Working With Phantoms

Harsh Input, Harmful Output

September 2nd

Madran arrived at lunch alongside her friends, with them all sitting down and beginning a lively conversation amongst their food.

"So, ladies and one guy, how has the day been?"

"Hey, don't forget about me!"

"Fine. Ladies, one guy, and Bag Cat, how-"

Morgana let out what was the beginning of a yell, but a stern gaze from Akira stifled it.

"Morgana has been fine, and so have I. Oh, did you hear the news about Shiho?"

"Oh? I haven't heard about her for a long time."

"Hey, Sheila, has Ann told you as well?"

"Yep, she has. So, basically-"

"Hey, this was my statement. Anyways, Shiho's almost out of physical therapy. She's been able to walk with a slight limp, and has been off crutches since... a few weeks ago, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, you're right. Hey, next week, once we finish this palace and celebrate with Haru, we should also hold a welcome back party for Shiho."

"Maybe, next-next week. We'll need to affirm things with Shiho and all."

"Hey, Akira, also, what's been going on with the ultimate personas I've heard about?"

"Huh?"

Everyone looked at Haru, who seemed confused.

"Ultimate... personas? You get two of those?"

"Well, at important moments at our lives, we can further increase the power of our personas, which includes a change in appearance and name. My persona's only been Persephone since early August, for example. Previously, she wasn't the underworld's queen, and instead was Bubonia, a representation of the plague that maimed Europe in the 13th century."

"I see..."

"Well, coming from that, only Ryuji and Yusuke have reported having this growth. I've seen proof of it, too. Goemon's turned into this big, blue, buff floating dude with odd armor and weird white hair, and Captain Kidd's turned into this monkey with armor that stands on a cloud."

"That's... interesting, to say the least. I thought that Milady was all that I could get."

"Well, don't go looking for an ultimate persona, because you won't find one. Let it come naturally to you."

"Gotcha. That's... sound advice, I'd say."

The group then continued lunch quietly discussing events in the Metaverse, with it soon concluding and everyone heading back to class. After school, once Madran made her way home and completed her schoolwork, she found Elia sitting on the porch, sipping what she made out to be lemonade.

"Ooh, mom, is that..."

"Yes, you can have some."

Elia smiled at Madran, and she ran back inside to get a glass of the coveted sour drink. Then, upon heading back outside, Madran sat next to Elia.

"So, how are things? Where's Chicory?"

"He's napping in my room. Once he gets up, we can go to the Metaverse. Deal?"

"Deal."

Elia sipped her drink before stopping, with her face turning into disgust.

"Uh, mom?"

Elia then spat what Madran saw to be pulp out.

"I can never understand why some people like pulp. Like, yeah, let's just eat our drink, huh?"