surgeworks

10 - August 1 | Table of Contents | 12 - September 1
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Alternate Title: Oh no...

I have some bad news: this is where it starts. We are officially going downhill and picking up speed. Everything that I hate about Persona 3 starts in this recap post. I mean, part of me is happy, because I can finally hash out all the issues as they come, but on the other hand, it’s just unpleasant.

I do have some good news for this one post, though—it involves my first two spitefics.

Last time, we encountered Strega, Chariot, and Justice, and none of them impressed us.

Today is 8/8, a Saturday. Theo calls us to let us know another dead end in Tartarus has opened up. Before we can access our usual routine, there’s a knock on our door from Mitsuru, and she wants a word. She wants to tell everyone something, but would like us to see it for ourselves, so we’re to come to the 4^th floor once we’re back tonight. When we get down to the lounge, the others are contemplating Strega.

Before we do anything else, we need to deal with some requests from Theo. The first is for a drink with his sister’s name, which you might think you can get from Club Escapade, but you can’t. Instead, we head for Port Island Station, where we find in its back alley a “Que Sera Sera” club. With our unparalleled Charm, we enter, though it’s not open yet. The bartender wants us to try a new cocktail, no alcohol, which is pretty good. For our help, he gives us a free bottle to take home. Said cocktail is called a Queen Elizabeth. Upon being handed the drink, Theo is...a little unnerved for some reason, probably because his sister is a dick to him. We get Junpei’s summer outfit, which he reports is something he likes wearing himself. Good, I wouldn’t mind seeing Theodore in a blue muscle shirt. Someone should’ve drawn that ages ago.

The next request is a trip to the shrine. When we take him there, Theo apparently senses some otherworldly presences, and actually cracks a fairly convincing joke about one being behind us. First on the itinerary is to worship at the shrine itself, which he’s confident in doing and which we encourage. He’s rather methodical about it and, moving to place coins in the offering box, takes out a wallet.

He then dumps an absolutely impossible amount of coins in it that the box can barely hold—apparently his salary is an infinity sign. He swings the rope and is about to call out his wish, but comes up blank. He eventually decides to wish for our safety, asking that we close our ears, not sure he wants us listening in. There’s that blush. Once complete, Theo enthusiastically assures us we’re protected for all eternity now. When asked what we’re going to pray for, we respond in kind. Theo is taken aback, responding that he’s an avatar of power and should need no protection, but he thanks us for the generosity anyway. We pray ours silently, causing him to wonder that it wasn’t mandatory to call a wish out verbally, and makes us feel like a bit of a dick for not letting him know.

Theo’s attention is next drawn to the playground built nearby. After analyzing a jungle gym’s components, he comes to the bizarre deduction that it’s a house. It’s about time we let him down gently instead of letting him be baffled, so we tell him it’s for playing around on. Like the little kid he is inside, Theo wants to know how. Again, the lack of 3D environments in this game is practically betrayal, as we are then deprived of hilarious scenes like Theo trying to balance on a horizontal beam. He finally realizes what we’re up to when we try playing along again, though our laughing probably had to do with it.

All too soon, it’s time to leave. Theo doesn’t seem to want to, and is a little puzzled by his own hesitance to go back. But, we do go. Once we’re back in the Velvet Room, he informs us he asked Igor to set up some horizontal bars there, only to be refused again. The reward for this date is the item needed to fuse Thoth. He repeats his gratitude, a little more vigorously.

We go to see Maiko today. Probably wanna see how she’s doing after the fiasco of our last meet-up. She’s supposed to be in cram school, but isn’t going, and seems cheerful enough. We’ll have to wait for a rank-up however, as this is only a holdover.

Evening falls, and we return to the dorm. As Mitsuru requested, we’re in the command room. What’s it about?

Koromaru’s better!!!

He’s here with Mitsuru, tail a-wagging, and has a new collar. When Fuuka asks, Mitsuru reveals it’s like an Evoker for dogs, to help him control his Persona. And despite being thrilled that this good boy is better, I have shit to say!

