He was a family friend. Most of the time, we had sessions over video call, because we lived so far apart. But sometimes, Mom would take time off from work and take me down to Inaba to visit the Narukamis and see Yu in person.

I enjoyed those trips. I got to spend time with my mother, get out of Port Island, and see friends.

I remember spending most of my time with Haruto, Sora's younger brother, because we were the same age. Haruto didn't mind my… eccentricities. He would sit with me, coloring in coloring books or reading picture books together while I had my earphones on, listening to music. He was so nice to me.

Outside of my sessions with Yu, I saw a music therapist. Through music, I found… peace. I found my voice again. It helped me express myself—to find the emotions buried deep within my heart. I listened to music when I was sad or scared. I wrote songs to try to understand what I was feeling—or the lack thereof.

Because of how important music became to me, one day, while visiting Inaba, Haruto told me I should share the new song I wrote with his big brother. We were thirteen at the time. Sora was still training to be an idol and had recently come home for a break. I was much too shy to do what he suggested, but Haruto kept encouraging me, insisting that Sora would love it.

I remember trying to find the courage to talk to Sora. I remember how I timidly approached him, asking if I could tell him about this song I wrote. He was more than happy to listen. He even insisted I play it for him, lending me his guitar. Somehow, I found the courage to play the song for him. And… he loved it.

Sora encouraged me to go after my dreams—to become an idol, if that's what I wanted. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have pursued that dream. I owed so much to Sora.

At first, it was everything I dreamed of. As I trained and trained, I learned how to express myself better and better. No longer did I feel so… distant from my own emotions. Music helped me understand how I feel. I began to find myself—the true personality I lost all those years ago. My first year as an idol was extremely fulfilling. I was the happiest I'd been in years.

But as time went on—as I learned more and more about show business—my passion began to be crushed. Slowly, the exhaustion overcame the reward. I began to despise the media and how they clung to drama. How they looked for even the smallest flaw to smirch someone's reputation. I had to walk a fine line—I could not stray from the path.

It was made even more apparent with the downfall of Hiro from Yuukan. The story was plastered all over the news—beloved idol Hiro had broken the rules and married and fathered a child. He was found dead in Takura Productions. He hung himself the day he was kicked from the group. Sora found him.

After that, I… began to feel dead inside again. I'd been working so hard for so long, it finally started to wear on me. Performing began to feel like a chore. I became more irritable on set. People began describing me as a diva. But I didn't care. I was done caring. How could I? My value to these people only mattered as long as I didn't shatter my fans' image of me. It wasn't about sharing music to spread joy anymore. It was about making money.

I was being watched. People were waiting. They were waiting for perfect little Tsuki to slip up and make a mistake just like Hiro did. And she did. On live television.

Such was my fate. I could only wear the mask for so long. And now I had to pick up the pieces.

It was so much easier to not have emotion—to be living dead. I could conform—fit the mold everyone wanted me to—as long as I did not care. And I didn't. Not anymore. There was no purpose to my life. I should be dead.

I remember sitting in Takura Productions, staring off into space, waiting to meet with Alice. I remember some employees walking by and noticing me. I remember them whispering, but not quiet enough for me not to hear.

"Wow… she really does have a resting bitch face."

"She's such a good actress. She's really got her fans fooled, huh?"

"A lot of folks are worried she might pull a Hiro, because of her mom's influence… but honestly, they should worry about her getting knocked up. Like anyone would want to marry someone as bratty as her."

"Well, it's not our problem. The higher-ups have to clean up these messes, not us."

"Thank goodness, honestly."

I remember… no one caring about what happened to me.

Chapter Text

"Welcome to the Velvet Room!" a familiar voice exclaimed excitedly.

I opened my eyes and blinked, finding myself surrounded by blue once again. I was in that strange elevator with all the doors… and that huge-nosed man and cute girl. The girl—Lacey, if I recall correctly—was the one who had greeted me. The Velvet Room, as they called it… Then it wasn't just a weird dream? Or was it just a continuation of that really weird dream?

"It's so nice to see you again," Igor said, his warm smile still somewhat leery. "You became unconscious after awakening to your 'power'."

My… power? I tilted my head, not quite understanding what he meant. Then it hit me—did he mean that being I summoned from within myself? Akio had done the same thing, after all…

"I see that it was Jeanne d'Arc who heeded your calling," Igor mused. "That power is called a Persona. It is a manifestation of your psyche."

I frowned. "A… Persona?"

He nodded. "A Persona is a facet of your personality that surfaces as you react to external stimuli. You can think of it as a mask that protects you as you brave many hardships."

A mask… I couldn't help but recall the various facades I put up just to get through my life. How I pretended to be so happy and cheerful as Tsuki, when in reality I had a shallow husk of a personality. Yet he claimed that this… Persona… came from my personality. How could it, when I didn't have one?

I shook my head, wrapping one arm around myself. It made no sense.

"When you use your Persona ability, you must channel your inner strength," Igor continued. "The ability evolves as you develop your Social Links—your emotional ties with others."

…I had no inner strength. And I most definitely didn't have… emotional ties.

"The stronger your Social Links, the more powerful your Persona ability," Igor informed me. "Please remember that."

I would certainly remember that… I'd certainly remember how absurd this all was. How poorly suited I was for this... power. If I had been chosen, they surely had chosen the worst possible person.

"Now, then… Time marches on in your world," Igor said. "I shouldn't keep you any longer."

Lacey, who had been standing dutifully by her master's side, holding that big book in her arms, pouted. "Aw, already?"

Igor gave her a gentle smile, before returning his attention to me. "Next time we meet, you will come here of your own accord."

Lacey perked up a bit at that.

"Until then… Farewell."

Lacey gave a big wave. "Bye-bye! Don't stay away for too long, okay?"

The Velvet Room began to fade away.

Friday, April 15th, 2039, Last Quarter Moon.

The familiar smell of antiseptic burned inside my nose. I stirred, opening my eyes to find myself gazing up at a white ceiling. A sense of deja vu washed over me. I'd been here before… I lifted my hand, resting the back of it on my forehead as I turned to gaze out the window overlooking the sea.

I was in the hospital. Yet again.

I let out my breath and it came out in a sigh.

"Sonomi?"

The familiarity of that voice made me freeze. But I forced myself to look over.

It was my mother, Yukari Takeba.

Mom was in her mid to late forties, though she didn't look it. There wasn't a single streak of gray in her light brown hair, which she wore down to her shoulders, with half of it pulled up in a bun. Her eyes were the same warm shade of brown, filled with concern. She was dressed immaculately as ever, in a white sweater dress, mousy brown thigh high socks, and pale beige ankle boots. A coat was draped over her chair—dusty rose, with a thick, fluffy collar of faux tan fur. She wore rose quartz earrings… and the promise ring Dad gave her all those years ago. It was set with rose quartz, with tiny diamonds surrounding it, more being set in the actual gold band.

A wave of relief seemed to rush over her. "Thank goodness you're finally awake…"

The last time I'd see my mother, it was in the aftermath of my outburst on national television. She had been rather upset with me for reacting that way about rumors. I'd gotten so angry at her and had snapped back.

Rumors were just rumors, sure. But my entire life had been affected by people's words. Being fatherless in a world that stigmatized bastards… only through my work as an idol had I been able to rise above it all.

Mom managed a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

"…Fine," I answered curtly, looking away.

This time, the sigh was from her.

"Does anything hurt?"

Surprisingly… no. Even my chest, which I swear had been bleeding last night… There were no bandages—no sign of my old wounds opening back up. I was simply wearing a hospital gown, perfectly fine. But something had happened last night.

"…No."

Mom didn't respond right away. When I glanced back over at her, she was looking down at her hands, lips pursed in a hard line. She closed her eyes, as if steeling herself, and then looked back up at me.

"Sonomi-"

Before she could say anything further, the door to the room burst open, and in stormed a very annoyed sister of mine.

"I cannot believe you didn't tell me Sonomi landed in the hospital again!"

MJ followed her inside, closing the door behind him, looking rather exasperated. "Miya, you live three hours away. And you're due to have your baby any day now. It could wait till morning."

Miyako turned back around to face him, faster than she should have been able to with the size of her belly. "I. Don't. Care. I told you, if something happens to our baby sister, I want to know immediately."

I couldn't help but sit up in bed, honestly surprised by this sudden turn of events. "Nee-san?"

Miyako turned back around to face us, her irritation immediately fading away to be replaced by a gentle, relieved smile.

"Sonomi-chan! Oh, you look fine." She looked over at our mother. "She is fine, right, Mom?"

"It's nice to see you too." Mom gave a tired smile. "Yes, the doctors said she was only extremely exhausted and needed rest."

Miyako was my elder sister, younger twin to MJ by a few minutes. They were practically identical, save for gender. She had the same deep blue hair we all had, though hers was silky smooth, unlike mine, and pulled back into a neat bun, with a hairpin topped with sapphire blue flowers. Her eyes were also blue. Today, she was wearing a black maternity dress, black leggings, and black heeless boots. Her coat was navy blue and draped over her shoulders.

"I can answer myself," I mumbled under my breath.

Miyako let out a sigh of relief, resting her hand over her heart. "I'm so glad to hear that. I feared the worst…"

The worst, huh… What would that even be?

MJ looked over at our sister. "…Is Kenshin coming?"

"As soon as he can conclude business," Miyako answered. "We talked and decided that we may as well move me out, as I'm already here." She gave a gentle smile. "Our new house has been finalized, so it's just a matter of moving in furniture."

Kenshin Nanjo was Miyako's husband of three years. Recently, he inherited the position of CEO of the Nanjo Group, a steadfast ally of the Kirijo Group. He was incredibly rich and as such, my sister wanted for nothing. They owned multiple houses and cars and… everything. I remember the scandal when they got engaged… The heir of the Nanjo Group marrying a bastard? So many people outside of his immediate family disapproved. But he didn't care and married her anyway. They met through work or something. I didn't know the full story.

MJ wrinkled his nose. "I told you, you don't have to move all the way out here-"

"And I told you that I'm going to be here for Sonomi if she needs me." Miyako glared at him.

MJ glared back. "You're pushing yourself too hard."

"I am perfectly fine, thank you very much, Minato!"

Mom let out a sigh. "Enough, you two. Now isn't the time."

"…Do I have to stay here?" I asked, before either of my siblings could say anything.

Mom gave a soft smile. "No, it should be okay to go home. I'll let the doctors—and everyone—know you're awake." She then stood up.

"Everyone?" I asked, confused.

MJ shoved his hands into his pockets. "All the family friends are here. Plus the Narukamis, and Amamiya-san."

My eyes widened. "The prime minister is here?"

"No, his wife, Anne-san," Miyako said, giving our brother a withering look. "Though Ren-san is trying to free up some time for the… meeting we need to have."

"Meeting?"

Mom winced, pausing just in front of the door. "About… what happened last night."

Oh. So they… knew something. They knew… about Persona.

I watched Mom open the door and step out, closing it behind her. And then silence fell in the room.

MJ looked over at Miyako and for a moment their eyes met. Some sort of silent understanding seemed to exchange between them. Something they knew… that I did not. And then they returned their attention to me.

"We'll be back soon, Sonomi-chan," Miyako told me. "I need to sit down… and MJ needs to update me more on recent events."

Part of me wanted to say she could sit in here. That she and MJ could just… talk here. I didn't… really want to be alone. But I knew better than even to make the suggestion. So I simply held my tongue and nodded. I watched them leave, too. And I was alone once more.

Now that I was by myself, I looked down at my scar. It no longer glowed. It appeared completely normal. Like… nothing had ever occurred. I didn't… understand. What had happened to me?

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door. It swung open and in walked… Akio. He left the door slightly ajar. He carried a paper bag in one arm and a fountain drink in the other. On top of that paper bag sat a clear bag of cookies, tied with a red ribbon. He looked… completely fine, despite that monster knocking him aside like nothing.

"Got you some food, Sonomin," he said, so casually, like we hadn't undergone some terrifying, traumatizing experience together last night. "Since the food here is shit and all." He set the paper bag down on the bed next to me and put the drink on the side table. "Oh, and some ginger lemon cookies from Aunt Haru's bakery. Mom brought them for me, but-"

"Stop."

He looked up from the bag, holding a wrapped Big Bang burger in his hand. "What, do you not want your burger? Your mom said you like these."

My cheeks burned. "Just—just—what do you want from me?!"

He looked at me for a moment, his expression unchanging, before closing his eyes and letting out a breath. "…I don't want anything, Sonomi."

I glared at him. "Everyone wants something. That's how the world works."

His expression became unreadable as he set the wrapped burger down on the blanket. "Sometimes, Sonomi, people do things out of the kindness of their hearts. Do you even remember what kindness is like?"

I bristled, feeling more heat rise to my face. My scar itched. "Excuse me?"

He let out a sigh, reaching up to run his hand through his hair. "Look, I'm sorry. I've been an ass to you since we reuni—met. But you haven't exactly been a ray of fucking sunshine either."

I scowled at him. "Is this where you tell me I need to smile more?"

This time, he narrowed his eyes at me. "You really have some awful preconceptions of me, don't you?"

I looked away. "What does it matter? Everyone has them of me."

"Because you can be better than that."

My eyes widened… even as I avoided his gaze. My hand clenched into a fist, my scar giving a painful twinge. How… How dare he say that to me…

"…You want to know why I got expelled? I know you know. There's no way your brother didn't tell you."

I dared to glance back over at him. He had pulled up another chair—not the one my mother's coat was still draped over—and taken a seat. Not trusting my voice, I gave a curt nod.

"I used to go to Shujin Academy in Tokyo. I wasn't the smartest guy in my year, but I was still pretty popular. Everyone liked me—teachers, students. They even put up with my pranks and shit." He let out a tired laugh. "Suzu—my lil sis—was trying to pick what high school she wanted to go to. So one day after classes, I showed her around."

I couldn't help but watch him… wondering where this would go. His gaze flickered down to his hands, where they sat on his lap.

"I had to go to the bathroom, so I left her out in the hall for a little bit. For too long, 'cause when I came back out, some guys had gathered around her. Upperclassmen—second years. One of 'em, I recognized as the son of my dad's main rival in politics. And before my very eyes, he…" His hand clenched into a fist. "He grabbed her ass and tried to drag her close to him. I lost my shit."

My eyes widened. I… I had not expected that…

"I dragged him away from her and punched him. And I couldn't… stop punching him. Next thing I knew, Suzu was crying at me to stop and teachers were pulling me away from him and he was a bloody mess on the floor. Had to go to the hospital. I broke his nose, busted his arm, cracked a few ribs… He lost some teeth too. His parents pressed charges."

I just… stared.

"I've never been a violent guy… but seeing my little sister be sexually harassed just… pissed me off." He scowled. "And that bastard's old man twisted it into some political shit. Accused Dad of sicking me on his son on purpose. So my folks couldn't contest the charges much. It was caught on camera. They had undeniable proof that I beat their son's ass. So Shujin kicked me out."

"Akio…"

He ignored me. "So yeah, I have actual assault charges. My dad used his influence to keep me out of jail. I have to do community service and shit. I'm on probation. Got to be on my best behavior." He rolled his eyes, but finally looked back up at me. "I may be a lot of things, but I am not gross towards girls. My parents raised me better than that."

"I had no idea…"

He shrugged. "Mom and Dad found out that that guy was still creeping on Suzu, so they decided it'd be safer for her to get out of Tokyo. Especially after what… happened to Jin."

I frowned. "Jin?"

He nodded. "Jin Sakamoto, my best friend. He's attending Gekkoukan too, just in a different class."

I wondered what happened to him…

His gaze flickered to the floor. "I've… been so angry since then. At myself. At the world. At the rotten adults that make life hell for everyone. But it's no excuse to be an ass."

I bit my bottom lip, looking down at my hands. How… How could I stay angry with him after learning all of that?

"I've been powerless before. Never again."

I glanced back up, eyes wide. "Akio…"

"Heh." He cracked that lopsided smile of his. "You're calling me by my first name now."

"…I can go back to your last name if you'd like."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, please continue. I like the way your voice sounds when you say my name."

My heart gave a nervous stutter at that, heat rising to my cheeks. I hastily looked away.

"…Shut up, Amamiya."

He just continued to grin at me. "Sooo… we good now?"

I puffed out my cheeks. "…Yes. And thank you… for coming after me."

He gave a shrug. "Look, I wasn't about to let you go out during creepy moon time by yourself. Which was really dumb, by the way."

I let out a sigh. "You don't have to remind me…"

He reached to pick the burger back up and held it out to me. "C'mon, you ready to eat or what?"

I accepted the burger, but my gaze flickered to the drink. "…Is that pink lemonade?"

He smiled at me. "Yeah, your mom told me that's your favorite. Besides rose milk boba tea, your guilty-"

"J-Just give me the drink, I'm thirsty!"

Everyone had gathered at the dorm. And I mean everyone.

Mom, MJ, and Miyako. Aunt Minako and Uncle Akihiko. Fuuka and Shinjiro. Junpei and Chidori. Mitsuru. Yu and Rise. Anne. They had Akio and I sit at the table in the dining room, as everyone gathered around. Anne worked on getting the video call set up on a laptop. I found myself sitting next to Akio, this foreboding sense of doom settling upon me. Were we in some kind of trouble?

My scar itched. Absentmindedly, I reached up to scratch it.

Akio leaned back in his chair, looking bored out of his mind. Whatever this was about, he certainly wasn't concerned over it.

"There we go," Anne said, taking a seat as the video call came to life. "Can you hear us, Ren?"

"Crystal clear." The familiar voice of the prime minister came through the laptop.

Akio rested his cheek in his hand. "So… am I grounded or what? Can you even ground me when you're like, halfway across the country?"

"This is no time to joke about this," Mom said sharply. "What happened at Asphodel…"

She trailed off, biting her lip.

Anne sighed. "Yukari is right, Akio. Ren and I are proud of you but… still. You could've been killed."

"It's not like I could call you," Akio said, exasperated. "Still, Mom, Dad—you've been acting so funny ever since it was decided I had to move out here."

"Akio, this isn't the time to joke," Ren reprimanded.

I glanced over to see that he was running a hand through his hair. Looking between him and his wife… it looked like Akio was a fairly even blend of them. Though he had his mom's pale blond hair color, he inherited the waviness from his dad. And he had his dad's eyes—such a dark shade of gray, they almost appeared black.

"I gave you the Evoker in case… you get tangled up with something." Ren sighed. "And believe me… we rather you not."

Mitsuru cleared her throat. "Indeed. Seeing the Dark Hour resurface like this…"

Shinjiro scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Fucking hell. I thought it was over when we closed down the dorm."

"We ought to explain more, though…" Fuuka spoke up, with a slight wince.

Mitsuru closed her eyes for a moment. "You are correct. I suppose… I'll start. It began forty years ago. My grandfather, the CEO of the Kirijo Group at the time, wanted to create a time manipulation device. To this end, he had Shadows gathered together. However… one Kirijo scientist realized that this experiment would have deadly consequences."

"My father," Mom said quietly. "Eiichiro Takeba."

My grandfather was involved in this? I was told that he died when Mom was very young but… nothing beyond that.

I placed a hand against my heart. My scar was aching again.

"What's the deal with the Shadows?" Akio asked. "I mean, they're nasty little bastards but ain't that what all Shadow nests are?"

Junpei just shook his head. "It's… complicated, but the head scientist at the time wanted Death to come to all of us. That's what the experiment was really about."

"As Aunt Mitsuru said, our grandfather realized that the goal of the experiment was wrong," MJ said. "So he tampered with it to stop it… at the cost of his life."

MJ and Miyako knew too? So why… why was I left in the dark?

"Death escaped and started to create chaos in the city. It reached the Moonlight Bridge where it caused an accident. A car accident to be exact." Minako took in a shuddering breath. "The crash instantly killed the parents in the front, but somehow… the three children in the back survived."

"Three…?" I asked faintly.

Minako bit her lip before nodding. "Yeah… it was our family. We were coming back late since we were visiting Grandpa." She let out a bitter laugh. "Little did we know… we would see him soon after."

I knew the story. I mean, how couldn't I? I only had one living grandparent—my mom's mother. My paternal grandparents had perished in a car accident when my dad and aunt were about six or seven. But they never told me where… I never knew it happened on Port Island's very own Moonlight Bridge. Or that it was caused by something called… Death.

"...What is… 'Death'?" I asked slowly.

Something… gnawed at me. My scar burned. I felt like I knew the answer already, yet…

The adults all winced… including Ren.

"Death is… a symbol of the end, you could say," Chidori said, her eyes distant.

"Death didn't mean to… physically kill everyone on this earth," Fuuka said. "But to bring… oblivion."

"In this case… Apathy Syndrome," Akihiko stated, folding his arms over his chest.

Apathy Syndrome… My scar began to ache again.

"So… you stopped it?" Akio asked, looking at his mother.

Anne let out an awkward laugh, twirling a lock of her hair. "Ah, no, this happened way before we became Persona-users. I was still traveling with Nana and Grandpa back then."

"We were both ten, then, Akio," Ren continued.

"Oh yeah… guess you're a little young to be fighting Shadows." Akio shrugged.

For some reason… some of my parents' friends winced. Shinjiro almost looked… guilty.

"What about you, Rise-san and Yu-san?" I asked.

The Narukamis shook their heads.

"We awakened a year after everything was said and done," Yu answered.

"But what… happened?"

"Right… sorry," Minako sighed. "But um… long story short, Death wound up being sealed in Minato the night we lost our parents. Grandpa wanted to take all three of us in but was only allowed to take in one. Minato and I told Grandpa to take Naoto. She was so young, then… It was hard for all of us but… if our baby sister could have some stability, so be it. Minato and I basically were shuffled around for the next decade until we came back to Port Island."

Oh... I had never realized that that's what happened. It must have been awful for them...

"Death was ripped into twelve other pieces. These formed powerful Shadows, which would attack during a full moon," Mitsuru continued. "Minako and Minato awakened during the first incident, when one of these Shadows attacked the dorm. Yukari was to take them and escape but… the Shadow found them."

Why did that sound vaguely familiar...

"So we made it our goal to eliminate these Shadows. The incident with Death formed the Dark Hour and Tartarus so we as a group… SEES… vowed to get rid of it for good. We were told that killing the Shadows would eliminate the Dark Hour and Tartarus." Akihiko's face darkened as he scowled. "Damn that Ikutsuki… He played us like a fiddle."

Ikutsuki… why was that name familiar…? I frowned, trying to think harder and harder about it. But then my head began to ache and throb.

"Sonomi?"

I looked up at Mom, trying not to wince.

"...I'm fine. Just getting a small headache."

"A-Are you sure?"

"I'm fine, Mom," I snapped, looking away. "Just… continue with the story."

There was a hesitation. "But long story short… when we killed the parts of Death, it slowly pieced itself back together… and called Nyx, thus ushering in the 'Fall'," Minako continued slowly, with a heavy frown. It was… a little bizarre to see her so serious. My aunt was usually so… cheerful. "We learned that the Fall would occur on January thirty-first, 2010."

…My birthday. My birthday was the anniversary of the Fall.

"So we decided to challenge the Fall. It was supposed to be impossible but we weren't going to lie down and wait for shit to happen," Junpei said with a scowl. "We fought Death, but in the end…"

"Minato had to seal Nyx away… at the cost of his life," Mom said softly. "He managed to cling on for about a month… because of a promise he made. And he died on the rooftop of Gekkoukan High."

