Hanging out with the bros

"Haah!"

With a grunt, Shin twisted his body out of the spear's way.

"You're getting pretty good at this." commented the spear wielder.

"Thanks." replied Shin.

"Then again, you're not even close to my level when I was your age. Don't let that dishearten you, okay? You're doing great for a normal human."

"Your pep talks suck, Setanta."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." the blue-haired spearman waved his hand. "More importantly, how close are you to summoning my stronger self? This weak body is bothering me."

Shin grimaced at that. Cu Chulainn was a level 76 Persona in the game, and such Personas were way out of his league at the moment.

"I'm not even close." said Shin.

"I see. Then, we'll just have to keep on training till you get there. Come on." said Setanta, signaling with his hand for Shin to stand up.

At that moment, the Reaper appeared, holding a bag full of soda cans, which he forthwith handed to Shin.

"Huh? Is that... Master? Wait, that's not right..." said Setanta.

"That's the Reaper." said Shin.

"Hello."

"Why do you have smell like Master? You're both reeking of death." said Setanta, while going around the Reaper and occasionally poking him with the bottom of his spear.

"I am the Reaper. I... believe that is self-explanatory." the Reaper cocked his head to the side, not understanding where Setanta's confusion came from.

"Ah, whatever." exclaimed the spearman, throwing his hands up. "Pass me one of those things, Shin."

The black-haired teen threw a can of soda to Setanta and the Reaper each. The three then sat down on the floor and looked at the swirling portal that led to someone's heart. Shin and Setanta occasionally took sips from the drinks, while the Reaper only opened the can and let the fizz escape, as his mask didn't have a hole for his mouth.

"Say, Shin. My stronger self... It's at least one of the stronger Personas, right? Like, top 10 or so. Right?"

"Uh..."

"Top 15?" asked Setanta, with slight worry in his voice.

"Well..."

"Top 20?!"

"You're definitely in the top 40. That I can say for sure."

"It's over." said Setanta, holding his head with his hands. "Master is going to kill me later."

"We'll be drinking in your memory." said Shin, raising his soda can, as the Reaper mirrored him.

"That doesn't make me feel any better, you know."

"If it makes you feel better, your master's only 1 to 3 positions above you. So I don't think you really have any reason to worry, for now."

"Alright, that's enough sitting around. Let's get back to training." said Setanta, standing up.

At the same time, in the real world.

"Why are we here?" asked Yusuke, as Ryuji urged him inside the shop.

The two were sitting inside a ramen shop at the moment.

"Well, I was hungry and bored, so I thought about calling Shin to hang out at his place and eat some curry, but he's busy now. So I called you." said the blond boy.

"I see..."

"Chief, two large beef bowls!" said Ryuji.

"With the price of the bowl, then I'll have..." murmured Yusuke, doing the math in his head to see how much money he had left for the month.

"Don't worry about it. It's on me." said the blond, slapping Yusuke on the back.

At that moment, the cook came and placed down two bowls of ramen before the two.

"Ohh! Thanks for the meal!" said Ryuji, clapping his hands and digging into the food, which was quickly mirrored by Yusuke.

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

Setanta is Cu Chulainn's given name. He is the son of the god Lugh and Deichtine. gained his better-known name as a child after he killed Culann's fierce guard-dog in self-defense, and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared.

Setanta is the third Persona of the Emperor Arcana and can only be obtained through fusion in the Velvet Room.

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Confidants:

0. Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2

I. Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3

1. Takuto Maruki (The Councillor) - Rank 1

II. Makoto Niijima (The Priestess) - Rank 2

IV. Yusuke Kitagawa (The Emperor) - Rank 3

V. Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3

VI. Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 7

VII. Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 6

IX. Futaba Sakura (The Hermit) - Rank 3

XIII. Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 5

XIV. Sadayo Kawakami (The Temperance) - Rank 1

XVIII. Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 2

XIX. Sho Minazuki (The Sun) - Rank 2

XX. Sae Niijima (The Judgement) - Rank 1

Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 8