Solace

Pokemon: Ascendancy

Mentions: Astrid @LuckyBlackCat, Bianca @Majoras End, Holly @Fabricant451

Two quick knocks against the bar brought Mika's attention to a fresh glass of his alcohol-free drink presented by the barkeeper. "Thank you kindly," he took the glass and raised it towards Mason in gratitude, only to flinch from the Snom's sudden recoil as he turned back to Astrid and her attention-seeking Raichu. He was quite familiar with Comet's temperament and the general public's preference of the Pokemon's preceding form, offering her a companion a light smile and giving Snom a reassuring pat. "No problem at all. And I agree, you only ever see Pikachu instead of Raichu on the big screen growing up! Looks like I've got the idea for my next episode, hehe."

Mika had only realized exactly how parched he was after taking a healthy sip of his drink, letting out an embarrassingly loud cheer from the refreshment of mint and lime. With the warmer reception towards Snom, Bianca followed through with Astrid's question on the Pokemon's name, causing him to begin pondering on the possibilities. "Now that you ask, I actually haven't thought of that yet," his other hand rose to stroke his chin, wearing an inquisitive look. The light crystalline sound in Snom's usual cry mellowed into a light purr, his little two black eyes curling up in a happy expression as he received many pets. "I think I'll call him Jewel."

With Jewel's name decided, Mika reached into his backpack and took one of the berries in stow, waving it near the Snom to reacquire his attention. He slowly lured the Worm Pokemon onto his wrist, carefully lowering Jewel back into the nest of berries that was his temporary shelter. "Heh, a little love and spoiling never hurt anybody," he raised his glass to Holly, taking another sip. "Besides, I can't bring Jewel into official competition, so he won't break bad from just appearing on my series every now and then. It's not too often a Bug-type gets the spotlight these days."

Pokemon: Ascendancy

Mentions: Hestia @Ambra, Holly @Fabricant451, Everyone Else

The hustle and bustle of Wyndon City was always especially apparent on the night before the opening of the annual Gym Challenge. Though Mika did not intend on being as fashionably late as he was, the usual snowstorm that painted the foothills of Route 10 seemingly beckoned for him to film a segment for Earth Power, and it was quite easy to lose track of time during one of his journeys into nature. He'd made an exciting discovery on the perfect day when the media bloom was at its fullest; after straying from the usual challenger's path towards Wyndon, he'd encountered a shiny Snom, an occurrence that people like him could only hope to happen once in their lifetime.

This event prompted an expedition longer than expected, and by sunset, Mika had only just returned to his hotel accommodation in Wyndon to adjust his wardrobe for the decadent evening before the ceremony. He swapped the thick layers of his wintry exploration uniform to adhere to his partial knowledge of The Last Dahlia's upscale dress code for the occasion. A tight maroon suit jacket pressed the white dress shirt into his shorter frame, fitting into a fresh pair of black dress pants and oxfords as he adjusted a dark blue bowtie at the collarbone. Finally settling with two small lotus-shaped earrings, he quickly departed for the preliminary gathering with a small backpack in tow.

Being among the last of the clientele to arrive at The Last Dahlia did not come to Mika by surprise, as he had taken the liberty to sign a number of autographs by the Corviknight statue at Wyndon Square before shuffling away from the crowds. He took in the familiar ambiance of the venue as he whistled along with the tune from the radio, seeing that just about everyone else had already come before him. "How dare you start the party without me," Mika sauntered towards the bar with a sarcastic tone, leaning back-to-back with the Champion for a moment before gesturing towards Mason. "Mojito without the rum, thanks!"

Bumping himself away from Ryker, Mika gave everyone a varying show of acknowledgement, from a bright smile to a light shoulder punch. "Looking out of place like always, Hestia," he buzzed near the pink-haired woman with a chuckle before stopping near Holly. He couldn't quite determine just how long it had been since he'd seen every individual person, but it was always refreshing for all of them to come together. His backpack rumbled gently as he waved towards Holly. "Yo, Holly!" he greeted Spikemuth's gym leader, a bright smile on his face. "Guess who I've brought along this time? Found this fella just today around Route 10, he ain't the same as--"

Mika gasped when a light pressure climbed up the back of his neck, the faint aroma of berries wafting from the slit of his backpack as the Snom now nestled around his hair. "Heh, this guy," he reached up to gently scratch at the Bug Pokemon. "He's a shiny one. Don't recall the last time I've seen a Shiny Pokemon out in the wild, to be honest."

Pokemon: Ascendancy

Mika Arenas

^{OC: Niki Shiina, Ensemble Stars}

"The ground on which you stand is your enemy! Pretty corny, right?"

---

MAIN PROFILE

Name:
Mika Arenas

Age:
Twenty-two years old

Gender:
Male

Birthplace:
Ballonlea

Appearance Information

Height:
5'4

Weight:
140lbs

Hair Colour:
Pale blue-gray

Eye Colour:
Blue

Complexion:
Tan

Body Composition:
Lean

Dressing Habits:
Likes to dress lavishly for casual scenarios. Wears his explorer's outfit when traveling into the wild or representing his Gym.