The silence weighed down upon me.

But I…

My scar itched and burned. I found myself feeling more and more frustrated and irritated the more I heard… the truth. I couldn't help but scowl, folding my arms over my chest.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Sonomi-chan, please try to understand…" Miyako said gently. "It's a burden to know about all of this… To have a Persona."

"But it would've been nice to be told sooner!" I snapped out. "Maybe I would have been more prepared for the weird dreams, this so called Wild Card ability–"

"Sonomi!" Mom suddenly exclaimed, eyes going wide.

"What?" I then stopped short; Mom's face had gone completely white.

"Y... You have the Wild Card?" Mitsuru asked faintly.

"...Yes." I narrowed my eyes. "Supposedly, according to the weird man in my dreams. I don't even know what it is."

Yu cleared his throat. "In most cases, one person possesses only one Persona. But rarely, there is a Persona-user who possesses the Wild Card—the ability to wield multiple Personas. There were five previous Wild Cards—Minako, Aigis, myself, Ren, and... your father, Minato."

…Oh.

"Huh…" Ren mused. "So there's finally another."

"You're finally not the baby anymore," Anne teased lightly.

Ren chuckled. "Took them long enough to choose someone else."

"Though, this has got me wondering…" Rise said, thoughtfully touching her chin. "Is the Wild Card hereditary? Two of Sonomi-chan's relatives are Wild Cards."

"Research has shown that potential is often stronger in those who are descended from Persona-users," Mitsuru stated slowly. "As seen with Minato and Miyako, Hotaru, and Akio-"

My eyes widened. "Hotaru has a Persona?!"

Minako smiled sheepishly. "She does… She has for a long time. But it's not—it's not quite like yours."

"Hotaru-chan's Persona is like mine and Rise's," Fuuka explained. "She can analyze the enemy. She has no combat abilities."

That… sounded so strange for Hotaru. If anyone was a fighter, surely it would be her. Honestly, it would make more sense for her to have this Wild Card instead of me. She was so… vibrant and full of life. Unlike me, who may as well be dead.

"Well, glad to know we're not the only ones blessed with suck," Akio said dryly. "So what now? This Dark Hour shit came back. Shouldn't we try to stop it? Like, this Death thing? Is it gonna come back to call Nyx or whatever?"

"It shouldn't even be possible…" Mom said quietly. "Not with the Great Seal…"

Mitsuru grimaced, closing her eyes. "Years ago, I founded an organization—the Shadow Operatives—to deal with supernatural phenomena such as Shadows. Outside of the events in Inaba and Tokyo, we have dealt with every situation and kept it from the general public. We have been monitoring the Great Seal and it remains intact."

But she fiddled with her hair, shifting in her seat. Why did I get this nagging feeling that they weren't telling the entire truth…?

"A new tower appeared about ten years ago," Mitsuru continued. "The tower you encountered last night. It is… nearly identical to Tartarus, save for the strange flowers blooming on it. We have named it Asphodel. Ever since the appearance of the tower, there has been a disruption in the collective unconscious."

"...Collective unconscious?" I asked.

"The collective unconscious is… eternal," Mitsuru answered slowly and carefully. "It connects humanity—whether we realize it or not. It is the collection of humanity's thoughts and desires, some hidden and some not. It is forever changing, transcending time and space. Some call it the Sea of Souls. Personas come from within the collective unconscious, as do Shadows. It can manifest in many forms. Tartarus was connected to it, as was the Midnight Channel, and the Metaverse."

"However…" Minako winced. "It started bleeding into the real world when Asphodel formed and the Dark Hour returned."

"And as time went on, the Midnight Channel resurfaced," Yu stated grimly. "As did the Metaverse."

"...Right." Akio's eyes narrowed. "That's what happened to me and Jin. We got yanked into the Metaverse." He pulled out his cell phone. "Still got that weird navigator app and everything."

Anne winced, glancing down at her hands.

"And we took care of it," Ren said firmly. "She confessed and is now behind bars. There have been no other cases since, so it most likely was an isolated incident."

I glanced over at Akio. He gritted his teeth, his hand clenching into a fist under the table. What on earth happened?

"We are monitoring it as well," Mitsuru said. "Thus far, no Shadow selves have gathered in the TV World or the Metaverse. However… we cannot say the same about Port Island."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"The cases of Apathy Syndrome," Minako sighed. "As I said, the collective unconscious is bleeding into the real world. It creates pockets of distortion throughout Port Island, specifically. These pockets break reality, creating small little worlds, similar to Palaces—the areas found within the Metaverse—but… not quite. They operate under different rules, most likely due to the influence from the Dark Hour and Tartarus."

Akihiko nodded grimly. "The sudden surge of Apathy Syndrome cases… all the suicides… all the mysterious deaths. They can all be linked back to these Crypts, as we call them."

Mom grimaced, closing her eyes. "Because it's where people go to die."

I tilted my head. "What do you mean, go to die?"

Mitsuru sighed. "Our investigations have led to the conclusion that only those who long for death, or who have had a brush with death, can enter a Crypt. We believe that it is an expression of Erebus's will. Erebus… is the physical manifestation of humanity's grief and despair. Mankind's collective desire to perish. To call forth Nyx. The Great Seal is what blocks Erebus from summoning Nyx."

"Wait…"

The gravity of her words sunk in.

"So you're telling me… that the Great Seal is weakening?!"

All of the parents' eyes widened as I pushed back my chair and slammed my hands down onto the table, a surge of fury rushing through me. Even Akio looked up at me in surprise. My scar burned alongside my anger, pounding with fury.

"All of this—everything you've been through, my dad's sacrifice—is about to be pointless?!"

"Oh, Sonomi…" Mom's expression softened, but there was sorrow in her eyes. "It's not-"

"Everything he did—everything he gave up. Mom, MJ, Miyako… me." I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I didn't want to cry. "It doesn't matter. None of it matters. Because—because we're all going to die anyway!"

I couldn't be in here anymore. I couldn't stand it.

I shook my head, even as words were spoken. I was too upset to make out anything anyone said. I pushed my chair back further. And I ran out of the dorm.

I ran and ran. I had no idea where my legs took me. I just needed to get away—far, far away. My legs burned and gave out and I ended up collapsing into a heap in front of… in front of my family's grave. I stared at it for a moment, wondering why on earth I had decided to come here… subconsciously or not.

I sat on my knees in the graveyard, in front of the tombstone. Names of deceased family members were engraved on the stone. Shigeru Arisato, my grandfather. Hisako Arisato, my grandmother. Minato Arisato, my dad. Of course, there were family members before my grandparents, but I knew less and less about them.

Family had always been difficult for Arisatos to talk about.

There were fresh flowers and incense. I wondered who recently came here…

What did it matter? Did any of this matter, if the world was doomed to end?

And yet, as I sat there, my scar itching, I could feel the tears well up in my eyes once more, spilling down my cheeks. No sobs wracked my body. Only silence.

Why did I care? My life was shit. Honestly, it would be better if I died. All I did was exist, catering to those around me. Fitting myself into molds so people would like me, even if I didn't care if they did. And now that I acted like myself—however that was—I was a drama queen and a brat and a bitch. I supposed it was all true.

And yet, even as I stared at the tombstone, the tears would not stop.

To find out the truth about my dad's death all those years ago… only to learn that his sacrifice wouldn't matter in the end. That my family's suffering would be pointless. All the grief… the loneliness… the despair. Nothing matters in the end. Did it ever matter at all?

A sharp pain shot through my head and for a moment, my vision blurred. My scar gave a painful itch as I pressed my hand against my temple.

"…Are you all right?"

I stiffened at the sound of someone's voice. I reached up to wipe my eyes with my sleeve, before turning my gaze towards whoever had spoken.

A boy stood a few meters away from me, holding a bouquet of flowers that was clearly meant for whoever's grave he was here visiting. He appeared to be around my age—sixteen or so. He had auburn hair, slightly wavy, his bangs parted to the side and getting into his eyes, which were… were the same striking shade of electric blue as mine.

"…I'm fine," I lied, forcing myself to stand up and brush the dirt off my skirt.

Something about this boy… I couldn't place it. But I felt… oddly at ease.

He tilted his head, not seeming convinced. "You know, it's okay to cry. There's nothing wrong with it. It just means that you have emotions."

I couldn't help but stare at him, my eyes widening in utter shock. I-

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, holding it out to me with a gentle smile. "Here, take it. You need this more than I do."

My gaze flickered down to the handkerchief he held out to me. It was rather odd that he'd even offer it to me. I supposed it didn't matter… I accepted the handkerchief and used it to wipe the remaining tears from my eyes.

"…Thank you," I mumbled, before handing it back to him.

He practically beamed at my thanks, his smile brightening as he accepted the handkerchief back. "My name's Shion, by the way. You are…?"

He didn't… recognize me? That was odd…

"…Sonomi," I said after a moment, before looking down at the bouquet in his arms. "Are you here to visit someone?"

Shion winced. "Ah, not quite… You see, I… I'm an orphan, so I don't know who my actual family was. So I like to come here and lay a flower down on each grave that's been forgotten. I feel it's the least I can do… so they aren't completely alone."

Again, my eyes widened. I most definitely did not expect that kind of answer. He looked over at the Arisato family grave, stepping closer.

"This is your family's grave?" he asked. "Here, let me leave a flower too."

He took one of the flowers from his bouquet and knelt to place it beside the fresh flowers.

"...Thanks," I muttered. "Though I'm not sure they're even aware of the sentiment."

I still remember the Obon after my mom sent me to live with my aunt and uncle. My aunt and uncle were both orphans… and both had lost a dear sibling. So the holiday was comforting to them, the belief that their deceased ancestors would return, if only temporarily.

I remember how Hotaru was sad about how she couldn't get to know any of her grandparents; Akihiko's parents had died when he was four. Minako had comforted her then by saying… the dead were always with you, watching over you. I still wasn't sure how that was supposed to be comforting.

But my dad had given up everything to protect the ones he left behind. He was literally the barrier between this Erebus and the world. He would never know Shion's act of kindness towards him.

Shion shrugged lightly. "I don't think it really matters if they're 'aware'. If you do an act of kindness to be acknowledged… I don't think it's true kindness."

I frowned. "...I wish there were more people with that kind of attitude."

"If only wishes could come true just like that…" Shion sighed, shaking his head. "But… I hope you're feeling better now, Sonomi-san."

"A little… thanks to you." I wiped a final tear from my eye. "I think I just… needed to get away from everything for a little while."

Shion cocked his head before giving a small nod. "I can understand that. All too well…"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, it's nothing important." He shook his head, a rueful smile on his lips now. "But I'm glad you're feeling better, Sonomi-san."

I nodded, biting my lip. "I should probably go, though… I ran out on my family earlier. I guess… I should apologize to them for that."

Shion bit his lip as well. "Be grateful for the family you have left," he said finally, after a moment. "I hope to see you around, Sonomi-san."

"Thank you… Shion."

I gave one small wave before heading toward the exit. I had barely taken one step down the stairs of the shrine when I heard someone call out to me.

"Sonomin!"

I started at that and my foot slipped. But then Akio's hands grabbed onto my shoulders, steadying me.

My cheeks burned. "What are you doing here?"

"Jeez, such a warm greeting." Akio then let go of me, rubbing the back of his neck. "Listen… can we talk? It's about… what we were told 'bout Asphodel."

I immediately stiffened, but the heat in my cheeks didn't go away. "What about it?"

He crossed his arms over his chest, looking me over—but not in a disrespectful way. My eyes were bound to be puffy and bloodshot from crying, my face red. But instead of saying anything about it, he shook his head.

"Don't you wanna do something about it?" he asked. "We both have Personas. If the adults' hands are tied, ours aren't."

For a moment, my eyes widened, but I looked away, wrapping one arm around myself. "If these Shadow Operatives can't solve the problem, who says we can?"

"Because we have one thing that they don't."

I forced myself to look back up at him. "And that would be…?"

He cracked that lopsided smile of his. "We have you."

I felt my face heat up more as I glared at him. "I don't see how that's a good thing."

"Oh, but I do." Akio continued to grin. "So your dad died before you should've been born and that's always bothered you, yeah? And the other night, you were drawn to that tower. You were so fucking insistent about going there. Doesn't that seem awfully coincidental to you? I'd bet you that if we explore that place, you'll get some answers about yourself."

…Dammit, he had a good point.

"Plus," he continued, "your Persona did… something really fucking weird. Did you ever mention that to anyone?"

"…No."

Akio shrugged. "Well, if that's what you want." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "So… what do you think?"

I bit my bottom lip, glancing down at my feet. He had a very good point, of course. The mystery of my existence… could very well lay within Asphodel. Yet, the mere notion still felt so… far-fetched. I… dared not hope that the answers to all my questions could lie in that mysterious tower. And yet… part of me wished…

My scar twinged. I reached up to place my hand over it.

"…Most days, I honestly feel like I'd be better off dead. That my family's lives would be so much better off without me. A few minutes ago, all I could think about was how much I wanted to die. What's the point of even trying to live, if everything my dad sacrificed ends up meaning nothing? If the world is going to end anyway?" My voice was quiet, yet somehow retained… emotion. "My life has been nothing but… tragedy. Some freak accident when I was little took my feelings away from me… and I've never been the same since. I tried so hard to find myself again, but in the end, I… failed."

Akio remained silent. I couldn't bring myself to look up at him.

"Everyone knows Tsuki, the cheerful, bubbly crybaby idol. But that's not me. Not really. The real me is… this." I gestured to myself. "This… this mess. Whatever I am."

Akio let out a breath. "Sonomi… everyone's a mess. Folks act like they've got themselves together, but they don't. It's what makes us human. And that's exactly what you are—human."

I looked up at him, eyes wide.

"There was a time I wished the same thing." His gaze flickered to the ground. "I felt so… helpless. Powerless. I couldn't protect what was important to me. Every day, I had to go to school and see the person who did that to me. The person who hurt my best friend."

His best friend…? That was Jin, right? What on earth happened to him?

"I wanted to die, but I was a damn coward who couldn't go through with it. But in the end, I'm glad I didn't." He met my gaze. "Want to know why?"

I nodded, not really trusting my voice.

"'Cause I never would've seen my parents and their friends bring that bitch to justice." He managed a smile. "Because I would've lost everyone I care about that way, too. I never would've been there to protect my sister, or to save you from that Shadow. For the longest time, I wondered why the hell I'd awakened to a Persona, but… I know why now. I'm meant to be here."

I… didn't know what to say. Akio continued to take me by utter surprise.

"So." He pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it out to me. "What do you say, Sonomin? Wanna kick some Shadow ass, investigate Asphodel, and find a way to save your dad's Great Seal?"

I looked down at his hand… and then back up at his face. I closed my eyes.

I knew what I had to do.

I opened my eyes and accepted his hand, giving it a shake.

"I'm in."

Chapter Text

Saturday, April 16th, 2039, Last Quarter Moon.

It was strange, having to get ready for school the following day, after everything that had happened.

I didn't really see the need to customize the school uniform. The Gekkoukan uniform was pretty much the same as it was thirty years ago, when my parents attended the prestigious school. The only thing I added was my dad's headphones. After applying a little make-up, I was ready.

I stepped out of my room, heading for the bottom floor. Sora and Akio were already there, eating breakfast.

"Morning, Sonomin!" Akio greeted, cheerful as ever.

"Good morning," I said, taking a seat.

"Are you ready to go back to school?" Sora asked suddenly.

Akio grimaced. "Who wants to go to school?"

"Rui liked going to school," Sora commented idly, taking a sip of his tea.

I stiffened at the mention of my cousin. But it was true that she and Sora grew up together. They were only a few months apart and their parents have been friends since high school. And their parents had fought Shadows together and saved the world, as I now knew. I supposed if anything brought people together, it would be that.

"Oooh, is Rui your girlfriend? Boyfriend?" Akio asked, eyes twinkling with excitement as he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.

Sora choked, coughing violently. He wheezed for a moment, scrambling for a napkin to cough into. I shot him a glare; he should know better than to ask that. But he ignored me.

"Rui is just one of my best friends," Sora blurted out, his cheeks tinting pink. "Like Asuka and Rin!"

"Those names mean nothing to me," Akio deadpanned.

"Why did you hone in on Rui then?!" Sora cried out.

"Hey, you're the one to randomly bring them up," Akio said, shrugging.

My hands clenched around my fork. Sora would never break the rules like that. He'd know especially with how his mother was such a celebrated idol. She even spent a few years as a professional singer after 'graduating' from being an idol. That was before Sora's older brother came along, anyway.

"Knock it off, Akio," I said before reaching for a piece of toast, already spread with butter and jam.

I wasn't in the mood for cereal today.

Sora looked unsure about what to say before looking towards the door. "Come on… we should go before we're late. I know Sonomi's brother is your homeroom teacher, but he might discipline you anyways…"

"Damn, and not in the fun way," Akio sighed. "I guess it'll save me from Mom giving me hell for not respecting my teacher."

"That's not what I-" Sora sighed. "Ugh… whatever. Are you coming, Sonomi?"

I shrugged. "Might as well."

I took the piece of toast with me before grabbing my bookbag. We headed out of the dorm together.

The walk was shaping to be uneventful… until right before we reached the station.

We immediately stopped, taking in the sight. There were police officers everywhere, scouring what appeared to be a crime scene. Yellow tape blocked off the area where the florist stand usually was; it had moved. An ambulance was even here…

"Damn…" Akio breathed out.

I could see the medics pushing a gurney towards the ambulance, a white sheet covering the body they had placed on it.

"Please, there's nothing to see here—"

The owner of the voice stopped in their tracks.

"...Sora?"

"Rui!" Sora blurted out, his eyes wide with shock.

For a moment, my cousin and Sora just stared at each other.

Rui… had always been beautiful. She stood at about average height, her hair cascading to the small of her back. Her hair was pretty much the same shade as mine—deep blue—but silky smooth. Her bangs nearly fell into her gray eyes, swept to the side. And she was dressed professionally, in a dark violet coat dress, black tights, and black leather stiletto boots. She also wore a stylish beret the same color as her coat.

But that's when Rui's expression softened. "Sora… it's been so long."

"That's putting it lightly. But hey, you look great, Rui!" Sora laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I should've known they would ask you to help with the case. They'd be dumb not to! You always were such an amazing detective!"

Rui's eyes widened at that and her cheeks dusted pink. "Ah, thank you, Sora, but I still have a long way to go."

Akio leaned down closer to me. "Sounds like someone's got a crush…"

My gaze flickered up to him and I glowered. "Don't be ridiculous."

He gave a slight shrug. "He's not the only one with a crush."

"What's that supposed to-"

"I didn't know you were here in Port Island, though," Rui continued after a moment, before her eyes shifted to me and then Akio. "…With my cousin, no less… and the prime minister's son?"

"…Hello, Rui," I stated stiffly, only after glaring at Akio one more time.

Akio flashed a grin and gave a wave. "The one and only Akio Amamiya, at your service. Sora's told us all about ya."

"H-Hey!" Sora blushed. "I… It was only once or twice!"

Rui's gaze flickered over to him and then back to Akio. "I hope it was nothing… unpleasant."

Akio laughed. "Oh, 'course not! He's done nothing but spout your praises."

Sora's cheeks darkened further. "I-It wasn't that much!"

"…I see," Rui mused, but the corner of her lips quirked up ever so slightly. "Well, I am glad to hear it." She paused, looking back at the crime scene. "…Unfortunately, I do not have time to talk—nor do you, if you wish to arrive at school on time. However-" She reached into her pocket to retrieve a notepad. She took the pen attached to it off and flipped it open, quickly jotting down something. "-here is my number. Please do keep in touch this time, Sora."

She ripped the paper out of the notepad and held it out to him. His eyes widened for a moment, but he hastily accepted it.

"O-Of course, Rui!" Sora managed a smile. "It'd be nice to, uh… hang out again. Like old times."

Again, Akio leaned down towards me. "More like 'it'd be great to fuck you'…"

This time, I turned to face him, scowling. "Shut up!"

That caught Sora's and Rui's attention, but Akio simply raised his hands.

"Jeez, Sonomin, just speaking the truth." He lowered his hands. "Damn, you really don't like having competition, huh?"

I glared harder. "What the hell are you talking about?"

His nonchalant attitude seemed to fade away as he narrowed his eyes at me, shoving his hands into his pockets. He closed his eyes, let out a breath, and once again leaned down close to me, so only I could hear what he was about to say.

"…It's really obvious you have the hots for Sora, Sonomi."

I stared at him. I could feel the heat rising to my face, as the horrible realization settled upon me. I shook my head at him, taking a step back.

"I-Impossible." I looked down at my feet. "I don't—I don't have feelings."

Akio sighed, standing up straight. "God, Sonomin, surely by now you've realized that's not fucking true." He looked down at me, some kind of emotion in his eyes, but I couldn't… read it. "If I've learned anything about you these past few days, it's that your heart is too big for your body and you can't handle it, so you shut yourself off. Feelings for others included."

My eyes widened. "I-"

"Um…" Sora cleared his throat. "Is everything okay?"

I couldn't even bring myself to answer his question. I turned away from Akio, wrapping my arm around myself. My heart gave a painful squeeze.

"What does it matter?" I asked quietly. "We're both idols. And he clearly likes someone else. My feelings—whatever they are—are pointless."

Pointless. Meaningless. No one cared about how I felt, so I tried to feel nothing at all. My difficulty with emoting made it easier. To everyone at Takura Productions, I was simply an ice queen, but an ice queen who was incredibly good at pretending to have a heart. The person the masses adored was not truly me. Did a true 'me' even exist?

How could anyone love someone like me?

Akio let out a sigh. "Sonomin… if no one cared about how you feel, you wouldn't have friends."

Friends, huh… I supposed… he was right.

But I turned away from him, facing Sora. "I'm… fine. I'm going to head to school. You… should too, so you aren't late."

Without another word, I headed on my way.

By the time that I reached the school, Akio and Sora had caught up to me.

Of course, other students noticed the three of us enter the school together. Sora parted ways shortly after, giving a wave and saying he'd see us after school. I decided to stop by my shoe locker. Akio lingered; I figured he didn't want to leave me alone after earlier. He leaned against the lockers since no one else was in my row, waiting for me to check mine. It helped keep people from crowding me, at least…

I unlocked the locker and opened it. It was full of… letters. I took one out and flipped it open. I expected the usual fan letter… but no. It… was wishing me to get well. I glanced down at the other letters inside. I wondered… were all these get well letters, then? I… hadn't expected that.

"Uh, Sonomi?"

I looked up at Akio, whose eyes were focused on the front door. I followed his gaze to see what had him bothered. Immediately a sharp pain pierced through my skull. I winced, pressing my hand against my temple.

"What's the fucking Vice CEO of Phlegethon doing here?" Akio muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.

I recognized her. How could I not? Her name was Akatsuki Akai and she was considered the most beautiful woman in all of Japan.

She strode into the school like she owned the place, head held high and every step she took poised, with purpose. She stood tall for a Japanese woman—taller than Michiko, even. She had long, pin straight black hair, with bangs parted down the middle, framing her face. Half was pulled back in a neat bun, not a single strand out of place. Her skin was fair, almost like porcelain—the epitome of Japanese beauty. Her eyes were dark, dark brown. She had full, puckered lips, dark crimson with lipstick. She wore a loose blouse the same color as her lipstick, with long sleeves that bared one of her shoulders, high-waisted flowing black pants, and a pair of black stilettos.

