You had to do some searching to find Na-Rae that night, with you even asking Colette to help you find her. Soon enough though, you located her out on the streets of Kuchinashi along with none other than Suzako, the two in the middle of quite the conversation as you approached.
"Hmm, do you think we should really interrupt them, they seem to be getting along quite nicely" Colette said to you.
That was a thought, but soon enough Na-Rae took notice of you two and waved. As you approached, she told you, "Ah, I was just discussing outfits and the like with your friend here, who I met the other day. You were there I recall, Miss Honoka".
"Hmm, the Jack of Swords," Colette then took notice of, inspecting Na-Rae, "You've always appeared a nice enough person to me, such a shame you had to be pressed into Kikuko's service".
"Ah, but only on the surface!" Suzako beamed, her then telling you, "I'm back to forming my own group to rival the All-Aces, and Na-er, Tsubasa's gonna help me do it," her pause was as she had no idea if Colette was clued into Na-Rae's identity, "Oh yeah, you're Colette right? I'm Honoka's childhood friend, she's told me a bunch of stuff about you. Like, I saw you were both in the same band that one time".
"Er, yeah, though Nightshade and the Lady Devils are... on hold at present" was all Colette said, "Though my, a group of Alternative Aces, you could say? Sounds like quite the project, one which Hanataba at least could genuinely benefit from".
Huh, soon any Alternative Aces may be the only Aces, you thought, but just said, "Yeah, it's great you're finally getting around to that, Suzako.
Funny thing is, Na-Tsubasa, ugh," you said as you then turned to her, "I was actually wanting to introduce Colette to you, but well, I guess that's been kinda complicated", you then twirled your fingers.
"It's okay, she seems perfectly fine with me," Colette whispered into your ear, "Very little of Kikuko seems to have rubbed off on her".
"Huh, but you've only just met her?" you privately said back, as by now both Suzako and even Na-rae had to stare at you, wondering what as with your sudden behaviour.
"Well anyway, I've gotta get going, moon's rising and stuff," Suzako said, "But hey, it was super-cool hanging with... Tsubasa, like she even helped clean my house and all!" she grinned one last time at Na-Rae.
"Ah, we'll meet again soon, Miss Suzako," Na-rae said, you no longer sure if she was saying that on instinct.
"I too should be off," Colette said, "Preparations for the test of courage and whatnot".
As you and Na-Rae then started walking back to the school, Na-Rae had to ask, "Take it that was your girlfriend you brought up last time?"
"Colette you mean? Yep, she sure is," you had to smile, before you said, "She seems fine with us having a thing on the side, but, well it's just... you seem pretty happy with Suzako right now".
"What? Oh, heavens forbid, why I've barely known your childhood friend long enough to form... anything... for her," Na-Rae then mumbled out, looking at the ground, "Believe you me, starting my own little romance together with you would be a dream come true, Miss Honoka!"
"Okay then, that brings me to my first thing," you had to say, "Yeah, I'm cool with dating you, Na-rae, but like, if we're gonna start going out together, and right under Kikuko's nose and that," you then took a deep breath, "You gotta promise me, no more calling me 'Miss' or 'Mistress'. We're equals in romance, you and I".
"Well er, I do see your point, Mi- Honoka. It's just, like... Mistress Kikuko's been drilling it into me that I hafta act that way around her ever since she started employing me, that, well, by now it's kinda hard ta shake that habit off," she sighed out.
You felt a little bad about yourself, as you turned to Na-Rae and said, "Yeah, I see your point. And sorry, should've thought about that".
Na-Rae then had to blush and smile at you, "Honoka, please don't beat yerself up over it. People have looked up to me as an ulzzang, then down to me as a maid. That you do see me as an equal, well that really warms my heart. Thank you, Honoka".
The two of you then leaned in together to kiss, as you had to nervously think, Well, always the possibility you won't have to deal with Kikuko much longer...
