2026-01-29: A Lost Arrow

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<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

It was a team effort, recognizing the shape of the problem. Reiya noticed first that the girl hadn't shown up for classes, and Yukari may have noticed the same. But it was Elizabeth, through Minato, who made clear that someone had wandered into Tartarus. The missing persons board outside Officer Kurosawa's confirmed it:

The missing girl was Gekkoukann second-year Beniho Igarashi.

BGM - P3R OST - Troubled https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XU22s0MV0k

Reiya's tense. He was tense when he insisted on being part of the rescue team, annd he's tense now, now that they're at the bottom of Tartarus about to take the teleporter up. The Dark Hour started recently enough that they've only just arrived in Tartarus and set up.

"What could've happenned?" he wonders, as he checks his needles (in a lot of braces on his person) and his sai (at his sides). 'Tense' for Reiya is mostly in the set of his jaw--otherwise he acts... fairly normal. A little more inclined to look around every few moments, though.

"Is everyone prepared for the search?"

They're going up to Arqa, and Reiya is having... trouble, leaving it to the leaders. 

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    Minato, for his part, got to Tartarus, sword at his hip, and... walked off to the side to stare into space a bit by the Velvet Room door.

    Once he ambles back to the teleporter, he says: "Igarashi-san should be between floors 47 and 54," he reports -- the second half of Arqa Block, and the range between two stable 'safe floors' where they've previously defeated Guardians. These are the floors with permanent Teleporter access, distributed not quite evenly along Tartarus's height.

    How does he know something like that...?

    No one but Minato can see Elizabeth, waving cheerfully behind him as she stands at the door to the Velvet Room.

    "Ready," Minato reports, and if there's any strangeness in the Blue Leader saying that to someone else he lets it stand uncommented.

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Suzume wasn't in the right class to immediately notice the girl's disappearance, nor the right clubs (because she's not in any clubs).

But to her credit she immediately volunteered when she heard someone *was* missing, and so she's here.

Suzume has noticed Reiya's tension but isn't quite sure what to do about it. What she actually does is thump him on the shoulder as she passes. "Don't worry. We'll get her out," she says as she walks past, checking her tonfa (the ones with the backswept 'wing') and pushing up her headband absently, half-hidden in her messy voluminous hair.

She trusts Minato's verdict even though she's not quite sure how he got it. Well, he has done this more often than she has. "Then let's *go*," she says, bouncing on her feet a couple times and shadowboxing the air to loosen up before dropping back into her normal stance.

Minato wasn't telling *her* he was ready, but, well... Suzume is not the sort to want to wait around. 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari Takeba certainly did notice but at Archery Club, as they all perform care on their bows- "I hear she's come down with something." "Huh, well- alright."
 
The thing is, that was an early rumor, before she was reported missing. So she didn't think it was anything to be concerned about.
 
-=-=-
 
"What do you mean she's MISSING!?"
 
-=-=-
 
Cut to now during the Dark Hour, Yukari's tense too, currently wearing her SEES gear. "I'm not sure. It's not like with Fuuka-chan... she's the only person in Gekkoukan who's been reported missing."
 
She relates to Reiya. It's not the lead up to another Shadow on the Full Moon, she means. Or at least she hopes it isn't.
 
Brandishing her bow, and checking her Evoker on her right hip, "I'm ready." Before she notes to Reiya, "She'll be okay. Nothing could have come after her during the day."
 
How different her attitude has changed, now that they all know way more about how Tartarus works.
 
"So long as we find her fast."

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh, of course, wouldn't let his bro Reiya down. Even if it means putting aside some lingering soreness from the engagement with Strega.

While Minato is pondering the secrets of the universe Koh rolls his shoulder, testing the weight of his big knife. Helpfully, magic means he's fit to go risking his life again.

"Ready," He affirms. "Takeba-san is right," He assures with a smile. "We'll just do this quick, no problem." His special skill is looking positive even if he isn't.

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

A girl missing in Tartarus... For obvious reasons, this is something Fuuka's interested in helping with. The situation is... familiar. She doesn't know Beniho, but that doesn't matter - if someone's going through the same thing she was, she wants to be there to help.

"Do you think what happened to me...?" Fuuka starts - but Minato arrives, explaining that she's in between floors 47 and 54. She gives him a brief, surprised 'how did you know that?' look, but... That is a relief. If he believes that, she'll trust his judgment.

"Maybe... the Shadows called to her, like with Natsuki-chan. I'm not sure why, but..." She frowns. She doesn't know her, so she can't really say anything for certain.

"I'm ready. I'll start analyzing the upper floors to see if I can find her trail." Fuuka confirms with a nod. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Shinjiro wasn't necessarily looking *forward* to get back into the action, but it was a reprieve from hard conversations. As soon as he heard someone was missing, he got straight into the action, grabbing his gaudy gold piggy bank warhammer and coat and joining the others.

"We'll find her," he tells Reiya immediately. Their recent talk helped him understand him even a little bit more, and he knows Reiya's got vulnerability that he more or less hides. If he's this noticeably worried, it worries *him*.

Then, he glances to the others, a simple nod. If they were worried he'd stop fighting with them... well, they're solely mistaken.
"Thank you," he tells both Minato and Fuuka once intel is dropped and scanning is started. He rolls his shoulders once, and then takes his usual position. 

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka has been a bit quiet and withdrawn lately, and even moreso today. But when it was explained that someone had gone missing, she'd shaken herself out of it to focus on the task at hand.

She can't just sit by and let someone else be endangered if she can help at all, right?

Reiya asks how it could have happened. "Don't they close off the school grounds at night?" she asks. She's got less to check, considering--her katana's hard to misplace, and she has her all-important Evoker.

Minato just declares her general location, and Ririka glances towards Fuuka, eyebrows lifted in a silent question. Either 'How?' or 'Wait did you sense that at all...?'

"I'm ready, too," reports Ririka. "Yamagishi-san, I'll help you with the analysis." 

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    Aigis may not have been aware of the girl's absence, and she absolutely would not have connected her disappearance to Tartarus on her own. When word of the rescue mission had reached her, she agreed without complaint. In a similar situation as Reiya's, she would be just as tense.

    Tonight, her nature as a machine is abundantly clear at the moment without a school uniform or a casual outfit to hide it. On the bottom floor of Tartarus, she busies herself by filling various compartments with ammunition and explosive ordinance.

    She stares blankly at Minato as he confirms the range of floors which Beniho is on. Perhaps tactlessly, she asks, "I am curious. How did you come to know that?" It's not a topic she'll linger on too long, though.

    When Fuuka speaks, Aigis turns to her to listen. "What happened to you? The Shadows ... 'called' to her?" She quietly wonders if that's what happened with the artist, too.

    After she finishes preparing her weaponry, she firmly nods at Yukari and Koh. "Commencing search-and-destroy operation." Aigis pauses, realizing how that must have sounded, then she holds up a hand as she corrects herself, "To clarify, search for the missing person, destroy the Shadows along the way."

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

"You were able to isolate her presence that firmly..." Reiya looks impressed at Minato, but is too anxious to press him about how he knows. Instead he says, "Thank you." Then a nod to Suzume as she thumps him on the shoulder. "We will," he agrees, and having reliable friends is something that should help.

