A/N: hello guys author-san here, I hope you all have been doing good this year. It's a year full of events, but we are still kicking. The reason why the story was on hiatus is because I lost the motivation to write. Collage life has been tough and there are other things, you know life stuff, that made me pause writing. But when Persona 3 Reload got released, it made me miss the game and the story. I wanted to still continue it, but I didn't know when and today it finally happened. I needed a long break so I could get my energy back to write and I am glad I finally wrote this chapter that I've been wanting to finish. Don't worry I won't be abandoning the story.

I know some of y'all have been waiting and I am sorry for making you wait. I don't know if there are some old readers still interested in reading the story, but whether you are an old reader or a new reader, you are always welcome here ♥️ your support is what helps the story to grow.

Now, be prepared for some angst cuz there will be lots of it in this chapter. Take care, readers!

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It was the dark hour and Fuuka managed to succeed in locating not only one Shadow but two. The group got occupied and headed to the Iwatodai Station Shopping Arcade; the Shadows' location.

However, another problem the S.E.E.S were having was that Shinjiro and Ken weren't with them, so they had to wait for them first.

"The enemy reading...they're right nearby." Fuuka informed while being inside her Persona's bubble.

"Where's Shinji?" Akihiko asked.

"Amada did tell me that he couldn't make it today, but..." Mitsuru paused, a concerned frown appeared on her face.

"Those two are..." Akihiko faced down with his arms crossed, then a gasp escaped his lips.

Mitsuru frowned more, looking nervous this time, "Akihiko, don't tell me that...!"

"Today's October 4, right?" Akihiko asked in a panicked tone then looked over at Fuuka. "Yamagishi! Try to locate Shinji and Amada's positions!"

"What?" Fuuka looked confused, but she accepted his request. "Very well."

"Wait...what are you two thinking about?" Yukari asked Akihiko and Mitsuru, seeing them looking anxious.

"...The day Shinji accidentally killed Amada's mother...it was on this day.. October 4." Akihiko clinched his fist while sweating. "I am afraid Amada is thinking of doing something...he might regret later."

"Huh?" Everyone started feeling anxious as well as they heard Akihiko.

"Wait a second...! The last time I saw Ken-chan before the Dark Hour started, he told me to wait for him because he had something to do first and I found that strange...but I didn't ask him any questions." Miki mentioned while looking worried too.

"Same...he spoke with me too and he was acting a bit strange..." Makoto spoke next.

"I am getting a reading! Those two are together!" Fuuka interrupted. "The location is...the alley behind Port Island Station!"

Hearing this, Akihiko turned to leave, but a large Shadow appeared in his way.

"Shadows! They are here!" Fuuka warned.

Another one appeared as well, standing side by side. The first Shadow represents the Arcana Strength. Its appearance takes the form of a woman in a dress over a swirling bundle of flowers.

The other one represents the Arcana Fortune. The creature resembles a sphinx, one of the creatures depicted on the Rider-Waite Wheel of Fortune card. It also resembles the lion often seen in depictions of the Strength Arcana. It bears the green and red mask of a Fortune shadow.

"Tch! We are gonna make short work of them!" Akihiko raised his fists, ready to fight. "Don't jump the gun...Shinji! Amada!" He mumbled to himself.

_____

"I knew you would come."

Shinjiro spoke up as he approached Ken, seeing him standing with his spear in his hand.

Ken turned and made eye contact with him as he glared in pain, "...Why did you do it?" He grunted and pointed his spear at Shinjiro. "Why did you kill my mother?!" He yelled, his voice full of pain and anger.

"....." Shinjiro faced down as he opened his palms. "I don't want to have sympathy. I regret it everyday...my hands are unclean...this power is unclean...and somehow I thought I could atone by being right next to you."

"You deceived me! I will never forgive you! I will kill you and then kill myself!" Ken gripped the handle of his spear tightly.

Shinjiro frowned as he looked at him again, "I've accepted that you would come for revenge, but you shouldn't take your life, Ken."

"I already have...I took some poison on my way here." Ken said.

Shinjiro widened his eyes, "what?!"

"I bought some at a shady place...Once I kill you, I will die and be with my mother!"

Shinjiro bit his inner cheek and sweated, "Ken..."

"It was two years ago today. My mom died right here that day. Officially, her cause of death was a traffic accident, but that was no accident. I saw it...my mother was murdered! It was you who killed her! There was nothing good about my life. It was painful just to go on living. And that's how everyone treated me. No matter where I went, they felt sorry for me." Ken clenched his fist tight. "There was a time when I thought about dying, but I can't face my mother like this. So I made up my mind! That I'd go on living until I avenged her!" he shouted. "At first I thought it was the Shadows. But I was wrong. The other day, it came back to me clearly. When I saw your Persona go berserk...that's how you killed her, huh? My mother...no way are you getting away with that! So...I am going to kill you myself!"