- The Hanged Man has Journeyed to Rank 7! -
Tomorrow would be your final day, not just before the Duel, but likely before the finale to the Persona Game:
[ ] Drama Club.
[ ] Hanging with Suzako.
[ ] Trying to be normal again around Ryouko.
[ ] Sweets shop with Yuya.
[ ] Tabletop store with Hotaru.
[ ] Parents' place.
[ ] Gameboard:
- [ ] Write-in Empire.
- [ ] Write-in party.
- [ ] The Morrigan (write-in questions)
[x] Write-in: Hanging with Suzako, visit Yuya's sweets shop together
And for your last evening:
[ ] Megumi.
[ ] Na-Rae.
[ ] Koyomi.
[ ] Phone your parents.
[ ] Studying.
- [ ] Write-in partners.
[ ] Sleepover.
- [ ] Write-in invites.
[x] Late night Gameboard:
- [ ] Write-in Empire.
- [ ] Write-in party.
- [x] The Morrigan (write-in questions)
--[X] This won't end with me having to kill you, will it?
--[X] Why do you want to pass on the position to somebody else?
--[X] Is there a way to just shut down the Gameboard for good?
--[X] Are there any ways to balance becoming the Morrigan with my current mortal life?
--[X] How did your experience with the Gameboard go, if you can remember it?
[ ] Write-in.
* * *
Kikuko Duel Tomorrow
Keiko and Yuya were your friends from the beginning, regardless of any attempt by Azuma to insist otherwise, so it only felt right that you say hi to them the day before, well, everything went down.
After getting some Class Rep stuff out of the way, you went over to Suzako and asked, "Oh hey, you know Yuya has a part-time job at a downtown lolly shop, right? Did you ever feel like checking it out?"
"Yeah, I've been a few times, but sounds like it'd be fun for us to all go together. Like, I hear things a lot more chill there now what with Yuya's old boss having left" Suzako nodded at you.
The three of you gathering at the school gate, you then got the urge to rapidly scan around for anyone saying anything about two of Melissa's old Jacks being seen with the Ace replacing her. You then breathed a sigh of relief when you heard nothing, although that didn't rule out something nasty about the three of you being typed up online.
"Honoka? You looked like something was bothering you for a second" Yuya had to notice.
"What? No, I'm fine," you told the two, then elaborated, "Just got to thinking how people have been treating you since Melissa, y'know, died. Felt it was only natural as the replacement All-Ace".
"Eh, people were kinda real nasty to us even when Melissa was still alive," Suzako said, "Like, well, I got a bunch of shit for being a 'leech', plus they felt they could spout out every negative thought they had on Melissa to me, since I wasn't Melissa herself. Granted, at least half the nasty shit they said about Melissa was true, I can confirm".
You twitched. You couldn't tell if it was just change over time or Stockholm Syndrome, but you ever expectedly Suzako to say anything slightly defensive of Melissa.
"A lot of guys got really nasty to me since, due to Melissa's whole 'fake boyfriend to make Azuma jealous' scheme, they thought I was taking her from them. I just wanted to tell them I'm not even into girls" Yuya broke it to you himself.
As you stopped by the local sweets store and stepped inside, Yuya then said to you, "Ah, I'll be right back, just have to change out of my school uniform".
With him behind a curtain, you and Suzako spent the while looking over the various sweets on display. The whole shop was mostly brown in colour, from its checkerboard floor altering lighter and darker browns, to the almost black brown of its cabinets. While most of the racks held chain candies like assorted KitKats and gummies, lower down by the counter you could spot a lot more home-made stuff, like various dango sticks and wagashi displays.
Suzako was mostly salivating over a dango stick, while you yourself had to go for:
[ ] Red bean dango. (+3 Perception)
[x] Cherry blossom wagashi. (+3 Etiquette)
[ ] Inside-out KitKat (+3 Education)
[ ] Licorice. (+3 Resolve)
[ ] Assorted lolly bag. (+1 All)
[ ] Write-in.
