PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...29/08/2009 Sartuday; Dawn...

The moon faintly illuminated the deserted streets as S.E.E.S. walked back to the dormitory.

The night was calm, but the group carried a silent concern.

Hiro, still unconscious, was being supported by Akihiko and Shinjiro, who carefully carried him, each holding one of his arms.

Mitsuru walked right behind them, her face clearly troubled.

Her worried expression did not go unnoticed, especially by Aigis, who walked beside her.

Her systems detected the hidden distress in Mitsuru's face, something they perceived with precision.

"Kirijo-senpai, what are you thinking?" Aigis asked, her eyes fixed on the leader.

Mitsuru glanced at Hiro, still being carried, then turned back to Aigis. "I... don't know..." Her voice sounded distant.

"This is the third time Hiro has passed out suddenly. First, when he saw Eiichiro Takeba's video. Then, when he lost control during the battle against the Arcana Shadows of The Chariot and Justice. And now, this again..."

Aigis, watching ahead as she walked, tried to understand the situation better. "I do not comprehend these feelings... but Minato-san once told me that worry comes from affection for someone. I believe that is why I have this impulse to protect Minato-san."

Mitsuru smiled softly, but her gaze remained restless. "Actually, it's different, Aigis. You've always wanted to protect Minato since you were activated in Yakushima."

Yukari, walking beside Minato, overheard the conversation. Curious, she stepped closer. "Speaking of which, Aigis, why are you so protective of Minato?"

Aigis responded without hesitation, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "I... feel that I must protect him."

At that moment, a low groan escaped Hiro.

He began to stir, his face contorted in pain.

"Hey, take it easy, Hiro." Shinjiro stopped walking, looking at him.

Hiro slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the dim moonlight.

His vision still blurred, he looked around, confused.

Akihiko and Shinjiro were at his sides, while Mitsuru quickly turned and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Hiro, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "This is the third time this has happened."

Hiro rubbed his forehead, still feeling the throbbing pain. "Mitsuru... What happened?"

Minato, observing closely, answered calmly. "You passed out suddenly. We're heading back to the dorm now."

Hiro tried to recall, but everything was a blur.

Fragments of his vision with Lucifer surfaced in his mind; he saw himself attacking, screaming, consumed by rage and fury.

Fuuka, visibly worried, stepped closer. "Hiro, why do you keep passing out like this?"

Breaking free from Akihiko's support, Hiro frowned, rubbing his head as if trying to clear the confusion. "I don't remember... I felt a sharp pain in my head, and then I blacked out."

Ken, holding Hiro's kukri, asked with a voice full of concern. "Mikoshi-senpai, do you remember anything else?"

Hiro hesitated for a moment before murmuring, "I think... I talked to my Persona?" He sounded uncertain. "Yeah... I think that's what happened."

Junpei's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait a sec. You talked to your Persona?"

Hiro looked at the group, now aware of the attention on him. "If that's really what happened... yeah, I spoke with Lucifer."

Silence fell over the group. They exchanged confused glances.

It wasn't normal—nor expected—for someone to have a conversation with their Persona.

Aigis was the first to break the silence. "Hiro-san, it is not possible for a user to converse with their own Persona. After all, a Persona is a manifestation of one's 'true self.'"

Hiro, surprised, tilted his head. "Huh? Isn't it normal to talk to your Persona?"

Mitsuru shook her head, her expression serious. "No. You only hear your Persona's voice when you first awaken it. If you managed to speak with Lucifer, what did he say?"

Hiro tried to remember, but his mind felt clouded.

The pain pulsed in his head again, and he let out a low groan, pressing his fingers against his temple.

Seeing this, everyone became alert, fearing he might pass out again.

But Hiro raised his hand, signaling that he was fine.

"I'm fine. But... I don't remember anything. It's like... a blur." He murmured, his voice tired.

The group fell silent, pondering what to do. The concern that Hiro might be overexerting himself with his Persona's power was evident.

Fuuka looked at Mitsuru, seeking guidance. "Kirijo-senpai, what should we do?"

Mitsuru thought for a moment before deciding. "Aigis, I want you to stay with Hiro all day when he wakes up later. I don't want to risk his Persona going out of control."

Aigis immediately nodded. "Understood. I will stay with Hiro-san."

Mitsuru turned her gaze to Hiro. "Can you walk?"

Hiro nodded, though he was still visibly exhausted. "Yeah. I'm feeling better now."

With that, he began to walk slowly, and Mitsuru and Aigis followed closely behind.

The rest of the group walked in silence behind them, still processing the events as they returned to the dorm, surrounded by the quiet of the late night.

...30/08/2009 Sunday; Midday ...

The room was silent, except for the muffled groan of Hiro, buried in his pillow as the pain in his head pulsed intensely.

He tried to move, but something cold and metallic on his neck made him jolt up in bed, startled.

