PERSONA X / Apocrypha

I am thou

The rain came down against Ayumu's umbrella during the mornings gloom. Three days had passed without the rain stopping, the streets of Tsukuba beginning to flood. Neon lights glistened in the puddles reflections, and citizens alike passed by without interaction at all. The billboards came to life for the morning news. Ayumu and many of his peers stopped in their place and turned to the news. A third freshman had went missing in the past week since Ayumu's college life had begun, her name was Mei Katsuragi. A wide variety of students claimed the same argument as the last two cases, they'd swore up and down they knew 'em, but records showed no sign of them enrolling. "Another missing freshman within the past week, it's gotta be a senior within the school who's doing it, right?" A student asked his peer as they walked past Ayumu, to which they replied: "Maybe it's some big prank.."

Ayumu turned his gaze to the low quality watch on his wrist, the time was 11:45am on the dot. He'd be late if he pondered on the news any longer. He treaded through the puddles and through the Tsukuba school gates. The day passed and it became almost impossible to escape questioning from the missing person incident. A student with parted brown hair approached Ayumu, bullets of sweat running down his beetroot red cheeks as he gave him a wave. "You think Mei and the other two are okay? What if it's serial killer who's gonna kill all of us!? You could be next..I could be next, what if I'm next!?" The student asked, tears and swear pooling below his feet, his voice drawing the attention of everyone else in the 1C hallway.

Ayumu extended his hand out to the fellow student, placing it on his shoulder and giving him a faint nod of reassurance. "I'm sure they'll be alright, and so will we. The schools updated precautions should help protect us," Ayumu said with a hint of tension in his voice, awkwardly avoiding the gaze of his classmates. The shaken student eased up slightly, wiping a tear from his eye and looking around to see everyone in the school belittle him. His cowardice took hold, and he bolted off. "Where's he going?" A gossiping student asked the room, before another gossiper replied, "Probably to go cry in a ditch, what a fucking baby."

Ayumu shook his head in disappointment, shifting his bag higher on his shoulders and heading to his final class period. It was Japanese Literature, Ayumu's main course he'd be majoring in. "In chapter twenty five, Genji argues that fiction is actually truer than formal history. History only lists dates, while literature records how people actually felt, how do you feel about Genji... mmm, Ayumu?" Professor Asano asked, picking Ayumu out of the crowd. "I think Genji is a unlikable character by modern literature, it's hard to read how selfish he is," Ayumu replies, raising his posture out of respect for his teacher. "That's an excellent statement, Ayumu. Let's continue it from there, it's very true that if we judge him by modern standards he'd fail. Let's flip it, if we judge him by Heian standards, he seems a lot better," Ms. Asano replied, continuing the discussion with the rest of the class after Ayumu's remarkable starting point. He'd a real knack for literature— and a love. He couldn't see himself majoring anywhere else, but even still, his mind remained shook up from the events of the past week. He's only been in Tsukuba for a week and three people have already gone missing. He found it incredibly strange, but so he kept on with class, his focus retaining to Ms. Asano teachings.

DINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!

The school bell rang loud, students bolting across the halls left and right in a hurry to get home. Ayumu was not hasty in returning to his temporary apartment, walking toward the butt-end of the swarm of students, diligently waving at some of his fellow literature classmates. He exited the school building almost thirty minutes after dismissal, ejecting his umbrella and preparing to tread the downpour once more. The city's wet season wouldn't end any time soon it seemed, most students were more worried by that than the missing people incidents, surprisingly. "Uhm- excuse me! Ayumu, over here!" A voice called out through the pouring rain. The overwhelmed student from earlier in the day peeking his head out the side of what seemed to be a small community rain shelter. Ayumu stepped under the roofing, closing his umbrella and shifting his gaze to the student. "I'm sure everyone's okay like I said—" he restated, raising his hands and motioning them as if to ease him again. "It's not..that. Well, it is, but not like that. I've heard rumors about this crap, dude! I'm Miso Haru— I know my name doesn't matter or mean anything but please.. everyone else laughs at me, just— hear what I have to say about the situation, okay?" Miso the worriedsome pleads, nearly falling to his knees in desperation. "I'll listen, I suppose," Ayumu replied with little to no worry in his voice, leaning back against the cold concrete wall behind him. Miso seemed to be begging for a shot at proving himself, and Ayumu couldn't turn down the poor guy while he's in this state.