But she wasn't alone. Following her were three teenagers—two boys and a girl. My eyes widened as I recognized Shion. He spotted me, his face lighting up, and he gave a short wave. And then they walked on by.

Akio narrowed his eyes. "…You know him?"

I glanced over at him. "I met him in the cemetery the other day. It's not a big deal."

"Don't worry, Sonomin," Akio drawled, though there was… a look in his eyes that did not match his tone. "I'm not a guy that gets easily jealous of you spending time with other men."

"Wh-Wha-" I sputtered, feeling my face burn. "I—I don't-"

He simply flashed that lopsided grin of his, making butterflies flutter in my stomach. I glared at him, before I pointedly turned my attention back to my shoe locker so I could lock it back up. Then I stepped away, still refusing to look at him.

"…We should get to class."

Akio didn't protest. He simply followed after me as I headed to our classroom. Whenever Akio was around, no one bothered me. I supposed he intimidated them. Or perhaps rumors were going around about him? I hadn't heard anything, but I also had missed a lot of days. Regardless, it was… nice to not be bombarded.

"Morning!" Hotaru greeted cheerfully as we both took our seats. "Glad to see you back, Sonomi. Mom said you burned yourself out again."

"…Well, that's one way to put it," I muttered.

Hotaru tilted her head. "Eh?"

"Aunt Minako didn't tell you the truth, then," I said, setting my pencil case down on my desk. "Midnight lasts so long these days, you know."

Hotaru's eyes widened, then narrowed. "…Oh, that. Yeah, she told me about that."

Akio leaned back in his seat, folding his arms behind his head. "Looks like we're all in the loop, then."

I looked up to see my brother enter the room, followed by… Shion?! Once again, he spotted me, his face lighting up and giving a wave. I just stared as MJ and Shion came to a halt in front of the class.

"…Well, what do you know," Akio muttered, now crossing his arms over his chest. "Shion Otsuki is going to school with the masses."

My eyes widened. "You know him?"

Akio shrugged. "Only in passing. He's the adoptive son of Shouichi Otsuki, the CEO of Phlegethon. He was there with his dad at some important event or whatever that my folks dragged me to a couple of years back."

Hotaru stiffened. "He looks like-" She cut herself off and shook her head. "Never mind."

I frowned, wondering what she had been about to say. But I supposed it didn't matter. I returned my attention to the front of the class. My brother seemed to hesitate, before shaking his head and clearing his throat.

"Class, we have another transfer student," MJ announced. "Please introduce yourself."

Shion nodded and then faced the class with a polite smile. "My name is Shion Otsuki and it's a pleasure to meet you." He turned around to write his name on the chalkboard.

Shion… Otsuki… No, that wasn't-

A sharp pain pierced my skull. I winced, touching the side of my head. Why did this keep happening to me…

MJ nodded to the last available desk. "That will be your seat."

Shion nodded with a smile and headed over to the desk. It was at the front of the room, away from where I sat with Hotaru and Akio. For a moment, I watched him sit down and open his briefcase. Just what was the deal with this guy…

I supposed, in the end, it didn't really matter.

I was grateful that Saturdays were half days.

It felt like I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Whenever there was a spare moment, I was bombarded with questions, asking if I was okay, if was I feeling better, and comments that they were happy to see me back at school and so on. I couldn't tell if my classmates were genuine or if it was all an act. It was exhausting.

I had more important things to do than satiate my classmates' curiosity.

As planned, Akio and I met outside of the school. As usual, we got some looks and whispers. Was it always going to be like this?

"Sooo…" Akio shoved his hands into his pockets. "We're going to—what's the place again? Kirijo Tower?"

"Yes," I answered, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "I want to talk to Mitsuru-san."

To reach Kirijo Tower—the headquarters of the Kirijo Group—we would have to take the train downtown. The area was known for its restaurants, but the ambiance was more… for couples. There were other businesses as well, but Kirijo Tower stood in the center of the district, standing thirty stories high.

I wanted to talk to her about Asphodel. As frustrated as I was about the adults hiding so much from me, I wanted to talk to Mitsuru to find out more. We still didn't have the complete picture… Surely something could be done about the Great Seal weakening… right?

"Well, lead the way, Sonomin," Akio said.

"...Right," I muttered.

Thankfully, Akio didn't pester me too much as we made our way downtown. He seemed more interested in taking in the sights, which… was fair, I supposed. As we rode the train, I looked out the window myself. That was when I noticed there was a second tower downtown, a couple of streets down from Kirijo Tower, standing even taller.

"Hey," I said, tapping Akio on the arm. "Do you know what that is?"

Akio glanced up from his phone, looking over to where I pointed. "That's not Kirijo Tower then, I take it?"

I shook my head.

"Well, according to the news and shit, Phlegethon's been building their own tower here, since they're basically taking over Port Island." He shrugged. "Maybe that's it?"

I stiffened. "Of course they are…"

I… didn't like how my hometown was changing. Change wasn't always a bad thing, yet… there was something about this that felt… I couldn't think of a word for it. Off? But there was more to the feeling than that.

When I was little, Phlegethon had been a small, inconsequential company. How did it grow so large and powerful in ten years? How did it topple the Kirijo Group? The more I learned, the more uneasy I became.

The train arrived at our stop and we boarded off. I didn't want to waste any more time, so I immediately led the way to our destination.

Kirijo Tower had once been the tallest building on Port Island, but now… that wasn't the case anymore. Regardless, it loomed above us, thirty stories tall. Its windows gleamed in the sunlight, reflecting the light. Guards stood at the front entrance, but they let us pass without a fuss. Akio stayed close to me, looking around with his hands shoved in his pockets.

The main foyer was just like I remember—pristine and minimalistic. Everything was white, save for accents of red and black. The front desk was manned by a pretty woman in a business suit. To the left was a sitting area, with comfortable, plush chairs. A coffee table sat in the middle, with stacks of magazines neatly arranged on it. On the far wall in the back, was an elevator. It was quiet, save for a few people standing around, talking in low voices.

I hesitated, suddenly not sure what to do.

A woman was about to walk past us, her heels clicking on the linoleum. But when she noticed us, she stopped, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"What are you doing here? This is no place for children."

Oh, for crying out loud…

Akio scowled and opened his mouth, like he was about to say something—probably something rude—so I quickly shook my head at him and he stopped himself. Instead, he scowled harder at the woman, crossing his arms over his chest.

"We're here to see Mitsuru-san," I said, getting straight to the point.

The woman rolled her eyes, turning to face us fully, putting a hand on her hip. "I'm afraid that's not possible. Kirijo-san is currently in an extremely important meeting. And even if she wasn't…" She wrinkled her nose. "She most definitely would not have time to meet with… students such as yourselves."

Akio glared at her. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

Irritation flickered across her face. "And most definitely not students who speak such uncouth language!"

It was my turn to be irritated now. "My mother is a close friend of Mitsuru-san's. It's extremely important that we-"

"Absolutely not!" The woman crossed her arms over her chest. "Now you best leave the premises before I have security escort you off."

I opened my mouth to say something, hopefully before Akio went off again.

"...What's going on here?"

We all looked over… to see none other than Tetsuya Kirijo, Mitsuru's eldest and only son, along with Michiko.

The woman's eyes widened. "O-Oh! Mr. Kirijo, I didn't know you were on site! You see, these two teenagers-"

He lifted his hand and she cut herself off. She looked awfully pale now. Michiko gave us a timid wave.

Tetsuya Kirijo was twenty years old and a student at the local university. When we were young, I'd had a silly crush on him… He'd always been cute, but seeing him now after all these years—I could feel my face flush and my heart nearly leap out of my chest. Out of surprise, of course.

He stood tall, about the same height as Akio, with broad shoulders. His black suit fit him well, as well as the black dress shirt he wore, the first couple of buttons undone—enough to not be tight around the neck but still professional. He had the same dark crimson locks as his mother and sister, his bangs swept to the side, nearly getting into his red eyes. His hair reached down to his shoulders, pulled back into a low ponytail. He was the spitting image of his mother.

"That is unnecessary," Tetsuya said, his voice… much deeper than I remembered. "These two are friends of the Kirijo family. They can come and go as they please."

"Hi, Sonomi-senpai," Michiko greeted with a shy smile. "And, um, Amamiya-senpai."

The woman had gone as pale as a ghost. "O-Of course, as you say, sir!" She bowed hastily. "I will inform all staff immediately that…" Her voice trailed off, as she must have realized she didn't know our names.

"Sonomi Arisato and Akio Amamiya are to be granted access to the entire tower," Tetsuya informed her. "Yes, including the restricted sections."

Her eyes widened. She looked over at me and then back at him. "Yes, sir, as you wish. If you will excuse me…"

The woman scurried off, back to the elevator. Michiko looked up at her brother, and he gave her a nod. She immediately hurried up to us, a bright smile lighting up her face.

"Senpai! I didn't expect to see you here!"

"We came here to see Mitsuru-san," I told her.

"Mother is currently in a meeting… with Phlegethon." A look of distaste flickered over his face. "But never mind that. It's good to see you, Sonomi." His gaze shifted to Akio. "And a pleasure to meet you as well, Amamiya."

Akio shoved his hands into his pockets. "Just glad to have that harpy not screeching at us to leave anymore."

I frowned. "What business does Phlegethon have with the Kirijo Group?"

Michiko immediately winced, looking down and tugging at the sleeve of her uniform. Tetsuya's gaze flickered around, which made me look too. No one was nearby; every person in the lobby was far out of hearing distance.

He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you."

I stiffened. I didn't like the sound of this.

"Otsuki is attempting to convince Mother to betroth Michiko to his son. We were supposed to join the meeting upon Mother's request, but…" His face flickered down to his sister, who refused to look anywhere but at the ground. "Frankly, I do not wish Michiko to be present for any such discussion."

Michiko tugged at her sleeve again. "I… I don't want to go anyway…"

"What is this, the shogun era?" Akio demanded incredulously. "Who the fuck does arranged marriages these days anyway?"

Tetsuya pursed his lips. "The rich and powerful. Unfortunately."

"That's insane," I retorted. "Surely Mitsuru-san would never agree to something like that."

"You're right," Tetsuya answered. "Mother doesn't believe in arranged marriage—Michiko is most definitely safe, as I have been. But that won't stop them from trying."

"For the most part, no one has, um…" Michiko seemed to wilt before my very eyes. "No one has been interested in me for a marriage alliance. Because I'm, um…" Her voice trailed off, but tears were welling up in her eyes.

I bristled, but Tetsuya reached out to place his hand gently on his sister's head. "It's all right, Michi."

She looked up at him, eyes wide. "Y-Yes, of course."

"The more I hear about 'em, the more I start to dislike this Phlegethon," Akio muttered.

Tetsuya lowered his hand. "But if you wish to speak with Mother… I can speak with you instead." He looked back down at his sister. "Michiko, you should head home."

Her eyes widened. "But-"

"There's nothing to worry about," he reassured her, smiling gently. "Besides, don't you have homework to do?"

Michiko made a face. "Yes…" She sighed. "All right, I'll head home…" She looked up at us and smiled sheepishly. "I'll see you later, Senpai."

I nodded and we watched her walk away, leaving the building.

"…Michiko does not know about Personas," Tetsuya said quietly, so only we could hear. "And we would like to keep it that way."

"Understandable," Akio said, giving a nod. "I wouldn't want my little sister involved in this shit either."

"…Wait." I turned back to face them. "You have a Persona, Tetsuya-san?"

He shook his head, smiling wryly. "Unfortunately, no. But as the heir to the Kirijo Group, my mother felt it necessary that I know the truth." His gaze flickered to the door, where his sister had left. "I don't have the potential. But Michiko does. And that is why we keep a close eye on her—to spare her from the burden."

Oh…

I pursed my lips. So even Tetsuya was told the truth before me… It was so hard not to get irritated over this. I could understand the desire to protect your loved ones. But… if they knew Michiko had the potential, wouldn't they have known I did as well? Did they not think I was at risk? I didn't understand…

When I didn't respond, Tetsuya turned towards the elevator. "We should take this conversation to more agreeable surrounds."

As soon as he was out of earshot, Akio leaned down towards me. "So, when were you gonna tell me that Michiko's big brother was hot?"

"H-Huh?" I looked up at him, feeling my cheeks burn. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Oh, so you don't deny it then." He smirked at me. "I'd let him boss me around and I don't let anyone do that. Would you like that too, Sonomin?"

I glared at him and stomped on his foot. Hard.

"Ow!" he yelped. "Aw, Sonomin, you really need to learn how to relax."

I scowled, crossing my arms over my chest. "Is this where you offer to help me 'relax'?"

He laughed. "I wasn't planning on it, but if this is you asking…"

My face burned hotter, my entire body flushing with heat. I opened my mouth to retort, but no words came out. I shut my mouth and then tried to say something again. Nothing. He… He—the audacity!

I abruptly turned away from him. "…Tetsuya-san is waiting for us."

Before he could say another word, I briskly walked away to catch up with Tetsuya, leaving Akio to follow after me.

When we entered the elevator, Tetsuya slotted in a key card and punched a code into the number pad. And then, instead of going up like I expected, the elevator began to descend. I looked over at Akio who gave a slight shrug.

"I didn't know Kirijo Tower has a basement," I commented.

"Officially? It doesn't." Tetsuya turned to face us. "The floors below ground serve as headquarters for the Shadow Operatives. Originally, they functioned as a storage facility for all records on Shadows. But when Mother established the Shadow Operatives, she repurposed the area."

"Oh."

"Makes sense," Akio commented. "Though, I gotta wonder why your mom is so intent on fighting Shadows. Ain't she busy enough as a CEO?"

Tetsuya's expression grew pensive. "Mother has her reasons. She has always felt the burden of her grandfather's dark legacy. It's… her own way to atone for it."

"She was a child when this happened," I spoke up. "It's not her fault that all this happened…"

Tetsuya just frowned. "It's… complicated. Mother has always said that being privy to the world of Personas and Shadows meant that in a way, you can't look away. And she's right—many veteran Persona-users are part of the Shadow Operatives."

"Are… all of our family friends Shadow Operatives?" I asked with a frown.

"Your mother is part of the auxiliary team," Tetsuya answered. "As are several other friends. But… there are a few of them who are major players."

"Well I know my folks are way too busy for that shit," Akio scoffed. "It's a miracle that Mom could make as much time as she could, with her jetting off to international events a loooot."

Tetsuya looked down at me. "Kenshin's father aided Mother in founding the Shadow Operatives."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

I had met Miyako's in-laws a few times. Her father-in-law Kei was… aloof, I suppose. I could see a lot of him in my brother-in-law. His wife, Eriko, was a fashion designer, cheerful and outgoing. Though she had her… moments. She sometimes got really into the horror novels Miyako wrote. They have always been kind to me. Eriko had even sent me free clothes from her fashion company to try out and I could keep whatever I liked.

"Yes, especially with how the Kirijo Group used to be a part of the Nanjo Group," Tetsuya said with a nod. But then he looked up as the elevator let out a chime, the doors sliding open. "Ah, here we are."

I walked out after Tetsuya, Akio just a step behind me.

He led us down a hallway. With the white walls and linoleum, it… almost reminded me of a hospital. And that made me feel… uneasy. At least it didn't smell… or sound like a hospital. I couldn't stand those smells. Or sounds. They were seared into my memory.

"Uh, where are you takin' us?" Akio interjected.

"A conference room," Tetsuya answered. "You wanted to discuss Asphodel, I presume?"

"How did you-" I started to ask.

Tetsuya sighed, shaking his head. "It was all too obvious. Besides… Amamiya's father has a penchant for looking for trouble."

He smiled wryly at that.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at Akio. Sure, Mom and Anne were friends… but I don't really remember what the Amamiyas were like. Though… I couldn't imagine that of Ren. He was super mild mannered when we talked at the meeting. I really don't know where Akio got his attitude from. For crying out loud, his father was the prime minister.

Akio raised his right index finger. "I'd defend Dad but… yeah."

Tetsuya stopped in front of a door at the end of the hall and opened it up, flicking on the light and gesturing for us to go inside. We did, and once he shut the door behind us, we all took a seat. Tetsuya sat across from me, while Akio chose the seat next to me. Of course he did.

"But anyways…" Tetsuya sighed, frowning. "Asphodel is still rather a… mystery. From what Fuuka-san can determine, only a few floors are accessible. But she can sense many floors above…"

"How does she sense it?" Akio asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Fuuka-san's Persona is different. Aside from some limited abilities in aiding in combat, she specializes in… analysis. She can determine Shadows' weaknesses, help guide explorations… There are only a few Persona-users who possess this power. Fuuka-san, Rise-san, Hotaru, and…" Tetsuya's eyes shifted to Akio, "...Futaba-san."

Akio's eyes widened. "Damn, I forgot that about Aunt Futaba."

Tetsuya nodded. "It's imperative that you have back-up support."

"So… you don't think it's a good idea?" I asked.

"...My opinion matters little," Tetsuya replied, giving a slight shrug. "Though, Mother often said that she didn't like sending groups of less than three in Shadow nests. It's too dangerous."

"We can do a test run, then," Akio suggested, leaning forward in his seat. "Just 'cause it's dangerous doesn't mean it's right to stand by and let shit happen. Or hell, maybe even ask Sanada for help. I betcha she's totally the type to jump into this kind of thing."

"Yes, she does take after Akihiko-san in certain ways," Tetsuya said with a slight grimace. "...Though, I can't imagine he or Minako-san would be happy to allow her to do so."

"Whataya mean?" Akio's brow furrowed as he frowned.

"My aunt and uncle are both orphans," I said flatly. "And my uncle lost his little sister when he was just eight. And… you know about my dad."

"But she's just gonna be analyzing shit, right?" Akio insisted. "It's less dangerous."

"But dangerous nonetheless," Tetsuya said, wincing. "Though… I suppose they will try to look at it more practically. They're more active in aiding the Shadow Operatives."

"So we would have Akio and me battling Shadows and Hotaru backing us," I stated. "It… could be worse."

"Aw, Sonomin, lighten up. You're too pretty to be frowning like that," Akio said, nudging me in the side.

I glared at him, elbowing his side back. "Stop that!"

"Wanna make me?" Akio teased, giving me that lopsided grin.

Butterflies started to flutter in my stomach again. Honestly, I was surprised my face hadn't self-combusted by now… I swear I hadn't blushed this much before in my life.

"Shut up!" I scowled at him.

Ugh! He was so… so…! I couldn't even think of a word to describe it. I just wished I had a bucket of water to dunk my hot face in.

"...Teenagers," Tetsuya sighed.

"W-What's that supposed to mean?" I protested.

"Oh, nothing," Tetsuya waved us off. "Now, I suppose you can speak to Hotaru later. But first… I want to show you two something else."

"Eh, it's not like it'll shock me." Akio shrugged before standing up.

I stood up as well, pushing my chair in. For some reason, the corner of Tetsuya's mouth twitched.

"Don't count on that, Amamiya," he said. "Follow me."

Without another word, he led us out of the conference room.

He brought us back to the elevator. Using his key card and code, he chose another destination for us. And then the elevator began to descend again… all the way to the final floor. That wasn't ominous or anything…

"Where are we?" I asked as we stepped outside.

"It's…" Tetsuya sighed. "It's better for you to see. Come."

"Whatever you say, boss," Akio drawled out, punctuating his sarcasm with a sweeping bow.

I rolled my eyes before hastening to follow Tetsuya. He had really long legs so I had to nearly jog to catch up to him.

His destination was at the end of the hall. This door… was locked up tight. Tetsuya had to swipe his card key again and enter a different code. The door slid open with a hiss.

The first thing I noticed was the quiet beeping of machinery. A glass wall separated the room from the door, a short little hallway between, as if to protect whoever was inside from the outside. Then my eyes were drawn to the man lying in a hospital bed. My knees buckled together for a moment.

"...Dad?"

He looked older and so… frail but it was unmistakable. MJ… truly did look like him. His hair was that same, familiar shade of blue, now streaked with gray. He was hooked up to some machinery. Life support?

He seemed so peaceful… Like he was only sleeping. Like at any moment, he could wake up and… and everything would be okay. But that was only… wishful thinking. A dream that would never come true. A foolish hope of a naive little girl. But I wasn't that girl anymore.

"W-Wait… everyone said he died," Akio choked out. "Are they keeping his body for prosperity or some other shit?"

"No." Exasperation edged in Tetsuya's voice. "Mother has only told me a little but… they discovered the truth of Minato-san's death a few weeks after Graduation Day. Remember, the Great Seal is maintained by his soul… Mother, Sonomi's mother, and all their friends vowed to lessen his burden. And perhaps one day… humanity will stop wishing for the Fall, for death."

"...Is that even possible?" I mumbled. "How can people stop wishing for that?"

"It's what they vowed to do." Tetsuya spread his hands. "I don't know why Erebus stirs again. But perhaps… you can do your own part. Youth is not to be underestimated."

"...You sound like an old man," Akio said idly before shoving his hands in his pockets. "You're what—twenty-five?"

"...Tetsuya-san is twenty," I said flatly.

But still… Tetsuya's statement rattled in my head. If people stopped wishing for death… my dad could come back? My mom… could be happy again if he came back…

…I was just contributing to the problem, wasn't I?

A single tear leaked from my eye and I hastily wiped it away.

"C-Can I visit him?" I asked, looking up at Tetsuya.

Tetsuya sighed, pressing a finger against his temple. "I can't make any promises but I'll speak to Mother about it. I'm sure she would understand, given how she feels about Grandfather."

"All these years… Mitsuru-san kept Dad on life support?" I asked, my voice… soft.

Tetsuya sighed. "...Mother has always felt terrible about what happened to your family. She said it's the least she could do about it…"

"Your mom sure feels guilty about a lot of things," Akio commented. "I hope she at least gets massages to help alleviate stress."

"Minako-san sometimes has to drag Mother out of her office," Tetsuya said with a sigh. "She's… quite dedicated to her work."

Yeah… that sounded like Mitsuru.

"...Is that all you had to show us?" I asked quietly.

Tetsuya hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I'll take you back up to the ground floor now."

Even as he headed for the door, I couldn't help but stare at my dad's body. And yet, with all my rationalism, some part of me still wanted to believe that Dad could be brought back.

I didn't know if it was possible to get humanity to stop wishing for death. I couldn't stop wishing for it myself. But… the least I could do… was make sure that Erebus didn't come to kill us all. Maybe I wouldn't be able to bring Dad back. Maybe I'd never be able to make Mom happy again. But I… I could do that.

I didn't have many memories of my life before the incident. But despite that, something seemed to come back to me as I stood there, my gaze locked on my dad's body.

I recalled… asking my mom when Dad would come back to us. I recalled her telling me that he couldn't because he had a very important job in heaven. And I told her… I'd find the way to heaven so I could bring him home. Because I… didn't want to see Mom cry anymore. To think that had been her gentle way of telling me about the Great Seal…

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, but I wiped them away with my sleeve.

After Tetsuya brought us back, we immediately went to my aunt and uncle's house. Thankfully, they were busy at work right now. The last thing we needed was for them to overhear our conversation and tell us we couldn't go. I didn't like going behind their backs, but it felt like we had no other choice.