Personality:
Mika is an eccentric, bubbly young man with a scholar's knack for knowledge and adventure into the unknown. Spurred from his background, he is devoted to the research and conservation of all Pokemon for whom they have his utmost adoration. He is fiercely protective in his ideal to preserve their natural habitats, opposed to any rapid expansion which would displace or harm Pokemon. When he isn't in the pocket of the Pokemon League or the Professor for a task, Mika enjoys the leisure of the passing days, whether it's indulging the life of a luminary or foraying into nature. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to the latter.

Though he is rather soft-spoken and kind, his confidence is not lacking in the slightest; Mika tends to try and blend in with the situation depending on the company and scenario at hand. He'll often playfully jest and tease someone whom he knows is easily riled, as he has a penchant for corny jokes and pulling pranks on others. He naturally gravitates towards livelier characters, and tends not to overstep the boundaries of a quieter personality should his attempts of raising a smile result in failure.

Short Biography:
Born in the quieter northwestern reaches of the Galar Region, Mika Arenas' birth was mostly kept out of the media limelight from his family's quaint cottage in Ballonlea. It was the heart of the Glimwood Tangle where Maya and Enrico, his mother and father, took up residence; the former was a known celebrity from her status as Galar's nth Gym Leader at the time, while the latter was a handyman and "Average Joe" by all accounts. Though his relationship with his parents had always been strong, Maya's greater responsibilities often saw her across the Galar Region and beyond, which left Enrico as the predominant parental figure in his life. His stout father instilled virtues of hard work into the young boy, while the headstrong and free spirit of his mother influenced him to appreciate all the smaller instances.

Mika grew up over the years surrounded by Pokemon, quite literally as his household and the dense forest teemed with them. His mother's association with Pokemon played a major role in his aspiration to become a caretaker, while his father would playfully chime in that his ordinary occupation paid a higher salary than that of an esteemed Gym Leader. Unsurprisingly, life in Ballonlea was relatively boring for the likes of energetic children such as himself, and despite his many friendships, it was difficult to find entertainment in day-to-day life when his mother wasn't around to take him on a trip elsewhere.

There had always been numerous warnings from the town folk that venturing into the Glimwood Tangle was dangerous, as it was easy to lose oneself within the maze-like forest-- one day, a ten-year old Mika snuck out into the woods with his friends for a game of hide and seek. While finding a place to hide, he would stumble upon an injured wild Pokemon crumpled near an inconspicuous set of mushroom caps. Innocently approaching the scene, Mika found himself lured into the trap of an Amoonguss, whose prey in the wild Pokemon had already succumbed to its poison. It attacked the boy similarly with poisonous spores, but before substantial injury could be done, a wandering Gym Challenger intervened and rescued him.

This experience traumatized a young Mika, who now refused to associate with other Pokemon besides the ones within his household out of fear. Seeing this, his parents opted to relocate to Wedgehurst for a change of scenery, where Maya also introduced the boy to the Pokemon Professor in an attempt to resolve his trauma with Pokemon. It took an entire year before Mika could view them with the same child-like admiration, and under their recommendation, he was taken under the mantle of the Pokemon Professor as their aide to complete the Pokedex. As a gift from his mother, he chose Pancham as his first partner-- his tutelage was largely reserved within Wedgehurst and the local outreaches until the start of his teenage years.

At thirteen years old, Mika began to travel across the Galar Region and its Wild Areas in search of unfamiliar Pokemon and mystery, unintentionally discovering his longtime love for Pokemon battles along the way. The trauma from his past experience had come to pass as he now had his own Pokemon at his side, and he dutifully served the Pokemon Professor in their research tasks. His relation to the nth Gym Leader came under a brighter light as he easily defeated ordinary trainers, and word of gossip debated if he would follow in his mother's footsteps. For the time being, he focused on the Pokdex and his responsibility as an aide, catching several Pokemon as he braved the region's numerous biomes. Most notably among them was a Trapinch which would later become his most recognizable Pokemon, Flygon.

Though the bottomless entries in the Pokedex had greatly shrunk with his assistance, Mika had felt a newer passion well up within him throughout his journey for the last four years-- he had a desire to challenge the Galar League, just as his mother had done many years before him. With the collective blessings from those in his life, the seventeen-year old set aside his research responsibilities and donned the uniform of a Gym Challenger with an endorsement from the Professor. He only made it through halfway in his first year of the Major League Gym Challenge, disappointing initial impressions in a landslide defeat. The next year saw greater success from the young trainer as he bounced back, barreling past his previous hurdle and even defeating his mother in a tense confrontation-- he would lose out against the final gym leader, however.

