(MINOR WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER - SMALL MENTION OF VOMITING. NOT WRITTEN IN GRAPHIC DETAIL BUT BE WARNED.)

I walked to school with Kotone and Yukari - which I absolutely hated.

I still don't like Kotone. She exudes warmth, she doesn't know how I feel.

I admit, I'm cold. I'm bitter. But after seeing what I've seen, I think anyone would be.

It smells of fire and blood. Where... wheres my leg?

I overhear Kotone and Yukari talking, about school and clubs. Ugh. Clubs are boring. The only club I somewhat liked was the music club, and I like music in general actually.

Helps block out the noise.

Helps block out the ringing.

"Yo..." I hear Junpei call out to me. OK. "Man, I'm so sleepy today." The teenager yawns. "In times like these, it's best to sleep during class! You ever notice how sometimes taking a nap in class makes you feel more refreshed than sleeping at home?" Junpei jokes.

"Don't sleep in class, Junpei-senpei!" Kotone teased. Yukari laughed elegantly.

I shrug.

"Whaaat?" Junpei laughs. "Why do you have to be all serious? That feeling of being completely recharged is awesome..." Junpei jokes with my sister. "But I'm screwed later since I didn't hear the lecture!"

"Oh, but we have classic literature today..." Yukari sighed.

"That means we're stuck with Mr. Nasty ol' Ekoda..." Junpei groaned.

"Oh, is he bad? I'm stuck with that kinda cute teacher, Mr. Morooka today." Kotone blushed. "Man, I can't wait to be a senior like Mitsuru-senpai." Kotone admitted.

Despite not liking my little sister, the idea of her finding guys attractive is... gross.

GROUNDS -> CLASSROOM

"Ahem... I'm Mr. Ekoda. I'll be teaching you Classic Literature." Introduced a man in his late thirties. "I'll be teaching you about good old Japan all year. Some people say Classic Lit isn't relevant to everyday life, but oh, how they're wrong! The students, the other teachers... Wrong, wrong, wrong! Nobody really understands Classic Lit..."

I felt a wave of sleep wash over me. Should I close my eyes for a few minutes?

I shake my head. Every time I close my eyes for prolonged periods of time, I-

Asphalt. That's the first thing I notice. Second is the distinct smell of ash and blood. Third is surging pain in my right leg.

"Hey..." Ekoda chimed. "Are you all listening to me? Wake up, children! Now open your textbooks. First on our syllabus is "Ise Monogatari," the origin of Japanese literature. It's a very interesting story. You youngsters might call it, 'grody to the max'."

Silence. Who the hell uses 'grody to the max'? Isn't that an eighties thing? Damn.

Ekoda sighed. "I can tell you people are 'zoning out'..."

CLASS -> SHOE BOXES

A walked towards the entrance, plugging into my music.

"Oh, hey brother!" I hear Kotone call.

She was wearing a cream colored sweater, with a chocolate brown zig-zag stripe going across her chest and a black skirt. She had white socks and brown shoes and wore a Gekkoukan locket.

Ugh... so tacky. I barely noticed it this morning.

"What." I ask her bluntly.

"Well, Yukari and I were gonna go to the mall!" She laughed. "I thought maybe you'd wanna come, they have a music store y'know..."

I shrug. "Whatever. I'll come."

SHOE BOXES -> PAULOWNIA MALL

"Have you come here before?" Yukari asked.

I shake my head.

"Oh, that's a surprise. A lot of Gekkoukan students come here after school." Yukari stated, flabbergasted.

"There's a karaoke box and a CD shop. Oh, and a really great café, too!" Kotone listed off.

"There's also a nightclub," Yukari added. "But that's kinda not for us yet."

"Duh. We're all minors."

The Paulownia Mall is crowded with students on their way back from school...

Huh.

We hang out for a while, I look around the CD shop for awhile. They have American artists, surprisingly.

Stuff like Queen, The Clash, Bowie. Even a German group - Nena.

Not stuff I'm into.

I leave with Yukari and Kotone, but I barely notice it's dark out. The moon... it's too damn bright. Jesus.

PAULOWNIA MALL -> DORM

"Welcome back." Mitsuru greeted, smiling.

"Hello Mitsuru-senpai!" Kotone greets back with enthusiasm.

I nod.