"So… what do you two want?"

Hotaru had brought us to the living room and grabbed a couple of sodas for us, before plopping down on the couch. She gestured for us to sit down. Well, after Taro, their red sesame shiba inu, another one of Koromaru's descendants, went nuts over seeing me again.

The Sanadas' house was like a second home to me. I'd spent most of my childhood here, living with my aunt and uncle and their family, once Mom became too busy with work to look after me. It was comforting to see that nothing much had changed. The furniture looked a little worn, but everything was in the same place.

I sank into the plush loveseat, shifting to make myself comfortable. Akio just leaned onto the arm of the loveseat. Taro immediately came over, hopped onto the loveseat, and curled up next to me.

I eyed the soda. I liked sugary drinks but… maybe I ought to have iced tea.

"Sonomi, just drink the soda," Hotaru said, exasperated. I winced at the slight admonishment; Hotaru always seemed to know what was on my mind when we were kids. I guess that hadn't changed…

I fought the urge to sigh and gave Taro a scratch instead.

"...So you know about Asphodel, Sanada?" Akio interjected.

Hotaru narrowed her eyes. "How the fuck do you know about that, Amamiya?"

"Was told about it," Akio said, shrugging.

"By who?"

"My folks. Your folks. Just to name a few."

"Sonomi?" Hotaru's eyes swung over to me.

I popped open the soda, taking a sip. "Your parents told you what happened to me, right?"

"Yes…" Hotaru dragged out the word, looking a bit hesitant. "They said Amamiya came back to the dorm, all while carrying you before using your phone to call Aunt Yukari."

W-What? My face began to heat up. Akio carried me back to the dorm?!

"...Uhhh, did nobody tell you that?" Hotaru looked sheepish.

I gulped down some more soda. Maybe if I drank enough, it would cool down my face…

"It's not a big deal," Akio said, shrugging. "You were light, Sonomin."

Hotaru scowled, chucking a throw pillow right at Akio's face. "Will you quit hitting on her like that?! Don't think I won't kick your ass, Amamiya."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Akio sighed, shaking his head. "I can take you on, Sanada."

"Not if I break your kneecaps," Hotaru threatened.

"Oooh, feisty," Akio snickered. "I'm shaking in my boots."

"...You're not even wearing shoes," I grumbled.

I sighed before looking at my cousin. Hotaru was probably the closest thing I had to a best friend. She was more like a sister than a cousin to me.

I could do this. I could ask her to join us…

"But Hotaru… we want to explore Asphodel. But we can't do it alone. Will you join u—"

"Yes! YES!" Hotaru all but jumped to her feet, her eyes sparkling. "God, you didn't have to ask!" She then pumped her fist. "Hell yes! I've been waiting for this!"

"That bad, huh?" Akio asked.

Hotaru made a face. "It's really bad with Dad. He always gets like this with me and Aneki especially. But anyways!" She looked at me, clapping her hands once. "When are you going?! Do you have supplies? You'll probably need weapons and armor and medicine and-"

"...Sonomin, I think we've created a monster," Akio muttered.

I opened my mouth to respond, only for my phone to ring. I dug it out from my bag, barely glancing at the caller ID and registering that it was MJ calling.

"Hello-"

"Sonomi, you need to come to the hospital."

"Why?" I asked, confused. "The doctor gave me a clean bill—"

"Not for a check-up," MJ interrupted. "It's Miya. She's gone into labor."

I dropped my phone.

"Sono-chan?" Hotaru asked.

I swallowed. "It's Nee-san. She's gone into labor."

"...Poor Kenshin-san," Hotaru said after a moment.

"Who?" Akio asked.

"My sister's husband," I sighed, before reaching down to pick up my phone. "I'll be over right away with Hotaru." I paused to eye Akio. "…And probably Akio since he has to tag along for everything."

I could practically feel my brother's disapproval through the phone. "...All right. See you soon."

"Bye." I hung up and immediately turned to my cousin. "We have to go."

She nodded. "Let's go, I can call my folks on the way!"

I gave Taro a scratch behind the ears and stood up. "Sorry, Taro-chan, we have to go."

"Just be sure to visit him next time," Hotaru laughed as we headed to the door. "He's missed you, y'know!"

I managed a sheepish smile. "I'll be sure to do that."

And with that, we headed to the hospital… for a good reason, for once.

Chapter Text

Saturday, April 16th, 2039, Last Quarter Moon.

The hospital was quiet.

I sat in a chair in the hallway, staring absentmindedly at my phone, between Hotaru and Akio. We'd been here for a couple of hours already. Family and friends alike had gathered here. Across from me, Airi sat, quietly talking to MJ, who had stood up, balancing their daughter on his hip. Mom and Minako were in the hospital room with Miyako, staying with her while we waited for her husband to—finally—get here.

I heard someone exhale a breath. I glanced over at Akio, who was slouched in his seat, fiddling with his phone. I pursed my lips.

"You didn't have to come with us, you know," I commented.

His dark gaze flickered over at me, his bored expression almost immediately being replaced by… an amused smile. He gave a slight shrug.

"Someone's gotta look out for you, Sonomin."

I heard an exasperated noise on my other side. "I'm literally right here, you know. I can look out for Sonomi just fine."

I stiffened. "I can take care of myself-"

The sound of heavy, rushing footsteps made me cut myself off. We all looked up to see none other than my brother-in-law tearing down the hallway. He practically came skidding to a halt when he reached us, leaning over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

"Finally… made it." He pushed himself up. "Where's Miya? Am I too late? Has the baby-"

"…Relax, Kenshin," MJ said dryly. "She's still in labor. You haven't missed anything."

He let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god."

Kenshin Nanjo was… Well, he was something.

Everyone expected the son of Kei Nanjo and CEO of the Nanjo Group to fit a certain… image. And he definitely looked the part. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and well built. His black turtleneck fit him well, as did the brown fleece-lined overcoat he wore. Black jeans and matching leather lace-up boots finished his look. He had slightly shaggy black hair, his bangs parted to the side and falling into his brown eyes—which must have been a pain with his black-rimmed hipster glasses.

But my sister wouldn't have fallen in love with an arrogant prick. The Kenshin I knew was kind and down to earth, though he could be… Okay, I'll be honest. He gives Toshi a run for his money for the nerd award. The man was a genius.

Airi smiled and stood up. "Here, she's this way!"

A wave of relief seemed to rush over my brother-in-law. I watched as Kenshin hurriedly followed Airi to the door of the room my sister was in. We all watched them head inside. MJ lingered for a moment, before hoisting Chouko further up on his hip and walking down the hall. Probably to get her some snacks or something.

This… was life. Life that would be lost if the Great Seal broke.

My scar itched. What was the point, then? What was the point of… falling in love? Of getting married? Of having children? What was the point, when we were all destined to die anyway? If it was simply a natural death, then I could see a point. But this… this wasn't…

I shook my head and stood up. Both Hotaru and Akio looked up at me.

Hotaru tilted her head. "Sonomi?"

"I—I need some fresh air."

It wasn't a lie. Hospitals always felt… suffocating to me. I'd been in here long enough with the clinical smell. Before either of them could protest—or insist on coming with me—I walked off. I wanted to be alone.

I wasn't sure how long it took me to wander through the hospital to find the exit. As soon as I stepped outside, I was greeted by a cool spring breeze. I took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air. I made my way over to one of the benches in front of the building, surrounded by planters with newly blooming flowers. I took a seat, spreading out my skirt.

My thoughts drifted to my sister. I recalled when she first met Kenshin. She had despised him at first; she'd complain about him, calling him arrogant and stuck up. But as she got to know him better because of work, she learned that he wasn't that way at all. Eventually, they fell for each other… I still remember how happy she was when she told us that he proposed. It was one of the rare times my mother truly smiled.

Another rare time my mother smiled was when MJ announced that he and Airi were getting married. Seeing her family flourish… always made her smile. But she never really smiled at me. I think… I only made her sad.

I pulled my knees up, wrapping my arms around them.

I used to think happiness was simply something my family had in short supply. But today, I could see it all around me. The nervous excitement over a birth and a new member of the family. The way Kenshin worried over Miyako. How MJ took care of Chouko so Airi could help support her sister-in-law. Everyone had something to be happy about. Everyone… but me.

Even my friends.

Hotaru had everything she could ever want. Both parents, siblings she had good relationships with, good grades, skills in sports she enjoyed… She was true to herself, not masking who she really was. Not acting a certain way around certain people. I wished I could be like that.

Even Akio, despite his situation, always could crack a smile. An infuriating smile, but a smile nonetheless. His view of the world was jaded, but so was mine. Yet, underneath his own mask, he turned out to not be such a bad guy. He showed he cared in his own way… even though I had no idea why he would care about someone like me. He could be brutally honest, but… at times, it was needed.

Sora seemed happy, but I couldn't entirely be sure. Not with all the scandal surrounding Yuukan these days. And Ryo, Toshi, and Michiko appeared to be the same as always. But what did I know? How could I know what happiness looked like?

"Hey."

I looked up to see my cousin sitting down next to me, angling herself to face me. I looked away again.

"…Hi."

We sat in silence for a few moments. I had nothing to say.

"All right, spill." Hotaru crossed her arms over her chest. "What's bothering you?"

I refused to look at her. "…Nothing."

I could just imagine her rolling her eyes. "C'mon, Sonomi. You and I both know you're a shitty liar."

My gaze flickered over at her as I tried not to scowl. "It's nothing, Hotaru."

"If it was nothing, you wouldn't be outside moping while your sister gives birth," she stated flatly.

"I'm not-" I glared at her. "I'm not moping."

This time, I did see her roll her eyes. "Seriously, Sonomi. You can tell me."

I sighed, looking away again. "It's just… stupid."

"I really doubt that."

My gaze shifted down to the ground—to the sidewalk, where a single dandelion grew in a crack in the pavement. "Everyone… is so happy. Our family and friends… They all look so content and satisfied in their lives. I see my brother and sister, with their spouses, with the families they're building together and they look… at peace. And yet, here I am, just… depressed all the time. I rather be emotionless than… than this." I gestured to myself. "I don't think I'm capable of being… happy. Whatever happiness I had, it… was drained right out of me."

Hotaru let out a breath, almost a sigh. "Sonomi, do you think people are just… happy?"

I looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"Happiness doesn't just… happen." Hotaru uncrossed her arms. "Our family is happy because… because they've fought for it, all these years." She sighed, looking down at her hands. "I remember my mom talking about it to me one time when we were visiting the Arisato family grave... That it was an uphill battle to be happy... to be okay after Uncle Minato died. She told me there were times when she'd just… break down sobbing. Because for the longest time, Uncle Minato was all she had, and he was just… gone. But she was glad she didn't give up—that she kept fighting, with the help of Dad, Uncle Shinji, your mom—everyone. And in the end, she found her happiness. She had me and my sister and my brother. She's… glad she didn't give up."

My eyes widened.

"And she told me all of this because… I was going through some shit." Hotaru opened her eyes and looked at me. "It was hard when you first left. Toshi was recovering from his surgery. Ryo started running with the popular athletic kids. And I…" She sighed. "I was trying to find myself."

I frowned, furrowing my brow. "Find yourself…?" For as long as I knew her, Hotaru had always seemed so together. She knew who she was.

She looked down again, crossing her arms once more. "I've always known I like girls. No one ever gave me a hard time about it… until middle school. Being in sports was suddenly hell. My teammates started rumors that I stared at their boobs in the locker room—which I'd never do. I was bullied, I lost friends, you think of it and it probably happened." She let out a sigh. "It all came to a head when my team was traveling for a competition. We all had to share hotel rooms. The girl I got paired with was not happy and threw a fit. When the coach refused to change her room assignment, she got revenge… by chopping off my hair while I was asleep. She claimed it was 'cause I 'wanted to be a boy'." She scoffed.

My eyes widened further. "That's… that's why you got that sudden haircut?"

Hotaru nodded. "Mom took me to get it fixed up so I'd look nice. But… my thirteen-year-old self didn't take it well. It was the tipping point for me." She pulled back her varsity jacket's sleeves, revealing… deep scars on her wrists. "I couldn't take it anymore, so I… tried to kill myself."

I stared at her, eyes wide. She tugged her sleeves back down.

"Hotaru, you… you never told me."

She gave a slight shrug. "I didn't want to worry you. You were… the happiest you'd been in a long time, Sonomi. Our talks on the phone about what you were learning and how your days were going got me through the days after. I remember hearing you laugh for the first time in years—and that's when I realized I wanted to live. To see my cousin, my best friend, be herself again."

"Hotaru, I…" My bottom lip quivered, my eyes looking away. "How… how can you talk about it so calmly?"

"Because I'm okay now." She paused. "But my point is—I wasn't always happy. I had to work hard to get where I am now. And I still have my bad days. I really believe you can be happy, Sono-chan."

I bit my bottom lip, shaking my head. "I… don't know."

For a moment, there was silence.

"When have you done something for... you?"

"H-Huh?"

"Like… I dunno." She waved her hand about. "Enjoying sweets. Drinking that rose milk boba you like so much. Going shopping for the hell of it. Just… doing nice things for yourself."

I looked away again. "I… can't."

I couldn't… self-indulge. I had to follow a strict diet, which I already was breaking a bit. I would get into trouble if I gained too much weight during my hiatus-

"Oh, to hell with the idol shit," Hotaru retorted. "You're a person, not a product."

Once again, I found myself staring at my cousin with wide eyes. "I…"

"If we're going to investigate that damn tower, you have to take care of yourself," she continued sternly. "You need to eat better. No more starving yourself because of some stupid diet. You're so skinny." She poked me in the ribs as if to prove her point. "And treat yourself sometimes."

I… supposed she had a point.

"And I can't believe I'm about to say this, but…" She let out a sigh. "Amamiya isn't… a bad guy. I don't really like the person he's become, but… he had the right idea with how he treated you... even if he likes the junk from Big Bang. And didn't he give you those cookies? Mom's brought back Merveilleux's stuff a couple times. It's good stuff, you shouldn't let it go to waste."

I felt my cheeks heat up at her admission, but my attention focused on something particular that she said. "Wait—you knew him already?"

Hotaru winced. "Uh, yeah. You don't remember, but our moms introduced us when we were little."

My eyes widened. "Seriously? He never mentioned that…"

"Well, the thing is…" She scratched her nose. "We were basically told not to mention anything you'd forgotten to you. Because it might hurt you more than help."

"What?"

Hotaru smiled sheepishly. "I shouldn't even be telling you this."

I pursed my lips. "What else is being hidden from me?"

"Look!" Hotaru stood up, putting her hands on her hips. "Let's focus on one thing at a time, yeah? Taking better care of yourself, exploring Asphodel, going to school… I'm sure as we do these things, you'll get the answers you want. Does that sound like a plan?"

I fought the urge to sigh, my gaze flickering down at my feet. "I… guess."

Thou art I… and I art thou.

Thou hast established a new bond.

Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Chariot Arcana.

A voice echoed in my mind, startling me. Wait… was this the thing that Igor had told me about? A… Social Link? This was how I strengthened my Personas? If it was people I already knew… maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Hotaru smiled. "That's the spirit! C'mon, let's go back inside."

I nodded, standing up myself. And together, we headed back inside the hospital.

I opened my eyes to find myself in the Velvet Room once again.

"Welcome back!"

I looked to see Lacey cheerfully waving at me. All I could do was blink, feeling disoriented.

"Why am I back?"

Igor just steepled his hands together, looking unfazed by my blunt question.

"We have much to discuss, honored guest." I begrudgingly nodded and he continued. "You have forged a Social Link, as we previously discussed. Social Links are the basis of the Wild Card's power."

It was just as he said before. I really would make a terrible Wild Card then.

I couldn't help but question why me. Minako, I could understand. My aunt was a well-liked woman. It seemed like anything she put her mind to, she'd pull off. She was so cheerful and friendly... I still had a hard time wrapping my mind around what Hotaru told me earlier.

And Yu... there was just something about him that made people like him so much. He was so dependable and kind. If I had to describe speaking with Yu, it would be like drinking a piping hot cup of tea on a miserably cold day. It was just comforting to be around him. Honestly, I missed our therapy sessions…

I don't know Ren very well, I have to admit. But he had a reputation for being passionate about what he cared about and that he had a certain charisma to him. It was no wonder that he was so popular.

It made sense for all three of them to be Wild Cards. But me? I didn't understand.

I shook my head in mild irritation, crossing my arms over my chest. "What is even the point of this place?"

"Oh! Oh!" Lacey's face lit up. "Master, can I tell her? Can I tell her?"

Igor nodded, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Certainly, Lacey."

"We help you strengthen your power!" Lacey declared, shifting her book to one arm and holding out a finger. "We have various methods of fusing Personas to create new, stronger Personas! And as you grow your Social Links, the Personas we fuse are blessed with that strength. And in this tome-" Once again holding the massive book in both arms, she patted the cover. "-I will record every single Persona you've created, so you can summon them again whenever you want!"

Oh. That… wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

Lacey beamed. "I can't wait to be helpful!"

Cute…

"But the time has come for you to return to the waking world," Igor said. "Next time you come here, it will be of your own accord. And then we shall explain to you the full extent of our duties to aid you on your journey."

Lacey nodded. "You'll know it when you see it!"

I wasn't quite sure what she meant by that, but I nodded in acknowledgment. They seemed content to take their sweet time to explain everything. I supposed they simply were not in a hurry. Did I need to be in a hurry? The world's end wasn't going to wait for anyone, yet here we were.

But I didn't have much time to dwell on that. Because I felt myself waking up.

Sunday, April 17th, 2039, Waning Crescent Moon.

"Morning, Sonomin."

I found myself blinking my eyes open, taking a moment to rub the sleep out of them… only to realize that I had fallen asleep on Akio. My cheek rested on his shoulder. I jerked away, feeling my heart nearly leap out of my chest and my cheeks burn.

"You really need to get more beauty sleep," Akio commented, his mouth quirking up in his usual lopsided smile. "Not surprised you conked out like that."

We were still in the hospital, sitting in chairs in the hallway with my sister's room.

"Never… never mind that," I muttered, looking away from him in hopes he wouldn't see how red my face was. "Has Nee-san had the baby yet?"

"Not yet." Hotaru's sudden voice made me start. She flashed Akio an annoyed look, leaning back in her seat on the other side. "First time babies take a while. I think Airi was in labor for like, twenty hours, when she gave birth to Chouko-chan."

I stared. "Poor Airi…"

Hotaru snorted. "Well, considering that she asked MJ when they could have a second baby while holding Chouko-chan for the first time, I think she was fine."

"…Typical Airi."

My sister-in-law loved children, but had a special soft spot for babies. If my brother was okay with it, I think she'd happily have seven kids… or more even. Though I had to admit, babies were cute. Especially when they were old enough to smile and laugh. But despite their cuteness, they were a handful. I remember how my mother took time off from work to help MJ and Airi with Chouko so they could have time to rest and relax.

"...Still can't believe that she's Ryo's sister," Akio muttered.

"Hey, Airi's a dead ringer for Aunt Chidori," Hotaru said, giving a slight shrug. "And Ryo looks more like Uncle Junpei. Besides, you can't talk. What about you and Suzu, huh?"

"Fine, fine, you got me." Akio raised his hands in surrender. "By the way, is Shirogane not close to your sister? Surprised she hasn't stopped by yet."

"Detective work is insane." Hotaru made a face. "Trust me, my dad is up in his eyeballs with work. It sucks ass but with everything that happened… I get it."

I hoped Akihiko wasn't too stressed out. My parents' friends all helped babysit me at one point or another, but… I guess you could say my uncle and Shinjiro were the closest I had to father figures. Junpei was more of an uncle figure to me, especially when he'd let me do stuff that Mom didn't necessarily approve of. Ken lived in Tokyo, so I didn't see him a lot unless Mom took me there. And well, Akihiko did help raise me for a time.

Akio winced. "Yeah… I feel you. My folks are so busy sometimes."

Hotaru sighed. "Yeah… and speaking of that, I have to take care of some chores. Gotta take care of Taro, too. Feed him and walk him."

I looked over at her again. "You're going then?"

Hotaru nodded. "Yeah, but I should be back in a couple of hours."

She got up, waving goodbye. I gave a tired wave, watching her head down the hallway and then disappear through the double doors at the end. I found myself stifling a yawn. God, this was reminding me of those long nights I spent practicing… barely getting enough sleep. Maybe a cup of tea would help me feel less exhausted. With some effort, I stood up from my seat.

"Hey, where are you going?"

I glanced down at him. "To get some tea."

"Just tea?" Akio looked at me skeptically. "Choice of beverage aside… you really oughta eat something better."

"But I-" I stopped short, remembering what Hotaru told me earlier. I couldn't help but look away from him, folding my arms over my chest. "…I guess."

"Makes me glad that Dad taught me how to cook," Akio commented, standing up, too. "But anyways, I know the hospital doesn't have great food but it's better than nothing. I hope they have waffles."

I forced myself to look back up at him. "…I think pancakes are more likely."

It was just common sense. You could cook pancakes in any regular pan but you needed a waffle maker for waffles…

"Eh." Akio shrugged. "Waffles are better."

I stared at him. "They're practically the same."

He shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. "No they're not."

"Yes they are-"

"...Am I interrupting something?"

At the sound of Sora's voice, I nearly jumped. After a moment, I realized my hand had reached to grab Akio's arm, seeming out of instinct. I quickly let go, trying to ignore the heat returning to my cheeks. Instead, I took a step away from him, noticing we had kind of drifted towards each other while talking.

"Sora-senpai?" I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Sora smiled sheepishly. "I don't know your sister well, but she's technically a family friend… so I thought I'd stop by and see how everything's going."

"The baby isn't here yet," Akio informed him. "They're sure taking their sweet time."

Sora let out a strained laugh. "That's babies for you. I don't remember my little brother's birth, but I remember my sisters taking their sweet time."

"I can't believe your mother did this five times," I said, wincing.

Sora rubbed the back of his neck, giving a sheepish smile. "She's always wanted a big family."

"...Just proof that your parents do it a lot, huh?" Akio said idly. "Glad I don't have to deal with that."

"W-Wha—?!" Sora sputtered out, his face matching his hair. "That's…!"

"The truth?" Akio smirked.

"D-Don't talk about my parents like that!" Sora protested.

"What about Yu-san and Rise-san?"

I tensed up as my cousin approached. She appeared immaculate as always, not a wrinkle in her clothes or a hair out of place. But there was a tiredness in her eyes and in the way she walked.

"Rui, you made it!" Sora's face suddenly broke into a smile. A warm, gentle smile.

My stomach clenched at the sight of it. The way Sora looked at her was…

It was like how Junpei looked at Chidori. Everyone knew that Junpei adored Chidori and had no qualms about showing it. He usually had his arm around her, leaning down to kiss her cheek or the top of her head… He looked at her like she hung the moon. In public, they would often be seen holding hands. They had this… closeness that I only ever saw with the other parents within their own homes. Over twenty years of marriage hadn't dulled their love for one another.

As it should be.

Rui sighed, shaking her head. "Well… it is my cousin's first child. I didn't want to miss it."

"Why don't you sit down?" Sora asked. "I bet you're really tired."

