Night Time, Yokohama Chinatown.....

"Well, we're here." Kaidou puts his arm to his waist, sweating a bit.

"Nervous? You can run if you're scared, thief." A small snake came out from my hood, mocking sweating Kaidou.

"I-I'm not! I'll be fine, its to prove myself for the Phantom Thieves!" Kaidou was getting pumped. I was a bit worried for him since it's our second time we're going to the 'Lost Eden' and it's going to be his first time to summon a persona.

"Worried?" Enki noticed me, looking at Kaidou with worried eyes.

"... Yeah," I said.

"Don't be, it'll be fine. That bafoon wouldn't die anyway... I think." Enki tried reassuring me.

"Yeah, true." I smiled.

"What are you waiting for? Its almost 12:00 pm." Kaidou was getting impatient.

"Alright go to an alleyway," Enki ordered. We then ran to the nearest alleyway, that was not visible to crowds or the police.

"Now take out your syringes and be ready." We took out our modified syringes that were used to summon our personas. As we wait till the clock hits 12, my mind goes back to two days ago.......

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Two Days Ago, School.......

It was lunchtime, we were about to meet with Enki, a snake that saved us when we're at that place. We headed to rooftop, where most students-well no students are allowed to the roof, so Kaidou had a duplicate key for the rooftop door.

"Why do you have such a thing?" I asked the hooded Kaidou.

"Hmm? Oh, you mean the key? Yeah, it's just for emergencies... Or a nice place to eat." Kaidou said as he puts his arms in his pockets.

"You eat by yourself?" I asked.

"Yeah, its because I steal and trade other people's stuff they in the end just brush me off and ignore me, sometimes I get into fights." Kaidou just smiled while talking about it.

"Eh? Getting into fights but..." I looked at him, head to toe. He doesn't look like a person who could fight. It seems like he would lack experience in fighting.

"Yeah, I'm really weak. So at times, I compromise with them. If that doesn't work, I then run away using a planned detailed escape. No one knows where I live. And if that doesn't work..... Well, you know." Kaidou had a sad expression on his face. I would say its best if I leave it alone.

"But I've been getting better... Or is it worse? Well whatever, right now we're looking at something that could change our lives!" He shouted right in the hallway, most of the students stared at us, some murmuring. I just sighed.

"... L-Let's hurry." He said, blushing. When we arrived at the rooftop, we saw a small snake curled up. Waiting. We then walked towards it.

"... Enki?" I said to the sleeping snake. It then lunged at me, making us both jump. We both fell on the floor.

"Hahaha... Sorry." The snake then laughed at us. We got up and Kaidou wasn't pleased with the joke.

"Don't scare us like that," Kaidou whined.

"What? Are you a coward? I was just playing around." Enki slithered. Kaidou was getting angry so I then talked.

"Um... What did you need us for?" I asked, trying to ignore Kaidou's anger.

"Right... Sit down." He said. We sat down and put down our food as well.

"Well then, let's start with introductions first," Enki said.

"I'm Enki, a snake if that's what you human calls us, and a blacksmith. Nice to meet you." Enki said. Kaidou then leaned towards me, whispering to my ear.

"Should we trust him?" Kaidou whispered. I ignored him and started my introduction.

"I'm Ryu Himuro, a second-year in Seikawa High." I bowed my head.

"Ah, you just ignored me!? What the hell!" Kaidou was pissed.

"Come on you bafoon, just introduce yourself." Enki provoked him.

"Yeah, you're wasting our time here." I also provoked him.

"Ah, fine." He sighed.

"The name is Kaidou Sonezaki, also a second year in Seikawa High." He bowed his head.

"It's nice to meet you two!" Said the cheerful snake.

"Likewise. Anyway, what did you want us to talk about?" I asked. Enki then looked serious, though I don't know how a snake looks serious I felt some kind of aura.

"It's about yesterday," Enki said slowly. We gulped.

"W-What about it?" Kaidou stuttered.

"... It was a first for a human to get out of there safely, moreover for someone to achieve power, that is called persona," Enki told us. We looked at each other, worried.

"You must have questions about that right?" Enki asked.

"Yes, what was that place?" I asked my first question.

