Maiko and Akira seem surprised when you open a history book during your next library session. You're not sure why, it's not like you're a stranger to nonfiction. And it's interesting to read about all the sorts of superstitions people had back then compared to your very much real magic.
Then again, it also happens to be myths that are the basis for Personas, so you suppose you might be getting a bit more out of the fiction section either way.
And history books are confusing. Stories tend to have a definite good guy and bad guy, but real life is a lot more complicated than that, especially if you compare two books from different sources. Though it's not like myths make that much sense, either... Or even your own life, with the powers you throw around.
Well. At the very least, when it comes to history, you can ask people about it and they'll say it actually happened. Most of the time. No, you're not bitter, why would anyone ever say that?"
Because you are. I'm not sure why you try lying to yourself about that. It's not like anyone would blame you.
"...Amada-senpai? Are you okay?" Akira asks, peeking over his book with a look that says he's wary of you.
"I'm fine," You grumble, but you push the book to the side for the moment so you can start writing instead, before you let your emotions get away from you. Something tells you this wouldn't be the best place to do that. "I'll just... work on something else right now."
"Is it that story you've been working on?" Maiko is either too perceptive for her own good, or too excited about the idea that you might one day publish something. Probably both.
"Yeah, I'm just... finishing up a few details." You've got Nami's ring, Yukinari's badge... Merlin's collar might have something supernatural about it, but you're not sure that's going to be quite it. It just feels too... mundane.
Maybe you'll ask Morgana what he thinks about it, the next time you see him. You think you've got enough even for a cat to appreciate now.
"What sort of things?"
"Just... what they use to summon their Personas. They've all got their own thing that they use, some sort of item."
"What kind of things do you call them?"
"Well, they don't really have a name..."
"Amada-senpai!" Maiko sounds almost scandalized for some reason. "You can't just do that. These sorts of things need names! Tell him, Kurusu-senpai!"
We already told you, they're not magical girls!
"That is how it normally works," Akira agrees. "Special items need names."
"Isn't that only if they come in a set?" You ask. You don't really know that much about magical girl shows, and you think that's what Maiko's going off of. You're not so sure for Akira, given that he's already admitted that he doesn't watch TV. "And if they're all unique to a person, then..." You're not going to mention the fact that the items are mostly jewelry.
"Prove it. Give us some examples."
"Well, Mei has a bracelet with a mirror on it... Ren has a small device that he stuffs in his shoe... Shinri has a music box that she has to wind up, and Pandora stays summoned for as long as it's playing..."
"That last one sounds sort of... difficult?" Maiko points out.
"That's... sort of the point," You admit.
Akira pauses. "Isn't that a bit too thematic?"
That is exactly the point.
And this is about when you dive back into the history books. They're less embarrassing.
If only magic practice would be so enjoyable. If only it would get off the ground.
You could have done a lot of things to practice your healing spells. There's plenty of people out there who would probably appreciate some sort of help, and you have an attack that hurts you, so you could just use yourself as a test subject.
So you're not sure why Sanada-san insisted on using Shinjiro-san, when you both already know that it's not going to get anywhere, due to the simple issue that Shinjiro-san refuses to accept Dia.
And you're still not sure why he's so hurt, anyway. He just came back late and covered in bruises and with Sanada-san not happy with him. Really, the only reason he hasn't gotten on the wrong end of a Zio yet is probably because Sanada-san doesn't want to add to the injuries.
"You could at least have asked for healing on the way out..."
Wait, ask for healing? Did he pick a fight with another Persona User or something?
"Look, I keep telling you, I'll be fine by this time tomorrow. Don't waste the kid's time making him deal with me."
You get the feeling you've had this conversation before.
"But it'll make me better at magic!" You point out.
"I'm sure you've got better ways to do that." Yeah, you've definitely had this conversation before. Only now, instead of Kirijo-san, it's Sanada-san here with you.
You're not sure how, but that's somehow making what's happening now even worse.
"Shinji, you know we're just trying to help."
"Really? If that's the case, why haven't you tried healing me yourself?"
"Ken did say that he wanted the practice..." Still, Sanada-san recoils from Shinjiro-san's words. That's never a good thing.
"And he can get that somewhere else. So what's your real reason?"
"I-I..." Okay, you should probably do something. If not for the two of them, then for the sake of getting some actual magic practice at some point this week.
[ ] Go get Kirijo-san. Being in an ice block will both force Shinjiro-san to cool down and numb his injuries. Right?
[ ] Ask how Shinjiro-san got injured in the first place. There's probably a story here.
[ ] Seriously. Why is it only Sanada-san he's okay with getting healing from?
[ ] Maybe try and convince Sanada-san to heal him. You can find another way to practice.
