*Slap* *Slap*

After classes, Shin was about to leave the school and go on his way when he suddenly received a message from an unknown sender.

The message read: I know what you did. Meet me on the rooftop.

'Alright, I'll play your game. Haven't broke any knees in days.' thought the teen.

Shin just placed his phone back into his pocket and went up the stairs. The fact that they left the door to the roof open, despite the fact that a suicide attempt happened still baffled the boy.

He looked around, but there was no one in sight.

'Hm? Did he not arrive yet?'

He looked behind the doors and even checked the stairs.

The teen was about to head back down when he heard hurried footsteps echoing through the hallways down below. He smirked as an he got an idea.

The teen climbed up on the stairs tower and sat down with his legs crouched. Shin was about to wait for the mysterious sender from up there, so he can scare them after they arrive.

Several seconds later, the doors opened violently, as a girl appeared. She had brown hair in 2 pigtails and was constantly gasping for air. It seemed as if she ran all the way to the roof.

The girl looked around on the roof, but she couldn't see Shin anywhere.

"How did he not arrive yet? It's enough time already... And I'm sure he saw my message." she muttered.

"Hey, hey!" said Shin, as he dropped down, right behind the girl.

"Keh!" she flinched. "You scared me."

"I know. That's why I did it. So why'd you call me here anyway. Don't tell me you're about to confess." said Shin.

The girl's pout suddenly turned into a slight smile.

"I know that you are one of the Phantom Thieves." she said, holding her arms behind her back.

"Alright, so?"

"Don't bother denying it. I have enough proo- Eh?"

The girl looked genuinely shocked at that.

"You accepted, just like that! Does that mean that all that evidence gathering was in vain...?" she said.

"Not quite. Tell me about your so-called evidence." said Shin, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Don't wanna." the girl replied while sticking her tongue out.

"I see. Of course it wouldn't be that easy." said Shin, shaking his head mirthfully.

He went forward and picked the girl up from the armpits. It was quite easy, as she was barely over 150 cm. He lugged her over his shoulder and held her by the waist.

"What are you doing?" asked the girl.

"I'm kidnapping you. Isn't it clear?" asked Shin.

"Oh, I see. Good job so far. But what if I scream?"

"You won't scream."

"How are you so sure about that?" asked the girl.

"Not telling." replied Shin smugly, sticking his tongue out.

"Hmph."

Shin's walk through the school was uninterrupted, as any student that didn't go home yet was in a club of some sort.

"So where are you taking me?" asked the girl.

"Home. Actually, I don't even know your name." responded the boy.

"Saki. I'm a first-year here, so I'm your junior, you know?"

"Good to know, and- Oh, here we are."

Saki tried to look in front, but she had her view obstructed by Shin's back.

"Yo, Sojiro. I'll be busy with something upstairs. Just ignore whatever noise comes downstairs."

The older man looked up from his newspaper, took a look at Shin and Saki who was still slumped over his shoulder, and simply returned to doing his crosswords puzzle.

Shrugging his shoulders at Sojiro's lack of interest, Shin continued on his way.

Only after a few seconds passed since Shin left the room, did Sojiro's reaction fully kick in.

"What the hell..."

-INTERMISSION-

In another part of Tokyo, a brown-haired teen just exited a courthouse. Albeit an unusual sight, something like this wouldn't have been enough to attract such a crowd.

With an ever-present smile, the teen waved his hands at the people in the crowd.

'I could barely get out of there. Crowds are such a hassle.'

He had managed to slip away after some time, and headed for his private driver. On the way there, though, he accidentally bumped into a man.

"Ack! My bad." said the man.

Now that he could take a good look at him, the teen could notice that the man had black hair and a slightly above average face.

"No, no. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Hm? Aren't you that 'Detective Prince' that's all the talk nowadays?" asked the older man, curiously.

"Well, I wouldn't say I am that famous. I've been on the TV a few times."

"I see. Good luck on your carrier, kid." said the man, patting him on the shoulder as he left.

Afterwards, the teen got in the car and drove away.

'I finally found you, Goro Akechi.'

-INTERMISSION-

*Slap*

"Mmmh."

*Slap*

"Haaaa"

*Slap*

"Ah! Okay, okay, I'll tell you."

Back with Shin and Saki, the former was seated down on the bed. The girl was lying down over Shin, her buttcheeks facing the ceiling. She was breathing hard, and she was sweating so heavily, her clothes got somewhat see-through.

"Now, tell me, how did you get the evidence?" asked Shin calmly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"I... cameras..." she said in-between gasps.

"I see. How did you get those cameras?"

"Computer club... We have some cameras... I just... put them around the school."

"Hm. We really ought to be more careful." muttered Shin.

He rose up and let Saki fall down on the bed.

'Goddamn. I liked these pants.'

In the process of obtaining information from Saki, 'things' happened, and his pants got wet with a certain liquid. Thankfully, he had sent Morgana out before doing this, otherwise it'd be awkward to live down.

"You're free to go home now." he said.

"Huh? Now?" she asked.

By the time Shin was done, it was already dark outside.

"And I can't go out with this!" said Saki, pointing at her see-through uniform.

"So?"

"Aren't you gonna take responsibility? I can barely walk like this..." she said.

"Tsk! Fine, but you're sleeping on the couch."

"Aww. Shouldn't you let the lady sleep on the bed, like the gentleman you are?"

"What lady? I only see a loli here."

"..."

Needless to say, Saki was bothered by the comment. Although she didn't stay upset for too long, as she managed to get some pics of Shin training while he wasn't looking. Too bad, his crotch area was protected by the double layered underwear he had.

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This chapter's additional info is on... Shadows!

Shadows are the monsters in the Persona series and share most of the enemy demons common in the Megami Tensei franchise. They are born from humans, and carry with them human emotions, which are mostly negative. Strong-willed Shadows attract lesser Shadows, which later create stronger Shadows.

The new episode included in Persona 3 FES, The Answer suggests that a Persona is merely a Shadow that remains under control of the mind that created it; this is why Persona users aren't rendered brain-dead by exposure to other Shadows during the Dark Hour. In addition, The Answer shows that some who've had their Personas artificially induced can become Shadows themselves when unable to keep control.

In the Persona 3 Club Book, it is explained that shadows are literally fragments of Nyx's psyche, which exist inside of everyone. When people begin to despair or lose hope, their unconscious hold on the "Nyx" that exists within them is weakened, and these fragments can emerge. In order for the psyches of living beings to contain these fragments of Nyx, they were forced to greatly limit their individual lifespans. Because these fragments have been an integral part of life on Earth for so long, the human mind is unable to function without Shadows, which is why those with Apathy Syndrome - people who have lost their Shadows - are merely shells whose minds have broken down. The "goal" of "freed" shadows - if it can be called that - is merely to return to their original state, to fuse together so that the psyche of Nyx can once again be whole. Shadows do not actually "eat" people since they are merely freeing themselves from the individual's unconscious confinement, but Persona-users are an exception, because they are recognized as a hindrance to Nyx's revival. When individuals wander into or adapt to the Dark Hour and attacked by shadows, the external shadows are merely trying to forcibly extract the fragment confined within the individual to merge with it.

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Confidants:

Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2

Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3

Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 2

Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 4

Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 5

Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 3

Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 5