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You are Takashi Wakui, a sixteen year old Japanese high school student. In your world, half of humanity possesses a Persona—the corporeal manifestation of one’s personality as a supernatural entity. You had been an unlucky ordinary at first, lacking the potential to summon your Persona. Then the application AETHER was forcibly installed on your smartphone. It sucked you into the nightmarish realm of the Blackened Void, where you fought monsters and awakened your Persona in the process.

You are now the Wild Card of the 22nd Century. You possess the Fool Arcana, giving you the power to draw strength from bonds and wield multiple Personas at once. Already this places you in great danger, as the Fool Arcana is seen as an impossibility by the common masses. Revealing your newfound power to the common world would immediately land your head on a dissection table. To make matters worse, you and several others have been cursed as the Void’s Chosen, fated to traverse the wastelands of the Blackened Void until the end of the game. For what purpose does AETHER exist, what mysteries lie within and how is victory achieved?

Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Persona%202129%20Quest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwilightThorn
Mechanics: http://pastebin.com/CrdSVEQw
Spell/Skill List: http://pastebin.com/vsaJGd2S
Part One Recap: http://pastebin.com/i1VjfnyX

Character Sheet: http://pastebin.com/JNqG9rxv
Persona List: http://pastebin.com/tBZFr1nf
Takashi's Stats: http://pastebin.com/Yd3dB7j4
>>
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[<chocolat_orange> joined chat on 11:13 am, 13-Feb-2131]
[<Azure Scholar> joined chat on 11:13 am, 13-Feb 2131]
[<HeartOnBlade> joined chat on 11:14 am, 13-Feb 2131]
[<THE_FIRST> joined chat on 11:19 am, 13-Feb 2131]

<THE_FIRST> You know girls
<THE_FIRST> We are in the same building right now
<THE_FIRST> If you want to talk you can just ask
<Azure Scholar> Please don’t sweat the small details, dear Leader. Continue with your little speech.
<THE_FIRST> Why do you sound passive-aggressive Fumika
<THE_FIRST> Actually scratch that
<THE_FIRST> Why do I get the impression that all of you are extremely pissed off
<THE_FIRST> And are about to abuse your powers and do something very cruel and vicious to me
<HeartOnBlade> Cruel he says.
<chocolate_orange> vicious, too. takashi-kun, shouldn’t we be saying that to you? >:(
<Azure Scholar> Just like his treatment towards women, he approaches this situation from entirely the wrong direction.
<THE_FIRST> Hypothesis confirmed
<THE_FIRST> Why are you all so angry
<Azure Scholar> Oh, I believe there is a very good reason for us to be angry, wrathful, aggravated, furious, livid and a lot of other related synonyms from the online thesaurus.
<chocolat_orange> yeah!
<HeartOnBlade> Takashi…
<HeartOnBlade> You dummy.
<THE_FIRST> Are you all drunk
<THE_FIRST> Is that what’s going on
<THE_FIRST> Did you eat some of Celeste’s fancy chocolates
<THE_FIRST> Is this going to be a repeat of the hot springs incident
<chocolat_orange> i don’t know what you’re talking about, takashi-kun.
<HeartOnBlade> What she said.
<Azure Scholar> Inebriated or not, our opinion would remain the same.
<chocolat_orange> no escape, takashi-kun! today you’re going to lay all your cards on the table!
<HeartOnBlade> Like a poker player.
>>
>>45423986
Just as I go to bed...
>>
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<THE_FIRST> Fine
<THE_FIRST> What do you girls want?
<HeartOnBlade> Should be obvious.
<HeartOnBlade> Guess not.
<THE_FIRST> Of course it bloody isn’t
<THE_FIRST> You girls aren’t giving me any pointers at all
<Azure Scholar> Oh, please. You are not this foolish. In fact, quite the opposite. I have seen your intelligence in action. Please drop this useless pretense and come out with the truth.
<HeartOnBlade> So horrible…
<HeartOnBlade> Don’t understand
<chocolat_orange> it isn’t good to lie!
<THE_FIRST> Seriously what the hell
<chocolat_orange> takashi-kun…
<Azure Scholar> Takashi Wakui…
<HeartOnBlade> Takashi…
<THE_FIRST> Alright alright
<THE_FIRST> Quit twisting the knife
<THE_FIRST> I think I get it
<HeartOnBlade> You finally understand?
<THE_FIRST> If my suspicions are correct
<THE_FIRST> Yeah a little
<Azure Scholar> That is not very reassuring, but better to have a speck of gold than none at all. Let’s us all sit down and have a discussion together.
<THE_FIRST> That may be a good idea
<THE_FIRST> But
<THE_FIRST> Clearly this is a big deal for you all
<THE_FIRST> Which means it also should be a big deal for me
<THE_FIRST> Sorry but I need time to collect my thoughts
<Azure Scholar> What do you say, ladies?
<chocolat_orange> well…it’s tempting to tie all his limbs together and drag him into the living room. but takashi-kun has done a lot of good for us. i say we let him have it.
<HeartOnBlade> Don’t take too long.
<Azure Scholar> And thus the gods have spoken. Process your thoughts at your leisure, Leader. We’ll wait for you.
<THE_FIRST> Thanks
>>
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>>Time: Pass.

<HeartOnBlade> …
<HeartOnBlade> …
<HeartOnBlade> …
<Azure Scholar> You’re only wasting space there.
<HeartOnBlade> Sorry.
<Azure Scholar> I feel as if we have been severely misled by our dear Leader.
<chocolat_orange> what’s taking him so long? it’s been more than ten minutes.
<HeartOnBlade> Going to check.
[<Akagi21> joined chat on 11:30 am, 13-Feb 2131]
<Akagi21> don’t do that
<HeartOnBlade> Akikazu.
<Akagi21> yo
<Akagi21> if youre wondering where takashi is
<Akagi21> he aint here no longer
<Akagi21> im in his room right now
<Akagi21> the window is open
<Akagi21> put two and fucking two together ladies
<chocolat_orange> but we’re on the tenth floor!!!
<Akagi21> i think hes got rangda equipped
<HeartOnBlade> Where did he go?
<Akagi21> he wasn’t very clear because it’s windy as hell outside
<Akagi21> but i think takashi went to the old falco house captains house
<Akagi21> you know the one from our second year
<Akagi21> yoshino sagisawa
<chocolat_orange> >:O >:O >:O >:O >:O >:O >:O >:O >:O
<HeartOnBlade> GET HIM!!!

[<chocolat_orange> exited chat on 11:32 am, 13-Feb-2131]
[<Azure Scholar> exited chat on 11:32 am, 13-Feb 2131]
[<HeartOnBlade> exited chat on 11:32 am, 13-Feb 2131]
>>
CANON STATUS OF THE ABOVE: DUBIOUS

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 2016

PART 1 OF SPECIAL END

PART 2 TO BE POSTED LATER THIS THREAD

NOW RESUMING REGULAR PERSONA 2129 QUEST…
>>
>>45424112
We must make it true. All girls shall love us.
>>
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[3:40 pm, 24-May-2129 (TUESDAY)]

“Achoo!”

“Bless you.”

“Thanks, Celeste.” You mutter, wiping your nose with a tissue. It isn’t dripping with snot, but it’s the image of decency that counts. “Someone out there must be talking about me. Can’t imagine who, though…”

It’s just after the beginning of the afternoon homeroom. Veleis-sensei is standing behind the teacher’s desk at the front of the room, lecturing the class in her usual soft, slightly critical tone. Today’s topic is about the importance of picking up litter in the academy courtyards. As expected of children who are mere minutes from hearing the home bell, practically nobody is paying attention to the android teacher. You are among them. Your classmates are either chatting among each other, getting a headstart on their homework, taking quick naps or in Fumika’s case, staring at her laptop with cold, dead eyes.

“What do you mean, the sweets in the cafeteria are disappointing?”

“They are! It’s all stuff you’d find in second-rate convenience stores, bought in bulk! For a school that places a lot of emphasis on the quality of their facilities, the cafeteria is seriously lacking.”

“You’re the one who eats all those store-bought lollipops.” You point out. “Why are you complaining about this?”

“I’m only a little disappointed, Takashi-kun. Not hugely.” Celeste clarifies, raising a finger. “Shouldn’t we all try and do a little better?”

“Maybe you should realize that you’re the only one who burns through sweets like fire on raw gasoline.” You quip. “Anyway, I wouldn’t know. I don’t usually eat in the cafeteria.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” Celeste says. “Where were you at lunch? I couldn’t find you.”

How do you respond?

>“It’s a secret.”
>Tell Celeste about Aria’s art.
>[WILLPOWER] Stay silent.
>[CHARISMA] Attempt to dodge the question.
>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
>Custom option.
>>
>>45424112
Can I at least assume that getting Rangda at some point is canon? Reflect Physical is a neat damn skill.
>>
>>45424142
>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
>>
>>45424142
>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
It's not that we don't want to, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. We're just respecting the privacy of a friend who is uncomfortable with that (perfectly innocent) part of their life being publicly known. So stop your overactive imagination right there, Celeste.
>>
>Say that you can't say

(I'm just here to get my mind off the RWBY V3 Finale...fucking hell that was painful)
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>>45424142
>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
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>>45424221
Painful in the feels sense or the 'Jesus Christ this was awful' sense?
>>
>>45424142
>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
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>>45424269
Pyrrha gets burnt to death. Cinder finally stopped fucking around.
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>>45424142
>>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
>>
>>45424142
>>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
>>
>>45424142
>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
Also, I think it's pretty clear that Aria is Heart On Blade. They've both got the same clipped, broken way of talking.
>>
>>45424092
Harem end confirmed.
>>
>>45424142
>>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.

