Johnathan could hear the voice of Kazuo echoing around him. To hear that they all cared about him and wouldn't be fighting that hard if they didn't give a damn. The logic was sound, and when Kazuo spoke about Johnathan having not found what he could give yet, and that Kazuo and the others needed him to rescue Ms. Sasaki, He smiled.

The shadow from before who was now over Johnathan looked away and began to contemplate, frowning. The other Johnathan, the non-shadow him stood up and looked his shadow in the eyes, and in an instant hugged him. Crying into the shadows shoulder, the shadow gasped in surprise, only to hear Johnathan speak up.

"It's true, I haven't done much to help anyone. And I know there's not a ton I can give... I agree that we haven't been... the best of people, and that we deserve more... But ... this could be our chance. We could save Ms. Sasaki... And help the others survive! The others need help too! They... Need us...!"

"But... What if we're too late... What if we can't?"

"We can't live like that. We're not psychic. Yes we... have our doubts... But we just need to try our best and leave the future for when it comes... For now, we have to put our lives on the line to help others... We need to give ourselves to the people.. who truly care about us... and protect them... This... this land is horrid... Something caused this... whatever did could have a terrible desire to kill innocent people! We... can't let that happen! ... I can't be scared of death... I need to be fully determined... to face my death if it means protecting everyone else... But I can't just recklessly throw myself on a sword... We both... are eachother... You know exactly what we need to do... live in the moment. And even if our deaths are assured... We should make the future brighter for the people who are kind... Like Bride... and Kazuo!"

The shadow looked into Johnathan's eyes and wept with a sorry nod, as the two rested their foreheads on one another...

"You're me..." Johnathan stuttered, smiling. "And I'm you... So lets... Protect them... together..."

In one single moment, the world around Johnathan shattered like glass, as a beautiful while room encased him. He felt at ease... Felt at peace. But most of all, he felt free. A lush warm glow filled his heart, and in an instant he beamed with a jolly smile. And that's when the dream faded.

--------------------



Johnathan's mask had slowly retracted away, evaporating into nothing but static, as his eyes had returned to their bright blue normal colouration. He stuttered and twitched, only to grasp his head. It was then, he heard the voice of his inner self speak.

"Even if we don't know anyone... There are millions our there who depend on us... Even if we're just one person in a sea of many... Our voice, our sacrifice, we give people what we cannot have... We give up our life, we give up our luxuries... freedom... pleasures... So that the world may be given these in return... Your act is selfless... To give but desiring not to receive.... I am one such a person... My name is Albinadi... And my soul... merged to form our soul... will bring forth a brighter morrow... I am... your Shadow... But I am also... your..."

Johnathan slowly stepped forward, lowering his hands, he walked towards Kazuo and smiled. Turning away from him, he faced the others who were combating their inner demons and frowned, choking, he instantly vomited out a black putrid gunk from his system, the remains of a shadow with a pained cough. Wheezing, but with eyes of determination, he held his hand outward...





With a single clench of his hand, his mask suddenly appeared upon his face, as the Persona from his soul emerged beside him. The appearance of an old man appeared. The persona stands at a height of 6 feet tall, and looks like an old, caucasian white man covered sprinkles of ash. The man is incredibly old, and suffers from baulding, with thin, fluffy white hair at the back of his head and a fluffy thick white beard. His legs and arms are chained together with bronze braces, and his chains are pitch black. He wears a single pair of burnt, charred legings, ending at his shins.

Through his torso, coming out from his back is a large sharpened piece of wood, which impales him to the spot he stands, carrying him up slightly off the ground.

"I won't... lose you guys...!" Johnathan announced determined, as he picked up his crossbow.

"We all make choices... and my choice is to save you! I don't want you to leave us... But just know... IT'S NOT THE CHOICE THAT DEFINES US... BUT HOW WE LIVE WITH IT ONWARD!"

Johnathan fired held out his free hand toward Haruto@Kizumi

"ZIO!" (4 SP)

*roll 19!* CRITICAL! 2.5X! 95 Damage!*

His persona mimicked his actions and fired the bolt of lightning straight at Haruto in the hopes it would help knock sense into Haruto. It was then he heard bride's shadow

@destinyfailhorror17"Shut up! Like you care...friends that pure shit right there! They all just want to leave...You only want to be friends with that whelp because out of pity, I bet you are just going to use him right?! He cant hurt a fly that why it so easy to do so...At end you will just leave and there would be nothing left for him! Things would be easy if he was a girl but nope just a freak. You are just lying! Always lying! Liars! Just like dad, like those perverted fuckers just freaking liars!"

Johnathan felt the feeling of Deja Vu when he spoke. They felt similiarly... She was actually a boy. And to be so used and hurt, because she just wanted to make others happy... The people who used her were nothing but bastards and scumbags. Johnathan knew exactly how such a feeling felt, and wanted to comfort him, even calling the group liars... But that's when he heard the non shadow bride speak up.

"...re-a...real..ly?...fri...end...s?"

It was Johnathan's time to speak up, if he didn't now, he wouldn't be able to face him later. He needed to let him know...

"That's... how you really feel? I... I know exactly how it feels to be used... and... used exactly how you said it... My best friend... He.... the one i thought loved me... abused me... in a ... perverse manner... And i couldn't get free... it was horrible, I felt horrible. I felt like everyone in the world just wanted to use me like a tool, like I was just an object to be toyed with and thrown away. I don't know you... Even if you are a guy... I don't care about how you dress! If you want to dress that way, I don't mind! I don't care how you dress or how you want to be associated! Honestly... I only care about people based on themselves... And from what you've described... you just want to make people happy...

You just want to spread joy... You don't want to be used... And nobody wants to use you here... Or at the very least... I don't want to use you... And I don't want to lose you either... I've always wanted to know someone who wouldn't hurt me... who wouldn't care who I was, and wouldn't hate me... You are someone I respect... and... honestly, someone I could look up to... Cheerful... even if you're hearts hurting, you still smile... I could never do that! You bring happiness to people by just being around...! ... I don't want one of the only good people in the world to die...! I don't want good people to die...!"

Johnathan croaked and wept his last few words as he approached Bride. Putting his hands onto his shoulders, he continued to shed tears, speaking up to him as did Masako.

"In all honesty... I see you more than just a friend... Even if we don't know eachother, you've shown us what you really feel... you hurt and you don't want to be alone anymore! You don't want to be abused... So please... if it makes you feel better... Use me as a pillar of support... I want to make sure... nobody hurts you like that again... I don't wish you to give me anything in return... I want to give you joy... I'll tell you... everything about me... I won't hide who I am... so that you can trust me... So please... Chain me, bind me, force me to never leave you if it proves I won't hurt you... Take everything from me, if it may give you joy! Just please... Please don't go...!"

-----------------------------------------------

HP: 40/40
SP: 76/80

Bride was surprised to hear all of that, his classmates support and words to him….he never thought they would think like that, how they would actually care for someone they just met…someone like him. Hearing those words…he couldn’t help but to bring a small happy smile as tears of fear were replaced by tears of content. Kazou…Masako…Johnathan….they…really wanted to be his friends, he never actually had a stable friend….they all just left him so it would be nice for once to have a friend…to stay by…him. Somehow though Johnathan words affected him the most, just something about it stung his heart but it wasn’t painful or awful it was different like he can really trust those words and believe in them clearly. He…didn’t want him to die, he wanted to give him joy, he didn’t care if he was a guy or how he dressed….A warm feeling took over as everything around the two turned black and dark.

“…No those have to be lies…no one wants us like that…they just…use you...they would be happy and leave us...” Bride looked at his shadow, it was confused unsure what to do and also sad… slowly he reached out to it and hugged his shadow tightly. He understood now, of all those years hiding the truth and they way he can’t believe in himself. His shadow was surprised with the sudden hug yet it began to cry….all those years in the dark and finally it was set free.

