PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...20/08/2009 Thursday; Midday...

At Gekkoukan High School, classes were suspended for the rest of the month due to the summer festival.

However, a few student council responsibilities still needed to be addressed, especially concerning the school's administration.

Mitsuru was in the student council room, doing a favor for the principal, which involved moving boxes of documents.

She placed the second-to-last box on the desk, containing student records, and let out a relieved sigh as she completed the task.

Hidetoshi Odagiri, the student council vice president, entered the room shortly after, carrying another box full of documents and setting it on the floor.

Hidetoshi, with his dark grayish hair combed back and matching dark eyes, wore the standard Gekkoukan High uniform adorned with a yellow armband on his left arm that read "Disciplinary Committee."

His rigid posture reflected someone who valued organization and rules, although he sometimes came across as grumpy.

He looked at Mitsuru with respect, as she was the student council president, and crossed his arms.

"I think that's the last one, Kirijo-san," Hidetoshi said in a formal tone.

Mitsuru, elegantly brushing her hair back, leaned against the desk, glancing at Hidetoshi.

"Thank you very much for helping, Odagiri-kun. And I apologize again for bothering you during the recess," she said sincerely.

Hidetoshi waved off her concern as he walked to a cabinet in the corner of the room, where he had left his bag.

"Don't worry about it. It's my job as vice president. Besides, it's important to keep order in the school. You're the one who should be enjoying the recess, Kirijo-san," he said casually while searching for his keys in his bag.

"I know, but like you, it's my responsibility to ensure everything is in order, especially for the students living with me in the Iwatodai Dorm," Mitsuru replied with a slight smile, closing her eyes briefly.

Hidetoshi, now with his bag over his shoulder and keys in hand, turned to Mitsuru before leaving.

"You know, Kirijo-san, I sometimes wonder if you have anyone to talk to," he said bluntly.

Mitsuru raised an eyebrow, curious. "What do you mean?"

"It often seems like you're carrying the world on your shoulders and have no one to share your burdens with. Not that it's a bad thing, but I think you should talk to someone about your problems. Anyway, I'm heading out," he suggested, starting to walk toward the door.

Mitsuru glanced to the side, murmuring to herself, "The world on your shoulders..."

Hidetoshi suddenly stopped, as if remembering something, and turned back to her, reaching into his pockets.

"Almost forgot. Where did I put...?" He rummaged around as Mitsuru watched, intrigued.

"Is something wrong, Odagiri-kun?" she asked.

Hidetoshi finally found what he was looking for in his bag—two movie tickets.

With a satisfied smile, he handed them to Mitsuru, who took them.

"Movie tickets?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah, the principal wanted to reward us for helping today, so he gave me these tickets to watch any movie at the cinema, with free popcorn included. But I'm not much of a movie fan, so you can have mine," he explained.

Mitsuru looked at the tickets in her hands, pondering who she could invite.

Perhaps she could give them to two members of the group... until Hidetoshi noticed her hesitation.

"If I were you, I'd invite that guy you've been talking to a lot during breaks... Mikoshi, I think," Hidetoshi suggested matter-of-factly. "Anyway, see you later—my train leaves soon."

Mitsuru, surprised, quickly replied, "You mean Hiro?"

But when she looked up, Hidetoshi was already gone.

Mitsuru turned her attention back to the tickets in her hands, considering the idea of inviting Hiro.

Maybe it would be a good opportunity to get to know him better.

She walked around the desk, grabbed her bag, and took out her phone.

With determination, she dialed Hiro's number, but before initiating the call, she paused.

An unexpected nervousness crept into her chest, something she had never felt before. Confused, she took a deep breath.

"There's no reason to be nervous, Mitsuru. It's just a request to see a movie with Hiro," she murmured to herself, pressing the call button.

The phone rang for a few seconds before Hiro picked up, his voice sounding rushed.

"Hey, Mitsuru! I'm out walking Koromaru. Is something up?" he asked quickly.

Mitsuru felt the nervousness return, and the words seemed stuck. She tried to speak, but her heart was pounding.

"Mitsuru? You there?" Hiro asked, confused by the silence.

"Ah, sorry, Hiro. The principal gave me two movie tickets. Would you like to go with me tomorrow?" Mitsuru finally managed to say.

There was a brief silence on the other end as Hiro processed the unexpected invitation.

"Uh... yeah, sure! I'm free tomorrow," he replied, still surprised.

Mitsuru, feeling an inexplicable relief, smiled. "Great. We can leave the dorm around eleven. Is that okay for you?"

"Sounds good. Did you finish what you needed to do at school?" Hiro asked.

"Yes, I'm done. I'm heading back to the dorm now. Oh, if you see Arisato, let him know we won't be going to Tartarus tonight since Aigis was sent in for maintenance," Mitsuru explained, retrieving her motorcycle helmet from the cabinet.

"Will do. See you later, Mitsuru," Hiro said, bidding farewell.

