PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...02/09/2009 Wednesday; Midday...

The hallways of Gekkoukan High School were packed, with the students' lives flowing through every corner.

The muffled sounds of conversations echoed through the spaces, laughter mixed with gossip, and the scent of food filled the air during lunchtime.

But while the students were caught up in their own worlds, on the rooftop, Yukari stood alone, gazing at the view of Tatsumi Port Island.

The horizon was lined with the large blades of wind turbines, spinning endlessly, carried by the wind that played with her short brown hair.

She kept her gaze distant, her white short-sleeved blouse contrasting with her black miniskirt and the pink cardigan tied around her waist.

Black knee-high socks covered her legs, and brown loafers completed her look.

Around her neck, a white choker with a delicate heart shimmered subtly under the sunlight.

The rooftop door suddenly opened, and Minato stepped in quietly, hands in his pockets, his blue hair swaying gently in the breeze.

He approached Yukari at a slow pace and stopped beside her, looking at the same horizon she seemed so absorbed in.

"I saw you leave the classroom looking a bit down. Aigis noticed too," Minato said in a calm, neutral tone.

Yukari sighed, her eyes still fixed on the view. "Ah... I got a message from my mom... She's dating another guy again."

Minato frowned slightly, confused. "Another one?"

Yukari gave a sad smile, almost imperceptible, as if she was tired of telling this story. "Sorry... I never told you about my issues with my mom."

Minato stepped a little closer, sincerity in his concerned gaze. "Are you two fighting?"

Yukari lowered her gaze, the weight of her memories pressing against her chest. "Something like that. When my dad died... my mom never got over it. So she keeps dating different guys... trying to suppress the pain. She wants me to forget about my dad..."

Feeling the pain in her words, Minato placed a hand on Yukari's shoulder—a silent gesture of support. "Let it out. It'll do you good."

Yukari turned to him, frustration finally surfacing in her voice. "She... Oh my god, it makes me so mad... My mom tries to forget my dad because she can't handle the fact that he's gone. And now she wants me to do the same. But how can I have a good future if I never let go of the past?"

Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails pressed into her palms.

She took a deep breath, slowly exhaling, trying to compose herself.

Yukari looked straight at Minato, her eyes slightly clearer but still filled with pain. "You told me I couldn't blame my dad... and you're right. He didn't do anything wrong. But now I realize I can't blame my mom either. She's just running away... trying to escape reality."

Minato observed her quietly. "But you... do you want to run away from the past?"

His question struck Yukari like a jolt, making her pause in thought.

Memories of their conversation in Yakushima resurfaced, reminding her of Minato's words about losing everything but finding a reason to keep going through the bonds he created with his friends.

Those words echoed now, carrying a new meaning.

Yukari averted her gaze, murmuring to herself: "I... I want to destroy the Dark Hour."

With newfound determination, Yukari took a step forward, standing closer to Minato, her eyes meeting his with an intensity he hadn't expected.

Minato remained silent, respecting the moment.

"I'm going to destroy the Dark Hour, so my dad can rest in peace. I won't stop fighting. I won't run away," she declared, the firmness in her voice reflecting the strength she had just discovered within herself.

Minato gave a subtle smile, a reflection of the admiration he felt for her resolve. "You're getting stronger, Yukari."

Yukari blinked, surprised. "Huh?"

Minato shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I can see that you're more confident. It's a relief to see you becoming a stronger person."

His words resonated inside her, swirling in her mind until, without realizing it, her face started to flush.

A deep blush spread across her cheeks, painting her face a vivid red.

Minato, noticing, looked at her curiously. "Are you okay? You're turning red."

Yukari, completely flustered, turned her back to him abruptly, stammering. "N-no... I mean... th-thank... You're welcome. Oh my god! I'm fine..."

Minato raised an eyebrow, confused. "Are you sure?"

Still facing away, a shy smile on her lips as her face continued to burn, Yukari replied hastily, "Totally sure. Well, thanks for listening, Minato. I... I have to go now. See you at the dorm!"

Without waiting for a response, she bolted, almost tripping over her own feet, and disappeared through the rooftop door, leaving Minato behind, perplexed.

He watched until the door closed with a thud, then a small smile formed on his lips.

Yukari's reaction had caught him off guard, but he found it... adorable.

"I guess she's fine after all..." he murmured to himself, chuckling softly. "Still, I wasn't expecting that reaction... Did I say something wrong?"

