Gentlemen (and ladies). It's time. Let's go save Fuuka.
We meet everyone in the Operations room, with Mitsuru looking uncertain. Akihiko asks what's up, to which Mitsuru responds that she can't get hold of Ikutsuki. That's probably bad, right? Yeah that's bad, since we can't get into the school grounds without him. Of course, Junpei once again proves himself pretty awesome, as he apparently has an alternate way of getting in. According to Mitsuru it's... AN EXPLOSIVE?! Okay... That's a thing alright. Akihiko is anxious to get going, so he and Mitsuru get the supplies motorcycle ready. Of course, Junpei reveals that there was no explosive. He just unlocked a door. Can I just say that Mitsuru terrifies me a bit more now? We cut to all of us inside the school, with Junpei basking in his ego for a bit. Eh, guy deserves it, might as well let him have some glory. Yukari (of course) tries to burst his bubble, but Mitsuru gives him the praise he deserves. Akihiko, once again, just wants to get going. I swear that guy has an unnaturally large chip on his shoulder when it comes to rescuing this girl. Ah well.
We cut to one of the classrooms, where Yukari fervently denies being afraid of the dark. Uh-huh. Whatever you say, YukariOHGODLOOKOUTBEHINDYOU! Ah, if only I could interact directly with the game... One day. Akihiko explains that even if we wanted the lights on, the power is cut at night. Mitsuru suggests that we split up and search for clues look for the gym key, with she and Akihiko going to the janitor's room and Junpei, Yukari and Minato heading off to the Faculty office. This is sure to work perfectly, I'm sure. Junpei and Akihiko get all sorts of terrible ideas involving test questions and the faculty room, but Mitsuru quickly puts a stop to that. To make sure that Junpei doesn't put those plans into action, Mitsuru drags him with her and Akihiko to the janitor's room. Round of applause for Mitsuru and her common sense, folks!
Right, time for a bit of gameplay! Wandering around the school at night to get to the faculty office. It's rather creepy to be doing so in the dark with no background music, I have to say. As we head downstairs, we hear footsteps coming towards us. Yukari hides behind us (of course), worried that someone other than the SEES team is around. Three guesses who it might be and the first two don't count. We hide behind one of the lobby pillars just in time to avoid the light of a torch. Huh, not Ikutsuki after all. Probably just a security guard, I guess. We do, however, get a rather amusing scene of Yukari getting freaked out by her cell-phone ringing. Turns out it was just a spam text. We reassure her that it took us by surprise too, then get back to more gameplay. Right, off to the faculty office! For real this time! We make our way to the office with no other troubles, only to find that Yukari's night vision is kinda terrible. She asks us for our opinion, to which we respond with gym in the hopes that we'll be right. As it turns out, we are! Huzzah! Time to rendezvous with the others in the main hall.
We get back to Akihiko, Junpei and Mitsuru with our spoils of success. Of course, Junpei takes the opportunity to needle Yukari about her screaming at the spam text. Turns out he was just kidding, but Yukari's blush gives her away. Akihiko tells them both to keep quiet since, y'know, we're kinda not supposed to be around at night. Mitsuru explains that we're going to split up once more, with one of us staying out of Tartarus. Sorry Junpei, but we need a healer and Akihiko has forced himself on board. Or... not, since Akihiko makes the decision to pick Junpei for us. Negating those bro points fast, dude. Before we can get into Tartarus proper, though, we cut back to Natsuki in the dorm, who is moping about in one of the rooms. Of course, she hears a voice and immediately freaks out. The second time it calls her name her convulsions stop and she takes up a more monotone voice. Ah, the joys of supernatural hypnosis. We cut back to Yukari and Mitsuru in the Tartarus lobby, who apparently haven't heard a word from us despite the transceiver being set to high sensitivity. Not good. Yukari tries changing the subject by expressing her hope that Natsuki will be okay. Oh, dramatic irony. Thankfully we don't have to hear too much more of this, as Akihiko chimes in via the transceiver. Apparently we got separated as we went up. That's not good at all!
