The air was still heavy from the fight, the faint shimmer of heat rippling across the desert sand. Shoji, Taiga, and Hakuo stood together near the massive concrete door—its ancient surface cracked but unmoving. The tension had faded, but something deeper lingered in the silence.
Taiga rubbed his forehead and took a shaky breath. "That thing... it looked like my brother. But he's... gone."
Shoji glanced at Hakuo, his expression unreadable.
"It wasn't really him," Hakuo explained gently. "Just a shadow—a projection formed from your own regret. This place twists your thoughts, your emotions. That's why it's called the Desert of Regrets."
Taiga dropped his gaze to the sand. His fingers twitched, and then he noticed something new—a silver ring now wrapped around his finger. He stared at it, wide-eyed.
"What is this?"
Shoji stepped closer, recognizing the feeling all too well. "That's your bond. Your Persona."
Hakuo gave a nod. "It means you awakened. You accepted the truth inside you... and in return, you gained the power to fight back."
Taiga opened his mouth, then closed it. There was too much to say, but no words felt right.
Hakuo turned to the door. "Let's go. This place is quiet for now—but it won't be for long."
Without another word, they stepped forward, crossing back into reality.
A Few Days Later
Shoji's life had slowly started to settle into a rhythm—school by day, cryptic thoughts at night. He and Taiga had begun hanging out more. Whether grabbing snacks after class or walking home under dim streetlights, their bond began to solidify.
Taiga was a talker, curious about everything—and relentless with his questions.
"So, the desert is real, right?" Taiga asked one afternoon. "It's not like, some shared dream thing?"
"It's real," Shoji replied, stuffing a rice cracker into his mouth. "We walked through it. That wasn't a dream."
"And the shadows? The Persona stuff? That's not just something I imagined?"
Shoji nodded. "You've got the ring now. It's real."
Taiga leaned back on the bench, whistling. "Man... I never thought I'd be part of something like this. It's weird. Scary. But kind of awesome too, y'know?"
Shoji gave a small smile. "Yeah. I know."
At Shoji's House
Shoji's connection with Hakuo had grown in its own quiet way. The fox-like creature now spent much of his time lounging around the house—sometimes under Shoji's bed, sometimes curled up on the windowsill, always commenting on things he didn't understand.
"What is the point of this show?" Hakuo asked, staring blankly at the TV. "They've been arguing for fifteen minutes. No one's thrown a single attack."
Shoji didn't even look up. "It's a drama."
"It's dramatic alright," Hakuo muttered, yawning.
Shoji chuckled under his breath. "You're really getting used to this world."
"Of course I am. I'm brilliant," Hakuo replied smugly, then added in a softer voice, "but I'm glad I'm not alone here."
That night, as Shoji lay on his futon, staring up at the ceiling, he found his thoughts drifting. The desert. The ring. The voice of Charon. Igor's warning. So much had changed in so little time.
Shoji's Monologue:
I used to think I was just some guy—quiet, ordinary, drifting through school like everyone else. But now I've got this power... and I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to do with it. There's something waiting for me out there. I can feel it. And it's not just my story anymore. Taiga's involved now. Hakuo too. Whatever's coming... we'll face it together.
Later That Night…
Shoji's eyes slowly closed, the quiet hum of the city fading away as sleep took over. In the stillness of his dreams, the familiar blue haze returned.
The Velvet Room.
Once again, Shoji found himself sitting in that ethereal space between dream and reality. The scent of velvet and old paper lingered in the air, and in front of him—just like before—was the long-nosed man.
Igor's grin widened as Shoji appeared.
"Ah... welcome back," Igor said, his gravelly voice echoing slightly. "It pleases me to see you again so soon, Shoji Akiyama."
Kara stood quietly at his side, giving Shoji a small nod of acknowledgment.
Shoji blinked, his voice soft. "Why am I here again?"
"You are progressing," Igor said, "and so, it is only natural that we guide you further."
He leaned forward slightly, hands interlocked.
"Tonight, I wish to speak to you about Bonds," Igor continued. "Humans are social creatures. You forge connections with others through shared experiences—trust, pain, hope. These connections, in turn, shape your very soul."
Shoji listened intently.
"You possess the Wild Card," Igor said. "A unique potential. Through bonds, your power will grow. The stronger your connection to others... the more powerful your Personas will become. And not just stronger—they may change, evolve into something greater."
Shoji thought of Taiga, and the moment they fought side by side. He remembered the warmth of laughter shared over drinks, the steady presence of Hakuo, now part of his daily life.
"You're saying... if I grow closer to people, I get stronger?"
"Indeed," Igor said, his grin never fading. "But it is not strength for its own sake. These bonds may also be the key to understanding the true nature of your journey. Never underestimate the importance of the people around you, Wild Card."
Kara stepped forward for the first time. "You are not alone, Shoji. That is your greatest weakness... and your greatest power."
Shoji looked at his hands—at the faint outline of the ring.
"I think I get it," he murmured.
"Good," Igor said. "For now, I simply ask that you continue walking forward. Bonds will form naturally—but do not shy away from them."
The Velvet Room began to fade.