“I don’t care…i-f they use me like t-that or anything…if they c-can smile…if they can l-laugh and live….then I would be happy as well….all those years in the hospital….seeing t-those kids play out side…I was j-jealous…they can be so happy but….I was happy as well…because they w-were happy….they were a-able to live painless life and be k-kids….we couldn’t do that at all yet I was h-happy for them…I always dreamed of a h-happy fairy tale but…it was r-right there, I just kept on dreaming about it…w-wishing for it…I never thought of i-it…but I am happy…” Though he was choking up on tears he felt like he can breathe again, he never knew he had such emotions until now.

“But…what about dad…he…he...” The shadow cried along as well, tightly embracing Bride.

“He hurt us, he really h-hurt us….but…at least I know why, why he made us go t-to that school, why he pu-ulled use away from home…I am not sure….w-what to do….b-but at least I know…I forgot…m-maybe it was painful, I didn’t want to t-think a bout it ever again….yet..I feel be-better now knowing it…it hurts…it does…its crushing me…b-badly but…I am glad…to know…” He let out a sigh of relief, really he felt like he could breath again, a lot of things were lifted off form him and soon…he will have friends, he would happy…even if he would never get that fairy tale dream he always had as a kid he would be happy and that would just be fine…he could start living again…

“I am sorry…t-that I never knew…how much pain…was left here….but know I know…thank you……” Bride took hold of his shadows hands and held tightly, it was like telling him it was fine…He looked at his masked self crying happily tears full of comfort and relief. The shadow nodded and smiled happily as well, it closed it eyes and pressed it forehead onto Bride’s forehead. “Thank you….I am sorry…w-we got people waiting for us….” They both smiled and looked at each other once more, eyes shining finally with happiness joy, it was over.... but it just began as well.

“You are me…I am you….I am sorry for f-forgetting…for lying….lets live again…lets make people smile together then…”

The dark abyss like room began to shine in a bright white color, everything broke down and evaporated and they were both surrounded by a small garden. Out of the corner of his eye was a younger version of himself on a wheelchair…he looked so sick and frail yet he was smiling…his first time to the gardens with his family…. His mom was smiling and showing him a bouquet of flowers while his dad bought him honey flavored ice cream…The shadow closed it eyes and closely began to fade away. Bride smiled and closed his eyes as well knowing soon enough he would wake up…and be with his new friends.



Slowly Bride opened his eyes, the mask slowly fade away from his face …no more of that sickening gold yellow color just that warm peach orange color returned…he was back, he was finally back. He was tired; he couldn’t feel his legs anymore and fell on his knees. Was he finally back? He looked up at Masako who was holding a rake on her head and then to Kazuo fighting someone then Johnathan who had his hands on his shoulders…what…was he doing? “M-masako….? Kazuo…? Jo-jonathan…? What was…” Then suddenly Bride felt sick, something was coming out.

He poked out black matter, it was disgusting looking and horrible then it faded away like static electricity…what was that? Was that his…shadow? Somehow he felt better after puking out that weird black matter, he slowly stood back up but almost losing balance he quickly grab be don to the closet person (anyone will do here) for some support.

Just as Dai was about to launch an actual attack against Haruto, a series of brutal assaults got to his target first and completely came out of nowhere that nearly made him jump ten feet. Despite all that verbal abuse and crazy dolphin kicks, Dai couldn’t help but wince in sympathy as Haruto was not only struck by a killer rubber band that struck him like explosive red lightning, but – as if he had incurred that wrath of some higher being - the proclaimed “lion” was practically knocked right out of the park by an actual bolt of lightning, much stronger than the previous attack had ever done.

Holy smokes, overkill much? Not really. After that dolphin kick, Dai knew the only real solution to solve a soul influenced by hatred and anger is by subduing it and giving it time to think. Slowly, Dai lowered his bow and stumbled his way over to the now unconscious Haruto, reaching into Saito’s bag and placing a bottle of iced coffee next his prone form so that the poor guy can get a quick energy if he were to ever recover. With that particular situation over, it was about time to appreciate his saviors.

“THANKS.” The blond called out to both Masako and—wait, is that Johanathan?

So that was what all the shouting was about since Dai didn’t dare stray an eye away from his opponent in fear of another devastating attack.

Just a few moments ago, Johanathan was raging with despair along with Bride, just other cases where they might have no choice but to fight. However, instead of a brutal all-out-battle as Dai had expected, what surprised him the most was the heartfelt words of both Kazuo and Masako managed to convey. For such seemingly cold people, even they have hidden depth that could touch a person’s heart. Heck, after Kazuo managed to get Johanathan back into the right mindset, the chubby male was resolved enough to help Bride and succeeded. He seemed different from that student who was calling for help and, instead, revealed to have the same powers as Kazuo by shouting out "PERSONA" and shooting lightning. Oh man.

Just what the heck is going one? What is this Persona? Dai couldn’t be more surprised.

…And maybe a little bit envious as well.

Shaking his head, Dai made a face at the black... things that spewed from the recently-turned-sane students (Dude, let's not think about this) and turned his attention to the next problem – a possessed yellow-eyed Gruffydd. His lips pressed into a thin line when he remembered the words the foreign student had said to Kazuo throughout the whole internal conflict. Just remembering those words as well as the high-rising emotions happening right now made his bruised stomach pulsed in pain as Dai quickly faced Gruffydd.

“Of course, Kazuo cares! And he cares about you! Why else would he be helping us like this?” Dai spoke as he lowered his bow and gestured toward the scene where everybody else is at - Johanathan continued to shed tears while Bride was back to normal. “Dude, get out of that mindset. I don't appreciate you calling us monsters. We all may be fighting each other, but there’s a huge difference between us and the boogie man. As you can hear so far, this group – our friends - are not monsters by choice and they’re working to change that! We’re all just confused teens trying to understand!”

“You made a biiiig mistake of accusing us. If you want to be a monster, fine. But say it without hiding behind that stupid mask!” Dai growled and aimed his bow. Honestly, this whole situation was getting out of hand. First self-esteem issues, then speeches about hatred, and now this. How dare these black stupid monsters start making them think like one much less act like it! Within a blink of an eye, Dai's resolve steeled and the arrow was fired.

[Rolled 7]

The arrow managed to hit the foreign-exchange student, dealing 20 points of damage to Gruffydd.

-----------------------------------
Dai
HP: 40/65
SP: 55/55

HP: 27/68
SP: 52/52

---

The great white beast strained against its bindings, but the chains held, to Gruffydd's great relief. But that didn't make this any easier. It was surprising that he hadn't recognised his own voice in the tavern above, but that was the only thing that made any sense. He had been in the light and warmth above, but only to hide from what lurked in the dark. It wasn't exactly looking in a mirror, but he knew he was looking at the core of his very self. And it hurt.

“Of course, Kazuo cares! And he cares about you! Why else would he be helping us like this?” Gruffydd's head jerked around as he heard the voice. Dai, that was his name. “Dude, get out of that mindset. I don't appreciate you calling us monsters. We all may be fighting each other, but there’s a huge difference between us and the boogie man. As you can hear so far, this group – our friends - are not monsters by choice and they’re working to change that! We’re all just confused teens trying to understand!”

“You made a biiiig mistake of accusing us. If you want to be a monster, fine. But say it without hiding behind that stupid mask!”

Kazuo was about to be hit with a shovel again, when Dai's challenge arrived out of the blue. "I was content to keep it between myself and the pyromaniac here, but if you insist." That which had been Gruffydd's body, under the control of his shadow, barreled toward Dai and struck him under the arm with the shovel.

[Roll: 17! 22 Damage dealt to Dai!]

"And for the record, you don't get to chose to be a monster. Do you think I chose it? Do you think I ever wanted it!? You arrogant worm! Do you think I enjoy a single second of it!? Not belonging anywhere! The boiling anger! The mountains of guilt and regret!" Gruffydd's voice grew shakey, "Self-defense my ass, who cares what they might have done to me? I should be in jail!" There was a long pause. "The boogieman? Don't make me laugh. We may not be adults yet, but if you know as well as I do that's just a story. The only kind of monster that really exists isn't so obvious. It looks like you, and it talks like you. It lurks in your streets and sits in your classrooms. Hell, sometimes it even tricks itself. And you'll only see it for what it is when it strikes. And you want to talk about the fucking Boogie man!? Maybe you are a beast too, because no human out there is that stupid.