Mika remodeled a majority of his team by the time of his third Gym Challenge, in which he intended to make the Champion's Cup with an entirely shifted dynamic. His full commitment to training had finally paid off as he trounced the entire Major League gauntlet, and entered the Champion's Cup as an underdog competitor. Claiming victory in the first round, a close battle in the semifinals would conclude in a dramatic fashion. Down to their last Pokemon, they both fainted at virtually the same exact moment, but officials decided to award his opponent the win upon closer observation, declaring that his Flygon had fainted just a few seconds before the other. This heartbreak of a loss to decision nearly drove Mika to return to his previous vocation; however, he was convinced otherwise by his mother, who intended to transfer into the Elite Four of the Sinnoh Region. The offer to inherit her spot was upheld by the Pokemon League after his performance, and the twenty-year old would accept.

Now serving as the nth Gym Leader for two years, Mika has fully indulged in his celebrity status. Along with this, he continues to run errands for the Pokemon Professor from time to time, as well as bolstering a larger social media presence to host his own series where he documents many varieties of Pokemon in their natural habitats.

Likes

• Lollipops
• Exploration, adventure
• Ancient Pokemon-related discoveries
• Hot weather
• Funny or fun-loving people
• Hiking, swimming
• Cracking (bad) jokes

Dislikes

• Mushrooms of all kinds
• Alcohol
• People who abuse Pokemon
• Destroying natural habitats
• Obnoxious tall people
• People who snore in their sleep (he claims to be a quiet sleeper)
• High-strung personalities

Quirks:

• Mika is an expert of camouflage, often taking advantage of this when he isn't wearing casual clothes in order to prank people.
• Hosts a short video series on his social media documenting wild Pokemon and their habitats called Earth Power.
• Loves loud music, such as metal.
• Has a peculiar swimming technique as a result of learning how to swim from his Gastrodon

---

LEAGUE PROFILE

Type Specialty:
Ground

League Ranking:
Major League

League Placement:
Seventh

Gym Location:
Stow-on-Side

Gym Description:
TBA

---

POKEMON (WORK IN PROGRESS)

_{Naming Convention: Military battle tanks}

League Team

Challenger - Excadrill – ♂
Ground | Steel

The Ace of Mika's team as the n^th Gym Leader of the Galar League. Challenger is a shy but cool, silent warrior who quietly exudes confidence only through its expression, stance and moves in battle. A few inches taller than the average Excadrill, he prefers to stay inside of his Poke Ball. Possesses the Gigantamax Factor, which is used against Gym Challengers. (Appearance)

Centurion - Krookodile – ♂
Ground | Dark

The yang to Challenger's yin-- known to jokingly mimic the latter's aloof mannerisms, albeit in a mocking manner towards his opponents. Centurion is arrogant, often 'toying with its food' in an attempt to patronize other Pokemon in battle to discourage their trainers. His tail is a deeper shade of maroon than the rest of his body.

Leopard - Gliscor – ♀
Ground | Flying

The newest member of Mika's team in the Galar League Gym Challenge. Though Leopard is faithfully obedient to her trainer, she is rather lazy in all other matters outside of battle, even during her active hours as a nocturnal Pokemon. For this reason, Mika doesn't often summon her from the Poke Ball, as he is essentially forced to cater to her lethargy.

Sabra - Gastrodon – ♀
Water | Ground

Sabra was rescued by Mika as a Shellos when she was almost dried out to death after being landlocked for nearly too long. She is very sweet and affectionate towards her trainer, initially out of gratitude and then out of genuine happiness after spending much time as one of his long-standing companions. Sabra has smaller tentacles at its neck than the average Gastrodon, which Mika likes to playfully tug at.

Patton - Camerupt – ♂
Fire | Ground

Ramses - Golurk
Ground | Ghost

Main Team

Ariete - Flygon – ♀
Ground | Dragon

Challenger - Excadrill – ♂
Ground | Steel

Merkava - Hippowdon – ♂
Ground

Abrams - Swampert – ♂
Water | Ground

Sherman - Nidoking – ♂
Poison | Ground

Matilda - Mamoswine – ♀
Ice | Ground

Benched Pokemon

[Benched Pokemon are Pokemon that your character can swap out into their League or Champion's Cup teams. They exist in your character's arsenal, but do not take priority over more active members of their teams.

Make sure to describe your Pokemon's name, appearance, and personality as you create your teams.]

[Pokemon #1]:

[Pokemon #2]:
...

Other

[These are Pokemon that don't fall under any of the above categories. Does your character have any Pokemon that they consider pets or mere companions? Pokemon that they had on their team when they were once rookie trainers? If not, you may delete this part.

Your character's type specialty does not matter here, but note that these Pokemon should not be used actively in battle, if at all. This is more for fun and slice of life reasons.]

[Pokemon #1]:
...

---

RELATIONS

[This should remain empty for now. When characters are accepted, players are expected to write down what their character thinks of the other gym leaders, along with other PCs and NPCs that might cross their path.]

Pokemon: Ascendancy

Mika Mika Mika Mika

^{OC: Niki Shiina, Ensemble Stars}

"The ground on which you stand is your enemy! Pretty corny, right?"