Yuya then came out again in full crossdressing attire, with a long braid extension, stockings, butterfly bows, and pink contacts, although he clearly looked nervous in front of the two of you as he did so, despite both of you knowing about it. He still had to blush as he asked, "Er, you don't mind?"
"You dressed like that to school once, right?" you recalled, "Hey, you look fine, especially for someone who's still learning about girls' clothes and stuff".
"I'm a cosplayer, so the stuff I wear's way more out there," Suzako had to assure him, "No problem, Yuya".
He breathed a sigh of relief, "T-thanks, Honoka, Suzako, it's really nice to hear someone say that. It's just, y'know, Melissa had me kicked out of school for the day when she saw me like this, and my old boss nearly fired me when he found out about how I like to dress. Fortunately, their daughter's taken over management since, and she's much more cool with it".
He then quickly served you the candies you two had chosen, and as the three of you sat down to eat, Suzako then said, "I've been telling Honoka about how I'm gonna form an Alternate Aces, er it's a working title, and like I can fit the niche of Cosplayer, Tsubasa can certainly be our Maid, and that's where you can come in Yuya, like I know down in Tokyo or wherever, there's communities and bands that are like a-okay with female presenters".
"Er, that sounds... nice and all, but like, be open about cross-dressing in front of the whole school?" Yuya was uncomfortable bringing up.
"Oh yeah, I can see why ya'd get stage-fright and all. Okay, what you gotta do then is invent a fake identity for yourself, like I did with Suzako instead of just being Keiko" she then offered.
"Here's the thing though. I hate to break it to you, Suzako, but... I don't think the problem is just the people who made up the All-Aces, well the ones left anyway. I think the problem is with the very idea of an 'All-Ace' itself," you spoke up, "Like, does our school really need any hierarchies beyond seniors over juniors? I can say from experience that there's something beyond being an All-Ace that just teaches you to be a shitty person, except Himawari, but even she suffered for it. If you just wanna create an Otaku Club, that's fine, go ahead".
Suzako twitched at your words, before she protested "Of course we have to form our own All-Aces! Like, who's gonna do anything about the current ones if we don't?"
Actually, quite the something's about to be done, you thought, but ended up just saying, "Well, er, I can tell you that you shouldn't convincing Colette to join, she'll laugh and say no, and probably tell you what I just did".
"Also, don't the students decide the All-Aces? Like, the system goes whoever's the most popular counts, right?" Yuya brought up, "I mean, am I that popular?"
"You will be if we can present you to the school in the right way, with marketing and all that stuff," Suzako went on, "A new identity's still necessary though".
"God, you really are an Azuma fangirl," you muttered, before saying, "Yuya, you may have an uphill battle there. The only two Aces who didn't get there through being rich were either super-athletic or, well me, but I was mostly a charity case".
"Huh. You know, you can be really cynical about your own school, Honoka, and that's after becoming an All-Ace yourself," Suzako had to point out, "Like, seeing your makeover was my whole inspiration to change how I looked and acted, like I wouldn't have gotten into cosplay otherwise. Besides, I know the other students can come around on us".
"Well, it's just... your situation's not gonna be easy, given that Melissa's whole scheme was to drag your name through the mud as her Jack," you had to tell Suzako, "Speaking of which, promise me one thing. If you're gonna set up an 'Alt-Aces' or whatever, no Jacks. Like, having been one for a while, I've come to the conclusion that the whole point of them is to serve as social meat-shields for the Aces".
That rocky conversation done, Yuya offered to throw in hot chocolates with whipped cream and flakes for you on the house. You both nodding eagerly, you also asked Suzako while he was busy, "Hey, so, on a whole 'nother subject, how are you getting along with Na-Rae? Like, you seem awful friendly".
"Yeah, at first I just thought, 'Oh she's a maid, cool!', but then as I started learning more about her, I started to see what we had in common. Like, she also came from a poor background, hence why she has all these difficulties standing up to Kikuko, and she's into physical fitness and super-nice too" Suzako started getting carried away a little by now.
