Persona 3: Era of Madness

Chapter 7: Narukami

"Senpai, how're you doing today? We should go explore the TV world tonight." Chie was walking up to Yu as he was about to enter his class. He was taking time off from training to focus on his studies when Chie came to him about going. Rise was already in the classroom when the two walked in. The trio worked on their studies during the class as they continued to think on whether or not they should enter the TV world that night. Yu was hesitant about it but he knew he needed to get stronger if he would ever stand a chance of reaching Makoto's level. "Narukami-senpai, you alright? You've been on the same problem for a few minutes." Chie was getting Yu's attention when he snapped back into reality and continued his work.

Once the class ended Yu decided to do something he didn't think he had the courage to do. Once he left the school campus he headed for the Kirijo mansion. Rise came with him on his walk and tried keeping him company as he trudged on. He really was reluctant to ask SEES for help. He may have resolved his main issue with Makoto but he still wasn't very fond of him or his team. "I can't believe I'm doing this. I'll never live this down." Yu said to himself before walking up and knocking on the massive door to the mansion. Yu heard someone walking towards the door, he felt very anxious as the door unlocked and a servant opened the door.

"Hello, may I help you?" The servant asked Narukami. "Hi, I'd like to speak with Miss Kirijo, I'm an associate of hers. If you could just let her know that Narukami is here she'll know who I am." The servant looked at him very suspiciously before closing the door and walking off. Yu felt very concerned about it but only 2 minutes later the door opened again and the servant allowed Yu to enter. "Mr. Narukami please follow me. Mr Yuki and Miss Kirijo are waiting for you in our dining room." The servant then walked through the mansion as Yu followed behind her. Rise walked back home after leaving Yu at the mansion. Yu followed along until he was led into a massive room with a large table. Makoto and Mitsuru were waiting at the table as Yu walked around to a chair near them and took a seat.

"Man I'm regretting coming here." Yu said once he sat down. Mitsuru and Makoto could tell how uncomfortable Yu was being around them. They weren't enemies anymore but there was still animosity between the two wild cards. Makoto wasn't fond of Yu being so confident of their abilities while not relying on those who've been in the battle against shadows long before him. Yu disliked Makoto for thinking he's the best choice. Makoto cut Yu slack because Yu doesn't know about Makoto's travels across time itself. Makoto remembered every waking moment he spend in each timeline he entered. His first where he grew confident and became friends with everyone. His second to last where he told everyone the future in an attempt to avoid it, which led to him losing everyone. Yukari and the rest of SEES witnessed the end of that timeline when they traveled between universes in an attempt to rescue Makoto from Nyx's inevitability.  Makoto was brought back to the land of the living when SEES killed Nyx in her true form. The multiverse was saved from total destruction as Nyx was forever destroyed. With Makoto breaking the time loop, new universes will never start again due to Makoto not having to give his life to seal Nyx away. Yukari was still a wielder of the wild card since Makoto gifted her the power. So while Yu only knew about Makoto. He never found out that Kotone and Yukari were also wild card users.

"You don't have to be here if you do not want to be. Mitsuru and I can handle whatever you don't take on. We've not struggled with the TV world so if you want to sit back and investigate around the city..." Makoto went on to tell Yu about how his team could investigate around town while SEES investigates the TV world. Yu was very displeased with the suggestion. He told Makoto that he does not want to be put on the sideline. He was going to have his team work hard to power themselves up in the TV world if SEES could investigate the city and find out who the killer could be. Makoto and Mitsuru agreed to the terms. Mitsuru for quick resolution, and Makoto cause he knew Yu and his team needed to get stronger if they wanted to stand a chance against whatever strong foes they would be facing later on.

Later that night Yu spent time with Rise before going into the TV world and fighting shadows to build up their strength. Mitsuru took Makoto aside and questioned him on some things that had her curious. "Yuki, I want to know what happened in many of the previous timelines you have experienced. What sort of events happened for you to want to change the order of time?" Makoto took Mitsuru's question to heart as he entered a deep train of thought about his answer. Mitsuru waited patiently as Makoto thought on it.

"Well... In a few timelines I chose a romantic bond between many of my friends. I knew deep down that my love would forever be Yukari's but I did test fate and befriend a few others. I'm ashamed of myself but when you constantly revert time after death it makes you wonder what possibilities could happen. As for why I wanted to alter fate and save your father and Shinjiro... I felt a horrible guilt that I could have stopped those things from happening and yet I was ale to do nothing. It hurt me heart every single time... That's why when I broke down in front of everyone it was genuine because I didn't want to have the same effect I did before. Last timeline I told everyone the truth. We stopped trying to kill the 12 major shadows. They eventually killed off almost everyone. You and Akihiko died along with Junpei. Ken, Koromaru, and Shinjiro died at the hands of Strega. Yukari, Fuuka, and Aigis died trying to fight Nyx. I used the great seal to stop Nyx just barely... I lived only till you all found me on that roof. That's when I knew my next timeline would be successful. That's why I needed to keep things secret." Mitsuru kept silent as Makoto spilt his heart to her. She hugged him before letting him return to his room. That night Makoto entered a dream he wasn't expecting.