Yukari's calm reminder of the way Tartarus works, too, is of aid. "You're right, but..."

As long as they find her fast. "Right."

Koh's cheer has a smile to it--and while Reiya does't also smile, he does nod.

The Shadows may have called to her. "It's possible," Reiya says. "...I should've been paying closer attention," he says then, and looks down--but when Fuuka says she's analyzing the upper floors, he looks up. "Yes."

Shinjiro, too--is more reliable than he believes, according to Reiya. And Ririka's questions, "Yes, but..." There are ways.

He pauses, at Aigis's commencemet. "...Your clarification is appreciated," he says after a moment.

Then, he steps onto the teleporter; the others can do the same.

The teleporter takes them up...

Arqa looms around and before them. The strange, stonelike floors and walls in purple; the faces in purple and gray with red eyes. Fuuka can sense; there are Shadows on this floor, and even treasure, but no people. There are a few Shadows immediately ahead... and they'll have to find the stairs to the nnext floor.

There will be fights; the group had best make them quick. Shadows such as Mayas will strike at some of them; Shadows like the Hands will make use of their magic to slow and bedevil the group.

Reiya can help them avoid many, but not all. He stays up near the front of the group, even past the first floor--

But a red Shadow is there to deal with as they approach the 47th floor.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

'You're right, but...'
 
"I know." It could be seen as her saying 'I know I'm right' but it's instead, 'I'm worried too.'

Yukari looks at Fuuka as she asks, "Not really..." Though, she begins to think the same thing and give Minato a glance as well, 'How did he know that?'
 
Look she's not going to act like Minato is normal though- just like she's not. He's just a different type of normal with you know... well, they had a conversation about what he lives with.

"Wha-!?" Yukari recoils at Aigis' description, before then exhaling in relief at her clarification, "You had me worried there for a second... maybe just call this a rescue operation?"
 
She too steps on the teleporter, and Yukari does her thing, a few Shadows sprout arrows. Some healing spells go out and a Patra every now and then.
 
Then there's the Red Shadow.
 
"Ugh, not right now!" She exclaims, before she waits for the group to figure out how they want to handle this one.
 
"Maybe we just cast something to disorient it and run by? We don't have time to deal with it."

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    Broad assessments from the Leader's view: Suzume doesn't want to sit around while someone's in trouble. Yukari's remembering the girl who came before. Fuuka is the girl who came before, and Minato notes what she remembers as important, in that moment. ... Koh is ready, even though he was injured. And Minato is not amongst the people who has had a hard conversation with Shinjiro, yet; rather, he's noted the fact that other people have. (He is not surprised he is here.) Ririka is here, even though she's needed space. Aigis has a question directly for him, unlike the tact of the Navigators, and Minato replies: "Elizabeth-san told me."

    who the fuck is elizabeth

    And Reiya... he's nervous. It's the only reason Minato can think of why Aigis's statement would give him pause, like it does; Reiya is normally as methodological as him.

    Minato, as a Leader, isn't one for the spotlight; he creates openings for his teammates through debuffs and his flexible abilities to hit the weakness, offering support alongside Koh (though there's things Koh can do which he demonstrably can't) and helping Yukari with healing when the Shadows get off a chain of lucky shots as often as he doles out damage alongside Shinjiro. The one thing he can't sub in for is Navigation -- luckily, they have plenty of support there.

    When the Navigators warn him about the Dangerous Shadow approaching -- a Bestial Wheel with the mask of a lion across a spiked wheel, it's really what it says on the tin, folks -- Minato listens to their analysis, and decides: "Yukari-san, Fukura-san, hit it with all you've got." It's weak to Wind!

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"'Elizabeth-san?'?" Yukari repeats, in a hushed tone because who? sounds like a Western girl? first name basis?
 
She repeats, before darting Minato with a look.
 
When Minato gives the order though, "Alright-!" Taking her Evoker, she puts it to her head and-
 
"Persona!"

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Suzume is privately glad to have Shinjiro here with them. They've already had (one of) their hard conversations, and that might be the reason for her longer look at him, but she's glad he's here.

(He's not the only person she is. He just happens to be one of the people she's had an awkward conversation with lately. Him and Yukari, for completely different reasons.)

"We can ask her," Suzume says. A pause. "Though she might not be able to say much about it," she admits, remembering Natsuki, and other people who have seen supernatural stuff - not Tartarus, always, but... even so.

She gives Aigis a *different* kind of look when she explains what she means by search and rescue. She really ought to talk to her sometime... under normal circumstances she might have laughed at that, but it's harder to do that right now.

The group moves into Arqa. Suzume takes a position near the front, as she's used to; she needs to fight up there, and there's a lot of people in SEES who, for better or worse, either can't or really don't want to take a hit. Mayas are not terribly threatening, though it's easier to avoid Hands -

"Who's 'Elizabeth-san'?" Suzume's first guess is 'another class', but Yukari doesn't know either and she's in Minato's class, and why would a student who isn't in SEES know where in *Tartarus* someone is? "If you're just guessing you can just SAY that."

Though if the Navigators agree, does it count as guessing?

And fortunately, Minato has a plan. "Right!" she says, bouncing in place again, before: "Persona!"

Atalanta appears, rising out above Suzume as she rushes forward, her tonfa gathering wind along them to explode *outward* as soon as she lays a strike on it - or more accurately a series of strikes creating a maelstrom of crosswinds. THAT will keep it knocked down for a while, she hopes! 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"No destroying Beniho, right." Koh affirms. He was willing to accept Minato's clairvoyance without questionuntil Minato mentions he was talking to someone specific. Which brings up important questions like: who is Elizabeth? Is she cute?

But then they're stepping into Aqra and Koh gets a bit more serious. At least, he focuses less on presenting a comforting face and more on surviving as they begin moving through the hostile shadows.

Mostly he makes it easier. Each time his evoker fires clouds of noxious vapor engulf enemies, setting them tearing at their fellow shadows and themselves.

The wheel, though

"I can confuse it," He says, "Reiya-san, Arisato-san." He knows Reiya can move fast and take advantage. He assumes Minato can just do anything. 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

"They do, but... That doesn't mean people can't sneak in." Fuuka replies to Ririka. ...That's what happened with her, after all - and speaking of that, she looks to Aigis. That's right... she wouldn't know.

"Oh, yes, um... a while back, I was... locked in Gekkoukan's gym, just before midnight. Because of that, I was lost in Tartarus for a while." Fuuka explains. "The Shadows lured the girls who did it here to the school to feed on them. That's why I wondered..."

...She pauses and goes quiet as she realises that might not be the most sensitive thing to bring up when they're going on a rescue mission. Still... the tale of the 'ghost girl' still occasionally makes its way through Gekkoukan's halls, to this day.

'Search and destroy'... Fuuka looks sheepish for a moment, and is grateful that Aigis corrects herself.

"'Elizabeth-san'...?" Fuuka repeats, head tilted to the side with a quizzical expression as Minato answers Aigis's question(and hers, even if she hadn't asked it directly).