>>45424092
I think I've read this doujin.
>>
>>45424323
Could be. Maybe it will turn out to be a reference to one of her OCs.
>>
>>45424142
>Sorry, I was spending time with the superior foreign girl
>>
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>>45424343
>>
>>45424302
RIP. Sucks for Jean.
>>
>>45424327
>CANON STATUS OF THE ABOVE: DUBIOUS
>>
>>45424142
>>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say
>>
>>45424393
HAREM END CONFIRMED!!!
>>
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>>45424343
>shy as fuck
>can't even set things on fire
>superior
>>
>>45424092
Best end.
>>45424142
>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say.
>>
>>45424433
To be fair, we don't know she's incapable of setting things on fire. Sure, as a Devil arcana she's more likely to have Dark or status effects, but Fire is a possibility.
>>
>>45424433
>shy as fuck
>Listing this as a bad thing
>>
>>45424142
>>[UNDERSTANDING] Say that you can’t say
>>
Celeste is going to stalk us to find out isn't she?
>>
Okay writing now...
>>
>>45424507
Probably not. Thats not in her character.
>>
>>45424543
>MAG E+
Please fix Ippon's magic.
>>
Reminder to never break promises with someone with devil arcana.
>>
>>45424661
Agreed. It would just break the poor girl's heart.
>>
>>45424661
>Reminder to never break promises with someone
Fixed.
>>
>>45424543
>>45424566
Also, the link given for the skill/spell list in the opening post leads to an old Persona list.
>>
>>45424688
The devil part is important for our continued well-being.
>>
>>45424721
Don't be a liar and it isn't an issue.
>>
>>45424716
Fixed that in text files I have, will remind myself to check everything before posting.
>>
>>45424721
Arcanist
>>
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>>45424721
>We should totally break our promise if only she wasn't a devil arcana.
>>
>>45424764
Never trust a Moon, Devil or Tower.
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>>45424786
That's not what he's saying at all. Relax, morality police.
>>
>>45424764
All Lovers are sluts.
>>
>>45424883
I'm sure Kanami and Kanade wish that was true.
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>>45424810
>Never trust a Moon, Devil
These are fine.
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>>45424913
>moon is fine
>moon guy in p3 was a scammer
>>
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>>45424810
>Trusting a wheel
>>
LADIES (ha, yeah right) AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS OF ALL AGES AS LONG AS THEY'RE OLDER THAN EIGHTEEN OR ARE WILLING TO LIE ABOUT IT, A WILD WRITEFAG DOTH APPEAR

In the spirit of the holiday, as Hallmark as it is, I've done a little bit of slightly salacious writing featuring the Fool and the Magician. The Fool being Takashi, not Kaede Kurusu. I suppose I COULD write a story about Kaede and Celeste, but nah.

>>45424756
TT, do I have your permission to post it in a pastebin?
>>
>>45424940
>Everyone is just like their videogame equivalent

We should stay away from Celeste then.
>>
>>45424993
Write a doujin about Kaede and her followers.
>>
>>45424993
Someone actually wrote smut(?) of my quest? THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE.

Go for it!!!
>>
>>45425022
Alright, you heard the man. He likes us making porn of his characters. Everyone start writing.
>>
>>45425052
Ok, 2 years worth of semen...
>>
>>45424993
>>45425022
Oh boy
>>
>>45425066
>>
>>45425081
It should be the amount you can produce, not that you ejaculate per spasm.
>>
>>45425081
Fucking SAO.
>>
>>45425022
from one-line pornographic fanfiction to multiple-line pornographic fanfiction
This quest is going places!
>>
>>45425126
>tfw I was the guy who wrote the one line
>>
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>>45425022
AND SO I SHALL

But seriously though, I'm glad you're so flattered. Love the quest. It's like if Dark Souls had a baby with pre-Troll Homestuck, and that baby had a baby with the offspring of Persona and Shadowrun. You wouldn't think it'd work, but it do.

http://pastebin.com/8LYqdE2d

Hopefully this isn't TOO shitty.
>>
>>45425205
><Azure Scholar> Likewise, I have other business that I must attend to.
><Azure Scholar> Another time, perhaps.
><THE_FIRST> And this business is…?
><Azure Scholar> Somebody was wrong on the internet.
><Azure Scholar> Despite having all the information of the world literally at his fingertips.
><Azure Scholar> He must be shown the error of his ways with the greatest possible amount of prejudice.
I haven't even gotten to the smut and I'm already loving it.
>>
>>45425052
>something something falco captain
>something something epic 3-on-1 persona battle
>something takashi not there something
>meanwhile something takashi and akikazu in takashi's room something
AND THEN THEY FUCKED
>>
“Ah, sorry, Celeste.” You say, “I can’t really say.”

“Why not?”

“You know how it is…” You fumble for an excuse. “It’s sort of a private matter. Yeah, that’s what it is.”

“Hmmm…I don’t really get it.” Celeste peers at you, her lips twisting into a grimace of confusion. “But it must be important to you, so I won’t pry any further.”
“Thanks.” You feel a little guilty about lying to your best friend, but you shouldn’t reveal Aria’s talent without her consent. If word got around and her fellow students ended queuing up to look at her art, she’d probably crack beneath the pressure, like a china doll beneath the head of a mighty sledgehammer. No offense, but she doesn’t seem like someone strong of heart.

You phone vibrates noisily. One of your friends is messaging you via AETHER chat. You scramble for your pocket before Veleis-sensei or Kanade can confiscate it.

<Azure Scholar> A week remains until the end of May. Yet, the mission assigned to the mysterious notification has not appeared. I propose we take this time to explore as much of the Void as possible.
<Azure Scholar> I would also suggest exploring Area 019 and the Forgotten City. We have not yet invested much time into those Sectors.

You look up from your phone.

“Fumika, we’re in the same class.” You say to her, trying not to smirk. “You can talk normally.”

She responds with what you think is supposed to be a frosty glare—it’s a little hard to tell, what with her displaying as much emotion as a dead tuna. Then she resumes staring at her laptop.

Okay, that happened. Now, what about your other friend? You glance over to the seat next to you. Akikazu is clenching his phone, crease lines digging into his brow. Something is obviously troubling him. It strikes you that you haven’t hung out with him for a while, excluding Blackened Void exploration and lunchtimes. Even after you told him he was your friend and everything, too…

“Ah, shit…”

Maybe you should talk to Akikazu after school…
>>
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[4:00 pm, 24-May-2129 (TUESDAY)]

“See you tomorrow, Aria!”

“Oh…” The girl swallows and waves. “Um…Takashi…”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you, for not telling. Sorry…”

“It’s nothing. Wouldn’t want to force anything on you, anyway.”

“Yes…I know.” Aria says, smiling a little. “Well…goodbye.”

You gather up your belongings and race out the door. The afternoon sun is warm and comforting. Birds soar through the orange sky and vehicles blaze through the tarmac roads.

What will you do?

>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
>Go to drama club (Justice S-Link)
>Search for Kozue Yusa (Death S-Link)
>Study in the library (Increases INTELLIGENCE)
>Go to the gym (Increases WILLPOWER)
>Fight randoms at the Battlegrounds (Gain C. EXP, Increases WILLPOWER and prestige around school)
>Wander around the city (Random encounter)
>Custom option.
>>
>>45425268
>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
>>
>>45425268
>>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
>>
>>45425268
>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
Brosaragi time!
>>
>>45425268
>>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
Or
>>Fight randoms at the Battlegrounds (Gain C. EXP, Increases WILLPOWER and prestige around school)
With him as a tag team partner.
>>
>>45425268
>>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
>>
>>45425268
>>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
Fucking finally. Time to - I literally just got the joke. Hang out, Hanged Man, funny.
>>
>>45425244
>lying
Saying I am not telling you about thing, is not lying.
>>
>>45425268
>>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
Fucking finally.
>>
>>45425295
Oh, I like this idea. Changing my vote from >>45425300 to this.
>>
>>45425268
>>Fight randoms at the Battlegrounds (Gain C. EXP, Increases WILLPOWER and prestige around school)
>>
>>45425268
>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
>>
>>45425268
>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
>>
>>45425268
Supporting >>45425295
>>
We should explore the Void again this week.
>>
>>45425205
>It reminded Takashi of the look Shizuka had worn after he had walked in on her watching some ‘raunchy’ material involving two men. There is no question from a ten-year-old boy more difficult to answer than “Where is that man putting his pee-pee?”
Okay, man, this is gold. You're getting the tone of Thorn's writing style down pretty well, too.
>>
>>45425205
>His horoscope had been just the word ‘No’ printed a few dozen times.
Damnit anon also

>On the way to school, a black cat had crossed his path, and then doubled back and crossed it again.
A black cat crossing you in reverse undoes the bad luck anon, or a white cat following the same path
>>
>>45425205
>Yep, that was definitely Celeste. Red hair hanging loose around her bare shoulders. Wearing nuttin’ but a towel. Just a few meters away from him. Yep.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZuI3ZkCHfs

>>45425205
I was feeling down after playing LISA: The Joyful and reading Goodnight Punpun and this cheered me the fuck up. Thank you so much, anon! Saved immediately.
>>
>>45425268
>Hang out with Akikazu (Hanged Man S-Link)
>>
>>45425452
Stop reading and start writing
>>
>>45425452
>Playing LISA AND reading PunPun
The absolute madman.
It's like you want to be depressed.
>>
>>45425295
Two birds one stone!
>>
>>45425205
Wonderful write anon, simply wonderful.

May the bravery falcon inspire you to write even more.
>>45425452
So on a scale of 1-10 how canon could this be?
>>
>>45425205
Bretty gud m8
>>
>>45425205
7/10 it's ok - IGN
>>
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>>45425546
>bravery falcon
>Takashi in House Falco
>"AND THEN THEY ALL FUCKED"
>>
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>>45425205
Bro, seriously, good work. Funny as hell and nails the characters perfectly.
>>
>>45425601
Speaking of that now we have enough stats to become an assistant.
>>
Our to do list never gets smaller.
>>
>>45424302
I don't think that answered the question. Was it as badly executed as the entire villain plot over the tournament?
>>
>>45425452
I aim to entertain. It's the first writefagging I've done since Merc Command's original Valkyrian Mercs Quest, and I'm happy to see the positive response, which fellates my ego like the finest whore. I might write some more one day. We'll see.

I leave you (ha, just kidding, no way you're getting rid of me that easy) with this word of advice, imparted to me by my grandfather on his deathbed right before I smothered him with a pillow: just because we CAN talk Celeste into the High-Cut Armor doesn't mean we SHOULD.

Thank you and have a nice day.
>>
>>45425729
Don't bring up that piece of shit again.
>>
>>45425268
supporting >>45425295
>>
>>45425268
>Search for Kozue Yusa (Death S-Link)
>>
>>45425205
You, sir, are an inspiration to us all.
>>
>>45425750
Yeah, man, we should totally set her up with a Spike Bra.

