One-off short stories

The Tower

I'm bored. So I'm making a persona-style social link for Rex. So yeah. I'm using Makoto Yuki as the name for the Persona 3 protagonist, because that's what it is in the movies, and I'm not going to use what I named him in the games, because that's my real name.
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"You're part of the disciplinary committee, so I need you to help make this kid start going to school again. I still need to keep looking for the smoker." Hideyoshi said.
"Alright." The blue haired boy replied,"But can't most kids just not go to school and not get in trouble?"
"Well, usually, but this guy was smart, and an important member of the science club. Having him run out now is a problem."
"Yeah, I'll do it." Makoto said.
"Thanks, Makoto." Hideyoshi said, smiling.
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"So, you're the student that stopped going to Gekkoukan High recently?" Makoto asked, finding the white haired young man sitting on a bench near Port Island Station.
"Yeah, so what? Who even are you?" His voice was somewhat hostile.
"Just a guy the disciplinary committee sent to bring you back." Makoto said.
"Just tell them I'm not coming back. School feels pointless, anyway. At the end of the day, what you learn there doesn't even matter. It doesn't help with what you need it to." He said.
"So, something bad happened to you?" Makoto asked.
"Huh? Well, of course. I'm not going to school. But you shouldn't care about me. It's not like you're going to be able to make me come back." He said.
"I don't need too. I'd rather just talk."
"Huh? What is there for us to talk about?"
"I'm Makoto Yuki. You?"
"Rex Flynn. But why'd you want to talk to me? All you're going to get is me ranting." Rex said.
"I want to help." Makoto said.
"You're an idiot." Rex said,"A person like you should think you're wasting your time with someone like me. There's nothing you can do. Don't talk to me anymore."
>Despite his harsh words, you can feel a connection start to form. You have formed the Absentee Student social link of the Tower Arcana.

"Still, I'm around here a lot. If you have absolutely nothing else to do, you could waste your pointless time here. It might be funny." Rex said, his words attempting to conceal his emotions.
"Alright." Makoto left, he should probably be getting back to the dorm.
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"The disciplinary committee send you again?" Rex asked, as Makoto sat on the bench next to him.
"I told them you aren't coming back." Makoto said.
"Well, you might be a bit smarter than I thought. Hey, you want to know something that could help you? Don't get too attached to anyone or anything. Something bad will cause it all to crumble down eventually." Rex said.
"No." Makoto replied, quickly and strongly.
"Heh. You really are weird." Rex chuckled a bit,"Unlike most people, you actually sound like you care. Still, when it happens, you'll be sorry. You could end up just like me."
"What happened to you?" Makoto asked.
"Like I'd tell you." Rex said,"I don't like talking about it. That shouldn't surprise you."
"I've lost someone too." Makoto said.
"Huh? Why in the world is that what you assumed? Jeez, you really aren't stopping." Rex smiled a bit,"I'm assuming you'll keep coming back, then?"
"Looking forward to it now?" Makoto teased.
"What? No! I'm just preparing myself for losing an amount of alone time. I don't like talking to people. Just because you think you understand me, doesn't mean you actually do."
>Despite his words, you can feel a connection growing. Tower rank up! Rank 2
"Well, I do know where you're coming from, even if you don't think so. But, I've got to get back to my dorm. I need to...study." Makoto paused.
"Fine. Just go." Rex said.
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"Hey Rex, did you hear what happened to Shinjiro?" Makoto asked.
"He was that senior that died, right? He also didn't go to school, but we still had a whole ceremony about him. I'm not going to end up the same way. I'll at least stay alive." Rex said.
"He was actually a great guy. You remind me of him." Makoto said.
"What? I don't think you know what you're talking about." Rex said,"There's nothing good about me. I don't go to school, nobody smart talks to me, the only thing I do for fun is hunt."
"But you're acting." Makoto said.
"Shut up. I'm just doing what I need to to keep me okay. Stop coming to hang out with me. I mean it this time." Rex said.
>And yet, the connection between you and Rex still grows. Tower rank up! Rank 3
"I'll go for today." Makoto said,"But I am going to help you."
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"You seriously came back? Fine, sit down. If you want to talk to me so badly, you can." Rex said.
"Well, I was wondering if you want to go somewhere to eat." Makoto said,"My treat, of course."
"What?" Rex looked confused.
"Well, you sit here for soooo long. You've got to be getting hungry." Makoto said,"So, where do you want to go? Come on, I'm sure there's some place you like."
"Alright. We can get some burgers." Rex said.
>The two of you head to Wild-Duck Burger
"Thanks..." Rex said, as he ate his burger,"I was hungry. Sometimes I don't even notice until I start to eat."
Makoto smiled,"See. It's better when you don't mope around."
"Well, it's hard to think about stuff when you're eating." Rex said,"I mean, you just focus on the food."
Makoto chuckled a bit.
"Hey, shut up." Rex said, but he showed a hint of smile.
"See. I'm sure you used to be like this." Makoto said,"Before whatever happened."
"Hmph. But...I guess that's true." Rex said.