"No, no, I'll be fine." Rui shook her head again, but gave him an appreciative smile. "I was thinking of getting something in the cafeteria at the very least…"

He probably… had been in love with her since childhood. It was blatantly obvious. There was a fondness in my cousin's eyes, too; eyes that normally were so cold. My chest grew tight, watching the two of them.

I had no right to be angry. I couldn't even be in a relationship if I wanted to. And Sora and Rui had a history, a connection that I would never be able to match. And yet, inside my chest, I could feel what little was left of my heart being crushed.

"Y'know, Sonomin…"

My gaze flickered over to Akio, where he stood beside me, hands shoved into his pockets, ever so casually leaning down closer to me. Clearly whatever he wanted to say was meant for me and me alone. Yet he didn't look at me, instead continuing to watch the unofficial couple, who seemed completely oblivious to us now.

I bristled. "What?"

He leaned into me, his shoulder bumping into mine. "…You deserve better than Sora. Someone who'll think the world of you."

He… I-

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words died on my lips. So I shut my mouth instead, clenching my jaw, and then looked away from him.

"…Is this the part where you say you can be that person?"

He laughed—a dry, self-deprecating laugh—and stood up straight. "Ha! Good one, Sonomin. No, I'm the last person you or anyone else wants to get involved with."

With that single question, the self-confidence that practically oozed from Akio at all times seemed to fade away. I couldn't help but stare, eyes wide. I had no idea what to say. I had no idea how to even react. I was so used to Akio being so sure of himself. Was this how he truly felt? Was it all just an act?

"What… what makes you say that?"

He finally looked down at me and cracked that familiar lopsided smile, though it was now tainted with self-deprecation. "Oh, you know, Sonomin. I'm a violent criminal, after all."

But before I could even consider his words, he took a step forward and cleared his throat, catching Sora's and Rui's attention.

"Sooo… you lovebirds wanna join me and Sonomin for breakfast?"

"L-Lovebirds?" Sora squeaked out, eyes wide.

I forced myself to return my attention to them, but not without furrowing my brow and frowning. I had never seen Sora like this before…

Rui's cheeks flushed and she tugged at the brim of her hat, staring down at the floor. "Ah, it's n-nothing like that. We're merely childhood f-friends."

…This was also the first time I've seen Rui stutter.

Akio simply gave them a skeptical look before shrugging. "If you say so."

"But breakfast sounds great!" Sora blurted, his voice still rather high-pitched. "C-C'mon, let's go! We shouldn't take too long, just in case the baby comes!"

Without another word, he took off.

"Sora-" Rui sighed, hurrying after him. "Sora! The cafeteria is the other way!"

After Rui caught up to Sora and steered him back over to us, we headed for the cafeteria. As it was prime time for breakfast, there were quite a few people around. The food was pretty standard—scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, and so on… They offered some Japanese food too, like miso soup and onigiri.

"This is far too salty…"

I looked up to see Rui nudge away her bowl of miso soup, her nose scrunching up in distaste.

"Then don't eat it." Sora, who was sitting next to her, pushed a bowl of fruit toward her. "I got you some fruit. You still like blueberries and raspberries, right?"

A hint of a smile played on her lips as she accepted them. "Thank you."

I forced myself to look away, down at my cup of tea. I wrapped my hands around the cup, the warmth seeping into my hands. I felt so stupid… being upset over seeing them acting this way together. I lifted the cup and took a sip.

"How even can you mess up miso soup?" Akio muttered, shaking his head from his seat next to mine.

I set down my cup and picked up an onigiri. I took a bite and immediately made a face. The tuna filling was too dry; there was hardly any mayonnaise. I made myself swallow, picking up my cup back up to wash it down it some tea. I had eaten worse things while traveling as an idol, of course, but…

"But are you excited, Sonomi?" Sora asked, catching my attention. "For the baby."

I set the cup back down, looking up at him. "I guess. I'm happy for Miyako and Kenshin-san."

I had heard some pregnancy speculations over the years, ever since Miyako and Kenshin had gotten married. It had annoyed Miyako to no end. But I had noticed over the past few months that she was truly excited about the baby… When it was her own choice and no longer other people pestering her about giving the Nanjos an heir, she was thrilled. I had no doubts that she would be a good mother. She was a wonderful big sister after all…

"Yeah, and you'll be an aunt twice over," Sora mused. "And you're here for the birth this time!"

"Jeez, I didn't know you liked babies so much, Sora," Akio commented, leaning against his chair.

Sora's cheeks flushed. "I-I'm just curious is all… I mean, I don't think Mom and Dad will get to be grandparents any time soon, anyways."

"Rise-san must be so disappointed about that," Rui noted, raising an eyebrow at Sora.

Sora let out a nervous chuckle. "Well… you know Ryuu."

Sora was the second oldest in his family. If I remember right, his older brother Ryuu was two years older, making him nineteen or so. Or maybe he had turned twenty already? I couldn't be sure. I didn't know him very well, but I remember that he was… very popular with girls.

"And… it's just got me thinking." Sora leaned back in his seat, looking down at his plate of food. "Maybe it'll be us in ten years, y'know?"

Akio scoffed, picking up his cup of coffee. "Something clearly has gone wrong if I have a kid in ten years."

My gaze flickered over to him. I couldn't help but pity the poor person who would agree to have Akio's child, much less marry him.

As for me… I don't know. Could I even think about the future anyway? I doubted that anyone would ever be interested in me enough for a long term relationship. Most people only saw me as Tsuki… the cute, bubbly idol. I wasn't sure if there was even a fraction of myself in that persona.

"I suppose…" Rui shook her head. "But I think I would still be focused on my career."

Akio tilted his head. "So… you're in this for the long haul?"

"I, ah…" Rui blinked, taken aback by Akio's question. "Well… yes. It's been a dream of mine since I was a child."

"To follow in your mom's footsteps, huh?" Akio mused, crossing his arms over his chest. "Can't say I'd want to be in your shoes."

Rui looked down at her food. "It's a heavy burden but… I believe I'm up to the task."

Akio just quirked an eyebrow, looking a little skeptical. But then he shrugged. "Sure, whatever. Wouldn't want that kind of job even if you paid me all the money in the world, though."

Rui looked down at the table, taking a moment to brush away invisible crumbs. "At least that means I won't ever have to deal with you as a colleague, then."

Akio caught that. "Well-"

He was cut off by an abrupt cough. I looked up to see that it was my brother.

"Is something the matter, MJ?" Rui asked.

"No, nothing like that. I just came to find you. I figured it would be the right time for breakfast so…" MJ then cleared his throat before looking down at me. "But… Miya's had the baby."

My eyes widened. "They're here?"

MJ nodded, before smiling ruefully. "Poor Miya, though. He was nearly nine pounds."

Akio let out a low whistle. "Damn. And I thought he'd be tiny, with your family."

Rui sighed in exasperation. "Not everyone in the family is short."

"Yeah, but look at the immediate family." Akio gestured to me and MJ.

I glowered at him but stamped down the urge to kick him in the shin. I stood up and pushed my chair in, pointedly looking away from him.

"Can we go see Nee-san, then?" I asked.

MJ smiled, nodding. "Of course. That's why I came to get you." He paused for a moment. "It's a shame that you weren't here for Chouko's birth… but I'm glad you got to be here for Miya."

I bit my lip glancing down. "Sorry…"

"It's okay, it happened. And you were out there, doing what you loved. We understood," MJ said with a reassuring smile. "And that goes for you as well, Rui."

Rui ducked her head. "Ah, thank you." She then stood up as well. "But shall we meet the newest member of the family?"

MJ nodded again. "Yeah, let's go."

The family had gathered in the hospital room. When I stepped inside, Mom was already there, standing next to my brother-in-law as he held the baby in his arms for the first time. Miyako was, of course, still in bed, her bangs plastered to her forehead, with a gentle, tired smile on her face.

"He's beautiful," I heard Mom say, as the door quietly clicked shut behind me. "What's his name going to be?"

It was a boy, then… I had a nephew now.

"Yamato," Kenshin answered after a moment. "Yamato Nanjo."

Mom smiled. "A wonderful name."

They all looked up as I approached, forcing myself to properly join them instead of staying near the door.

"Um… hi," I greeted, not really sure what else to say, before turning my attention to my sister. "How are you feeling, Nee-san?"

Miyako winced. "I have no idea how women were able to do this without any pain medication. It was bad enough with it. I have no idea how you did this with twins, Mom."

Mom simply smiled. "Well… It was worth it to me. Both times…"

I looked down on the floor. I didn't know how Mom could say that. How could she say that I'm worth excruciating pain? I could understand my siblings, but…

I quickly pushed those thoughts out of my head. Now was not the time…

Instead, I walked over to take a closer look at my nephew. I could see fine black hair covering his small head. His eyes were closed and his skin was a healthy shade of pink. There were some splotches of red on his skin, but I think that was common for babies. He was definitely on the larger side; I recalled Chouko being much smaller.

Kenshin glanced down at me. "Do you want to hold him?"

I started, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I—I was just looking."

"It's okay, Sonomi-chan." Miyako tilted her head. "Yamato won't bite. He doesn't even have any teeth."

"Oh, um…" I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I… supposed it wouldn't hurt. I would have to get used to being around babies, with my siblings' and cousins' growing families. "Sure…"

"Be sure to support his neck," MJ noted from where he leaned against the wall, as Kenshin arranged my arms to hold my new nephew. He then raised an eyebrow at our brother-in-law. "Though I'm surprised that you know how to hold a baby, Kenshin."

Kenshin sighed, exasperated. "I do have nieces and nephews, you know."

If I recall correctly, he had a few older sisters… but it was tradition for the firstborn son to take over the company, as they would continue the family name.

"That, and he practiced with a dummy for ages," Miyako stated, almost matter-of-factly, casting a sideways glance toward Kenshin.

Kenshin sputtered, his face flushing. "M-Miya!"

A small sound made me look down. Yamato looked up at me with wide, blue eyes—Miyako's eyes. He had chubby cheeks… though it was probably safe to say that everything about him was chubby.

My chest tightened. I wish I could see the world with innocent eyes like him.

The sound of shifting made me look up. Miyako was readjusting her position on her bed. Despite her exhaustion, it was obvious that she was happy. Her eyes shone. Since I was holding Yamato, Kenshin had moved to stand next to her. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. He lifted one of her hands, tenderly kissing her fingertips.

I felt my chest tighten again… but for entirely different reasons.

My sister was… happy.

Despite everything—her difficult childhood, growing up a bastard, having to fight for her career… She'd built the life she wanted for herself and found happiness. She never let anyone's opinions or perceptions sway her from her path. I'd always admired her for that. I recalled how, as soon as she married Kenshin, she started to get pestered about when they would have their first child. But she held her ground and always answered that they would start a family when they were ready.

And here she was, with her husband, ready and happy.

Happiness…

My gaze flickered back down to my nephew. He blinked those big blue eyes at me, before yawning, making a tiny noise, and then drifting back asleep.

He… deserved a chance to live.

Yamato, Chouko, all my future nieces and nephews… My family, my friends. They all deserved a chance at life. To live in this world, to find… happiness… No matter how I felt about this world, it… couldn't end. Not when so many lives had yet to live. It couldn't end. Not like this. Not when there was still… so much left. Even if I… wasn't supposed to be here, they were.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

Without a word, I returned my nephew to his parents, muttering something to excuse myself, and hurriedly left the room. All I could think of was how I needed to get out of there. I needed to get far, far away—so I couldn't hurt anyone.

I was an… aberration in their lives. I shouldn't exist. I knew they'd be so much better off without me. I caused so many problems for everyone around me—my mother, my siblings, my friends, everyone. And I was contributing to the problem… My thoughts and feelings were helping weaken the Great Seal.

I couldn't… contribute to that. Not anymore.

I wasn't sure where I'd meant to go. But I found myself stepping out onto the roof of the hospital. The sky was clear, without a cloud in sight. The sun shone down upon me. A gentle spring breeze tugged at my hair. It was a beautiful day.

Slowly, I made my way across the roof, stopping at the edge. There were no railings. I looked down below. The ground was so far, far down—four stories, to be exact. It would be so easy to-

"Sonomi!"

I glanced behind me to see none other than Akio. He must have followed me… I looked away from him, returning my attention to the street below.

"…Akio."

There was a pause—like he was hesitating. "Sonomi… did something happen? You ran out so fast."

"No, I-" I cut myself off, shaking my head. "I don't want to do this anymore."

"Do what, exactly?"

"This." I gestured to everything around me. "Life. I'm just… making things worse."

Another pause. "What makes you say that?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. "You heard what Mitsuru-san said. You were there. The Great Seal is weakening. Erebus is getting stronger. And I'm—and I'm part of the problem because I want to die!" I opened my eyes, looking down at my hand, which had involuntarily clenched over my heart—where my scar was hidden, tingling. "My dad gave up his life to save the world, and I'm… undermining it."

Akio let out a slow breath. "Oh, Sonomin. You're not the only one."

"H-Huh?" My head jerked back to look at him, eyes wide.

The corner of Akio's mouth had quirked up ever so slightly, in a melancholic half-smile. "Remember what I told you last time we were here at the hospital?"

I nodded.

"I bet I could enter a Crypt even if I hadn't paid an involuntary visit to the Metaverse."

My eyes remained wide as I stared at him. He was… saying what I think he was, wasn't he?

"It'd be so easy, y'know?" Akio closed his eyes. "To just… end it all." But then he reopened his eyes and looked right at me. "But then I realized… that that's not the answer to my problems. It would only cause more. I can't leave Suzu or Jin or anyone else like this. Life is shit, but it'd be shittier without me. And I know it'd be the shittiest hell on earth if you weren't here."

I looked away from him. "…You're just saying that."

"Am I, though?"

I forced myself to glance back at him. He had moved closer.

"C'mon, Sonomi," he said, holding his hand out to me. "Don't you trust me?"

I looked down at his hand and then back up at his face. He gave me a smile—soft and gentle, perhaps the most earnest he'd been since I met him. I bit my bottom lip as my gaze flickered down to his hand again.

"…I…" My voice quivered for a moment. "I trust you."

I stepped away from the ledge, accepting his hand. He smiled warmly at me, pulling me away from the edge of the roof. As I moved, my legs wobbled unsteadily, threatening to give way, but he put his hand on my shoulder and gently steered me towards the wall, where the door leading back inside the hospital was.

"Let's go back inside," he said, opening the door and releasing my hand. "Lemme get you something—my treat."

A few minutes later, we were sitting at a table in the cafeteria and I was sipping on a strawberry smoothie. It wasn't boba, but… it would do.

"So…" Akio leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. "What happened in the hospital room that got you so upset?"

I set down the cup on the table, letting my gaze flicker down with it. "Nothing happened, I just…"

"You just…?" he prompted, like he was nudging me along.

I shook my head, at nothing in particular, wrapping my hands around my cup. The cold helped me feel… grounded in reality. I opened my mouth to say something, to give some kind of answer, but no words came out. Instead, I leaned down to slowly take a sip of my smoothie.

"I got… overwhelmed." My voice was quiet when I finally did find the right words to say. "Holding my nephew… realizing that if the world ends, he or my niece won't be able to… live. That the happiness my siblings—that everyone has fought for will be lost. And I… couldn't bear the thought."

There was a long pause. Silence. For some reason, I couldn't bear to look up at him.

"What about you?"

My eyes darted up at him. "...Me?"

"You deserve to be happy too, Sonomi. You matter too."

My eyes widened. He said it so matter-of-fact, like it was nothing but the truth.

"I… I don't know if I can," I mumbled, glancing back down. "I don't have any emotions..."

"Sonomi... that ain't true." When I looked back up, I saw Akio shake his head, a sad smile curling on his lips. "You may not believe me now but you do. You have a big heart. You... always have."

I… always have…? But how… how would he know such a thing?

"H-Huh?"

Akio reached into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone. He fiddled with it, shuffling through what looked like pictures, before setting the phone down on the table and sliding it across to me.

"Take a look," he told me, nodding towards his phone.

Frowning, I picked up the phone to see what he wanted to show me.

It was a photograph of two young children—one of those kinds of pictures where it was obvious that a parent had come up with a camera. They couldn't have been older than six or seven years old. The boy was obviously Akio, with his tousled blond curls and mischievous dark eyes. Though maybe messy was a better word for his hair. He was wearing a Phantom Thieves t-shirt, which wasn't a surprise. He had a big grin on his face, revealing missing teeth.

But the girl… As soon as I laid eyes on her, my scar began to itch.

She… looked a lot like me. She had deep blue hair, pulled back into low pigtails, tied with pink ribbons. Her bangs fell into her eyes, which were a warm shade of brown… just like my mom's… but unlike mine. She was dressed in all pink, from her dress to her polka dot leggings, clutching a very familiar pink rabbit doll to her chest as she smiled up at the camera.

"I asked my mom if she had any pictures of us as kids still," Akio said. "She sent me that."

I hesitated, glancing back down at the phone in my hands. I remembered what Hotaru had told me, but...

"That's… me? But it—it can't be. I don't have brown eyes…"

"You did, though." I looked back up at Akio, meeting his gaze. "This was taken the last time I saw you before your… accident. It was your birthday party."

I pursed my lips, staring at the picture as my scar tingled. I set the phone back down and slid it across the table to him. How on earth did my eyes change color…?

He took his phone back, shoving it into his pocket. "But as you can see… we knew each other as kids. Our moms are friends, so whenever your mom had work in Tokyo, she'd bring you with her and leave you at our house so we could see each other. She'd stop by whenever she was free, but it was mostly just us."

I bit my bottom lip, glancing down at my smoothie.

"You were shy… and a bit timid. You scared easily. You were afraid of the dark and didn't like Halloween. You never went anywhere without your bunny doll—Usa-chan, right?"

I looked up at him, eyes wide. There was no way he knew about that! Yet… he did? Oh my god, he had to be telling the truth.

"But… you were happy." Akio smiled at me—a soft, genuine smile that I had never seen on his face before now. The way he looked at me… made my heart stutter. "You were the happiest girl I knew. You were always smiling and were always happy to see everyone. You saw the best in people… even when no one else could."

"Akio, I'm…" My voice trailed off as I looked down at my drink again. "I'm… sorry. I… haven't been the best to you this whole time and we… were friends once. I must be nothing like you remember."

"Nah… you're more alike than you think." Akio tilted his head to the side, cracking a smile closer to that lopsided grin of his. "You think you don't have feelings, but I see flickers of the girl I knew before. You have a big heart, Sonomi. You always have. You just gotta stop fighting it."

Stop… fighting it…

I bit my bottom lip, looking up at him. "You really think I can be happy?"

He nodded, his smile softening again. "Damn right you can. When's the last time you did something for yourself?"

"I… I don't know…" I muttered.

"Hm, let's see…" Akio leaned back in his seat. "I'd really like to make up for lost time y'know? I heard the movie theater is doing a marathon of classic Destiny movies soon. I'd like to go if you're up for it."

I blinked at him. That sounded like fun… I hadn't seen any of those movies in a long time. But… it was almost like Akio was asking me out on a date… I felt my face burn at the thought, quickly tucking in my chin to try to hide behind sipping my smoothie. No, that was ridiculous… No one could ever be genuinely interested in me in that way.

I dared to glance up, still sipping my smoothie. And he… still had that gentle smile on his face. It softened his features, making me realize that… his lips looked so soft… He really had a nice smile when he wasn't just… smirking. And the way he looked at me, it… reminded me of how Junpei always looked at Chidori. With this… tenderness, this warmth, like Chidori held the whole world in the palm of her hand.

And Akio looked at… me… like that.

Just like Sora looked at Rui.

He remembered all those details about me when we were little, all the while I… forgot everything. He even remembered Usa-chan's name. No one would normally remember little things like that… would they?

"Are you… asking me out on a date?"

For a brief second, I noticed Akio's eyes widen slightly, but then his expression grew serious.

"Do you want it to be?"

I felt my heart skip a beat, but I hastily looked away. "I—I can't…"

There was a pause. "Even if it'd make you happy?"

I shook my head, before forcing myself to look up at him. "I don't… know how I feel, okay? Ever since coming home, I've felt so… confused." My gaze flickered back down to the table. "Besides, you're… dealing with so much right now. I don't… want to add to your problems."

Akio let out a breath. "You could never be a problem for me, Sonomin."

I chewed on my bottom lip. "Akio… that means a lot to me, but…"

He simply gave me a smile. "If you're not ready to give a final answer, I'm cool with it. Rain check, yeah?"

Akio… was a lot better person than I gave him credit for.

I managed a small smile. Maybe if Akio believed I could be happy again… I actually could. I recalled what Hotaru had told me. Maybe… it wouldn't hurt to listen to her advice… I knew it would be a long time before I felt even a semblance of okay, but… I had to start somewhere.

I wanted… to be okay. I wanted… to be happy. I didn't want to feel this way anymore.

I wanted… to fix the world's problems, not contribute.

I just had to try.

Chapter Text

Sunday, April 17th, 2039, Waning Crescent Moon.

As Yamato had finally been born, we decided to return to the dorm. There was still so much that needed to be done… if we were to explore Asphodel. Hotaru agreed to meet up with us at Kirijo Tower in a couple of hours. I took the time to shower and clean up, changing into fresh clothes. Sora had lingered behind, saying he wanted to catch up with Rui and he'd be back later. I had just headed downstairs when the front door opened.

"Here we are!" I heard Sora exclaim cheerfully as he held the door open for… Rui. "This is where I'm staying for the year."

I watched my cousin step inside, looking around. Of course he had to bring her here… Didn't she have work to do?

I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I glanced behind me to see Akio stop a little off to the side behind me. Noticing that I had halted, he raised an eyebrow at me. But I didn't say anything. I just faced ahead again.

It didn't matter how much I wanted to find happiness. The desire to cease to exist would still be here, gnawing at me.

"…Surprised he brought her here," Akio commented, once he must have realized I wasn't moving yet. "Or maybe I shouldn't be." He gave a slight shrug.

Looking around the room, Rui must have noticed us. "Ah, hello, Sonomi." Her gaze flickered over to Akio. "…Amamiya."

"…Hello," I answered stiffly.

"Hey," Akio greeted casually, shoving his hands into his pockets, stepping down the stairs and approaching them, leaving me to follow. "Showing Shirogane our place, eh, Sora?"

"Uh, yeah." Sora smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I invited her to stop by before she heads back to work. Just thought I'd show her how we're doing."

"Well, we're doing pretty okay," Akio agreed, tilting his head thoughtfully. "You must be really concerned with helping her relax."

I shot Akio a look as I stopped next to him, but he ignored me. Sora's eyes widened slightly and his cheeks flushed. He abruptly looked away, scratching his cheek.

"W-Well, of course I am, I'm concerned about all my friends." He looked down at me, still smiling sheepishly. "You've, uh, been relaxing enough, haven't you, Sonomi? A lot has happened lately. Don't want you to burn yourself out either!"

Akio snickered, covering his mouth with his hand. I felt like I was missing something here… Rui seemed to be missing whatever it was too, because she was frowning at both of them, arms crossed over her chest.

"…I'm fine," I informed him, before turning to glare at Akio. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing," he insisted, dropping his hand, though the smile remained. "C'mon, we should probably head out. Shouldn't keep Sanada waiting."

This caught Rui's attention. She raised an eyebrow. "You're meeting with Hotaru?"