She nods toward Ririka, then.

"Alright, then... Kawase-san, can you focus on analyzing the enemy? I'll prioritize our surroundings." Fuuka replies.

They proceed upward, and Arqa looms. This place... She's very familiar with these surroundings. It doesn't give her as much pause as it used to, surrounded by good friends.

"I'm not detecting any people on this floor... Try the next one." Fuuka alerts.

As she suggested to Ririka, Fuuka focuses on their surroundings. She helps highlight treasure, points out objects they can smash for loot, and even at one point alerts them to a patrol of dangerous-looking Shadows heading their way.

As they approach the 47th floor, though, there's one they can't avoid.

"I'll focus on support." Fuuka announces. Lucia materializes around her, and imparts everyone with the power of wind to aid them in avoiding and mitigating the enemy's attacks. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Shinjiro is a brick wall combat-wise, but not emotionally. He returns Suzume's look briefly, before readying his hammer as they search for Beniho. He has a lot of complicated feelings, but...

He's part of the team, right?

He's also the type of guy to charge in, take blows, and deal as much direct damage as possible, which keeps him on the frontline. Weak Shadows just get slaughtered by his pressure and SEES's teamwork, but even the big wheel would slow him down, so...

"If you get pressured, get behind me!" he does remind, one of the more experienced combatants here, even if he is not the leader by any stretch. The wind aura Fuuka provides will help his defenses, at least.

His only goal is to make sure everyone gets out of here safe; whether civilian or SEES.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka is trying to get her head into the mission--but she looks at Aigis in alarm as she calls it 'Search and destroy.' "Um... Aigis-chan..." But then she clarifies. "... oh, good."

But Aigis asks the question Ririka didn't--and she looks baffled, looking around. "Elizabeth...? But I don't see..." She shakes her head and tries to put it out of mind. It doesn't matter right now if it's true. She just needs to focus on the mission right now.

Fuuka points out people can still sneak in. Ririka looks to her. "I know, but... I guess they didn't up security after the last time?" She pauses for a moment. "... we'll get her out," she says, tryuing to sound resolute.

But Fuuka suggests a division of labor, and Ririka nods. "Hai, Yamagishi-san." She can do that.

She had a hard talk with Shinjiro recently, and there are still things she's thinking really hard about from that conversation, but... while she might still be upset with Shinjiro she still trusts him enough to have him watch their back in a fight.

But they step into the teleporters, and... while Ririka can't cloak her presence the way Reiya can, she has something else she can do. She summons Amphion to start listening to the area in more detail.

She reaches out in front of her, a keyboard of light springing to life beneath her fingers as she starts to play--casting the music away from their position, trying to draw other shadows out of their path. "I'm trying to draw some of the minor Shadows out of position," she announces quietly, head down as she concentrates.

They approach the Dangerous Shadow, and Ririka shifts her focus, directing Amphion to drum at him and listening to the sounds on her headphones as they bounce back. "... I'm hearing a rush of air... target it with Wind attacks, and Avoid Earth-- I can't hit Wind, but I'll try to disorient it." A wave of distorted sounds is sent crshing against the Bestial Wheel to try and make it more vulnerable. 

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    Fuuka's explanation causes Aigis to pause for a moment, and the look in her eyes grows even more distant than normal. "The Shadows ... they ..." 'fed', she may have continued, but she can't let her thoughts linger as she tries to pinpoint why that stirs some strange feeling in her. She snaps out of it, then nods at Fuuka. "Thank you, Yamagishi-san."

    Aigis wasn't intentionally making a joke in this instance, so if Suzume had laughed, she would have been a bit confused. A talk of some sort is, perhaps, overdue.

    She hasn't gotten a chance to speak with Shinjiro yet, but without knowing the details behind why the attack on the dorms had occurred, she hasn't sought him out for that reason. At most, she may have more questions on food and how he's doing in school -- but tonight's not the night for that. Tonight, she understands the sense of purpose he moves with -- it is something she finds keenly familiar.

    "I comprehend," announces Aigis as Minato plainly states that Elizabeth told him. While she would otherwise continue and ask him more on who Elizabeth is, she has assessed that doing so may drag the conversation out further, and they don't have time to waste.

    Aigis takes a spot on the front line, considering herself more of a symbol of protection and a sacrifical piece compared to the rest of SEES. Against distant targets, she lays down suppressive fire to close off space and prevent their advance, and against smaller ones, she outright guns them down, provided she can get a clear shot. This is made significantly easier with Ririka's assistance -- a good number of them stay away, and Ririka's probably flushed the other ones they can't avoid out from behind cover.

    Between herself and Shinjiro, Shinjiro's sturdier, but she can apply just as much close-range pressure and tag in should he need it.

    Despite her approach not being stealthy in the slightest, she still runs with her arms splayed behind her in a manner similar to Reiya.

    Against the Bestial Wheel, her offensive capabilities may not be the best tactic, but she's still fairly hardy and can enhance her allies' attack and defense, covering the gaps in support where she notices them. Yukari gets an extra layer of protection with something that should shroud her presence from the Wheel. 

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

They can ask her. "Perhaps so." He remembers Natsuki didnn't remember much, but there's no guarantee that will be the same for her.

Yukari knows. Reiya is not always good at social cues, but this one he gets. But Yukari had the same pause he did about Aigis's reaction, and Koh even chimes in. "Right."

Elizabeth-san... Hm.

The battle comes up, and Reiya frowns. But Koh says he can confuse it... "Good," Reiya says. "Then I will attack from behind while it is vulnerable."

Fuuka makes sure no other Shadows surprise them from the side while the fight goes on. Thanks to Ririka's data, Minato's direction is spot-on. Yukari and Suzume keep the Shadow off its balance, and on those few turns it has a chance to get up, Koh mostly keeps it too confused to harm them. Reiya and Shinjiro step up with offense, and with Fuuka's shielding, Shinjiro has no problems soaking up the hits it does get to make. With Aigis's offensive support, it isn't long before the battle is over.

"...Right. It's time to move forward."

Reiya starts off into the dark, slightly ahead of Suzume thanks to his speed and stealth--but as requested, he does't move out of sight of his allies. The next floor awaits... Fuuka senses it first; they can narrow down Beniho's presennce... on floor 52! They make it past 48 with no particular incident, and even 49 is only tennse...

But on floor fifty, Fuuka and Ririka both sense it: There are so many Shadows on this floor. Too many to take all of them at once, particularly if they start swarming.

Reiya frowns. "I can try to get us past them," he says, "But..."

"Not alone." He looks to the Navigators. "If we combine our abilities?"

He hasn't stopped being tense. One Shadow he threw five needles at before he noticed it disappeared from the first. 

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    Minato blinks, when Yukari -- and not just Yukari -- repeats his Attendant's name. "That's right. She just goes by Elizabeth."

    It's something which gets more explanation, as they move up Tartarus, and Suzume asks too. "She helps me in the Velvet Room with Igor-san." Even though no one's ever run into someone called Elizabeth in there--!!!

    It's just a good thing Koh doesn't mention his thoughts. If he did, Minato would be forced to relay that, objectively speaking, Elizabeth is quite cute, and Yukari is right there.