*steeples fingers* *sternly looks Atlus square in the face*

First a damn robot, and now this?

I hope we all remember why I pointed out that Aigis, a machine, being able to summon a Persona doesn’t make sense in anyone’s wildest fantasies. The reason I supplied was that Aigis has no personality, and no human emotions, and thus no need for a personal facade which could be manifested as a Persona.

As a dog, one of the animals most well-known for intelligence, loyalty, and expression, Koromaru most definitely can have a personality. That doesn’t, however, mean he can have a personal facade, or a Persona. Know why?

To have a Persona implies you have a self worth hiding underneath it. A dog does not have a shadow to its persona. A dog is an honest creature. It is incapable of lying or hiding anything except chew toys, and any damage it does it does either out of instinct or, if it’s been trained, the misguided desire to gain affection from its master. Dogs have no need nor any ability to mask the emotions or thoughts that arise from their ego. Thus, with nothing to hide and no front to be put up, Koromaru having a Persona makes no sense.

Ill Logic: 24

Five points, because this is the second of two party members who should have no business whatsoever even being here. I love you Koromaru, but you are still violating the psychology of Persona.

Speaking of psychology violations, it would be unfair to add a point for it, but his Evoker? What, is it supposed to mimic his death by strangling? Why do I feel like I’d get that answer if I asked?

Yukari also asks if that means that he’ll be going into battle with us. I must protest, as it was just a normal shadow that attacked him last time, and he still had to be out of commission for a month for surgery afterward. There should be no way he can assist us in battle.

Ill Logic: 25

Oh, but how little logic matters here. Koromaru’s actually one of the more useful party members.

Despite the initial concern, the rest of SEES welcomes Koromaru with open arms. Junpei offers to take him for a walk, as it is summer break, after all, but he doesn’t get to enjoy that thought for long. Mitsuru reminds him to enjoy his vacation while he can, because summer classes start next week.

Junpei initially thinks she’s joking, but she’s not. Mitsuru has already applied all of SEES to summer school courses.

BITCH.

Oh, Yukari and Mitsuru both play it up as a good thing with Junpei’s grades, but Junpei is the only one suffering bad grades! Yukari’s doing okay and Fuuka and Akihiko are getting good grades! And we scored at the top of our class!

WISTLH: 39

But even then, that doesn’t justify signing Junpei on without his permission! What if he had plans? What if he’d arranged a vacation already paid for? What if he just plain didn’t feel like going?!

You do not fucking do people this way. This is the second time this chick has “thoughtfully” signed people up for demanding occupations without their consent and only told them after the fact! By this point, I’d tell Mitsuru to either drag her ass over to Ms. Toriumi and force her to retract those course assignments, or get a fireball from Hua Po sicced on her. I wouldn’t be this girl’s friend. This is completely inconsiderate in the worst way.

The scene is over before I can finish fuming. In the lounge Aigis informs us that Koromaru won’t just be running at shadows and biting them. He’s actually going to be jumping at them with a knife held between his teeth. Great accuracy, not much damage.

We, uh, have a problem. I’m supposed to hit a Sun Social Link flag here with Koromaru, but it doesn’t seem to be happening, which makes me wonder if I triggered the previous flags. I thought I did… I could reload a save and make sure, but the last one before the previous Sunday was all the way back in early July. I’d hate to think of redoing all of that progress in Tartarus, it was hell enough the first time. But the Sun Social Link is a once-a-week only affair, so…

Alright. I’ve located at least one free Sunday, so I’m not in danger if I can’t start the Link tomorrow (for my own reminder’s sake, it’s 1/3, but there might be opportunities before that).

Anyway, we go spend time with Mutatsu for our final Rank Up. When we find him in his usual seat, he invites us to sit down like always.

He opens by wondering if it’s divine guidance, it being the call he got today from his hired detective, who has located his wife and son. Apparently they’re running a small, but popular restaurant. Not only that, but his son is married, with a pregnant wife. Despite having tracked them down, he waited to leave until he saw us one last time. Aww! But, he will be going tonight. Mutatsu says he won’t come back until they’ve forgiven him, even if he has to get down on his knees and beg, or take a punch in the jaw from his son. Not being good with words, he’s been thinking pretty hard on what he’s going to say to his wife.