I was so disappoint when it didn't affect the character even though you got unique dialogue for it.
>>
>>45425295
From what I remember duels are 1v1, 3v3 or 5v5
>>
>>45425729
Depends on how good it is compared to what we can buy really. If it comes down to it I'd rather have her use it and have a kick ass weapon over having to split it. She has durability issues even for a biker. Fund shortages on her end don't help either.
>>
>>45425838
And then Akikazu makes us do a 3 on 3 with just the two of us. That or the student council pres shows up.
>>
So this is going to sound like a bizarre question, but: Is "red-haired, red-eyed girl who likes lollipops" a common trope in anime? I was searching tags on danbooru for characters resembling Celeste since the character Thorn uses for her doesn't actually have that much fan art (specifically, I was looking for something to use for her work outfit. Don't judge me, you all want maid Celeste, too). Anyway, the search string red_hair red_eyes got me a ton of characters that are eating lollipops, just like Celeste/Chelsea does. Is this just a thing that I was unaware of? I mostly only watch mecha anime, so I'm not too familiar with tropes in other genres.
>>
>>45426027
>So this is going to sound like a bizarre question, but: Is "red-haired, red-eyed girl who likes lollipops" a common trope in anime?

Not that I know of, but the internet is a big place. I bet more than a few of those aren't from anime, just art people drew.
>>
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>>Takashi: Go and find Akikazu.

This isn’t difficult. You could spot that spiky blonde hair and delinquent’s scowl from all the way across Akumachi City. He’s walking down the front path leading to the gates, with all the other students giving him a wide berth, as if surrounded by a miniature minefield on legs. You decide to abandon what the others would consider to be common sense and run up to him, smiling.

“Hey!”

He turns around and notices you. His scowl instantly deepens. “Takashi, what the hell do you want?”

“Nothing.” You say, oblivious to the whispers around you. “Want to walk to home together?”

“Firstly, I’m not going home. Secondly, didn’t I tell you to stop talking to me at school?”

“And I told you we’re friends.” You point out. It’s a critical hit straight to his psyche. Akikazu looks away, snarling something under his breath. You grin and resist the urge to rub your hands together like a clichéd comic book supervillain. “Come on, let’s get going. We shouldn’t hang around here forever.”

He lets out an audible groan. “Fine. You’re going to regret this, though.”

“I’m not on fire or being attacked by crows, so I’ll have to disagree with you there.”

“Ugh, damn it, Takashi…”
>>
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>>45426027
Red hair and red eyes is extremely common.
>>
>>45426080
Yes, I know that. It's the "is eating a lolipop" part that I found bizarrely specific.
>>
With that, the two of you set off down the road, chatting together. By that you mean you’re the one doing most of the talking while Akikazu grunts and offers a bit of his insight, most of which is coupled with various swear words. If your mother heard you using that kind of language, she'd slap you silly and ground you for the rest of the year. You don’t care. This is fun. Friendship is great.

“By the way, where do you live, Akikazu?”

“…Silver Town. Here."

Huh, that’s a bit surprising. Akikazu doesn’t strike you as particularly rich. Then again, he is attending one of the most prestigious academies in Japan. “Oh, so your apartment is in this direction?”

“No, but the grocery store is.”

“I think we just missed it.” You say, jerking your thumb in the opposite direction, where an infuriating little jingle is sounding out of an oversized cat mascot’s head.

“Yeah, but that one doesn’t have a sale.” He growls, slamming a button on the side of a traffic light pole. "Also, the meat there is shit."

“Why are you going to the grocery store anyway?” You ask. A metaphorical light bulb lights up atop your head. “Wait, do you cook?”

He stops and gives you a look so thunderous the very air crackles with electricity. Koppa Tengu shrieks and dives into a little corner at the back of your mind. “Got a problem with that?”

>“Can you teach me?”
>“Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
>“Uh, no?”
>“What do you think?”
>Custom option.
>>
>>45426098
>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>“Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>“Uh, no?”
>Custom option.
"I'm actually learning to cook right now, myself. It's a good skill to have."
>>
>>45426098
>“Can you teach me?”
>I don't know SHIT about buying meat
>>
>>45426098
>>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>>“Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
>>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>>“Uh, no?”
Let's not ask him to teach us right off the bat. Pushing too hard might put him off. We gotta play hard to get to attract the rare Male Tsundere.
>>
>>45426098
>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
Calling it now, He's acts Gordon ramsay in the kitchen.
>>
>>45426098
>>“Can you teach me?”
>>“Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
>>
>>45426098
>“Uh, no?”
Cooking is good. We cook, too. Or we're trying to learn, anyway. Not that we want him to help us learn, or anything, baka.
>>
>>45426148
surprise ending for the valentine's special. We didn't leave to falco house, we had Akikazu cover us then went with him.
>>
>>45426098
>>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098
>>“Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
>“Can you teach me?”
>>
>>45426098

>“Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
>“Can you teach me?”

The two people we look up to the most are the strong-independent woman type. It's not like we have any mancards left.
>>
>>45425546
I'll just say that triple 1s would've resulted in something far worse. Maybe. It all depends on the context and the amount of vitality the party has.

Also, Players don't leave the Blackened Void via the Hollow Express, they do it via the doors outside the safehouse. This is a minor nitpick and I don't care because the act of someone writing stuff about my quest has made me so, so happy.
>>
>>45426395
Technically it was only double 1s. The loot roll had a nat 20 as well as a nat 1, canceled out and left Takashi with a 2. Which is still pretty sad.
>>
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The first thing out of your mouth isn’t a gasp of surprise or a word of approval, it is in fact, “Can you teach me?”

Akikazu stares at you, as if a third eye had grown in your forehead and he had only just noticed. “What?”

“I haven’t told anyone yet, but I’ve recently started cooking. All I’ve made so far is bacon and eggs.” You mutter. “And since you probably have more experience than I, you know…”

“I don’t cook a lot, Takashi.” Akikazu says, understanding dawning on him. He’s frowning now, which is an improvement. “This is mostly for home.”

“Hush my mouth, then.”

The two of you soon arrive at the grocery store. Compared to the behemoths sponsored by the megacorporations stationed in the Devil’s Hub, this building seems like a pathetic little ant. It’s bustling with customers though, the beeps of automated checkout scanners and complaints to the store managers ringing past the windows. ‘WONDERMART’, the sign says in tacky white letters on a lime background.

The glass doors slide open and the two of you enter. The store is chilly and bright. Rows of boxed goods line the black plastic shelves. Genetically modified fruits, expanded to twice their natural size, lie invitingly in baskets in the natural produce section. Over in the meat department, a butcher robot slices through a chunk of a lamb, wraps the slices in a plastic bag and passes it onto a nearby conveyor belt.

Akikazu snatches a plastic basket from a stack and cracks his knuckles.

“Time to get started.”

>Buy ingredients for your own cooking at home. (15000 Macca, restocks fridge)
>Buy snacks and candies for later. (20000 Macca, acquire mana restorative items)
>Buy a croissant from the bakery (8000 Macca, tastes very delicious)
>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>Don’t buy anything.
>Custom option.
>>
>>45426637
>>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
We've got plenty of ingredients at home already.
>>
>>45426637
>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
We still got 2 free uses I think.
>>
>>45426637
>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>>
>>45426637
>>Buy a croissant from the bakery (8000 Macca, tastes very delicious)
>>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>>
>>45426637
>Help Akikazu with his shopping.

If possible, have him teach us on the finer points of picking out ptoduce.
>>
>>45426637
>>Help Akikazu with his shopping.

Neesan stocks the fridge.
>>
>>45426637
>>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>>
>>45426637
>>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>>
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>>45426395
>Also, Players don't leave the Blackened Void via the Hollow Express, they do it via the doors outside the safehouse. This is a minor nitpick and I don't care because the act of someone writing stuff about my quest has made me so, so happy.

oh god fucking damn it I completely forgot
>>
>>45426637
>>Buy snacks and candies for later. (20000 Macca, acquire mana restorative items)
>>Buy a croissant from the bakery (8000 Macca, tastes very delicious)
>>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
Croissant means CHA boost!
>>
>>45426637
>>Buy a croissant from the bakery (8000 Macca, tastes very delicious)
>>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>>
>>45426637
>Buy a croissant from the bakery (8000 Macca, tastes very delicious)
>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>>
>>45426637
>Buy a croissant from the bakery (8000 Macca, tastes very delicious)
>>
>>45426637
>>Buy a croissant from the bakery (8000 Macca, tastes very delicious)
Why is takashi such a frenchie?

Pastry dough is gonna be a bitch if he starts baking his own croissants in the far future
>>
>>45426987
That's why we practice now instead of later.
>>
>>45426637
>Help Akikazu with his shopping.
>>
Akiaki a tsun
>>
>>45427151
He truly is best girl.
>>
>>45427205
When do we fuck him?
>>
>>45427220
I'm not going to NTR the Student Council Prez anon.

That's just mean.
>>
>>45427322
We don't really know their situation though. For all we know the student council prez could be related or possibly considers him like a brother left him forever hanging.
>>
Back from lunch. Writing now...
>>
>>45425205
Absolutely amazing, good sir. Many keks were had.
>>
>>Takashi: Help out Akikazu with his shopping.

“Are you sure you even know how do this?” He asks.

You shrug your shoulders. “How hard can it be?”

He doesn’t look particularly convinced, but relents anyway. He sends you a list of ingredients in a message and tells you to go. You do that. You pick out cereal, vegetables, fruit, ramen packets and assorted cans from the shelves and place them into a basket. Then you return to Akikazu, who is arguing with one of the butcher robots behind a counter, the glass display beneath of which is stocked with slices of red meat.

He scowls as he rummages through your contents. His mood darkens like the sky approaching dusk. “Thought so. You have no damn idea.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“Where to fucking start?” He hisses, holding up a spring onion. “Look at this! The green bit is all frayed. This isn’t fresh!”

“Uh…”

“And this soup is three days before it expires! Goddamn, Takashi, have you ever shopped once in your life?”

“Well, sorry…” You huff, folding your arms.

“This is pathetic.” Akikazu jabs you in the chest. “That’s it. I’m going to teach you about shopping and you are going to fucking listen.”

“Whuh?” You gasp, the direction of the conversation having taken a sharp, dizzying turn. “Why?”

