Working With Phantoms

Down the Delivery Chain

August 31st

Madran arrived at lunch and sat down to see that she had beaten everyone else to the table. However, Akira wasn't too far behind, with him sitting at his usual spot.

"Hey, Madran, what's up?"

"I mean, it's school, what's new, y'know?"

"Yeah. Hey, with that large delivery area that we were in yesterday, did all of those Corporobos attack you?"

"What's a Corporobo?"

"They're those robots all over the palace."

"Oh, no, they don't. Do they attack you?"

"Yep."

"Huh. That's odd. It may have to do with how my team has cards that basically give us access to everything in the palace, though."

"Wait, those cards I saw you guys using on the conveyor belts?"

"Yep, those ones. Hey, I remember Sheila and Suga bringing this up a few days ago, but, do a few of your team members have ultimate personas?"

"Uh...?"

"Those new personas that about half of my group have."

"Oh, yeah, it's only for Ryuji and Yusuke. I didn't know until a few days ago as well, too. That was quite a shock when suddenly, a brand new persona's coming from Ryuji."

Morgana popped out of Akira's bag.

"Yeah, I don't understand, why don't I get one?"

"Ok, well, they don't get handed out like free candy. I got my ass beat and had to undergo some pretty personal changes before I awakened to Dharma."

Morgana looked rather disappointed and slinked back into the bag. Then, the rest of the table slowly arrived.

"Wow, Suga, took you long enough."

"Oh, whatever. Anyways, how is everyone doing?"

"Good. Morgana's being a grouch, but my day's been ok."

"Hey, I haven't been a grouch! It's just been rainy!"

"See? You're being a grouch right there."

Morgana mumbled a bit whilst Rosana sat next to Akira and looked down at Morgana.

"Wow, I could hear you from a mile away. Is everything alright, Mr. Kitty?"

"I'm not a cat!"

"You kinda look like one, to be honest. I mean, ears, fur, tail, quadrupedal..."

"Ok, that's enough bullying the cat."

Morgana retreated to Akira's bag once more as the group laughed.

"Hey, Haru, what's up?"

Madran noticed that Haru looked rather upset.

"Just... don't worry about it for now."

"Haru? Can you at least tell me?"

Haru looked over to Rosana and sighed.

"Fine, I'll tell. We need to complete the palace by the twelfth of September."

"Why?"

"Well, I'm... I'm going off to get married to Sugimura that day."

The group shared a collective silence before Rosana spoke up.

"I... that sucks!"

"Yeah, it does. If we change dad's heart, at least, maybe, I can convince him to give it up."