Shattered Justice (A Persona Quest)

You don't know these people. Not really, as unnervingly familiar as it is when you hear Kirijo-san speak, or see the world around you looking just the way you'd pictured.

You imagine you can tell what the upstairs looks like, as well, though you aren't going to think about that right now. You can sort out the things you might know without being told from the things you're actually sure of later. When you're not only with people that you've never met before, at least that you can remember.

"Don't I get a say in this?" You ask, which seems to surprise the two. It really is as though they didn't notice your presence. "I think I'd like it if Shinjiro-san were here." They invited you here, and try to exclude one of the people who was giving the invitation... if that's not a big red flag, nothing is.
Yeah, let's not go through that mess again...
Of course, you saying that you want Shinjiro-san in the room seems to surprise them even more. You're not sure why. You like Shinjiro-san, even if whenever he sees you he gets nervous for some reason.

There's probably something they're not telling you, but given that this is still better than figuring out everything on your own, you decide that it can't be that important.

---

It takes a few minutes for Sanada-san and Shinjiro-san to come downstairs. Shinjiro-san moves to sit as far away from you as he possibly can, Sanada-san sits right next to him. You'd expected that, though not in the same way that you expected the rest of this. It's something that you've actually picked up yourself.

Neither of them seem entirely comfortable with this whole situation. If Kirijo-san were a less composed person, you don't think she'd seem all that comfortable, either, though she currently looks as though nothing in the world is bothering her besides the idea of a little kid getting caught up in the green time. You'd tell her your true age in order to make her feel better, if you thought she'd believe you. She won't, though, if she's anywhere near as sensible as she appears.

The man with glasses doesn't let any emotion show whatsoever. At least, not that you can see. Being an adult, he's probably fairly good at hiding them.

Five people. One room. Seven hours until midnight, sixteen days before the full moon. You don't know why you're thinking about that last part, but it seems harmless, so you leave it be for now. It feels like a momentous occasion.

After a few moments of this, which you'd swear were stretched out just for the sake of making you nervous, the man speaks.

"Ken... Amada. Third grade, correct? And you're already adjusted to- never mind. Let's start from the beginning. My name is Shuji Ikutsuki, and I... oversee this little group. Amada-kun, would you believe me if I said a day has more than twenty-four hours in it?"
Twenty-five, if you want to be exact. One half at each side of midnight.
"Only when it comes to certain people," You reply. "For most of them, the green time doesn't happen." You wrote a list, earlier today, of ways to answer various things you think would be asked of you. You're not sure why you thought to add this one, but you're glad you did. You can't let yourself be caught off-guard. Not here, and definitely not now.

"I see you've caught on to that... tell me, how long have you been experiencing this hidden time, to be so calm about it?"
Just over three years.
"About a year." Be honest. They have no way to see whether you're lying or not, as far as you can tell, but best not take your chances. Last thing you want is for them to get the idea you don't trust them... even if it's sort of true. "Do you know what it is?"
Given that he caused it, I'd certainly hope so.
"We call it the Dark Hour. It is a hidden time between one day and the next. It has been happening every night for several years now, and will continue to happen every night to come." He says it casually, as though a time when most people become coffins is normal to him.

Maybe it is. You've certainly gotten used to it, as much as it used to scare you. You still dislike it, it's just become part of life for you.

"It's also not a time you should be wandering in," Shinjiro-san adds. "At least, unless you want to get attacked by Shadows."

"Shadows?" You don't think you've heard that term before, or if you have, you've forgotten it. Just like everything else you don't fully understand.

It's Kirijo-san who responds this time. "Shadows are creatures who feed on human minds, causing the phenomenon known as 'Apathy Syndrome' to the general public." So the person you saw the day you met Shinjiro-san had his brain eaten by things like that bird? You didn't know this was a zombie movie. "I lead a task force known as SEES, or the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad, in an attempt to defeat any that appear."

"So... like a sentai squad?" You ask. She doesn't respond. Neither does Sanada-san. Shinjiro-san seems to be fighting back the urge to laugh. You're not sure why. It was a perfectly valid question.
...How did I not make that comparison earlier?