_____

The Strength Shadow used its sharp bars to strike S.E.E.S. Everyone used their weapons to dodged the attack. The Fortune Shadow was about to strike next and Aigis noticed that as she was fast enough to summon her Persona.

"Persona!" Aigis shouted. She used her Persona to shield herself and her teammates from the attack.

"Polydeuces!" Akihiko summoned his Persona next to strike the shadows.

Junpie joined in and hit the Fortune Shadow successfully, "alright!"

"Let me!" Yukari raised her evoker to her head to summon her Persona. However, while doing so, the Strength Shadow was about to attack using its petal of flowers.

"Watch out, Yukari!" Miki warned and swiftly pulled the trigger to summon her Persona and block the attack by using Agi as the fire burnt the flowers to ashes.

"Ah...thanks, Miki." Yukari said after she got protected.

Suddenly, they saw a strong light forming the shape of a roulette in mid air. It was the work of the Fortune Shadow. The roulette had multiple logos.

"Wh-what...is that?" Mitsuru asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"A roulette? This doesn't look good..." Miki said while sweating.

The Fortune Shadow got in the middle of the roulette as it started spinning. It spun around then slowly came to a stop as the pointer pointed at the shape of a bomb.

Fuuka gasped as she sensed something destructive coming, "this is no good!"

It was too late to block the attack, the Shadow bombed at them which resulted in smoke coming out and the ground beneath them cracking.

Aigis already used her Persona to reduce the damage of the attack.

"You guys, are you all alright?" Mitsuru asked loudly as she couldn't see clearly from the smoke. "Everyone!" Once the smoke started clearing out, she spotted her teammates on the ground injured.

"I-I am fine...for now. But Yukari-senpai...Junpei-senpai...and Maru-maru got unconscious!" Miki said through a grunt with one knee on the ground as she had created a protective bubble around her, Yukari, Junpei and Koromaru since she was the closest to them.

"Stay at their side, Miki!" Mitsuru said, then looked at the other side with narrowed eyes. "Where's Yuki?"

"Persona!" Makoto shouted as he used his Persona and attacked the Strength Shadow, sending it away.

However, the roulette of the Fortune Shadow started spinning again.

"Not good!" Mitsuru pulled the trigger and summoned her Persona to freeze the roulette. Though it was an unsuccessful move as the Strength Shadow used its petals of flowers to unfreeze it. The roulette continued and struck Mitsuru, throwing sharp lasers at her and injuring her leg.

"Mitsuru!" Akihiko yelled out her name, seeing her injured as he approached her.

"Ugh, let's start by holding off this one!" Mitsuru sat up as she eyed the Strength Shadow and pulled the trigger again. The Shadow tried blocking her Persona's attack using its bars.

While the Strength Shadow was busy dealing with Mitsuru's Persona, Akihiko used Polydeuces to strike the Fortune Shadow. However, the Strength Shadow noticed this as it spread its sharp bars and stabbed Akihiko's Persona.

"Tch! Yuki! Take out that roulette thing!" Akihiko said to Makoto. "If you don't hurry, Shinji's gonna..."

"....." Makoto had never felt this nervous before as it was seen from his face. He saw they all were in a dangerous situation. He didn't know how they could hurry to get rid of two powerful Shadows at once and go rescue Shinjiro.

_____

"Do it. I won't resist. It's the penalty for constantly running away from it. The reason I left my team and why I suppressed myself with drugs. It was all because I wanted to forget." Shinjiro took a shaky breath. "But it didn't work out. My body refuses to forget. I find myself here before I know it. Even though it's a spot I don't want to see."

"It won't do you any good to tell me that now!" Ken yelled angrily.

"Sure, I know. I am not gonna make any excuses. It's something that I did. I'll pay the price. But like I said...if you take the life of even a wretch like me, you'll end up shouldering the same burden as me. Just be sure you're ready for that." Shinjiro said calmly, though his eyes were empty of light.

"Is that you begging for your life?" Ken grunted.

"Even if there's nothing but hate inside you, someday you'll end up shouldering it. Without fail."

Ken clenched his teeth, "don't mess with me! No way am I ever shouldering something like that!"

Suddenly, the sound of someone clapping their hands interrupted their conversation.

"What an interesting show."