---

Gruffydd was shaking. He wasn't sure how he had heard Dai, or if Dai had heard him, but for simplicity's sake he would assume he had. "They care? Well, fine. They care. Good for them. Me too, I guess." He turned to the White Beast. "But it doesn't matter, does it? Of course it doesn't. It doesn't change what I am, what I've done. I could have hurt them. That would have been fine. They were assholes, deserved to be smacked around a bit. Maybe even a good stay in the hospital. But i was twice their size! They're dead. Dead! I was under pressure, and in the heat of the moment I lost sight of what I thought, what I believed. Only instinctual aggression, and three people are dead because of it. I don't even deserve prison. I don't deserve chains. I deserve..." In the blink of an eye, the dark room and the White Beast had vanished. Gruffydd was in city streets. He recognized this place. He recognized it very well—he couldn't forget it if he tried.

Seven figures emerged from the alleys in front of him. Two of them were holding baseball bats. He was grabbed from behind, one person a shoulder, and shoved to the ground. It was going to happen again. They would cry out their jeers. The would swing their bats. They would kick. He would shout and howl in pain. And then he would snap. The blood a head dashed on the pavement. Bones cracked by the force of a stolen bat, including one skull. The beeping of hospital equipment for less than a week before the heart monitor flatlined. It was all going to happen again, whether he wanted it to or not.

Running again.

Running again through the endless forest, brilliantly colored leaves falling all around her. It was deathly silent, save for the song that kept on playing on the radio, repeated again and again like a broken record. All of a sudden her feet caught on something, sending her tumbling down an incline, where she smashed straight into a tree.

Natsuki laid there in a daze, trying to sit up before a bolt of pain ran down her leg. A familiar pain bringing back memories of all those years before. A glance towards her leg confirmed it. It was broken again, her left leg bending at unnatural angles.
"Aah... Do you remember this place?" Tsubaki spoke, appearing out of thin air. "Hmm... everything was almost like it was that day. Almost. I wonder what's missing...." Tsubaki flickered for a moment, her image temporarily changing to someone familiar.

With inhuman strength, Tsubaki picked up a large branch, shoving the splintered end into Natsuki's stomach.

~Natsuki's possessed body~

She dropped the stick, clutching her body, before letting out a loud inhuman howl. The dark miasma grew darker still as it seemed to thicken around her. Collapsing, it seemed she could do nothing more than writhe in pain as the darkness pulsed around her.

***

Her screams echoed around the forest.

"Ahaha~ Don't you remember? Hey? Do you remember now?"

Natsuki gritted her teeth as Tsubaki pulled the branch out, grinning all the while. Or to be more precise, she was looking at herself pulling the branch out. All of a sudden everything clicked in her head, something so obvious it hurts. That was exactly why she couldn't see it. It hurts a lot to be confronted by by yourself.

"I see..." Natsuki grasped the fake Natsuki's hand, pulling herself up, enduring the pain from the hole in her stomach. She couldn' exactly stand up with a broken leg, so she just hugged the fake Natsuki to keep upright. "...I'm sorry... I didn't realize..." Everything... everything here was her own feelings.

Her own selfish desire.

"Eh?"

She was standing in a white space, devoid of anything. Her wounds has disappeared, and she was herself again, no longer trapped in her child body.

No, the white space was not empty, there was a... a person, hovering in front of her, his cheerful demeanour and his smile seemingly beckoning for her to come closer. She moved closer, feeling as if she knew this person.

"That's right." Came his voice. His smile grew wider, and somehow more mischievous.

~Awakening~

As suddenly as she began, Natsuki started retching, coughing up nothing before blowing black gooey chunks all over the pavement. The odd stylized crow masque fell to the ground as she did so, making a very undramatic clack against the pavement. The words of that man echoed in her head.

I am but the faint light of a candle. Though against the brightness of day I am unnoticed, through darkness I will guide you.

"Wha-" She coughed a few more chunks of the black thing, before collapsing on her feet. "Where..."

Her head hurts a lot, like someone was drilling her head in both ears and the bits are meeting in the middle. Natsuki was still a bit more than a bit dazed from all the sudden changes and revelations she just had.

Shinku: HP: 58/90 SP: 30/30
__________________________

"Uggh." Shinku hadn't thought that Saito'd go for a tough hit like that. . . Or that it'd knock as much strength as it did out of her. "Got me good." She muttered as she grabbed at her stomach. The world around her was a daze at that point.
_________________________________
"You okay Shin-Chan?" A somewhat weak voice called out. "Looks like it hurts."

"No, I'm fine. It just looks bad." Was said from an irritated voice before a small hand touched her arm, "Ouch!"

"See? I knew it."

"Fine, it hurts. So what?"

"So what?" The weaker girl tried pulling up the other, "I just get to take care of you this time!"

Shinku smiled and slightly nodded in agreement standing up practically on her own. "Alright. I hope you know what yer' doing, Mayoi."

Mayoi smiled back, "Of course! We'll even go to the festival later this week! It'll be fun!"
__________________________________

"Shinku, you sensed it too, right? Your inner self. Call it forth." It was the transfer student, Kazuo. Shinku had forgot about him in the madness that had been brewing in the last minute or two.

"My inner self?" Shinku questioned as she looked up to see Saito rid of something from his mouth. Something shadow-like. Not long after she felt a power around her and felt her insides lighten up as Saito donned a mask. As if the blow she had taken from him earlier had never connected practically. She put a hand out to Kazuo attempting to push him back slightly and standing up. "My inner self. . . Huh?"

Off to the side she saw carnage as classmate fought classmate. There was Ito, Minto and the boy with the difficult to pronounce name. In her mind she reached deeply to find herself. I am thou and thou art me. "I see." Shinku mumbled to herself. "I am Jeanne d'Arc, Swordmaiden of Faith!" A blond woman with armor and sword appeared above Shinku as a traditional fox mask materialized on her head.

"Persona!" Shinku exclaimed pointing her right hand like a gun and aiming at Gruffydd. "Be my sword, Jeanne d'Arc!" Zio! (roll 18, 29 damage.) Jeanna d'Arc raises her sword with Shinku and points at Gruffydd starting a small amount of static and strengthening its power to a small bolt of electricity that zaps the dark-haired foreigner. "Take a nap, it'll make you less cranky." At that, she pulled off her mask and let it disappate alongside her persona before turning to her roommate who. . . Well, didn't seem to be in the best of conditions.

Quickly she made her way over to Natsuki and kneeled alongside her. "You're not going to hit me with a stick again. . . Are you?"
___________________________
Shinku: HP: 53/90 SP: 26/30

As the rubber band suddenly struck Haruto in the head, the lion-masked boy was shocked at just how much damage such a small and weak projectile could’ve possibly dealt towards him. Growling, Haruto prepared himself to retaliate whoever just shot him, but a bolt of lightning struck him straight into the chest. Without even a chance to guard against the attack, the lion-masked boy couldn’t even give off a sound of surprise before he was sent flying backwards, hitting the wall of a building before sliding down onto the ground, unconscious.
____________

Haruto
0/70 HP (x_____x)
50/50 SP
____________

However, inside of Haruto’s mind, the damage was powerful enough to send a jolt to both the shadow and Haruto, causing the demon to release its grip onto Haruto – grunting as he landed on the floor, Haruto quickly recovered and stood up, glaring straight at the demon. Growling, Haruto began to advance towards the lion-faced shadow, which simply stared at the walking boy.

“Yeah…you’re right. All I ever really had was this anger, and this hatred, towards a faceless man that I will never see receive justice for the crimes against me.”

