Persona: Invoke


"Well, you can't help it when a headache starts..." Chigusa could simpy shrug her shoulders, in an attempt to cease this endless cycle of apologies. "Ah, but be careful..." The monster of the night before crossed her mind, if out of the blue. "I mean, I don't wish to be nosy but..." Looking out for someone you just met was somewhat weird, was it not? She cleared her throat, focusing on the exchange that would follow. Nodding a bit bashfully, she grants him a more meaningful. "Ah, thank you. It's nice to meet you as well, Zack." She joins her hands behind her back, standing in front of him in a comfortable stance. "...Are you American? Or English? Ah--sorry, that's a  bit intrusive...you don't need to answer!"
​
 
Zack grins and chuckles a bit, sitting up straighter.


"Don't worry, Chigusa. I'm American, but me and my family moved here for "a better life" as my dad calls it. We've been doing alright for the most part, but..."


Zack makes a small frown as he rubs his head.


"Well, let's just say that I'm still trying to adapt to living here in Japan."


Zack quickly smiles again, not wanting to break the now relaxed mood.


"But hey, it's not awful. I really do like it here. Just feels more cheery and lively here compared to where me and my parents used to live."
 
 "...Huh?" Eyes lost in the crowd ahead, her mind would come to drift away from the conversation, if unconciously. As a friendly as Zack was, she could not afford to forget what she had to do after the end of classes. Igor's words were far too vivid, far too urgent. But that did not excuse leaving the American student to be ignored. "S-Sorry, I was waiting for someone when you started to look sick..."


"Ah, but I'm glad you have come to like your life here." The blue haired female graced him with a heartfelt, showing that while a bit distracted, she had listened to him. "I'm from Kyoto myself, actually. I don't want to act like I understand how you feel completely. But change can be difficult, I know that much." Pausing, she tried for a more cheery, encouraging tone of voice. "It'll be fine. Just keep trying. I mean, your Japanese is flawless and you seem to have gotten the hang of things at lunch-!" No, no she started babbling again. In top of all that, she had managed to sound like a creep while at it, mentioning how she would notice him back at the roof of the school. He did stood up a bit but... "I, I didn't mean to sound like...I'm sorry..." She covered her face, no doubt her face was as flushed as ever.
 
Zack smiles and stands up, patting Chigusa on the shoulder casually.


"Don't be sorry, Chigusa. That was some of the nicest and inspiring stuff I've heard in a while. Thank you."


Zack gives a happy grin with his eyes closed.
 
Minato was walking home, both hands in his pockets and eyes cast downward. He passed through the shopping district on his way home, as he had a few things to pick up from Junes. He slowed down a bit when he reached Tatsuhime Shrine, slowly coming to a full stop just a bit past it, before backpedaling and looking to it. It seemed to be completely ordinary... but that's where it happened. Where that thing attacked him and Chigusa. Where he awakened to his... his power.


He scowled a bit, finding himself filled with worry and doubt about the future, something that had never bothered him before. He had been spinning around Igor and the Velvet Room and his apparent shared 'destiny' in his head ever since the dream, but he still felt no closer to figuring out just what was going on... he'd need to investigate further if he wanted answers, though he couldn't shake the feeling that upon taking the first step, he wouldn't be able to back out, no matter what he did, which bothered him greatly.


Perturbed, he shook his head, continuing to walk back to his home.
 
Chigusa felt somewhat at loss, if at first. The follow up to her fiasco of a reply only further proved to be of a petty existence. You could say it left her far more in a fluster... But she refused to keep up as such, trying her damnest to regain her composure. 


"No, it wasn't so much as that...you're welcome though." Stating the truth could surprise you in more ways than one, it seemed. Zack was a refreshing presence to be around, that much she was sure...
 
Zack opens his eyes again and nods before glancing up at the sky, then looking back at Chigusa.


"Well, the sun isn't going to stay up forever, so I should probably get going."


Zack picks up his school bag and slings it around his right shoulder. He gives a quick head bow for Chigusa as a sign of respect.


"I guess I'll see ya tomorrow, Chigusa. It was nice meeting you, and again, thanks for the words of encouragement. I really do appreciate it."


Zack gives off one more friendly grin to Chigusa.
 
 "Oh, right..." It was getting late, as the skies were painted in shades of red and orange as sunset came about. Chigusa held her gaze into the sky for a moment before facing Zack yet again. She could not help but bow back at him, even if finding the gesture a bit strange. Too formal, perhaps. But the intention did not go unnoticed.


