eatsyourscience | (no subject)

(no subject)

To begin with, it was Naoto's idea to check up on things in the TV world, and it had become so normal to spend rainy afternoons inside that Souji agreed without requiring much in the way of an explanation, though she provided one anyway. He agreed with all the points she made--that they should keep an eye on the movements of the fog, the density of shadows in various places, if anything had changed since Adachi's defeat--but more than anything, he was beginning to miss that world and the time they spent there.

Chie and Yukiko passed, and so did Kanji when Souji tracked him down at lunch, but Rise was happy to accompany them--a good thing, because Souji didn't think it would be wise to go in without her--and so were Yousuke and Teddie, who agreed with Naoto about the importance of keeping an eye on what was going on in that world. Souji couldn't blame him.

Inside, everything seemed the same. Even the damp smell, the feeling of the fog against his cheeks in odd juxtaposition to the way it vanished in the view through his glasses were the same. He asked Rise to do a scan of the area, but wasn't expecting her excited, staccato announcement that there was a new area she hadn't seen before.

When Kanzeon vanished, Souji glanced around to find everyone looking at him and he almost smiled at how comfortable it had become to see them relying on him. He gave a slight nod and with Rise directing him, led the way past locations they already knew.

They stopped when the ground disappeared in front of them. An expanse of open, empty space spread in front of them, filled with a swirling fog that he could see. Resisting the urge to remove his glasses and clean them, Souji squinted. All that was visible were what looked like several bare, unornamented platforms hovering in the air, each at a greater distance than the last from where they stood.

He looked around, then down, then took a step into open space. Rise called out after him, but trailed off when a walkway materialized beneath his feet, extending for a short distance ahead of him. A few steps across what looked and felt like smooth, gray stone confirmed that it would continue to appear ahead of him as he walked instead of leaving him to step blindly and hope he hadn't come to a corner without noticing. Hefting his sword a little higher, he looked back and nodded to the others that they should proceed.

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Souji nods.

Squeaking along, Teddie hurries to catch up and walk beside them. "But what happens to the ones you lost, sensei?"

"...I don't know."

"Speculation is pointless."

Naoto pulls her hat down more securely. She's not going to let this thing turn around. It's simply too dangerous.

"Your persona, more than likely can be recovered. I'm more worried about our theory of this being your world."

Her mouth forms a thin line.

"If it's true, your shadow could likely decimate us all."

Souji shakes his head, but is aware that it's a possibility. Either way, leaving the Shadow or whatever here isn't an option.

"We'll bring the others back with us."

"Good."

She's concerned that even that may not be enough. But she lets her fears remain unspoken.

Rise takes it upon herself to be optimistic for everyone. "Don't worry! We'll take care of. We've got lots of experience!"

Souji nods. "...We'll take care of it."

The walk back is uneventful. No trouble. No shadows. A little too quiet.

However, it's as soon as they pass the I platform where the first shadow was that Naoto stops in her tracks.

"This isn't right."

Rise stops and turns to face Naoto, hands clasped behind herb ack. "What do you mean, Naoto-kun?"

Souji just nods.

She points ahead. Yousuke's eyes widen as he realizes before Naoto even explains.

"This is supposed to be the last platform before the exit. But there--"

She's right. There's another platform.

Rise turns and her mouth drops open. "W...what the hell! This is supposed to be the way out!"

Souji sighs and draws closer without stepping onto the platform.

"It's X again."

"It's a loop. We're stuck in a loop..."

Naoto looks away, obviously frustrated and upset she didn't see this sooner. She can't think of any way to get around it.

"Partner, this is bad."

Yousuke has panic in his eyes. He runs a sweaty palm through his hair.

"The only way to get out of here has to be to get to the end. We don't know what's at the end. There could be..."

They're all thinking 'Souji's shadow'. Souji's shadow, and Souji himself may not even be able to fight. Souji, who they always relied on to be the head of the attack, able to adapt to any situation... Was it even possible for them to fight without him?

Souji takes a deep breath, looking at the X. He consults the Personas he's still got, but they all have different opinions. He expected that, but he weighs each, giving them equal consideration.

"...I'll go on ahead."

The team looks amongst each other for a split second. That's all it takes.

"Wait!"

Yousuke jogs up and grabs Souji's arm.

"Dude, you're not doing this without us."

"No way, sensei! We're in this beargether!"

"...That didn't make sense, Teddie."

"Now isn't the time for corrections, Rise-chan! It's time to rally around sensei!"

Souji raises his eyebrows a little at them, but then looks at Yousuke. "If it's what we think it is, I have to face it myself anyway."

"We never had to face it alone. You were there with us."

Even at the very beginning, with Yousuke and his shadow... He feels more than anybody that he has to return the favor.

"So we're going with you."

Souji says nothing, letting his silence stretch. The truth is, he's not sure if he can face himself in front of them, not when he knows what they expect of him, not when he has a specific mask to wear for each of them.

"...We don't know how many more fights there will be."

This is really hypocritical of him. And really arrogant. He knows he'd never let one of them go on alone and yet he thinks that he's special enough to be able to handle anything that comes at him?

He wants them to see his Shadow less and less.

"There can't be any more than you have persona," Naoto interjects, "And there's no way you can take them on alone in your current state regardless."

They didn't find him to be arrogant as much as they found him self-sacrificing. He was special. He was better equipped than any of them to continue on.

They say the captain goes down with the ship, but this crew wasn't going anywhere either.

Souji sighs, but it's inaudible. "We should rest first, then."

Naoto nods.

"How does our stock of items look? We may end up having to rely on them more than usual. There's no need to squander them now."

"Oh, oh!" Teddie flails one arm. "I have some that'll help with our magic!"

Souji crouches on the pathway, his sword propped against his shoulder. "Let's save those as long as we can."

Yousuke sits down next to him.

"We gotta play it careful now. Keeping alive is priority number one. Defend when you have to and heal whenever anyone's down. We've got all the time in the world, right? No sneak attacks to worry about at least."

He knows there's one thing he's good at, and that's filling up silence. At his partner's side, he's almost a verbal crutch as Souji deals with whatever worries plagued him at the moment.

Souji nods in agreement as Rise pipes up.

"Y-yeah! That's right, Yousuke-senpai! As long as we keep everything in perspective and we keep calm, we'll be fine!" She turns quickly to Naoto, her voice cheerful, though a bit forced. She needs Naoto's brand of logical, calm reassurance now. "Right, Naoto-kun?"

Naoto is quiet as she thinks over her words, as always.

"...We've certainly fought equally uneven odds before."

Wow, go positive thinking there Naoto.

Rise's expression echoes the narration, but then she smiles again. It's something, at least.

"Don't worry, guys! I'll scan the area and see if I can find anything!"

Souji doesn't think she will find anything, but at least she's staying optimistic. He sighs again and looks at Yousuke.

"Alright?"

"We're ready to go when you are, partner."

Rise's scan doesn't turn anything up and Souji isn't surprised. He waits until she's given them the news and then heaves himself back to his feet. He gives everyone a moment to prepare, then steps onto the next platform.

It's less that the next set of fights are more difficult than those before and more that the group has already reached its limit. With no choice but to move on, they batter their way through Fortune, Justice, and Star, leaving Souji with three Personas and no energy by the time the last platform comes into view.