"See, you don't have to be depressed all the time. Just because something happened, doesn't mean life is over." Makoto said.
>You've seen a bit of the real Rex. Your connection grows stronger. Tower rank up! Rank 4
"There's no way that's really true. Sure, I'm 'happy' for one moment. But soon, that'll just crumble again." Rex said,"Thanks for the food, but I'm going to go now."
"I'll see you again." Makoto said, seeing him off with a smile.
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"Hey, you mind if we go somewhere?" Rex asked, making the first move for once.
"Not at all." Makoto said.
>The two of you headed to Naginaki Shrine.
"I come here to pray." Rex said.
"About what?" Makoto asked.
"That nobody else has to deal with the things I've had to." Rex said,"If there is a god, I hope it reaches him."
"I don't think that will help." Makoto said, being surprisingly harsh,"If you want nobody else to deal with that stuff. You have to do something about it."
"Maybe that's true. But I'd only make things worse. I've learned that from experience. Somethings, going out of your way to help people, can only hurt them."
"Do you really believe that?" Makoto asked.
"It's what this world has taught me." Rex said,"There's so much evil. One person can never stop me. And too many people can't be trusted to help you. In the end, splitting yourself off stops any more pain."
"But it also hurts so so much. Deep down, you know that you're missing out. And it hurts everyone around you." Makoto said,"It's how I used to be."
"So what. It could hurt even more if something went wrong." Rex said.
"But do you really want to live your life never taking a chance?" Makoto asked,"We all still have a long way to go. Don't waste it all because of things that happened before."
"It's not as easy said as it is done." Rex said,"But, it is nice to see somebody who can still believe so fully."
>You can even sense some kindness coming from Rex. Tower rank up! Rank 5
"I've got to head back now." Makoto said
"You know what? You'll do it no matter what, so, come back again." Rex said.
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"I owe you an apology." Rex said.
"You do?" Makoto was taken a bit by surprise.
"Yeah. I'm far too selfish. Everything I've said, even if I thought I was trying to push you away, was layered with my loneliness and feelings. So I'm sure it made you want to come back. Even though you have to have better friends than me." Rex explained.
"It's okay. I think everyone's a little bit like that." Makoto said.
"What do you mean this time?" Rex asked.
"People, as a whole, want to connect with people and belong. It's our nature. Even if you try so hard to push it away, it'll sling shot you back again." Makoto said.
"So that's why I've been doing this. It's in my nature?" Rex sighed,"Doesn't stop me from feeling bad."
"But it shouldn't." Makoto said.
"I can't believe it. You're never, ever going to stop, huh? Even if I know I'm being selfish. Because... I want you to come back. I think...you might actually be helping me." Rex said.
>Rex expressed his true feelings to you. You can see that you've formed a strong bond. Tower rank up! Rank 6
"That's what I want. There are so many people like you, I'm sure. And I know I can only help a few. But I'm at least going to try to help as many as I can. And then maybe things will be better than how they started." Makoto said.
"I hope nothing happens that can ruin that spirit of yours." Rex said,"Like it did for me."
"If it does, I hope you'll be there for me." Makoto smiled.
"Maybe I will. I, want to think this out alone." Rex said.
"Alright. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with a good answer." Makoto said, and left.
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"Today, I'm going to tell you what happened. To me. Sorry if this drags on for while." Rex said.
"Don't worry. I understand." Makoto said.
"I...used to know a girl. Who I cared about. Deeply. I was in love. She was incredible. Smart, kind, helpful. A little bit crazy, but it just added to her charm. We were both in the science club. As the year went by, I began to adore her because, I saw her as what I could become. She still had problems, and wasn't perfect. But I thought she was better than I was. So I thought, that maybe if I kept trying to improve, I could become like her. Eventually, I realized I'd fallen for her sometime during that. But, I was too afraid to confess. I wasn't sure how she would feel. I didn't want to hurt her. That would go against everything I'd been trying to do. So I never could tell her how I felt. Then one day, she just disappeared. Rumors said it was because of that revenge website. I needed to get to the bottom of it. She had to have died for a reason. There had to be something I could do. Eventually, I followed the tracks, and found out how it happened. A girl, one who apparently liked me, used the revenge website, not knowing it would actually kill her, because everyone practically knew I liked her. After I learned that. That on some level, it was my fault. I became how I am today." Rex said.
Makoto clenched his fist, but then calmed down,"So that's how it happened. While, if you could tell me about it, that's good. I think, you'll be able to move on soon."
"Really?" Rex said,"...Thanks for listening."
>You feel like you understand Rex better now. Tower rank up! Rank 7
"I've... got something important to do tonight. I hope you don't mind if I go?" Makoto asked.
"No. You can go. I've said all I've needed to say." Rex said.
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"Hey, I'll buy you some food. My treat this time. As thanks for everything you've done." Rex said.
>The two of you headed to Hagakure Ramen.
"I might start going to school again soon. I'm certain I'll have failed this grade, but, I'll deal with it." Rex said.
"That's great." Makoto said.