---

MAIN PROFILE

Name:
Mika Arenas

Age:
Twenty-two years old

Gender:
Male

Birthplace:
Ballonlea

Appearance Information

Height:
5'4

Weight:
140lbs

Hair Colour:
Pale blue-gray

Eye Colour:
Blue

Complexion:
Tan

Body Composition:
Lean

Dressing Habits:
Likes to dress lavishly for casual scenarios. Wears his explorer's outfit when traveling into the wild or representing his Gym.

Personality:
Mika is an eccentric, bubbly young man with a scholar's knack for knowledge and adventure into the unknown. Spurred from his background, he is devoted to the research and conservation of all Pokemon for whom they have his utmost adoration. He is fiercely protective in his ideal to preserve their natural habitats, opposed to any rapid expansion which would displace or harm Pokemon. When he isn't in the pocket of the Pokemon League or the Professor for a task, Mika enjoys the leisure of the passing days, whether it's indulging the life of a luminary or foraying into nature. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to the latter.

Though he is rather soft-spoken and kind, his confidence is not lacking in the slightest; Mika tends to try and blend in with the situation depending on the company and scenario at hand. He'll often playfully jest and tease someone whom he knows is easily riled, as he has a penchant for corny jokes and pulling pranks on others. He naturally gravitates towards livelier characters, and tends not to overstep the boundaries of a quieter personality should his attempts of raising a smile result in failure.

Short Biography:
Born in the quieter northwestern reaches of the Galar Region, Mika Arenas' birth was mostly kept out of the media limelight from his family's quaint cottage in Ballonlea. It was the heart of the Glimwood Tangle where Maya and Enrico, his mother and father, took up residence; the former was a known celebrity from her status as Galar's nth Gym Leader at the time, while the latter was a handyman and "Average Joe" by all accounts. Though his relationship with his parents had always been strong, Maya's greater responsibilities often saw her across the Galar Region and beyond, which left Enrico as the predominant parental figure in his life. His stout father instilled virtues of hard work into the young boy, while the headstrong and free spirit of his mother influenced him to appreciate all the smaller instances.

Mika grew up over the years surrounded by Pokemon, quite literally as his household and the dense forest teemed with them. His mother's association with Pokemon played a major role in his aspiration to become a caretaker, while his father would playfully chime in that his ordinary occupation paid a higher salary than that of an esteemed Gym Leader. Unsurprisingly, life in Ballonlea was relatively boring for the likes of energetic children such as himself, and despite his many friendships, it was difficult to find entertainment in day-to-day life when his mother wasn't around to take him on a trip elsewhere.

There had always been numerous warnings from the town folk that venturing into the Glimwood Tangle was dangerous, as it was easy to lose oneself within the maze-like forest-- one day, a ten-year old Mika snuck out into the woods with his friends for a game of hide and seek. While finding a place to hide, he would stumble upon an injured wild Pokemon crumpled near an inconspicuous set of mushroom caps. Innocently approaching the scene, Mika found himself lured into the trap of an Amoonguss, whose prey in the wild Pokemon had already succumbed to its poison. It attacked the boy similarly with poisonous spores, but before substantial injury could be done, a wandering Gym Challenger intervened and rescued him.

This experience traumatized a young Mika, who now refused to associate with other Pokemon besides the ones within his household out of fear. Seeing this, his parents opted to relocate to Wedgehurst for a change of scenery, where Maya also introduced the boy to the Pokemon Professor in an attempt to resolve his trauma with Pokemon. It took an entire year before Mika could view them with the same child-like admiration, and under their recommendation, he was taken under the mantle of the Pokemon Professor as their aide to complete the Pokedex. As a gift from his mother, he chose Pancham as his first partner-- his tutelage was largely reserved within Wedgehurst and the local outreaches until the start of his teenage years.

At thirteen years old, Mika began to travel across the Galar Region and its Wild Areas in search of unfamiliar Pokemon and mystery, unintentionally discovering his longtime love for Pokemon battles along the way. The trauma from his past experience had come to pass as he now had his own Pokemon at his side, and he dutifully served the Pokemon Professor in their research tasks. His relation to the nth Gym Leader came under a brighter light as he easily defeated ordinary trainers, and word of gossip debated if he would follow in his mother's footsteps. For the time being, he focused on the Pokdex and his responsibility as an aide, catching several Pokemon as he braved the region's numerous biomes. Most notably among them was a Trapinch which would later become his most recognizable Pokemon, Flygon.

Though the bottomless entries in the Pokedex had greatly shrunk with his assistance, Mika had felt a newer passion well up within him throughout his journey for the last four years-- he had a desire to challenge the Galar League, just as his mother had done many years before him. With the collective blessings from those in his life, the seventeen-year old set aside his research responsibilities and donned the uniform of a Gym Challenger with an endorsement from the Professor. He only made it through halfway in his first year of the Major League Gym Challenge, disappointing initial impressions in a landslide defeat. The next year saw greater success from the young trainer as he bounced back, barreling past his previous hurdle and even defeating his mother in a tense confrontation-- he would lose out against the final gym leader, however.