 "Yes, I can say the same for myself." She paused, promptly clarifying herself on command. "On meeting you, that is. I-I'm glad I could help you somewhat..." With a wave, she bid him goodbye with a smile that while slightly awkward, it w was kinds of heartfelt.
 
Zack waves to Chigusa as he begins walking towards his home.


"See ya around, Chigusa! And thank you, again!"


Zack smiles as he faces forward, his right arm tucked under his bag while his left arm dangles freely. He felt happy, knowing that he was finally able to meet someone as nice as Chigusa.


"Well, I can definitely consider this a good day."
 
Later that night


Minato had gone out that evening. It was around midnight. He was walking towards Tatsuhime Shrine. He had found that he just couldn't get to sleep, no matter what he did. All his mind went to was his new power, and the mysteries surrounding the shrine. He realized he had made plans for all three of the key holders to go together for a formal investigation, but for tonight... he wanted to go on his own. Nobody was out, and he was alone when he went up the steps to the shrine proper. He looked around... nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though he did feel a little... heavier... like... something was bearing down on him; some unseen and unknown force that he'd never felt before. He hadn't felt it before arriving at the shrine... perhaps there was something about this area in particular?


He sighed, holding out his hand and concentrating, once again seeing the same card as before flicker into existence in his palm, hovering and revolving slowly, glowing with its soft, blue light. On the face, was the being he had summoned... Magatsuhi. He simply stared at the thing, unsure of what this all meant... what was his power meant for? What was he supposed to do? Maybe that man Igor could have answers... no. No, that strange man? Minato didn't think that he'd like speaking to Igor about anything... he didn't know what his intentions were, how he visited him in his dreams, or what the extent of his influence was. All in all, he trusted nothing of the situation, and didn't want anything to do with any of it... and yet... as he stared at the card in his hand, he felt compelled to embrace it... to discover why it was he was given this power. It was a part of him he couldn't understand, and it was certainly beyond his normal thoughts... but even so...
 
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.


It all amounted to just so. Had he left school early? Had he purposely avoided her, as Minato had seemingly done prior to it? No, no, perhaps it was her paranoia talking... She had met Zack through this decision so it was not all too bad. He had managed to brighten her day at the end, maybe with his words or that infectious smile of his. 


Lying on her bed, white sheets tangled with her body, eyes fixed on the ceiling, Chigusa stood idle, recalling the events of today. Would the ones to come be just as eventful? The thought clouded her expression for a moment... Yes, probably. Igor's dream was enough to trigger her confirmation of such. She shut her eyes for now, drifting into unconsciousness. Tomorrow...yes, tomorrow, she hoped for tomorrow with hopes for a greater resolution.
 
Minato sighed heavily, letting the card in his hand fade away. He decided to go deeper in, going along the path underneath the torii. He noticed that as he walked, the air began to feel heavier. He grunted a bit and shook his head, not liking the feeling. He took a few more steps before looking ahead, and stopping in his tracks.


Ahead of him was... something. It was in between the final torii of the pathway... it appeared to be some kind of fog, only secluded to that archway, like... some kind of threshold. It seemed to distort the air around it, and gave off a veil of white mist that clouded its appearance. Minato simply stared at it, perplexed and... a little nervous. Even so, he stepped forward cautiously, approaching the unknown. Eventually, he reached right in front of it, standing there, staring into it. He could see the distorted image of what lay behind it through the fog. The thing gave off a cold feeling, as well as being cold temperature-wise. It was so cold, in fact, that Minato could see his slow and steady breath puff into the air.


Despite his best reasoning, he reached out his right hand slowly to touch it... very slowly. He put his hand up to the veil, feeling resistance, but it didn't take much to put his arm through. He gasped a little, not expecting that, but kept his arm through, moving his hand around and feeling his fingers to confirm that his hand was still there. From here, he could tell that his arm wasn't on the other side. It had gone through to... something else. He withdrew his arm and inspected his hand. Other than a little frost and being a bit wet, it was completely fine. He shook his hand to get rid of the frost and stared back at the veil. This had to have something to do with his power and the events surrounding it. Maybe this is what that creature had come out of beforehand... despite him wanting to investigate further, he sensed danger from whatever was on the other side of that fog, and backed up a bit, deciding to leave it for now... until the rest of the group was assembled.


What the hell am I doing? Minato thought to himself.
 
Zack relaxes on his bed, having finished his homework and after having dinner with his mom and dad, who had already retired to their room. As Zack stares at his phone, he remembers back to Chigusa, then to lunch when he saw her talking to that other guy. He ponders, still trying to guess what they could be saying.


"Hmm...maybe it's best I don't know...knowing myself, that'll only lead to more questions..."