“I’m gonna say ‘I wanna recite the sutras with you by my side, for the rest of my life’.”

He asks us how that sounds, and we encourage him, getting a smile. He’s faced up to what he’s been doing: drinking to hide his feelings, and he feels freer for it. He ‘blames’ us, saying that lecturing us night after night reminded him of when he was a father, and wonders if Buddha sent us—after all, if he’d never met us, he’d never have seen his family ever again. Thanking us genuinely and gratefully, he smiles, and his Social Link hits MAX Rank.

The sweet music plays, and we’re informed we can now fuse Chi You, the Warrior King. Mutatsu gives us his reserve tag, his seat in the club being ours now. He lets us know that mixing Cointreau, white rum, lemon juice, and ice makes a cocktail called XYZ. He reflects on this, saying that ‘XYZ’ is slang for the end of something. He wants our futures to be like the drink, not the slang, roughly phrased. With that, he says goodbye.

I have to say, this is probably another favorite Social Link of mine. It definitely represents its Arcana well. Mutatsu’s had a long run, and eventually it went sour, and he spiraled. The important part of it though, was that his initial state of drinking to hide his depression and loneliness didn’t have to be the end of his journey. Things can still look up for him, all he has to do is put one foot in front of the other and move towards the good in his life. Which is a great message in a game loaded with really fucked messages. Plus, Mutatsu’s just a really cool guy.

8/9. We’re no longer tired. When we get to the lounge, Aigis has more to explain about Koromaru’s Persona, but I’ll do that bit myself later. Talking to Koromaru does nothing, so we resign ourself to starting the Sun Link late. Upon going to the shrine, I realize I didn’t hit the second Sun flag—my Academics wasn’t high enough to understand what Striped Shirt was saying. Upon being given a bizarre sort of philosophical recitation, we give an answer he likes, and he wants to write them down. Unfortunately, Striped Shirt doesn’t have his red fountain pen. We’ll have to find it and come back to him.

Yet another fuck-up! I wasn’t supposed to talk to Mutatsu last night, but tonight. Last night was quiz night, so I’ll have to make up the loss. As I have no Link to do today, we go to the shrine’s offering box and put in some money to try and increase our Academics.

When we get back to the dorm, Mitsuru asks us to consider taking Koromaru for a walk sometime. Walking up to the dog, we find he’s holding something. What should it be but a red pen? We’ll just take that, thanks. We’re also informed that we can start a Social Link with him, wherein when he’s not ranking up, walking him will boost points just like a holdover meeting would. Sometimes you’ll run across other Social Links while doing it, which can boost points for them too. Right now, Aigis can go, but we can’t start the link just yet since we have to give him dog food first, and we can’t right now—so tonight, we’re gonna study.

8/10. Summer school begins today, and continues through Saturday to waste a colossal six days of our time. We do get some info on Tarot, courtesy of Mr. Edogawa, who describes it as telling the story of a journey. Most disturbing about it is the description of the Death card, which is correctly described as not literal death or destruction, but inevitable change, the end to the old and the beginning of the new. Which makes me wonder how that specific tarot could have been so poorly understood throughout the rest of the game. More on that later. He also says he’ll be doing tarot demonstrations in the nurse’s office.

On 8/12, our Academics finally goes from Smart to Intelligent. We’re almost at the top.

On 8/15, we’re finally free. Tonight is the night we start Koromaru’s Social Link, but first, we head up to the command room. There’s a new recording, dated 7/15. It is not cool, because it is a recording of Fuuka trying on bikinis in her room before being tickled by a vibrating waist slimmer, which makes Mitsuru walk away awkwardly when she hears it. I’m gonna pretend this didn’t happen.

Anyway, Koromaru’s Link. We give him the dog food we made during our first club meeting with Fuuka. He seems to be pretty into it despite it being several months old. He finishes eating, and then snuggles up with us. Such soft fur. Social Link! This one is the Strength Link.

