Return to the Real World

I hurried down to the small area where Yu and the Shadow's monster form were at. It looks like the fight's just started! I stepped off my board.

"It must've gone dormant when that other half was released!" I said. "What's the plan?"

"Avoid those appendages and hit him multiple times in a swift manner !" Yu said.

"Got it, let's try out that new power, what? CLAWS? I just went from a long range Melee Weapon to a short range!" I said as I gained a green armour as well.

All of a sudden a purple energy ball built up in my hand.

"Ok, let's see what this does!" I said as I hurled it at the Monster.

It stopped moving and was caught in a electrical web. Yu and I cut off the legs and destroyed most of the main body, causing it to explode.

After the monster was defeated, the real Yosuke was lying on the floor.

"I, I..."

"Yosuke are you ok?" Teddie asked

"Y-yeah, what happened?" He asked

We turned around to find his shadow still standing there.

"You, you're not me." Yosuke said

"That thing came from you Yosuke. It was like the same thing that happened to Y/n. You have to admit it, or else it'll go berserk again." Teddie said

Yosuke seems reluctant.

"You are still the being that you were before." Yu said

"Myself. Dammit, it hurts to face yourself. I knew it wasn't lying, but I was so ashamed that I didn't want to admit it." Yosuke said. "You're me, and I'm you. When you get down to it, all of this is me."

The strength of heart required to face oneself has been made manifest. Shadow Yosuke turned into a Persona.

Yosuke has faced his other self, he obtained the facade to overcome life's hardships, the Persona Jiraiya!

"This, is my Persona." He said

He squatted down in exhaustion

"When we heard Senpai's voice, I wondered if that was something Senpai had been keeping down inside. Haha, "he was a real pain in the ass", huh? What a way to find out, geez this is so embarrassing. If you guys weren't here, I don't know what woulda happened, thank you, Y/n and Yu." Yosuke said

We helped him back up.

"Hey Teddie. Could Senpai have been attacked by her other self here? Like how it just happened to me?" Yosuke asked

"I think so." Teddie said. "The Shadows here were originally born from humans. Sometimes the fog clears, then they all go berserk. And you saw what happens next, a strong willed shadow draws others to it, and the big mass of of shadows kill the host."

"So that's why people die when it gets foggy in our world." Yosuke said

The poor guy is pretty worn out.

"This world isn't made for you humans, it isn't comfortable for you here. I don't hear any more voices, I think we're done with this place. Let's go back." Teddie said

We headed back to the entrance.

"Hey Teddie, you said this place is Reality for people who enter, right? So that shopping district, and that weird room we saw before, did they exist because the ones who died entered this world, and it became their reality? I guess what I'm trying to ask is, did those places form because of the people who entered this world?" Yosuke asked

"I don't know, it's never happened before. But that's probably where they were when the shadows attacked them." Teddie said

"It was the same for them?" I asked

"The fog does lift here sometimes, the shadows get really violent then. I always get so scared, I have to hide when it happens. I sensed people here three times before, but all of them disappeared when the fog lifted." Teddie said

"So let's get this straight, Senpai, that Yamano Lady and Y/n's parents were thrown in here, and since they couldn't get out they wandered around. After a while that shadow thing came out of them, the fog cleared, it went berserk, and it ended up killing them. Does that sound right? So if I'd been here until the fog cleared, I woulda been in much deeper trouble?" Yosuke asked

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." Teddie said. "You were lucky that us three were here with you."

"Dammit, those four, they were stuck in here all alone! No one could save them." Yosuke said

"Yosuke, they disappeared when the fog lifted, but they were safe before that, no shadows attacked them. They attacked us though. Maybe they're keeping a close eye on us, they might see people who investigate this place as enemies. It'll be dangerous, but we might be able to fight them! We might save people!" Teddie said

"Are you saying that if anyone else gets thrown in here, we can save them before they disappear? Like how you guys just saved me?" Yosuke asked

"That would appear to be the correct assertion." Yu said

"Anyways, we need to catch the one who's throwing people in here, and make him stop." Yosuke said. "Yeah, I'm finally beginning to understand what's going on."

"U-um, can I ask something too? If shadows are born from humans, what was Teddie born from?" He asked

"You don't even know where you came from!? How should we know?" Yosuke asked

"I know some things. Mostly about this world, but I don't know anything about myself. To be honest, I never really thought about it until now." Teddie said

"Are you serious? No wonder we couldn't get a straight answer out of you." Yosuke said

"Will you guys, come back here?" Teddie asked

"We made an agreement which we intend to adhere to." Yu said

"You'll, keep your word?" Teddie asked

"Well you're the one who said you weren't letting us out unless we do." Yosuke said

"O-oh that's right! Okay I'll let you out, but there's one thing. I'll be waiting for you guys here. You need to come in from the same place every time, so we can meet up." Teddie said

"The same location?" Yu asked

"You could come in from somewhere else, but then you wouldn't end up here. You might end up somewhere I couldn't get to you, then you'd be doomed. Got it!?" He asked

"Well, pretty much." Yosuke said. "Are you gonna show us the way out?"