"That place is called the 'Lost Eden'. Its, in its name, an Eden for lost souls or unloved souls. It's not a place where humans go, willingly. There are those who search for a place for comfort, to grieve, to get out of reality. That's what the 'Lost Eden' is. It's born by those who are lonely, unloved, despair." Enki explained further.

"Then, what are those things that we fought?" Kaidou asked.

"Those are called Shadows. They are the lower psyche of the human heart, suppressed thoughts that are given physical form. It may look different at times, some may look like a human." Enki had a dry chuckle. Kaidou was sweating.

"... What about that power?" Kaidou asked. I have already known the answer to that so I kept quiet.

"The power he used is called Persona, its a manifestation of your psyche. They are called Persona-users, they are able to tame Shadows." Enki explained all of Kaidou's questions.

"I-I see...." Kaidou said, confused.

"Take your time, but it seems like Ryu here already understood everything." Enki noticed that I knew about most of the things. I then opened the plastic of my Yakisoba bread and ate it. I looked at Enki, who wanted to ask a question while Kaidou was still trying to piece everything together.

"Ryu, I have a question," Enki said.

"Yes?"

"Its the first I see someone summoning a persona with an artificial object. I only have seen someone summon one by tearing off a mask." Enki said.

"A mask?" Kaidou asked.

"Yeah, but I've never seen a man-made summoner." Enki moved closer. I took out the persona syringe, which I bought with me to school.

"Why did you bring it?" Kaidou asked.

"Intuition, I guess?" I answered.

"... Right." While we were talking, Enki was observing the syringe.

"Woah, I never knew such a machine is able to be created by humans." Enki was intrigued.

"Hey, snake-eyes. You think I can get this power too?" Kaidou asked the intrigued snake.

"Hmm? Yeah sure, though I don't understand why." Enki was a bit confused about Kaidou's decision.

"It's just that... What we discussed just now was something really important, especially this 'Lost Eden'." Kaidou was trying to find a reason.

"You want a way to destroy the place?" Enki asked, uninterested.

"Yeah, basically... It's just-"

"Why, you should leave it be." Enki just ignored Kaidou.

"Huh!? What do you mean by leave it be?" Kaidou looked at Enki, questioning him. I also looked at him.

"I mean, isn't better for that to happen? I mean you get rid of the trash in the world so that there is space for those who are-!" Enki was interrupted by Kaidou slamming the floor.

"That doesn't mean we should leave them be! They are still people and we can't just ignore that! Right, Ryu?" Kaidou then looked at me to support his argument.

"His right Enki. If you knew someone for so long and you see him in trouble, would you ignore him? And leave with that guilt for the rest of your life." I stood up.

"We now know about something that could be catastrophic to the people in this city and we have the power to stop that. It's normal for a human, no, for anybody to try to save them, even if they are trash." I finished my statement.

"... Haa, fine. I'll need to borrow this for at least a day, so I can make a duplicate," Enki said, taking the syringe with him. I looked at Kaidou and smiled.

"Yes! Thank you!" Kaidou said, excitedly.

"Anyway, do you have the pills I gave you?" Enki asked. The pills which he gave me right after he saved us. I nodded.

"Good. Every midnight, you will be transported to that place. Use the pill to get out." Enki said as slithers off.

"Right, but what are these pills-?" Kaidou turned to see the snake gone, also the syringe. The bell had also rung.

"Well then, we should get going," I said. As we walking back to class,

"Thank you," Kaidou said. I looked at him, confused.

"For what?"

"For helping me. It was the first someone else then Rei helped me." Kaidou smiled at me. We stopped right in front of the class.

"From now on, let's take care of each other back, partner." Kaidou raised his fist for a fist bump.

"Of course, partner." We fist-bumped.

...!?

Is this the social link Igor told me? I'll ignore it for now and We went into class and it began as usual.

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"Ryu, you ready?" Enki asked.

"Yeah, Kaidou?" I asked the enthusiastic boy.

"Always, partner."

A/N: Hello, sorry I haven't been uploading for a while. I have some projects to do these days and I'm busy with school so yeah. Anyway, I might upload some chapters a bit late from now on. Also Thank You for 1k reads on my Persona: Their Will. I've finally hit a milestone. So thank you and enjoy the next books I will publish. Also if you haven't read Persona: Their Will, I recommend you do. Now then, see ya.