After hanging up, Mitsuru sighed, feeling the nervousness dissipate but still puzzled by the sensation.

She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts aside.

"Calm down, Mitsuru. This won't happen again," she murmured to herself, grabbing her helmet and leaving the student council room, heading for her motorcycle.

...21/08/2009 Friday; Midday...

The street was bustling with activity due to the upcoming summer festival the next day.

Women carried bags with new yukatas they planned to wear for the festival, while some men advertised restaurant table reservations.

However, the attention of the younger crowd was focused on the cinema, as the film festival was running concurrently with the summer festival.

Mitsuru and Hiro walked through the streets toward the theater.

Hiro wore black pants and a red shirt under a black denim jacket with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

A set of dog tags hung around his neck—one silver—and he sported black high-top sneakers with white details. His black hair, now longer, was tied into a small bun.

Meanwhile, Mitsuru carried a black leather jacket under her arm along with her bag.

She wore a sleeveless white turtleneck shirt, white pants, and knee-high black boots.

Mitsuru felt her heart racing, the same nervousness she'd felt before, but her face maintained its usual calm and serene expression.

Hiro, on the other hand, walked with his hands in his pockets, lost in thought.

"How did I end up here? I've never gone out with a woman before... and now, after joining S.E.E.S, my first outing is with Mitsuru. Her fans will definitely want to beat me up out of jealousy." Hiro murmured to himself, stealing furtive glances at Mitsuru as they walked.

He observed her, admiring her beauty. Her long red hair and eyes of the same color contrasted perfectly with her black-and-white attire.

However, his admiration was abruptly interrupted when a festival flyer, carried by the wind, smacked him in the face and stuck there.

Surprised, Hiro grunted and, annoyed, ripped the flyer from his face, tearing it into pieces.

"Go scare someone else, damn it," he grumbled, still irritated.

Seeing this, Mitsuru let out a small laugh, noticing Hiro seemed different—lighter and happier than before.

"Hiro, can I ask you something?" she said with a smile.

"Sure, what is it?" Hiro replied as they climbed the steps leading to the theater entrance.

Mitsuru looked away, rubbing her hands together as if she were anxious or nervous. "What happened to you before you joined S.E.E.S? You've never told anyone about it."

Hiro scratched the back of his head, his expression turning somber, clearly uncomfortable as memories of his past surfaced.

Mitsuru realized she'd touched on a sensitive topic.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to—" Mitsuru began, feeling guilty.

"It's okay." Hiro smiled at her reassuringly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm just not used to talking about it. But..."

They stopped walking, and Mitsuru looked at him attentively.

"My father abandoned me when I was a kid. I was ten years old. He called me a monster," Hiro revealed, his voice low and bitter.

"What? He called you a monster? Why? You're nothing like that!" Mitsuru exclaimed, incredulous.

"I have no idea. He said it was something I'd eventually become... But now, I try to forget he exists. I don't even really remember his name anymore," Hiro sighed, frustrated.

Before Hiro could continue, the theater attendant cleared his throat, trying to get their attention as they stood in front of the counter.

"Oh, I apologize," Mitsuru quickly said, taking the tickets from her bag.

"No worries, miss. How can I help the couple today?" the attendant asked with a wide smile.

Hiro twitched in surprise, his face slightly reddening. "We're not... We're not dating. We're just friends. Anyway, what movies are available today?"

"Today's selection includes classic romance, sci-fi, and action films. Unfortunately, we're sold out of seats for the sci-fi and action films. The only available option is *Golden Dawn Roses*, one of the classic romance films," the attendant explained, tapping on the computer screen.

"You've got to be kidding me," Hiro grumbled, scratching his cheek.

"Let's watch that one," Mitsuru decided immediately, placing the tickets on the counter.

Hiro was taken aback by her quick decision.

The attendant, smiling brightly, took the tickets and, noticing they were special passes, reached behind the counter and handed them two empty popcorn buckets.

"Here are your buckets. You can fill them at the concession stand at the end of the hall to the left. The movie is in theater four, seats L6 and L7. Enjoy the film!" the attendant said with a grin, gesturing toward the hallway.

Mitsuru and Hiro exchanged glances and headed toward the concession stand to get their popcorn. Hiro, however, couldn't contain his curiosity.

"I didn't expect you to pick a classic romance film," he commented.

Mitsuru gave him a small smile as they walked. "I've always been curious about this kind of movie. It seems like a good opportunity."

They filled their popcorn buckets and made their way to the theater, ready to enjoy the moment together.

After a few minutes of the movie, Hiro and Mitsuru watched the scenes unfolding on the screen: two princes dueling in a vast field of golden flowers, fighting for the heart of a sleeping maiden.

The tension between the characters on screen seemed to mirror something new stirring in Mitsuru's heart.

A familiar nervousness crept in, but this time, it was mixed with a growing desire to be close to someone—close to Hiro.

She shifted her gaze from the screen to Hiro, who was watching the duel intently, a faint, interested smile on his face.