Ken froze in his place, then turned around once he heard footsteps approaching.

"Who do we have here? The kid and the murderer. How interesting." A masked man spoke up with Takaya standing by his side.

"Strega!" Ken frowned and pointed his spear at them instead. He looked at the masked man, wondering who he was.

"Oh? You actually want to fight us more than the guy who killed your mother?" Takaya smirked.

"Leave him alone!" Shinjiro pulled Ken behind him to protect him.

Ken widened his eyes surprisingly, "what are you doing? I don't need your help!" He glared.

"What the kid is about to do...that's revenge. Since his mother was killed, it's okay for him to kill too." Takaya said, using his logic.

"You bastard!" Shinjiro glared at him.

"Of course...either way, you are going to die, eventually. Even if this boy doesn't get his revenge." Takaya added.

"Huh?" Ken looked at Shinjiro in confusion, not understanding what Takaya was saying.

"It's been quite a while since you started using drugs to suppress your Persona. You don't have much time in this world."

"What's that supposed to mean...? Is it true? You are just gonna die on your own? Even if...I don't do anything..." Ken lowered his head while gripping his spear. "On your own?! How is that fair? Then what...what was I doing all this time?"

"What actually brings on death probably doesn't matter. Young man, I am not discerning the scent of living from you in a different way than him. After slaying him, you were planning to die yourself too, weren't you? But that's just a matter of who goes first. Either way, both of you are going to die anyway." Takaya said.

"Tch, don't gimme that!" Shinjiro kept Ken close to him.

"So now you want to save the kid? Do you really want to die that bad? Okay then." The masked man clicked his gun and pointed it at the two. "Since you both want to die, we can help you with that." He said sarcastically, then gripped his gun as he seemed to be mad. "Damn you, Shinjiro...you betrayed us. You think we are the people you can mess with?!" He yelled before the sound of a bullet rang over the area.

_____

Makoto used his multiple Personas to take out the Shadows, but nothing worked. They were too powerful. Eventually, he pulled his evoker down and didn't move his hand to pull the trigger again.

".....?" Akihiko narrowed his eyebrows, seeing Makoto stopping in his place.

"Makoto-san?" Aigis looked confused and worried as well.

"Leader, please we need you...!" Miki called him anxiously. Tears urged to come out of her eyes because she was scared of dying with her teammates.

The Strength Shadow used this opportunity to trap them all inside its bars while the Fortune Shadow spun its roulette to continue its next strike.

Akihiko and Mitsuru didn't give up as they kept on summoning their Personas over and over to stop the Shadows, even if that drained their energy.

"Yuki! You've got to take out that roulette thing!" Akihiko reminded him again.

Meanwhile, Mitsuru managed to freeze the Strength Shadow, "Akihiko!" She called him to do the next attack.

"Die!" Akihiko shouted as his Persona struck the Shadow with Zio attack until it disappeared into thin air. Seeing they got rid of one Shadow, Akihiko turned to look over at Makoto and tell him to finish the other one off. "Yuki, now! Before the roulette stops!"

"Persona!!" Desperate to save his teammates, Makoto finally summoned his last Persona as it clashed against the Fortune Shadow before the pointer of the roulette could stop at the bomb logo again. Successfully getting rid of it, the shadow disappeared as well.

"Mitsuru, take care of the others!" Akihiko said before he ran off.

"Akihiko!" Mitsuru was too worried to let him off.

"Shinji..." Akihiko mumbled through a shaky breath while running to save his friend.

_____

A puddle of blood was created at Shinjiro's feet before he fell to his knees. He groaned in pain while holding his wound in his abdomen.

Ken started trembling while sweating with his eyes wide open as he saw Shinjiro shivering in pain, "n-no...you aren't supposed to die by them..."

"I know you have a data gatherer, but there's no need to get answers from you anymore. I already know everything and what the S.E.E.S goal is." The masked man said as he approached Shinjiro and faced down at him. "So now, our priority is to get rid of every single one of you."

"Huh? How do you know everything about us?" Ken asked with a frown while sweating.

Takaya laughed evilly, "why you ask? Well, Boss, I think it's time you show them why."

"....." The masked man slowly lifted his black mask and removed it, exposing his face.

".....!"

Shinjiro and Ken couldn't believe the guy in front of them was...

"Y-you are...you are Sanada-senpai's classmate!" Ken said with his eyes wide open in shock.

"Well technically, yes I was before I dropped out. You see, the reason why I joined your school was to gather as much information as possible about you. To watch your every movement and find out what you are up to before every operation. It was easy to deceive all of you." Katsu said with his eyes looking dark.