    (Seriously, guys. You've never seen her in cat ears. Surely Suzume would be jealous...)

    Thanks to Fuuka, Minato snags some rare Twilight Shards from a blue pillar; they're a little more obvious in the gloom than the normal orange ones, especially placed against Arqa's purple backdrop, but it's by no means easy to figure out where they might be placed. Thanks to Ririka, meanwhile, they get preemptive strikes on a lot of those minor battles!

    Shinjiro offers to be a wall, and Minato has the Rakukaja to cash his check; he notes, in the process, that he wants to be in front. Minato can of course aid him in that covering, too -- Koh's not wrong when he figures he can do a little of everything, and getting in the way comes particularly naturally, to him. It is a natural inclination which is made harder, these days, by Aigis, who always has a strange habit of appearing in front of him when attacks are flying. Is it better that their weirdly sacrificial Leader has someone body-blocking for him now? Some might say yes! Minato would say... Rakukaja. Rakukaja for your efforts, Aigis.

    But then, floor fifty is teeming, and Minato frowns. "All right," he says, as he looks from Reiya to the Navigators. "We're counting on you."

    Minato is, if nothing else, very good at moving swiftly.

    He's part of the Track Club, you know?

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari double takes when Koh has to repeat that part about not destroying Beniho. It has to be a joke, right? "Let's stop with the stupid jokes today..." She complains.
 
Minato clarifies, Elizabeth. Helps him in the Velvet Room with Igor. Now Yukari has been to that very odd Cabaret Lounge where they assist her with Skill Cards...
 
... but she doesn't remember any Elizabeth, "Helps you... huh?" She's definitely not smiling, a tone of skepticism perhaps? Or something else?
 
Fuuka tells her tale, and Yukari still feels a stab of guilt, if she'd had it her way... but it all worked out. "Yeah. It's how we learned that if you're in Tartarus when the Dark Hour ends... you're kind of just 'suspended' during the day."
 
Yukari won't use the words 'cease to exist' as that's an existential nightmare she doesn't want to inflict on Fuuka.
 
They get to work on the Shadow, her and Suzume hitting it with their own Wind magic, while Fuuka focuses on defending them and Ririka disorienting.
 
Aigis' magic causes the wheel to lose focus on her, and she looks at her in surprise, "Thanks! Let's finish this!"
 
Fortunately it's defeated before long, "Phew. Okay, let's keep it going." She replies to Reiya. Floor 52... that she can be sensed is a good sign, but a lot can happen to a normal girl in the Dark Hour in just a few minutes.
 
Floor fifty though...
 
"Oh no... not one of these floors." As they go, she follows their lead as rapidly as she can.
 

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Stress hits everybody differently.

One of the ways it hits Suzume, even though she knows she shouldn't, is that it makes her emotional. Not just short-tempered (though it does that, certainly) but also prone to nervous laughter at things she really shouldn't find funny. Like what Aigis said about search and destroy.

Put in that context, it does make a lot of sense why Suzume gets along with Junpei, though - both out of Tartarus as a friend (most of the time) and in Tartarus as a partner.

"We're not gonna destroy anyone!" Suzume says, loudly, before adding, "Except Shadows," because Shadows aren't people. Duh. Like the wheel lion they just took out. "Thanks," she adds, to the others. The confusion was a good trick.

Suzume isn't sure if she believes Minato. But Minato clearly does SOMETHING in the Velvet Room she doesn't, so... "Uh huh," she says, letting it hang in the air.

(As Suzume is *currently* in cat ears, though she's shoved the headband on a little low so that they're partially covered up by her hair, she's not going to comment on anyone else being in them. Or not.)

The plan is to sneak. Suzume figures it *will* get the job done, and while she's no Navigator... "C'mon," Suzume says, waving people over. "Huddle up. I'll give you a hand."

DID YOU KNOW? Suzume (well, Atalanta) knows Masukukaja. It won't make the slow into a sprinting champion, but it might give people the little edge they need to keep up with Minato. Suzume herself gets pulled ahead of despite herself; she likes to run but Minato has more recent practice, and she has short legs. She pushes herself to keep up, feeling the reassuring burn in her legs that means yes, she is working hard.

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

"You're welcome." Fuuka replies with a nod as Aigis thanks her. Yukari explains how that if you're in Tartarus when the Dark Hour ends, you're suspended during the day. Fuuka nods to confirm. "Yes..."

Fortunately, Yukari doesn't have to worry about inflicting an existential nightmare on Fuuka... because she's already there! Even now, the thought of the ten days she lost to Tartarus still lurks in the back of her mind. It feels like such a small amount of time, especially with how much time has passed since then - but it's time she'll never get back.

With teamwork, the powerful enemy is defeated.

"Great work, everyone." Fuuka praises, and as they ascend the stairs to the next floor, she starts to feel it. It's faint, right now, but... she reaches out, trying to narrow down its location.

"I'm detecting a human presence... There's someone on floor 52!" Fuuka announces. But before they get there, they have more floors to get through. 48 and 49 don't pose much trouble...

...But then there's floor 50.

"So many of them..." Fuuka gasps, surprised. "We can't fight this many Shadows."

...Well, maybe they could - but it would be exhausting, and then they might not have the energy to make it all the way up. Reiya, though, has an idea. Combine their abilities...

"...Good thinking." Fuuka replies with a nod. She shuts her eyes, taking a moment to breathe. She's always excelled at detecting the enemy and their location... So she focuses. Spreads out her consciousness, focusing on the Shadows within. Identifying a pattern, predicting their movements. She shares this with Reiya and Ririka, to allow them to use their abilities to the fullest to find and make the optimal path through. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

"The Velvet Room's weird as fuck, he's probably telling the truth," Shinjiro replies to the apparent skepticism about Minato's apparent Western friend..

As they take down the Shadow, though, he's taking a breather as they hit the teleporter...

"That's a *shitton* of Shadows."

Shinjiro is *not* fast, and *not* stealthy. What he can do...

Is position himself to lag behind slightly. He won't be holding back the others if something happens, and if someone gets left behind, better him, right? He can probably survive longer than they can, and it'll allow them to get to Beniho while he's holding them off in such a scenario.

But his intention isn't to stay, but to make sure he's not dead weight. They'll probably need him if there's Shadows up ahead too, after all, so he's definitely benefitting from Suzume's speed boost

It's definitely his low self-worth talking at least partially, as well as his lack of a strong preservation instinct. But it's better than it was before, when he would have offered to stay behind if he felt it was necessary, which he might have.

Now he has reasons to keep fighting. 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"Is the Velvet Room a night club?" Shinjiro mentioned a bar to Koh before. It's starting to make sense...

Koh huddles in with Suzume to get her Persona's blessing, noting, "Thanks."

He leaves the other two navigators and Reiya to plot the course, trusting their directions. They've got better senses than he does.

But he does have them. "Aragaki-senpai, Fukura-san, if I feel anything getting too close I'll let you know."

And to Reiya: "If it gets bad we can drive them all crazy." We being Koh and Zagreus. 