[ ] Continue with the conversation as-is, trying to get more information on SEES.

[ ] Change gears, and try to learn more about Channeling instead.
-[ ] Why it is called that.
-[ ] How to not break things.

December fifteenth. Iwatodai clear skies, winter chill, a perfect Sunday morning. Fifteen minutes until Shinjiro Aragaki's phone ran out of charge.

Not that he cared. There was precisely one person on Earth who had any real reason to call him, and he didn't feel like talking to his brother friend Aki today. Or any day, really, that was the whole reason he was trying to disappear into the crowd like this. So it would be like he didn't exist.

Cowardly? Yes. Effective? Also yes. He'd take it. Nine thirty-eight, not a single glimpse of silver hair or sound of crackling static. Sure, Mitsuru could walk up on him in this weather and he'd never notice with her element, but she'd never hang around here anyway, and she was a naturally noticeable person.

Not that she'd ever bother with him to begin with. Which was good. One less person to have to push away before he hurt them.

He liked walking down these streets at this time of day. Even on Sundays, nobody really walked down these streets at this time of day. Comparatively, at least. City rush and all that. But the streets were clear enough that he could see a kid standing next to an Apathy Syndrome patient.

The kid. "He's not gonna answer you," Shinjiro stated, because someone had to say it.

"Why not?" Is, of course, the response. Kids always asked that. Why something would happen, or why it wouldn't, and those older than them would have to fill in the gaps, often not even knowing better themselves.

Shinjiro knew better. But he also didn't want to tell the kid that various gooplike monsters wandered around at night and ate people's brains. Official, not-really-an-explanation it was, then!

"He's got Apathy Syndrome. You know, that thing they talk about on TV when it's been a slow news day? Surprised no one's found him yet, though... You'd better get going, kid. This isn't a good place to be." If the kid left, then maybe he'd feel better.

...Okay, probably not. But he could try.

The kid didn't leave, though. Instead he asked probably the last possible thing Shinjiro would ever want to hear from him. "...Do I know you?"
Shit.
"Why do you ask?" He replied, maybe too quickly, though the kid didn't seem to catch on, and that was probably the best thing about today.

"I'm... not sure. It just... feels like I've met you before?" Shinjiro didn't want to lie to the kid, but there were some things that really shouldn't be brought up in semi-public, and this was definitely one of them.

"...We've never spoken," Was what he eventually decided on. Because, really, he was not prepared for today. If being so was even possible.

Somehow, he doubted it.

And of course the last thing he used his phone for would be to call an ambulance for a guy on the kid's behalf. It was sort of funny, in a sad way. But it was also one less avenue for Aki to bug him.

He didn't know quite how to feel about that.

---

His newfound freedom all amounted to nothing, of course. Somehow, Aki and the kid had crossed paths, and for some reason the latter had decided to lead the former right to him.

And then the kid had, for some reason, decided he was concerned about Shinjiro! Something which he had just about negative reasons to do, and yet, there they were.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. And there's really no reason for either of you to worry about me in the first place." Aki didn't take his words well.
I mean, you told our brother to stop caring about us. Somehow, I doubt that's gonna happen.
"Our- the past twelve years say otherwise. And if you'd just pick up your phone every now and again, I wouldn't have to worry! It's not just me, either. Mitsuru's going spare because you won't go to school anymore."

"Look, just because you can't handle a little cold..." Really, it was kind of pathetic how quickly Aki bowed to Mitsuru in everything, as entertaining as it was to watch sometimes.

"It's December!"

"Not the point I was trying to make." Huh. He hadn't realized how much he missed this.

"Still relevant, though. I'm not letting you spend the winter out here, Shinji."

"And how do you expect to stop me?" This got Aki to stop, as though he hadn't thought this part through. He probably didn't. Good. Shinjiro would be able to wander off again in peace once this was over.

At least, until the kid spoke up. "You know, given that you told me to go home..."

"I don't see what that has to do with this," Shinjiro responded as quickly as he could, as though immediately saying the words would make them true. "I don't have a home."
What are you talking about? We've got Aki.
"Why not? It's pretty clear that Sanada-san cares about you."

