30 The Tower.

Ren's awakening to the melodic cascade of piano notes that filled the room was abrupt yet mystically serene. His gaze, initially blurred by the transition, sharpened as he locked eyes with Igor, the master of the Velvet Room.

Igor's response to Ren's presence was a deep, resonant chuckle that seemed to echo off the Velvet Room's walls.

"Trickster, it appears you have embraced the gift bestowed upon you. Tell me, how does it feel to wield such control over others?" He inquired, a curious smile playing on his lips.

Ren inhaled deeply, searching for the words to describe his recent experiences.

"It's strange," he confessed, his voice tinged with unease. "Creating the mask... it felt wrong." he admitted, seeking understanding or perhaps reassurance.

Igor's response came in the form of hearty laughter, a sound that seemed almost too grand for the confines of their surroundings.

"Humans, in their essence, are creatures of contradiction. They may not always be aware, but there exists within them a deep-seated desire to be controlled." Igor explained, his tone shifting to one of instruction.

With a snap of his fingers, Caroline and Justine emerged, their steps measured as they approached. Justine approached Ren with a small, ornate mirror, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. As Ren glanced at his reflection, he couldn't help but be surprised. His normally dark eyes now had a subtle yet unmistakable yellow hue.

"The power I bestowed upon you is beyond what most humans can comprehend, let alone wield. They are not even worthy of using it." Igor continued, his smile widening. "Consider this a boon, Trickster. Embrace the strength I've given you, and you shall transcend their limitations." he declared as he signaled to the twins with his hand.

"With my power, you shall become like them."

Hearing his words, Ren wasn't quite sure how to react. But he decided to place his trust in Igor, the one who had given him a second chance. He nodded in acknowledgment, pushing aside the doubt he felt.

"Good." Igor responded with a note of approval in his voice upon witnessing Ren's silent agreement. 

"Trickster, the time has come to broaden your access to the capabilities afforded by the Velvet Room. The challenges that await demand more than what you currently possess. Remember, the Velvet Room offers many advantages. Caroline and Justine will guide you now." He stated, the finality in his tone marking the end of their conversation as the curtains drew closed, leaving Ren in the company of the twins.

Justine, her demeanor a mix of professionalism and concern, addressed Ren.

 "Trickster..." She paused, seemingly wrestling with her thoughts, before continuing, "We are tasked with introducing you to the Rehearsal Room." With a gesture, the curtains reopened, not to reveal the audience Ren might have expected, but a smaller, more intimate stage designed for a different purpose.

"This space," Caroline took over, her voice firm yet infused with a hint of excitement, "Allows you to leave behind the Personas you've bonded with to further their development. Think of it as a form of isolation training, where a Persona can hone its abilities, learning new skills in the process." She elaborated, echoing her sister's introduction.

As Ren took in the expanse of the new room, pondering the possibilities it held, Caroline's voice broke through his contemplation, hinting at yet another layer of the Velvet Room's assistance.

"In addition, we've been tasked with a new challenge for you, to ensure you're making the most of the Velvet Room." she announced, her tone suggesting the importance of what was to come.

Justine, with a notepad in hand, elaborated on Caroline's introduction.

"To gauge your understanding and effective use of our resources, you'll be required to fuse Personas according to specific criteria we set forth," she explained. The first task was to create a Jack Frost capable of wielding Mabufu, a seemingly straightforward task that piqued Ren's interest.

"Seems simple enough," Ren mused, already mentally mapping out the fusion process. However, before he could take his first step, an overwhelming headache seized him, causing him to fall to the floor.

"Trickster!" The twins' voices echoed in unison, laced with concern, as they rushed to his side. As they attended to him, Ren's eyes flickered a brilliant yellow before gradually settling back to their usual dark hue, albeit noticeably lighter than before.

Observing Ren's discomfort, Justine advised. 

"Trickster, it's best you rest for now. The requests can wait until you've recovered." With gentle insistence, the twins helped Ren to his feet and escorted him to the Velvet Room's exit.

Once outside, Ren made his way home before collapsing into his bed. He had left the window slightly open for Morgana to come in and out, yet it seemed something else had managed to sneak into his room. A familiar, ethereal blue butterfly sat on his desk with its wings slowly opening and closing before it fluttered into the air and out the window.

— — —

When he woke up the next day, he still had a lingering headache, so he decided to head home after school without doing anything else. But the day after, he felt as if he was back to normal, yet the subtle change in his eyes was enough proof of the events of the past days. 

Once school was over, he was approached by Shiho.

"Hey, would you like to hang out? Ann's tied up with her modeling work, and there's some things I've been wanting to try." she suggested.