8/16 arrives. When we wake, we remember that Naganaki Shrine is holding a summer festival. We get no less than four calls about it, and while I hoped to turn them all down to at least see if I could repair my chances at a timely Link (it’s Sunday), Mitsuru forces us to go if we decline.

Hmm…. Think we’re due for a mini-spitefic? Was kind of hoping for a more egregiously fucky part of the game before I did my first one, buuut….

“Sorry, but I need you to go. Aigis will—”

There was a thud as your cup of coffee was slammed down on the table with more force than you meant, cracking it. What came over you, whatever possessed you to say the words you were about to say to your Senpai, you aren’t sure, but it came suddenly and caused you to speak with an icy and final tone.

“Sorry, but I’m not going. You can cut the shit with the fake polite tone, too, Mitsuru. I don’t fucking feel like going anywhere today and that’s final. You signed me up for student council without my consent, you signed me onto summer school classes without my consent despite my grades being better than yours, and you are now trying to force me into yet another demanding event I don’t have any interest in.”

“_____, I—“

“—I’m still talking.” you interrupted. “I’m sorry that you don’t want to go to the shrine alone with Aigis, Mitsuru,” you continued, “but I’m tired after a week of summer school in the heat and I don’t really feel like entertaining your request. I don’t really feel like going to some crowded event with you and the damn stalker robot, so pick someone else.”

“What’s gotten into y—“

You hung up.

So that aside, we reload and go with Junpei. Nothing against the ladies, but I wanna be alone with the cute boy for a while. We opt for a yukata. Shock of shocks—we succeed in turning him on, and he pervs, but not so badly that we feel violated or humiliated. That aside we also succeed in having some general fun at the festival. We even share a takoyaki—though Junpei is annoyed to find out we look like a couple to people. Damn it, Atlus! Let me have this!

8/17 arrives. We go to spend time with Maiko again.

...She doesn’t even bring up the running away incident. Instead, we’re being asked where we want to eat. Hamburgers sound fantastic. She approves, so it’s time for some food from the burger joint. There, Maiko does talk about her parents, and says she talked over their divorce with them. She was sad, but she listened, and we express approval of that. She now understands what’s going on, and how hard it is to live together when the love has left, but has been assured by both of her parents that they still love her 100%. However, she has to choose whether she wants to live with her mom or her dad. I wouldn’t typically make this kind of decision for her, especially without knowing more about her life, but in this case the right choice is her dad. Maiko is tempted, but also worried about her mom, who cries a lot lately. Of course, if she moves away with her mom, she won’t be able to see us anymore. A sisterly feeling fills the space, and we rank up. We escort her home.

At the dorm, Yukari and Junpei are hanging with Koromaru. Yukari tried giving him a meal she overcooked, only for him to turn it down, which Junpei is laughing about. Fuuka, who also has trouble cooking, sympathizes. Speaking of him, let’s hang out with the pup.

Pup seems to have an itch! Fuuka walks in to inquire about fleas, and comes back with a doggy brush, and he gets happier when we sit down with him and brush him. Does that feel good, puppy?! Yes? Who’s a good boy?! Rank up! However, it’s not all sunshine. Koro’s stomach still seems a little tender from the wound and surgery, and he backs up when the brush gets too close.

8/18. Rio calls to invite us to the movies, which are having a film festival. We say yes, and enjoy a few horror movies. That night, we spend time with Mr. Tanaka.

What he tells us this time is about a woman who came to his office seeking donations, who was ridiculously beautiful. But despite her beauty, Tanaka saw her dedication to charity work and noped out, describing himself as ‘repulsed’. This dude….does not indulge kindness and morality much, does he? He seems proud of denying her charity money. The spiel he gives then sounds like it came out of the First World Capitalist Anti-Charity Handbook and was actually very uncomfortable considering American concerns lately. He does consider training someone to take his place though, now that he’s rich enough to retire, and assures us we’d find even greater heights and riches than he did. Well, we rank up.