"We have plans," I answered curtly, looking away. "Shouldn't you be working right now, anyway?"

I said that much more hostile than necessary.

Rui's eyes widened for a moment before her lips pursed together. "I am… but Sora insisted I should eat something first. He was going to cook us lunch."

"I, er, didn't know if you had anything planned," Sora said hastily, rubbing the back of his head. "I'd be happy to make more…"

I bit my lip, looking away from them. Despite everything, it still… stung. I knew that Sora was not obligated to return my feelings, that he was allowed to like someone else. Of course he was. It was ridiculous to think otherwise. But logic didn't make it hurt any less.

Most of all because it was Rui.

"No, it's fine, Senpai." I looked towards Akio. "Akio and I already had plans. Have fun with Rui."

Without another word, I walked towards the door. I had nothing left to say.

It didn't take long for Akio to catch up to me. Probably because his legs were significantly longer than mine. For a moment, we walked in silence.

"...Do you need to talk about it?"

"No."

"All right…" Akio said slowly, before looking at me. "Though, I'm a little curious. Shirogane's your cousin, right?"

"Her mother is my dad's little sister," I answered. "Why?"

Akio shoved his hands in his pockets. "Was just wonderin', especially since… you're pretty close to Hotaru, yeah? Your relationships with your cousins are almost like… night and day."

I looked away from him. "It's different, okay? I lived with Aunt Minako and Uncle Akihiko for a while when I was little. Hotaru's more like my sister than anything. Rui is… We just never got along."

"Really?" Akio raised an eyebrow. "I remember when we were kids, you'd mention her sometimes. Not as much as Hotaru and the other kids here but it sure didn't sound like you two disliked each other back then."

My scar gave a twinge, but I ignored it, huffing and looking away. "I… I don't remember that. But things are different now."

"Has she always wanted to be a detective?" he asked.

I frowned, thinking about it. "I guess. For as long as I remember, she's been interested in it."

Akio grew quiet, his eyes becoming… pensive.

"What is it?"

"Huh?" He blinked, looking down at me. "...Nothing. Come on, Sanada's waiting for us."

We ended up meeting Hotaru in front of Kirijo Tower.

"So… what's the plan?" Hotaru asked, rocking on her feet for a moment; she always got antsy like that. She had to be on the move.

I frowned. "I guess… we have to talk our parents into this, don't we?"

"Aunt Mitsuru too," Hotaru sighed. "Mom and Dad have told me it's always been like this. Like, Mom and Uncle Minato were in charge of field operations, including making sure the equipment was in order and strategy and other stuff in combat. But Aunt Mitsuru was the one in charge of SEES. That continued when she founded the Shadow Operatives too."

"Not surprised," Akio commented idly. "She screams top energy."

Hotaru groaned. "Ugh. Really, Amamiya? Not everything is about sex."

"I'm just saying." He shrugged. "But man… do I really have to talk my folks into this shit? They're halfway across the country for hell's sake."

"You're still a minor," Hotaru huffed out, crossing her arms over her chest. "Have your parents even talked to you about this?"

Akio grew oddly quiet. "I mean… they've always told me to do the right thing. They told me loads of times, growing up, 'don't turn a blind eye.' I don't think they would be that opposed to it."

"My folks are just… protective." Hotaru made a face. "Doesn't matter that Aneki and Aniki also have Personas–"

I stared. "...They do?"

Hotaru winced. "Oh yeah, sorry. I dunno the details on how they awakened, though."

I supposed I shouldn't be surprised. The power of Persona seemed to run in our family. At this point, I'd be more surprised if someone didn't have the potential. But out of everyone, I still had to be chosen as the Wild Card… I didn't understand it.

My scar itched. There was always so much I didn't know.

"Let's just get this over with," I muttered.

This time, when we headed inside Kirijo Tower, no one stopped us. No one asked us what we were doing here. I was able to walk right up to the front desk and say I needed to meet with Mitsuru and no one gave me a hard time. All we had to do was wait to be escorted to the elevator. We left the front desk and went to the waiting area to, well, wait.

I sat down next to Hotaru, fiddling with my phone as we waited. Akio decided to lean against the wall, improper as it was, on the other side of me, also pulling out his phone. We must have looked so out of place.

There was nothing particularly new in the news. It was simply continuous information about the outbreak of Apathy Syndrome and how it was affecting the region.

After a few minutes, I heard the elevator click open. I glanced up, right as a very familiar, very exuberant voice caught all of our attention.

"Little sis! Whatcha doin' here?"

It was none other than my cousin and Hotaru's older brother, Hikaru. Hotaru's eyes widened as soon as she spotted him, standing up from her seat.

"Aniki? What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Hikaru scratched his nose thoughtfully. "I'm just hanging out?"

Hikaru Sanada was the middle child and only son of my aunt and uncle. He stood tall, close to Akio's height, though he was a lot leaner, despite the age difference between them. I believed he was turning nineteen this year but wasn't quite there yet, being a first year in university. He had messy auburn hair, his bangs falling into his gray eyes, and a bright grin lit up his face. He always could find something to smile about. He wore a thin, snugly fitting black turtleneck, a green stadium jacket, black sportswear pants, and very expensive looking green sneakers.

"...Yeah, just 'hanging out' my ass, you practically live in Tetsuya-san's-"

Someone cleared their throat very loudly. We all looked over to see that the man in question had also emerged from the elevator. He was giving both of the siblings a stern look, arms crossed over his chest.

"...That's enough, you two," he stated curtly. "You'll make a scene."

Akio let out a low whistle. "Do you Arisatos have a thing for redheads or something?"

I glared at him. "We do not."

"Riiight." He shoved his hands into his pockets as I stood up. "You go for light hair too, don'tcha? Blonds, even?"

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Is now really the time for this…?"

I swear, he gave a little pout. "No, I guess not."

Hikaru blinked, tilting his head. "But Uncle Kanji has black hair? So does Kenshin-san?"

"Ughh…" Hotaru groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Way to miss the point, Aniki."

Hikaru just laughed before reaching down to ruffle Hotaru's hair.

"Hey! Knock it off." Hotaru scowled, swatting his hand away. "You know I hate that shit, Aniki!"

"You see how my little sis treats me, Tetsu?" Hikaru quickly looked over to Tetsuya. "You're so lucky that Michi-chan is a sweetheart. Hotaru's such a spitfire sometimes."

"I'll show you spitfire," Hotaru grumbled, glowering at him.

Akio snorted, looking over at me. "Shame we don't have popcorn."

"Enough." Tetsuya's voice grew stern, making both Sanada siblings freeze. He sighed, shaking his head. "Are you planning on telling us why you're truly here?"

I bit my lip before forcing myself to stand up and look up at him. "We… want to talk to Mitsuru-san. About… Asphodel."

I said Asphodel quietly but it caught the two young men's attention right away.

"Sonomi-chan… you sure about this?" Hikaru asked slowly, suddenly serious, as he crossed his arms over his chest, practically mirroring Tetsuya's stance. "I know, you've got the power but…" His voice trailed off before he looked at his sister. "And you, Hotaru! You can't even fight with your Persona!"

Hotaru stiffened. "I know. You don't hafta remind me, Aniki. But I can at least provide backup for Sono-chan and Amamiya. It's something."

"Hotaru, I didn't mean-" Hikaru reached out to touch her shoulder but Hotaru just huffed, looking away.

"...Just forget it."

Was I… missing something here?

Never mind, it didn't matter. I walked up to the two of them, leaving Hotaru and Akio to follow after me.

I'd run this scenario through my mind so many times already. I considered what was the right—and wrong thing—to say. But my thoughts drifted to what I had spoken to both Hotaru and Akio about earlier today.

To truly live this life of mine… whether I was supposed to exist or not… if I was to find closure, to find happiness… I couldn't mask my true feelings. I could come up with a million, justifiable, honorable reasons why we should explore Asphodel. I'd always put others first—that was how I'd been raised.

But for once in my life… I wanted to be selfish.

I would be selfish.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could do this. Yes, I absolutely could.

"...Sonomi?" Hikaru's voice was a gentle nudge, reminding me that I could speak and I would be listened to.

I opened my eyes and looked up at both of them, steeling myself with my newfound conviction.

"I want to explore Asphodel. I want to know what's going on. I want to know why I felt pulled to the tower. I want to know what's really going on here. For myself."

Tetsuya narrowed his eyes, while Hikaru's widened. I supposed my cousin hadn't expected such an assertive answer from me.

"I want to save the Great Seal," I continued. "I can do something and I'm not going to just… stand by and let everything our families sacrificed be for nothing. And if I happen to save people along the way… that's even better." I glanced over at my cousin. "You of all people should understand how I feel, Hikaru."

Hikaru grimaced almost immediately. "Yeah… Yeah, I do." He lowered his arms and cast a look over at Tetsuya. "C'mon, Tetsu, we should at least hear them out, yeah? Surely Aunt Mitsuru will be willing to hear what they have to say."

Tetsuya closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. "I cannot… guarantee that Mother will listen. However, Minako-san is present. It would be worth speaking with both of them."

"So you'll take us to see them?" Hotaru asked, a bit of hopefulness in her voice.

Tetsuya nodded. "I will. Follow me."

I quickly realized that we hadn't been to the Shadow Operatives headquarters proper.

Everything was white and pristine, but it did not smell like a hospital—much to my relief. For a moment, I felt like I was stepping onto the set of a movie… but there were no cameras or production staff. Flatscreen monitors lined the walls, with people sitting at desks with computers, talking into headsets. In the center of the massive room was a platform, upon which sat a podium. I wondered if that was where Mitsuru stood when she worked here. People were bustling about, all dressed in business attire.

"Fancy place," Akio muttered.

"Well, Aunt Mitsuru paid for this." Hikaru shrugged. "Of course it'll be top of the line. Oh, just wait until you see the training room! We have some battle simulations-"

"Hikaru, we're getting off topic," Tetsuya interrupted, giving my cousin a look.

Hikaru let out a nervous laugh, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, Tetsu."

"Master Tetsuya?"

The voice was vaguely familiar so I turned around. It took me a moment to realize who it was. It was Kikuno Saikawa, Mitsuru's personal maid. They've known each other since they were fairly young, I believe. She wore her dark violet hair in a neat braided bun, her bangs swept to the side, nearly reaching her mauve eyes. She was dressed in a suit, rather than a dress, which I imagined was much more efficient for her job.

"Kikuno-san," Tetsuya acknowledged with a nod. "Do you know where Mother is? Or Minako-san for that matter?"

Kikuno-san tilted her head. "Well… Lady Mitsuru is in her private office. She was speaking to Nanjo-san but they were wrapping up their conversation when I had left Lady Mitsuru."

"Your brother-in-law?" Akio asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"No, Miya's father-in-law," Hikaru interjected. "He's a real stick in the mud, but he's pretty involved with Shadow and Persona business."

"Ever since he handed over the reins of the Nanjo Group to Kenshin-san, he's become more involved with the Shadow Operatives," Tetsuya informed us.

"So another stuffy businessman," Akio commented.

Hotaru snorted, rolling her eyes. "Your dad's a 'stuffy' politician, y'know."

"Ha! Shows you don't know Dad at all," Akio said with a snicker.

"But I can escort you to Lady Mitsuru, if you'd like," Kikuno-san offered, getting back to the point rather deftly.

"Hmm… Would you mind finding Minako-san actually?" Tetsuya asked. "We need to speak with her as well. I can take everyone to Mother, if she's in her office."

"Very well, Master Tetsuya." She then gave a low bow. "When I locate Minako-san, I will direct her to Conference Room A."

"Thank you, Kikuno-san," he said, giving a small nod.

"You do realize I could call Mom, right, Tetsu?" Hikaru asked.

"Don't be stupid, Aniki." Hotaru put her hands on her hips. "The phone reception down here sucks."

Hikaru let out a nervous laugh. "Right… I knew that."

"Uh huh." Hotaru stared exasperatedly at him.

"If anything, wouldn't you have a better chance at contacting your mom?" Akio asked. "Persona-users with analyzing abilities can talk to other Persona-users telepathically, right?"

"It's not… quite telepathically," Hikaru said slowly. "But-"

"Shouldn't we go see Mitsuru-san?" I interrupted; I was starting to get tired of the banter. I wanted to get to the point, to get the adults to see where we were coming from. "Kikuno-san is finding Aunt Minako now anyways."

Tetsuya nodded. "You're right, Sonomi. Follow me."

He proceeded to lead us down a labyrinth of hallways until we stood by a door that looked no different than the others. But there was a small plaque on the wall stating that it was Mitsuru's office.

Tetsuya rapped sharply on the door.

"Mother? Might I have a word with you?"

"Tetsuya?" I heard some shuffling from the other side of the door. "Of course, come in."

"Thank you." He pushed the door open, holding it open for us.

I couldn't help but feel a little awkward, stepping inside Mitsuru's office, even though I wasn't alone. Mitsuru immediately raised an eyebrow as she saw all of us step inside the room. Her gaze flickered over to her son.

"You could have mentioned that you weren't alone," Mitsuru commented sharply, as the door shut behind us. "Explain yourself, Tetsuya."

Mitsuru Kirijo had the air of someone you did not want to cross. She was rather tall for a Japanese woman, which added to her… intimidating presence. And the way she stood behind her desk did not help matters, with her arms crossed over her chest. The way she looked at Tetsuya reminded me of… an imperious queen. Her features were sharp and beautiful, which was probably why the media dubbed her an ice queen. A streak of silver shot through her bangs, her deep crimson locks pulled back into a thick bun, not a single strand out of place, and her eyes seemed to see right through us. Her business suit was immaculate.

Something inside me panicked. The thought of Mitsuru being upset with us—especially Tetsuya—was unbearable.

"Aunt Mitsuru, wait," I blurted, without thinking. "It's not Tetsuya-san's fault. He agreed to help us. If you must be upset at someone, be upset at me. Because I... I have the biggest reason to see you. To talk about Asphodel."

Mitsuru's eyes widened. In fact, everyone but Akio looked surprised—some more than others. Hotaru and Hikaru both looked shocked at my outburst. Even Tetsuya's eyes had widened slightly. Was it really that surprising…?

Mitsuru closed her eyes and let out a breath. "...Very well. However, if we are to have this discussion… Minako and Yukari must be present, at the very least."

I couldn't help but wince. I hadn't wanted to involve my mother, but… if that's what Mitsuru required, nothing could be done about it. So, biting my bottom lip, I gave a nod.

Tetsuya cleared his throat. "I have already asked Kikuno-san to find Minako-san. We should meet in Conference Room A."

Mitsuru gave a nod. "Let us reconvene there, then. I have a few things I must take care of first, but I will meet you there."

Tetsuya nodded. "Of course. We will see you there, Mother."

I jumped as Hikaru prodded my back. He gestured with his head for us to move out of the office.

"I'm surprised you did that, Sonomi," Hikaru commented.

My cheeks went warm. "I-I just… didn't want Mitsuru-san to get upset at Tetsuya unfairly…"

"Mitsuru-san, huh…" Hotaru murmured.

"Huh?" I turned to my cousin. "What are you mumbling about?"

Hotaru shook her head. "It's nothing. But seriously, you thought Aunt Mitsuru was going to blow up at all of us? I mean, come on, I know she can be scary sometimes-"

"There's a reason why Dad's still scared of her," Hikaru piped up.

Hotaru glared at her brother. "-but it wouldn't be as serious as you thought. I mean she was hardly execution-mad."

The last part pricked at my memory. I remembered that term coming up from time to time during my childhood, especially with my aunt saying it.

"I dunno, she didn't seem intimidating," Akio said idly.

Tetsuya sighed in response. "You sound like Shinjiro-san. But come, Mother will be rather cross with us if we don't make haste to Conference Room A."

We were led to Conference Room A. There was a long mahogany table in the center, with chairs surrounding it. I could see a projector screen along with a projector by the front. Wow… I hadn't seen one of those in a very long time. To the right of the projector screen, there were several pieces of paper pinned to a corkboard. I squinted at it. I couldn't make sense of what the notes were about.

"Battle strategy notes," Hikaru muttered. "Aunt Mitsuru has some of the team study combat strategy in preparation for fighting Shadows."

Akio let out a low whistle, looking around. "You guys are pretty hardcore."

"Mother has always been rather serious about the Shadow Operatives," Tetsuya said. "She realized as long as humanity exists, there will be Shadows. And… she wished to not let people be hurt as she and her friends have."

"I can't blame her," Hotaru said quietly.

"Do you know the full story, Hotaru?" I asked, looking over at her.

Hotaru winced, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah… Mom and Dad told me last year when I told them I wanted to do something other than just… sit around, twiddling my thumbs. I know this shit is dangerous but I can't stand the thought of not being able to do something."

"Do what?"

Hotaru jumped, turning towards the door. "Mom! When did you get here?"

Minako put her hands on her hips. "Just now, of course!"

My aunt Minako was the twin sister of my dad, younger by only a few minutes—though the two of them looked almost nothing alike. Minako had bright, fiery auburn hair, which reached down to her shoulder blades, her bangs parted to the side, half pulled back into a ponytail. She had the same warm red eyes as Hotaru. She wore a light orange and white striped sweater, a white scarf, white jeans, and beige knee-high boots. Fashionable, as always.

Then she turned to me, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Sonomi-chan! It's been so long!"

"Hello, Aunt—oof!"

I stumbled as Minako suddenly embraced me, holding me tight. She even lifted me slightly off my feet.

"You've grown up so pretty, Sonomi-chan!" She set me down, even rubbing the top of my head, as I kind of just stood there, stunned.

"Mom…" Hotaru groaned.

Akio tilted his head. "I dunno, Sonomin is still pretty short."

That snapped me out of my daze. I glared at him, before kicking at his shin. Unfortunately for me, all he did was step to the side to dodge it, pretending like it never happened. Jerk…

"Ah, well, height isn't everything." Minako shrugged.

"So says the woman who's actually average height," Hotaru grumbled.

"Awww, it just means you'll always be my baby, Hotaru-chan!" Minako cooed, patting Hotaru on the head.

She quickly ducked out of the way. "Quit it, Mom!"

"...Am I interrupting something?"

Mitsuru had come in, with Mom and Uncle Akihiko in tow. I was a bit surprised to see my uncle here… I thought he was busy with work? Was this… that important that he'd step away from his detective job?

Minako just laughed, waving her off. "Oh, it's nothing, Mitsuru-senpai!"

"Doesn't sound like 'nothing', Minako." Mom put a hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow at my aunt.

Akihiko sighed. "Mina…"

"Okay, okay, fine, I was just teasing Hotaru-chan." Minako shrugged. "But shall we get to business?"

Hotaru grumbled, pouting a bit as she crossed her arms and looked away from the adults.

Mom sighed, shaking her head. "Minako, you never really change, do you?"

"Aw, Yuka-chan, but I wouldn't be your best friend if I did!" Minako said with a grin. "Right, Aki?"

Akihiko shrugged. "I suppose not."

Mitsuru sighed. "Shall we sit down?"

We nodded before taking a seat. The adults sat down on one side: Akihiko, Minako, Mitsuru, and Mom. That left the other side for us. I sat across from Mitsuru with Hotaru and Akio taking the seats next to me. Why did I always end in between them? Were they averse to sitting next to each other?

"Sonomi…" Mom said my name slowly, clasping her hands together on the table in front of her. "What's this about Asphodel…?"

I looked down at my hands. Again, I'd… spent so much time going over what I wanted to say to our parents. But now that the moment had come… everything I had planned to say died on my lips. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I pursed my lips, squeezing my eyes shut. I had to listen to my friends' advice… I had to continue to be honest about how I felt. As hard… As hard as it would be.

My scar began to itch again, giving a painful twinge.

"I'm…" I let out a breath, opened my eyes, and looked up at them. "I was drawn to Asphodel. That night, I felt I had to go there. I… had no other choice. If Akio hadn't chased after me… I dunno. I might not have snapped out of it."

The adults seemed to wince in unison, even as my scar tingled with the memory.

"Come on, Sonomin, you're exaggerating…" Akio muttered.

"I'm not," I said sharply, turning to look at him. "I wanted to go inside. I… needed to go inside. Maybe if I can go in there… I'll learn something about myself."

That feeling… had never really gone away. Every night, during the Dark Hour, I felt pulled to that place. But now I was able to resist and ignore it. I struggled to sleep until midnight passed, but… the compulsion didn't overcome me. But it was still there. What if, someday, it overpowered me again? What would happen?

I… wanted to know. I needed to know.

"S-Sonomi…" Mom said. "No. This is about your safety. A-After what happened…" She trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Mom…" I faltered.

Tears had welled up in Mom's eyes, on the brink of falling. I didn't want my mother to be sad but… I wanted to do this for myself. Was that too much to ask? For their support and aid in this endeavor? We weren't asking to do this completely on our own… I thought this had been a reasonable request, yet… as my scar continued to itch, I couldn't help but wonder if that was wishful thinking.

"Sonomi… why? Couldn't it be anything else?" Mom all but pleaded, desperation in her voice. "I lost Minato already. On top of that, we almost lost Shinjiro-senpai during this too. Don't ask me this. Please."

"Huh? Uncle Shinji?" Hotaru asked, frowning.

Mom winced, wrapping her arms around herself.

"...It's a long story, sorry," Akihiko said quietly, which meant no one would elaborate.

"Never mind that," Akio said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're not listening to Sonomin. I get that you want her safe. It's why my parents wouldn't let me do anything when I awakened to my Persona. But it's beyond that. Sonomi wants answers. You can't just lock her away and force her to pretend nothing's happening. Besides, aren't you being hypocritical? Sonomi's the same age as when you experienced your Shadow incident."

I couldn't help but look over at Akio, eyes wide. I… hadn't expected him to support me so adamantly in this.

"It's different," Mitsuru insisted, shaking her head. "I formed the Shadow Operatives so high school students would never have to go through what we did."

"But… But…" The words were on the tip of my tongue, threatening to burst out. "You're not doing anything!"

Once again, the adults all looked at me in surprise. This time, I wasn't sure if it was because of my outburst or what I actually said.

"I understand that you're busy… you have other responsibilities… your jobs, your families… but doesn't that make us the perfect candidates to investigate the tower for you?"

Mom, Aunt Minako, Uncle Akihiko, and Mitsuru—they all exchanged looks.

"You… are not wrong," Mitsuru relented, slowly and reluctantly. "But regardless of the merits of your point, it is far too dangerous to send you into Asphodel."

My gaze flickered over to my mother, who was looking down at her hands, clasped together on the table once again. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

They… they were hiding something. Something else.

"...Something happened to me." My voice sounded oddly calm. "That's it, isn't it? My 'accident'."

Mom's head jerked up and she looked back up at me, eyes wide. "Sonomi, that's-"

"You're not telling the full truth," I retorted, interrupting her. "My eyes—they were brown, weren't they?"

Minako's eyes grew wide. "How did you-" She cut herself off and looked over at Akio. "Akio-kun…"

Akio gave a slight shrug. "I just showed her we used to be friends, is all."

Mitsuru let out a heavy sigh, pressing her fingers to her temple. "...Well, this changes matters."

Yukari's eyes grew wide and she turned to Mitsuru. "You can't be seriously considering this?"

"Mom, please…"

Once again, all eyes were on me. But I didn't balk this time.