Laughing warmly, Ren answered.

"Count me in." He said before realizing something. "You know, I don't think we have had the chance to hang out, just the two of us, since we met. It's strange when you think about how we were the ones who started all of this, isn't it?" He mused, matching Shiho's pace as they left the school grounds.

Shiho, wearing a gentle smile, nodded in agreement.

"I know… It's been a whirlwind, hasn't it? I'm actually glad that Mona is taking his time gathering information because at least it gives us a chance to take a break and mentally regroup."

Laughing out loud, Ren said.

"To tell you the truth, it's all that has been on my mind since I moved here. Every single day, I have worked on trying to figure out all of this Metaverse stuff. It's getting to the point that I have to juggle so many things in my mind that everything is starting to blend together."

Hearing his words, Shiho looked thoughtful for a moment before saying.

"I had a few places in mind, but now I think I know just the spot for us. Come on!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious as she led Ren towards the train station.

The two of them rode the train until arriving at Kichijoji, a surprisingly welcoming neighborhood. It was packed with small shops selling everyday items, clothing stores, bakeries, and casual restaurants. Seemingly an endless maze of narrow backstreets, which Shiho was quite familiar with. 

As she guided him through the streets, the two of them eventually arrived at a small temple tucked away from the bustling streets. The temple monk, recognizing Shiho, greeted her with a warmth that spoke volumes of her previous visits. 

"Ah, if it isn't Miss Suzui. We've missed your presence. It's been a while since your last visit," he remarked, his smile genuine and welcoming.

"Volleyball practice kind of took over my life for some time, but now I have a bit more time. Is my usual spot available?" She inquired, her voice carrying a mix of hope and nostalgia.

The monk chuckled softly, his fondness for Shiho evident.

"Technically, that area is not for guests, but for you, we'll make an exception. Please, go ahead," he replied, stepping aside to let them pass.

After placing a donation in a small box, Shiho gestured for Ren to follow her deeper into the temple grounds, where they found a majestic tree standing guard at the edge of the property.

"I didn't take you for someone who would visit temples." Ren, intrigued by this side of Shiho, remarked.

Shiho, sitting beneath the tree and patting the ground beside her for Ren to join, replied with a touch of melancholy.

"Yeah, I used to come here a lot when I was a kid… I'm not really that person anymore."

As Ren settled next to her, the serenity of their surroundings enveloping them, he asked.

"What changed?"

"Kamoshida," she said simply, the weight of that name hanging in the air. 

Ren acknowledged her statement with a nod, offering her space to continue. Breaking the silence, Shiho confided.

"I'm thinking of quitting volleyball. It was my dream to go pro, but now it just brings back bad memories." Her laugh, though soft, carried a hint of sadness as she added. "I didn't even realize I was 'drowning' back then. But now that I am 'out of the water,' it all seems so clear."

Listening to Shiho, Ren took a moment to process her words before answering.

"I can't say I fully understand." He said honestly. "But I would like to."

Shiho's smile in response to Ren's words seemed to light up the tranquil space beneath the tree. The comfortable silence that followed allowed them to soak in the peaceful ambiance until Shiho ventured into a new topic.

"I have always sucked at art." She confessed out of the blue, sparking a look of confusion from Ren. Yet his puzzled look only seemed to broaden her smile.

"It's something I have always wanted to change about myself, but I've never had the confidence to actually take a class. Plus, with school and volleyball, I never even had the time. I was hoping, maybe, you'd be interested in joining a class with me?" She asked, her voice tinged with a hopeful nervousness.

Ren's response was immediate, his interest piqued by the prospect of exploring something new.

"That actually sounds fun. Have you already found a class?" Have you looked into any classes?" he inquired, genuinely curious

Shiho's excitement was palpable as she nodded enthusiastically. 

"Yes, I've found something interesting. There's this famous artist, Madarame, who offers special classes. They're quite pricey, so I thought we could attend sessions taught by his students instead. The instructor changes with each session, which should keep things interesting. 

They're designed for all skill levels, and Madarame believes teaching is beneficial practice for his students. Plus, they're not that expensive." She said with excitement.

"Count me in," Ren confirmed, his agreement sparking an even brighter excitement in Shiho's eyes.

With their plans for the art class now laid out, they allowed themselves a moment of quiet reflection, sitting under the expansive branches of the tree. The hustle and bustle of the city seemed miles away, replaced by the temple's peaceful ambiance and the gentle symphony of nature surrounding them.

In this calm environment, an ethereal blue butterfly rested quietly upon a nearby branch. Its wings gently fluttered as if it, too, was basking in the ambiance.

~Confidants~

Shiho Suzui (The Tower) Rank 4