"Ah, okay. Um, I was just checking up and stuff, that's all" you told her, your talk cut a little short when Yuya returned with the chocolates.
You three then continued on, talking about what you'd do over the summer break. Suzako had to shrug, saying she'd probably just catch up on shows and games online that'd been sitting in her backlog, given her family didn't have the money for much else. Yuya talked about wanting to go down to Tokyo, whereas you...
"Haven't thought about it, really," you admitted, "Mostly just been thinking about making it to the end of term" Namely, surviving till then.
"That's okay," Yuya smiled, "I think a whole bunch of other teens feel the same way".
And so went your last normal human interaction before the endgame. But not your last interaction altogether.
- Justice has Journeyed to Rank 7! -
Sitting down for possibly the last time in the Velvet Room, you said, "Well, tomorrow's gonna be the end of all this, everything the four of us have been working towards, at least this year".
"But you told us the Morrigan told you that you did have an Empire of your own," Lauryn protested, "If granted a less apparent one. So whether Kikuko wins or loses, there will still be two Empires standing... well, I expect Azuma will find some excuse to not even acknowledge your Empire".
"The Fool is like the number 0, empty on its own, yet able to become anything, so it's only logical that a Fool's domain would take no assumed shame," Igor went over.
"Yeah, but the thing is even if I win, it's likely Azuma will just assume I'm lying when I tell him that I really do have an Empire, and then God knows what shit he'll pull," you sighed, "There's even the possibility I'll lose my grip on my own Empire if I really do end up killing another, directly or not.
But yeah, I guess the whole 'Empire' thing should've been obvious to me the whole time," you had to say, "My Social Links, and the Personae forged with them, are my subjects, and you've even said this Velvet Room conforms to my mind like an Empire, isn't that right?"
"Precisely," Igor said, "Although, perhaps not. It would be a stretch to call any of our other Guests 'Imperials'."
"Miss 'Onoka," Popo began, though hesitated before saying, "I feel like I should apologise for draggin' you into all this, but I 'spose you're probably sick of me constantly beating meself up, aren't ya? So, um, I'd like ta congratulate ya, Miss 'Onoka, for handling this whole daft thing better than... possibly anyone else could've. Ah, not meaning to offend, Miss Rin".
Oh yeah. Popo, there's something I've been meaning to talk with you about," you said, taking a deep breath in-between "Soon enough, you'll have a whole new Morrigan, it being only a title and all. That's what she told me we were even fighting these Duels for, that whoever wins the Gameboard gets to be the new Morrigan. So like, er, there's definitely the risk that'll end up being Kikuko or Azuma, and... I have no idea how they're gonna treat you, except probably badly".
"Can't say much for Miss Kikuko, though killin' in cold blood is... something, but with Master Azuma, well, likely he'll just scrap me and make a spitting new Gameboard Emissary, assumin' he'd even want one. It ain't the first time something like that's 'appened, like I believe even the Mistress Macha's had Emissaries before me," Popo drooped down, this time having every reason to.
You gritted your teeth, before saying, "I can't make any promises Popo, but if I won't let Kikuko kill me for Lauryn, I won't let Azuma for you... no, for Colette, for Suzako, for everyone".
"Thou art I... I art thou
Though thy kingdom fall, thou hast gained a champion who shall not leave thy side
We bestow upon them a piece of thy crown,
And on thou, the road to Kali, Ultimate Persona of the Tower Arcana"
- The Tower Journeys Anew at Rank 10! -
"Nakamura Honoka," Lauryn stated directly to you, "During my time on the Gameboard, I never believed in killing anyone, but... I will make an exception for Kikuko in your case. I-It's not just because she killed me, it's..." she was clearly trying to think of something to justify her speech, but kept losing her words.
"Hey, there's a whole hitobashira-style human sacrifice den in her Arena, I perfectly understand how dangerous Kikuko is," you told her, before changing the subject, "Ah, guess I should see to what may be my final Persona line-up".