Mika remodeled a majority of his team by the time of his third Gym Challenge, in which he intended to make the Champion's Cup with an entirely shifted dynamic. His full commitment to training had finally paid off as he trounced the entire Major League gauntlet, and entered the Champion's Cup as an underdog competitor. Claiming victory in the first round, a close battle in the semifinals would conclude in a dramatic fashion. Down to their last Pokemon, they both fainted at virtually the same exact moment, but officials decided to award his opponent the win upon closer observation, declaring that his Flygon had fainted just a few seconds before the other. This heartbreak of a loss to decision nearly drove Mika to return to his previous vocation; however, he was convinced otherwise by his mother, who intended to transfer into the Elite Four of the Sinnoh Region. The offer to inherit her spot was upheld by the Pokemon League after his performance, and the twenty-year old would accept.

Now serving as the nth Gym Leader for two years, Mika has fully indulged in his celebrity status. Along with this, he continues to run errands for the Pokemon Professor from time to time, as well as bolstering a larger social media presence to host his own series where he documents many varieties of Pokemon in their natural habitats.

Likes

• Lollipops
• Exploration, adventure
• Ancient Pokemon-related discoveries
• Hot weather
• Funny or fun-loving people
• Hiking, swimming
• Cracking (bad) jokes

Dislikes

• Mushrooms of all kinds
• Alcohol
• People who abuse Pokemon
• Destroying natural habitats
• Obnoxious tall people
• People who snore in their sleep (he claims to be a quiet sleeper)
• High-strung personalities

Quirks:

• Mika is an expert of camouflage, often taking advantage of this when he isn't wearing casual clothes in order to prank people.
• Hosts a short video series on his social media documenting wild Pokemon and their habitats called Earth Power.
• Loves loud music, such as metal.
• Has a peculiar swimming technique as a result of learning how to swim from his Gastrodon

---

LEAGUE PROFILE

Type Specialty:
Ground

League Ranking:
TBA

League Placement:
TBA

Gym Location:
TBA

Gym Description:
TBA

---

POKEMON (WORK IN PROGRESS)

_{Naming Convention: Military battle tanks}

League Team

Challenger - Excadrill – ♂
Ground | Steel

The Ace of Mika's team as the n^th Gym Leader of the Galar League. Challenger is a shy but cool, silent warrior who quietly exudes confidence only through its expression, stance and moves in battle. A few inches taller than the average Excadrill, he prefers to stay inside of his Poke Ball. Possesses the Gigantamax Factor, which is used against Gym Challengers. (Appearance)

Centurion - Krookodile – ♂
Ground | Dark

The yang to Challenger's yin-- known to jokingly mimic the latter's aloof mannerisms, albeit in a mocking manner towards his opponents. Centurion is arrogant, often 'toying with its food' in an attempt to patronize other Pokemon in battle to discourage their trainers. His tail is a deeper shade of maroon than the rest of his body.

Leopard - Gliscor – ♀
Ground | Flying

The newest member of Mika's team in the Galar League Gym Challenge. Though Leopard is faithfully obedient to her trainer, she is rather lazy in all other matters outside of battle, even during her active hours as a nocturnal Pokemon. For this reason, Mika doesn't often summon her from the Poke Ball, as he is essentially forced to cater to her lethargy.

Sabra - Gastrodon – ♀
Water | Ground

Sabra was rescued by Mika as a Shellos when she was almost dried out to death after being landlocked for nearly too long. She is very sweet and affectionate towards her trainer, initially out of gratitude and then out of genuine happiness after spending much time as one of his long-standing companions. Sabra has smaller tentacles at its neck than the average Gastrodon, which Mika likes to playfully tug at.

Patton - Camerupt – ♂
Fire | Ground

Ramses - Golurk
Ground | Ghost

Main Team

Ariete - Flygon – ♀
Ground | Dragon

Challenger - Excadrill – ♂
Ground | Steel

Merkava - Hippowdon – ♂
Ground

Abrams - Swampert – ♂
Water | Ground

Sherman - Nidoking – ♂
Poison | Ground

Matilda - Mamoswine – ♀
Ice | Ground

Benched Pokemon

[Benched Pokemon are Pokemon that your character can swap out into their League or Champion's Cup teams. They exist in your character's arsenal, but do not take priority over more active members of their teams.

Make sure to describe your Pokemon's name, appearance, and personality as you create your teams.]

[Pokemon #1]:

[Pokemon #2]:
...

Other

[These are Pokemon that don't fall under any of the above categories. Does your character have any Pokemon that they consider pets or mere companions? Pokemon that they had on their team when they were once rookie trainers? If not, you may delete this part.

Your character's type specialty does not matter here, but note that these Pokemon should not be used actively in battle, if at all. This is more for fun and slice of life reasons.]

[Pokemon #1]:
...

---

RELATIONS

[This should remain empty for now. When characters are accepted, players are expected to write down what their character thinks of the other gym leaders, along with other PCs and NPCs that might cross their path.]