8/19. Theodore calls to let us know about a human lost in Tartarus. The next call is from Saori, who wants to watch nature documentaries at the film festival with us—we say yes, and get a charm boost we don’t need.

When we get to the dorm, Junpei is complaining about the heat, while Mitsuru insists heat is an illusion that only affects you if you allow it to. She does seem to doubt her own words though—remember, her Persona is weak to fire. We play the quiz game at the arcade.

8/20 arrives, and with it a cutscene. Oh no….come on, I thought it would be longer before this happened….

Junpei’s sitting out the heat at the TPI station. He’s bored, and annoyed because summer break is almost over. Me too, Junpei—what with so much of it being taken up by events. He laments that with special powers, he shouldn’t be so damn bored. However! He notices something interesting: a girl, sitting on a nearby bench, for which I don’t blame him. She’s got long hair red as a fire hydrant and is decked out in a white lacey dress.

Yep, it’s Emotionless Gothic Lolita, one of the Three Stooges. Junpei observes her drawing something. Despite being next to a florist’s shop and a movie theater, Junpei is stumped trying to figure out what she could be drawing, since no one else is around. So, he walks over.

“Get out of my way.”

Better do what she says, kid. No, she’s just complaining that she can’t see past him. He tries to sneak a glance at what’s in her sketchbook, and it’s something red and black. He’s not sneaky enough, and she asks what he wants, and he sheepishly says nothing. He walks off, though he is still extraordinarily concerned with what she’s drawing, in addition to noticing her weird outfit.

That’s it. That’s the scene. Just keep it in the back of your mind for a while.

We go to the shrine to boost our Koromaru Link and lose 1,000 yen. That night, Junpei informs us of the “gothic lolita” he saw drawing at the TPI station. We spend time with Koromaru.

There is a ball at Koromaru’s feet. Obviously, we pick it up. After we throw it, he chases it and returns it. Good boy, Koro!!! Fuuka comes by, and happens to inquire about Koro’s age. His old owner, the priest, probably knew, and she reflects that he probably knew a lot of things about Koromaru that died with him. Rank up!

8/21. Who calls this time? Theodore! And yes, it’s to watch a movie with him! Obviously we say yes. Today’s theme is super sad movies, and Theo asks what tear-jerkers are. Apparently, we learn some romantic one-liners from the ones we watch. Theo was mystified throughout it and didn’t really get it, but got the important parts, reporting a pained heart. He escorts us back to our dorm, for once, instead of the other way around.

Tonight, we have nothing to do since we finished the Tower Link ahead of schedule. Koromaru doesn’t want to go for a walk… I’ve decided I’m going to study. If I take available opportunities to do so, I should be able to make up the difference in Academics. There’s a lot of free time in the schedule for October, so I should be able to max it out even if I skip the movie Sunday to start the Sun Link. I think I’ll do that.

8/22. Bebe calls. There’s French movies playing at the theater, and he wants to go. We say yes. We net us some Academics points and a boost for Temperance. We go to the arcade and play the quiz game for another boost.

8/23. This time, no one calls, but we can invite Ikutsuki to a movie showing, which we’re not going to do because why should we? Instead, we go see Striped Shirt at the shrine, and give him back the red pen we got from Koromaru. Upon it being returned, Striped Shirt introduces himself as Akinari Kamiki, and he offers us a seat.

And….this music plays, whoa. Not a good sign.

Akinari remembers us to be the girl Maiko plays with. He remarks that her face is bright and happy, and she has that ‘new life’ look in her. So different from him, stuck in a hospital most of the time and struggling to get air in his lungs. Shortly put, he’s dying, and he’s miserable.

DEATH IS INEVITABLE: 26

He denies that we could know how he feels, and kind of has a point when he calls us selfish for saying so. He’s due to die any day now of a genetic disease with no cure. Despite it, he feels it’s better him than someone else. After some silence, he apologizes, not wanting to have depressed us, but he doesn’t get to talk to people his own age much. Right out to bat, he says if he meets God, he’ll thank him for this meeting.

Jeez, dude.

Uhh…..rank up?

