Working With Phantoms

Rekindled Hope

June 29th

Wysteria's POV

Wysteria sat at home with Herupā and Baofu, who had popped by for a visit.

"Wow, two months, huh? Not only that, but your shadow reappeared, and it wasn't because of Philemon?"

"Yep. My life is entirely panic and no disco."

Baofu chuckled and looked at Herupā.

"Well, how are you doing? I heard from Maya that you witnessed the entire thing, from Wysteria's true feelings to Ixtab."

"It's... weird. To think that our minds can be like that..."

"Trust me, you get used to it."

"That's coming from a person who's dealt with this persona stuff before. I thought that Suga was going out and doing drugs until Proctora suddenly came to my house and profusely apologized for his mistreatment of Suga while she smiled."

"Hey, I'm back!"

Suga walked into the living room and sat down while putting her backpack down.

"Hey there, Suga."

"Hiya, Baofu. What brings you here?"

"Oh, I was thinking about our encounter in Fourete's palace and came to say hi."

"I never saw you going from a med student to a mafia buster, but here we are."

"Yep. Um, are we ready?"

"Do I have to go?"

Wysteria grabbed Herupā's arm.

"Yep."

"Ok..."

Baofu chuckled and stood up.

"Well, I gotta go. Ulala must be getting impatient, and Ken wanted to tell me something."

"Gotcha. Stay safe."

Baofu nodded and left. The remaining people then went to Suga's room, where they walked up to the Velvet Room door.

"If this doesn't open, then I'm throwing a lamp."

"Please don't."

Wysteria pulled on the door, and it opened as normal.

"Oh, thank goodness. In we go!"

The small group then entered the Velvet Room to find Philemon, Elizabeth, and Margaret all staring at Ixtab from across the room with their personas out.

"Um, what's going on?"

"Ixtab randomly appeared and tried to attack Philemon, so we've been like this for a few minutes."

"Oh, you've arrived... I expected to finish this job earlier, but this sure does complicate things."

"Why must you be like this?"

Wysteria glared at her shadow before noticing that her clothes had become her Metaverse outfit. Then, everyone else arrived.

"Well, this is awkward. What did you plan to accomplish by doing this?"

Ixtab backed up from the growing force of persona-users entering until Madran arrived.

"Oh, well, that was easy."

"Well, away I go!"

Ixtab then shot back into the training hall, where everyone followed. Wysteria then saw her going into the Fortune door.