PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...09/08/2009 Sunday; Afternoon...

The suffocating heat turned the Iwatodai Dormitory's ground floor into an actual oven.

The fan struggled uselessly against the heavy air as Junpei, Yukari, and Minato lay sprawled on the couch, trying to endure the heat.

Minato, finishing his third bottle of soda, sighed. "God... how is it this hot?"

Yukari, pulling at the collar of her shirt to let some air in, groaned. "Feels like Japan's turning into a frying pan. I wish I had some ice cream right now..."

She shot a sharp glare at Junpei, a spark of irritation in her eyes. "Maybe I'd still have some if someone hadn't eaten it."

Junpei, visibly embarrassed, tried to defend himself. "I told you I didn't know it was yours! It was my favorite flavor, and I couldn't resist."

Yukari huffed, leaning back against the couch in frustration. "Honestly... next time, ask if it belongs to someone first."

Suddenly, an angry shout echoed from upstairs, muffled by the walls but clearly Hiro's voice. "You piece of crap! Decided to break now?!"

Yukari flinched at the outburst, her concern evident.

Minato, on the other hand, stayed calm. "Hiro's AC broke yesterday. It's nothing serious."

At that moment, Akihiko entered the dorm, still panting from his run.

He was wearing white sports shorts and a red tank top, his face dripping with sweat, and his silver hair damp from splashing water on himself.

Taking large gulps from his water bottle, he spoke with satisfaction. "That was a great run. Managed three kilometers in an hour. If it weren't for this stifling heat, I could've done more."

Yukari stared at him in disbelief. "Sanada-senpai... how can you run in this heat?"

Akihiko shrugged as he walked toward the kitchen. "You get used to it. I just can't run when it's snowing. I hate the cold."

A short while later, Aigis appeared, coming down the stairs and heading straight for Minato.

She opened a compartment in her arm, revealing a bandage. "Minato-san, may I check the injury on your chest?"

Minato, slightly surprised, lifted his shirt to reveal his chest. Yukari blushed and quickly looked away.

Aigis examined the scratch, already healed, on Minato's chest before storing the bandage back in her arm.

"The wound is healing well. I'm glad."

Yukari, still blushing, stammered. "Ai... Ai... Aigis! You can't just ask someone to take their shirt off like that!"

Aigis blinked, confused, as her android mind couldn't grasp some human emotions. "What do you mean, Yukari-san? Isn't the correct way to treat injuries to observe the wound directly?"

Yukari nodded, trying to explain. "Yes, but... what I mean is..."

At that moment, Akihiko came out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of instant curry.

Having overheard the conversation, he sat down next to Yukari. "What Yukari means, Aigis, is that asking someone to take off their clothes in front of others can be embarrassing."

Aigis began processing Akihiko's explanation, trying to understand the concepts of privacy and embarrassment, while new questions started forming in her mind.

...09/08/2009 Sunday; Sunset...

The sun began to sink below the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink, as Yukari trained alone on the rooftop of the Iwatodai Dormitory.

She was focused, the bow firmly in her hands, her eyes locked on the target in front of her.

Arrows were already embedded in the target's center, a testament to her precision and determination.

She drew the bowstring once more, aimed, and released the arrow. It sliced through the air in a straight line and struck the center of the target with a dry snap.

Yukari sighed, but the satisfaction of another perfect shot quickly gave way to a sharp pain in her chest.

She felt a twinge that made her falter, a cruel reminder that her body was still fragile.

Despite this, she stubbornly reached for another arrow from her quiver.

The pain intensified, forcing her to stop. Yukari began to cough uncontrollably, a metallic taste filling her mouth.

Her hands trembled as she covered her mouth, noticing the blood staining her fingers.

Meanwhile, Mitsuru was climbing the stairs to the rooftop, carrying her rapier.

She had intended to train, but the muffled sound of Yukari's coughing made her quicken her pace.

Concern etched across her face, she pushed open the rooftop door and saw Yukari on her knees, coughing violently.

Mitsuru rushed over, kneeling beside Yukari. "Takeba, the doctor said you shouldn't push yourself. Why are you training?"

Yukari glanced at her bloodstained hand and sighed in defeat. "I know… Sorry. But I want to get stronger to end the Dark Hour so my dad can rest in peace."

Mitsuru placed her rapier on the ground and held Yukari's shoulders firmly but gently. "I understand, but pushing yourself to the brink won't help anyone. Come on, let me help you sit down."