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

While Ririka has been in far more fights than she'd like at this point, she knows she still doesn't ahve a lot of firepower. But it's fortunate she has the others to rely on, and can try to shift the battlefield in their favor to set things up for her teammates like Aigis to mow down.

She lets out a sight of relief as the Bestial Wheel goes down. "The Shadow is defeated," she reports for everyone's benefit. "The way forward is clear."

"I don't remember seeing someone named Elizabeth in the Velvet Room..." She's been there a few times to have her Skill Cards fitted, after all. (Okay maybe she also likes listening to the pianist there.)

(She might be humming one of those songs under her breath as they proceed to try and keep her nerves steady.)

Fuuka announces a human presence, and a moment later Ririka adds, "I sense it, too."

But she draws up short as they encounter a floor flooded with enemies. "Whoa," she says with a soft gasp. Even without counting... that's a lot.

Reiya suggests they combine their efforts, and Fuuka agrees, and Ririka nods to that a moment later. "Yeah... yeah. Good idea, Aomori-san. You too, Fukura-chan." Like Fuuka she takes a deep breath...

And her hands fly across her keyboard as she sends traces ofREsoance out into the floor to listen, trying to pick out the patterns of all of the Shadows. She links up her senses with Fuuka and Reiya so they can figure out the best path together.

She'll mark their chosen path with a trail of music to follow, once they mutually agree on it. 

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    Come to think of it, Aigis may not have been to the Velvet Room just yet. Questions abound, especially about this Igor, but she can investigate this on her own time. She does briefly turn her head to Shinjiro after he calls it 'weird as fuck,' making a mental note of it.

    The Rakukaja is reciprocal, Minato -- or Marakukaja, in her case. She won't risk permanent damage to herself, but if she can take advantage of the fact that she only requires repairs? She'll take it. (She is immensely grateful for Fuuka's expertise.)

    As far as the floor crowded with Shadows goes, Aigis could punch temporary holes through with a series of gunfire, grenades, and Palladion laser beams and Heat Waves. Her long-term mission is to eliminate Shadows.

    Instead, she recognizes that it's better for a team to stay cohesive in their approach, and their short-term mission is to rescue someone in danger. These Shadows can wait -- she can return for them later. She provides the others with the same shroud that she had given Yukari, even if it takes her a Snuff Soul to minimize everyone's presence.

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

The Velvet Room is pretty weird. And it is a shit ton of Shadows.

But before that, "Oh. Someone from the Velvet Room." He isn't in the mood to ask for details. But Minnato is counting on him... And so is someone else. Reiya has to move forward. He has to see this missionn through.

The Shadows 'fed', after all, and Reiya's hand at his side curls.

Reiya hears Koh's reassurance, and Reiya nods. "Yes," he says. "That would be a good fallback."

Crazy!!

"You found her?" Reiya confirms of Fuuka. "Good. Then we should hurry."

The optimal path sees them through--with Shinjiro at the back, in case any of the Shadows do something unexpected. Koh doesn' thave to drive them all crazy, as it happenns--there's just one small group that gets through the net that he's able to drive off. Aigis ensures that even Shinjiro is shrouded, despite his slower speed.

The music helps, from Ririka; it reminds them audibly of which way to go, helping to guide them.

Floor fifty-one passes without incident, thanks to Aigis's quick gunnery; the Shadows there are much more mannageable. but at Floor 52, Reiya starts off ahead of the group immediately. It will be some work to keep up. But the three Navigators sense Shadows here, too--including at least one dangerous Shadow. Thankfully, that's nnot the one that they see first.

LEss thankfully, Reiya doesn't see it at all.

The girl they're looking for is around a couple of bends, in a wide-open space; she is short, under five feet if she were standing, but she isn't standing; she's leaned down forward, vaguely looking into nothing. Her brown eyes are blank; her long, brown hair is loose.

"Uhhhhhhhh..."

She's completely out of it, though she shows nno signs of injury.

And Reiya goes right for her. "Beniho!"

The Shadow spots him, and moves to intercept!!

Of course, there are others just aroud the way, so if a lot of noise happens, they may have more to deal with... 

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

The fact that Ririka and Fuuka *can* feel Beniho is a good thing, Suzume thinks. Surely if she was dead (or missing) they wouldn't feel her the same way...? She's never been a Navigator, though, so how would she know for sure?

"C'mon, pick up the pace!" Suzume suggests, picking up the pace, breaking into a full-on sprint for the last part of that floor. She slows once they get to the stairs, letting herself take a break for only a few moments before hiking up.

This place really is a workout.

The next floor isn't too bad, at least. "It's not a nightclub," Suzume replies to Koh, before correcting: "It's probably not a nightclub. Have you seriously never been?" Even Suzume's been. Those cards don't work themselves. "I'll show you later." Or someone will. Maybe they'll show Aigis too, once she realized nobody did.

Suzume has not addressed Fuuka's missing days since she had the first chat with her, when she first rested in the dorms. She doesn't now, either. It's a subject that creeps *her* out a little bit, and if it does that to her, it must be worse for Fuuka.

But when they get to floor 52...

"Hey, stick with us - gah!" Suzume tears off again after Reiya when he rushes ahead of the group. "I'll keep an eye on him!" she calls back, to those who are less able to keep up. She's warmed up now, and she's got a clear goal: not just go as fast as she can, but keep up with Reiya.

Which means she rushes in only a step Reiya. He doesn't see the Shadow.

She does.

"Reiya! Watch out!"

Suzume accelerates, pushing herself to make a flying *leap* toward Reiya. It'll knock him over; that's fine, she thinks, as she literally tackles him out of the way - one of the Hands, but completely in black - snaps its fingers, and black and violet flames swirl, compressing inward: a Mudoon to take Reiya out in one shot!

It clips Suzume's shoe as she passes through it, rolling with Reiya in a tumble to get them BOTH out of the Mudoon. 

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    "She gives me prizes when I do things like fuse Personas properly," Minato explains, to Yukari. A light pause -- "Persona Fusion is a thing which people like me are able to do to improve our Personas," because of course most of them only have the one.

    "No," he answers Koh, in turn. "You can, technically, go there when it isn't night. There are doors hidden around everywhere." No word on whether it's a club, though.

    Why is Minato revealing all of his Velvet Room's secrets? It's strange that he'd be so chatty about Elizabeth now, when she's been with him from the start. Except...

    ... it's not that strange, when you look at how stressed everyone is.

    Learning about Elizabeth, he thinks, gives them something to focus on other than the fate of the girl they're searching for.

    (Still, he appreciates Shinjiro vouching for him, a fact which earns him a firm nod of recognition.)

    The real question is whether /Minato/ moves faster under Sukukaja, and the real /answer is yes, of course he does, this boy is fucking impossible. Luckily, he never moves /so/ quickly that he leaves everyone behind.

    "Good work," Minato affirms, as Fuuka reveals just how good she is at being a radar and Ririka backs her up with sound cues. (What would happen if Koh were to drive all the Shadows crazy, Minato wonders...? ... well, there are all kinds of powers of Persona. Just because some sound more intimidating hardly means anything.)