As I’ve mentioned so many times you probably want to punch me for it by now, this is the Sun Social Link, which is ironic to say the least. Once we’re informed of that, Akinari says he’d rather we not come here again—one shouldn’t waste their life among the dying (dude...ow...).

We were due for another Tower meeting tonight, but that’s done already, so….hmm… Should we study some more? Yeah.

8/24. We get another scene today, but not of Junpei. This time it’s Shinjiro (!), who’s tired of Akihiko’s nagging him to return to SEES.

Akihiko isn’t backing down, and informs Shinjiro of Koromaru joining, and uses it to shame him, since Koromaru’s doing more despite bad memories than him. Out of the manga store comes Ken, who spots them talking. But, he can’t help but overhear Akihiko make mention of an incident two years ago in which they saw someone die, and that Shinjiro’s beating himself up over it.

DEATH IS INEVITABLE: 27

He denies Akihiko with more cynicism, letting the audience know in passing that the incident they’re talking about isn’t the death of Miki, Akihiko’s sister. Ken watches them separate, becoming a little shocked and angry when he realizes the significance of the timing of this incident, and takes note of ‘Shinji’s’ name.

When we talk to the people in the lounge, we invite Yukari to the movies today. “Willpower” is the theme today, and we get not a Courage boost, but an Academics one. Yukari expounds on how great the movies were, and we get a boost for our Lovers link.

Tonight, we spend with Koromaru again. We take him out for his walk, only for him to start growling at something. It happens to be Mr. Ono, the idiot teacher who doesn’t know anything about history unless it involves samurai. Mr. Ono is immediately drawn to Koro, and wants him to be his dog, and we of course shoot him down. Apparently he wants Koro in order to look for something he lost. We begrudgingly ask the pup if he can do it, and he’s down. Mr. Ono’s looking for a USB drive, and promises to give us the answers to the next test if it’s found. While he launches into spiels on ancient Japanese warrior figures, Koro starts to sniff around. After a minute, he runs off toward the shrine, where he starts digging in the sand. It’s...a katana? But with a USB plug-in instead of a blade. ...Really dude? Really? Mr. Ono is concerned that kids were probably playing with it, and what would’ve happened if it were an actual blade—though he sounds more concerned that it would’ve been damaged than that children could’ve carved each other apart. He leaves, we thank Koromaru, he woofs, and we rank up.

8/25. We invite Akihiko out to the film festival this time. “Chop-socky” movies are the theme today, and when I looked that term up, I found out it was basically kung fu and action movies. Again, it’s our Academics that increases, not our Courage. Akihiko was thrilled, and did squats all the way back to the monorail, and damn it that sounds hilarious to watch and we can’t. Grrr.

We have another Social Link to max tonight! It’s our Devil Link with Tanaka, so let’s get cracking.

Tanaka is the complete 180 of the last time we say him—he opens by saying he’s making a donation. The lady who called is raising money to help orphans in foreign countries. He justifies this by saying it’s more of an investment than a donation, one of 10 million yen (holy shit). A private donation, not from his corporation. After he called to tell them this, they sent a thank-you letter that arrived the very next day. Now that he’s got it, he can’t really back out now, can he? He still plans to introduce himself as the one who made their rich and famous lives possible in the distant future, of course….

He gives the thank-you letter to us. According to him, talking with us has developed in him an interest in seeing others mature, for which he thanks us. We can hear the genuine appreciation behind his immediate excuse that he should actually thank himself, and we rank up.

With MAX Rank on our Devil Link, we can now fuse Beelzebub, the Lord of Hell.

According to Tanaka, he’s insulted he only gets a piece of paper in return for the money, but still, it’s not a bad feeling, doing something nice. He also intends to leave us to our own devices from here on out, letting us know that, well, we don’t need his help to shine in the world. Aww.

I’d….like to offer this Link the same praise I gave the Magician and Tower Links, but it hit a bit too close to home for me with his very...conservative mindset throughout the Links, to say the least. Still, we get Beelzebub for it, which ain’t bad. I wish putting up with capitalists gave me the power to summon Hell’s demons.