"I don't want Dad's sacrifice to be in vain. I don't want… everything you and our family's friends have suffered to be for nothing." I pushed back my chair and stood up, looking at each of them—Mom, Aunt Minako, Uncle Akihiko, Mitsuru. "I don't… know why I of all people was chosen to have this… power. The power Dad had, the power Aunt Minako still has… But I was, and that has to mean something. We can do something about this! If you could do the impossible and stop the world from ending… why can't we?"

Mom's eyes were wide. "Sonomi…"

"Please… let us help. If your hands are tied, let us take care of this. Please."

For once in my life… I wanted to be of help to my mother, not a burden.

Mom let out a shaky breath, reaching into her purse to retrieve her handkerchief. She dabbed at her eyes, before setting her hand back down and meeting my gaze.

"If it means this much to you…" Mom gave a tired, but… somehow proud smile. "Then how can I say no?"

My eyes widened. "Really?"

Her smile grew sad, but she nodded. "Yes, really. But… promise me you'll be extra careful. And you'll do everything the Shadow Operatives tell you to. No ifs, ands, or buts. Understood?"

I stared at her for a moment, eyes still wide, before finally snapping out of my shock. Instead, I smiled and nodded. "Of course, Mom! We'll do everything you tell us to. Right, guys?" I looked back at my friends.

Akio let out a dramatic sigh. "I guess this once, I can follow orders."

Hotaru shot him a glare but then nodded. "Yeah, 'course! That's why we're here, asking for permission, and not sneaking into Asphodel by ourselves."

"Then you have my permission," Mom said, turning her gaze back to me. "And… my blessing."

"...Very well." Mitsuru cleared her throat. "I will start the paperwork to make this venture official. In the meantime—Akihiko, I trust you can handle seeing to their equipment?"

Akihiko nodded. "We can go over the basics. The rest… well, you know what they need."

Mitsuru nodded in return. "Indeed. Minako—I'll leave procuring the field equipment to you."

Minako dramatically saluted. "Leave it to me! Does this mean that SEES is officially being reborn?"

"I—I suppose you could say that," Mitsuru said after a moment of hesitation. "Hmm… perhaps we should call this Neo-SEES, then."

Mom made a face. "I'm just glad Junpei isn't here. He'd probably suggest something dumb like SEES 2.0 or something."

"Gotta count our small blessings," Akihiko quipped before standing up and pushing his seat in. "Come on, kids. I'll get you set up with the equipment."

Minako giggled before standing up too. She leaned up, kissing my uncle's cheek.

"Don't get too carried away with explaining things, Aki," she said with a teasing smile. "Don't want to overwhelm them."

Akihiko smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, yeah… We'll see you at dinner, yeah?"

"Count on it," she said with a wink. "Maybe we can drag Mitsuru-senpai and Tetsuya-kun. They work too hard! And Michi-chan too, of course!"

"Yeah, Tetsu never has time for me now!" Hikaru whined.

"Hikaru…" Tetsuya sighed.

"Don't I get any say in this?" Mitsuru complained.

"Nope~!" my aunt said in a sing-song voice, only to look back to my uncle. "Oh, Aki, by the way. If you head back to the police station and see Rui-chan, invite her to dinner! I'm a little worried about how she's been feeding herself. She looks so thin."

"Will do, Mina." Akihiko dropped a quick kiss against the crown of Minako's head. "I'll see you soon. Bye."

My mother, aunt, and Mitsuru said their farewells before my uncle proceeded to lead us out of the conference room.

"We'll have to get you clearance to purchase weapons," Akihiko muttered to himself.

"Wouldn't it be better for just one of us?" Hotaru asked. "I think it should be Sono-chan since she's our leader."

"Oh yeah, might save you some grief about coordinating. Sometimes Mina and Minato ran into that issue," Akihiko commented.

"Were they… good leaders?" I asked slowly.

Akihiko's face softened. "Yeah… I'll admit that your dad was pretty withdrawn in the beginning but he was a great guy once he started opening up. He even let me teach him some boxing." But then he grimaced. "Though… we did hit a snag for a bit…"

Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Yeah, when you asked Mom out."

My uncle immediately went red, sputtering as he tried to find the words to refute his daughter's statement, as he actually stopped walking. "Where did you—did your mother tell you that?"

Hikaru snickered. "'Course she did, Dad, y'know she loves embarrassing stories!"

I watched as my cousins snickered at their father's embarrassment, as my uncle rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. It was… nice… to see my family together like this. It reminded me of the years I lived with my aunt and uncle. It brought a tiny smile to my face.

Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. I glanced over at Akio, who stood next to me, hands in his pockets. He was looking at me, a soft smile on his lips.

I felt my cheeks flush. "...What?"

"Oh, nothin'," he said, his gaze flickering over to my family ahead of us. "Glad to see you're feeling more like yourself."

Oh.

"Really…?"

I honestly had no idea who the 'real' me was… but if Akio said this, I… wanted to believe him. My scar itched, drawing my hand to rest over it. He opened his mouth as if he was going to respond, but so did I, so he stopped himself. Since he didn't say anything, I found myself speaking, almost like I couldn't stop myself.

"I wish—I wish I could remember," I blurted. "I wish I remembered all the fun times we had together."

Akio's smile softened and he shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Sonomin. We'll have plenty of time to make new memories, yeah?"

My eyes widened. I… supposed he was right. Now that we were friends again, we'd have plenty of time to get to know each other… For once, that thought didn't fill me with trepidation. Instead, I felt… warmth flood my heart. I found myself blushing up at him, but… not without a smile of my own.

"I'd… I'd like that."

Akio cracked a grin, that lopsided smile of his that always made me feel… I don't know. Was this what happiness is like?

"Hey! You two!"

I jumped, startled, looking ahead to see Hikaru waving us down.

"C'mon, Dad's gonna show us weapons and stuff!"

I felt my face flush more. "R-Right! Sorry, we're coming."

Without another word, I hurried after my cousins and uncle, leaving Akio to follow after me.

After Akihiko introduced us to the Shadow Ops' armory, he said we needed to stop by the police station for something else. For that, we had to head to Paulownia Mall. But as soon as we reached the front of the station, Akio balked. He eyed the entrance, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Do I have to go in there?" he asked.

We all stopped and turned around to look at him.

"Why?" I asked.

Akio scrunched up his nose. "Look… I've never really liked the fuzz. With some exceptions obviously, like Zenkichi and Aunt Makoto. But my parole officer's a real pain in the ass."

Akihiko sighed. "I'll admit that… Fukuda isn't the nicest guy around. He's very dedicated to his work but…"

Akio scowled. "Even you don't like him."

"I didn't say that." Akihiko held up his hands. "But I guess I could take just Hotaru and Sonomi if you want to wait outside."

Akio nodded. "Thanks."

I bit my lip. A part of me wanted Akio to be there, though… While my uncle and cousin made for the door, I hesitated, glancing back at him behind me.

"...Akio? Could you come with us? Please…?"

His gaze immediately flickered to me, eyes widening slightly. He opened his mouth and shut it, before glancing away, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. I swear his cheeks even tinted pink…

"Uhhh… Fine. I guess I can come with…" he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Just this once, got it?"

Hotaru glanced back at us, rolling her eyes. "Uh-huh. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Amamiya."

I smiled up at Akio, before following after my cousin and uncle. Behind me, I heard Akio let out an exasperated sigh as he rejoined us.

Akihiko opened the door and gestured for us all to head inside. Hotaru stepped in first, so I followed her, and Akio followed after me, with my uncle walking in after, shutting the door behind us.

I had never been inside the police station before—or any police station, for that matter. Well, that I could remember… I supposed that it didn't really matter.

Akihiko went behind the front desk, speaking with the receptionist, which left us to… do whatever, I supposed. Hotaru walked up to the front desk, too. I looked around, unsure what to really do—until I noticed that Akio had lingered at the door, arms crossed over his chest, looking extremely unhappy.

He… really didn't want to be here, did he? Maybe I shouldn't have asked for him to come with us… I opened my mouth to say something to him, but never got the chance.

"Oi, Sanada." A brusque voice caught our attention as a tall, intimidating man came striding down the hallway that must have led further into the station. "Did you just bring Amamiya in?"

Akihiko looked up from speaking with the receptionist, a manila folder in hand. "Hm?" He glanced over at Akio, who had immediately stiffened at the sound of the voice, his lips turned down in a scowl. "No, but Amamiya's with me. Brought him with my daughter and niece to talk about some of the students that have gone missing from their school. That's all."

Growing up with Akihiko as both my uncle and a father figure, I'd come to have a very specific image of cops. My uncle was tall and broad shouldered and I swear his arms were so muscled they were as big around as my torso. He'd been insanely fit for as long as I could remember, always working out, always training, like he was ready to single handedly apprehend criminals. But now that I knew about Shadows… it made more sense now. He had silver hair, once cut but now growing out, gray eyes, and a neatly trimmed goatee. He wore a gray suit and slacks, a black dress shirt, a red knit scarf, and black boots. His badge was clipped to his belt, along with a holstered gun. Despite obviously being a police officer, he felt approachable.

The same could not be said about this other cop. It was true that he was well-built, though not as much as my uncle, but his features were stern and sharp. His graying black hair was slicked back, without a strand out of place. He wore a black dress shirt and slacks, paired with a dark gray vest and tie. Just seeing him immediately made me tense.

The cop narrowed his eyes as he approached Akio. "I find that hard to believe. What have you been doing these past few days, Amamiya?"

Akio scowled. "Going to school. What else?"

This earned him a glare. "Don't give me lip. It was an honest question."

I bit my bottom lip. I wanted to say something, but it was probably not a good idea… I didn't want to make anything worse for Akio.

"Fukuda, enough." Akihiko sighed, folding his arms over his chest. "Amamiya hasn't done anything wrong. You don't have to grill him like that."

Fukuda scoffed. "Don't let him fool you, Sanada. I know you're acquainted with his parents so you shouldn't let bias cloud your judgment."

"So he's guilty until proven innocent, huh?" Hotaru muttered under her breath.

Fukuda's eyes shifted over to Hotaru. "Is there something you wish to say to me?"

Akihiko quickly stepped in front of Hotaru, blocking her from Fukuda's view. "Enough, Fukuda. Amamiya may fall under your jurisdiction but my daughter doesn't."

There was a warning edge to his voice. He was always pretty protective of my cousins; probably since he was orphaned so young and lost his sister at the age of eight.

"...Hmph." The cop—this Fukuda—turned away from them. For a moment, his gaze landed on me and I almost flinched. "You'd best stay away from that boy. Who knows what kinds of trouble he'd get you in."

And with that, he turned around and walked away, leaving us alone.

"...Jerk," I mumbled.

"That's an understatement," Hotaru muttered. "Who even is that guy?"

"...Saburo Fukuda, my probation officer," Akio answered stiffly. "He has it out for me, just waiting for me to slip up and make a mistake so they can ship me off to Juvy. He hates my dad too, for whatever reason."

"Jeez…" Hotaru shook her head. "Anyway, what did you wanna show us, Dad?"

Akihiko came out from behind the front counter, still holding that manila envelope. He gestured for us to follow him, so we did. He led us back into the station, to his desk. Once there, he sat down and flipped open the envelope. We gathered around the desk to see what was inside. I frowned, taking note of the photographs of various people… including teenagers in Gekkoukan uniforms.

"What's this, Uncle Akihiko?" I asked.

Akihiko winced. "Missing persons."

…Oh.

"Dad… why are you showing us this?" Hotaru asked, frowning.

"Back with Tartarus… people would sometimes wander inside. If they weren't rescued in time, the Shadows inside would eat their psyche and they wound up with Apathy Syndrome," Akihiko explained grimly. "We believe it's the same with Asphodel… even though the cases of Apathy Syndrome have gone off the charts, more alike to the final days leading up to Nyx's arrival… But I digress." He looked up at us. "Hotaru should be able to let you know when she finds a missing person, but we keep files on everyone gone missing. We should be able to slip you a reward once they've been rescued-"

"But why would we need a reward?" Akio interrupted. "It's the right thing to do."

My uncle smiled. "Heh, you sound just like your parents. You're absolutely right, you don't need a reward—but you deserve one."

"If there is anything we can do to help these people, we will," I said. "You can count on it, Uncle Akihiko."

He gave me a smile, too. "I know we can. You're our kids, after all. But I won't deny that I'm… apprehensive about sending you kids in there." He sighed. "Just don't push yourselves too hard and rely on each other. No playing hero. Understood?"

"We won't, Dad," Hotaru stated firmly. "We'll be careful. I promise."

Akihiko's gaze shifted to his daughter. Something flickered in his eyes—pride, maybe? But before he could respond, there was a loud shout.

"You are late!" A man's booming voice nearly made us all jump. "And you missed the meeting! Your behavior has repeatedly treaded the line of unprofessionalism, Shirogane. I'm not sure what the higher ups expected, hiring a teenage girl as a consultant detective. There have been no results—simply more victims."

A potbellied middle-aged man had come storming through the office, stopping at a closed door, with none other than Rui following after him.

"My apologies, sir," my cousin responded, sounding almost despondent. "It won't happen again."

The man opened the door, before turning towards her. "You're right, it won't. Because you are fired. We may have humored your mother's referral, but that ends now. You are no Shirogane detective. Now go do whatever you girls do—shopping and gossiping and fucking around with boys or whatever."

I just stared. And Rui stared, too.

All the color had drained from my cousin's face. "Sir, I… beg your pardon?"

The man rolled his eyes. "You heard me. Or are you stupid? You're fired, girl. Now get out."

Every single person in the office had stopped whatever they were doing to stare.

Rui's gaze flickered around the room, as she must have realized that all eyes were on her. Then her eyes returned to the man in front of her. She seemed to gather herself, regaining her composure—or whatever dignity she had left.

"...My apologies. Good luck with the case."

And with that, she turned and walked briskly out of the office. Leaving us to kind of just stand there, stunned at what we just witnessed.

"What the fuck," Akio said very loudly. Which, of course, got all eyes on us.

Akihiko cleared his throat. "Now's not the time, Akio."

Akio scowled, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away. "...Fine, whatever."

My uncle pushed back his chair, standing up. "I'll see you out of the station. Then I need to catch up with Rui. I did promise Minako I'd invite her to dinner."

Hotaru winced. "Is Rui gonna be okay? That was… yikes."

"Incredibly inappropriate," Akihiko agreed. "But like I said, now's not the time. Don't worry, it will be dealt with." He closed the manila envelope and picked it up. "Let's go."

He didn't have to tell us twice. We were all happy to leave the police station.

And I… couldn't help but worry about my cousin, too.

We went back to the dorm after that, saying goodbye to Hotaru and Akihiko. A lot had happened today and I wanted to at least step inside Asphodel tonight, so… I needed some time to breathe. I retired to my room to simply… lie down and try to process everything. Somehow I went from wanting to end my life, to… wanting to live and find my happiness.

All because my friends… hadn't given up on me. I didn't want to let them down.

I… didn't want to let my mom down, either.

I was grateful for both Hotaru and Akio and what they had spoken with me about. And… Akio, especially. He was the one who had talked me down from the roof. He'd been so kind to me. Maybe not so much at the beginning, but I wasn't exactly nice to him either. But ever since we'd come to a mutual understanding, things were… different.

Akio had saved me from more than that Shadow. He'd saved me from… from myself. I felt like I could tell him anything. It really did feel like we'd been friends forever, even though I couldn't remember my early childhood at all… His presence was comforting. I felt safe around him, like I… could be myself… whoever that was.

I couldn't help but wonder… was this what happiness felt like? Friendship? Or was there more to it?

I thought I knew what friendship felt like. I thought I understood my feelings for my friends—for Ryo, Toshi, and Michiko. I loved Hotaru like a sister, so of course that was different. Sometimes it felt like Hotaru knew just how to read me, but there were other times where she would embarrass me so much with what she knew… Michiko was so kindhearted and sweet; in a way, she felt almost like a little sister to me. Ryo could be so silly sometimes, with how he'd joke around. But… he always made people smile. Toshi was always reliable, a steadying presence to all of us.

But what I felt about Akio… there was something else to it, to my feelings, that I couldn't place.

All of this was churning in my mind as I rested. And that was what compelled me to get up.

Nighttime had come much too fast. I needed to change into my uniform, since we decided to wear them into Asphodel like SEES before us. But I didn't quite want to do that just yet… There was something important I needed to do before we stepped inside that tower.

I… needed Akio to know how grateful I was for him. For his friendship. After today, I just… I couldn't leave it unsaid.

So I left my room. I headed downstairs to the boys' floor. Thankfully, it was late enough that Sora most likely had already gone to bed. He'd been flightier than usual today… I hoped everything was okay.

But now I stood at the door to Akio's dorm room, trying to muster the courage to knock. Why was this such a big deal? I was just going to thank him for being a good friend…

I lifted my hand to knock, but… wavered. What if I was bothering him? He was probably getting ready for our trip to Asphodel… which I should be doing too, but…

No… I could do this. It wasn't a big deal.

I knocked on the door.

A moment or two later, the door clicked open. There stood Akio, running his fingers through his messy blond curls, like he was trying to fix them. He wasn't dressed for Asphodel yet, still wearing his black sweater and jeans. He raised his eyebrow at me.

"Sonomin? Everything okay?"

"H-Huh?" My eyes widened at the question, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. "Oh, um, yes, everything's fine. I just—I just wanted to…" My determination wavered, my bottom lip quivering as I averted my gaze, unable to look at him. "I just wanted to thank you… for not giving up on me."

I realized I could have just… texted him this. But no, I… I needed to say this in person.

For a moment there was silence, and so I dared to look back up at him. Akio was… smiling at me, almost… amusedly.

"'Course, Sonomin," he said. "That's what friends are for, yeah?"

Friends… Of course. I'd been away from my friends for so long, that I forgot what it was like to have them. Maybe… I could do this Social Link thing after all.

"And…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "I just want you to know that I'll have your back. Always."

My eyes widened, my cheeks burning. "A-Akio, I…" I managed a tiny smile. "Thank you. I'll, um, always have your back too."

He smiled at me again, making my heart stutter. But then he seemed to fidget, tugging at the cuff of his sweater.

After what felt like an eternity of excruciating silence, he spoke. "I just wanna say... I'm glad you're back in my life again, Sonomin. I really missed you these past ten years."

My eyes widened at that. "Even though... I've changed a lot?"

Akio shrugged. "I mean, I'd say I changed a lot over the years too. Still means a lot that we get to see each other every day."

My cheeks started to grow warm. "I… I didn't know I meant that much to you..."

Akio took a slight step back and his cheeks went pink. "I mean... we were really little when we first met. And it meant a lot that you were my friend. Jin's the only kid out of my family's friends who's my age. The others... they're more Suzu's friends. Jin and I've always been everybody's big brothers."

"A-Akio..." I could feel tears begin to well up in my eyes. "I-I'm sorry..."

Akio shrugged before giving a small smile. "Not your fault. Now, if I ever meet the bastard who caused the incident? That's a different story."

I managed a weak smile before rubbing at my eyes. God, why was I so emotional all of a sudden? Maybe Akio was right all along… about me having a big heart. But where had it been all these years? Why was it suddenly coming back? I didn't understand any of this… what was happening to me.

I wanted to do more, to show my gratitude. I mean, Akio pretty much spelled out that he was struggling as well. I wanted him to be happy too.

I just wished I knew how to make him happy. Akio seemed to just… know what to say to me, to change my mindset around.

Words just didn't feel like enough.

"But hey... you should rest up. Finish getting ready. Can't have our leader nodding off when we head to Asphodel, yeah?"

My eyes widened, but I nodded. "Um... right."

But as he turned to go, I found more panic bubbling up within me. No… I didn't want him to go just yet. I still had so much to say.

"Wait!" I blurted, reaching to grab him by his sleeve, and he stopped in his tracks. He glanced back at me, raising an eyebrow, asking a silent question.

"You… mean a lot to me too, Akio," I mumbled. "Not because of everything you've done for me, but... you just mean a lot to me."

That was… the only way I could really put it. I could think of a million different words to use in the lyrics of a song once upon a time. But now, they just… failed me.

Akio smiled sheepishly. "Aw, Sonomin… I didn't do much."

I shook my head, looking down at his hand as I still hung onto his sleeve. "But… but you did, Akio. Despite everything, you still have been a friend to me… even when I didn't deserve it. You've saved me more than once… Words can't describe how grateful I am."

Words… I didn't really have any left. And that was why I let go of his sleeve and impulsively threw my arms around him in a hug. For a moment, Akio… froze… but before I could panic again, I felt him relax. He slipped his arms around me and gave me a gentle squeeze.

It felt… nice… to be in his arms. Akio felt warm, solid, safe. I buried my face into his chest. His sweater was soft, but he was firm beneath. And he… smelled of coffee, cinnamon, and earthy tones… I felt him lift one hand from my waist to tenderly run his fingers through my hair.

I didn't… want to let go. I wanted to stay here, in his arms. Safe and secure. There was… nowhere else I rather be. It felt… right.

Almost like how… Mom once talked about the first time Dad had hugged her.

Mom didn't talk about Dad often… it made her too sad. But I remembered the time Miyako had gone to Mom for advice… for when she started to like Kenshin.

She wanted to know how Mom knew Dad was special. And so Mom had told Miyako about the first time they had really opened up to each other, on a summer night at Yakushima. And how it was the first time he had hugged her… made her feel safe.

Her words echoed in my mind. "I didn't know it at that moment, but that was when your dad became like my home."

Home… Somewhere safe and secure. Just like how I felt now, in Akio's arms.

"Sonomi?"

Akio's voice yanked me out of my thoughts. My cheeks burned as I dared to look up at him.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his dark eyes filling with concern.

Butterflies burst to life in my stomach. I let go of him, hastily taking a step back and putting some space between us.

"I'm, um… I guess I feel a bit lightheaded after everything today," I lied. "Maybe I'll lay down for a bit before we go to Asphodel tonight."

Akio squinted at me. "I don't think that's what's bothering you."

How… How did he read me so well? I looked away from him, down at my hands, where I tugged at the sleeve of my sweater.

"It's just—it's stupid."

"Sonomi." His almost stern tone compelled me to look back up at him. "Whatever it is—whatever you think, whatever you feel. It's not stupid."

I couldn't help but stare at him, my face still burning. Honestly, how have I not spontaneously combusted yet… No one had ever made me react the way he did. No one had ever made me feel the way he did. Not… even Sora.

Still, I bit my bottom lip. I looked down at my feet.

"What… what would you say if I told you… if I told you that, just now, I… I didn't want to leave your arms."

There was a long, heavy pause. But I was too afraid to look up… too afraid to see his expression.

I didn't understand. Ever since arriving at Port Island, I felt like some part of me had… changed. I had spent so many years feeling… hollow semblances of emotion, if anything at all. But that day on television, when I lost my temper… It was like something had broken. The carefully cultivated wall I'd surrounded myself in had cracked. And returning home, to a place so steeped in memories… so full of loss, grief, regret… A place full of lost memories, stolen from me, yet still there, still lingering. The ghost of who I used to be.

The rage. The heartbreak. The despair. Seeing everything that had been lost to me, because of that fateful day I had no memory of… The bitterness gnawed at my soul, eating away my will to live… compelling me to believe everything was pointless.

And despite it all, my friends and family brought me some… shadow of hope. Akio, especially… I didn't understand why any of this was happening.