    He does make sure they all make it through this difficult room -- including Shinjiro at the vanguard. (Luckily, he doesn't have to worry about Aigis. She's a one-woman-robot-army, man.)

    When Reiya rushes ahead, Minato urges the rest of the group: "Let's hurry." He's making sure no one gets left behind, though, which means he's not in time to knock Reiya out of the way.

    "It's a dangerous Shadow," Minato realises, as he reaches them. "Yamagishi-san, can you shield Igarashi-san with your Persona? Aragaki-senpai, get in front of Igarashi-san and protect them. Kawase-san, analyse it. Katsuhiro-san, I need you to confuse the other Shadows before they can reach us. Takeba-san, support us. Aigis-san, pierce it through. Fukura-san --" keep doing exactly what you're doing, and thank god someone kept pace with him -- "work with Aomori-san to hit it while it's down."

    He, of course, will work to fill whatever gap's most prominent in the moment.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari still thinks its a weird cabaret club that dabbles in the supernatural, not a supernatural realm. Yes, seriously.
 
"Prizes? ... Fuse?" Are these euphemisms or something!? She's more confused than ever. Even after he explains, "Fusion... rightttt. Is this a thing you do with this girl... often?"
 
At floor 52 though- "Hey! Don't go off on your own!" She looks to everyone, "Let's hurry after him! If he attracts attention, this could be a disaster!"
 
And Yukari takes off in hot pursuit. No she's not AS fast, but she's not slow either.
 
"Watch out!" She calls out, but she's too late. Instead trying to dash by to Beniho to check on her herself first, as Minato hands out commands. "Hey- Igarashi-chan... wake up..." She lightly pats her cheek twice, to see how out of it she is.
 
She's hoping it's not apathy syndrome. Hoping.
 
"Okay...-Fuuka-chan! I'm bringing her to you!" As she hoists her up, mostly draping her dead weight over a shoulder, and starts moving her towards her.
 
She trusts her to do it more than anyone else. After all, Fuuka awakened to protect Natsuki. Of all of them, Lucia is best equipped to protect her, so long as she's nearby.
 
Once she gets her over to her-! She gets on with the support. A pull of the trigger- "Please help!" And there be healing.

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

If Ririka senses her too, then it can't be just a fluke.

"I believe so." Fuuka replies to Reiya with a nod. They can't be sure it's her until they get closer... but right now, it's a reasonable assumption.

With Fuuka's data, Ririka sounds the way forward and Reiya conceals their presence. With the others here, they're safe from any accidents and they make it through. Fuuka is quietly pleased at how well they worked together. It's nice when a plan goes smoothly.

...But they're not finished here yet. 51 is uneventful, but 52 -

"Ah, Aomori-san, please wait...!" Fuuka gasps, as Reiya races ahead. "This floor isn't safe!"

Fuuka looks toward Ririka. They'll have to navigate this floor quickly... She nods, as Suzume starts off after Reiya.

"Please be careful!" Fuuka calls after her. It's better than him going on alone, at least... and proves to be convenient, when they arrive to find Suzume tackling Reiya out of the way of a Mudoon.

"Yes!" Fuuka confirms, as Minato gives him direction. Yukari is already on the job, bringing Beniho over to her so she doesn't have to go into the line of fire herself. "Thank you, Yukari-chan!"

Fuuka moves, then, putting herself in between Beniho and the Shadow as Yukari's focus turns to healing.

"We'll protect you, Igarashi-san..." Fuuka murmurs. She seems out of it - she doesn't know if she can hear her or not, but it feels better to her to say something to her. "...Lucia!"

Her Evoker fires, and Lucia appears - surrounding Fuuka and Beniho both in her protective sphere. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

"No, it's a supernatural bullshit place that looks like a club," Shinjiro explains to Koh helpfully.

Shinjiro makes it through with the others, and quietly, he's thankful he did. He takes another breath, when they find Beniho- and Reiya goes out on his own, causing his eyes to widen.

"Aomori!"

But Shinjiro's too far behind to impose between him, so he's thankful Suzume does so. He readies a battle stance instead, as Minato calls out to protect Beniho physically.

"Got it," he calls out. Yukari grabs her and brings her towards Fuuka, so Shinjiro follows as a floating shield, making sure nothing intercepts as he grabs his Evoker.

"Castor!"

With a shot of the Evoker to the brain, Castor comes, that wild stampede of a skeleton on a hobby horse. Castor will crush forward, being his closest thing to a ranged attack as the Resident Melee Man.

"I'll cover you three," he tells Fuuka, Takeba, and the out-of-it Beniho. "Do what you do best."

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh should have been more diligent about Reiya's workout tips, because he's huffing and puffing as he rounds the corner to get to the boy that runs ahead. Thankfully, Suzume is on the case.

"Got it," He tells Minato. And he does just that, pressing evoker to temple. "Persona!"

He leaves the heavy hitters to deal with the main event, making sure nothing else can get close enough to interfere. 

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka is thankful Suzume doesn't ask about what they may or may not sense in the alternative case... Ririka isn't ready to find out if she can detect corposes.

If Ririka knows how to do one thing well... it's definitely play music. Though she's just happy to be of assistance to others. (And it helps to not have to split her attention for the mad dash through the floor--she's not as fast as she'd be on a skateboard, mind, but the Sukukaja from Suzume definitely helps.)

"Thanks," Ririka says to Minato at the commendation for their efforts.

But they get to Floor 52, and Reiya rushes ahead. "Aomori-san, hold on-- I know you're worried, but we need a chance to scan the floor." But Suzume will keep him company, at least. "Thanks, Furua-san!"

She glances to Fuuka and nods, as if sensing her thought. She starts working with her to Navigate the floor.

She doesn't fail to notice the Shadow. Minato has orders, and Ririka nods, "On it!" She comes to a stop, pointing a hand at the Dangerous Shadow. "Amphion! Analysis!" Amphion strums, sending waves of sound at the Shadow and listening, hand pressing her headphones to her hear, as the sound comes crashing back.

"Roaring heat... glacial ice... Everyone, it's weak to Fire, but immune to Ice! It's called a Killing Hand!"

"I've got something for this-- Amphion, use Agi!" Ririka points agian, and Amphion strums a quick medly as flames erupt at the Shadow to target its Weakness. 

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    Aigis' sole contribution to the conversation about Elizabeth has been breaking the ice to satiate her own curiosity. Unlike Minato, she had initially thought that there wouldn't be any benefit to continuing this now, but ... maybe she should take note of the positive effect it's having on people.

    Suzume's insistence that they pick up the pace causes Aigis to ... keep proceeding at the same speed. Even with the ninja run, even with that Masusukuja, she's seemingly at her velocity's limit. (Or maybe she's trying to conserve power after all of those Doronpas.)

    As for Suzume's offer to Koh, Aigis chimes in as well. "Oh. That is good to know about the cards. I would like it if you showed me, as well."

    Unlike Yukari, she takes any mention of Fusion in stride and gives him a blank-stared nod. She doesn't entirely understand, but whoever Minato fuses with isn't her business.