"The moon is beautiful tonight." She states to Kotone. She gives an uncomfortable look. "It might be nice to read a book by moonlight once in a while."

Her enthusiasm goes away. "Y-yeah." She states, and walks near the stairs.

I decide to go to my room. Maybe I should sleep a little bit...

DARK HOUR

>meanwhile

"...How is he?" Ikutsuki asks Mitsuru and Yukari, who were monitoring Shiro as he slept.

"...The same as last night." Mitsuru answered.

Ikutsuki hummed. "Very interesting. Even those who have the potential tend to be unstable at first..."

"...Memory loss... disorientation..." He paused. "But, this subject is rather unique. He hasn't exhibited any of the common symptoms." Ikutsuki listed off.

"But..." Yukari went quiet. "We're treating him like a guinea pig."

"I understand your concern, but it's imperative that we recruit new members." Ikutsuki stated to Yukari. "I heard he's in your class... Wouldn't you be more comfortable working with someone from the same grade? He's Kotone's brother, too."

"Yeah, I guess. But, still..."

There was a large beep that caught all of them off guard.

Mitsuru pressed down to answer. "Command room.... Is that you, Akihiko?"

"You're not gonna believe this...! This thing is huge!" Akihiko answered. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to talk... It's chasing me... I wanted to let you guys know. I'm almost there."

"Does that mean... he's bringing that thing here!?" Yukari yelled in surprise.

"Mr. Chairman! Let's suspend our observation for now. We'll prepare for battle!" Mitsuru stated, getting up.

"...R-Right! Be careful!"

"COMMAND" -> ENTRANCE

Mitsuru, Ikutauki and Yukari ran down stairs, to see an injured Akihiko trying to close of the door.

"Agh...!" He gasped.

"Akihiko!" The two girls yelled in unison.

"I'm alright." He gasped. "Get ready to be surprised. It'll be here any second."

"This is no time to joke around!" Mitsuru snapped.

"It's one of them, Akihiko?" Ikutsuki asked.

"Yes, but not an ordinary one—" There was a large bang at the door, cutting Akihiko off.

"Ahh!" Yukari yelled. "What the...!? You've gotta be kidding me!"

"Mr. Chairman, please head for the command room!" Mitsuru demanded Ikutsuki

"Takeba," She said, looking at Yukari. "Go upstairs and wake Kotone and Shiro up! Then, escape out the back."

"But, what about you two?" Yukari asked, nearly stumbling over her words.

"We'll stop it here." Mitsuru said, grappling the holster on her skirt. "You led it to us, Akihiko, so I'm afraid you'll have to fight."

"Like I had a choice!" Akihiko snapped. "What are you waiting for, Yukari? Go!"

"I-I'm going!" Yukari yelled, running.

>with Shiro

I woke up quite easily. There was a lot of commotion downstairs, I don't know about what but it woke me up.

There was frantic knocking at my door.

"Wake up!" Yukari yelled.

Open my door, looking at a scared Yukari and a half asleep Kotone.

"We don't have time to explain." Yukari snaps. "We have to get out of here, now!"

"Alright...?" I respond awkwardly, as I followed her out.

"Hurry! Downstairs! We'll leave through the back door!" She stated.

"Wait!" Kotone yelled, she ran toward an bag on the coffee table, grabbing a hunting knife. She ran back to us. "Take this, just in case." She said, handing me a knife.

I notice now that, Yukari and Kotone are wearing strange red armbands - S.E.E.S.

What's going on here...!

"Okay, let's go! Follow me!" Yukari states. Kotone and I follow her as she runs down the stairs.

The 1st floor is quiet, and Yukari is sweating like crazy and Kotone has...

Has a gun in her hands!?

"Kotone, what the fuck!?" I screech. "Why do you have a gun!?"

Kotone looks back at me. "It's not a gun. It's an evoker... I need it to-"

"Alright, we should be safe now—" Yukari mumbles, cutting Kotone off and-

Takeba, do you read me!? I hear Mitsuru's voice ring in my head.

"Y-Yes! I hear you!" Yukari answers.

Be careful! There's more than one enemy! She continues.

What's going on-

The one we're fighting isn't the one Akihiko saw!

"What!?" Yukari gasps. "L-Let's pull back!"