“Because I said so!” He grabs both baskets and stomps his way to the cheeses and milk section of the store. “Come on!”
>>
>>45427559
Akikazu is the best waifu.
>>
>>45427559
tsundere as fuck
>>
>>45427559
Forgive me, for I have sinned. I had believed that Celeste was best girl, and waifued a false idol. Now, I see the light, and I know that Akikazu is the One True Best Girl.
>>
>>45427559
We found our waifu
>>
I thought tsundere was unpopular.
>>
>>45427789
Its a joke anon. Mostly.
>>
>>45427789
t. THK
>>
>>45427789
Not when it's a male tsundere. You've got to waifu that, it's like finding a unicorn.
>>
>>45427789
It is in girls. In boys it's oddly appealing. I think I might have to reconsider my preferences after this.
>>
>>45427789
Physically violent tsundere is unwanted, without the fear of bodily harm it's cute alluring.
>>
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And so, you are dragged down the aisles a supermarket by your delinquent friend. The two of you visit practically every section of the store, save for the liquor department as none of you look remotely of age. Akikazu is creating a scene, so much so that every customer stares at you. Some of them even cover the ears of their children. Considering how Akikazu’s vocabulary wouldn’t seem out of place in a ghetto, it’s quite understandable.

He also shoves various products in your face and shouts advice at you.

“Always check the expiration dates, damn it! Search around the back of the shelves if you need to.”

“See this peach? It was ripped from the stem and the top is damaged. It’s going to rot soon. Buy these only if you’re a complete retard or if you intend on eating it soon.”

“Check the bottom of egg cartons! If it’s wet, that means the eggs have cracked.”

“Don’t pick that bag of rice, you moron! That one’s got too much preservatives.”

“Juice is superior to soda!”

“Never pick vegetables with holes in them. Don’t pick the really pale ones, either!”

You make a stop at the breads section. Behind a cupboard with glass doors, lies the last croissant in the store. You eye it hungrily, trying your hardest not to lick your lips. It looks so delicious. But if you eat it now you might not have any appetite left for dinner…

The doors are flung open. You stumble back in surprise. A pair of tongs snap up the croissant in the same manner a shark would approach a tasty meal. The croissant is dropped into a plastic bag, which is then dumped into your basket.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Takashi.” Akikazu snarls, putting the tongs away. “Is it really that hard to make up your mind?”

You stare at the croissant.

"I'm not doing this for you again, got it?"

You thank him anyway.
>>
>>45427789
Violent tsundere who plays rediculously hard to get is pretty shit, but Akikazu combines being a bro along with the standard tsun.

It's a good combo oddly enough. Besides, even when tsun-tsun, he helps out quite a bit and even shows and teaches us new things.
>>
>>45427789
It isn't like I like tsun or anything.
>>
>>45427912
And this cements it. I simply cannot go back from this.
>>
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>>45427912
>“Juice is superior to soda!”
>>
>>45427912
>“Juice is superior to soda!”
Not in taste
>>
>>45427974
>Soda
>Not shit tier
>>
>>45427974
pshh, he's entitled to his opinion. water is the best, you philistines
>>
>>45428010
Agreed. Don't pollute the drinking experience by adding flavors to it, just something crisp and clean.
>>
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After a bit more walking around it’s time to pay up. Ever since reliable automated checkout machines had exploded in popularity, cashiers had found themselves out of a job. Most of them had learned the technology and become assistants, supervising children and the elderly to make their purchases. You find an empty one and motion Akikazu over to it. He slams the basket on the metal plate and starts scanning barcodes.

“Oh, good day, Akikazu-kun!” A store assistant, a woman with greying hair and large spectacles, approaches. “Buying food for home, are you?”

“Listen, old wo—I mean, miss.” Akikazu says, “Could you not blab so much? I’ve got a—”

“You such a responsible young man…” The woman sighs, ignoring him. “Not many children cook for their parents, you know."

“Yeah, yeah, that’s great. Now, I gotta—”

“To think you do it almost every day, too! Ah, if only my deadbeat son would learn a thing or two from you.”

You blink. In its span, Akikazu has turned as red as Celeste’s hair. He slowly cranes his head to you, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

>“What she said.”
>“So what was that about not cooking often?”
>“Nice, Akikazu!”
>“Your parents sound lazy.”
>Custom option.
>>
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>>45428010
>not milk
>>
>>45428057
>“What she said.”

This is always a safe choice.
>>
>>45428057
>“So what was that about not cooking often?”
>>
>>45428057
>“Nice, Akikazu!”
>>
>>45428057
>>“What she said.”
>>
>>45428057
>Custom option.
"What'd she say? I didn't hear her."
>>
>>45428057
>"Now you make me feel bad, my sister does all the cooking at home."
>>
>>45428057
>>“So what was that about not cooking often?”
>>Prepare to run
>>
>>45428057
>"I'm sorry, I seem to have had some waxy build up in my ear and missed that"
>>
>>45428057
>Custom option.
"Oh, I so agree, miss. Akikazu is such a sweetheart, one of the nicest guys I know."
>>
>>45428057
>other
"This information shall not leave the vicinity."
still, it's good to know he helps his folks out and hey, maybe he can help us get good so we can make meals for everyone.
>>
>>45428057
>Custom option.
>Mime zipping our lips then give a thumbs up.
>>
>>45428215
+1
>>
>>45428215
Agreed.
>>
>>45428057
Supporting >>45428215
>>
>>45428215
This is good
>>
>>45428057
Voting this.
>>45428215
>>
>>45428215
Also agreeing with this. It's pretty cool of him to do considering what we were like. I think he's worried people will mock him for it or mock his parents. Though, it's hard to tell what option is best.

We'll keep quiet, but it's still a pretty cool thing.
>>
>>45428215
I find this agreeable.
>>
>>45428057
>>45428215
When a secret comes around, we must zip it.
>>
Did we break thorn or something?
>>
>>45428958
He's busy reading the fan smut for the 10th time.
>>
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You mime zipping your mouth shut before flashing a thumbs up and smiling approvingly. Akikazu’s eyes narrow.

“Not a word about this to anybody.” He hisses. “Especially not to Tachibana.”

You only smile and nod. Akikazu turns back to the machine and slides in a plastic card through a slot. Behind the monitor, invisible calculations are made, resulting in the money being accepted and a receipt spat out for his trouble. He begins shoving the food into grey plastic bags. You help.

A few minutes later, you’re outside in the street. The sky is darkening, the city lights already lit up. In the past, the mere thought of carrying this many bags of food would’ve caused you to have a small aneurysm. Now, you are a Persona-user and thus superhuman. With Obariyon’s D- ranked STRENGTH, lifting these bags is no sweat at all.

Then Akikazu exits the supermarket, wheeling a trolley grocery bag.

“Where did you get that?” You ask.

“I bought it. What else?”

“Um, never mind.” You answer, feeling stupid. “Was it on sale, too?”

“Yes. Also, the one at home broke. Now hurry up and put the bags in!”

He grabs the handles and wheels the trolley down the sidewalk. You follow him. It leads up a small hill, where you can see a few apartment blocks rising out of the ground. The two of you make small conversation as the traffic picks up in intensity and jams start to form. Idly, you wonder what Shizuka is making for dinner. It’s definitely something with lots of meat. Akikazu shares the same taste then, as you eye the amount of beef and lamb he bought today.
>>
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Halfway up the road, Akikazu stops. He takes out his phone and fiddles with it.

“Here.” He says.

“What?” Then your phone vibrates. Akikazu has sent you a text message. You peer at it. “Top beginners recipes dot com? What is this?”

“A website full of recipes. It’s the one I use.” Akikazu replies, looking in the other direction. “You said you wanted to learn cooking. Then take it.”

You stare at the link, then at Akikazu. You break out into a big smile.

“Thanks, Akikazu. You are a real cool guy!”

“Oh, shut up!” He snaps. “I’m only doing this because you helped me today, got it?”

“Whatever, man. I’ll definitely put this to good use.”

“…you better. Now, go home already!”

“What? But we haven’t finished walking to your place yet.”

“Damn it, Takashi!” Even as he sputters and argues with you, you can sense that deep in his heart, he’s quite happy…
>>
>>45429000
>“Not a word about this to anybody.” He hisses. “Especially not to Tachibana.”
OTP
>>
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>RANK UP!
>The Akikazu Osaragi Social Link has increased to Level 3!
>Inugami’s ENDURANCE has increased to D-! MAGIC POTENTIAL has increased to E+! Learned Shibaboo! Learned Fire Breath!
>Something seems off about Inugami…
>A new Persona has been unlocked in the Velvet Room!
>>
>>45429048
Wooooooo
>>
>>45429048
>>Something seems off about Inugami…
Is that going to make us insane?
>>
>>45429048
>>Inugami’s ENDURANCE has increased to D-! MAGIC POTENTIAL has increased to E+! Learned Shibaboo! Learned Fire Breath!
Shibaboo? What's that do, make enemies giggle?
>>
>>45429048
Yesssss
Waifu link has upgraded~
>Something seems off about Inugami…
Better check that shit out.
>>
>>45429080
>Commands enemy to remain in one single spot.
>Inflicts bind effect on one single enemy.

I'm guessing it's a pun off shibari.
>>
Twins are the best waifu.
>>
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>>45429093
>Waifu
>Wanting to NTR Celeste.
>>
>>45429048
>Inugami is interacting with another persona!
>Inugami devoured Yama to no Orochi
>SL "corrupted"
>Akikazu's sanity is slowly decreasing
>Akikazu's persona is evolving and gaining strength!
>someone has stolen the burnt idol!
>>
>>45429135
Don't worry we can have more than one
>>
>>45429135
Waifu them all, man.
>>
>>45429135
Nah, celeste will be our bro/rival. Such is the way of all magicians.
>>
>>45429183
>not wanting your bro/rival as your waifu
It's like you don't want her and Takeshi fighting over who's on top.
>>
>>45429238
That isn't a fight.
>>
>>45429048
>the Hanged Man Arcana is associated with self-sacrifice for the sake of enlightenment, the bindings that makes one free, paradoxes and hanging between heaven and earth. In Tarot readings, this card's appearance can be seen as an advice to take the time necessary to reflect over one's upcoming actions.

>Hanged Man characters are sometimes self-sacrificial, but are more often notable for being caught between two different extremes, parties or stages in life.

