Well, that was depressing! Back now, though, with hopefully less soul-crushing content from here on in!
We head back to our room and immediately find a pleasant surprise: our Giga Power Band and Diet Food have arrived. Gotta hand it to Tanaka, he really gets the orders out quickly. Anyway, as our Academics is up to the right kind of level and we're tired, I send us straight to sleep. The next morning we learn that our teachers are getting mysteriously wounded in strange accidents. We're also told about the creepy Courage-upping nurse, but we already know about that! In class we're asked about the Earth's rotation, the answer to which is 1,700km/h. Turns out we'll have to remember this for the mid-term, but for now we just get a nice charm boost. Yay. Anyway, since we have the necessary things, let's head over to the shrine, where that kid was said to be hanging out. She introduces herself as Maiko
, and is initially wary of us, but offering her the Takoyaki and Mad Bull soon warms her up to us. She tells us to come back and play with her some other time, which we accept. With that little side-quest done, we're free to do whatever for the rest of the day. Alas, we can't start the social link properly just yet, but we'll get to that in time.
Back to the dorm we go, where Junpei encourages us to go to Tartarus. I figure I might as well do a bit of grinding on the first block for the time being, since my knowledge is at the right kind of level for the mid-terms and there isn't a whole lot else to do. Not going to venture up any further than that, though, since I'm likely to be curb-stomped by the things up there. We give Junpei his new sword, letting us give the old katana over to Elizabeth to complete another request. After that we step out of the Velvet Room and into Tartarus proper, where Mitsuru informs us that the next block is open to us. However, we'll stick with the first block for a little bit. Why? You'll see. I must say, though, using my new weapons to one-shot most enemies is extremely satisfying. Especially the Trance Twins. Hate those things. Not a whole lot else to note about my adventuring through Tartarus, though. Mostly just murdering stuff with ease. The only notable thing is that Orpheus levelled up during this trek. Also, you know how I said I'd only go up to the final level of the first block? Yeah, I lied. We only go through the first floor, though, so as not to get completely curb-stomped. Our first battle immediately gives us four Heat Balances, so that's fun. I should note that until now we've only been going up against three enemies at a time. Our next battle gives us four Firvolous Mayas, a new type of Maya with a yellow mask on its face. Of course, these guys happen to know Zio, which absolutely wrecks Yukari and I. One quick Persona switch sorts out that problem for me, however, so they go down easily enough after that. Definitely going to call it a day for the time being, though.
The next day doesn't have a whole lot to offer, what with exams and the like, so I head straight home. Since it's the 14th, we can go bug Junpei and get a portable game system, which we can use to complete one of Elizabeth's requests. Seems even the fae get bored. With that request complete, it's time to head home and do some studying before sleeping. The next morning, Mitsuru chats with us for a bit about the upcoming exams. Apparently if we do good with the exams, she'll give us something... Hmm. Most curious. In class we're asked what "pan" means in English, to which we respond (correctly, by the way) with bread. Another day, another chance to show how amazing we are. The next two days are spent studying, for the most part, since we really don't have a lot to do. Well, there is one thing that you may find quite interesting. Akihiko will apparently be well enough to fight with us again after the mid-terms. That's right, new party member! Finally, we'll be at a good strength to take on the second block of Tartarus!
On our final day before midterms we decide to spend the day playing Innocent Sin Online. First, though, it's time for Tanaka, over the airwaves to you! For a fairly hefty price we can get an All-Purpose Katana. Since I've got a good amount of money, I figure why not get it and see what it's like? Anyway, enough faffing about getting hypnotised by Tanaka, time for video games! We hop on only to find that Maya... is drunk. Expect Roxy Lalonde style typos from here on out, folks. Turns out she's stressed out from her work, so she's getting drunk to relax and enjoy herself. Each to their own, I guess... She explains that she normally doesn't feel like this, but work has just been too much for her as of late. She also takes the time to compliment our good spelling online. About time someone complimented Minato for his impeccable spelling. Anyway, another rank up is achieved and we skip to Monday, where the dreaded mid-terms begin.
Mid-terms work like this: for the next 6 days we go through mid-terms, with no time out of school for social-links or anything like that. Instead, we're asked questions based on the questions we've been asked in school, although it occasionally has a twist in the question. Just keep a good memory (or a helpful girlfriend, or google) for the answers and pay attention to the questions and you should be just fine. On the final day Akihiko talks with us about continuing to lead the SEES team after he's able to fight again, to which we respond that we don't mind. Hey, Minato will take all the power he can get! Still, that's the mid-terms done, so let's head to the dorm so we can get some well-earned rest. Instead of our usual dorm stuff, we're treated to a cutscene with Akihiko, Junpei and Yukari. Akihiko explains that he's found another Persona user, a girl by the name of Fuuka Yamagishi who's in the same year as us. Apparently she gets sick very often, and that Akihiko learned of her abilities while he was in hospital. Akihiko doesn't think she's prepared for battle, though. Pity, we could always use another Persona user. Ah well.
Anyway, that was kind of a huge update, so I'm gonna go ahead and cut this off for now. I shall return tomorrow with more Persona, though, so don't worry! Until then, see you all later!