"Roger that! One exit coming right up!" Teddie said

Teddie made a stack of TVs appear.

"Cool, first we need to make sure there aren't any employees milling around out there." Yosuke said

"Ok go on!" Teddie said as he pushed us through.

We landed back through in the real world. Chie was sitting right in front of the TV.

"Ah! You guys came back!" She said through tears

"Huh? Chie? What's with that face?" Yosuke asked

She punched Yosuke in the face.

"The nerve of you guys! You are such morons! I can't believe this! You guys suck! The rope got cut off! I had no idea what to do!" She said angrily. "I was so worried! I mean scared stiff Dammit! I hate all three of you!"

She ran off.

"I think, that mighta kinda sort of been our fault. Maybe we did go a little too far. Let's apologize to her tomorrow. I'm completely wiped out. I'm gonna go home, soak in the shower for a while, and get some sleep. I think, I'm gonna sleep well tonight. Hehe, well, see you in the morning!"

Yu and I headed back home.

Near the flood plain while walking home from Junes. Yukiko was sitting under a gazebo with a pink Kimono on. Yu and I headed over to greet her.

"Oh, are you surprised to see me this way? My parents sent me out on an errand. Um, are you getting used to your new town and school?" She asked

"I enjoy my time spent here." Yu said

"But, it must be difficult, moving to a place you know nothing about. I've never been out of Inaba, so I wouldn't know what it's like to transfer to a new school. Oh! Are you getting along with Chie? I mean, I always leave early, so, umm." She said

"We're getting along." I said

"I'm glad to hear that. Chie's very supportive you know, it's always her who gives me the extra push I need. We had homeroom together last year, and I still remember how we used to cut class sometimes. Oh, I should get going. I need to make arrangements tomorrow with our head chef. Our inn can't function without me right now. Um, I'll see you at school then." Yukiko said

The two of us headed home. We sat down at the table with Nanako. We're watching the news.

"Dad's late." She said

"Our next Story is an update in our ongoing report on the bizarre murders occurring in Inaba. Around 7am, local high school student resident Saki Konishi, was found dead in Inaba's residential area. Since the body way positioned similarly to the last victim, Ms. Konishi was the one who discovered the body. Police are proceeding under the assumption that this may be a serial murder case related to the death of Mayumi Yamano. The coroner's report has established that Ms. Konishi's death occurred at 1am last night. The body went unnoticed as a result of the heavy fog blanketing the area."

"Another incident. Dad won't be coming home tonight."

"Are you worried about him?" I asked

"Uh huh. But that's how it goes, he's a detective, so he's really busy."

Nanako appears to be very reliable for her age.

"Amagi Inn, located upstream of Samegawa River, is the town's oldest historical landmark. Vacationers are known to travel surprising distances in order to visit its open air, radium rich hot springs. After the incident with Ms. Yamano, the manager has stepped aside, leaving her daughter Yukiko to fill her shoes."

Yukiko's on TV wearing a Kimono.

"In other words, she's a manager who's still in High School. Now that has a nice ring to it, let's see if we can interview her! Excuse me!"

"Hm? Are you speaking to me?" Yukiko asked

"We've heard that you're the new manager, is it true that you're still in High School?"

"Oh, well I'm only filling in temporarily."

"Someday though. That aside, wow, you're looking gorgeous in that Kimono! You must have had a lot of male visitors!"

"Huh? No, um..."

The reporter's rambling goes further and further off subject.

"This is boring." Nanako said. "Oh, I need to do the dishes."

I attempted to stand up to try to go help, but I think I put too much work on my leg today.

"Ow ow ow!" I said as I sat back down immediately.

"Are you ok!?" Nanako asked

"My injury's acting up is all, Yu, you mind lending me a hand upstairs?" I asked

He nodded then helped me back to my room. I changed into my Pjs and went to sleep.

In my dreams I woke up in the blue limo again, it's the Velvet Room if I remember correctly. Igor and Margaret were there, but this time there was another girl there, she's got short dark hair and a blue hat with a V on it.

"Welcome back my friend, it would appear as if you've awakened to your unique power, the power to absorb shadows, and weaponize those energies. However, as you didn't completely overcome your own demons, your shadow has shattered and has taken the form of a Data Storm. In order to create your Persona, you must obtain all of the pieces inside the storm." Igor said. "Oh, and this is Marie, she is another resident in the Velvet Room, she too will aid you on your journey. This should be very interesting."

I fell back asleep.