"Well, Aki's an idiot." That was the best response he could make. Because despite being an idiot... Aki was right, sometimes. Twelve years was more than enough time to get irrevocably attached to a person.

Didn't mean he wasn't going to try and pry him off, of course. It was for his own good, really.

"I'm right here, you know..."

"That's still more than I've got. I- I don't really have anyone anymore. You're lucky." And cue the guilt trip. He didn't deserve any of this kindness, really.

"Doesn't feel like it..."

"Come on, Shinji, even the kid says you should come home. Just... until I'm sure you won't freeze to death. Please." Hey, he wasn't the one with an ice weakness between them. If anything, Aki should've been worried about himself.

But he still fought back, of course, because what else was he supposed to do? They were supposed to just give up, not keep pushing! ...Okay, maybe expecting that from Aki was kind of dumb. He saw the problem now.
I could have told you that.
In hindsight, he should probably have figured that out back before he ended up back in his room with the door frozen shut.

---

Shinjiro had no idea why the Kirijo Group decided to put Dark Hour security cameras in the kid's room. He wasn't a part of SEES anymore, so it wasn't his business, anyway. But apparently the kid had picked up Channeling from somewhere and started causing collateral damage.

Given that even Mitsuru had summoned her Persona before she started messing around with ice sculptures, that was more than a little concerning. And so, it was decided by Aki that the kid needed someone to follow him and make sure he didn't get into any trouble.

Long story short, this was why Shinjiro was spending Christmas Eve at the mall rather than literally anywhere else. Like streaming tacky foreign Christmas specials- at least one of them had to have a Japanese dub, right? That'd be far more worthwhile than whatever his brother friend Aki had planned.

And then the kid had met with one of his friends. And her father just happened to ask about the kid's parents.

Aki noticed Shinjiro's plan before it could get off the ground. "Shinji, if you try to run away again, I will zap you."
He wouldn't actually go through with it.
His escape attempt was quickly foiled by a Zio lashing at his fingers. He sighed and turned back, the marks of electrical damage already fading.
...Okay, maybe he would. Hold on, I'll fix it...
"Does informational security not mean anything to you?" But despite his grumbling, Shinjiro was still able to hear the kid's eventual response.

"...It was an accident."

"Accident? Like with a car?" The girl who was with the kid asked.

"Um... yeah, sure... let's go with that." It was pretty clear from his tone of voice that he was just saying that because it was the official explanation and not because he actually believed it.

"...Shit. He knows."

"Shinji, he doesn't even recognize you!" Aki pointed out, because at some point he'd apparently become the voice of reason. That was probably a bad sign.

"Yet."

"Do I have to zap you again?"

"Do it and I tell Mitsuru." Why had he not thought of this before? It was the best possible way to keep him from doing something stupid in public.

---

...It turned out, even the threat of Mitsuru Kirijo's potentially-half-righteous fury was not enough to keep Aki from doing something stupid. Shinjiro supposed he should have known better by now, but he could hope. He'd have to grow up one day, right?

"Aki, I don't care if it stole your money, you can't just deal with all your problems by punching them. Or electrocuting them." Because that was apparently a thing that actually needed saying now.

"Least I'm dealing with my problems."

"I'm dealing just fine!" He protested.

"The other day, Mitsuru had to freeze your door shut so you wouldn't run off again." Okay, that was a good point. Particularly given that it had happened more than once.

"Um... hello?" And then, there he was. The kid. "The- the two of you know about magic, right?" It was like the world just loved to taunt him.

"W-what do you mean?"

"You were just threatening to electrocute a vending machine." Shinjiro had to admit that the kid had a point. That was generally a clear giveaway, if you knew what Zio was.

"And? That doesn't mean anything."

"Also, the last time we met, your friend called you a living cell phone charger." Right. He'd done that. In public. Would probably have to worry about facing one of Mitsuru's executions if she ever found out, even if it was to someone who was known to be active in the Dark Hour. Oh, well. He wasn't Aki, he'd manage. "That's because you have Zio, right? I can use it, too."

