...11/09/2009 Friday; Afternoon...
Takeharu slowly shook his head, as if trying to chase away a cursed memory.
His eyes tightened for a moment before he exhaled the air trapped in his lungs with a slow, heavy sigh.
Hiro and Mitsuru watched him in silence, their gazes attentive and slightly uneasy.
Takeharu's grim expression made them tense — like watching a mask on the verge of cracking.
He cleared his throat, recomposed himself, and stepped closer to the bed, his voice now more controlled:
"I'm sorry. I remembered a bit about what that Evoker is."
Mitsuru leaned forward, eyes sharp and full of concern.
"But… are you okay? For a moment, you looked like you'd seen a ghost."
"I'm fine." Takeharu massaged his neck, his fingers pressing into the stiffness of an old tension. "I just don't want to remember who I saw."
Hiro slowly crossed his arms, eyes still fixed on Takeharu.
"Aside from the thing or person you don't want to remember… what exactly did you see?"
The silence lasted longer than it should have.
Takeharu adjusted his suit with an automatic motion, like someone clinging to routine to maintain control.
When he finally spoke, his voice was firm:
"I'm not completely sure. But from what it seems, it's a version of the Evoker capable of releasing a Persona in a more… aggressive way."
Mitsuru raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"More aggressive? That reminds me of—"
"Yes." He nodded gravely. "It's similar to the Theurgies. The Kirijo Corporation's scientists were lightly inspired by those Evokers when developing the Theurgies."
He spread his arms as if revealing an old secret.
"Obviously, Theurgy is much safer than that Evoker. Based on the data, Theurgy boosts Persona release by about forty-five percent. That Evoker… increases it by three hundred percent."
"Holy shit..." Hiro's eyes widened. "Isn't that level of power dangerous?"
"Extremely." Takeharu closed his eyes briefly. "One of the tests with that Evoker ended with the Persona completely out of control. The user went mad, and the Persona consumed his life force."
Mitsuru clenched the blanket over her legs, confusion growing on her face.
"But why would someone create something like that? It makes no sense."
Takeharu looked at her, his shoulders drooping slightly as if pulled down by an invisible weight.
"It was your grandfather who approved the development of it. He wanted to know whether Personas were a form of Shadow. And... before we had the answers we have today, he killed a lot of people to find out."
Mitsuru lowered her gaze. Her eyes shone with quiet dismay.
"Why am I not surprised..."
Hiro glanced at her sideways, sensing the sorrow radiating from her.
His fingers hesitated in the air, as if wanting to touch her shoulder… but the gesture died before it began.
A pang struck his chest. He looked away, withdrawing his hand.
"I suppose I don't need to ask if that prototype moved forward," Hiro said, trying to steer the conversation back.
"It didn't." Takeharu shook his head. "After so many deaths from uncontrollable power, the project was shut down. All models and prototypes were officially destroyed."
But there was something in his tone… a deliberate pause.
"But…" He placed one hand on his waist and the other on his chin, thoughtful. "If what was stolen is one of those Evokers… then something is wrong. Because I ordered all of them destroyed."
Mitsuru narrowed her eyes, her tone hardening.
"So... someone took some and hid them."
"That," Takeharu nodded slowly, "is the only possibility."
He looked away, clenching his fist tightly at his side. His fingers trembled slightly, as if needing to hold onto something to keep from breaking.
A faint vibration came from his chest. He reached into his suit's inner pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen lit up. A new message.
"Sorry for taking so long to answer. Took my motorcycle in for repairs. Gonna stop by the hospital to see Mitsuru. Don't worry. o(￣▽￣)ブ Maybe 5 minutes and I'm there.— Shuji Ikutsuki."
With a soft sigh, he locked the screen and tucked the device away. His gaze fell on his daughter, lying ahead. Slowly, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Mitsuru flinched slightly at the touch. She turned her face toward him, surprised, lips parting as if to say something — but no words came.
"I have to go," Takeharu's voice was calm but firm. "I need to talk to Ikutsuki."
Mitsuru looked at him for a moment longer. Then she smiled gently and nodded.
"It's fine. You can go. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay."
He stood there for another moment, silent, studying her.
Then, without a word, he leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on her head.
As he pulled away, he whispered: "I know. But be careful when you're discharged."
"I will." Mitsuru replied, closing her eyes and holding the smile.
Takeharu nodded and turned. As he took a few steps, his gaze met Hiro's.
They stared at each other briefly — a quiet but heavy moment.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Hiro," said Takeharu, now more serious.
"The pleasure was mine, Mr. Kirijo," Hiro replied, nodding respectfully.
Takeharu turned to the door but threw one last comment over his shoulder:
"Keep an eye on my daughter. You're someone trustworthy. That much, I can see."
The words struck Hiro with a soft impact. His eyes widened, and a faint blush touched his cheeks.
"I… I'll try," he said, scratching the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile.
Takeharu walked to the door and rested his fingers on the electronic lock's button. His eyes dropped to the floor, and for a moment... reality fell silent.
A memory took shape.
Fields of flowers, white with hints of red, danced in the wind.
Sitting on a bench, a black-haired woman read a book while softly humming a gentle melody.
The sound soothed his chest in a way he hadn't felt in years.
Sophia looked up and smiled at him — as if she had been waiting.
But Takeharu didn't turn back. He remained in front of the door. His eyes still fixed.
"And... Hiro." His voice was firm, yet calm.
Hiro, mid-conversation with Mitsuru, paused and turned. "Hmm? What is it, Mr. Kirijo?"
Takeharu was silent for a moment. The words came from deep within — a place he rarely touched.
Sophia. Her voice still echoed in his mind.
"It's been a while since we last saw each other, Takeharu."
He took a deep breath and glanced sideways at Hiro.
"Your mother was a good person. Kind, caring to everyone around her." He paused briefly. "You should know... if Sophia were alive..."
Takeharu turned fully. The stern look was still there, but something softer glimmered — an emotion that had endured through the years.
"She would be proud of you… of the son who fights to protect others during the Dark Hour."
The electronic lock's mechanism hummed. The door opened slowly.
Takeharu gave a small wave and, without another word, stepped through.
And just like that, he disappeared from the room — leaving Hiro and Mitsuru alone with the silence... and the words that had been spoken.