The shadows had scattered, leaving only the quiet breath of the desert wind. Shoji, Taiga, and Hakuo regrouped, glancing around for Minami—only to realize she was no longer with them.
Shoji's eyes widened. "Where is she?"
Taiga looked around, worry creeping into his voice. "I thought she was right behind me…"
Before they could say more, a strange tremor rippled through the sand. A thick, unnatural fog began to spread, separating them from Minami's trail.
"We need to find her. Now," Shoji said sharply.
"She hasn't gone far," Hakuo added, narrowing his eyes. "But this fog... it's not natural. It's the work of a Shadow. I'm sure of it."
Meanwhile, Minami's Location
Minami stumbled into a wide, circular clearing surrounded by broken mirrors. The reflections shimmered, some showing her as she was, others warping her image into smiling masks—too wide, too perfect.
Then a voice echoed.
"Why do you keep pretending?"
Minami turned sharply, her eyes scanning the space.
From the mist, a familiar silhouette stepped out. It was her, but different. Her smile was forced, strained—eyes gleaming with mockery.
"You dance and smile like everything's fine. But deep down… you're terrified they'll see how much you're crumbling."
Minami took a step back. "No… That's not—"
"You only dance to be loved. If they knew the real you, they'd walk away."
The shadow lifted its arms. The mirrors shattered, and out of the shards formed shadowy dancers with soulless eyes and mocking grins. They surrounded Minami, spinning faster and faster, chanting fragments of doubt.
"Your moves are stiff—"
"You'll never be good enough—"
"She's faking again—"
Minami fell to her knees, clutching her head.
Back to Shoji, Taiga, and Hakuo's side
They pushed through the fog, finally reaching the clearing.
"There!" Shoji shouted, seeing Minami trapped in the illusion.
Hakuo gritted his teeth. "That's her Shadow…"
Shoji made a move forward, but Hakuo stopped him. "She has to face it. This is her battle."
Back to Minami side,
Minami's breath came in shaky gasps.
"I… I'm not faking…"
She looked up at her Shadow, trembling.
"I love dancing… It's not about being perfect. It's the only time I feel like I can be myself…"
"Then prove it."
The Shadow lunged.
But just as it reached her, time seemed to slow.
A soft voice, elegant and gentle, echoed in Minami's heart.
"I am thou… Thou art I…"
A glowing ring shimmered into existence on her finger, resonating with a pulse like a beating heart.
"You dance not to hide yourself, but to reveal your truest form. Let me share the stage with you, Minami. Let your soul shine."
Minami's eyes widened. She stood, her trembling replaced by a firm resolve. She threw the ring into the air, her voice strong.
"Come forth, Terpsichore!"
Light erupted from the sky, swirling into the graceful form of Terpsichore—a divine dancer with silken robes that flowed like waves. She landed mid-spin, her bare feet barely touching the ground.
"The stage is ours."
The shadowy dancers screeched and lunged forward. Terpsichore moved first, her body glowing with rhythm and grace, weaving between the shadows like a breeze. Her strikes were like pirouettes, devastating yet beautiful. But there were too many.
Minami stumbled back.
"Minami!" Shoji's voice rang out.
The mist parted behind her—Shoji, Taiga, and Hakuo rushed into the clearing.
"We're not letting you face this alone!" Shoji shouted.
Charon materialized beside him in a flash of violet fire, slamming his oar into a group of shadow dancers and knocking them into the sand.
"Let's clean this up quick!" Taiga called, summoning his Persona—Tsugumi-no-Okami—a Samurai figure with a fire sword, striking a blaze fire through the mass of shadows.
Hakuo leapt in alongside them, claws out, pouncing between shadowy figures with deadly precision.
Terpsichore glanced at Minami, her voice calm. "Now, shall we dance?"
Minami smiled, heart pounding. "Yeah. Let's do this."
She spun with Terpsichore, stepping into a dance unlike anything she'd performed before. Each movement summoned bursts of light, pushing back the darkness. Her final spin triggered a radiant shockwave—sending the remaining shadow dancers into oblivion.
The Shadow—her own twisted self—staggered, weakened.
Minami stepped forward. "I'm done pretending. I don't need to fake a smile anymore. I'll dance because I love it. Even if I mess up, even if people see the real me… that's okay."
The Shadow blinked, her expression softening.
"So… you really can dance just for yourself…"
And with a final shimmer of light, the Shadow faded away, leaving silence in its wake.
Shoji, Taiga, and Hakuo approached her.
"You were amazing," Shoji said, still a little winded.
Minami wiped her eyes, laughing a little. "Thanks. That… was a lot."
Hakuo nodded approvingly. "You've found your strength. Welcome aboard, Minami."