Yukari grabs my hand and runs towards the stairs. Kotone follows suit.

We reach the fifth floor, a large bang is heard that rings through my spine.

"What was that!?" Kotone asked, gripping the gu- I mean, 'evoker'.

"It's getting closer!" Yukari yelped. "K-Keep moving! Hurry!"

We reach a white door, and go up a flight of stairs to the roof.

Yukari sighs, leaning against the the door. "The door's locked. I think we're safe for now..."

Kotone steps back. "No-"

I look at the stone railing, a slimy black creature is climbing up - with a blue mask-

It has many arms and many knives.

Kotone grabs her gun.

Hey, at least she gave me a hunting knife for self defense.

"You gotta be kidding me...!" Yukari groans, exasperated. "It climbed up the wall...!"

>"command"

"There!" Akihiko yelled, pointing at the computer. "They're on the roof."

"That gigantic Shadow... Just what is it we're dealing with!?" Mitsuru said.

"...Let's go, Mitsuru!" Akihiko commanded, standing up.

"Wait!" Ikutsuki halted.

>back with shiro

"That's the thing that attacked the place..." Yukari explained to me.

"We call them shadows!" Kotone said, standing. "O-Oh yeah... I have to fight..." She mumbles, pointing the gun-

Pointing the fucking gun towards her skull!

"I...I can summon mine... No problem..." She mumbles.

"Cassandra!" She yells as she pulls the trigger, a tall, half metal half human  being formed beside her. "FREI!" She calls - the being raised her hand to shoot a purple energy.

...It misses.

The shadow retaliated - shooting a column of fire that knocked Kotone back into Yukari - making her... thing... shatter into particles of light.

Her gun... evoker... landed near me.

I grabbed it.

I pointed it towards my head

I breathed in.

If I'm lucky enough, I'm blowing my brains out.

I am thou... Thou art I... I am the poet, Orpheus...

I pull the trigger.

My head felt a burning sensation like a killer head ache.

I looked behind me.

A slender form - similar to mine, with white hair. It looked mechanical.

Was this...

It lunged forward without my command and-

It was ripped open. Something was crawling out of it-

A black, lumbering being. With coffins for wings and a burial tunic and a helmet and-

It made a horrific sound. Calling for death.

Slam to the ground.

MOMENTO MORI. It's playing in my head, it's a killer head ache- what is going on please what is going on-

I feel like my belly is being ripped apart.

I throw up because the stress is so immense please I don't like this mom dad help please-

My vision fades to black as that terrible being tears apart that shadow.

>command

Mitsuru, Akihiko and Ikutsuki stood in shock.

Shiro had it. He had the potential and had the spark. He definitely couldn't control it.

It's been a few minuets after that. Yukari returned with a limping Kotone carrying her wasted brother. They defeated the shadow.

"What on earth was that..." Akihito mumbled slumping back.

Mitsuru shook her head. She didn't know.

>shiro's dreams

I wake up. It's hazy but it's better than vomiting on the ground in pain.

It's that room again...

"It's so nice to see you again." Igor greeted. "You became unconscious after awakening to your 'power'."

I nod. Yeah, that happened.

"I see that it was Orpheus that heeded your calling. That power is called Persona..." Igor smiled. "It is a manifestation of your psyche."

"Persona?" I mumble out.

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

Hardships...

"...Is that what 'Orpheus' is..." I mumble. My throat hurts.

"When you use your Persona ability, you must channel your inner strength. The ability evolves as you develop your Social Links—your emotional ties with others. The stronger your Social Links, the more powerful your Persona ability." Igor gently explains. "Please remember that. Now, then..."

I move around in my seat... some one is like... touching my should trying to calm me down...

"Time marches on in your world. I shouldn't keep you here any longer.
Next time we meet, you will come here of your own accord. Until then..." Igor laughs.

"Farewell, Shiro Dojima..." A female voice whispers in my ears.

I close my eyes.

??? poem of the day:
I just wanna let you know
That I want you back
That I can do everything
Just to be with you again
Im sorry if I looked back
I didn't know
I am sorry Eurydice
I wasted the chance
Now that you're gone, forever
I'll just pluck my lyre
And sing a sad song
Until we'll meet again
In the underworld
Wait for me my love
my life, my Eurydice
-Eurydice, Orpheus' Soul