119 Hm

The universe had a strange way of showing Shin some affection. Or perhaps it was just some form of humanity-based being that was way too bored and thought fucking with him might be entertaining.

Certainly, when he asked Shiho if she wanted to train that day, he hadn't thought the girl would have gathered her courage to do something like this. Maybe she had a talk with her Persona; could the large bird have possibly given her relationship advice?

Another idea he'd have considered is her talking to Ann... but as he wasn't dense enough to not notice Ann's own feelings, he was sure Shiho, who knew her for longer than he did, wouldn't have gone to her.

Regardless of who gave her the courage boost, he surely didn't mind. The problem was how everything around turned black and white, like an old movie, and time seemed to stretch on for much longer than it normally did.

"You seemed to have a tough decision ahead of you, so I took the liberty of helping you out a bit. Still, I have to say that your life is pretty interesting so far." commented Marie, as she sat lounged on a bench nearby.

"I know right? And we haven't even gotten to the fighting stuff yet." said Shin.

A short sillence between the two settled in, only to be disrupted by Marie.

"So what are you going to tell her? If you want to decline, you'll have to do it with tact. Unless you want to damage to your bond with her. Of course, if you say yes, then that's that. But you don't want a simple 'yes', do you?"

Shin shrugged.

"I'd like to at least try to cause her to evolve her Persona." said Shin. "You can undo this whole... thing now."

The black-haired teen gestured all around him as he said that. The goddess looked at him for a bit, somewhat surprised that Shin came up with something so quickly. With a wave of her hand, the lack of color went away, and Shin could feel Shiho's gaze boring into him.

Unfazed, Shin said one word that sent Shiho on a loop, not quite one of the answers she was expecting.

"Why?"

-

Confidants:

0. Yaldabaoth (The Fool) - Rank 3

I. Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3

1. Takuto Maruki (The Councillor) - Rank 1

II. Makoto Niijima (The Priestess) - Rank 3

IV. Yusuke Kitagawa (The Emperor) - Rank 3

Odd man - Rank 1

V. Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3

VI. Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 7

VII. Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 7

VIII. Goro Akechi (The Justice) - Rank 3

IX. Futaba Sakura (The Hermit) - Rank 3

X. Maemi Maeda (The Fortune) - Rank 1

XI. Caroline & Justine (The Strength) - Rank 10

XIII. Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 5

Reaper - Rank 1

XIV. Sadayo Kawakami (The Temperance) - Rank 5

XVIII. Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 3

XIX. Sho Minazuki (The Sun) - Rank 2

Toranosuke Yoshida - Rank 1

XX. Sae Niijima (The Judgement) - Rank 2

Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 9

Marie (The Aeon) - Rank 1