Of course he could. And as the conversation continued, Shinjiro came to a realization.

If things continued as they had recently, then 2008 was bound to be his weirdest year yet. Or maybe his last. Or both.

He'd never tell his brother friend Aki, but he was sort-of hoping for both.

It takes a few moments, but you realize nobody's going to get back to you on your question, for some reason. It was perfectly valid, you don't see how anyone could fail to understand it.

Oh, well. Still, maybe you should change the subject, before this gets weird. "So... You can all use Channeling, right?"

"I can't," Ikutsuki-san corrects you. "Though the others all have some degree of skill. Mitsuru here is particularly talented." Huh. Filing that away for later...

"How do you not break things?" You turn to Kirijo-san, who seems taken aback.

"I... I don't understand your question."

"Whenever I tried practicing with my powers, I ended up breaking something that I didn't want to... well, except for Dia, but it's pretty hard to break things with Dia." If there were anyone who could manage that... you'd really rather not meet them, all things considered. That'd be like causing horrendous amounts of damage with a bandage.

...Where are you getting these thoughts?

"...I find that practice helps," She eventually says, which doesn't particularly help your current situation, "Or aiming for the side-effects of an element, rather than an actual spell."

Shinjiro-san shrugs. "Course, the only way to really avoid causing damage with your powers is to just not use them. Not that you can turn some of them off..."

Sanada-san looks concerned. "Should I be worried?"

"No."

"Mitsuru, do you think I should be worried?"

"Very." You get the feeling that this conversation has happened before. Given Sanada-san and Shinjiro-san's dispositions, it seems likely. Not that you're able to really speak for them, this is the third time you've met, and of course this is your first time talking with Kirijo-san. But, well... it fits.

"Come on, why are you listening to her over me?"

"Because you've proven that you can't be trusted on matters of your own mental well being?" Kirijo-san suggests. "Several times, in fact."

"Also, I could tell you weren't okay within the first minute," You add. "So I'm not really sure why you bother lying..."
It's because he doesn't want us to worry. He's just... really bad at it.
Shinjiro-san refuses to respond to either of you. Sanada-san looks unimpressed. You're not entirely sure how things got to this point.

"...Moving on," Ikutsuki starts, apparently just as uncomfortable with the subject as the rest of you, "I'd like to hear how you discovered your powers. For someone to jump right into Channeling is unheard of."
I wonder what would happen if he met one of them...
You shrug, because there really isn't that much to say. "I just... there was a bird outside my window, and it wanted to get in. So I used Hama on it, to keep it away from me." There, nice and simple. "And I started practicing with other powers later, because they were easier to use."

"...Hama?" Sanada-san asks. "You mean that thing that never hits?"

"That is when it is used by a Shadow," Kirijo-san points out. "When they use things that don't directly damage in general, it tends not to connect. Which is rather fortunate for us, when you think about it."

"Yeah, Aki, just imagine... a whole army of Shadows able to do the same things Mitsuru does." Sanada-san punches Shinjiro-san. Shinjiro-san seems not to care.
Don't even joke about that...
You sort of agree with Sanada-san, though. From what they described the last time you met, you don't think you'd want to be on the other end of that... at least Kirijo-san seems to be on your side.

"So, you just happened to come across your extraordinary power?" Ikutsuki-san asks, as if the others weren't there. You nod. Seems as good an explanation as any, really.

"It's not that strange, right?" It's not like whoever was the first to find this kind of power knew what they were doing, right?

"Well, we don't have a lot of subjects for comparison, but in most cases, Channeling only comes after one has unlocked the potential for 'Persona'."

Persona... You're almost certain that you've heard that term before. You're not quite sure from where, but yes, it's definitely a familiar word to you.

You aren't sure if this changes things or not.


[ ] Keep going on the subject of Channeling.
-[ ] Why it makes you so tired.
-[ ] Just how many people know how to use it?
-[ ] How did the others learn?

[ ] ...Persona?

[ ] It's time to clear out. You're starting to get uncomfortable.