The lion-masked Haruto, once unconscious, now woke up screaming as the lion mask began to crack into pieces. Jolting in place, despite all the damage dealt to his body, Haruto began to roll around, screaming in pain, jerking around as if an unknown assailant was attacking him right at this moment.

“So I’ll let the anger consume me, the hatred devour me, and you control me – after all, we’re one and the same, aren’t we? I was ignoring my basic nature for the longest time, but it’s about time we joined together again.”

Reaching forward, Haruto’s hand touched the right index finger of the shadow in front of him, and the two simply merged as one – a bright light grew from where their hands met, and as the light dimmed away, the gigantic hallway disappeared as well, leaving Haruto in the darkness. However, the solace was comforting and familiar – the boy did not mind it at all.

The lion mask snapped in half and dissipated, and Haruto lurched forward, vomiting out a black material that kept on leaving his mouth. After a few seconds, Haruto managed to wipe his vomit and looked up, seeing a knight dressed in silver armor and a black cape floating right in front of him.

> By facing the difficulties and hardship he held within, Haruto Okada has acquired the Persona Astolfo.

With a smile, Haruto realized that he had absolutely no energy left to even move and join in the concluding fight – with a sigh, Haruto collapsed on the ground once more, stuck in the place between awake and dreams.

The battle was finally over. After awakening to her Persona, Shinku made quick work of Gruffydd with a Zio spell, defeating the last of the possessed classmates of theirs. Saito and Johnathan, too, have found the inner strength required to awaken their Persona as well. Thanks to their combined efforts with no small part from Dai and Masako, the six of them successfully rescued the others. Then, something incredible occurred. Sensing the growing power within the others, Kazuo looked around and noticed the outlines of various figures appearing above his classmates: their Persona. It seems the rest of his classmates are now awakening to their own inner self. A relieved smile formed on Kazuo's face. He watched quietly, with content, as everyone reacted to acquiring their newly-found strength. If they had doubts about rescuing Ms. Sasaki before, surely those doubts can be cast aside now.

Right as Kazuo is about to approach the others, he noticed something out of the corners of his eyes: the shadows that his classmates expunged from their bodies began to twitch wildly; then, in an instant, they raced down the street, passed the group - an attempted escape it looks like. "Persona!" Kazuo tried to stop the shadows with an Agi spell but the something moved in the way and blocked the attack, allowing the shadows to retreat behind it. When Kazuo finally looked at the figure, he was shocked to see Sigurd: a black-clad, twisted version of his Persona anyways. "HeheheHAHAHA!" A twisted - almost crazed - sinister laugh emanated from down the street behind the other Sigurd. The laughing stopped when the other Sigurd disappeared. Walking into plain view was... Kazuo? This one had the same ominous yellow eyes as Kazuo's possessed classmates did. Kazuo's shadow... The real Kazuo kept quiet and just stared calmly at his shadow.

"You know who I am, right? It's been a while since last I've seen you. My... We've grown haven't we? Heh, I talk as if you've always knew I existed. You don't mind me showing up now, right?"

"Fine with me... I already know you're me."

Shadow Kazuo points to the group. "Ten points for Gryffindor! But... seriously, how about you drop the 'too-cool-for-school' act? Now, I could kill all of you where you stand but that's not what I came for." Shadow Kazuo looked to the shadows that gathered around him. Each one of them possessed a mask that looked exactly like the faces of Kazuo's classmates and, on their foreheads, Roman numeral numbers can be seen. Shadow Kazuo kneeled down and petted some of the shadows on their heads. "I came for these guys. It'd be such a waste for them to die. I mean, you have teammates now. Why shouldn't I?" Shadow Kazuo stood back up. "When they're big and strong, we'll come and find you all again. For now? Later..."

"I won't let you run away," Kazuo told his shadow.

Shadow Kazuo sighed. "Honestly... How could you be me...? You 'won't' let me? You talk as if you have the power to stop me. None of you do. Not in your current pathetic state. I'm giving you the opportunity to live and fight another day. Don't be dumbasses by squandering it. Persona." The other Sigurd appeared and created a massive wall of fire that blocked off the street. "We'll see you all very soon, hehehe..." Shadow Kazuo's voice faded into the distance. Kazuo calmly walked up to the wall created by the other Sigurd and examined it, wondering if the wall is weak enough to be destroyed.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you," A deep, masculine voice seemingly emanating from nowhere said to Kazuo. Kazuo and the others looked around to pinpoint the position of the voice. A strange figure hidden in the shadows of a nearby alley stepped out to greet the group, and he is a strange one. Dressed in a dark red waistcoat, white long-sleeved dress shirt, black tie, white leather gloves, and black slacks with matching dress shoes, a slender man - six feet in height - bowed in a gentlemanly manner to the group. But that's not what makes him unusual. It's the fact that he wears a white rabbit mask that envelops his entire head and neck that is odd. But, hey, maybe after everything the group has seen, this may qualify as normal now. Someone from the group asked the man his name (anyone will do). "My name...?" The man seemed confused as he scratched the side of his mask as if it were his real head. "I don't have one," he bluntly stated.

He then removed a pocket watch from his waistcoat's pocket and showed it to the group, pointing at the time while he does it. "You're going to be late," he said. Kazuo asks what they were going to be late for. "The woman you came here with. The one the shadows took. If you don't come with me now, it'll be too late to save her," he replied. This man saw where the shadow monster took Ms. Sasaki? Is this true? Kazuo is iffy on whether to trust this man or not.

It seemed that everyone was finally recovering. Johnathan gave a pant and wiped his forehead before he noticed that Bride needed someone to rest on. Johnathan didn't want her to fall of course, and so held onto his shoulder, so he wouldn't need to support himself.

"Hey. It's okay, take a break... If you need to be carried, just say so, okay? I don't want you falling sick or anything, this place would be dangerous in that case... So if you need breaks, just say the word, okay?" Johnathan politely stated, a smile pushing up from his face as he patted his shoulder. This brief moment of relief, the short respite had made Johnathan, for a moment forget about the shadows. Like a lightning bolt to the brain he gasped and instantly turned around.

"Shit, the SHADOWS!"

But before he could attack them, Kazuo had already summoned his persona and unleashed an Agi spell, only for... his own persona to block it? It was then he heard the voice of a cackling maniac, and in that instant he was reminded of his shadow. A frown plastered on his face, he stared at what he could only describe as Kazuo's own shadow.

W- what the hell? B- but you already have a Persona, how c- can this thing show up?!" He stuttered in surprise, trying not to let his fear take him, he stood in front of bride and held his crossbow out defensively, sweat slickly coated his palms, he needed to keep his cool... for them. He didn't wish to interject, and calmly waited as Kazuo and the Shadow communicated, listening to him talk about the shadows, wanting them to become strong so that they will "meet" again. He only knew what that meant, and it wasn't good. The fact the shadow belittled them made Johnathan upset, but this shadow seemed different than the others. With a single word, the fire wall had been erected, and the shadow had all but vanished.

"Was that your shadow?" Johnathan asked Kazuo. "I don't like this. He wasn't like the others, this shadow thing is bad news...!"

He wasn't able to get any sort of response however when he heard the voice of a deep masculine male, telling them to not bother attacking the wall. Johnathan made sure to quickly aim for the individual with the rabbits head. Frowning.

"Shit... A- another shadow?! ... Hey! I- if your not going to attack, tell us your fucking name!" Johnathan spluttered out, his hands shaking slightly as he gazed at the weird and strange person. It was then the rabbit headed individual said he had no name, and that they were going to be late, if they didn't follow him, it would be too late to save her.

"How the hell can we trust you? How can you prove that you're not going to ambush us or attack us?! A white rabbits head... I noticed Kazuo had a rabbit mask... That can't be a coincidence... And I don't very much like things that add up like that! If you want us to follow you, you better be telling the truth... If Ms. Sasaki dies because of you... I'll avenge her, got it, you fucking cuntshit bastard?!"

Johnathan was still getting use to the scenario, and the cursing helped his nerves calm down, he always was a bit of a foul mouthed male, but usually only as a joke or for comedy. When he cursed like this, it helped him relieve some of his stress, he needed to release some of it.