[ ] Special Fusion: Tower PITT + Tower Chernobog + Tower Heracles = Tower Kali
[ ] Summon Hanged Man Jeanne (Bless and Almighty)
[ ] Summon Star Zorya (Physical and Nuclear)
[ ] Strength Ishtar + Rebirth Izanami = Star+5 Vainamoinen (Psy and Ice)
[ ] Strength + Devil Black Frost = Death+4 Baron Samedi (Curse and Psy)
- [ ] Switch Devil for Fool Aiwass
[ ] Rebirth Izanami + Fool Aiwass = Sage+1 Bodhidharma (Physical and Psy)
[ ] Rebirth + Devil = Chariot+4 Sandalphon (Fire and Bless)
- [ ] Switch Devil for Moon
[ ] Rebirth + Moon Dokuganryuu = Sun+4 Saule (Fire and Nuclear)
[ ] Fool Aiwass + Devil Black Frost = Temperance+6 Harihara (Bless and Curse)
[ ] Fool + Moon = Justice+7 Metatron (Nuclear and Almighty)
[ ] Special Fusion: Tower PITT + Tower Chernobog + Tower Heracles = Tower Kali (inherit Analysis and Escape Route), resummon Star Barnumbirr, replace Devil Ahriman with Hanged Man Jeanne. (Edgedancer write-in)
[x] Write-in: Special Fusion: Tower PITT + Tower Chernobog + Tower Heracles = Tower Kali (inherit Analysis and Escape Route), resummon Star Barnumbirr, replace Devil Ahriman with Hanged Man Jeanne.
[X] Write-in: Use the Evade Fire Skill Card on Dokuganryuu, replace Stagnant Air.
[X] Write-in: Use the Niflheim Skill Card on Aradia, replace Megidola.
I am Hanged Man Jeanne, Maid of Knights," said the Shadow you had more than an inkling of who belonged to, "Captured and branded as corrupt by our enemy, your presence has shone the light of salvation on my soul, Mistress Honoka Elements: Reflect Bless, Null Physical and Curse, resists Gun, Wind, Ice, and Electric, weak to Fire
Stats:
- Strength: |||
- Cognition: |||
- Agility: ||
- Luck: |||
- Endurance: ||||
Skills: Orleans Prayer, Samarecarm, War Cry, Makarakarn, Heat Riser
- Hanged Man Bonus: Makougaon, Hamaon, Megidola
I am Tower Kali, Time itself dies by my blade," shrieked a blue goddess with spiky red hair, blood dripping from her mouth, her arms carrying scimitars and a trident, and her body covered by human skulls, "As none may escape entropy, so Evil cannot escape my wrath! Elements: Reflect Physical, Absorb Bless and Curse, null Psy and Gun, weak to Wind, Ice, and Electric
Stats:
- Strength: |||||
- Cognition: |||
- Agility: |||
- Luck: |
- Endurance: |||
Skills: Counterstrike, High Counter, Vorpal Blade, Psiodyne
- Inherit Bonus: Analyse, Power Charge, Invigorate
- Tower Bonus: Pralaya
* * *
That just left one final visit to the Morrigan, given you still had even more questions.
This time, after you stumbled once more through the void, you entered into a classy restaurant at the top of a skyscraper, with you seen feeling the place was even revolving. You again spied more of your Personae as customers or staff, like Franken taking orders or Skuld and Verdandi at a table. Gretchen then appeared to show you over to a seat reserved for you.
Sitting down by candlelight, you gazed once again into the eyes of Morrigan, her wearing a glittering red velvet dress this time. You winced as you felt there was no other way to ask this, as you said, "This won't end with me having to kill you, won't it? I mean, I assumed that came with the job, Goddess of War and that?"
"My, do you begin all your conversations with that line?" she laughed, but would tell you, "Upon the gameboard falling completely under one Empire, we shall see, there shall be a final judgment of your efforts. But I can confirm I have no wish to die, for even if we do come to blows, it was always my intent to step down gracefully upon acknowledging you'd shown your strength enough".