Mitsuru felt her cheeks grow warm as she admired something about her companion she hadn't noticed before.

"I never realized how handsome he is..." Mitsuru whispered to herself, surprised by her own thoughts.

Hiro, still focused on the film, soon noticed her gaze. He turned his head toward Mitsuru, curious about the distant expression she wore.

"Mitsuru, is everything okay?" he asked, whispering as well.

Mitsuru blinked a few times, snapped out of her thoughts. "Ah, yes... Everything's fine."

The two stared at each other for a moment, and that familiar sense of connection returned.

The world around them seemed to slowly fade away, and their faces began to flush.

They felt something beyond mere physical proximity—a deep connection, their breaths synchronizing.

Mitsuru gazed into Hiro's eyes, noticing something that touched her deeply.

When he had joined S.E.E.S., his eyes were empty, lifeless.

But now, they shone with a newfound innocence, something that had blossomed through his time with the group.

Slowly, the two began to lean toward each other, drawing closer as if something inevitable was about to happen.

The tenderness between them was palpable.

However, before they could get any closer, the collective voice of the audience expressed its dissatisfaction with the duel scene, which ended in a draw.

The sound snapped them back to reality, and they quickly pulled away from each other, embarrassed.

"My bad." Hiro said, nervously scratching the back of his neck. "I... moved without thinking, it was reflex."

"It's fine." Mitsuru replied, rubbing her eyes lightly. "I moved without thinking too."

They exchanged glances once more before averting their eyes to the sides, both flustered by what had almost happened.

"Mitsuru..." Hiro began, breaking the silence but hesitating. "Sometimes I wonder if you really want to get to know me."

"Huh?" Mitsuru responded, surprised.

"I mean... I don't know much about you. And you don't know much about me. Honestly, we don't really know each other. Just a little bit." He explained, trying to calm himself.

Mitsuru thought for a moment, looking off to the side. "You're right..."

The two turned their attention back to the screen, their minds still processing what had almost happened.

It was the second time they had been so close.

A small smile formed on Mitsuru's lips, and without hesitation, she gently placed her hand over Hiro's, soft but confident.

"I don't know you that well, Hiro. But there's one thing I do know," Mitsuru said with a gentle smile. "Seeing you become a better person makes me want to be closer to you."

Hiro blushed almost instantly, his heart pounding like a hammer.

Nervousness overtook him, but he also felt immense joy seeing Mitsuru like this.

He smiled warmly and, with equal gentleness, intertwined his fingers with hers, holding her hand tenderly. Mitsuru blushed as well.

"Hearing that... makes me really... happy. You're an incredible person, Mitsuru Kirijo. Thank you for trusting me," Hiro said sincerely.

Mitsuru felt a warmth fill her chest. Smiling, she softly rested her head on Hiro's shoulder, feeling safe beside him.

"Thank you, Hiro," she murmured, her eyes on the movie screen. "You're incredible too, even if you're a little impulsive sometimes."

Hiro chuckled quietly, turning his attention back to the film.

Though they watched the rest of the movie in silence, their hands remained clasped together, marking the beginning of something deeper between them—something that had yet to bloom.

...21/08/2009 Friday; Afternoon...

Junpei was walking through the streets, now less crowded due to the time: 4:58 PM.

He wore a black tank top, navy blue jeans, and black dress shoes.

A silver necklace glinted under the evening light, as did the chain attached to his pants.

His usual blue cap sat atop his head, as always.

As he strolled, his gaze wandered across the city, looking for something to do—or someone to try and impress.

But so far, no luck.

He sighed deeply, lifting his eyes to the sky.

"Man, this is rough..." Junpei muttered, disheartened. "I couldn't find anyone to hang out with. Yuka-chan's with Minato. Hiro left earlier with Mitsuru-senpai… Why am I the only one who can't catch a break?"

Shaking his head, he decided to head toward the subway station, probably returning to the dorm.

But before he could move on, something caught his attention. Sitting on a bench was a young woman.

Her red hair contrasted with her dark brown eyes, and she wore a long white gothic lolita dress, paired with white stockings and high heels.

On her head, a black headband with cream-colored frills and a faux dagger completed the look.

For a moment, Junpei was at a loss for words. He didn't know who she was, but he immediately felt drawn to her.

The young woman was, in fact, Chidori Yoshino, a member of Strega, though that detail was far beyond his radar.

She held an art notebook, deeply focused, drawing something.

Feeling his heart race, Junpei tried to calm himself, lightly patting his own face to refocus.

"Alright, Junpei, you got this. Don't screw this up." He took a deep breath and walked toward her, stopping by her side, trying to find the right words.

"Uh... Hey, my name's Junpei Iori, and I saw you sitting here alone... Can I talk to you?" he asked, clearly nervous.

Chidori, without immediately lifting her head, paused the movement of her pen.

Then, slowly, she raised her gaze, her cold, somewhat confused eyes locking onto Junpei.

"Do I know you?" Chidori asked, her voice carrying an icy tone of indifference.