Still some stuff to do here and there but it's mostly done wao

「 Persona: Reflections 」

Interactions: Nagi @Psyker Landshark, Goji @Ambra

Munehisa had quickly reverted back to his late night schedule after an early light's out from the previous day, though his habit of booting up the first-person shooter game lacked its usual flair. In a fit of inspiration, the boy had instead taken to his drawing tablet to illustrate some of his faithful recollections from the alternate dimension; the honeycomb-like structure, decorated in the adhesive substance that was nectar to its deity, to another full body illustration of the witch playing god within its walls. Just as so many questions would still remain unanswered until they decided to dig deeper, the talking crow was another conundrum on its own. Nothin' just makes any sense anymore, I swear. Drowsiness had come as quick as the hours had gone before then, and in the midst of drawing the lineart for the bust of Peter Pan, sleep overtook the boy at his desk.

During Okamoto's block in their class, Munehisa spent a lesser part of the hour comparing the ordinary world's harpy to the other world's hag, having transferred his drawing from computer to phone. Despite certain obviously exaggerated features, there was little to no doubt that they were indeed one and the same; he confirmed this much to Nagi outside of school before he discovered the crow in her schoolbag. "Who you callin' a dumbass the other day?!?" he'd exclaimed while vigorously shaking the bird within its bag of holding in revenge before realizing the potential of onlookers. With obligatory introductions aside, Munehisa was quick on the uptake as the crow explained to him what had been told to Nagi; Personas, the Metaverse, Palaces, Shadows, and how it all connected to a "Treasure".

"We sound more like thieves or robbers than Persona users if the endgame's called a Treasure of all things," Munehisa scratched the back of his head as they made the trek opposite of all the other students towards the school grounds. It was a lot of information to take in at once, but at least they weren't going in against the unknown anymore. He had his own skeptics in mind, wondering if Nagi felt the same way. "Let's say we do nab her Treasure-- is she just gonna do a complete 180 overnight? It sounds ridiculous, but then again, all of this shit is ridiculous. How about you, Nagi?"

「 Persona: Reflections 」

Interactions: Asumi @Ambra, Nagi @Psyker Landshark

Munehisa cast off a dagger of a glare towards Nagi upon her own rendition of his cover story, resisting the urge to punch her shoulder before Asumi carried on with being her usual self. "You have a crow?" his voice cracked out of bewilderment as he dashed a few footfalls ahead of the girl, turning around to face her while walking backwards. "A literal manifestation of divine intervention? You know, that whole myth of Yatagarasu?"

A dramatic episode spurred from the boy as his imagination ran wild, wondering if it was a sign of the events from the previous day. "Won't the school just chase it off or somethin' if they see it by the premises?" Munehisa returned a farewell gesture towards Masashi as he questioned Asumi.

「 Persona: Reflections 」

Interactions: Asumi @Ambra, Nagi @Psyker Landshark, Masashi @Zombehs

Last night had been the first instance of an early light's out for Munehisa for a long time. What was usually a late session of indulging social media and video games had turned into heavy sleep before the midnight hour, leading to an earlier awakening before even his father had come to. For whatever reason, the man had been drawn into yet another drunken stupor, and the boy would take it upon himself to begrudgingly take advantage of his unusual rejuvenation to clean up the mess. He disposed of the scattered alcoholic beverages strewn about the proximity of the stinking couch that was his father's cot, spraying a fragrant aerosol to combat the rank odor in the room. It was a commonplace routine in the Nara homestead, but as the boy stared down at his morning meal of a soft-boiled egg and empty calories in a bowl, the indignation was never any different. Was his father's display all what growing up had to sell?

Unexpectedly, school was more of a hassle than usual. Despite Okamoto's reticent disposition in comparison to her livid outburst the previous day, her crusaders made up for the silence with their own chattering, droning about rumours and spinning the controversy surrounding their class. It pissed Munehisa off, especially after seeing what he saw in that parallel universe; as fearful as he was of stepping back into that dangerous world, Nagi was right in that they had a score to settle, lest someone like Asumi somehow stumbled inside. It was very much an Asumi thing to occur, especially if...

"Hold on, you found a dead body, but also fell on it?" Munehisa exclaimed upon Masashi's initial explanation, casting a bewildered look towards Asumi. First, this whole other world scenario, and now we've got a small town murderer on the loose? "Now we've gotta worry about somehow not getting expelled and gutted in the same day," Munehisa sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging. Though it was obvious that the existence of that parallel universe had to remain a secret, he sure as hell didn't have an incredible cover story in mind for their whereabouts. Here goes, anyway. "Well, I went to basketball practice, but Katsuragi-senpai's rejection and that whole expulsion crap is still bothering me, and the guys don't notice a benchwarmer like me anyway," the boy started, looking towards Nagi expectantly. "So I left the gym, and ran into Nagi on the way out! She felt so bad for me about Katsuragi-senpai that she actually took me out to the food court at Aprile. What can I say? I'm gonna need all the dating practice I can get with the ladies!"

