PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

The first rays of sunlight streamed through the windows of houses, announcing a new day with a clear, cloudless sky.

Throughout the city, people walked around carrying flyers, construction materials, and trucks loaded with fireworks.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as preparations for the summer festival were in full swing, this year accompanied by a film festival set to take place on Wednesday.

In the dormitory, Yukari sat in her room, facing her desk and staring at a flyer she had picked up while shopping.

Her gaze was distant, and a frustrated sigh escaped her lips.

"Ugh... I forgot about the festival," she murmured, her voice tinged with sadness. "And I still haven't managed to talk to Minato properly..."

She set the flyer aside and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Her chestnut-brown hair, swept to the side, framed her face, while her matching brown eyes conveyed doubt and a growing restlessness.

Memories of what happened in Yakushima suddenly resurfaced, and she found herself reliving the moment.

There she was, running to the fishing pier after watching the video her father had recorded about the Shadow Arcana.

His words still echoed in her mind, revealing that her father had been involved in creating the Dark Hour and Tartarus.

Reaching the end of the pier, Yukari leaned against the railing, covering her face with her hands as silent tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Father... why?" her voice trembled with melancholy. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"

She raised her tear-filled eyes to the moon, its pale glow reflecting her anguish.

The pain of discovering her own father's involvement in the emergence of the Dark Hour and the innocent lives it had claimed weighed heavily on her.

Adding to her distress, Mitsuru herself had hidden this truth at her father's request, leaving Yukari feeling even more lost.

"I trusted her..." Yukari murmured, staring at the water below. "And in the end, I find out my father was responsible for all of this..."

Suddenly, she sensed someone approaching. Without needing to turn, she knew it was Minato.

He had followed her at Mitsuru's request. His footsteps were calm and measured, his hands buried in the pockets of his pants, and his serene blue eyes observed her from a distance.

"Mitsuru-senpai sent you after me, didn't she?" Yukari asked without turning, her voice still heavy with sadness.

Minato stopped beside her, fixing his gaze on the waves forming in the water.

For a moment, silence reigned between them, a stillness that shared the same pain.

"She did," he answered in his usual cool tone. "But I also came because I was worried about you."

Yukari wiped her tears away, still frustrated by the turmoil in her mind. She shook her head in denial, her hands running through her hair.

"I joined S.E.E.S. to uncover the truth about my father... and the last thing he did was send me a letter, telling me to seek out Mitsuru-senpai. But..."

She gripped the railing tightly, her heart sinking as she recalled everything. Minato remained silent, respecting her moment.

"I found out he died trying to stop the Shadow Arcana. He tried to prevent the end of the world... but ended up creating the damned Dark Hour," Yukari spoke, her voice heavy with anguish.

Minato looked at her, his expression calm. "Don't blame your father. You heard what Mr. Kirijo said. The lab explosion happened when your father tried to destroy the Shadow Arcana. Even though he created the Dark Hour and Tartarus, he gave us a chance to fight against them."

Minato's words brought a small measure of calm to Yukari's heart, though the pain still lingered. "You're right..."

They fell into silence once more, each lost in their own thoughts, until Yukari realized something.

The similarities between her and Minato became apparent. Just as she had lost her father, Minato had lost both his parents in an accident when he was just a child.

"Minato..." Yukari began, her voice heavy. "Do you remember what I said at the hospital about my father?"

Minato nodded. "I remember. You said you never really knew what happened to him. Everything was just rumors."

Yukari sighed, her mind struggling to process everything she was feeling. "Now you understand, don't you?"

"I do," he replied calmly.

"I always tried to believe it wasn't his fault. That my father wasn't involved..." Yukari began to cry again, her words trembling. "But after seeing that video... I feel so useless. It feels like nothing I've done matters. He created the Dark Hour, even if it was unintentional."

Minato leaned on the railing, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "That's not true."

Yukari forced a sad smile, her eyes still on the moon. "You're just trying to make me feel better... The truth is harsh. I'm a terrible person, aren't I?"

Minato shook his head. "Not at all."

They looked at each other for a moment, each understanding the weight behind the other's words.

Yukari, still lost in thought, felt something shift inside her. A growing curiosity took hold.

"I don't know how you manage to stay so calm, Minato. Even when we fight the Shadows... it seems like you're always in control."

Minato reflected for a moment before giving a small smile. "You're wrong."

"Huh?" Yukari looked at him, confused.

"I might look calm, but it's not because I don't care about the Shadows. It's because I have nothing to lose," he explained, his voice losing some of its usual coolness.

"I've already lost everything... but you all gave me a reason to keep going. I want to help you achieve your goals."

Yukari felt her heart race, Minato's words hitting her deeply.

She looked at him, seeing someone she had always admired but now with a new perspective.

"Minato..." she murmured, unsure of what to say.

Minato met her gaze, waiting for her to continue.

Yukari felt a wave of emotion wash over her, and before she realized it, she took a step forward and hugged him.

"You're amazing... Thank you for being who you are," she whispered, trying to hold back her tears.

Minato returned the embrace, his hands gently holding her. "You're welcome."

They stayed like that for a while, in silence, sharing the moment.

When they pulled away slightly, their eyes met, and they both felt a mutual connection.

