...Well, you're not going to know what's going on with them if you don't ask. "Are you... doing something right now?" You ask, trying not to make it too obvious that the tip-off was Mitsuru-san's eyes. She's probably heard it a lot of times before.
"Not in particular," She tells you out loud. Inside your head, however, it's a different story. (We are plotting against the chairman. Would you care to join in?)
(...You know, Mitsuru, there's a lot of better ways you could say that.) Hearing Shinjiro-san's voice is pretty strange, but you suppose being able to connect other minds together is sort of a prerequisite for completely silent conversations involving more than two people.
You shrug, and sit down on the couch, hoping that's enough to be understandable. (So what are you doing?)
(As unfortunate as it is that Shinjiro and Yamagishi were in Tartarus last week, the fact remains that it has opened up a number of opportunities. For example, Yamagishi's powers let her extend her senses over a wide range, as well as the ability to project her voice. Speaking of which, Yamagishi...)
(Akihiko-senpai's almost got the secondary cameras recording,) Yamagishi-san reports, her brows furrowed. (He just needs another minute or so, and then we can get started.)
You still don't know what they're going to get started on, other than that it's something to do with Ikutsuki. Somehow, that's not the most intriguing thing at the moment. (You actually figured out the cameras?)
(Somewhat. At the very least, if it fails to record, we can always try again. But I think we'd all rather get this right the first time. I don't think the chairman would worry about the security footage looking rehearsed, but... It's best not to risk it.)
(If we put the cameras back the way we found them, I don't think he'd suspect a thing. I mean, he actually thinks he could get Ken to kill me.)
(...Could you repeat that?) Yamagishi-san asks. (I knew he wanted you dead, but... Amada-kun, how old are you, again?)
(I'll be eleven on the twenty-fourth.) Why is that always the first thing about this people question? Shouldn't the fact that the man ostensibly looking out for you is trying to use another person as a murder weapon at all be the most important bit?
(Then why does he think...?)
(It's complicated. I'll tell you later. When we're not trying to set a trap for the guy who's supposed to be in charge of us.) Huh. You don't think he's ever been the one to suggest talking about it before. (Anyway, once he actually does figure out you're not into killing people, he's probably going to look for another plan. And while we can't outright tell him how to plot murder, we can still give him ideas.)
You sort of want to ask what kind of ideas, but before you can, Yamagishi-san lets herself relax a bit. (It's ready.)
As soon as those words are out, Mitsuru-san is all business, complete with the ability to resist glancing at the nearest security camera. Though, it probably does help that it's behind her. "I see. And how much has he told you, exactly, about what we do?"
"Well... you fight monsters, right? Because the school turns into... a giant... tower?" She glances down, and she'd probably look unsure, if viewed from above. "Was he... not supposed to say that?"
"Well, the Dark Hour's never actually been an official secret. People outside the Group can wake up in it, it would be impossible to make contact with all of them to deliver a gag order." (And I hate to say it, but that was actually an idea in consideration for a while, before they realized just how impossible the logistics would be.) You don't think you wanted to know that. "But you don't think you were aware yet?"
Yamagishi-san shrugs. "I don't... usually stay up late at night."
"Oh, like Yukari-san?" You ask. "She didn't realize the Dark Hour even happened until she was living here for a while." And even then, it had to be actually explained to her.
"I guess so..." And now Yamagishi-san is actually unsure. You don't know if this is going to help with whatever they're planning or not. (But it does explain a lot about Shinjiro-senpai.)
(...In what way?)
(You heal faster than anyone else, you can carry heavier things than Akihiko-senpai does, that one time a pot fell on your head and just bounced off...) Sometimes, you really wonder just what goes on in the Cooking Club. But then, Shinjiro-san's probably the most unusual thing about it. (I think Natsuki-chan and Nozomi-senpai are starting to notice that something's off.)
Mitsuru-san sighs. "I suppose it's a good thing you're informed. It makes the process of asking you to join a fair bit easier."
(Hey, at least you now know not to just walk up to someone while carrying an Evoker, right?) Wait, Mitsuru-san did what!?
(I was fifteen!) You're positive that you would never hear any of these things if you just stuck to having conversations out loud. If only because her dignity would never be able to survive it.
Yamagishi-san ignores this turn to the conversation. This was probably a smart decision. "You... really want me to join you?"
"You've only just come into your power, and your sensory capabilities already far outstrip mine. Unassisted, I can cover line of sight, or a small room if I focus. And your range is..."
"About the length of the school. More if I'm looking for something in particular. Is it... really that special?"
"I don't think I've ever heard of a range that large." Left unsaid is that nobody ever talks about things like scanning Personas, because this isn't Mikage-Cho. Persona Users are so much of a minority here, most people don't even know that you exist. "We would be very fortunate if you were to join us."
"Then... I will. If it'd be useful..."
(Fuuka, I know we've talked about this, but that's really not the reasoning you should actually be using. Trust me.) Shinjiro-san shifts, actually making the effort to sit up and look serious for once. He doesn't do that a lot. "I guess you'll be needing this, then." The Evokers that were given to Makoto-san and Junpei-san were brand new. Yours and Akihiko-san's are older than that, but you still take good care of them. Mitsuru-san's has been in use since she was your age, and it shows, though it still hasn't lost its shine.
The one that's being handed to Yamagishi-san is both littered with scratches, and appears to have only just been cleaned of a year's worth of dust and neglect.
"...Shinjiro, are you sure about this?" (You can still back out, if you want.)
(Why would I do that?) "It's not like I'll be using it." You remember, now, seeing Shinjiro-san fighting Shadows in Tartarus, with no Evoker in sight. You hadn't really thought much of it- it wasn't the time, you're just about the only group of Persona Users that actually needs them- but you guess this is as good a way to address it as any.
(...How did you get Akihiko-san to let you use yourself as bait, anyway?)
(By telling him he can zap Ikutsuki once this is over, so long as he's still alive afterwards.) Okay, you guess that makes sense. (By the way, did he manage to actually get it on tape?)
Yamagishi-san just nods, and everyone immediately relaxes. Mitsuru-san's eyes return to their natural shade. Still, she manages to keep herself somewhat businesslike, which is probably important if Akihiko-san couldn't get the cameras to stop recording. You aren't sure how much of their operations they actually understand.
"I suppose our next step will be getting you moved in, then. Fortunately, we can use the fact that there are multiple companies willing to offer young Persona Users full scholarships..."
Being in Nemi's room, with the Shadow in question nowhere to be seen, is something you're probably a lot more used to than you should be. If other people are in the habit of dreaming their way to their own mental world, it's not something you've ever heard about.
At least, not beyond the normal descriptor of dreams as such, which actually makes these things sort of hard to describe.
Still, you have no idea where Nemi is, not even a hint aside from the fact that, for once, the closet door is hanging wide open, leaving nothing but a passageway to the most hidden parts of your mind, and the nagging idea that you might be able to reach more places than usual if you go exploring today.
[ ] Enter the closet. You think you'd be able to find more than usual, at the moment...
[ ] You think you might be able to access another room tonight...
[ ] Inspect one of the photos on the desk.
-[ ] Which one?