With Mitsuru's assistance, Yukari stood up and was guided to the railing, where she sat with a relieved sigh, leaning against the cool metal.

"Can you grab my bottle?" Yukari asked, still catching her breath.

"Of course. Where is it?" Mitsuru asked, already standing.

Yukari pointed to a bench near the target, where a black bottle rested beside her phone.

Mitsuru walked over, but something in her expression caught Yukari's attention.

"Kirijo-senpai, is everything okay? You seem worried."

The question caught Mitsuru off guard. For a brief moment, flashes of memories filled her mind: the image of Hiro collapsed on the ground, Yukari nearly struck by the Chariot Arcana.

Mitsuru grabbed the bottle, trying to mask the unease haunting her.

"I'm fine," Mitsuru replied, handing the bottle to Yukari. "Just worried about all of you."

"What do you mean?" Yukari asked, curious.

Mitsuru leaned against the railing beside Yukari. "You're all getting hurt too much. And, to be honest, I can't help but think about the times I put you in danger by not paying enough attention."

Yukari opened the bottle and took a drink, feeling immediate relief as the pain in her chest subsided.

She listened carefully to Mitsuru's words, sensing the weight she carried.

"I know it's not entirely my fault," Mitsuru continued, her gaze lost on the horizon. "But that doesn't stop me from worrying. Each of you has a future, a story to live. I don't want any of you to lose that chance or die before you can live a normal life."

Yukari's heart ached at hearing this.

She knew Mitsuru did everything to protect the group, acting as a leader who prioritized each member's well-being.

And deep down, Mitsuru was like a mother to all of them.

"You know," Yukari said with a soft smile, "you don't have to worry so much about that."

"Huh?" Mitsuru responded, surprised.

"Like you said, fighting the Shadows is a big risk. But we all know that, and that's exactly why we keep going," Yukari explained, her voice full of conviction.

Mitsuru felt a growing pride as she listened to those words, though her face still showed surprise. She hadn't expected to hear this from Yukari.

"Before we joined S.E.E.S, both you and President Shuji said we weren't obligated to participate. If we wanted to live normal lives, we could," Yukari continued, her gaze now fixed on the sky.

"You're right," Mitsuru replied, a small smile forming on her lips.

Yukari chuckled lightly and continued. "We chose to join because we want to save humanity. I joined because my dad, before he died, sent me a letter asking me to find you. But more than that, I want to destroy the Dark Hour so my dad can finally rest in peace, knowing the hell he helped create was destroyed."

Mitsuru looked at the sky, Yukari's words echoing in her mind. "Yes, I also need to destroy the Dark Hour to free my family from the burden it's imposed."

"That's the spirit," Yukari replied, now without her archery glove, finishing the water from her bottle.

Yukari had a brief flash of memory, recalling the time they were all in Yakushima, before Hiro joined S.E.E.S. It was there she and Minato had their first conversation about their lives before joining the group.

It was also the only time Minato opened up, revealing the inner pain he carried.

"Takeba?" Mitsuru called, noticing Yukari's distant expression.

Yukari shook her head, returning to reality, and laughed softly as she scratched her head. "Sorry, I guess my mind went to the moon for a bit."

Mitsuru smiled, relieved. "Good. Now, go rest. Don't even think about training again until next week. You need to recover."

"Alright, alright… I'll go," Yukari replied, nodding. "And if you ever want to vent, you can talk to me, okay?"

Mitsuru nodded, watching as Yukari gathered her things and left the rooftop, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Alone, Mitsuru looked at the sky once more. "I need to stop worrying so much about them. After all, they're in this fight because they chose to be."

...09/08/2009 Sunday; Night...

The streets were eerily calm that night.

The wind whispered through the empty alleys, and the streetlights cast faint glows onto the asphalt, creating dancing shadows on the building walls.

Most people were already at home, enjoying the safety of their shelters, blissfully unaware of what transpired during the Dark Hour.

Inside a ramen restaurant, Hiro and Shinjiro were finishing their meal.

The cozy atmosphere contrasted with the unease both of them felt, though they remained silent.

Shinjiro held the bowl in both hands, savoring the last sips of the warm broth. With each sip, he felt a wave of relief course through his body.

"Ah, I needed that," Shinjiro sighed, placing the bowl down with a satisfied expression.

Hiro, who had also finished his ramen, mirrored Shinjiro's gesture, sighing in contentment. "No kidding... Even in this heat, ramen always hits the spot."