...03/09/2009 Thursday; Midday ...

The student council room was silent, the muffled noise of students outside barely managing to seep through the walls.

The room was softly illuminated by the light streaming through the large windows, creating a cozy atmosphere as Hiro and Mitsuru ate their lunches.

Mitsuru, always impeccable in her posture, finished her meal and closed the lid of her bento with a sigh of relief.

Her elegant appearance—white short-sleeved shirt, black skirt, and glossy, knee-high black boots—was perfectly put together.

The red ribbon around her neck matched her crimson hair and eyes.

Hiro, on the other hand, had a more relaxed posture.

His school uniform jacket rested over his shoulders, and instead of dress shoes, he wore sneakers.

His black hair, now longer, reached his shoulders, tied in a high bun.

"So, what did you do before coming to Gekkoukan?" Mitsuru asked, looking at him curiously while still savoring the tea in her cup.

Hiro, setting his juice bottle aside, replied with a slight smile, "I spent most of my time in fencing and sports clubs. They were much more interesting than the others... like cooking or literature."

Mitsuru returned the smile. "I see. That explains why you're so skilled in combat. When you joined S.E.E.S., you were already better than most of us."

Hiro let out a modest chuckle. "Maybe, but I'd never beat you in a duel. I may be fast with my kukri, but I'm not faster than you."

She smiled at the compliment, raising her cup to take another sip of tea.

Meanwhile, Hiro untied his hair, letting the strands fall over his shoulders.

"Now... what was your life like before S.E.E.S. was formed?" Hiro asked, his voice carrying genuine curiosity.

Mitsuru set her cup down and remained silent for a moment, her eyes drifting toward the ceiling as if searching for answers in her memories.

Images of her father, Takeharu Kirijo, and the creation of S.E.E.S. resurfaced in her mind.

She sighed. "At first, I wasn't even supposed to study at Gekkoukan. But when the accident that created the Dark Hour happened, my father entered Tartarus with some scientists and guards... and I followed him."

Hiro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "But you were just a child. And you weren't supposed to go, were you?"

"No, I wasn't." Mitsuru shook her head.

"But I followed him anyway. That's when a Shadow appeared... and at that moment, I discovered something important: only Persona users can kill Shadows. When normal people try to fight them... it only makes them angrier."

Hiro whistled, surprised. "Damn, I didn't know that."

She ran a hand through her hair, recalling the scene that had never left her mind. "And that was the same day I awakened my Persona. My father... he never wanted that to happen."

Hiro leaned back in his chair, digesting the information.

His eyes met Mitsuru's, who now seemed a bit downcast.

But she quickly composed herself, letting out another sigh.

"Your father didn't want you to be a Persona user?" Hiro asked, his perceptiveness clear in his tone.

Mitsuru looked at him, surprised by his accurate deduction, and slowly nodded. "Yes, he always wanted the best for me. When he saw that I had awakened a Persona, he felt guilty... for all the responsibility that had fallen on me. He never wanted me to bear the burden of our family."

Hiro stood up and, in an instinctive gesture, placed a hand on Mitsuru's shoulder, his voice gentle but filled with concern. "And what do you think about that? I get why he's worried—no one wants to see their own daughter carry the weight of the world."

Mitsuru looked at him, a delicate smile appearing on her lips. "I don't see it as a problem. My father is safe, and as long as I can keep you and the others safe, I don't mind leading the group."

Hiro pulled up a chair to sit closer to her. "But… what's the real reason you keep leading S.E.E.S.? You lead because you want to, but that doesn't mean you have to carry everything alone."

She averted her gaze, Hiro's words echoing in her mind.

She recalled the promises her father had made, the heavy words he spoke about destroying Tartarus.

The determination in his voice seemed to have merged with hers.

"I want to help my father destroy the Dark Hour," she finally said, turning back to Hiro. "He wants to remove the burden our family created, and I will fulfill that wish. I want to protect him, no matter the cost. But to do that, I need everyone in S.E.E.S. to be okay."

Hiro smiled, placing his hand on her shoulder again. "Then I'll help you. You don't have to carry everything alone, Mitsuru. You can rely on me, or anyone else in the group."

Mitsuru's eyes widened for a moment, surprised by his offer.

But as she felt the sincerity in his words, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, and she placed her hand over his, grateful.

"Thank you, Hiro. I'll remember that."

Hiro smiled back. "You're welcome."