His heart pounded for a moment until he saw the familiar figure of Aigis beside him, watching him with serene, piercing blue eyes.

Her short blonde hair was neatly arranged, and her white metallic body gleamed under the room's soft light, without her outer clothing, only wearing the red ribbon tied around her neck.

"Oh, it's you, Aigis." Hiro sighed in relief, massaging his forehead.

Aigis calmly approached, extending her hand to Hiro's forehead as her scanners activated.

"I apologize for startling you, Hiro-san." Her voice was firm yet carried a note of care. "I am fulfilling Mitsuru-senpai's request."

Hiro gave a small smile, trying to ease the tension. "It's fine. I don't think anything else will happen to me."

Aigis stood up, walking toward the desk in the corner of the room.

She pulled the chair and positioned it in front of the bed, sitting directly across from Hiro.

He, in turn, sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes with exhaustion.

When he opened them again, he noticed Aigis's fixed gaze, as if something was deeply on her mechanical mind.

"Hiro-san, may I ask you a question?" Aigis's voice was hesitant but curious.

"Sure. What is it?" Hiro replied, intrigued.

Aigis's analytical eyes showed a faint shadow of concern.

"I… do not understand why I am feeling this." She began, lowering her eyes for a moment. "Before you lost control in the fight against the Chariot and Justice Arcana, you almost died... and I felt that I had not done enough to protect all of you. But why did I feel this?"

Hiro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You… felt guilt? Wait, there's something I've wondered about several times."

Aigis looked at her own hands as if trying to grasp something beyond her programming.

She was an anti-Shadow weapon, built to fight, but… was there something more?

Something beyond her original purpose? Perhaps human emotions?

"A Persona user summons their 'true self' from their mind," Hiro commented, trying to follow her reasoning. "But how do you have a Persona, Aigis? Since you're an android?"

Aigis lifted her eyes to him, explaining in a mechanical tone. "My core was made from the same material as the Evokers, Mitsuru-senpai's motorcycle, and the computer in the command room. And my Persona, Palladion, was implanted into it."

Hiro scratched his head, trying to process. "Alright, I get that part. But… doesn't having a Persona mean you would have human feelings?"

Aigis furrowed her brows as if struggling to understand the question. "I cannot process the correct answer. I follow your requests and orders. But… when I saw you almost die… and felt this urge to protect Minato-san… I wonder who I really am."

Hiro fell silent for a moment, thinking about the complexity of the situation.

Aigis remembered the moment when Hiro lost control, his body pulsing with a fierce energy as he attacked the Chariot Arcana Shadow, punching it with fury.

Still immersed in her own thoughts, Aigis looked at Hiro again. "I detected a very high energy circulating through your body when you lost control. Hiro-san… you don't want to become a monster, do you?"

Hiro quickly shook his head. "No, I don't. When Fuuka and Mitsuru told me what I did, I started avoiding using Lucifer. I'm afraid of losing control and hurting you all…"

Aigis lowered her gaze, absorbing his words. "I understand…"

The silence between them was heavy yet somehow comforting.

Hiro realized this was the first time he had a real chance to talk with Aigis without the pressure of a battle.

He also noticed something different about her. It wasn't that Aigis was hiding something from others, but maybe… she herself didn't know what it was.

Suddenly, Aigis looked at him, her eyes curious. "May I ask you a favor?"

Hiro was surprised. "Of course."

Aigis leaned slightly in the chair, her gaze softer than before. "I want you to teach me about human life. Perhaps then I can understand why I care so much about Minato-san."

Hiro let out a brief sigh, a small smile playing on his lips as he looked to the side and muttered to himself, "Of all the people in S.E.E.S, she asks me..."

He looked directly into her eyes and, with a gentle gesture, placed his hand on Aigis's head, softly ruffling her hair. "I'll try to help you. But… I'm not the best at this."

Aigis gave a small, genuine smile, something rare from her. "Thank you very much, Hiro-san. By the way, aren't head pats a way to show affection to dogs?"

Hiro let out an unexpected laugh, surprised by the innocence of her question. "Actually, no. Patting someone's head can be a way to show affection for another person."

Aigis seemed to process this new information, her eyes shining with renewed curiosity. "Ahh, so that's why you and Fuuka-san pat Koro-chan?"

Hiro smiled, nodding. Aigis, in turn, stood up and, after a brief moment of reflection, placed her cold, metallic hand on Hiro's head, mimicking the gesture.

He felt the metal touch his hair as Aigis began to gently pat him.

"Showing affection…" She murmured to herself, as if assimilating each new sensation.

Hiro stood up, still smiling. "But you shouldn't do it all the time. Otherwise, it'll get a little weird."

Aigis looked at him, then at her own hand, seeming to process every detail as a soft smile appeared on her face.

For the first time, she truly felt welcomed.