「 Persona: Reflections 」

Interactions: Nagi @Psyker Landshark, Shadow Okamoto @Ambra

“Shut the hell up!” the boy cracked under the stress as her disparaging flurry struck him bullet after bullet. His heart stung from the woman’s abhorrent remarks, the pangs of an immense headache beginning to stir about his head. Yet, in that very moment, the sea of thoughts ceased their torment. His guilt transformed into a wretched armour as inhibition stirred wildly in his chest, screaming from his chest for release. “What makes you think a shitty adult like you know where I come from, how I feel, or who I am?”

Munehisa slung the other strap of his backpack over the shoulder as he met Okamoto with defiant eyes. “Maybe I am just a dumbass kid who had to go and screw over all his friends,” the boy shook his head before slowly pointing a finger towards the woman. “But even a kid knows how to take a damn joke! The fact that you’re willing to go this far… you’re a primadonna who’s long past her peak. You think you rule the roost, but sucking the principal’s dick doesn’t make you a queen– you’re nothing but a manipulative parasite!”

Miss Okamoto took a step back in shock, surprised at the boy’s outburst. “How dare you speak to your Queen that way!” she snarled. “You damn brat!!”

“Queen bee, my ass. Your crown’s about as authentic as the two balloons hanging from your chest,” Munehisa bared his fangs as the headache became almost too unbearable to withstand, his hands balling into fists. “I’m just a kid, yeah… but pieces of shit adults like you have no right to look down on kids like me!”

Finally awake now, are we?

His body forcefully keeled over from the blades that jammed into each and every crevice of his head as a strange yet familiar voice rang in his ears. Saliva trickled from his gaping mouth as Munehisa couldn’t shut his eyes from the immense pain, reduced to his knees as the afflicted boy was subdued by the screaming from his soul.

Can you stand to let another steal away the youth you so preciously cling to?
All those futures will be rewritten should you let the ink dry…
‘Tis by your hand only of which the other you within desires it thus…

Munehisa nearly crumbled to his side as the sensation of suffering became almost too overwhelming. Yet, the voice of his heart was clear– in that moment, he was clairvoyant. Omnipotent. Invincible. Yes, this was the truth of his inner self. “That’s right. It was always like this,” the agony ceased as the boy slowly rose to his feet. A brass-coloured venetian masquerade mask with an ornate wreath pattern surrounding the lenses adorned his face from forehead to nose. At the corners of the mask where it curved upward stretched two pairs of antlers, each about three inches long. Persona…

Hmph! So this is your determination. Very well…
Then let the contract be drawn.
I am thou, thou art I…
In the neverlands shall we revel in the anarchy sown!

With firm resolve, Munehisa tore off the mask from his face from the right side, the scream of his heart made manifest as fresh blood blanketed his face. A pillar of cerulean flame enveloped the grotesque vision as immense energy rippled down the hallway, threatening Okamoto’s footing and the bees’ flight.

From the limitless blue, Munehisa stepped forward. His school uniform had transformed into a long black tailcoat decorated with brass accents, the sleeves rolled up to expose the skin of his wrist before a pair of onyx gloves. Beneath the tailcoat, he wore a fine dark green shirt with a figurate collar, sporting a golden crest that tied together a white strap above his chest. Form-fitting pants painted similarly to the color of his coat, with knee-high boots that were unaffected by the sticky terrain. [Reference kinda]

Behind Munehisa stood a tall humanoid figure that floated above him, shrouded in the azure flames that pulsed with intensity. Its head resembled a hood with a four-sided star as its face, wearing a gray hunter’s tricorn hat with a golden center between the pent and top. Its anatomy was similar to a gray ruffled front shirt, with a light purple upper cloak that blew with an imaginary wind. A strap ran diagonally across its chest, the lower portion connecting to a belt which seemed to hold the light-purple baggy upper portion of its ash-coloured breeches intact. At its feet, wore two shin-high brown medieval boots. The humanoid’s right arm extended into the hilt and straight blade of a knife for a hand, its ordinary left hand twirling a pan flute. Its appearance invoked the imagery of a medieval vigilante.

“It’s about time someone knocked adults like you down a notch,” Munehisa radiated with conviction as the makings of a polearm manifested between the fingers of his right hand. He hoisted the upper half of the weapon over his shoulder, nodding towards Okamoto. “To think you’re so willing to screw over all our lives when it’s kids like us who make the future,” the boy growled in her direction, looking between each of the giant bees. “I’ll break that stupid pipe of yours and make a crown worthy for a bitch like you!!”

Okamoto’s eyes were wide at the presence of the new entity, stalwartly frozen in place. Or perhaps it was fear that kept her in place. Her expression was a combination of both terror and fury as she glowered at Munehisa and his new friend, bristling as she pointed at the boy. “My children,” she spluttered, “Get rid of it! Now!!!”

Munehisa was no longer enfeebled by the woman’s toxicity. For the first time in his life, he felt that he was in true control– composed, focused, prepared. The truth had never been any clearer to him. Rebellion was the heartbeat of the riot that sounded from within, and it was ready. “Persona, huh?” the name of his newfound power drew past the confident smirk on his lip as he would call upon its name henceforth. “Let’s fly, Peter Pan!”