After the Battle
The silence lingered for a moment after the battle, broken only by the soft wind brushing through the desert. The ground shimmered faintly where the Shadow had faded, leaving no trace behind.
Minami let out a long breath and sat down on the sand, hugging her knees.
Shoji walked over and crouched beside her. "You okay?"
She nodded slowly. "I think so. I still don't really get what's going on, but… that thing was me, wasn't it?"
"Yeah," Shoji said, glancing toward where the Shadow had disappeared. "We've all faced something like that."
Taiga dropped onto the sand next to them. "Yours was super intense, though. You really pulled through."
Minami smiled faintly. "Thanks. I… didn't know I had that in me."
Hakuo stood a little apart, arms crossed. "It's not just about what's inside. It's about choosing to face it. Most people run from their Shadows. You didn't. That's what matters."
Minami looked down at her hand, still bearing the glowing ring. Her eyes sparkled. "So I've got a Persona now… huh?"
"Yup," Taiga said, grinning. "Welcome to the club."
Back in the Real World
They returned the same way they came, stepping back through the shimmering crack between dimensions near the school. As always, time seemed strange—like no more than a few minutes had passed.
The cool night air greeted them. The familiar world felt a bit distant after what they'd just gone through.
"Alright," Taiga said, stretching, "I'm starving. I vote we get ramen. My treat!"
Minami chuckled. "Didn't you say that last time and then forgot your wallet?"
"I'm working on my memory skills!"
Later that week, the four of them met up at a local café after school. The place had big windows, soft music, and surprisingly good cake. Taiga and Minami were already arguing over milkshake flavors by the time Shoji arrived.
"Shoji!" Minami waved. "Help me out! Chocolate or strawberry?"
He blinked. "Uh… chocolate?"
"Ha! Told you!" Minami grinned, pointing at Taiga. "You owe me now."
"Ugh," Taiga groaned, but he was smiling.
Hakuo, perched beside them in his disguised form (a small white dog thanks to a little illusion trick), sighed. "You humans are exhausting."
Minami reached down and scratched behind his ears. "You're cute when you're grumpy, Hakuo."
Hakuo growled lightly but leaned into her hand.
Shoji watched them, smiling quietly to himself. For once, everything felt… normal. Like maybe, even with all the strange and dark things in the desert, they could hold onto something real here.
After they part away with Taiga at the café, Minami and Shoji ended up walking home in the same direction.
"So," Minami said, walking backward in front of him, "be honest. Did you think I was gonna die out there?"
Shoji raised an eyebrow. "No. I saw you stand back up. That's when I knew you'd make it."
Minami blinked, a little surprised. "You noticed that?"
He nodded. "Yeah. That moment… you looked really strong."
She smiled, brushing some hair behind her ear. "Thanks. That means a lot coming from you."
They walked in silence for a bit.
Minami looked up at the sky. "Hey, Shoji?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think it's okay… if I stop trying so hard to be perfect all the time?"
Shoji glanced at her. "I think it's better if you just be yourself. People like you for you, not for the version you think they want."
Minami smiled, eyes soft. "You're kinda cool, you know that?"
Shoji looked away, a little flustered. "You're just saying that because I picked chocolate."
She laughed. "Maybe."
At one night, during Shoji sleeping, he got a dream. Blue fog drifted like mist across the floor. That familiar deep, velvet hue painted the walls around him, glowing softly like the breath of another world. Shoji sat quietly in the chair that materialized beneath him, hands resting on his lap.
Across the table, Igor greeted him with that ever-peculiar smile.
"Ah, we meet again. And I see you've found new companions on your journey. How delightful. The more souls you are bound to, the more powerful your potential becomes. Such is the nature of the Wild Card."
Shoji blinked. He was still getting used to this place—and Igor's strange way of speaking.
The long-nosed man laced his fingers together. "But do not mistake companionship as mere strength in numbers. These bonds... they are mirrors to your own soul. They will carry you forward. They will challenge you. And sometimes... they may even break you."
Shoji tensed slightly at that.
"Such is the fate of those who tread the path between light and shadow. There may come a time when doubt clouds your heart. When the burden of regret feels too heavy to carry."
Kara stood silently beside Igor, arms crossed loosely, watching Shoji with calm, thoughtful eyes.
"But remember this, Shoji Akiyama... Even when swallowed by darkness, the flame of resolve flickers within those who believe. Trust in your companions. Trust in your bonds."
Shoji looked down for a moment, absorbing the words.
"I look forward to observing how your journey unfolds," Igor said. "Now go... until fate beckons you again."
And just like that, the Velvet Room dissolved into mist—and Shoji found himself waking once more.