What do you know about Persona's? This world? Where we are now? You didn't come in like we did, so how did you get in? Is there a way out? Why are you wearing that mask? Why won't you take it off? All these questions Johnathan wanted to ask, but he was right in that Ms. Sasaki could be in danger if she isn't saved soon. So asking them probably wouldn't be appropriate, that, and it could cost Ms. Sasaki her life.

Saito has been recovering from his near knockout and suddenly violent shadowy vomit all over the street and a metaphysical being manifested from inside him he somehow knew was called Beowulf and he suddenly healed Shinku 's injuries ones he as caused while in a berserk madness while trapped in what he can only guess was inside his mind where he had to endure his worst memories of finding his father and his most bittersweet memory of his abusive mother where he left her behind.  He will never take go on a field study ever again.

"Again, what the fuck!" Saito exclaimed in shock as soon as he caught his breath and sees his shadowy vomit move and slithered it's way down the street and when Kazuo used his persona to try and killed them a dark version of his persona appered out of nowhere and he ranted about shadows and when he said he could kill them Saito went to a defensive stance.  But as sudden he appered he dissapered into nothing. And before Saito could sigh a breath of relief suddenly a deep manly voice spoke up. When Saito looked at the soruce it was a sharply dressed man with a rabbit mask much like Kazuo.

"Ugh... more ominous people..." Saito sighed slapping his face softly.

As Saito listened he just accepted what he saying because honestly more normal then most things here so far, even himself and classmates were more dangerous then this man so far.

Saito silently started to just follow the masked man. He stopped mid way to the man and quietly said.

"Not like we have much options at this point, let's follow him." Saito remarked bluntly to his classmates. ms. Sasaki still needs saving and now he can do more.

" and he is most likely not dangerous since he has a mask and is still acting close to normal and he hasn't attacks us yet: better track record then me."

"You're not going to hit me with a stick again. . . Are you?"

"Ya...mada?"

Natsuki latched onto her roommate, hugging her tightly as tears streamed down her face. After coming face to face with all those nonsense, a familiar face was very welcome, especially since said face wasn't trying to murder her.

"Ah." Realizing she must be weirding Yamada out, she let go of her roommate and wiped the tears from her eyes. Regaining her composure and her usual disposition, she stood up shakily, blushing slightly. "Sorry."

She didn't know what exactly had happened, but it seems the others had some sort of difficulty as well, perhaps going into a trance like she did just now. Which, if what Natsuki could make from the situation and the puddles of black goop lying around, was probably the case. Yamada, the transfer student and a few others seemed fine though.

"Did...did I really hit you with a stick?"

Just then a laugh echoed around the fake town's streets, a laugh having a strange quality she felt familiar. It seemed to be the transfer student's... doppelganger, though it emanated a very dangerous aura. He seemed powerful enough to be able to control those things they puked up, and make a seemingly endless wall of fire. Why on earth would they go after that? Thankfully the transfer student didn't try anything foolish like jumping through the fire or something.

And then the bunny headed man came.

It was as if all these things about a warped imitation of their town, and these sudden blackouts with yourself trying to kill yourself wasn't enough, now there's shadow people appearing and some animal headed guy reminding them it was getting late. Natsuki felt like she had tumbled a little too far into the rabbit hole.

"We...don't have a choice. It's either follow him, or wander around aimlessly."

Bride nodded as he tried to take breathes, ”I..a-am fine t-thank you…” Then there was a bunny man…he looked creepy so he hid behind Johnathan quickly. He didn’t see the creepy doppelgangers of themselves or the fire or the big bad shadow guy oddly, he just noticed the bunny man. Creepy bunny man was nothing like in Alice in wonderland at all but the creepy bunny man talked about Ms. Sasaki was still in danger and thy had to save her. If he can only help everyone…they have those personas and he still hasn’t had his…was he too weak to get one? How…can he help the others he would just be in their way... Plus he wasn’t strong fighter like everyone as well, he can barely punch or hit something really strong he would just end being in their always…

“Uhhh…sorry to ask b-but…d-don’t swear…please…well n-not right now…” Bride doesn’t like people swearing actually, you can use other words to describe your feeling then using those jerk words. Then suddenly he heard a voice, he looked around to see if anyone was talking but no one had that voice then he realized it was inside his head. But how…? Then again a lot of bad crazy stuff had been happening so anything like voices in his head and puking out black stuff seemed to be normal at this point.

“Happiness is a rare such gracious thing, it always been in front of you so share it with others, live your dream and continue forth. …I am thou and thou art me….I am Mikko and I will be in your aid and everyones else...”

Mikko…then suddenly the butterfly mask appeared on his face again but the shadow didn’t take over instead a gorgeous almost like bride masked being appeared above Bride bowing to everyone. For a second he didn’t know what to do but seeing everyone so hurt after all that fight he wanted to help the best as he can. He clapped his hands together like he praying and closed his eyes. His persona did just the same thing like he was doing then opening his arms to everyone. Then a bright light was above everyone radiant beautifully.

"Media..."

Everyone had light shone above them as he began to heal them all. (40-50 hp heal to everyone in the team) then he opened his eyes and Mikko faded away, he sighed out and knelt back down on the floor….what just happened? It felt like a dream oddly but he felt stronger in a way. Bride hope that he was able to help everyone feel better…whatever Media meant. "Is…e-everyone….o-okay?" he asked wondering that whatever eh did with Mikko helped his fellow classmates feel better.

The rabbit-headed man was caught off guard by Johnathan's aggressive tone. Johnathan warned the man that if Ms. Sasaki end up dying because of him, Johnathan would get revenge. Kazuo gently placed a hand onto Johnathan's shoulder to calm him down. He understood how Johnathan was feeling but it's best to keep a cool head, especially since they still don't know much about their situation. Saito and Ito also expressed their opinion on the matter and suggested they follow the man. The man placed his hands in front of himself defensively. "She'll only die if you guys don't hurry and you can't very well blame me if that happens. I am trying to help you as it currently stands even if some of you welcomed me with less than friendly greetings." The man placed his arms back at his side and sighed. "If I could, I would've saved her myself but-"

Suddenly, a serene voice can be heard. It seems Minto has finally awakened his Persona: Mikko. Following the awakening, a beautiful butterfly mask appeared on Minto's face. Almost instinctively, Minto put his hands together in a prayer-like gesture - his Persona did the same - and a radiant light enveloped everyone. Kazuo closed his eyes and felt his injuries healing. Once Kazuo opened his eyes again, he looked to Minto and smiled, nodding a "thanks". After everyone was healed by Minto's Media spell, the rabbit-headed man spoke once more. "I don't possess such a beautiful power..." His words were filled with melancholy. "A-Anyways," he began, his voice breaking, "That's why I'm approaching you now. It seems you're the only ones who can save that woman. If it were me, I'd probably end up running away with my tail tucked in between my legs - not that I have a tail."

He turned to face Johnathan specifically. "You mentioned a 'Kazuo' with a rabbit mask?" Kazuo then explained how he acquired a rabbit mask when summoning his Persona. "I would like to say that perhaps we are kindred spirits but, honestly, it is a coincidence as far as I can tell. You're right. You have no reason to place your trusts in me. I wouldn't be approaching any of you either if I hadn't seen what all of you are capable of. I don't... really have any proof that I'm trustworthy." The man scratched his mask again in confusion. "Umm, how would I prove something like that?"

It was happening. Again.

No. They're dead. If they're dead— since they're dead, this can't be real. One of the bats was swing through the air. It certainly felt real. Okay, real. But if they're dead then this can't physically be happening. So... a memory? A painful one, to be sure. One of the assailants leaned down into Gruffydd's face to taunt him, but he wasn't paying attention. A memory. My memory. I'm reliving my memory. Why am I reliving my memory?

There was blow from the other bat, and a voice echoed through the streets, "It is deserved."