"And remember... we will be watching your journey with great interest."
Shoji awoke with a slow breath, sunlight creeping in through the curtains.
He sat up in bed, running a hand through his hair.
"Bonds, huh...?"
A new determination flickered in his chest.
Some days later, during lunchtime at the school courtyard,
Shoji and Taiga sit together on a bench, eating lunch while casually chatting. Shoji's gaze wanders across the courtyard and lands on a girl chatting animatedly with a group of students, her laughter bright and carefree. She has short brown hair, lightly styled with a casual flair. Her outfit stands out just a bit—not against the rules, but more fashionable than most.
Shoji thought "She's got a lot of energy... Kinda stands out, huh."
Then Shoji ask "Hey… Taiga. Who's that girl over there?"
Taiga then look at the direction Shoji look at and said
"Oh, her? That's Minami Arisato. She's from the class next to ours. Kinda popular, super friendly. I think she used to be on the cheer squad or something like that. Total social butterfly."
Shoji nods slowly, watching as Minami waves goodbye to her friends and skips off toward the school building.
"Minami, huh… Something about her… feels oddly familiar." Shoji thought.
Later that night, the three of them decided to explore the desert again. Shoji and Taiga still want to figure out what is the Desert of Regret so they would go there just to do some exploration. So far there's nothing big appear on them yet.
Until now.
As the three made their way deeper into the Desert of Regrets, a strange stillness hung in the air—thick, tense, like something was watching them. The winds were softer than usual, almost unnaturally so.
Taiga scanned the dunes warily. "It's too quiet…"
"Yeah," Shoji said. "Feels off."
Then, up ahead, Shoji spotted movement. A figure was stumbling through the sand—alone, disoriented. He squinted. "Wait… is that—?"
Hakuo's ears twitched. "Someone's here. And… they're not supposed to be."
As they got closer, the figure came into view—a girl in a slightly rumpled school uniform, clearly out of place. Her short brown hair fluttered in the breeze as she looked around, panicked.
Taiga's eyes widened. "Hold on… that's Minami. From the neighboring class!"
Shoji blinked. "Minami?"
He recognized her from school—he'd seen her in the hallway before, always surrounded by people, full of energy. But right now, she looked shaken.
Shoji approached carefully. "Hey! Are you okay?"
Minami turned sharply at the voice, clearly startled. Her eyes locked onto Shoji and the others, confusion written all over her face. "Wait… you guys are from school, right? What—how are you here too!?"
Shoji raised his hands, trying to calm her down. "We could ask you the same thing. Are you hurt?"
"No—I mean, I don't think so. I was just walking home and then… I heard something calling me. Next thing I knew, I was here."
Then her gaze shifted to Hakuo. She blinked. Once. Twice.
"Is that… a fox?!" She pointed. "And it talks?!"
Hakuo folded his arms and huffed. "Yes, I talk. Please don't act like I'm some kind of sideshow."
Minami's mouth dropped open a little more. "Okay. So I'm either dreaming or I really am losing it."
"You're not," Shoji said, voice calm but serious. "This is real. And yeah… he talks. You'll get used to it."
"Eventually," Taiga added with a grin.
Hakuo cleared his throat. "Ahem. If we're done with the fox jokes, I suggest we move quickly. Something's not right here."
Minami followed closely behind Shoji and Taiga, her eyes darting nervously around the strange, shimmering landscape. The endless dunes stretched far in every direction, the air heavy and distorted as if reality itself were bending.
"This place is… weird," she muttered, clutching her arms tightly. "It's like a dream. But I know I'm not dreaming…"
Shoji turned his head slightly, offering a reassuring look. "Yeah, I thought the same thing when I first got here. You're not crazy."
Minami looked over at Hakuo, who was walking just ahead of them. "And… that's a talking fox. That's also not a dream?"
"Nope," Taiga replied with a grin, clearly still amused by her reaction. "Took me a while to get used to that too."
Hakuo glanced back at them, his tail swishing casually. "I'm not just a talking fox. I'm Hakuo, and I've been guiding these two through the desert. Welcome to the weirdness."
Minami blinked a few times, clearly still processing everything. "So what is this place even? Why was I here? I don't remember how I got in."
"You probably entered through one of the doors," Hakuo explained. "This place draws people in, especially those who carry heavy regrets. You must've wandered too close."
Minami hesitated. "Regrets…?"
Something in her expression flickered, and she looked away. Shoji noticed it, but didn't press. Instead, he slowed his pace so he could walk beside her.
"Don't worry," he said gently. "You're not alone here. We'll get you out."
She nodded, though her expression remained unsettled. "Thanks…"
They continued walking in silence for a while, the crunch of sand underfoot the only sound between them. But just as they began to reach a particularly still part of the desert, the air grew colder.
Minami stopped.
"…Did you hear that?" she asked.
Shoji and Taiga looked around, alert. "Hear what?" Taiga asked.
Minami stepped back, her eyes wide now. "A voice. It sounded like… someone calling me."
Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly, and a low, haunting laugh echoed across the sands.
Hakuo's ears twitched. "We need to be careful. Something's coming."