We cut to us, laying face down on the floor. Must be Sunday morning. Oh, and Casper's creepy cousin (yay alliteration!) is here with us. This just gets better and better. Well, if he's here he might as well make himself useful. We ask him where the others are. Kid-poltergeist tries to reassure us, but his tone of voice really does not help with that. Hooray! Not much time to talk! Oh no! More than one ordeal to face! Alright kthxbai go away ghost child. Right, back to gameplay. Time to go smack down some dudes! As we wander around we hear a voice calling for us, as well as Mitsuru occasionally chiming in with broken up advice. Fun times. Two floors up we meet up with Akihiko and Junpei, who explain that they were hearing a voice as well. Oi, Fuuka, talk more clearly! True to form, the "mysterious voice" chimes in, asking who's talking. Butt out, Fuuka, we'll get to you shortly. Oh hey, there she is. Alive and well. Well, rather shaken up and exhausted, but otherwise well. Akihiko tries to contact Mitsuru, but he can only get static. Get off the line, static, we have a sexy redhead to talk to! So rude... Anyway, it turns out Fuuka can sense where the Shadows are lurking. Now THAT is a useful power to have. Same power as Mitsuru, probably stronger. Hoorah!
Right, time to find our way out of here! As we wander through Tartarus, we see the moon being all huge, menacing and foreshadow-y. Hi, moon! Please don't kill us all! Apparently Shadows are affected by the moon phases. Yeah, kinda knew that already. Junpei stars putting two and two together and making bad things. Akihiko tries talking to Mitsuru, but judging by Mitsuru's panicked talking and warning to be careful, I'm guessing that the Shadows are getting antsy down there. Right, better get a move on! As it turns out, Fuuka can sense the Full Moon Shadow attacking Mitsuru and Yukari. Most curious. Right, less question asking, more shadow bashing!
We make our way to the entrance to find Yukari taken down and Mitsuru gripped by one of TWO Full Moon Shadows. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Emperor and Empress. Now, let's go kill them! Of course, Natsuki chooses this exact moment to wander into Tartarus. Curse you, dramatic timing! Fuuka tries to talk some sense into Natsuki, but alas our bully is too entrenched in her own hypnosis and guilt. Fuuka reaches for her Evoker despite Akihiko's warnings and CUE THE ANIME PERSONA EVOKING! Okay, that was pretty sweet. Right, time to lay the smack down on these Shadows! The main gimmick for this battle is that normal attacks won't hurt them, so ANALYSE. You know, like you've been doing for the past ALL OF TARTARUS. We put Fuuka to analysing the Emperor, only to get lucky with a Bufu attack and good old Junpei getting a crit. One beat-down later and Akihiko gets his turn, knocking both of them down again. Seriously, the Empress is dead after the second beatdown and the Emperor critically wounded. One beat-down later and the fight is over. That was kinda disappointing. Ah well, not gonna sniff at 1830 EXP. Seriously, that's two levels up in one right there. Pretty sweet.
After the battle is over and done with, Fuuka's persona disappears. Seems the coast is clear for now. Natsuki also comes to her senses at this point. Quickly, smack her with the chloroform and drag her back to the dorm! Fuuka quickly faints from exhaustion after making sure that Natsuki was okay. Look, don't take a week to recover, okay? Seriously, my excuse was being main character. You have no such safety net. Mitsuru explains that once again the Shadows didn't come from Tartarus proper, but rather outside of it. Okay, that's definitely odd. Yukari asks what to do about Natsuki, but thankfully she won't remember a thing. Well, at least there's that.
Well, that happened! We took on a terrible foe or two, gained a new party member and survived another full moon. I think that's a good time to call it a day. So, until next time, keep one eye open for that big bad moon and try not to get lulled in by shadow siren songs! See you all next time.
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