PERSONA ✓

14.

"Well, this is just jolly," Jungkook said.

He sighed and spun in his chair to face the other boys in the room. Namjoon was back on his feet, thank the lord, but Jungkook was still a little upset with him for running into danger like that.

But, the logical part of Jungkook's brain argued, that's his job. He's a superhero.

"That ring," said Jungkook, "is not a diamond. Because, first, Hoseok most likely can't afford a diamond. Second, diamonds don't glow, as Jimin saw. And third, it's a mind control device."

"It's a what?" Seokjin said, eyes wide. "You're telling me that Hoseok is being mind controlled by a ring? This week just gets crazier."

Taehyung hummed in agreement.

"I've seen the ring for myself," Jungkook admitted. "Once, I bumped into Hoseok in the hallway. At first, I just assumed that the diamond was scratched up or something, but diamonds can't be scratched that easily. Thinking back on it now, what I saw weren't scratches, but a tiny device inside that ring disguised as a diamond."

"This week just gets crazier," Seokjin repeated.

"How could a ring be controlling Hoseok?" Namjoon asked. "That's..."

"Impossible?" Jungkook finished. "With that logic, you're impossible too, hyung. If I had to guess, I'd say the ring emits a low buzzing sound, almost impossible to hear. But if Hoseok wears it all the time, especially while he's asleep, it makes his mind vulnerable. Whoever is controlling him can just feed instructions into his brain, 'n he'll do what he's told without a second thought."

"So Hoseok isn't evil," Jimin concluded. "There's someone else behind this whole mess. Someone who needs money, considering how many banks they made Hoseok rob."

"Speaking of banks, one got robbed while we were asleep last night," Jungkook said. He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "There was a flaw in my crime-tracking app 'n it didn't alert me straight away. I have to fix the app now."

"App?" Taehyung asked.

"Yeah, I installed it to all your phones. Whenever there's a crime, you'll be notified. There's also a panic button, in case you're ever in a sticky situation 'n need someone to come save you."

"What do we do about that bank robbery?" Seokjin asked. "Namjoon's all healed up right? Maybe he can fly over there and look for evidence or something?"

"...no."

-

When everyone turned to look at him, Namjoon knew that he really should've just kept his mouth shut.

"No?" Seokjin repeated.

"No."

"Hyung, are you not healed yet?" Jungkook asked. "'cause if you're not, then that's okay, the rest of us can—"

"No," Namjoon said, "we're... we're not going to the crime scene."

"Why not?" Jimin asked.

Namjoon licked his lips, casting his eyes downward. "We should let the police handle it."

It was silent. Slowly, Namjoon looked up to see the 4 boys staring at him with shocked expressions.

"...the police?" Jungkook asked slowly. "Hyung... you're not the type to just step back like this..."

"You saw how Shadow wiped the floor with me," said Namjoon. "What's the point of trying to stop him when we know I'll just lose again?"

There was a long pause.

"You're giving up," Taehyung said bluntly, his voice loud in the silence.

"I'm not giving up—"

"You are," said Taehyung, eyes angry. "You're letting Shadow win, because you think he's already won."

Namjoon bit his lip. Taehyung scolding him did make him feel ashamed, but what could he do against someone as powerful as Shadow?

"What happens..." Taehyung said quietly, "when someone else gets kidnapped? When someone gets taken like Seokjin? Would you just stand back and watch?"

Seokjin furrowed his brows. "Taehyung—"

"What if it was Jungkook?" Taehyung growled. "Or Jimin, or me? Would you just let it happen?"

"No—" Namjoon began.

"Really?" Taehyung's voice raised a bit. "Because you giving up like this is standing back and letting it happen!  Yes, Shadow defeated you. Yes, you lost. By a large margin. Cry yourself a river, build a bridge, and get over it, Kim Namjoon, because people need Persona, people need you, and Shadow will get everything he wants if you just sit around all day moping."

Seokjin laid a hand on Taehyung's arm, attempting to stop him. Taehyung shook it off.

"I thought you were a hero," Taehyung scoffed. "What kind of hero does that, huh? Just gives up? Aren't you a hero, Namjoon? Act like it."

"Taehyung, that's enough!" Seokjin raised his voice. Taehyung winced at the volume. He shook off Seokjin's hands as the older tried to apologize for raising his voice. Taehyung began making his way towards the door, stopping to speak, a hand resting on the doorknob.

"Come, Seokjin hyung," he said. "If there's no hero, there's no team. And if there's no team, there's no need for us to be here."

Without waiting for Seokjin, he left. Seokjin glanced at Namjoon before giving a small, dejected nod and following Taehyung out the door.

"...I should go, too," Jimin mumbled. He shuffled his feet, eyes on his shoes. "My mom's expecting me. Later."

When Jimin was gone, Jungkook looked at Namjoon. Namjoon could feel the disappointment radiating off of him.

"...I'm going to help the maids with dinner," Jungkook said quietly. He sounded almost close to tears, and Namjoon couldn't bring himself to look at him. Jungkook left quickly, as if he was desperate to get out of the room and away from him.

Namjoon threw himself onto the bottom bunk, groaning as he sank into the mattress. What had he done? Why did he have to go ruin everything?

The words echoed in Namjoon's head, each hitting his heart in a different spot.

If there's no hero, there's no team.

With a broken hero, you could only expect a broken team.

--

imagine me letting the team live

no picture this time because i am: lazy

and it would ruin the mood

there's gonna be like 20 chapters in this book and then a sequel :) since the end is (kinda) near, do you have any predictions/theories ?