8/26. We get a call. It’s Rio, but we turn her down—the movies partner for today is Koromaru! “True Battles of Real Men” is the movie series being played!

...But we get kicked out. Our insistence that Koromaru was, in fact, a realistic doll did not work. Koro’s disappointed, but we promise to buy the DVD version for him when it comes out. To make up for it, we’ll spend time with him tonight.

Aigis lets us know that school starting is a problem—she can’t follow us there.

Aigis I’m Stuck With You: 11

Let’s go to the command room! We find a new recording dated 8/13. It’s Akihiko’s room, and he’s pacing. What’s ailing him? ...Dude’s still annoyed about how Yakushima went. Could his flirtation skills really not be any better than Junpei’s? Junpei’s? He can’t wrap his head around sucking that much. His eyes turn to a magazine on his desk, wherein he finds pages on making jokes for others. To his embarrassment, he finds himself reflected in the list of symptoms suffered by unfunny guys who can’t flirt. He attempts to practice in the mirror, though it’s….cringey, poor dude. Insulted by his own terrible puns, which he compares to Ikutsuki’s, he gets frustrated and tosses the magazine, and goes to town on his sandbag.

That over with, we go hang out with Koromaru. Tender Feeling is playing when we’re out. Koromaru looks down the street, and we find the woman who introduced him to us walking our way. She remarks that Koro seems like he can’t forget about the priest, and feels sorry for him. She suggests finding something of the priest’s to make him feel better, before going on her way. Koromaru looks up at us intently, and we tell him we’re with him. He barks, and trots down to the shrine. Once there, he howls, and hears other dogs howling back. We ask him if he’s saying hi to the priest, and he woofs back. Though he can’t speak, there’s an understanding there, and we rank up.

8/27. Akihiko is calling. The schedule is to go with Junpei, but Akihiko’s link needs boosting, so I’m torn. I’ll save on a different file and just report on the movie with Junpei from a different one.

Akihiko takes us out to the ramen shop, where something seems to be bothering him. When asked, he says a junior girl called up and asked if he’d be her boyfriend. He turned her down, but she’s kept bringing him letters and gifts since, and he’d feel terrible if he asked her to stop. But, he does want her to stop, and asks for advice on what to say to her.

> “I’m not interested in you.” (Or, more brusquely phrased, “Get lost, chick, this is harassment.)
> “I have a girlfriend.” (Ooh, tempting. But…)
> “Beat me, and I’ll date you.” (YES. Decide who you date based on who can be your rival.)

The idea is approved by Akihiko, though he worries she might poison his lunch to secure a win. We give him sweet fries, and whoa, but apparently these were a great choice, because he takes to them quite well.

As for what Junpei does with us, we go see American action movies. Junpei is absolutely thrilled. We study in our room that night for our boost.

8/28. Mitsuru is knocking on our door, and for some reason I’m filled with dread. It’s another summons to the 4^th floor tonight.

The next set of movies is with Aigis. I staunchly don’t want to go, but there’s an Academics boost in it for us. We go watch ninja movies. Aigis comes out of the movie with the conclusion that ‘ninja’ is the ultimate status a person can achieve.

Everyone is in the command room that night. Except Ken, who walks in. Ikutsuki says he’s joining SEES, over the sensible protests of Akihiko and Mitsuru who, you know, don’t want a damn grade schooler in the path of dangerous monsters. They are overridden.

Ill Logic: 26

Ken pipes up that he asked to join. He finally knows why he was given this power, he says, which will put us in a state of alarm when this scene ends in about ten seconds and we check his stats. But first, spitefic!

“He’s not going.”

“Now now, ____, you really should be more open-minded about this. I just told you that Ken wants to do this.”

“Yeah!” Ken chimed in, “If I can help, why not?”

“Because you’re a grade schooler.” you respond, though your eyes are locked on Ikutsuki, who seems to grow uncomfortable under your gaze. “Under no circumstances will I allow a ten-year-old child to be put anywhere near monsters like shadows."

“My, that’s some ferocity.” Ikutsuki responded cheerfully, but his face was hardening, his gaze becoming icy as he attempted to force you to back down on your decision. “I see leading this team has made you very confident.”