Ken clenched his fists, looking angry, "you...you bastard! So that's why you Strega have been trying to stand in our way!"

"T-tch...ugh..." Shinjiro groaned in pain as he struggled to move.

"Now killing you wouldn't be so hard. Oh, I can't wait to see every one of you facing your downfall." Takaya smirked.

"...I don't care anymore. My revenge is over." Ken said as he dropped his spear.

"I see. In other words, you've lived enough." Takaya said as he clicked his gun and pointed it at him. "So wonderfully prepared. We will take care of you first. Now go in peace..."

"....." Ken didn't say anything else as he faced down, then he closed his eyes. He was prepared for death.

However, after the sound of the trigger, Ken felt someone wrapping their arms around him, protecting him from the bullet. It was Shinjiro, he shield Ken and got hit in the back. They both then fell on the ground.

".....!" Ken saw what happened. He looked at his palm covered in Shinjiro's blood as Shinjiro was holding him close in his arms.

Takaya looked disappointed, "what did you do that for? What good would it possibly do you to save this child?"

"Shinji!"

They heard Akihiko shouting his name as S.E.E.S ran to the scene.

"What a buzzkill..." Takaya mumbled with a frown.

"....." Katsu stayed quiet as he saw S.E.E.S finally appearing.

The S.E.E.S stopped in their tracks, seeing Ken and Strega with bleeding Shinjiro.

"Wha-" Yukari widened her eyes seeing Katsu there. "Isn't that...?!"

"Saito...?" Makoto narrowed his eyebrows.

Akihiko looked shocked as well as he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He looked at Shinjiro, then looked back at Katsu. "What...what's the meaning of this?!"

"What a surprise, right? It's what you are seeing right now." Katsu said.

"Saito, you...you are part of Strega?!" Junpei frowned.

Miki sweated and started trembling as she saw Shinjiro bleeding on the ground. Her face turned pale, "Shinji-senpai?! wh-what...happened here??" She looked over at Ken. "Ken-chan?"

"....." Ken was speechless, too stunned to speak. He kept eyeing Shinjiro as tears started coming out.

"...now I get why you dropped out of school all of the sudden...no wonder you've been acting strange lately....no wonder that felt suspicious to me...I should have figured it out sooner..." Akihiko gripped his evoker as he lifted it to his head while shouting. "I will kill you!" He summoned Polydeuces to attack Katsu and Takaya.

"Tch!" Takaya was about to use his Persona, but Katsu stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Leave this to me." He said as he stepped forward, then a reddish dark aura appeared around him as his Persona had been summoned behind him.

"Moros!"

Katsu's Persona, Moros, took the appearance of a beast-like figure with horns and a skull face.

Before they could make their move, Moros swiftly struck the S.E.E.S, sending them away until their backs hit the wall hard after it blocked Akihiko's Polydeuces attack. It was unnaturally strong

"H-how is he this strong? What the hell is that Persona?!" Junpei asked with a grunt as he tried getting up after being hit on the wall.

Moros grew out arms, reached over and grabbed them one by one as it started choking them while lifting them up in the air.

However, since Aigis was a robot, she managed to break free, then swiftly went to strike Katsu. Though Moros didn't let her get any closer, it blocked her way and threw a powerful blow at her which resulted in her getting hit against the wall again.

"Ah!" Some of Aigis' wires and body parts got destroyed after the strong hit. Her system was already burned out from her previous battle against the Strength Shadow and the Fortune Shadow.

"A-Aigis!"

"You're all going to die tonight! I won't let you get rid of the Dark Hour so easily!" Katsu yelled. His face held so much anger and hatred.

"Everyone!" Ken yelled anxiously seeing his teammates getting choked. He reached into his pocket to take out his evoker, but Shinjiro speaking interrupted him.

"k-Ken...I know...that I am dying, but...I want you to stay alive. I am sorry for everything..." Shinjiro said through painful grunts. A small weak smile formed on his face.

"Aragaki-senpai...I...don't want this..." Ken shook his head with tears in his eyes.

"Aw, why are you crying? You wanted him to be dead a moment ago, didn't you?" Takaya spoke while Katsu was attacking S.E.E.S. The gun was still in his hand. "He should be dying. And you all shall too. Now as long as you don't move and interrupt my boss, I won't shoot you. That if you wish to stay alive even for just a little bit longer." He pointed the gun at them.

"....." Ken glared up at him while sweating. He kept being close to Shinjiro.

Katsu faced Makoto, watching him struggling to breathe, "how does it feel being choked...leader?" He asked as he eyed him with dark lifeless eyes.

