Shin-Kawasaki Entertainment School.
The principal faced the stopped hands of the clock on his office wall, silent and motionless like a wax figure.
There was no light in his vacant pupils, only an empty absorption of the surrounding light, until a continuous knocking sound made a thought vaguely surface within him.
"Please come in."
Shinba Takakiyo said in a low voice.
A short-haired girl with a cold expression pushed the door open. Her right hand wore an intact wristwatch.
Yajima Yuzuki, chosen by "God" and trained to be a Persona user, had all twelve deaths she experienced because of Kurusu Akira during the heavy rain on April 27th erased along with the "Time Reversal" activated by Awa Subaru.
If it weren't for the organization's seniors looking at her with a nearly pitiful and regretful gaze during today's mission, then briefly mentioning various experiences from the previous cycle, perhaps she would never have known that she had been killed repeatedly without any awareness, unable to even put up any effective resistance.
Yajima Yuzuki had only recently become a Persona user; her time resistance as a "God-chosen" could only offset "limited time reversals" activated by her own faction.
Until her Persona fully mastered the skill [Abnormal Time Resistance] under the guidance of the gods, she was almost unable to resist this cognitive "super-limited time reversal."
It is said that to be completely immune to such abnormal time changes, one's Persona must acquire two extremely special skills: [Memory Archiving] and [Memory Reading]—
However, abilities like these, which involve the essence of mental power and the degree of free manipulation of memory, cannot be obtained through learning or training; they can only be bestowed by "God" by dividing its authority.
But clearly, her faith was not in a generous enough God; to obtain transcendent potential, one must pay an equivalent price.
...
Yajima Yuzuki looked at the wooden-faced middle-aged man in front of her. "Shinba-san, congratulations, you no longer need to take 'Mind Sealing Agent' starting today."
Shinba Takakiyo replied dully, "What about that branch school?"
"All traces have been completely cleared. The guests won't go back. Soon you won't remember them, nor me, nor all the truths about the world you've encountered and understood during this time."
"Then my..."
"Are you referring to those 'dolls'? They have all been converted into apostles of God. If you still have such needs, then go back to the school and choose again yourself... Of course, the organization will not assist you this time."
Yajima Yuzuki placed her left hand on the pocket watch and twisted it, as if a concept like a door was opened. Soon, something like a scythe extended from the twisted "door" behind her, instantly piercing Shinba Takakiyo's head, then sharply retracting.
Thud.
A disc flew out and landed in Yajima Yuzuki's hand.
She looked at Shinba Takakiyo, who was leaning against the chair with a bewildered expression, and shook her head with some disgust.
"In two days at most, you'll be able to walk and speak normally again. Cherish the little life you have left... and then, at all costs, restrain that monster named Amamiya Ren for us."
The Persona user gave this psychological suggestion to the unconscious Shinba Takakiyo, then quickly left the principal's office.
Approximately thirty minutes later.
Shinba Takakiyo slowly stood up, supporting himself with the armrests of the chair. He felt as if he had experienced a bizarre, fantastical dream.
'Strange, why did I suddenly fall asleep in the office?'
He covered his forehead, feeling as if he had forgotten something very important.
----------------
The outline of the setting sun danced across dozens of windows on the school building, continuously reflecting and bouncing, finally entering the music classroom. Brilliant golden light spots danced on the desks, like curled fingers, hooking the clock's hands to move tick by tick.
It was already six in the evening.
The students' discussions gradually faded, leaving only the chirping of birds outside the window, the gradually blurring sound of car horns, and Ijichi Nijika's somewhat disheartened and frustrated cymbal taps, emitting a sigh-like metallic tremor.
Yamada Ryo encouraged her from the side, "Nijika's chances of making mistakes are getting lower and lower now. She'll definitely be able to practice until it's 'Perfect' before the performance!"
Ijichi Nijika forced a smile, but couldn't be happy as usual. "But I'm the one who's been holding everyone back."
Kawaragi Momoka, who was putting her guitar back into its case, complained somewhat helplessly, "Actually, Nijika's progress is 'normal.' You practiced a new song to the point where you wouldn't make obvious mistakes in less than a week. No one can blame you for working this hard."
"But, only I keep making mistakes..."
"If you make mistakes, then just keep practicing. My old band's drummer also used to struggle with unfamiliar songs for a long time."
"Momoka-nee!" Ijichi Nijika tearfully threw herself into Kawaragi Momoka's arms.
As the only adult in the band, Kawaragi Momoka had no choice but to catch the girl, who was utterly devastated by her peers' talk of "talent" and "ability," and then gently comfort her.
"Eww, how cheesy." Yamada Ryo waved her hand, moving further away from them, and sidled up to the band's vocalist.
Iseri Nina blinked. Even though her most admired idol was being close with a girl her age, she didn't feel anything special.
Unbeknownst to her, the space that Kawaragi, who composed and sang "VOID," occupied in her highly insecure and approval-starved heart had shrunk to the narrowest corner.
"Iseri," Kurusu Akira's voice suddenly rang out behind her.
Iseri Nina instinctively turned around, and a key was thrown into her hand.
Kurusu Akira waved at her, "When you leave, help lock the door."
"Where is Amamiya-san going?" Iseri Nina, who had seemed indifferent to everything, suddenly felt a little nervous.
"Working part-time with Togawa."
"Won't STARRY be closed?"
"It's a fast-food restaurant; you can earn 1,200 yen an hour."
