3rd persons POV
Once again, another informant barges in to the room where the elementary school principal was getting treated. The principal glances over from his bed that he sits upon, bandages covering his whole torso from the burns given to him by a certain fire user.
"Damnit!" The underling exclaims in frustration, relaying the news that he gathered. "Elementary school principal! When it comes to capturing Sakura-Futago. Persona..."
As the words escape the man's mouth, an overwhelming rage washes over for ESP's tiny body. Green eyes ablaze, he tries to believe that what was said was not true but his minion had no reason to lie.
"What are you talking about?" The words sputter out of his mouth as he tries to wrap his mind around the thought. "Rei.... Betrayed me?" His fists tremble, "He... is on their side?!" The air around him becomes dark, scaring those around him. They can only watch as the man spirals, having lost one of his most valuable assets.
"How come... I can't believe Rei betrayed me. Rei, who do you think... has been protecting guys like you all this time?!" Luna jumps slightly as the man begins shrieking, "You unappreciative weasel! I will never forgive this traitor... I will destroy you and these guys.. with my bare hands!" He vows. This delusional man would surely not let this go unpunished.
"I will never let you get away with this... REI!"
///
Shiki raises the small mushroom to his mouth, recounting everything that's happening. On the other side of the communication is everyone who was at the concert and has mushroom earphones. They listen to his words carefully, the middle school principal being their eyes and ears for what was happening with Mikan and Akako.
"What?" The high school principal gasps through the headphones, shocked at what's been revealed to them, "Persona... betrayed the ESP?"
"Mikan and the others got backup?!" Another voice exclaims through the headphones for everyone to hear.
Ruka holds his heart in relief, knowing that Mikan had help but an uneasiness weighs his heart down. Persona was the man who spread the Alice of death to two of the people he cared about most and made Natsume's as well as Akako's life hell. He turns to look at his best friend's reaction to see an expression of concern. He could tell that Natsume was definitely weary about trusting the man. A vision of Akako being face to face with Persona caused Natsume a great amount of worry, wondering how she was holding up.
"What's going on?" Tsubasa shakes his head, unable to believe what was happening, "What happened? If it's true, what's with the change in heart?" Tsubasa tries figuring out what Persona's motive could possibly be. After everything that man did, it was a little difficult to trust him. "He even offered to help the twins escape the maze residence. Is it okay to let Mikan and Akako go with that guy? Will Akako even allow that?" The fourteen-year-old questions. He knew that if Akako sensed danger, she would surely do what she thought best for Mikan.
Jinno sighs at the boys concerns, also wondering the same thing. "This is a message from the new MSP, we have no other choice but to believe that this is true." He confirms.
Tono is the one to retort this time, "But Persona is the one who used the Alice of death on the twins as well as their father. Not to mention that he almost killed Nobara-Chan." He points out, furthering their reasons to distrust the man, "Can we believe... that he's really changed? What if he's a traitor? What if this is a trap set up by the ESP?"
Both Natsume and Ruka stiffen when Tono points out that very real possibility. Natsume ponders what could happen if that was indeed the case.
'Akako is smart in these situations... surely she won't trust him so easily.'
"We can't possibly trust persona."
"No way, Jinno-Sensei."
Jinno understood their reluctance very well, he himself not knowing what to make of the situation but he knew that there was nothing this particular group could do. "We don't know what his real intention is but... our top priority now is to hunt down the elementary school principal." He tells the children and teens, "If saving the twins will give the principal the chance to escape, they will be known as escaped criminals and their lives will be even more miserable."
He looks at all of the boys, trying his best to convince their very defiant minds to cooperate with him. "Sakura is a sweet girl. In times like these, she won't sit and wait to be rescued. To top that, Sakura-Chan is a fighter and will do whatever she must in order to keep them safe. We have no choice... but to trust those two with it. Have a little faith." With a glance, the teacher sees a reluctant acceptance painted on the young faces. "We'd better find the ESP as soon as possible. For Sakura-Futago's sake, let's take him."
Fueled by determination to save their friends, all the boys nod their heads and prepare themselves for anything that may come their way. Ruka peers over at Natsume to see how he was holding up only to be perplexed when he sees something near the fire user's nape. Something that was latched onto his hair.