>self-sacrificing
If the old woman's blabberings are anything to go by, Akikazu's home life must be fucked if he's built up a reputation of being a delinquent.
>>
>>45429183
Gotta break the cycle.
>>
>>45429261
Probably has an insane bed bound mother who verbally abuses him. Or something remarkably less tragic and depressing.
>>
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[7:00 pm, 24-May-2129 (TUESDAY)]

“Welcome back, Takashi! How was your day?”

“Oh, the usual…”

You have dinner, opting to eat less as your stomach is half full with delicious bread and gooey cheese. Shizuka doesn’t say anything, but from the look she’s giving you she knows you’ve been eating snacks. Not that she reprimands you or anything. How you take care of your health is entirely within your hands.

“See you in the morning, Takashi!”

Shizuka goes off to work. You are left alone in the house. What will you do?

>Study in your room. (Increases INTELLIGENCE)
>Go to the gym. (Increases WILLPOWER).
>Read ‘How to Think Big’. (Increases UNDERSTANDING or CHARISMA)
>Cook something. (Increases UNDERSTANDING, two free attempts left)
>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>Go to sleep early. (Rest for today)
>Play video games. (Does absolutely nothing)
>Custom option.
>>
>>45429308
He comes from a family of Sailors, who due o diseases/injury can no longer sail
>>
>>45429308
Maybe his parents are lazy neets who are living off their money?
>>
>>45429334
>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>>
>>45429334
>>Read ‘How to Think Big’. (Increases UNDERSTANDING or CHARISMA)
>>
>>45429334
>>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>>
>>45429334
>>Study in your room. (Increases INTELLIGENCE)
GOT TO GET SMRT
>>
>>45429334
>>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
Please a random encounter.
>>
>>45429334
>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>>
>>45429334
>>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>>
>>45429334
>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
When's the last time we did this, anyway?
>>
>>45429334
>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>>
>>45429334
>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>>
>>45429334
>Study in your room. (Increases INTELLIGENCE)
>>
>>45429334
>>Wander around outside. (Random encounter)
>>
>>45429334
>>Play video games. (Does absolutely nothing)
>>
>>45429238
Ooh, good idea. Speaking of...

http://strawpoll.me/6821000

>>45429334
>>Study in your room. (Increases INTELLIGENCE)
Can't remember when exams are, but it can't hurt. By the way, TT, I was wondering, what are the character's birthdays?
>>
>>45429447
eh. I'm more interested in Shizuka's actual job. she spends most of her free time on Takashi and TV, and we know that.
>>
>>45429588
>not voting for kings game 2129 Edition
>>
>>45429620
But anon, I need more foolxmagician: the second cumming.
>>
>>45429447
Sorry, I can't exactly reveal their birthdays, yet. Especially Takashi's.
>>
>>45429647
Aw shit, we in for feels soon?
>>
>>45429647
It's April 1st isn't it?
>>
>>45429647
>Especially Takashi's.

[OMINOUSITY INTENSIFIES]
>>
>>45429620
Honestly, I don't give a shit about any of the characters yet. Right now we've had more people being their issues rather than people being themselves.
>>
I legitimately wonder how Dev. manifests regularly, outside of persona abilities context considering the other stats clearly manifest.
>>
>>45429939
We should train Skills/Abilities more often, what did we even get DEV. for if we aren't gonna use it?
>>
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>>Takashi: Take a walk outside.

You put on your jacket and step into the cool, night air. The city is busy as usual. Some parts less so than others, and this is what you seek. You hop onto the underground metro and ride it all the way to the seventh district of Akumachi City.

Kurusu Shrines, the self-proclaimed bastion of your predecessor. A giant, stone statue of the girl has been erected in the center of the plaza. The expression displayed on it is warm, gentle and comforting, which in your opinion is very unfitting for a girl who could create nuclear blasts with her bare hands. Beneath the statue is a plague with her name (‘Kaede Kurusu, the Last Word and Guardian of the Imperial Empire of Japan), because apparently all visitors are five years old. There’s also a poem straight from the holy text of the Order of White. Reading it sickens you down to your very bones, as if someone had replaced all your blood with sulphuric acid.

Even so, you can’t help stare up at the statue. Why, though? Is it because she’s the Fool who came before you? Do you have a connection with this dead girl? Or are you cursing her existence for forcing you to hide your powers, lest you suffer an agonizing death via illegal experimentation?

Kaede Kurusu died in 2051, ten whole years after her appearance. They say ‘die’, because there is no other explanation for her disappearance. She was there one day, soaring through the skies and terrifying the English. The next, her presence had vanished off the face of the earth. No traces were found, not even a single feather from her angelic, snow-white wings. Certain individuals claimed that Kaede had appeared before them, bringing warning of her passing. None of these claims have proven to be true.
>>
>>45429963
>what did we even get DEV. for
same reason that people vote for mystery box. It's a kneejerk reaction.

>>45429939
it's the shonen powerup stat. When someone loses and comes back massively powered up for a rematch, you know it's because he had a lot of DEV.
>>
>>45430076
>Imperial Empire of Japan

Never change, Japan. Never change.
>>
>>45430076
>They say ‘die’, because there is no other explanation for her disappearance. She was there one day, soaring through the skies and terrifying the English. The next, her presence had vanished off the face of the earth.
Blackened Void/AETHER. Calling it. Next time we get to the Observer, we've got to ask if Kaede is connected to all of this somehow.
>>
>>45430090
Except we know what it's for, it's no mystery, we just aren't applying it!
>>
>>45430076
>a plague with her name
Oh no, she's contagious!
>>
>>45430156
We already did I think, apparently she has nothing to do with it I think, might have been tricked though...
>>
>>45430158
Then what Skills/Abilities would we train?
>>
>>45430158
I said same reason. Even if we know what it does, can largely assume that it will not be immediately useful, or do not plan on actually applying it, it is still picked because of the concept the choice represents. Regardless of subsequent choices affecting the ultimate result.
>>
>>45430230
Is cooking a skill?
>>
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Not that this stopped the Order of the White Messiah. Oh no, they could use her disappearance as an excuse. It was just like Jesus’s resurrection, except their godly messiah had an X chromosome and was nowhere near as loving. They also somehow got into their heads that Kaede had been born in Akumachi City, despite the metropolis barely being built in 2051. Hence why Kurusu Shrines existed. Legends said that this was the birthplace of the Last Word. If you had 100 Macca for every time this had been more or less disproved by the Internet, you’d have enough cash to pay off all your school fees. But in every generation there are the foolish, who rarely listen to common sense.

You sigh. No point on dwelling on a dead girl. Mind you, the world was afraid she’d reappear soon. Then a year passed. Ten, twenty, fifty and now over eighty. Typically, that’s around the point where skeletons in graveyards start becoming one with the dirt.

You decide to head back. Before you return home, there’s something else you need to do. You’ve been putting this off for a while, but you can’t run from it forever…

>>Takashi: Enter the Blackened Void.

>>Takashi: Enter the Velvet Room.

“Welcome back, guest.”
>>
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>>45430266
>>
>>45430182
We asked if she CREATED it.
>>
>>45430266
Yeah, I'm pretty sure. So is Augmentation, Chi Casting, and various Martial Arts.
>>
>>45430302
Surprised we didn't ask about the injection and the weird blue stuff or the random deaths before we came here. Was someone trying to make the first or was it a last batch of players?
>>
>>45430302
I think the exact wording was "responsible for it," so I think she isn't directly involved personally. Personal theory is that it serves the same purpose as the dungeon it's based off of, Amala: training a new Demifiend/dietyslayer
>>
So, we don't throw out Inugami right?
>>
>>45430301
>>45430331
>>45430266
ACTUALLY, cooking is NOT a skill.

DEV only affects Persona stats and skills. Skills in this case meaning actives and passives. Although I think the Chi Casting and other combat stuff may count as skills.

ABILITIES are for things like cooking, and are not affected by DEV.
>>
Cooking is serious business.
>>
>>45430362
Unless it becomes a new better persona it's pretty bleh Stat and ability wise.
>>
>>45430381
That's wrong, actually read the pastebin on skills and abilities, numbnuts.
>>
>>45430381
that said, the ask.fm mentions that you can get Ability improvements from LEVEL UPS, so...

>>45430412
then elucidate me, twinkletoes.
>>
>>45430409
But, there's something off about it...
>>
>>45430424
>twinkletoes
Toph, how are you typing?
>>
>>45430409
>>45430427

http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Makami
>>
>>45430424
>Rate at which the person grows. Affects the rate at which new SKILLS and ABILITIES are learned.
Taken directly from the pastebin, important words bolded for emphasis. This is what DEV. actually does. Not at all what you claimed it does.
>>
So if demons are in the Abyss can we, if we get deep enough, hang out with Lucifer and YHVH?
>>
>>45430497
>Demifiend is a bonus boss
>>
>>45430302
Actually, the exact post with a question was "Ask about Kaede Kurusu and her relation to the AETHER.", but QM interpreted it as "Did Kaede Kurusu create AETHER lel".

If it turns out that QM did that on purpose to avoid spoiling everything so early, that would be a dick move.
>>
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>>45430533
>Beat him and he becomes a Social Link
>>
>>45430567
Arcarna XXX, the Fairy-Fucker
>>
>>45430497
Lets bring back Law and Chaos dichotomy back to this world. And demons in general. It was fun before with Philemon and Nyarlathotep doing things but we've been having 'Literally whos' like Nyx and Izanami being the stars.
>>
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>[STRENGTH]

NAME: Momunofu
RANK: D-
STATS: STR D, MAG E-, END D-, AGL E, LCK C+, DEV E+
AFFINITIES: Resists Physical and Gun, Weak to Wind
SKILLS: Power Slash, Tarukaja, Tera, Life Bonus
-A war god of ancient Japan. One of Arahabaki's subordinates. He is said to be the model for the fairy tale hero Momotaro, and is the origin or the word 'momunofu', Japanese for 'warrior'.

NAME: Oni
RANK: D-
STATS: STR D, MAG E-, END D, AGL E-, LCK C, DEV B
AFFINITIES: Resists Physical, Weak to Light
SKILLS: Rebellion, Cruel Attack, Rakunda, Provoke, Berserk
- An evil monster of Japanese lore known for its hideous visage and brute strength. They plunder and loot villages, massacring the townspeople with their iron clubs. They have a horn on their heads, red skin, and razor-sharp teeth.