Then Kurusu Akira left the music classroom with Togawa Sakiko.
At this point, Iseri Nina turned her head and found that Yamada Ryo was observing her with an interested gaze, as if studying a uniquely shaped beetle.
...
Dusk deepened, and the city was stripped of the faint light on its outlines by the high night sky. Under the elevated bridge, the tail lights of cars seemed like a turbulent, rushing river of blood, surging with splashing water into the orderly steel forest where Kurusu Akira stood.
Following him, Togawa Sakiko inadvertently looked up and saw the last faint flicker of fire in the sky completely extinguished in the gaps of the clouds. At that moment, the city's prosperity and loneliness seemed to find their balance, forming an indescribably vast and empty sense of nothingness; the entire world seemed to fall into a strange tranquility.
The mental tranquility lasted only for a very brief moment, immediately replaced by the various annoying disturbances of life that made one want to cry: an alcoholic and gambling father, relatives with whom contact was almost severed, and cherished middle school friends and a band that had to be abandoned as she grew up.
Those treasured memories were submerged in the dark mist named "time" and "life" that surged from the other side of life's crossroads, then covered with a thick layer of dust. To touch them again would inevitably dirty one's hands.
After leaving band practice, Togawa Sakiko's mental state visibly deteriorated.
Her narrow, slender shoulders trembled with her steps, as if bearing an unseen weight.
It wasn't until they were outside the school gate that Kurusu Akira came up and patted her arm. "You might not believe it, but I found 500,000 yen today."
"Five hundred thousand..." Togawa Sakiko pursed her lips. "Did you report it?"
"No, the owner said the money was a direct gift to me."
"Amamiya-san, please don't joke like that. You're not the kind of person who would accept pity." Togawa Sakiko's expression suddenly became serious.
Kurusu Akira took out a bulging wallet from his pocket, counted out 400,000 yen, and handed it to Togawa Sakiko. "Alright, I'll be honest. Actually, I'm a legendary student at the academic peak of this school, and this money is the monthly tribute the school pays me."
Togawa Sakiko stared at him, worried and troubled, with no intention of accepting the money. "Amamiya-san, please don't try to fool me with these suspicious reasons."
"It's a 'reason,' huh."
Kurusu Akira was shocked that Togawa Sakiko didn't believe his explanation—it was quite reasonable. How could a high school student who spent more than half of his day working and in a band possibly dedicate much energy to academics? Even if he was described by Iseri Nina as a "problem-solving master" who dominated exams, he couldn't possibly be so amazing that the school would pay such a high price.
Togawa Sakiko, who also had excellent grades, often secretly recited texts and reviewed test questions during her work breaks; her main study time was at night after work.
But Kurusu Akira's night time was very clearly allocated to video games.
He even often argued with Yamada Ryo about popular game news or professional competitions until late at night.
His already meager study time was further divided and occupied; no matter how gifted he was, he couldn't achieve extraordinary results.
Unless...
Unless he was a light novel protagonist whose life had been buffed.
Togawa Sakiko respected and admired Kurusu Akira's decision to repay his debts.
But that didn't mean she would accept money from any source with a clear conscience.
Kurusu Akira didn't go into a long explanation about how he excelled academically or how he crushed a host of test-takers. Such boasting would be too much; he had long passed the age where he was eager to show off anything slightly out of the ordinary... Ill-timed showing off would only seem childish and awkward.
The Phantom Thief thought of the Gundam model he had carefully assembled and placed on the attic shelf. "Actually, it was a limited edition Gundam collaboration with Cosmic Big Bang Burger, and it unexpectedly sold well among enthusiasts. They raised the price several times, and it ended up being 500,000 yen."
"That expensive...?" Togawa Sakiko was a little surprised.
"As a limited edition that will never be reissued, this price is actually a bit low."
Saying that, he offered the banknotes in his hand to Togawa Sakiko. "You take it. If you hadn't given me that free challenge coupon that night, I probably wouldn't have dared to sit at the table."
Togawa Sakiko did not refuse this time. She solemnly accepted the banknotes from Kurusu Akira's hand and then bowed to him.
At this moment, a senior female student from Shujin High School, who looked extraordinary and was dressed in a Shujin High School uniform, was riding her bicycle home. Seeing this scene, she suddenly braked beside them.
The chain rattled with a clanking sound.
"You two are from different schools, aren't you?" The girl with short black hair at ear-level looked at Kurusu Akira and Togawa Sakiko, stammering as she asked, "What is this now…?"
Remember the famous saying of a certain philosopher: Beware! When he thinks, he immediately prepares a lie.
And Kurusu Akira, looking at the "Disciplinary Committee" armband pinned to the girl's shoulder, was indeed lost in thought.
'Oh no, this seems to be Shinba Takakiyo's lackey.'
'There's no other way. At this point, I can only find a way to distance myself from Togawa Sakiko.'
One can't help but lament the impermanence of life; even a Phantom Thief is forced to tell small lies.
"It's like this, Senpai," Kurusu Akira explained with gestures, "This classmate's family sells musical instruments, and I've recently taken a liking to rock music, so I wanted to ask her to help me choose a suitable electric guitar."
Togawa Sakiko was a bit confused as to why Kurusu Akira suddenly lied, but seeing his somewhat urging gaze, she still cooperated and began to "act."
Speaking of acting, it was just a cold nod, without a word.
After all, the "Disciplinary Committee" member in front of her didn't know her at all; maintaining silence was the best help for Kurusu Akira.
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