    Reiya bolts through, leaving Aigis very very much behind as she sticks with the rear guard. Once they catch up, Minato gives her the order to pierce it through, and she is more than able and willing to oblige. "Understood! Palladion, actualize!"

    She is a one-woman army, as well as an armory -- look at all of the guns that have popped out of her forearms and shoulders, as well as some from Palladion's sides. It's a good thing she didn't blow the ammunition on the crowded floor below, she's got plenty to spare against this Killer Hand.

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

Nope, Reiya's off. And Suzume can about keep up. He does not talk more of Fusions or the Velvet Room for now.

As Reiya gets tackled, that Mudoon carves through the air--this Shadow is stronnger than most on its floor, perhaps drawn down here by the prospect of a proper meal. Regardless, Reiya ad Suzume roll, and Reiya, dazed, stares down at her for a moment when they stop. "What--"

His eyes widen, and he remembers where he was a moment ago. Kipping up, Reiya whirls around towards the Shadow--

But Minato is already taking charge. "Thank you," he says to Suzume after that becomes clear. Koh's efforts ensure that the other Shadows don't come aroud to join the battle at make it all worse, at least.

Yukari can get Beniho's attention to a degree--to the degree that her attention exists at all, which is slightly. Beniho blinks a few times ad starts to turn her head--but she still says, "Uh..."

She's really out of it, but it might not be Apathy Syndrome.

Shinjiro covers the group from the Shadow's powerful Ice and Dark attacks. Ririka's fire--thaks to Amphion and a Skill Card--helps knock it down for a first shot.

Fuuka, meanwhile, protects Beniho directly, and it's a good thinng too, because the Shadow does lunge for her when it gets back up. Reiya dives after the Shadow, summoning his Persona to unleash attacks, and Suzume will have the chance to get back in the fight, too.

Yukari's healing is unfortunately necessary in this battle, too, and not only for Shinjiro.

But Aigis's superior firepower is what does the trick in the end; it doesn't have to be weak to Piercing attacks to be brought down by the sheer volume of Aigis's firepower. Even if it's not... literal firepower.

But the battle ennds, and the other Shadows are driven off. "Is she--"

Reiya is quick to ask, but he spots her with Fuuka, and he sighs.

"..."

"I rushed ahead. I... Apologize." He glances at Suzume--and quickly glances back away. "Thank you," he repeats, somewhat awkward. He doesn't lead as far away as before this time; the last obstacle is to find the teleporter down. After only one more battle, they find one.

At the lobby, Beniho finally starts to stir again, though it'll be a minute. 

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

This was a better plan in her mind before she actually did it.

Suzume ends up tumbling, which she is used to, but with Reiya, which she isn't. The roll ends up with him on top as they come to a stop, and she looks up for a moment - good, he's alive - before he kips up. She follows a moment later when her dizziness from being spun around fades, the lower jacket flaring out as she whirls to face the Shadow.

Her own contribution to the fight is Atalanta's churning spheres of wind - not the tornados that most Garu spells are but a wild ball of whirling air, bursting on impact. She has no fire to provide, but she can at least help keep it off balance for someone who can actually capitalize to take it down.

"Yeah, you did," Suzume shoots back to Reiya, heat in her voice. "What were you thinking? That's the kind of thing you give *me* shit for, and I deserved it back then!" But she relents a moment later, breaking her eye contact with Reiya as she picks up on his embarrassment - and it's contagious, though it shows less on her outside a slight flush that might be exertion. She calls to Yukari and Fuuka, "How is she?"

Good enough to walk back, at least, once they find a teleporter...

Suzume lets out a breath of air once they're back in the lobby and she can relax a little. "See? Told you we could do it," she says, to nobody in particular. Ririka? Koh? Minato? ...Reiya again? It's kind of universal acclaim.

She still wants to know how she is, though, and looks at the girls who were actually escorting her expectantly. 

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    "You know," Minato explains Fusion to Yukari, calmly. "Like how my Apsaras can use Cadenza." Which is a thing she can do. But maybe all Apsaras can do that!!!!

    Everyone falls into protecting Beniho, though. When he hears from Ririka that it's weak to Fire, it's time for Orpheus to fire up some of his tunes -- to the tune of a Heated Melody.

    "Good work," he says, when the battle is done -- and not easily, either. Reiya apologises, and Minato shakes his head.

    "You lost your cool. It's natural." Minato says this despite his manner remaining as cool as it was when they ventured here, and as cool as it was in class when the teacher called on him, and as cool as it was... look, he only has the one expression, but let's presume Minato's lost his cool at some point, there's no way he, specifically, is unnatural right?

    He makes sure everyone gets through the teleporter okay, and then claps a hand on Reiya's shoulder, once they've laid Beniho down.

    "... you should speak to her. Your voice is familiar. It might call her back."

    Regardless of WHAT HE DID?!

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Minato may be digging a deeper hole without realizing it. "You mean the spell Orpheus had? Your... Apsaras now has it?"
 
So his very masculine coded Persona passed down something to his very feminine coded Persona.
 
And now she's more confused than ever whether this is a sex thing or not. Great work.

She can get her attention at least. That's... a better sign than nothing, when it comes down to it.
 
"... It's fine, we get it." She says, of him running ahead.
 
At the lobby, when Beniho stirs all the more, "I hope once we get her out of the Dark Hour she'll be alright..." Minato says for him to call out to her, and Yukari wonders if she just ended up in a romantic drama. With ninjas.
 
Not sure what to think about that one.
 
"I'd take her home, but then her parents would ask where I found her."
 
She sighs, "And I'm not sure I could come up with any answer that wouldn't get her in more trouble, especially the way she is now. ... Let's take her to the Koban at Paulownia, it's best we leave it to Officer Korosawa."
 
Still, she laces her hands behind her back, pensive. "We still have no idea why she ended up here though..."
 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Off the teleporter and back in 'safe' spaces, Koh finally relaxes. Just a little, and partially because he's about run out of energy.

He holds off on scolding, instead huddling in at a respectable distance from the rescued girl.

"Turning her in might be good," Koh agrees, "But, maybe we could take her to the dorms? At least to see if she'll come around first." 

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

"Isn't she in archery club with you?" Suzume asks Yukari. "At least you have a reason to know her." She admits a moment later, "It would be kind of awkward though. We probably should just bring her to the police."

A longer pause as Suzume taps her tonfa against the side of her thigh. "I know people sometimes just get lost in here, right?" She looks at Minato for confirmation. "Maybe it's nothing weirder than that." But what if it is? 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

The Shadow lunges for Beniho. Fuuka doesn't flinch, and neither does Lucia. Fuuka counts on Lucia to keep them both safe - and on the others, to deal with the Shadow before it can make another attack.

...And the Shadow is, before long, defeated, with the rest driven off. Reiya apologises for rushing ahead. Fuuka nods.

"It's alright, but... please be careful. You aren't alone, Aomori-san." Fuuka says gently.

Suzume asks how Beniho is doing, and Fuuka looks toward Yukari briefly before looking back toward Suzume.

"She's unhurt, but she's still..." Dazed? In a trance? Fuuka isn't sure the best way to put it.