You at least sighed with some relief, before you said, "Okay, good to know. But um, that does bring me to my next question, why do you want to pass on the position to someone else?"
"Hmm, I thought I told you last time? The desensitization to death and violence I've picked up after, what, aeons running the Gameboard has, well, given me trouble connecting to the people whose lives are caught in it. Why do you think I only just agreed to meet with you last week, in your time? You may think a human touch is a weakness on the Gameboard, but I assure you, it's exactly what the boards been yearning for. Plus, well, I've so greedily hogged this thing for long enough".
"Alright, I get it. But wait, weren't you human, once?" you had to ask.
"Yes, true, but I've long had the human part beaten out of me," she sighed, "As human as I may look. Retiring to a normal-ish life as Tanizawa Ryouko may be the only chance I have of genuinely regaining my humanity. My own time with the Gameboard was, well, I'll just say it wasn't pleasant, very medieval in a sense".
"But like, won't it eventually do the same to me, by that logic?" you bit your lip, before you breathed in and out then said more calmly, "Okay, is there just... any way to shut down the Gameboard for good?"
The Morrigan had to smirk at that, before saying, "Sorry, I can tell you are in distress. Hmm, while shutting down the Gameboard would be technically possible, it'd be a nightmarish feat to accomplish. The Gameboard is human conflict, nothing less than achieving a world where all human wills work in perfect harmony would be needed to make it obsolete. Hence 'technically'". She then sipped down what you assumed was wine.
"Ah, oh, right," you mumbled, before getting your voice back and asking, "At least tell me there'd be a way of balancing my mortal life with... being the Morrigan".
"My own advice would be to will forth your own mortal shell, as I've done with Ryouko. Keep her memories, erase them, it's your own decision. If you wanted, you could even go back out into the corporeal world just in your form as Morrigan, although... I wouldn't recommend it. Casually walking around as a Goddess of War will, naturally, cause more than a few incidents. Regardless, it was never my intent to keep you from the bonds you've formed" she told you, all your currents questions answered.
- Judgment has Journeyed to Rank 6! -
With that, the revolving restaurant faded, as you and the Morrigan now stood on the deck of a speedboat, heading across a limitless ocean like that day on Golden Week.
"Honoka, if we had the chance to meet again before the next Duel, I honestly would've just asked to simply hang out and have fun with you. I mean, that's what I've been trying to do this whole time. Alas, your Duel with the Ace of Swords is just over the horizon, so I think I'll finally ask a question of you," the Morrigan then turned to look at you, "Did you tell any of the Aces about your Empire?"
"Ah, no, no I didn't. Thought it'd risk ruining the element of surprise," you told her, "Or make them crack down even harder on my Social Links, not that they already haven't already".
"Huh, so I'd assume if you told the remaining one after the Duel that you still had an Empire, they'd think you were bluffing? Hmm, a tactical move" the Morrigan stated, before looking ahead to a distant, stormy island that'd appeared from nowhere. "Okay, then the last of my own questions..."
The world passing by you in a blur, you were now on that island in the middle of that same group of menhirs from when you'd first met the Morrigan. She slowly turned around to meet your eyes and said, the minute before you left the Gameboard, "Well now, how do you plan to deal with this upcoming Duel?"
[x] "Go all-out offence, I'm pretty secure in my Personae's defences."
[x] "Keep buffing, especially defence and agility, and debuff her attack if I can"
[ ] "Keep my distance if she'll let me. Spells, gunfire, dodging, that sorta thing"
[ ] "Hit her psychologically, bring up every little thing she's uncomfortable with"
[ ] "Know my own weapons. Not just my personae, but my own two tonfas"
[ ] "Keep switching my Personae until she won't know what'll work, if anything"
[ ] "I... don't know if any single strategy will work on her"
[ ] Write-in.
- Judgment has Journeyed to Rank 7! -