PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...10/08/2009 Monday; Night...

In the command room, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.

Akihiko and Shinjiro sat on opposite sofas, exchanging silent glances, unsure of how to start the conversation.

Meanwhile, Mitsuru, who had left to fetch some equipment, returned carrying a small box with the S.E.E.S emblem and the number "2" engraved below it.

The silence was finally broken when Akihiko, visibly anxious, mustered the courage to speak.

He clasped his hands and let out a sigh.

"Why now? I've always tried to bring you back, and now you just show up out of nowhere," Akihiko said, his tone a mix of frustration and curiosity.

Shinjiro leaned back on the sofa, letting out an exhausted sigh. "I've been thinking a lot these past few days, especially after I started talking to Hiro. Every time we talked, he made me question whether I was really doing what I should be doing."

Mitsuru, sitting in a nearby chair, adopted a more understanding tone, recognizing the weight of guilt Shinjiro carried. "The real mistake was you leaving, Aragaki. You've always been able to rely on us."

Shinjiro's gaze dropped to his hands.

He focused on his left wrist, where the marks from using suppressants were still visible—a constant reminder of his past actions.

"After what I did?" Shinjiro began, his voice hardened by pain. "The guilt of killing that woman still haunts me. And it happened right in front of her..."

Akihiko quickly raised his hand, interrupting his friend. "Hey, hold on. You don't need to talk about that now."

Shinjiro let out a frustrated huff, trying to control his emotions.

As he looked toward Akihiko, his vision began to distort, and he saw the silhouette of Castor, his Persona, looming behind Akihiko with a menacing expression—a ghost from the past he couldn't escape.

Mitsuru, sensing the tension in the room, tried to shift the focus. "By the way, how exactly did Hiro manage to convince you to return?"

Shinjiro shook his head, as if trying to banish the lingering vision of Castor. "It happened during the times we went out together. He asked me a lot about my life, and I ended up questioning him too."

Akihiko frowned, clearly intrigued. "Now that you mention it... Hiro's never really talked about his life before joining the S.E.E.S."

Mitsuru nodded silently, a shadow of concern crossing her expression. She had always cared about Hiro, but he had never shared anything about his past.

Shinjiro let out a small, melancholic smile. "He never told you guys anything? That surprises me. But honestly, he's the one who got me back on track."

Shinjiro scratched his chin thoughtfully before giving Mitsuru a serious look. "I can't undo what happened to that woman, but I finally realized you all need help."

Akihiko sighed in frustration. "I hate to admit it... but the Shadows are getting stronger."

"That's part of it, too," Shinjiro replied, closing his eyes briefly. "Hiro told me that the Chariot Arcana Shadow nearly killed him, didn't it?"

Mitsuru let out a low grunt, the image of Hiro's collapsed body, his chest scraped raw, flashing vividly in her mind.

It was a memory she struggled to bury, though she no longer blamed herself for the dangerous battles the S.E.E.S had faced.

"Mitsuru?" Shinjiro's voice cut through her thoughts, his gaze sharp as he noticed her discomfort.

She placed a hand over her face, taking a steadying breath. Her voice came out slightly muffled. "I'm fine. I just don't like thinking about that. But yes... the Arcana Shadows are incredibly strong, and with every encounter, one of us nearly dies."

She opened the small box she had been holding and pulled out a S.E.E.S armband, engraved with the number "2."

Extending the armband to Shinjiro, she watched as he took it carefully, studying it in silence. He knew what this meant—it was a step toward summoning his Persona again, something he had deliberately avoided for so long.

"Aragaki," Mitsuru said, her tone carrying renewed gravity, "Akihiko and I truly want you back. But are you sure about this?"

Shinjiro stared down at the armband in his hands, his mind turning over the limited time he had left. He understood that this was his final chance to do something meaningful for the friends he had left behind.

Lifting his gaze to meet Mitsuru and Akihiko's, his voice was firm. "I'm sure. Like I told Hiro... it's time to stop running."

...11/08/2009 Tuesday; Morning ...

The sun began to rise, its first rays streaming through the dormitory curtains, bathing the S.E.E.S members' rooms in a soft glow.

The morning mist added an ethereal touch to the scene, making the atmosphere peaceful yet heavy with the anticipation of a new day.

Minato, still damp from his shower, stepped into his room.

He walked over to the stand where he'd left his towel and the jacket of his combat attire. Turning to grab his school uniform shirt from the wardrobe, he felt his phone vibrate on the desk.

Puzzled, he picked up the device and saw an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen.

Answering the call, a familiar voice took him by surprise.

"Good morning, Minato. I hope you slept well," said Elizabeth, her tone gentle and calmly enigmatic from the other end of the line.

Minato raised an eyebrow as he began buttoning his shirt. "Elizabeth? How did you get my number? And since when do you have a phone?"

Elizabeth chuckled lightly, as if the answer were obvious. "My master grants me the resources necessary to assist you... and now, also to assist Hiro."

Minato slipped on his shoes, processing the information. He knew Elizabeth was a mysterious figure, but the thought of her using a cellphone caught him off guard.

"I see... Did something important happen for you to call me?" he asked, standing up from his bed.

Elizabeth's tone grew more serious and cryptic. "Yes, something that requires your immediate intervention."

Minato frowned, the mystery in her words putting him on edge. "What is it?"

"I sensed that five people have been pulled into Tartarus," Elizabeth replied, her voice echoing with suspense. "And they are trapped inside."

For a moment, Minato stood frozen, his heartbeat quickening.

He knew what Tartarus could do to anything it deemed an intruder, and the fact that people were trapped there meant it was only a matter of time before the Reaper found them.