Stepping between Nagi and their adversary, Munehisa’s eye trained on each of the giant bees that approached them. His spear dematerialized for a moment as the sapphire blaze coalesced around his open palm, subconsciously aware of manifesting the power of his Persona. Stellated octahedrons of ice encircled one of the bees, shattering both the structure and its enemy into nothing but shadow.

"Persona!” the boy shouted aloud in discordance as the reflection of his spirit extended its pan flute outward, its arm recoiling as if it fired a gun. The first snap of pure energy struck one of the bees, clipping its wings and knocking it down before the second burst of the double shot finished it off. Munehisa’s spear reformed around his fingers as he leapt forward to meet the third enemy head on, dealing the bee with a precise downward slash and allowing his Persona to finish it off with a stab from its knife hand.

He evaded the fourth bee’s stinger with a surprisingly nimble backflip, though the fifth one would manage to clip Munehisa from the side. Despite being struck, he seemed to suffer no visible harm– his strange attire showed no signs of damage and no blood sprouted from the site, but it was evident from his expression that he suffered injury. Peter Pan drew on the power of ice once more as it encased the fourth bee, allowing its user to completely fracture the frozen enemy in one swing of his spear. Tossing the weapon aside into the unknown, Munehisa brandished a sniper rifle– an M40 rifle to be exact, only needing a single breath to take aim before sniping the last bee with one precise shot.

Having defeated all of the enemies for the time being, Munehisa quickly turned towards Nagi, still dialed with adrenaline. “Quick, let’s get outta here now!” he said, hoping to take advantage of Okamoto’s dumbfoundedness to make their getaway.

「 Persona: Reflections 」

Interactions: Nagi @Psyker Landshark

A sense of foreboding was beginning to rise within Munehisa by the minute, his thumbs twiddling as the two of them navigated the mysterious environment. Every now and then, the atmosphere seemed to twist and contort in an unstable manner; the boy could've sworn that he caught familiar glimpses of the second floor hallway. The longer they walked on, the harder it was for him to maintain stable footing. The floor and walls were coated in some sort of viscous substance-- the entire place smelled faintly of honey. With the structure resembling swaths of honeycombs, it was almost exactly what he envisioned the inside of a beehive to look like.

"Better yet, how the hell do we even get out of here?" Munehisa nagged with the most important question, fearfully looking about as he was unable to recognize any noticeable differences with where they were exactly going. A minimap would be hella useful, right now.

He nearly lost his footing entirely when black puddles suddenly sprouted from the flaxen ground, and the form of giant bees manifested from the shadows. It had very much confirmed Munehisa's perception of their whereabouts, but the revelation was short-lived when the pack proved to be hostile. "Not the bees," his eyes widened at the sight, frantically pulling back upon Nagi's command as they encroached upon them. His head narrowly ducked under one of the bees' attempts of decapitating him, prompting him to instinctively hold his backpack out in both hands like a shield. "N-Nagi, we gotta book it outta here, like right now!"

「 Persona: Reflections 」

Interactions: Nagi @Psyker Landshark

Munehisa shrugged off his companion's chiding about the risk of overhearing, whining with a groan and placing his hands behind his head. "Whatever, man. If my dad finds out, he's gonna fricken kill me..." His grumbling drifted into an annoyed disposition as a familiar sound rumbled from his pocket-- it's gotta be that annoying app again. All of his phone notifications were silenced except for calls, texts and stream reminders, so it had to have come from that weird app. It had installed itself onto his phone, yet it didn't seem or act like any sort of malware-- rather, his main gripe was that it somehow kept re-installing itself every other hour after countless attempts to delete it. It did annoy him whenever it made a weird sound or enlarged itself to obscure much of his screen whenever he was near the school; the icon, which looked like some sort of eye with a star for an iris, creeped him the hell out, especially when the corners seemed to pulsate.

The boy dug into his pocket as the duo trotted down the hallway, pulling out his phone in the usual routine of disregarding and deleting the weird app. "What the-" Munehisa gasped as the app now encompassed the entirety of his screen, its red hues rippling across a pure black overlay. His shoes suddenly began to feel heavier with each footfall as an unsettling sensation rose in his stomach, the hint of a sweet pheromone trickling into the air that he breathed. He looked around to see reality bend itself like a nasty trip, something that he'd only seen exaggerated in special effects. Light from the typical Fujihama afternoon was suppressed in favor of a darker golden hue, finding that the classrooms and hallways had transformed into something entirely different.

"What," Munehisa had expressed his surprise at nearly the exact time as Nagi had; that was when he noticed that it was now just the two of them with not another soul in sight. With the sudden pressing matter at hand, he pocketed his phone and looked all around him, seeing that the walls were covered in some viscous golden substance. "What the hell? We're literally still in the school, aren't we?!" he stammered in a bit of a panic, taking a few frantic steps ahead and turning back to face Nagi. "Nagi, pinch me. Like, right now. I'm just dreaming, right? Right??"