Zack feels his eye lids get heavier as he slowly falls asleep, dropping his phone onto his bed as his arms lay out on the sheets. He falls asleep, resting until morning comes to start a new day.
 
A cold sweat assaulted her, as she was violently pulled away from her sleep. A nightmare? A noise? A quick look around her room left the answer to be ambiguous at best... Whatever the reason was, she was awake now. Sitting by the bed, she slowly rose from it, the light of the moon bathing her room, reminding her of closing the curtains. But somehow...she felt as if she couldn't sleep no more. Her body was groggy, her vision hazy but all the same she could not being herself to close her eyes. What was it? No, no, it was night, she had to sleep, she was tired. A sigh escaped her lips, her feet leading her to the bathroom. Staring at the mirror in unclear distress, Chigusa stood by, motionless, silent. Drowned in thoughts of confusion, it took her a moment for her to settle down to it, gain sense of a goal to follow. The shrine, Tatsuhime shrine. But why...? Could Igor have summoned her in her dreams? Could Minato...? Ahh, her doubt did nothing for her. She had something to hold on to, that was all she needed. 


After dressing up into warm clothes, she took off, the pace of her path driving her mind and body into a stronger sense of awareness. Little by little, she stated to notice something was off... The air had began to feel heavier, colder. The sight of a fog ahead further puzzled her as to what was happening in her surroundings. It distorted them, giving off a veil of white mist that clouded them. But then a figure. Black hair. A lean, masculine back. "Minato!" She approached him, catching her breath as they were caught in this eerie, uncanny situation yet again.


[ sleepy, tired, i know it sucks, next time will be better, promise. ]
 
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Minato looked behind him, noticing Chigusa, a little surprised by her sudden appearance.


"Oh... you..." He said, recognizing her but not quite remembering her name. He turned around to face her. "What are you doing here?"
 
Tugging on her scarf, Chigusa's eyes could not kept away from darting around their surroundings, wary of this grim atmosphere. "I...I couldn't sleep." Her response sounded evasive but what else could she say? She was here, that was all there was to it. "...I could ask you the same thing." Muttering under her breath, the female would not dare to face him head on. Minato had this way of making her feel intrusive just by being in his presence. She stood by, unsure of what to do exactly. "This fog is not normal. I imagine you've noticed it by now..."
 
"You're right..." Minato said, staring back at that foggy and strange threshold. "I did notice..."


She couldn't sleep either, huh? How strange... already he felt like he was connected somehow to the other key holders, much to his dismay and reluctance.
 
"...Well, we can't just stay here though..." Her head moving back and forth, as if the fog would, if little by little, close on them. Like a caged animal, she would grow restless.


She looked at him, not long enough to grant her a sense of being a bother but sufficient to press her anxiety towards all this. "...Do you think it is happening again? Like the other night?"
 
"I don't think so..." Minato said, stepping back to that veil. "But look at this, here. You notice?"
 
"...Yes, I..." She extended her hand, moving towards the veil. What she discovered left her bewildered for a moment, as if her body no longer obeyed her. "...do." This was strange, far too uncanny. 
 
"I think I can fit myself all the way through..." Minato said, seemingly completely unafraid of the whole situation. He sticks his arm through, much more boldly than before, deciding to reach in further. "There's definitely something on the other side..."
 
"Wha-?!" The suggestion reached her as if something unbelievable to wrap her finger around. This whole thing just felt wrong and Minato wished to pursue it even further. But...at this point... If she paused to think about it, what else were they supposed to do at this point? "...Alright. But I'm coming too."
 
"Suit yourself." Minato said, deciding to push his full body through the veil. It didn't take too much effort to breach it and by the time half of his body was through, the rest just fell in.


Minato then found himself lying on a cold floor. He groaned a bit, his eyes opening as he shook his head. It didn't seem like he was injured in any way, but he checked himself just to make sure. He slowly stood up, observing his surroundings. He seemed to be in some kind of hallway... the floor was tiled in red squares with black grouting, and a low-hanging fog was settled over it, reaching just past his ankles. It wasn't as cold in here as it was outside, and the air felt more... lighter. No, not lighter, more like... evenly distributed. It wasn't oppressive anymore, even though ironically it seemed to now come from everywhere. He looked behind him, noticing a torii, identical to the ones found at Tatsuhime, the same foggy veil present as before, though it was standing on its own in the hallway, not pressed up to a wall or anything, just like in the real world.


The real world...? What was this place?


He looked forward down the hallway, which went on for a distance but the end of which could be seen.


"How... strange..." He murmured to himself.
 
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