"What would I say?" Akio's light laugh finally drew me to look up at him, but the laugh was not at my expense. "I'd say the feeling's mutual."

My eyes widened. "H-Huh?"

Akio reached up to run his hand through his hair. "C'mon, Sonomin. "I wouldn't have asked you if you wanted a date with me if I didn't like you, you know."

I stared at him.

In that moment, I… wished I could shut off my feelings. I felt all the heat rush to my face, my heart nearly burst out of my chest. My bottom lip quivered. Tears welled up in my eyes. I could hardly believe what I just heard him say… It didn't make sense to me. How… How could he have feelings for me? I was…

"I… I don't… I don't understand…" I shook my head, clutching my hand to my chest. "Why…? I'm…" My voice trailed off. I couldn't finish the statement.

He was quiet for a moment, having shoved his hands into his pockets, his dark gaze flickering to the floor. "You're not… 'broken', Sonomi." He looked back up. "You went through hell. You lost so much, but you're still fighting. And sometimes... it takes others to see the good in you before you believe it."

Sometimes it takes others to see the good in you before you believe it. He… spoke that from personal experience, didn't he?

Akio cracked a lopsided smile at me, but there was a… softness in his eyes. "So I'll tell you every day how beautiful you are, inside and out. If you'll let me, anyway."

All I could do was stare at him. The tears that had been threatening to fall finally spilled out onto my cheeks. Maybe I'd never understand… Emotions were so confusing. But he spoke those words with such soft honesty, I… I had no choice but to believe it. He'd never lied to me yet. Why would he choose to start now?

I opened my mouth to say something, but still I could find no words. Instead, I took a step forward, then another, and another, until I was close enough to hug him again. Akio pulled me into his arms without a second thought. I buried my face into his chest, choking back a sob.

"It's okay, Sonomin." His voice was soft… gentle. He kept one arm wrapped around me, while the other ran his fingers through my hair. "I'm not going anywhere."

I wasn't sure how long we stood there like this. Everything I'd felt today just came tumbling out in my tears. Akio didn't say anything else. He simply… held me… let me cry it out. By the time I managed to stop crying and pulled back, I'd left a wet spot on his shirt. But he didn't seem to care, looking down at me with another one of his soft smiles.

What did I do to deserve this…

"Better?" he asked.

I nodded, before tucking in my chin, suddenly feeling shy. "Akio, I…"

"It's okay if you still don't have an answer," he said, as if he could read my mind. "You've been through a lot today, Sonomi. I'm here for you, regardless of what we are."

I… didn't deserve his friendship. Or his feelings.

"Right now, though…" He put his hands on my shoulders and gently pushed me back. "We should finish getting ready to go into Asphodel."

I nodded, wiping my eyes with my sleeve. "Right… I'll um, see you in a bit, then…"

He nodded, cracking another one of his lopsided grins. "We'll show them Shadows what for."

I finished strapping the holster around my waist. I let my hand drift over to where the Evoker was tucked away. To think I was about to embark on a journey, similar to my parents' before me… I'd only been here for a week and yet my entire life had been turned upside down.

Yet the girl that stood before in the mirror looked the same. The same vacant stare. The same emotionless face. Would I ever change?

I pushed the thought out of my mind. There was no point in thinking about that.

I tightened the ribbon securing my ponytail before I went to fetch the weapon I had selected. I had decided to go with a shortsword. I had tried some of the weapons that the Shadow Operatives had available, but some of them were too heavy to even lift. A shortsword would suit me just fine, plus Aunt Minako had taught me some swordsmanship when I was living with my aunt and uncle.

I opened the door and headed downstairs. Akio was standing by the front doors as I stepped down into the lobby.

"Hey, Sonomin."

My heart nearly leaped out of my chest at the sound of his voice. God, what was wrong with me?

"…Hi," I mumbled, avoiding meeting his gaze as I walked over towards the doors. "Do you have everything?"

"Yep, got my Evoker and dagger," Akio said with a nod. "Though… do you think Sanada should've picked out a weapon? I know she's back-up and all, but do ya think a Shadow might try to go after her too?"

"Knowing her, she probably will bring her boxing gloves," I said, after a moment. "Uncle Akihiko taught her from a young age. He tried teaching me too but… I guess I didn't have the same aptitude as her."

Hotaru always loved sports. It was in her blood, I guess. Uncle Akihiko could've pursued boxing on the professional level, but he decided to become a police detective. Aunt Minako was pretty athletic herself; she was a part of the Gekkoukan volleyball club for the two years she was at Gekkoukan. Not to mention all this secret work fighting Shadows…

"You'll be fine, Sonomin," Akio reassured me. "Come on, let's head out. Wouldn't put it past Sanada to use her Persona to yell at us to hurry up to Asphodel if we don't move it."

"Right."

I watched as he carefully opened the door, sucking in a breath as it gave a creak. I glanced towards the stairs.

"Narukami's asleep. I could hear him snoring a bit when I snuck down," Akio informed me, as if he read my mind.

A wave of relief washed over me. Last thing we needed was Sora finding out about the Dark Hour. At least he'd be safe while transmogrified.

I followed him out and heard the door click shut behind me, as I found myself pausing and looking up at the sky. Seeing the moon with its sickly glow… it unsettled me.

I couldn't explain it, but I've always been drawn to the moon. Seeing it… had always calmed me. But this? It just made my stomach twist itself into knots… And there was the horrible, nagging feeling that compelled me to enter that cursed tower. It gnawed at my stomach even now. Even my scar began to itch.

Akio, having walked on ahead, paused as he must have realized I wasn't following him. He glanced behind him.

"Sonomin? You good?"

I found myself looking away from him again, biting my bottom lip. I didn't understand… Why did he care so much about me? He doesn't know me. I don't even know me.

"Sonomi?"

"...I'm fine," I lied, hurriedly walking up to him so I could catch up. "Let's go."

He seemed to study me, like he saw right through my lie. My cheeks flushed and again, I had to look away. Seriously… What was wrong with me? Akio had never bothered me like this before… Had his… confession… truly gotten to me that much?

But instead of saying anything, Akio shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. "If you say so."

Silence fell between us. I took that as my cue to lead the way to Gekkoukan High School.

By the time we reached the gates of our school, the Dark Hour was only a couple of minutes away. Just like we expected, Hotaru had already arrived. She stood beside a pink motorcycle of all things, arms crossed, dressed in her uniform with her holster strapped around her waist. She looked up at the sound of our footsteps. Magenta headphones hung around her neck.

"There you guys are," she said, standing up straight. "Took you long enough."

"...Sorry," I muttered, as we came to a stop in front of her. "But since when do you have a motorcycle?"

"Oh, this?" She patted the bike. "Aunt Mitsuru gave it to me. It's designed after the motorcycle she used back when the Dark Hour first existed. It's installed with a plume of dusk so it can operate during the Dark Hour."

Plume… of dusk…. Where had I heard of this before?

My scar twinged painfully. I winced, pressing my hand against my chest. My friends both immediately looked at me with concern.

"What is… a plume of dusk?" I asked slowly.

Hotaru seemed to hesitate. "They're… fragments. Fragments of Nyx's body. They look like feathers, and Aunt Mitsuru has described them as 'similar to a living thing, yet different'. I don't fully understand it myself."

"Huh." Akio shoved his hands into his pockets. "That's a pretty useful thing to have just lying around."

"The Shadow Ops tracks 'em down to make sure they don't fall into the wrong hands," Hotaru continued. "Imagine if a group like the Cult of Nyx got ahold of some plumes. I don't even want to think of what could happen."

A shudder rippled through my body. I suddenly felt nauseous, my scar growing hot. Ugh… Why did it have to act up now? The Dark Hour would be here in a few moments.

As if on cue, the atmosphere shifted. The moonlight turned green, bringing with it the heaviness upon our shoulders. Blood splatters puddled on the ground. There were no other people nearby, but the city would be full of coffins now. And behind us came the loud cacophony of Gekkoukan transforming into the ominous tower, Asphodel.

Immediately, Hotaru's demeanor shifted, as she looked up at the sky. "...It's time."

"Uh…" Akio stared at the same thing I was seeing. "It sure wasn't like this before when we came here."

"What are you-" Hotaru turned around, only for her eyes to widen. "Holy hell."

A garden had bloomed in the courtyard. A garden of ghostly flowers. Spectral pomegranate trees overshadowed the cherry trees, laden with fruit. Flowering shrubs swayed in the nonexistent wind, much like the flowers that peppered the tower itself. It was… beautiful, in its eerie way.

And yet, I felt… drawn to this spectral garden. I stepped up to the gate, opened it, and stepped inside.

"Sonomi, hold on-" I heard Hotaru begin to say.

Ignoring her, I proceeded further into the courtyard. In the deathly silence, all you could hear was our footsteps. I walked past the pomegranate trees by the gate, past the flowering bushes, Past patches of ghostly flowers similar to the ones blooming on the tower itself. I had a nagging feeling that these sights should be unsettling to me, yet I felt quite the opposite.

I felt… at peace here.

"...This place gives me the creeps," I heard Akio mutter as my friends followed me. "Feels like a Shadow's gonna jump out of the bushes."

"At least I can confirm there are no Shadows here," Hotaru said slowly. Cautiously. "I sense them in the tower, though. So many of them."

I stopped at the entrance to the tower, looking up at the massive, towering structure. It loomed above… probably menacingly to the others, but it didn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, it still called to me… the urge to enter practically overpowering. I barely noticed my friends stop on either side of me.

"...So this is it, huh," Akio said. "The big ol' Shadow nest."

"Yep." Hotaru turned towards both of us. "Let's go inside. Mom said that the lobby is safe, just like with Tartarus. We can-"

I reached for the doors without thinking, unsure of how they were even supposed to open. The doors immediately responded to me, sliding open.

"-set up base there..." Hotaru's eyes widened slightly. "Sono-chan, are you okay?"

A sharp pang shot through my head. I pressed a hand to my temple, wincing. For a moment, I felt woozy… but it passed almost immediately. My scar continued to tingle.

"I'm… fine."

Akio narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. "You looked like you were about to pass out there, Sonomin. You sure you're okay?"

I felt my cheeks flush at his concern and I hastily looked away. "...I'm fine."

Hotaru eyed us both. "...Right. Well, let's go inside."

Before either of them could say anything else, I walked through the entrance.

I wasn't sure what I'd expected. But it certainly wasn't stepping into another garden. But this one wasn't full of spectral vegetation.

"Whoa…" Akio breathed, eyes wide. "Okay, this definitely wasn't what I expected of the evil tower of doom."

Even Hotaru looked shocked, her eyes wide, too. "This… is not how Mom described Asphodel to me."

A flourishing garden spread out around us. Grass grew at the edges of a gray cobblestone path that led up to a stone staircase. The stone staircase gave way to a circular, clocklike door. Trees blossomed with pomegranate flowers or heavy with pomegranate fruit. Flowers like the ghostly ones on the tower, but corporeal—that I could now recognize as asphodels—grew in patches throughout the massive room. It was deathly silent, vacant of any other life you'd find in such an area, like birds or insects. Yet… I found myself at peace. I belonged here.

"...Elysium." The word suddenly came to me, on the tip of my tongue. "Elysium, not Asphodel."

Hotaru turned towards me, frowning. "What?"

"Elysium," I repeated, looking over at her. "That's the name of this place."

My cousin narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "And how do you know that?"

"I… I don't know." I looked away from her. "It just came to me."

This was all so… strange… I didn't understand. How on earth would I know this place's name?

Hotaru shook her head and sighed. "Let's just… move on. I need to bring my bike in, so give me a sec."

Akio and I watched as she headed back outside. Once she was gone, I returned my attention back to the staircase. I was so close… so close to finally going inside. Maybe then this compulsion would finally die down.

"Well…" I glanced over to see Akio shove his hands into his pockets. "It's prettier than a Palace, I guess."

Right… Palaces were where Shadows congregated in the Metaverse, weren't they? He'd been to one, if I recall correctly… though he never shared with me the circumstances surrounding that. That was how he awakened to his Persona. It'd remain a mystery, I suppose.

"You've had experience with exploring a Shadow nest, right?" I asked before biting my lip. "Maybe you should be the leader then…"

Akio's eyes widened slightly. "Aw, Sonomin." I started as he put a hand on my shoulder. He gave me an encouraging smile. "I didn't see much, though. My folks all but outright banned me from going back, after I awakened to Odysseus. This is a new experience, for the both of us."

"Uhhh… am I interrupting something?"

I jumped at my cousin's voice. She was holding onto her motorcycle, her head cocked at us.

"Don't get your panties in a twist, Sanada," Akio said. "Just reassuring Sonomin about something."

Hotaru scowled. "Is that what you're calling it now?"

"H-Huh?" I sputtered.

Akio finally stepped away from me. "So… how are we doing this?"

"I will stay here. Unfortunately." Hotaru made a face. "You and Sonomi will start the exploration. I think we should take it slow, since we're all new at fighting Shadows."

I nodded. "That makes sense."

"And I noticed you're using a shortsword," Hotaru noted, nodding to my weapon. "What about you, Amamiya?"

"Just these daggers my dad gave me." Akio unsheathed two daggers, which were around the length of my forearm.

"Hmm… looks like your weapons both do slashing damage, then."

"Slashing?" I asked.

"Physical attacks basically have three classes—slash, pierce, and strike. Shadows have different affinities, you know. They'll be able to resist certain types of magic and usually have a weakness to one," Hotaru explained. "This also applies to Personas. Actually—I can tell you your affinities now, one sec."

She pulled out her Evoker, pressing it against her temple.

"Arturia!"

My eyes widened at how easily she had just done that. Hotaru jolted from the force, glass shattering on the other side of her head and blue light swirling around for a moment before finally materializing into a Persona.

Unlike ours, Hotaru's Persona surrounded her. It resembled a lady knight in golden armor, surrounded by a giant metal ring embellished with three circular shields—one red, one green, and one purple. The knight had flowing pale blonde hair, tied back in a low, loose ponytail with a red ribbon, some strands of hair plaited back in a braid. Her bangs fell into her face, nearly covering her eyes, save for a single red eye. It was a stark contrast to her pitch black skin. A gold crown sat upon her brow and she wielded a matching sword.

This… wasn't what I was expecting for a Persona that specializes in analysis.

The Persona—Arturia—lowered her blade, resting it on Hotaru's shoulder. A golden visor immediately dropped down over her eyes.

"Okay, so… Sonomi first," Hotaru muttered. "Your element is nuclear magic."

"Nuclear?" I frowned.

"Yeah, it's one of the rarer elements," Hotaru said. "You'll pretty much be able to make things explode. So you resist nuclear magic and your weakness is fire."

"Fire…" I repeated faintly to myself.

"Amamiya… you have two elements? That's a surprise. Electricity and dark magic. And your weakness is… water."

"Water?" I repeated.

"Yeah, there's a bunch of types of magic." Hotaru then dismissed Arturia, who vanished into blue mist. "The most common are fire, ice, electricity, wind, light, and dark. Nuclear, psychokinesis, water, and earth tend to be rarer."

"Jeez… ten elements," Akio muttered.

"Eh, if Wallemon can have eighteen, we'll be fine." Hotaru shrugged. "Try not to get too caught up in the semantics. Let's start with getting your feet wet."

She then reached into her pocket, pulling out a few items.

"But first, here are some healing items. Some medicine for your injuries. You can't be too careful. Not with Shadows. Probably best to get a pouch or something to hold your medicine later, but it'll do for now."

I nodded, taking the medicine from her. Hotaru then placed her hands on her hips.

"So… are you ready to head out?"

"I'm ready if Sonomin is." Akio shrugged.

"U-Um… right." I sighed. "Please support us as much as you can, Hotaru. I'll… need it."

"I've got your back, Sono-chan, don't worry," Hotaru reassured. "And I guess, Amamiya's." She shot him a withering look. "But anyways, good luck you guys!"

I nodded before heading up the stairs. I could hear Akio following me. I gripped my Evoker like it was my lifeline. Maybe… it was.

The clocklike entrance slid open, parting into two separate doors. I gulped. We were really going to do this… I couldn't help but glance back at Akio, who was behind me. He caught my gaze, giving me a reassuring smile and a nod. I wasn't sure why, but… a wave of relief washed over me. I managed a small smile, before facing forward again… and walking through the doors.

We stepped into another garden.

This one was just as lush as the lobby's, if not more. Trees lined the walls, some flowering and others not. It was hard to tell the color of anything, because unlike in the lobby, the eerie green moonlight came in through the windows. There was another cobblestone path to follow, but this one was lined with asphodel flowers. A long hallway stretched out before us. I couldn't help but wonder… had Tartarus been like this? I still had so many questions to ask…

I took a deep breath and steeled myself. I could do this. This was what I wanted. And I wasn't alone. I had Akio with me and Hotaru's support on the outside.

We began to make our way down the hall and stopped at a corner, when I suddenly heard a voice.

"Can you guys hear me?"

I jumped, nearly bumping into Akio. "H-Hotaru?"

"Relax, it's part of my Persona's powers. It lets me communicate with you."

"I never got this, is this telepathy?" Akio interjected.

"Kind of telepathy… it just projects my voice to your mind? Aunt Fuuka is strong enough to project her own thoughts, but—ugh, anyway, not important!" Hotaru huffed. "Look, you need to get every advantage you can get. So I would advise you to proceed slowly. If you're at a corner, you can do stuff like… peeking at the other side. See if you can sneak up on a Shadow with its back turned."

"And… attack it?" I asked.

"Yeah, exactly. The goal is to catch it off guard."

"Okay… I'll try," I said hesitantly.

I leaned forward, doing as Hotaru had advised, peeking out from the corner. There was a Shadow idly wandering around, its back turned—a dark blob with many arms. Biting my bottom lip, I glanced back at Akio. Once again, he flashed me a reassuring smile. My heart gave a nervous squeeze, but I quickly pushed that feeling aside. I needed to focus. I closed my eyes and took another deep breath.

I could do this. I would.

I lunged forward, slashing with my sword. The blade cut into the creature's ichorous flesh. The Shadow roared before splitting into two.

The black blob reformed, one becoming like… an eyeball with a tongue. That was kinda gross… The other became like a boulder with a mask on it.

"Okay, I want you to try using your Personas for this," Hotaru informed us. "I'll scan the enemy, just lemme know which."

"I'll go first, then." Akio took a deep breath, before pressing his Evoker to his temple. "Go! Odysseus!"

The sight of Akio's head jerking to the side and glass shattering out the other side would never… not be unsettling. Odysseus appeared with a flash. The tip of the scythe's blade crackled with yellow electricity. He swiped forward, a tiny bolt of lightning surging forward and striking the eyeball, right on its tongue.

The Shadow shrieked, falling backward. Odysseus then moved again, killing it with the same electric spell. It erupted into shadowy energy, which dissipated after mere seconds.

"Your turn, Sonomin." Akio looked at me.

My eyes widened. "R-Right…"

I fumbled with my Evoker, raising it to my forehead. I squeezed my eyes shut. I could do this… I didn't want to be a weak little girl anymore. I wasn't a weak little girl anymore. Whoever had hurt me all those years ago… whoever who turned me into who I am today… They couldn't hurt me anymore. I wouldn't let them.

I pulled the trigger.

My head jerked back as the force struck me and I could feel Jeanne forming above me.

For some reason, a word I've never heard of floated in my mind.

Frei.

I looked up to see a bright blue ball of energy forming above the blue-green butterfly mark on Jeanne's chest. Her wings unfurled further, arching upwards. And then the ball hurled towards the Shadow.

It exploded on contact, the force knocking the Shadow flat.

"Perfect! You can go in for an All-Out Attack now!" Hotaru exclaimed. "Basically, if you can knock down all Shadows in combat, you—as a group—will be able to whale on 'em!"

I blinked, looking down at my sword.

"That's why it's good to keep your equipment updated," Hotaru explained. "But what are you waiting for? Go in for an All-Out Attack!"

"Ready, Sonomin?" Akio called out to me.

I nodded.

"Let's kick some ass then!"

We ran forward and rushed the Shadow, using our weapons to beat it up. We hacked and slashed at the monster. The Shadow roared before it went… poof in a puff of smoke. There was a tiny shard left, though, from the mask.

And… a card?

I reached out, picking up the card first. The back was a calming blue, stamped with a dark blue mask. I turned it over and I noticed a picture of a fairy. Then the card suddenly dissipated.

But then I heard a voice whisper in my mind. Yet, this time, I wasn't… startled.

Thou art I… and I am thou.

"Pixie…" I murmured.

Was this… another Persona? Pixie?

"Sonomi?"

I jolted back to reality, looking up at Akio with wide eyes.

"You kinda zoned out there…" he said slowly.

"Yeah… I'm fine," I answered. "I think I got another Persona."

"Oh?" He cracked a grin. "Awesome! So for you to get more Personas, we gotta beat up Shadows! Seems simple enough."

"Good job, you two," Hotaru said, sounding rather pleased. "You're off to a great start. We'll have a good report to make to Aunt Mitsuru!"

Akio made a face. "No one said anything about having to write up reports."

I could practically hear my cousin snicker. "Don't worry, Amamiya, that job is left to our leader, Sonomi."

I sighed, pouting. "Of course it is…"

A wave of fatigue rushed over me. For a moment, the world seemed to sway and I staggered. Akio immediately put a hand on my shoulder to steady me.

"Whoa there, Sonomin. You okay?"

I winced, shaking my head and resting my hand over my chest, where my scar's pain had reduced to a tingle.

"Tired…" I muttered. "It's been a long day…"

"We'll call it here, then," Hotaru said. "This was a good first step into Asphodel—er, I mean, Elysium. We're gonna have to report that, y'know."

"I think that's a problem for future Sonomin," Akio said, not taking his eyes off of me. "Present Sonomin looks like she's about to take a nap on Elysium's floor."

If Hotaru sighed, we certainly heard it. "All right, yeah, I'll meet you guys in the lobby."

My cousin's voice disappeared from our heads. I took a step forward, but my legs immediately wobbled. Before I could lose my footing, Akio caught me by the hand.

"Hey now, maybe you should take it easy," he said. "If you're too tired to walk, let me carry you."

My eyes widened, all the heat rushing to my face. "H-Huh?"

"Nothing untoward, I promise." He let go of his hands and raised both of them. "I'll carry you on my back, a'right?"

"O-Okay…"

Akio knelt down so I could climb onto his back. I looped my arms around his neck, my breath hitching as Akio stood up.

"Never been up this high, huh?" Akio teased. "But hold on tight, yeah?"

I pouted. "You don't have to crack at my height…"

It was especially annoying since Mom and Aunt Minako were average height. Miyako was about their height too… But I was petite, like Aunt Naoto… Aunt Minako said Grandma Arisato was a petite woman, which was where Aunt Naoto got it from.

Akio just laughed, making the butterflies flutter in my stomach all over again.

"Aw, it makes you cute though, Sonomin," he said lightly.

I couldn't help but pout harder. He really could be insufferable sometimes… but it didn't actually bother me. It made me… happy. That was… weird. My feelings have been so confusing lately. I didn't understand what was going on with me anymore… But I decided… not to fight this. I was much too tired.

"...Let's just go home," I mumbled, feeling my eyes droop already as I rested my cheek on his shoulder. "Akio."

"Home, huh…" He seemed to muse over the word. "I like the sound of that."