>[LOVERS]

NAME: Narcissus
RANK: D-
STATS: STR E, MAG D, END E+, AGL E+, LCK B, DEV D-
AFFINITIES: Resists Fire, Ice and Electricity, Weak to Physical
SKILLS: Marin Karin, Charmdi, Dekunda, Magaru, Garula,
- A young man of Greek mythological origin. He rejected the nymph Echo, who faded to a whisper out of despair. Cursed by Nemesis, he fell in love with his own reflection and wasted away, becoming the flower that now bears his name.

NAME: Saki Mitama
RANK: D-
STATS: STR E+, MAG D, END E+, AGL E+, LCK E+, DEV E+
AFFINITIES: Resists Wind and Earth, Weak to Gun
SKILLS: Zionga, Media, Resist Charm, Sukunda, Resist Rage
-One of the four great aspects of Shinto thought, it brings great bounty from the hunt. It is said to aid in love, profit, and growth, and can create new paths.
>>
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>[HANGED MAN]

NAME: Yomotsu-Ikusa
RANK: D-
STATS: STR D, MAG D-, END E-, AGL E-, LCK E-, DEV E-
AFFINITIES: Nulls Darkness, Resists Ice, Weak to Fire
SKILLS: Cell Breaker, Toxic Sting, Poison Mist, Poison Boost, Foul Breath
- "Demons in Japanese mythology said to have lived in Yomi, the netherworld. They are the army that Izanami sends after Izanagi.

>[DEVIL]

NAME: Melchom
RANK: D-
STATS: STR E, MAG D, END E+, AGL E+, LCK B+, DEV D
AFFINITIES: Reflects Fire, Weak to Ice and Wind
SKILLS: Agilao, Maragi Dia, Moneybags, Resist Fire, Mute Gaze
- The paymaster of Hell. He is often depicted with a wallet. It is not known exactly what his duties are as the comptroller of the chamberlains, but it is certain that he is the one handing out the paychecks to the public workers of Hell.


NAME: Lilim
RANK: D-
STATS: STR E-, MAG D-, END E, AGL D-, LCK B, DEV C
AFFINITIES: Resists Electricity, Weak to Ice
SKILLS: Marin Karin, Sexy Dance, Zionga, Invigorate 1
- The name for the daughters of Lilith, the first wife of Adam of the Old Testament of the Bible. They are amazingly beautiful and strongly resemble their mother. The Lilim are said to bring harm to human children, and to seduce men who are caught in their gaze. They are often identified with succubi, and also with the Empusa of Greek mythology.

The boy leers at you.

“Go on, kid. Choose…”

[STRENGTH]
>Momunofu
>Oni
>I’ll stick with Valkyrie
>I’ll decide later…

[LOVERS]
>Narcissus
>Saki Mitama
>I’ll stick with Moh Shuuvu
>I’ll decide later…

[HANGED MAN]
>Yomotsu-Ikusa
>I’ll stick with Inugami
>I’ll decide later…

[DEVIL]
>Melchom
>Lilim
>I’ll decide later…
>>
>>45430634
>ONI

Not sure for lovers though
>>
>>45430656
>>Lilim
>>
>>45430656
[STRENGTH]
>Oni

[LOVERS]
>I’ll stick with Moh Shuuvu

[HANGED MAN]
>I’ll stick with Inugami

[DEVIL]
>Lilim
>>
>>45430656
>I’ll stick with Inugami
>>
>>45430656
>Oni
Rakunda Rakunda Rakunda

>Narcissus

>I’ll stick with Inugami

>Lilim
>>
>>45430656
>Lilim
>I’ll stick with Inugami
>Oni
How's Moh Shuuvu again?
>>
>>45430634
[STRENGTH]
>Oni

[LOVERS]
>Narcissus
[HANGED MAN]
>I’ll stick with Inugami

He's about to transform gotta keep him

[DEVIL]
>Lilim
>>
>>45430656
>Oni
>Narcissus
>I’ll stick with Inugami
>Lilim

>>45430698
NAME: Moh Shuuvu
RANK: E+
STATS: STR E, MAG E+, END E+, AGL E+, LCK D, DEV C+
.AFFINITIES: Resists Ice, Weak to Wind
.SKILLS: Bufu, Tarukaja, Dekunda, Mabufu
-Meaning 'evil bird', it's the ghost of a young girl who died without knowing love in Buryat folklore. She seduces travelers, only to crack their heads open and suck out their brains with her beak.
Boost attack with Tarukaja and null party debuffs with Dekunda. Are you a failure of a Persona user?
>>
Takashi: Enter the Velvet Room.
>>
>>45430656
>Oni
>Saki Mitama
>Inugami
>Lilim
Damn, it's a bumper crop of Personas.
>>
>>45430722
Shes gonna bully us if we get rid of her ;_;
>>
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>>45430656
>Oni
>Narcissus
>stick with Inugami
>Melchom

Oni because Rakunda, Resist Phys, Provoke and Berserk
Narcissus for AOE wind spells
Inugami for that thing we just got
Melchom for Moneybags
>>
>>45430656
>[DEVIL]
>I’ll decide later…
>>
Any reason to pick Lilim over Melchrom when Melchrom has reflect fire?
>>
>>45430744
qt
>>
>>45430656
>Oni
>Narcissus
>I’ll stick with Inugami
>>
>>45430656
Strength
Oni. Good physical and development with a good bit of physical moves.
Lovers: Narcissus
A good anti mage/element persona with some good debuffs.
Hanged Man: Keeping the dog. curious to see it develop
Melchom: Reflect fire can be incredibly useful and that money skill looks handy.
>>
>>45430744
2nd Tier Lightning
>>
>>45430634
>Oni
really wanted resist gun though

>Narcissus

>Inugami

>Melchom
hell, we could use the cash, and reflect fire early on is quite good.
>>
>>45430656
>NAME: Melchom
>SKILLS: Moneybags
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON-7v4qnHP8
>>
>>45430767
Not really a good selling point. We have electricty with Principality, but no real reflective abilities.
>>
>>45430805
But better stats!
>>
>>45430656
>Oni
>Inugami
>Melchom
>>
There is literraly no reason to pick a rank 1 persona anymore since they'll be bench warmers.
>>
>>45430827
And? Stats aren't everything and we need money fast if we want good gear and the like to keep us safe and improve ourselves.
>>
>>45430827
Melchom is the one with better stats over all though
>>
We should practice Persona Augmentation now that we can though.
>>
>>45430734
I'll change Lilim to Melchom.
>>
>>45430656
>Melchom
>Momunofu
>Narcissus
>>
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You pick your Personas. They form out of the tarot cards, proudly displaying themselves before you.

“The name’s Oni. You’re the runt commanding me, eh? You better not screw this up!”
>>
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“Ohoho! A new master, I see. Provide me with your power, and I shall allow you to gaze upon the magnificent visage of Narcissus!”

You try to ignore the fact that he’s half-naked, or what this means for your psyche. The Lovers Card falls into your pocket.
>>
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“I am Melchom, the paymaster of Hell. I trust this experience will be profitable for the two of us.”

You acquire the Devil tarot card, the object faintly giving off an aura of wealth and greed. Yet, hidden deep within, is a sorrowful loneliness.
>>
>>45431158
you'd think it be the other way around with Aria.
>>
I want to bully Aria!
>>
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>>45431272
>bullying a devil
u wot
>>
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>>45431272
I want to cast Hama on Aria!
>>
>>45431207
I am curious what her vice is.

Perhaps internally she is quite the indulgent schemer?
>>
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>>45431289
You should ALWAYS bully devils.
>>
>>45431329
We should listen to this trustworthy fellow's advice.
>>
>>45430929
>>45430230
We should learn Spirit Drain, and Stagnant Air, maybe some almighty stuff. I would hazard to say, suggest broken as fuck passive skills like Victory Cry, but something like Regenerate and Invigorate are more in our league.
>>
>>45431329
Didn't you get butchered up by a little girl and her former catholic friend?
>>
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As for Inugami, something is wrong. You know this because the Persona forces itself out of its card. Its body constricts into a circular shape, an agonizing yowl escaping from its oversized jaws. Your heart pounds out of your chest. Then light bursts free from Inugami’s body. Its screams intensify in volume, causing the furniture to shake. The glow envelops it entirely, bathing the Velvet Room in a searing whiteness. Yet, the twins do not react. They merely watch the display as if nothing is going on. The girl even takes a sip from her teacup!

Then the light fades as quickly as it had appears. Inugami is gone. A different demon has taken its place. A beast with a body as flat as paper, a scroll perched on top its head and white green-blue eyes.

“I am Makami of the Hanged Man Arcana.”

NAME: Makami
RANK: D
STATS: STR E+, MAG D, END D-, AGL E+, LCK B-, DEV D
AFFINITIES: Nulls Light and Wind, Resists Fire and Darkness, Weak to Earth
SKILLS: Poisma, Garu, Assault Dive, Magaru, Shibaboo, Fire Breath, Agilao, Sukunda, Garula
-A wolf god of Japanese folklore. It is often drawn on prayer boards to prevent fires and thefts. At the same time, however it was feared as a human-eater.

“This is the evolved form of the Persona Inugami.” The boy says. “Evolution is a phenomenon experienced by certain, but not all, Personas. It will allow you to acquire Personas unobtainable through normal means. If their bodies show signs of change, then it means that evolution may be imminent. All evolved Personas will keep their original form’s skills and affinities. Of course, evolved Personas are not necessarily superior to regular Personas. Even if they were, there are times where quantity may surpass quality…”

He smiles at you. “It’s up to you to make the correct judgement. Oh, don’t worry about the disparity in ranks. You will be able to summon this Persona while keeping sane, unlike those of the Hunger Arcana. Well, you should be going, then. We've taken up enough of your time.”
>>
>>45431408
laughing teenager goddesses.jpg
>>
>>45431408
And a defected Archangel
>>
>>45431432
Akikazu too stronk
>>
>>45431432
>AFFINITIES: Nulls Light and Wind, Resists Fire and Darkness, Weak to Earth
Wow.
>>
>>45431461
Celeste is about to get challenged to a moneymatch duel
>>
>>45431436
I wish I could draw that.
>>
>>45431432
>nine skills
>two nulls
>two resists
sasuga
>>
>>45431484
>moneybags causes money to appear out of nowhere
>Celeste and Takashi just beat each other up to earn money
>>
>>45431432
What don't we have good resistances for at this point?
>>
>>45431543
Psi, Gun and Nuclear
>>
>>45431432
Is it me or have the twins become more...polite
>>
>>45431578
It's just you.
>>
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>Adversaries have appeared!!!
>Step forth, PLAYER!
>PLAYER attacks! 300 damage to first enemy!
>The second enemy attacks! 100 damage to PLAYER! The enemy buffed it’s ATTACK by one stage.
>PLAYER used Garudyne! 654 damage to the first enemy! The first enemy was defeated!
>The second enemy used Mazionga! 345 damage to PLAYER! PLAYER is stunned!
>PLAYER’s condition returned to normal. PLAYER used Bufudyne! The second enemy resisted! 212 damage to the second enemy!
>The second enemy used Balzac! It had no effect on PLAYER!
>PLAYER used Megidola! 450 damage to the second enemy! The second enemy was defeated!
>Victory is PLAYER’s!
>Obtained 3000 Macca. Obtained 2 Chakra Drop(s)!
>>
>>45431578
Nah, just so much business to take care of, they don't fell like bothering.
>>
>>45431578
I thought that, too. Maybe our S. Link causes them to chill the more we rank it up?