Yes. of course. What else does a monster deserve? Choose not to be a monster? I wish. It's just what I am. A remorseless killer...

Wait...

"No." The scene before him froze, a bat mid-swing, a set of lips mid-jeer. "It is not deserved." Gruffydd blinked, and he was standing in the dark room again. The white beast stood before him, chained.

"What nonsense is this!?"

"A monster is remorseless in its slaughter. You are me—or at least, a part of me—and if I was doing that to myself, what is it?" His Shadow was silent. "Enough of this, then." The White Beast strained against its its bindings, and a chain snapped. A piece flew across the room, each link larger than Gruffydd's head. The Beast glowed noticeably brighter than before.

"And what is this? You belong nowhere. Ever drifting, ever wandering. You will never belong."

"Did you hear them? They say they care. If they care, then I belong with them. And even if that falls apart, I find it hard to believe I do not belong anywhere. And even if you're right, I deserve a place as much as anyone! I will make a place for myself if I must!" Another chain snapped, and the Beast's glow intensified even further.

"Even if you do, you are still a killer. Three human lives, gone!" The voice was growing raspier.

Gruffydd's voice was quiet as he tturned to the darkness. "And I will regret that for the rest of my life. But I will have that life. I will not let my regrets keep me from the life that is my right!" Gruffydd could hear another chain shatter behind him, and to glow from the Beast grew even brighter. "I will not shackle my heart! I will not chain my soul! Another chain, what Gruffydd knew to be the final chain, snapped, and the Beast roared. Its glow was intensely bright, and the entire room was illuminated. He heard the massive creature charge, and soon after heard the shattering of stone. The glow slowly faded with distance.

Gruffydd turned to find a hole int he wall to his right, with a now pale glow streaming through. He walked to and passed through the hole, and looked up to see the source of the light—the moon, full and bright. He looked around himself to find that he was in a small wooded clearing. He remembered this place. When he was five, before he and his family had moved to Japan, his parents had driven him out, far away from city lights, to see the sky. That had been a moonless night, but even with its light he could see the beauty of the sky above him. He could feel his parents' love in this place, like he had when they first brought him here.

Gruffydd blinked, and he was not alone in the clearing. In front of him, in the center of the clearing, stood a giant, a gargantuan figure well over his own height. Antlers adorned his head, his ears were pointed, and he could see long nails at the tips of his fingers. He held, in a reverse grip, a massive blade, too large—Gruffydd thought—for even the giant to wield in one hand.

"You have found me at last. I am thou, and thou art I. I am Herne the Hunter. I am both man and wild thing. Call on me when you have need, and I shall strike down what assails you." Herne began to glow a bright, blinding light. Gruffydd shielded his eyes with an arm. The light, almost a physical force, pushed him back, and he fell to his knees.

---

The light was gone, and Gruffydd felt like shit. He didn't know it, but he had been struck by lightning. His mask had floated away from him, as if a cloud of smoke. Gruffydd fell forward, supported himself with his hands, and wretched up some sort of black gunk. It faded into television status fairly shortly.

It didn't take him too long to regain his footing, and he was largely silent in the confrontation with what he could only guess was Kazuo's shadow. If it was able to dredge all of their shadows from... he didn't really care to think about how it had gotten a piece of his self from inside of him, but charging headlong into a fight probably wasn't the best idea. He didn't care for the taunting, and probably would have replied if he didn't feel like shit.

Then there was the man the rabbit mask. It was... strange. It didn't seem hostile, and he doubted this sort of behavior would be how a lure would act. That said, he didn't like the idea of following some strange... thing around in this place. And not having a name? Curious, but "curious" doesn't engender trust. His classmates certainly had words for it though.

Then that one girl—what was her name?—did... something, and he was feeling a hell of a lot better. Gruffydd turned to her, "Thank you," and then turned to face the rest of the group. "I can't say I fully understand what's going on here, but Ms. Sasaki at least seemed to know something about that hole we fell through to get here, so she's our best chance to get out of here. I don't exactly like the idea of following... this... person, but its really the only lead we have on finding her."

As quickly as it all started it all came to a screeching halt. There was no more violence, yelling, pain instead it was replaced with an eerie sort of silence. A silence that helped reinforce the idea of how alien and strange the surrounding world was without any animals, or other sounds. Only sparse occasional chatter, and the static whaling of the televisions from the televisions. Adrenaline begins to slowly taper off as the Adrenal gland slowly becomes to stop production, breathing begins to slow back down, heart rate decreases as whatever was holding you up just a moment ago pulls away letting you free fall back to normalcy. Masako didn't pay attention to it but she did now, how much her arms were shaking, how utterly terrifying all of that had actually been. She was still holding the rake above her as Minto had gone to vomit out something from his body. The girl limply handed it back over to the same hands that had tried to bludgeon her to death with it earlier. She said no words, none were really needed and she frankly didn't feel like talking that much.

She expected the pain, she expected the shock but she didn't expect how tired she felt. Guess it was natural though right? With your body running on all cylinders to try and keep you from getting killed takes a lot of energy. She just needed a minute to think to herself and maybe sit down. So while the others reunited or talked she found the furthest point she could from the rest of them while still being in earshot which happened to be where the Televisions were in the first place that started it all. As she approached the wall where the two remaining still spat out static she half expected another memory to display. But for the moment it was just two fields of black and white shuttering back and forth. She didn't realize she was acting until it had already happened the first one getting a foot straight through the center and the other a fist a moment later. Reactions of anger, reactions without thought.. only human and it made her feel better a little bit.

She sighed as she slumped to the ground in front of them not caring for the glass as he rested her head and closed her eyes. She tried to find something happy, anything within herself anything to take off the edge of how crazy all this shit was, of how stupid it was and how trapped she felt by it all, she just wanted an escape for one minute. It was in this searching that a sudden warmth flooded her body. It was like an electric shock running from the scalp down to the toes, vibrating coursing with life as it tickled the skin. As she opened her eyes a large figure was towering over her bathed in light. It was a large women dressed in mail and furs with long blonde hair that cascaded down her back, piercing blue eyes strong and determined met tired ones. She was holding a large spear in one hand still stained with blood and a shield in the other. The figure spoke as it thrusted its spear point downward so that it was mere inches away from Masako’s face. “I am thou, and thou art I. I’m Hervor the Shieldmaiden, Herald of Fortune. Together we will forge our own paths.”

Masako confused and a little bit awestruck reached up with her hand and touched the point of the speartip. At contact millions of cracks appeared throughout Hervor’s body and she shattered like glass vanishing from sight. Masako was confused and felt oddly alone again as the brilliant warmth that had enveloped her moments ago had dissipated in an instant. She was brought out of her revere quickly though as a commotion among the others draw her attention.

It seemed that the same kind of masked thing had appeared this time taking the appearance of the transfer student. Which was bad because it meant these things could exist without their hosts, which meant they may have to deal with the others again and they barely made it out intact this time. It seemed more powerful than the others had been, more in control of what it was doing and able to control that power that they had all unlocked previously. After leaving the transfer student with some choice words and threats of the future it vanished but not before leaving them with a giant wall of fire.

It was at this point that the man with rabbit mask stepped out of the darkness. Masako reacted accordingly reaching for a gun prepped for another fight but it seemed that all this man wanted to do was talk. Though Masako didn't like the rabbit man mostly it was in the way he talked like he was better than them, like he was some omnipotent puppeteer and that they were some puppets in a toy chest. And yet he had’nt tried to kill them yet so that was something. At least that meant that he still wanted them alive. So far he was the only thing in this place that didn't seem hostile at first sight. It spoke of Ms.Saski and how they were going to be late to save her and that they had to hurry. The others began to interject their own thoughts some filled with more emotion than others, but they all had their points and Masako took them all in.

During this time Minto did something like the others had with their creatures of whatever like that women Hervor that Masako had spoken to. But this was something not angry or harmful but filled with a soft light that surrounded Masako’s and the other’s bodies. It dulled the pain until it practically vanished and well Masako was impressed by that at least. Giving Minto a small nod of accident when he asked if everyone was okay. Then the rabbit man continued to talk and the debate for what to do next continued as others began to voice their own opinion.