"Natsume... spider..." the blond tries to point it out but Jinno's order for them to head out makes the boy realize it wasn't very important at the moment.
"The elementary school principal has been using barriers and all sorts of Alice's to try and cover his tracks.... Somewhere inside our department." Jinno informs the team, everyone gathering together as they begin teleporting. They arrive outside of the department, Jinno accompanied by Natsume, Ruka, Tono, and Tsubasa. The only adults were himself, Misaki-Sensei, as well as Noriyuki-Sensei who teleported the group there.
Enemies are quick to teleport in front of them, the group running towards the Fuukitai as they prepare to make their way past.
"Let's go!"
While everyone began their battles in the real world, a certain raven haired girl requests something of Nodacchi while in space-time.
///
Mikan and Akako stay standing there as they lock eyes with the man. Akako glares, trying to seem unafraid as she tries to figure out what exactly Persona was trying to do.
Mikan is the first one to act while everyone was stunned frozen. She rushes towards Nobara in an attempt to protect the ice user from the man that almost killed her. Akako is snapped from her daze when her sister moves, quickly getting between the girls and Persona. She raises her hands up slightly at her sides, getting in a defensive stance as she readied herself for anything. A fire lights in one hand, Akako's eye twitching as ragged breaths escape her chest.
"Persona, I don't know what kind of trick you're playing at here... but we won't fall for it so easily!" Akako stated. She awaits any response from him, looking for any sly smirk or facial characteristics that may slip- telling her that they were being played.
While her blue eyes observe Persona, Mikan's brown ones turn down towards the bed when a fragile hand gently grips her wrist.
Imai and Sakurano witness the movement, a joyful surprise weaving its way into their hearts as relief fills the room. "She's awake!" Imai notes.
His words deter Akako's actions, causing the blonde to turn around. Her limbs fall a bit as she's distracted by the comfort of knowing her friend was well. Akako swiftly returns to her previous position, facing Persona who stares at Nobara.
"Be brave... Persona."
Mikan's breathing stops when she hears those words. She's watches Nobara who's eyes were glued to persona. Within seconds, Mikan becomes aware of what she just witnessed.
'I heard the voice within Nobara... because I got Sakurano-Senpai's intuition Alice!'
Mikan turns her body to fully face her friend while Akako continues to stand guard. She listens to the deepest desires of Nobara who couldn't talk at the moment.
"Please... you must forgive him." Nobara's soul begs, "Please believe that.. it took him a long time to gather up the courage. Mikan, please..."
"Hey! Stop right there!" Akako orders, lighting her fists up brighter when Persona takes slow cautious steps towards the twins. He approaches like one would a wild lion, knowing that Akako would most likely attack- especially after all of the trauma he caused her.
A gentle hand lands on Akako's shoulder, stopping the elemental user from attacking. Akako looks at her sister, confused as to why she was preventing the blond from attacking and protecting them. Akako sees something in her sisters face, noticing that something was different in Mikan. What it was, the younger twin didn't know but it puzzled her.
"Mikan-nee...?" Akako questions her twin. Mikan softly places her hand on Akako's arm that was lit aflame, slowly lowering it. Akako extinguishes her fire, completely bamboozled by her sisters actions. Persona had made Akako's life awful. She's been beaten by him, traumatized, and he never had any remorse for her- at least not that she knew of. Mikan knew that Akako has gone through many things, so why was she acting like this?
Something moves out of the corner of her eye, causing Akako to flinch and quickly grab Mikan's arm. Her head swivels towards the man, with a weary expression. He watches as her eyes lock on to his hand, outstretched towards her and Mikan.
Her skin paled, eyes squinting as she tries to make sense of his actions. Her light eyes slowly travel up his arm and then to his face, revealing an anxious expression. Akako had never seen him make a face like that. Mikan stays staring at the man, waiting for him to speak.
The man gulps, mustering you the courage though his instincts are telling him that he should run. In Persona's gut, he knew that this was right, this was the start of a new path.
"In order to... protect you from the ESP, please allow me to help you escape from here." Persona requests, he knew that the idea sounded ludicrous from Akako's suspicious eyes. He watched that little girl grow for the past four years and has watches her bright innocent eyes turn into those of a seasoned agent. He has seen the girl go through some awful experiences while at the academy and could read her like a book. "I am very aware... that this suggestion sounds very strange and unrealistic to you."