"Telling you all that last team. It really made me realize that, I don't think she would've wanted to me to become how I am now. I'm...not sure if she actually loved me or not, but, I think, she at least cared about me as a friend." Rex said.
"She loved you." Makoto said,"I mean, I don't know for certain, but, my intuition tells me she did."
"I hope so." Rex said,"But even if she didn't. That's not going to change what I'm going to do from this point forth. Because...I'm just going to start trying again."
"I'm glad to hear that." Makoto said, smiling.
"You helped me. When I first met you, I never thought you could." Rex smiled, and paused for a moment,"I've never been more glad to be wrong."
>You feel a true connection between you and Rex. Tower rank up! Rank 8
"I can't wait to see you at school." Makoto said.
"Yeah. It's been a long time. I wonder if I'll even know my way around anymore." Rex said.
"I'll give you a tour if you forget." Makoto said.
"Thanks. Well, I've finished eating. I'm going to go home." Rex said.
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"Jeez, this is hard." Rex was saying as you walked up.
"What are you doing?" Makoto asked.
"Trying to try some homework again. It's been so long. I can't believe I used to deal with this stuff every day." Rex said.
"I can help, if you need it."
"No. I want to figure it out myself. Who knows, maybe I'll find a way to catch up." Rex says,"Even despite all this time I wasted. It was certainly hard to deal with. But, I guess what I really did need was someone to help me. Even if I thought the best thing was to always be alone. Now, I know that I can try to be someone like you. Or like her. And I still think I can."
"I'm sure of it. You've come a long way, but I can see that you'll keep improving." Makoto said.
"It's all thanks to you." Rex said,"I know I basically just said that. But I can't thank you enough."
>You feel Rex's complete gratitude. Tower rank up! Rank 9
"You probably won't see me around here for much longer. But maybe we'll cross paths again in school." Rex said,"Now, I'm going to figure this out. On my own."
"Alright. See you soon." Makoto said.
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"Hey, can we go to the shrine again?" Rex asked.
"Of course." Makoto said.
>The two of you headed over to Naginaki Shrine
"Today, it was Kyasurin's, the girl I liked, birthday." Rex said,"So, I just felt like I should come here. Make an offering. If she's anywhere now, I want her to be happy. You know, I gave her a present this time last year. It was the closest I ever came to telling her how I felt."
"What was it?" Makoto asked.
"Well, she kind of had these dreams, most people called them delusions, of being a mad scientist. So, I got her a lab coat, the cheesy kind you might see in a low-budget movie." Rex said,"She really liked it, it was kind of funny."
"That was sweet of you." Makoto said.
"It was to thank her for everything she'd done for me, even if she had never even noticed." Rex said,"So, I want to thank you as well. For everything you've done for me. So here, have this."
>Obtained Lab Goggles
"I know it's kind of stupid, and you might not even ever use them. But, it was what I felt like I should give you." Rex said.
"Thanks." Makoto said,"I'll take good care of them."
>You feel a true connection has formed between you and Rex. Tower rank up! Rank MAX
Makoto Yuki has formed a bond that cannot be broken.
"I'm glad." Rex said,"I'll be going back to school starting next week. But, you won't find me around here anymore. I'm going to be spending my time on catching up with what I missed. So, from this point forth, you'll probably only see me around a bit."
"That's okay. It's better that you catch up anyways. Still, if you ever need any help, I'll be there for you." Makoto said.
"I know. And thanks, Makoto. I...can't imagine where I would be without you around now. See you at school." Rex said, and left.
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Social link epilogue:
Date: March 4th
Note: All the characters lost their memories of the main events of the plot at this point. Thus, Makoto doesn't remember spending time with Rex and so forth.

>You decide to head into the science club room
"Oh, hi! What are you doing here, Makoto? I figured you'd be off with your friends. You aren't even part of the science club." Rex said.
"I just felt like I should come in here. Intuition, or something." Makoto said.
"Jeez, you look tired, are you sure you're feeling well?" Rex asked,"If you want a somewhat normal person to take a look at you, I'd be glad to help. It's strange. I feel like we knew each other better before. But, I can't remember seeing you more than a few times around at school."
"Huh? That's strange." Makoto said,"But, I found this in my bag one day." He pulled out the Lab Goggles,"Do these belong to the science club?"
"Huh? I don't think so? Wait, ummm, oh! Thanks again, Makoto."
"Huh, what for?" Makoto sounded confused.
"Just, I feel like you helped me a lot. Those goggles, are proof of it. Even if I can't remember. But, I did go through some dark times earlier last year. I remember working through them on my own. But, I want to thank you for them. Sorry, I probably sound like a weirdo." Rex said.
"I think, I remember helping you out as well. But this past week has felt so weird for me. Sorry as well." Makoto said.
"Don't be." Rex said.
Makoto started to leave the room.
"Oh, and happy graduation tomorrow!" Rex said.
"Thank you, Rex." Makoto said, smiling. He must have known him more. He just knew it, in his heart.
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Jeez this turned out long. It's the longest singular chapter I've ever written. Well, I doubt all of this made sense because I'm the only one who's probably played a persona game. But still, maybe you liked it?