Masako was not having any of it though she was beaten with a rake, dealt out fly by emotional support to total strangers and was stuck in some crazy reality that really shouldn't be happening where people puke up darkness and get psychoanalyzed by televisions and now there was this guy. ”This is just rich isn't it? This world has a sick sense of humor to it does it not mister rabbit? We get here by getting pulled down a hole in the ground, we end up in some alternate world that plays on rules that are not our own and now we meet you Mr. White Rabbit with a pocket watch and talking about people being late. What’s going to happen next? You're going to tell us that Ms.Saski was captured by a Queen in Red and that we are going to need to enlist the help of a mad hatter to save her? Yeah because we didn't have enough shit to deal with beside the shadow monsters and our classmates attempt to murder us. Just... just fuck all of this crap.”

She hit her head back against the wall and sighed cooling down after her little outburst. It felt good though surprisingly to just be able to yell at somebody. She spoke again resigned. ”But sure. Let’s follow the creepy rabbit man because he so radiates trust and we are going to get torched alive later anyway if Mister Fancy Pants's Freudian doppelganger has anything to say about it.” She explained gesturing towards Kazuo.

Shinku couldn't help but chuckle lightly at Ito, "Yea, you hit me with a stick. . . Not that it hurt as much as getting hit with a pipe," and patted her roommate on the head with a slight grin. She didn't really seem to mind the girl latching on to her considering all the messed up madness in this place left everyone needing a hug of some sort.

She turned to Gruffyd who had thanked her, "No real need to thank me. Considering. . . The methods . . . I guess."

But that was enough of that conversation for now. There seemed to be more pressing matters, such as what happened to all the goop and. . . Was she seeing double? Two Kazuo's? This "world" they were in was very weird. . . Then the shadowy looking version disappeared and allowed for the entranced of a bunny headed man mentioning if they didn't hurry, their teacher might not make it. Not that they had ANY idea where they were going anyhow. But, he did mention something about taking them there. He didn't seem to be the most trustworthy, considering he might be from this world and was wearing a mask like whatever just happened with over half of the members of their class.

"I think a way to prove how trustworthy you are would be not to screw with us and take us to our teacher." Shinku mentioned to everyone, but specifically looked at the masked man. "I mean, like, we don't know you and you've not done anything wrong to us so I'm not gonna fault you yet. If we get to Sensei in time, then I think he's trustworthy enough. Besides," The girl started while looking around at her classmates. "What have we got to lose? It's not like we know where to go from here anyhow."

After delivering her piece Shinku turned back to her roommate, "You need some help walking for a bit? Or do you got it?"

Dai couldn’t help but sigh in relief as Shinku somehow sent a powerful lightening strike on Gruffydd’s ass. Yet, all at the same time, he pitied the guy for all the pain he had to endure. It mustn’t had been easy to be possessed by awful shadow monsters. Yet as the battle between the possessed and sane calmed, the tension in the air was still evident – to him at least. It was… tiring. He wasn’t sure how the others could find the energy to keep going.

Naïve. Stupid. Those were the words that were hurled at him when he tried to calm both Haruto and Gruffydd. Well, of course he was naïve and stupid. He didn’t dare comprehend the pain they were going through – well, he did try but only ended up getting himself and the others hurt. Even when they tried to explain through a bit of exposition, most of their words flew over his head. Looks like he misunderstood. Again. Oh how great…

Names and insults did nothing to pierce his thick skin. Dai could care less about that, but it was the idea behind the name calling that got under his skin. It was almost as if there was a wall building up. Could he really make it pass…?

“…Sorry…” Dai muttered mostly to himself; the bow and arrow shook in his hands. He grimaced as the bruises all over his body throbbed and his arms shook from left over adrenaline and pain. Honestly, next time he aims a sharp pointy weapon at someone, it’s going to have to be at those creepy shadows things or for purely self-defense. No matter how well that situation ended, the very idea of hurting your friends felt almost taboo. He breathed deeply and reached into the bag that was slung over his shoulders. An iced coffee was pulled out despite how much his hands shook from shot nerves. It was still cold, and it felt great as the cool condensation dripped down its sides and against his pressed forehead.

No, if the others could keep going, then he could too. He has to keep trying. Again, and again, and again. No matter how much the air flared his lungs or how much his brain ached, he couldn’t afford to stop. Not now, not ever. Because… Because… If he were to stop now…

The chatter from his classmates became a simple noise within the background as Dai closed his eyes. He could only remembered a few of his memories – a simple collection of words and fond moments. It was a bittersweet reminisce as tears started to slowly build up. He has to honor those memories. He can’t just….

It wasn’t until he suddenly heard something similar to chimes when Dai finally opened his eyes. There, hovering in the air with a strange aura surrounding, it was a mouse dressed with a simple blue cape. Despite being small, it somehow looked tall as it stood on its hind legs and its gray fur dusted light with each movement. A paw reached out to him as a small yet surprisingly deep voice echoes in his mind.

“I am thou, and thou art I. Dry those tears for the world is our oyster to take into our hands. For I am Stuart Little, your companion and friend.” With a single finger, Dai reached out. The paw felt warm to the touch as the image of the mouse shattered like glass and the shards dissolved into brilliance.

For a moment, Dai stared into space – confused yet awed all at the same time. It wasn’t long before he was brought back to the crazy reality when he heard a ruckus coming about from his fellow classmates followed by an intense heat of... fire? His gaze flickered over to the cause of the chaos only to see a…. Shadow Kazuo!? And then a man in a rabbit mask?! Holy crap, how much did he missed out?!

As the masked man talked and warned about Sasaki’s demise, Dai listened to the voices of his teammates. A good many of them were reasonable and logical. The benefits outweighed the cost if he were to sum up the idea of their current choice. He was pretty sure that trusting strangers was something one shouldn’t do, but in a situation like this, they couldn’t afford to linger around lost. If those shadow monstrosities attacked just like they did to the group, just imagine the horrors Sasaki must be experiencing alone.

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Dai grinned in delight as the bruises on his body faded away when Bride somehow managed to use some kind of magical light to heal them all. He could practically feel his pain melt away. He wasn’t going to question the magic thing or anything else since this whole world was crazy with nonsense and shadows. There was an endless amount of questions and panic that kept popping out that are bound to drive anyone insane. What the heck are those shadow monsters? Why the heck is this guy here? How many people died here? So many questions yet no answers. For the sake of survival, he pushed reality into the back of his mind for later panic attacks at a more convenient time. Just don’t think about it, just don’t think about it, just don't think about it.

“I’m going with the majority’s vote on this. Let’s follow this dude.“ Dai then turned to masked stranger and offered a small friendly yet tired smile. “Well, just lead us to Sasaki-sensei and we’ll see if we trust you. Got any name you would like to be called? ‘Creepy masked man’ is a mouthful.”

It seems everybody is on board with the idea of following the rabbit-headed man, even if some of them are more skeptical than others. Particularly Masako, who just seems irritated with the whole situation. After her rant, Shinku suggested to the rabbit-headed man that if he wants to prove that he's trustworthy, he would take them straight to their teacher. The rabbit-headed man nodded. "As I had planned in the first place." He then turned to Masako. "If you're done being harshly sarcastic towards me, may I ask you a question? Just now you said something very intriguing. You said you and the others were pulled into this 'alternate world'. Are you suggesting there exists another world outside of this?" Once the rabbit-headed man received an answer (from anyone in the group), he hung his head down. "There's something... other than this...? A world without shadows...?" He murmured to himself. Kazuo asked him if something is wrong. "Wha- N-No, nothing." The rabbit-headed man looked apprehensive.