Akako inhales, ready to shout anything at him. Ready to yell that the idea was indeed very crazy- unimaginable, in fact. She wanted to ask how he could possibly think they would accept his help after everything that he'd done to them. She had many things to tell but what he says next makes the words catch in her throat.
"I'm also aware... that the mistakes I've made can never be forgiven." Persona lowers his head as a curtain of guilt hangs around him, "I know that my hands... killed your father and friends." He turns his eyes upwards, feeling as though he had no right to look these little girls in the face. "Holding it is so painful to you. However... I hope that you can allow me to redeem what I've done, so I can take my first step on my path of atonement... for the rest of my life."
Both Imai and Sakurano stand, watching the scene that they never thought would happen. Meanwhile, Nobara lays facing him, knowing fully well that the man dearly wished to make up for all that he had done.
Images fly through Persona's mind as he recalls the instances when his Alice harmed those most dear to him. "Nobara and Yukihira-Sensei... sacrificed their lives to help me realize how stupid I was to ignore my crimes. In order to... pay my gratitude, please allow me... to take this step." He raises his hand once again.
Akako can only look at the hand in silence, unknowing of what to do. Conflicting thoughts infiltrate her mind while Mikan makes up her own. Mikan thinks back to Nobara's pleads as well as the time her father spent with Persona when he was a child. She knew that deep down, persona was a good person who knew what wanted to correct his wrong-doings.
Her hand hesitantly reaches upward, clasping Persona's in her own. She looks up at the man who seemed stunned at her action. She meets his eyes with an unwavering gaze.
'This hand... has made so many people suffer... Akako, Father, Nobara and others... even myself.'
"Onee-Chan?" Akako tugs on Mikan's sleeve, tempted to pull her older sister away.
"If we managed to escape from here," Mikan speaks, silencing her younger twin, "Could you promise... not to hurt anymore people from now on?" Everyone is astonished by her words, not expecting those to be the ones that escaped her mouth, "You are... stronger than all of us. So is your Alice. And I also believe that all the things you've been through in your life made you who you are today. That's why I think... you don't have to prove your toughness by hurting others around you. Father and Nobara also trusted you... with their lives."
Akako is stunned hearing those words. Heading Mikan speak of how their father and friend believed in Persona so much that they gave their lives. Of course the girl was bias I'm this situation, it was hard for the girl to believe in him so quickly.
"I... wanna try believing in you." Mikan continues, "So, show me how strong you are. You can't let Father, Nobara, and everyone down."
Persona's eyes widen, looking at the two holster before him. A vision of Yukihara-Sensei as well as Yuka seem to manifest behind them, the girls being exact replicas of their parents.
His hand wraps around Mikan's smaller one, as though sealing a promise with the girl. "I understand." He nods his head, "From now on, I will protect the both of you from the ESP, even if I have to sacrifice my own life." Persona Vows. 'I shall... leave the old, weak me behind. I must make an atonement... for the wrongs I've caused.'; "I swear. I'll never hurt anyone. I'll do it for myself and I won't let those important people who helped me... die for nothing."
A gentle smile comes on to Mikan's face, softening Akako's heart the slightest bit. Akako observes Persona, not noticing anything deceiving. She sighs, lowering her head. "Gomen." The blonde apologizes, catching their attention. Once eyes are on her, she peers up at persona, though not as harsh as before. "I still can't fully believe or trust you yet." The girl informs him, persona expecting that answer. "You've done many things and I know you want to make up for it all, I do. But... it's hard for me to forget everything."
Mikan reaches down, holding Akako's hand.
"I will give you a chance. Forgive me for not being so trusting." The girl bows, surprising the man with her genuine words and apology.
"Hai..." his shoulders drop a bit, "I understand." He then turns his body that way he's facing both girls, "Let's go... to where you wanted to go before they come to catch you." The man then turns towards the high schoolers who were still in the room, "Please take care of Nobara." He pleads.
Upon his request, Imai nods his head, "Oh course."
Persona keeps ahold of Mikan's hand while the trio take their leave. Akako walks closely to Mikan, wishing she could be like her sister and trust the man so easily.
"Let's go."