Makoto groaned as he narrowed his eyes at him, "why are you...doing this?" He tried speaking through choked breaths.

"simple. I just despise this world." Katsu answered. "The Dark Hour is the only period that makes me feel like I am...alive. And who would say no to a peaceful death? Tell me Makoto Yuki, don't you hate this world too? I bet deep inside you do. I can see it."

"....." Makoto grunted more, but he didn't answer.

Miki heard this as she tried speaking as well, "still...that doesn't mean...you should kill people!" she glared while squirming.

Katsu looked over at Miki as he heard her, "I didn't ask for your opinion, puppet. Don't piss me off or I will say something that will make you regret that."

".....!" Miki shut her teary eyes while shivering in pain and fear. She wanted to grab her evoker, but she couldn't reach it because of Moros' arm being wrapped tight around her.

Despite her wires heating up, Aigis opened her eyes and saw Makoto in danger. "Makoto-san...no..."

My purpose...to protect him...I can't let it...end!

"Come, Palladion!" She called out her Persona after she managed to get back up. Her Persona managed to slice Moros' arms off as the S.E.E.S members finally got released.

"Makoto-san! Everyone! Are you okay?" Aigis asked, seeing everyone wheezing and catching their breaths.

"Thanks...Aigis." Makoto said in a weak raspy voice and coughed while touching his sore neck. He then stood up and finally reached his evoker as he focused on taking Strega down. "Persona!" He summoned one of his Personas as it flew towards Moros and struck it with a powerful blow, making it disappear.

"Tch!" Katsu glared at Makoto after his Persona disappeared. He saw all the S.E.E.S getting back up to fight back.

Takaya approached Katsu, seeing the situation wasn't very good for them, "it's okay, boss. You don't have to pressure yourself. We aren't fully prepared yet. Let's fall back, we will get them next time.

"...Consider yourself lucky this time. But next time, the real battle begins. It's not over yet." Katsu warned S.E.E.S before retreating with Takaya.

Once Strega left, everyone gathered around Shinjiro and Ken. Akihiko kneeled down beside Shinjiro as he held him in his arms, "Shinji! Stay with us!"

"Let's treat those wounds right away!" Fuuka said in panic.

"An ambulance! We have to call an ambulance immediately!" Yukari said anxiously too.

"It's still the Dark Hour, we can't do that. Those wounds are too deep! We can't do anything until the Dark Hour ends!" Mitsuru faced down with a pained look on her face as she thought it might be too late to save Shinjiro.

Shinjiro opened his eyes weakly to see Akihiko, though his vision wasn't so clear anymore and his face was getting paler from losing blood, "why are you...looking at me like that? Heh...I was already heading for death. Take care of the kid, he deserves a good life..." He said through painful grunts, then coughed up blood. "Ken, don't have any regrets."

"But I do! I wanna spend more time with you! I want to forgive you! You can't die!" Ken yelled in pain with tears in his eyes.

"You just got your wish, for God's sake. Take my death as justice for killing your mother. You don't have to...get rid of your hate right away...just turn it into power...Remember, you are still a kid...for what lies ahead of you...Live." Shinjiro added before looking at Akihiko for one last time. "Aki...be happy cause you deserve it." He tried lifting his bloody hand as Akihiko held it in a slightly tight grip. He felt his hand cold. "Why are you leaving me? It's not right, Shinji!" Akihiko tried holding back his tears, even though he was trembling.

"I am sorry...this is how it should be..." Shinjiro managed to say his last words before he drew his last breath then went numb in Akihiko's hold.

"....." Akihiko felt his body going numb as he slowly pulled his hand down while still holding Shinjiro's own numb hand.

"...no...no....no...NO!" Ken repeated as he bent over close to Shinjiro's body and started hitting the ground with his fists while sobbing.

"Senpai!" Yukari hid her face as she started crying too.

"Dammit...!" Junpei lowered his head with his lips trembling.

"....." Mitsuru stayed quiet though her eyes said a lot as they looked in pain.

"Shinji-senpai! P-please don't go! Don't leave us!" Miki was on her knees beside Akihiko too, her tears started falling down her cheeks. She started blaming herself for not doing anything to stop Strega.

I am sorry...I am really sorry!

"....." Makoto watched everyone mourning Shinjiro after he died in front of them. Even though there were no tears falling, the whole scene made him shudder and his skin to crawl. The blood, hearing Ken yelling with tears, Katsu's betrayal, it was a lot to take in. It made him panic on the inside, even if he didn't show it.

Who thought this could happen?