The flashback ended, and Yukari was still sitting at her desk, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Her eyes, clouded with thoughts, seemed distant as her mind replayed the memories of the past.

A long sigh escaped her lips, filled with frustration and anguish, as her fingers gently massaged her temples.

She leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, trying to reorganize her thoughts. "He always helps everyone... even when he's hurt. Minato..."

Yukari let out another sigh as she slowly stood up.

Her movements were heavy, as if the emotions she carried were weighing her down.

Every thought brought her back to Minato, to the way he bore the weight of the world.

There was something about him that she admired, but at the same time, she felt like he didn't care about himself.

...18/08/2009 Tuesday; Afternoon...

The sound of punches echoed through the dormitory halls, coming from Akihiko's room. His space had a distinct atmosphere.

His shelves were packed with trophies and medals, shiny testaments to his talent in boxing.

Near the window, stacks of supplements and vitamins were neatly arranged, as if they were part of his daily ritual.

In the corner, a large punching bag swayed slightly, still resonating from the strikes Akihiko had just delivered.

Dressed only in boxing shorts, Akihiko was drenched in sweat, his body sculpted by relentless effort.

He was focused, his breathing rapid yet controlled as he punched the bag with force.

With each hit, he let out a grunt of exertion, his mind locked on his training, though something deeper seemed to drive him.

He wasn't just training... he was testing himself.

Suddenly, he let out a yell, jumping into the air and delivering a spinning kick.

The impact was so strong that the rope holding the bag snapped, sending it crashing into the wardrobe.

The thud reverberated through the room, followed by the sound of the wardrobe toppling over with a deafening crash.

"Damn it..." Akihiko panted, wiping the sweat from his face as he surveyed the mess. "Did I broke the wardrobe?"

Before he could think of a solution, there was a knock at the door.

His body froze immediately, and the first person who came to mind was Mitsuru.

If she saw the chaos, she'd definitely lose her temper. "If it's Mitsuru... I'm dead," he thought, swallowing hard.

But to his surprise, the voice on the other side wasn't Mitsuru's.

"Akihiko, are you alive?" It was Hiro, his tone laced with concern. "I was heading back to my room and heard a loud crash coming from here."

Akihiko exhaled the breath he didn't realize he was holding, relaxing instantly.

He walked to the door, opening it with a forced smile. "Hiro, thank god it's you. By the way, is Mitsuru in the dorm?"

Hiro scratched his head, puzzled by the sudden question. "No, she left about twenty minutes ago to get her bike checked. Why? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Phew..." Akihiko sighed in relief, leaning against the door. "I need your help with something. I made a bit of a mess."

When he opened the door fully, Hiro peeked inside and widened his eyes.

The wardrobe was toppled, a cloud of dust still hanging in the air, and the punching bag looked like it had been obliterated.

"Holy shit, Akihiko... did you destroy the punching bag?" Hiro exclaimed, coughing from the dust.

"Yeah, something like that," Akihiko replied, embarrassed, scratching the back of his head.

Hiro sighed, stepping into the room to get a better look at the situation.

He quickly positioned himself by the wardrobe, getting ready to help. "Alright, I'll give you a hand. Grab this side, I'll take the other."

Akihiko closed the door and positioned himself on the opposite side of the wardrobe.

Together, they counted to three and began lifting it, their muscles straining under the effort.

"I still haven't thanked you, Hiro," Akihiko muttered as they hoisted the furniture.

Hiro, panting from the effort, glanced at Akihiko, puzzled. "Thank me for what?"

"For bringing Shinjiro back," Akihiko replied, adjusting his grip to support the weight.

They finally managed to lift the wardrobe and set it back in place.

Hiro dusted off his hands, looking around the room with a hint of relief.

"Oh, that... No need to thank me. I realized how important he was to the group, especially to you and Mitsuru," Hiro said, his tone light after the effort.

Akihiko, still deep in thought, crouched near a chest beside his bed and opened it, pulling out a chain.

"You did more than bring a teammate back..." he murmured, rummaging through the chest's contents.

Hiro frowned, curious about what Akihiko meant. "What are you trying to say?"

"I've known Shinjiro since the orphanage," Akihiko said, still holding the chain. "He's like a brother to me. After my sister died, he stayed by my side, even after I was adopted. He was always there for me. And you bringing him back... it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders."

Akihiko stood up, facing Hiro with eyes full of sincerity and a gratitude that words couldn't fully convey.

It was a look that spoke of the deep bond between him and Shinjiro and the relief he felt from having him back.

"Thank you, Hiro," he said with a genuine smile. "I owe you a lot for that."

Hiro returned the smile, a warm sense of satisfaction spreading through him.

He knew he'd done the right thing, but hearing it from Akihiko made it all the more meaningful.

"You're welcome," Hiro said simply. "I didn't know Shinjiro was that important to you."

Akihiko returned to the punching bag, picking it up to assess the damage. "I don't usually talk about it... But know this: if you ever need me, I'm here. No matter what it is, you can count on me."

Hiro chuckled, remembering the deal they'd made. "Just don't forget about our agreement."

"How could I?" Akihiko grinned, shaking his head as he worked on fixing the punching bag.