Dai then, in a friendly gesture, asked the rabbit-headed man if he has a name he preferred to be called considering the other option is a bit much. The rabbit-headed man seems taken back by what Dai said. "N-No one's ever asked that. They always call me whatever they like." He scratched his mask once more and wondered about the name question. "I can't really think of anything. If it's not too much to ask, maybe all of you can think of a name for me? Ahhh, but there's no time for that right now." Kazuo explained that the group will follow him but warned him not to try anything suspicious. The rabbit-headed man nodded in affirmation. "Then we must hurry." The rabbit-headed man walked passed the others and made his way up the street - opposite of the giant wall of fire that was still present; Kazuo followed after.

After some time, the group arrived at a small, intact building with an unnatural-looking door. The door stands out quite prominently from the rest of the building. Whereas the building looks weathered and grey, the door looks new and colorful. Kazuo asks the rabbit-headed man if this is where their teacher is. "Not yet. This is a quick detour. Your physical injuries have been healed but I can sense your spirit (SP) requires mending. I'm afraid facing the enemy in your current condition may prove to be too difficult. There's someone here who can assist you with this dilemma." The rabbit-headed man walked inside. Kazuo looked to the others and then, without a word, walked in as well.

What is inside the building is totally unexpected by Kazuo: it looks like a beautiful ruin which mother nature has taken over. In the middle of the room is a huge spring; a soothing melody can be heard in the background. Just then, a fairy dressed in pink flew out from behind a few trees and approached the group. "Ooo, customers?!" Then the fairy saw the rabbit-headed man and her excited expression disappeared. "Oh... It's only you, Mr. Rabbit Man. Are you here to freeload again?"

"H-Hey... What's that supposed to mean? I only asked for free service once."

"One too many. My business will go down if I keep getting people like you coming in here." The fairy then noticed the students. "Who're they?"

"Acquaintances in need of your service."

"Oooo! Well why didn't you say so sooner?! Welcome to Trish's Spring! Name's Trish and this is the fountain of healing! I can cure all wounds... for a price."

Kazuo asked for the price. The rabbit-headed man turned to Kazuo. "Last time she tried charging me ¥1,000,000."

"¥1,576,241 to be exact. Expect a bill from me soon, you lousy carrot muncher." Hearing the price, Kazuo told Trish to lay off the fairy dust.

"See? This is exactly why you were kicked out of the fairy world. Your greed knows no bounds. You're supposed to be performing good deeds to earn your way back but at this rate..."

"This world runs on give-and-take! Don't be a bunch of cheapskates! If you end up dead, don't come crawling back to me!"

"H-How nefarious... You're more devious than the shadows!"

"You know what?! I hope you die, you mangy, flea-ridden bum!" As the rabbit-headed man and Trish continue to argue, Kazuo looked at the group and joked about ditching the two of them. Perhaps the group can go exploring around the area for a bit.

HP: 99
SP: 19



Saito impatiently watched the group talk and bicker amongst each other asking what is the this to do, while this masked man, whose is oddly polite and taking the groups questions in strides better the Saito could ever handle. The masked man reminds him of something out of an anime, mostly tuxedo mask, maybe Saito could call him Usagi and see how he reacts to it or if anybody will get the reference. No. That would be to forward of him to give a nameless person a name even if it's a stupid nickname.

Dai, a classmate that Saito faintly remembers not being possessed by what was inside half the students, asked the mask man if he should be called, the masked man seemed puzzled by the question. Hey wait. Does he have your bag? Saito should get it back from him when he's in a talkative mood, he wasn't in one right at the moment, too many weird things to think over and to do, it doesn't feel right to stand around And do nothing. But something inside made him talk when the masked man asked about other worlds.

"We are simply guessing we are in another world but that seems to be the case since those shadows aren't native to our world from what I know, and this looks like ape busted reminds our version of Nichibotsu, and personas are also not from our world." Saito spoke plainly then he went back into silences, now wasn't the time to throw around theories if it isn't to find a way out of here. And it seem the masked thinks the same thing.

Saito sighs and simply followed the masked man quickly as the masked man started to walk off to an unknown location.



As Saito and the grouped followed the masked man he had lead them to an oddly clean building and when they entered their was a short women with wings, Saito just narrowed his eyes looking at her in exhausted questioning, he mouthed the words 'what has my life turned into". Saito silently watched the masked man and tiny fairy woman argue about prices and a fairy world. This day is so weird and all around a head ache. Kazuo joked about leaving the arguing pair in the dust, which honestly Saito would be okay with. But they still needed him to find Ms Sasaki, so Saito in a rare moment of light hearted ness shakes his head and shrugged his shoulders In a cause manner. And Trish the fairy called herself could heal them which they could use. And Saito assumed it was the spring that would heal them, and he subconsciously walked at the edge of it and looks down at the water. Saito bent down on his knees and glided his fingers into the water in quick motions to evaluate he spring water and what he felt it was perfect temperature and it felt relaxing on his fingers, even the aches from years of schooling and hand bashing seemed to malt away in moments. It recovered 1 SP.

"...it's nice." Saito remarked to himself.

"...should I jump in...?"

---

HP: 99
SP: 20

Johnathan thought to himself after the white rabbit like individual asked how he would be able to prove it. Johnathan felt a little silly and pretty stupid about it. How could he prove it? Well he didn't try to kill them yet, and it didn't seem like he was going to, so that was atleast a bonus. Johnathan however would still doubt the rabbit, and never let him out of his sight. However he heard the voice of bride [@destinyfailhorror18] speak up, politely asking him to stop swearing. He sighed whilst he shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry, it's a force of habit, it uh... i don't know... helps me ... feel relaxed I guess?" How else could johnathan put it? He was telling the truth. However he felt more relaxed after Bride had casted Media, despite not being injured, it sent a wave of relaxing energy through him, allowing him to feel at ease.

"You... can heal...? That's amazing...!" Johnathan beamed happily. Of course, he could heal as well, but brides seemed stronger than his own. A person who can heal like him, that means if he ever got hurt, he could always rely on Bride for help. Of course, he would rather be the one supporting everyone else, he didn't want to be inferior.

After everyone was in agreement, everyone, with mostly doubt followed the rabbit, Listening to him talk about how he was confused that there is such thing as another world, a world without shadows.

"In all honesty... No nevermind, not the right time for that". Johnathan had to stop himself from making comparisons to this world and the world he comes from. Perhaps if someone where to talk to him about it later he'd open up, but for now, it wasn't necessary. The rabbit also explained he had no name, which johnathan decided to speak up about.

"No name? You don't have a name here? I... Don't know how that feels... This place is so bizarre... it's scary, but you seem at home here... How can you survive with all the shadows? Does anyone..."

Johnathan took a glance at his pretty abandoned surroundings, pretty much signifying that there could have been mass murder here. Johnathan didn't want to continue with his speech and simply asked.

"Hey uh... where are we going?"

The rabbit once again explained, telling them that while they may be healthy, their spirit required mending.

"Sorry but, i'm not a very religious person. Uh... my "spirit" is perfectly fine thank you".



It was then the rabbit lead them into the building, which houses a huge spring and a very odd, weird looking fairy. Johnathan lept back in surprise. ("For fuck sake!") He thought ("Can't this place let up on the surprises for a fucking second, i'm going to have a fucking heart attack!")

"What the hell?! A midget! A flying... thing! Ah... what the hell is that thing?!"

Ofcourse, he was ignored, as the rabbit and the fairy got into an arguement. Frowning, he rested his hand on his head and sat down, trying to make sense of everything that was going on. He couldn't make sense of it at all, how could any of this be real? It was bizarre! Ofcourse, he felt it, he knew it was all real, every last second of it. And like it or not, this was his new reality. He just has to suck it up and accept it.

"Phew... Okay... Before we go on... guys... I think we should discuss our Persona's... We can all feel it right? What they're capable of? I don't know why, but when I unlocked my persona, new... memories I think flew into my head... For some reason I know exactly what this persona of mine can do... I can cure a single person at a time, fire lightning... I can... protect people with.. some form of barrier and... I think I can extract malevolent forces out of you guys... like... calm you down or something like that... it's... real hard to explain... What about everyone else?"