Right now, the best thing they can do is get her to someplace safer - Fuuka will help guide them to the nearest teleporter. And in the lobby, Beniho begins to stir.

"I hope so, too." Fuuka agrees with a nod toward Yukari, then looks toward Minato. She considers that for a moment. "That... might help."

Her presence helped bring Natsuki back to reality... maybe this situation would work similarly?

She looks between Koh and Yukari as they put forth ideas.

"I think... trusting Officer Korosawa with this might be best." She decides. "She might be startled waking up in an unfamiliar dorm..."

But there's still the lingering question. Fuuka looks toward Yukari uncertainly. Why did she end up here...? 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

As Reiya apologizes, Shinjiro waves a hand. "Tch, just glad you're okay. Leave the recklessness to us, alright?"

He means him mostly, but it *might* be a slight stray against Suzume. As a joke.

Once they reach the lobby, though, he steps to the side and the back, not planning to get involved in a ninja love story. He glances to Aigis, who he gives a nod - he feels an understanding with her, and she did well back there in providing the firepower while he tanked.

Koh suggests taking her to the dorms, and Shinjiro shakes his head. "It might be a hassle. Especially if her memory fades with what happened. Also, we might look suspicious if someone sees her, you know?" In other words, he agrees with the others.

But for why Beniho ended up here... that troubles Shinjiro too. He has no clue.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Through all of their efforts, they dispatch the Shadow. But they still need to get everyone to the Teleporter, and Ririka stays on high alert until then, trying to do what she can so Fuuka can focus on keeping the girl safe.

And breathes a huge sigh of relief as she steps off of the teleporter in the lobby, though. They should be safe.

... as long as two Full Moon Shadows don't bust in the front door again.

Reiya apologizes for rushing ahead. "Yeah, you did. But I get that you were worried, so... just be thankful you didn't run faster than Fukura-san."

She does glance to Fukura, though. "... nice save, by the way."

But next she looks to the girl they came to rescue. "How's she doing?" There are suggestions for where to take her--Kurosawa, the dorm... "Yeah, taking her to Officer Kurosawa makes sense," she agrees. 

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    "You are fortunate, Aomori-san," Aigis offers. "As is she." No Shadow had directly reached Beniho, didn't feed on her, didn't hold any grasp on her. Mainly, that she did not have to consider the risk of harming her as a consequence of firing at the Shadow.

    Aigis knows that in the face of such a difficult choice, she would conclude that she should fire at the Shadow, even if it put a non-Persona-user human at risk. This becomes more pronounced the more dangerous the Shadow is. If the harm it poses is great enough, as much as she would prefer to refrain from harming a person, sacrifices must be made for the greater good.

    ... was it truly necessary ..?

    Her heart feels heavier now, for some reason, and she gives Minato a mournful glance.

    It is lightened somewhat by the nod Shinjiro provides her. Their understanding is mutual, and she is glad that he sees her now.

    When the others muse on where to take her, Aigis offers, "The police box seems as good of a place as any, but ... the Kirijo Group also has medical facilities, correct? Given the nature of where she had ended up, they would be best equipped to gauge her condition and help her recover, if necessary." She turns her head to Fuuka. "What did you do after you had been rescued from Tartarus? Is there not standard procedure in place?"

    Like several others, she has little to suggest about how she could have ended up there in the first place. She hadn't even known about Fuuka's circumstances until a short while ago.

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

Suzume rightfully gives Reiya some shit for runing off. "I wasn't," he admits, of thinking, and looks downn. Mianto calls it nantural, and Reiya shakes his head. "...I'm not supposed to." Fuuka, too, reminds him: he's not alone. As Shinjiro says to leave the recklessness to them. "I understannd." And not faster than Suzume? Well, "..." He looks to Suzume again, and nods.

Koh doesn't scold him!! But he does bring up a possibility. Reiya thinks, and shakes his head. "If she doesn't remember, that will confuse her more. If she does remember, then maybe she'll feel safer with the police."

"We are," Reiya agrees with Aigis. "Thank you all for your help."

Minato suggests Reiya speak to her, and he is stoic about that at first. Reiya shares Yukari's hopes there, but he still looks to her for a moment, and if anything, looks... nervous. But his expression goes back to normal(?) a moment later, as he kneels down next to the girl they just rescued.

"Beniho-chan," he says. "Are you all right?"

There is no answer for a long few moments... before:

"Reiya," Beniho murmurs, opening her eyes and looking up at him. "You came for me..."

"Of course," Reiya answers. "I..."

Beniho smiles faintly before her eyes start closing. "I'm so tired..."

She's alive, but sleeping--and doesn't have Apathy Syndrome. ...She won't be chiming in on where to take her, though. As to how she ended up here... Well, she'd been pretty down for the last few days. Easily distracted. But is that all it takes?

"...That's true," Reiya admits of Aigis's suggestion. "The police box is smart, but..." Pause. "I suppose they'll send her to the hospital to get checked out after they're sure she's not missing anymore..."

It's hard to say; he finds himself tired.

"...Takeba-san," he asks. "Will you see if she remembers, tomorrow?"

"I may not be the best person to ask."

Ririka's question can be answered, too; Beniho's heavily asleep, but... intact!

Answers will have to wait. As will the question of which sacrifices have to be made.

But Reiya ends up sticking with Koh on the way back, in any case. 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"I guess that's a good point..." The police might be the way. Although Koh agrees with Aigis' observation about Kirijo medical facilities. They're good for other people.

He's done about all he can for the rescued girl.

But not for Reiya, who will be subjected to friendly company in an effort to keep the other boy's mind off things. At least until Reiya can escape. 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Fuuka looks to Aigis.

"I was pretty exhausted afterward, so I don't remember much of what happened immediately after..." She had, in fact, collapsed then and there after the fight with the Emperor and Empress. "But I believe I did receive a check-up, and then I spent a while recuperating at the dorm." Fuuka explains. "My situation was a little different, since I awoke to my Persona, and everything that entails..."

Remembrance of what happened - as well as being awake in the Dark Hour. It was safer for her to be around other Persona users.

Beniho answers Reiya - and Fuuka exhales, relief crossing her face.

"Oh, thank goodness..." She murmurs. She was afraid, but... it looks like she'll be alright. Whether or not she remembers is another thing, but... She's safe, and alert - if asleep at the moment.

This tower has stolen a lot from all of them - but she's grateful that Beniho isn't among them. That she was able, in a way, to return the favor that was paid to her, what feels like forever ago now. 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

She breathes easier when Beniho actually speaks a fairly coherent sentence. "... Well that's a good sign, especially with what we saw of Moriyama-san..." A beat, "... Yeah, real fortunate." She echoes, building off of Aigis' answer.
 
There's a nod of resignation of sorts, when it comes to what to do after, "... Yeah. It's really the best we can do. Anything else would be too suspicious... and make things harder for her and us."
 
He does ask her-
 
"I'll go visit her at the hospital. No way they'll release her immediately. Hopefully she doesn't remember any of this..."
 
Getting her involved in this world, after all that happened... she hopes not.
 
But if she can remember what she was thinking and feeling before, maybe there's some clues to glean on how she ended up here.
 
But only maybe.

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