If so, what would happen if we maxed it?
>>
BEGIN PART TWO OF VALENTINE'S DAY 2016 SPECIAL?

>YES, DO IT NOW
>NO, WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW
>>
>>45431626
>YES, DO IT NOW
>>
>>45431543
almighty
>>
>>45431626
>>YES, DO IT NOW
>>
>>45431432
That is a good dog. Also a god dog. Akikazu truly is the best waifu. We have a good mix of personas from this batch. Makami, Principality, Malc, and Oni can really help us cover multiple basis and Malc could probably be used to silence enemies.
>>
>>45431626
>YES, DO IT NOW
>>
>>45431626
>YES, DO IT NOW
IT'S NOT GONNA BE VALENTINE'S DAY FOR ANOTHER YEAR
>>
>>45431626
>YES, DO IT NOW
May as well.
>>
>>45431626
>>YES, DO IT NOW
>>
>>45431626
>YES, DO IT NOW
>>
>>45431626
>>YES, DO IT NOW
hoo boy
>>
>>45431626
>>YES, DO IT NOW
DO IT.
>>45431605
What is this?
>>
>>45431626
>YES, DO IT NOW

>>45431636
To be fair, nothing resists almighty.
>>
>>45431626
>YES, DO IT NOW
>>
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>>VALENTINE’S DAY 2016 SPECIAL: START!

[???]

Allow yourself to briefly contemplate the past. While exploring the Forgotten City, you and your fellow members of the Void’s Chosen discovered a mysterious portal inside an abandoned shopping mall. It was a purple, glowing orb, spinning like an oversized gobstopper caught in a centrifuge. Before any of you could react, space bent and the portal devoured the entire team.

You were then spat out into a dark room. On the other side were your team, along with all your other friends and family too! Takauji, Kanade, Kanami, Kaz, Yoshino, Aria, Shizuka, your mother and even Kozue! Even the student council president was there, which was weird because you haven’t talked to her once. She immediately started chatting with Akikazu, much to his chagrin. You could hear his foul language from all the way across the room. An announcement boomed from above as you climbed to your feet.

“Welcome to the AETHER Love Simulator! This is version 2.0, the Totally Non-Plagiarized Version. Hello to everyone, both those I am meeting for the first time, and those whom I have met before. This simulator’s purpose is to find a participant’s destined partner through a series of simple questions. You may choose to participate, or you can refrain.”

Celeste gawped. A vein bulged in Akikazu’s forehead. Fumika rolled her eyes. You felt like smashing your head through the floor. As for the rest of the group, they scratched their collective heads and wondered what the hell was going on.

Then the voice started asking you questions before you had a chance to abstain. You clearly remember each and every one of them, partly because they happened five minutes ago and partly because the dull, awkward way you answered them is making you cringe so hard your nerves threaten to split at the seams.
>>
>>45431693
Lucifer?
>>
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>Should boys only ever love girls?
>What’s your idea of a good time together?
>What sort of candy is your favorite?
>What is your favorite music genre?
>Does fate exist?
>What do you like to do to find excitement in your life?
>Which of these cosplay outfits is the best? A. Maids, B. Cats, C. Ninjas, D. Schoolgirls, E. Princesses
>Have you had any experience with the opposite sex?
>Have you had any experience with the same sex?
>How do you fight your battles?
>Is money the most important thing in the world?
>Is hard work useless?

This is what was running through your mind the entire time.

“I want to die! Someone, please kill me! I’ll even accept Kaede Kurusu!”

Back to the present, now.

You have only just finished answering the questions and are awaiting the results. The word ‘awaiting’ in this context is erected in fifty-foot concrete letters, all of which are painted with a thick layer of black shame and cold disgrace.

“Your destined partner is…”

A drumroll begins. The twin spotlights circle back and forth around your classmates and friends, bathing them one by one in sickly yellow light. You can feel dozens of pairs of eyes piercing your skin. It was bad enough you had to answer all of those embarrassing questions in front of everybody. Now the voice is deciding your spouse? In front of basically everybody you know? You want to sink into the deepest bowels of the earth and never come back out. You’d pinch yourself to wake yourself up from this nightmare, but you have already tried that. Several dozen times, in fact. All it did was cause your skin to bleed, as if someone had drenched it in raspberry jam.

You squint through the gaps in your fingers, which you have used to cover your face. Your friends are too far away to clearly discern their expressions, but you’re pretty sure Fumika is shaking her head in disgust.

“Fuck it, it’s happening.” You groan. “I might as well go with the flow, then…”
>>
>>45431626
>>YES, DO IT NOW
>>
You clasp your hands in prayer, get down on your knees and shut your eyes. You pray fervently to a god you’ve never believed in. Please don’t be Akikazu, you whisper deep from within your heart. Or Takauji, because Kanami and Kanade would murder you. Let it be a girl whom you don’t mind hanging out with, like Celeste or Fumika. Don’t let it be the student council president, though. She’s an A ranked Judgement user, possessing amazing beauty and some of the highest grades in the entire academy. Her standards are way too high! She’s almost inhuman! It just doesn’t feel right getting hitched to her. Plus, you’re not sure how you’d deal with the ire of the student council vice-president, along with half of Akumachi-Kirijo’s male population.

The drumroll halts. The twin spotlights merge together and beam down on a lone person. That person is…

“Eh, it’s me?” Celeste Tachibana points to herself, her eyes wide. “I’m Takashi-kun’s destined partner? I mean, he is my best friend and the guy who saved my life and I’m grateful to him for a lot, but it doesn’t mean…”

You open your mouth to protest, clear up the confusion, do anything really. Then a trapdoor, hidden by the darkness, opens beneath the both of you. You and Celeste stare at each other. Then gravity, the cheeky son-of-a-bitch, reminds you that it is impossible for human beings to stand in mid-air. With a shout of surprise from you and a terrified shriek from Celeste, the two of you are sent tumbling into darkness.

>>
>>45431719
I stand corrected.
>>
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Your consciousness returns. Wherever you are, it is bright and warm. Rays of light assault your eyeballs, causing you hiss.

A scent comprised of rose petals and exquisite designer perfume waft through your nostrils. Your fingers instinctively twitch. The ground beneath you is coated in lush, soft grass. A lone dandelion lies in the distance, innocent and radiant. If only you were such a pristine state. A raging headache has bloomed at the bottom of your skull, like the world’s ugliest flower. Judging by the way the pain is screeching and bouncing around your skull, it sure as hell isn’t going away any time soon.

You climb to your feet, rubbing your aching forehead. Beside you, Celeste is doing the same.

“Ow…” She mutters, “That really hurt…”

“Tell me about it.” You grumble. “Celeste, are you okay?”

“Takashi, you’re here too? Oh, of course you would be.” She replies, her expression caught between a painful grimace and a relieved grin. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s nothing a good Dia won’t fix. But where are we?”

“I’m not sure.” You say. “It must be another part of the dungeon.”

“Really?” Celeste mutters, gazing upwards. “I guess that makes sense...”

“Christ, this place is confusing.” You groan, folding your arms. “Why was there a trapdoor beneath us, anyway? As if that little quiz wasn’t annoying enough.”

“Um, Takashi-kun?” Celeste’s voice is now tinged with a hint of panic. It flies over your head like an eagle soaring over a great forest.

“Well, we should keep moving.” You say to no-one in particular. “No point in sticking around. Hopefully we'll find the others up ahead.”

“Takashi-kun.” She repeats, this time with more firmness. “I think we have a problem.”

“What?”

Celeste raises her left hand. Without any input on your part, your right hand is raised as well! “Our hands are stuck together.” She states. “Look.”
>>
>>45431729
Celeste or Akikazu, come on baby, don't be a cop-out.

>>45431753
YES.
>>
>>45431753
aww shit
>>
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Your eyes widen. “Say what?”

“Try letting go.”

You comply. It’s of no use. A mysterious force has attached your right hand and Celeste’s left hand together, like a north pole and a south pole. It’s worse than military-grade superglue. Your jaw drops. “S-shit! You’re right! What the hell is going on?” you yell.

“Don’t ask me!”

“It seems you have reached your destination.” A voice from above calls. You and Celeste flinch on the spot.

“It’s the same voice from before!” You growl. There’s nothing above you except for a clear blue sky painted on a thick marble ceiling. The voice appears to be coming from every direction at once.

“It seems you have reached your destination. This seems to be a path where lovers who meet their destined partners discuss their love for each other.” There is absolutely no emotion in the voice. “What could be waiting up ahead? You are free to step forth hand-in-hand, curiosity and fear in your hearts, or you can refrain.”

You sneak a glance at Celeste. She’s just as perplexed as you are.

“You are free to step forth or refrain from doing so. These are your apparent options. Now, step forth!”

With that last declaration, the mechanical voice goes quiet. Silence reigns throughout the vast, empty space. You and Celeste stand, hand-in-hand, at the beginning of a long, paved path that passes through numerous, spindly heart-shaped arches. Beside it are flower gardens arranged in neat little rows, laid with roses, tulips, chrysanthemums and all manner of exotic plants. They smell sweet, almost to the point of intoxicating. It’s like dipping your nose into a jar of honey. If you suspended your belief and forgot that logic and the Blackened Void mix as well as concrete in a blender, then you could think that whoever built this area must have spent a literal fortune. The cost of the flowers alone could pay an entire year’s worth of academy fees.
>>
>>45431753
>>45431780
>>45431777
>>
…is that a rainbow in the distance? Several of them, actually? It’s pretty, but where is the water that the light is refracting off?