Shinjiro rolled up his coat sleeve and pulled out one of his suppressants from an inner pocket.

With a practiced motion, he injected the substance into his wrist, feeling the immediate effect as it calmed Kastor, his Persona, who constantly tried to overpower him.

"So, you guys managed to take down another Shadow Arcana. But are you really sure killing all of them will end the Dark Hour?" Shinjiro asked, his tone laced with skepticism as he tucked the syringe back into his coat.

Hiro scratched his head, recalling the explanations Shuji had given the group. "Well, that's what President Shuji said. If we kill all twelve Arcanas, the birth of the thirteenth one won't happen, and the Dark Hour will disappear. But I can tell the next ones are gonna be tough as hell."

Shinjiro merely grunted in response, still feeling the slight discomfort from the suppressant taking effect.

He observed the movement in the restaurant, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Hiro picked up his glass of water, taking a sip before continuing. "There are four Arcanas left to eliminate. But, Shinjiro..."

"Hmm?" Shinjiro replied, looking up.

Hiro hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words.

He wanted to convince Shinjiro to return to SEES—not just to strengthen the team but because, somehow, he felt he could grow closer to Shinjiro, to understand the pain he carried.

"Why don't you come back?" Hiro finally asked, the seriousness in his voice evident.

Shinjiro sighed in irritation, averting his gaze. "You too? Isn't it enough that Akihiko's always on my case..."

Noticing the tension, Hiro softened his expression but maintained a firm gaze. "But I know you want to come back. The first time I came here with you, you asked me if you should."

Hiro's words hit Shinjiro hard.

He remembered that moment, the internal conflict he had been grappling with ever since.

Part of him wanted to return, to help Akihiko and Mitsuru, but the guilt from his past still weighed heavily on him.

Hiro placed a comforting hand on Shinjiro's shoulder. "Look, man, I get it. It's tough. But... in our last full moon operation, we got our asses handed to us. I nearly died, and most of the team barely managed to drag themselves back to the dorm."

Shinjiro stared at the glass in front of him, seeing his distorted reflection in the liquid.

He thought about Hiro's words, and a flash of memory transported him to SEES's early days, when everything started with him, Akihiko, and Mitsuru.

And now, his time was running out. Maybe this was his last chance to make things right.

"I'll come back..." Shinjiro murmured, his voice almost inaudible.

Hiro didn't catch the words but noticed the shift in Shinjiro's expression, which had softened from a hardened look to something more thoughtful, perhaps even vulnerable.

"Tomorrow..." Shinjiro said, now resolute.

"Huh?" Hiro responded, surprised.

"I'll come back to the dorm tomorrow. I think it's time to stop running," Shinjiro declared, his eyes meeting Hiro's with newfound determination.

Hiro smiled, satisfied with Shinjiro's decision.

Another SEES member would be returning, and he knew both Akihiko and Mitsuru would be thrilled to hear the news.

"Want me to tell Mitsuru?" Hiro offered.

Shinjiro shook his head. "No, I'll talk to her and Akihiko myself tomorrow. And Hiro..."

A faint smile appeared on Shinjiro's face, carrying a mix of gratitude and resignation.

Though the guilt from the past still weighed on his conscience, he realized that Akihiko and Mitsuru still needed him.

"Thanks. Sometimes, I see you as a younger brother, even though we're the same age."

Shinjiro's words struck a chord with Hiro, who felt a bond forming between them—a brotherhood born of mutual trust.

For the first time, Hiro felt important to someone, something he had never experienced before.

"You're welcome," Hiro replied, his smile genuine.

Shinjiro stood up, placing a hand on Hiro's head in a gesture of fraternal affection. "I owe you one. You can count on me. See you around."

Hiro watched as Shinjiro left the restaurant, the sound of the door closing echoing in his ears.

He pulled out his phone and opened a picture—a photo of a woman with black hair.

"I think I'm finally on the right path, Mom," Hiro said, smiling softly, his voice carrying a mix of sadness and hope.

He turned off the phone, placed a ¥10,000 note on the table, and stood up, ready to head back to the dorm.

As he stepped outside, he looked up at the moon, feeling the cool breeze rustle his black hair.

"Looks like my streak of bad luck is finally over."

...Ever since Castor killed that woman, I wanted to run away from myself. I killed her, even if it wasn't intentional. I've been running from myself. But now...

...Now I'll face the consequences of my actions. No more running!...

...Hierophant Arcana; Shinjiro Aragaki...