“I’m not making this decision as the leader of this team. I’m making it as a decent human being, if you don’t mind, Ikutsuki-san.” you say politely. “Persona or no Persona, he is not fighting with us, period. You shouldn’t require any further convincing.”

“I think she’s speaking sense,” Akihiko interjected, seeming to have found some ground on which to stand again. “Amada-kun can’t make decisions like this yet.”

“I agree.” Mitsuru reaffirmed. “Remember, we’re now dealing with hostile entities like Strega, not just beasts like shadows. It wouldn’t do to make him their enemy by associating with us if we can avoid it, and overall, his help isn’t necessary. Yukari, your thoughts?”

“That’s...that’s nuts.” Yukari said, having found her voice. “How could you even consider that, Mr. Chairman? It isn’t right. I don’t think we can allow that.”

“Dude, any kid’s gonna jump at the chance to use superpowers and fight monsters. Kids do that.” Junpei spoke from the chair across the room, fidgeting. “Doesn’t mean he should.”

“It’s just not justifiable...” Fuuka says quietly.

“That’s not fair!” protested Ken, overwhelmed by the negative response. “I can be helpful, I promise! And I won’t get in your way! I’m worth it. Just because I’m young—“

“He’s mature for his age—’’ tried Ikutsuki, his eyes flashing from one face in the room to the next.

“’Mature for their age’ was never an excuse used by anyone responsible, Mr. Chairman.” you said, your voice overruling his with the support of your team behind you. “It isn’t happening. Ken can stay here, but he can’t fight.”

Silence fell. Ikutsuki swallowed, and seemed to want to continue fighting this veto, but no words came out. He finally relented.

“I...guess they do have a point, Ken...”

That doesn’t happen. Instead, everyone just submits to the whim of the kid and the idiot chairman, and Ken is officially part of the team. This is the ninth team member, and frankly I think we should’ve stopped with eight. A robot, a dog, and a literal child are on our team now. And somehow the last of those is leveled the highest.

We study that night.

8/28. Theo calls to report another human lost in Tartarus. We get another scene with Junpei at the TPI station.

He’s reflecting that he’ll be a senior next year, when he notices Emotionless Gothic Lolita again. She is drawing again. He walks over, and she recognizes him, though is pretty cold with it. He stammers, saying he’s surprised she remembered him. She responds in kind, which she has no right to do seeing as she sticks out like red velvet cake—he does point this out. When she doesn’t respond, he asks what she’s drawing. “Nothing, why?” she says, and Junpei tries showing appreciation for her having something she’s really into. She deflects this, saying she just draws because she likes to. He mentions he’d like to see it when she’s done, and trots off.

That’s it. End scene. Ya’ll got all that?

I’d like to note that Emotionless Gothic Lolita’s voice actress is...lacking. She sounds like a much older woman despite being just out of her teens by appearances.

8/29. We invite Fuuka to the movies, where hard science fiction is playing. Fuuka, excited, babbles about all of the theories she has about their technologies in the movies.

At the dorm, Aigis informs us Ken will be fighting with a spear, a long-reach weapon to compensate for his smaller stature against large enemies. Junpei is oddly pensive, wondering if there’s anything he can get involved in. We play the quiz game at the arcade.

Dark Hour cut-in!

CREEPY BOY IS BACK…

...To remind us what we already know: the Full Moon is in a week. And he vanishes pretty quickly afterward.

Calm Down There, Edgelord: 21

Not even a rank up? ...Shit, dude, why show up at all anymore?

8/30. We invite Mitsuru out to the movies, where they’re showing classing romances. Mitsuru, though having enjoyed herself, cannot help but pick apart the last movie for its storytelling flaws. She’s very critical, being reminded of her own life.

And that is where we stop! I apologize if things got a little...mechanical and repetitive, here. Next post, we have our Tartarus visit due, and the newest Full Moon Shadow fight as well. Not to mention yet another party member (that will make ten). Who’s ready? Anyone need a nap? I do.

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