“Well, that was something.” You say to no-one in particular.

Celeste looks into the distance, then towards you. “Takashi-kun, what do we do?”

You shrug your shoulders. “Once again, it doesn’t seem like we have a choice. Let’s get this over and done with. Then we can find the source of the voice and beat the shit out of it.”

You make a motion to step forward, only to be stopped by a sudden weight on your arm.

“Oh yeah, that hasn’t changed at all, has it.”

“Looks like we’re going to be stuck like this for a while…” Celeste muses, sighing. “Oh, I really hope this isn’t permanent…”

>“Do you really hate me that much?”
>“This isn’t actually that bad.”
>“Sorry.”
>Custom option.
>>
>>45431809
>>“Do you really hate me that much?”
>>
>>45431809
>>“Do you really hate me that much?”
>>“Sorry.”
>>
>>45431809
>>“This isn’t actually that bad.”
>>
>>45431809
>>“Do you really hate me that much?”

Lets make Celeste break first
>>
>>45431809
>“Do you really hate me that much?”
>>
>>45431809
>Yeah, You're my best friend Celeste. You attack everything with a drive that makes me kinda envious of you, but if we're stuck like this forever we're going to literally get teased to death. Not mention getting dressed, going to class, our going to the rest room.
>>
>>45431809
>>“Do you really hate me that much?”
>>
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>>45431809
>“Sorry.”
>“This isn’t actually that bad.”
This is corny and terrible and I love every bit of it.
>>
>>45431775
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
>>
>>45431809
Being a someone other than celestefag is suffering.
>>
>>45431809
>“Do you really hate me that much?”
Now it's her turn to say embarrassing things.
>>
So, who has experience with the same sex?
>>
Now I wish the loli had won, because holy shit it would have made this entire thing far more hilarious and awkward.
>>
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>>45431809
I eagerly await the April Fools version with Akikazu instead of Celeste
>>
>>45431701
>“Welcome to the AETHER Love Simulator! This is version 2.0, the Totally Non-Plagiarized Version
HAHAHAHA
>>
>>45431962
Takauji
>>
>>45431967
He'd called a lolicon just like Arararararagi
>>
>>45431976
I don't get it.
>>
>>45431989
Maybe Takuji IS gay.
>>
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>>45432007
The scenario is directly taken from Persona Q
>>
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>>45432019
>Forced to make up his mind
>Selects Takashi instead
>>
>>45431493
Maybe you can't, but someone else can.

Any drawfags who followed London, you know what to do.
>>
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“Oy, Celeste.” You respond, tone flat. “Do you really hate me that much?”

“W-what?” She jumps up and waves her free hand in the air. “Takashi-kun, that’s not what I meant. I mean, won’t this be inconvenient for the both of us?”

“What do you mean?”

“Since our hands are stuck together, we won’t be able to maneuver as well. That means we can’t fight Shadows and Denizens like we used to.”

“Oh yeah.” She’s right. You can’t do the thing where you run up to the enemy and punch them until they keel over. It’s more or less your main fighting style and you’ve never been the greatest at ranged combat. “So, you were concerned for our well-being?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

A brief silence passes, in which you both shuffle on the spot and watch the rose petals flutter in the breeze.

So.

You really are holding hands with Celeste. Your best friend, and a girl other than your sister and mother. The implications of this finally sink in. A blush spreads across your features, like a drop of candy-flavored soda on tissue paper. Yeah, you aren’t speaking a word of this to anyone. Then you remember your sister was among the crowd and feel like banging your head against the nearby wall.

You sneak a glance at Celeste the same time she does. Eye contact is broken in less than a second. From what you could see in that brief span, her cheeks are as red as the lollipop she’s sucking on.

“Even so, I think we’ll be fine.” You eventually say, breaking the silence in an attempt to divert the attention from your intertwined fingers.

“How do you figure, Takashi-kun?” Celeste asks, sounding relieved. The two of you look into each other's eyes. A silent pact is quickly written, checked and stamped with a big fancy seal.
>>
Bodyswap episode/arc when?
I just want to see Akikazu mouth off to the Velvet Twins.
>>
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“Because I’ve survived rescuing you from elves, wandering across a desert, getting shot by robots, eating curry with the spiciness of a volcano and the semester one midterm exams.” You explain, representing each point with the fingers of your right hand. “We’ve been through a lot together. If worst comes to worst, we’ll figure out some crazy plan and beat the enemy together. Then we’ll regroup with the rest of the team and Akikazu will yell at us.”

Celeste mulls over your words, then beams back at you with a bright smile. “Yeah! That’s the spirit, Takashi-kun! If we work together, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Alright, let’s get going!”

Together, the two of you set down the dirt trail.

“Still, being stuck like this could be a real pain in the ass. What happens when either one of us have to go to the bathroom or take a shower?” You raise a palm to your forehead and sigh. “Yeah, I feel you.”

“You shouldn’t spell it out loud, Takashi-kun.”

“It’s the truth, isn’t it? I’m not apologizing for that.”
>>
>>45432135
this right here is art
>>
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“Suddenly, all in attendance hear an announcement. Up ahead, they see a young couple’s joyous commemorative photograph of love. They confer between them whether to look at it, or ignore it.”

The announcer’s voice dies. Dread sweeps across you like a tsunami made out of green goo. In the distance, past more those damn heart-shaped vine arches, you can see a large portrait perched on a wooden easel. To a random passerby, it would seem innocuous. To you and Celeste, it is the gateway to the deepest, darkest pits of the underworld.

“Um, let’s take a look then…?” Celeste says, her voice quavering.

The two of you step forward. Then Celeste halts in her tracks, her jaw dropping.

“W-what is this?” she shrieks. You can’t answer, because you are too busy being disturbed out of your mind.

It’s a painting of you and Celeste. You are wearing a black suit with a tie. Celeste, on the other hand, is dressed in a way that that wouldn’t look out of place for a noble girl in the sixteenth or eighteenth century. She’s wearing an exquisite crimson dress decorated with roses, the train of which is spreading to the ground. A choker, emblazoned with an orange butterfly pattern, is wrapped around her neck. Twin velvet gloves stretch from her elbows to the tips of her fingers. Her legs are covered in pale white stockings. Her feet are nestled in cute, red, matching high heels. Lastly, a silver tiara, glistening with jewels, is perched on top of her head, the kind that a princess from a fairy tale would wear.

The you in the painting is holding hands with Celeste and is carrying her, bridal style. You are smiling. So is she. Your hands are forming a heart shape in midair. To hammer the point home, Celeste is holding a piece of heart-shaped chocolate in her mouth, with the words ‘LOVE’ inscribed on the candy in pink icing.

Did you mention the background of the painting is nothing but roses of varying shades of pink and red?
>>
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>>45432390
>>
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>>45432390
>>
>>45432390
>>
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>>45432390
>>
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You look back at Celeste. You’re not a mind reader by any stretch of the imagination, but you’re pretty sure Celeste is thinking thoughts along the same line as you back in that godawful questionnaire. As you, a lot of conflicting thoughts as passing through your head. Your friendship with the girl you are holding hands with. The surreal nature of this mysterious dungeon. And the fact that Celeste was, for a lack of a better word, beautif—

“Uh, well, this is certainly a surprise, isn’t it Takashi-kun?” Celeste’s voice is crumbling so fast it could give Aria a run for her money. “Hahaha…first they force us to hold hands, and now this. A wedding painting of the two of us. How silly! If anyone saw this, they’d get the wrong idea.”

Her eyes trail back to the painting. Her blush grows in magnitude. She can’t even bear to look at you.

“Oh, what am I saying…”

>“You looked good in that.”
>“I won’t say a word.”
>Pick her up.
>Squeeze her hand tighter.
>Custom option.
>>
>>45432471
>>Pick her up.
Today's special is spaghetti.
>>
>>45432471
>You looked good in that.

Then

>Pick her up

There are no brakes on this train.
>>
>>45432471
>>Pick her up.

We can blame Aether magic
>>
>>45432471
>>“You looked good in that.”
>Squeeze her hand tighter.
>>
>>45432471
>>Pick her up.
We're resistant to fire. The worst she could do is singe our clothes a bit.
>>
>>45432471
>>“I won’t say a word.”
>>
>>45432471
>Pick her up.
Never forget.
Never forgive.
And never regret.
For this is gold.
>>
>>45432471
>Custom option(?)
>>“You looked good in that.”
>Cough awkwardly
>>“I mean-- I won’t say a word.”
>>
>>45432471
>"You looked good in that."
>Pick her up.
THIS AIN'T CANON, BOYS. WE'RE FREE. DAMN THE CONSEQUENCES, FULL SPEED AHEAD.

This isn't canon, right?
>>
>>45432471
>>“You looked good in that.”
>>
>>45432471
>Pick her up.
OH MY GOD CELESTE MY HANDS ARE MOVING ON THEIR OWN
>>
>>45432471
>>Pick her up.
>“You looked good in that.”
This isn't canon so we might as well pick the fun options.
>>
Maybe it would be good to create another thread, Thorn??! Or not, if you plan to end it soon...
>>
>>45432471
>“You looked good in that.”
>Squeeze her hand tighter.

Pause a beat. Another. One more. Then
>Pick her up.
>>
>>45432471
>>>“You looked good in that.”
>>Pick her up.
FELLOW CELESTEFAGS, RISE UP.
>>
>>45432471
>Pick her up.
>>
>>45432471
>“You looked good in that.”
>Pick her up.
>>
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>>45432471
It could be worse.
>>
>>45432509
>>45432525
What if this is a dream we're sharing with Celeste?
>>
>>45432635
Then things are going to get interesting soon...
>>
>>45432471
>>45432509
>>45432525
>Pick her up
>>
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>>45432635
>inb4 this actually changes the future to a Celeste only ending.
>>
>>45432665
Crows not welcome here
>>
>>45432689
This obviously isn't happening in reality, else, what of the fact that everyone we know got pulled in?
>>
GET IN HERE:
>>45432719



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