This story is a work of fiction

Similarities between characters or events to persons living or dead in your world are purely coincidental

Only those who have agreed to the above have the privilege of partaking in the reading of this book

The contract has been sealed…

The world is not as it should be. It’s filled with distortion and “ruin” can no longer be avoided

Now is the time to rise against the abyss of distortion.

This story is based off the fiction works of ATLUS and is a FAN-MADE addition to the Persona series.

In every heart lies the power to heal, to endure, and to bring light to the shadows…

The hum of the train filled the air, steady and low, as the wheels clattered against the tracks, carrying Haruto Ishida to the town of Hikone. He sat quietly by the window, his gaze unfocused on the scenery passing by—a blur of empty fields and darkening skies. For Haruto, the journey was another step away from the life he’d known, another reminder of the distance he felt from everything familiar.

In the window's reflection, a hollow image of himself looked back, eyes shadowed and distant. He let his mind drift, memories pulling him back to a day he wished he could forget. His mother, frail and trembling, lay in the hospital bed, her breath slowing as she reached out a weak hand. He remembered holding it, her touch light as if she was already somewhere else. And then—nothing. Just the stark stillness that settled over everything, the kind that seemed to seep into his bones. After that, his father had barely been around; the silence in their home had deepened until one morning, his father was gone too. No goodbye, no explanation. Just him and his little sister, Mika, left behind, as if they were loose threads cut from the fabric of his life.

When they were split up, the reality of being alone truly sank in. Mika had been sent to live with their grandparents, while he was sent off to Hikone to stay with an aunt he barely remembered. Mika’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, a quiet "goodbye" she had whispered that day as she clung to him, her face pressed against his shoulder.

The train lurched, and Haruto blinked, returning to the present. They were approaching Hikone Station, the small town bathed in the golden glow of early evening. The clinking of the train’s wheels slowed as it came to a halt, and Haruto pulled himself up, his feet landing on solid ground. Stepping off, he made his way through the quiet station, past scattered groups of travelers, each wrapped in their own world.

Outside, he followed the worn path out of the station, the chill in the evening air biting against his skin. His bag was slung over his shoulder, and his hands were shoved into his pockets as he walked, his steps heavy against the pavement. But then—his foot caught on something, causing him to stumble. Regaining his balance, he glanced down, eyes catching on a strange object half-buried in the dirt.

It was a rock, but unlike any he had seen before. Smooth and polished, with a faint glimmer that caught the fading light, almost like a crystal. He knelt down and picked it up, turning it over in his palm. Its surface was etched with faint, twisting lines, patterns that seemed familiar yet alien. Without much thought, he slipped it into his pocket and continued on, a strange feeling lingering.

After a few blocks of following winding streets and passing rows of dimly lit houses, he finally found himself in front of his aunt’s house. It was modest, tucked into a quiet neighborhood, with a small garden out front where overgrown bushes crowded around like silent spectators. He hesitated, glancing at the house, the feeling of displacement settling over him again.

The door opened before he could knock, and a woman stepped out, studying him with a hint of curiosity. She looked older than he remembered, her black hair pulled back into a bun, features stern but softened around the edges by lines that suggested years of worry and responsibility. She wore a kitchen apron which contrasted from the bags under her eyes.

“You probably don’t remember me,” she said, her voice firm yet kind. “I’m your mother’s sister.” Her gaze swept over him, a brief flash of recognition and something else, maybe sympathy, crossing her face. “Well, I suppose it’s been years, hasn’t it?”

Haruto gave a short nod, his eyes lowered. He wasn’t sure what to say—or if he was expected to say anything. His aunt’s lips tugged into a slight smile, though there was a guarded quality in her expression, as if she were piecing together the boy in front of her from memories long blurred.

“You don’t talk much, huh?” she said, her tone a mixture of amusement and curiosity. “Well, that’s fine by me.” She turned slightly and called back into the house, “Mina! Come and say hello.”

A quiet rustling followed, and a girl, around Haruto’s age, stepped into the doorway. Mina, his cousin, had a quiet, almost detached presence, her face partially obscured by long dark hair that framed her cheeks. She glanced at him with mild interest, her gaze reserved, before offering a polite bow.

“Welcome,” she said softly, her words barely above a whisper.

Haruto nodded in response, and the three of them stood in an awkward silence. His aunt seemed to sense it, and she cleared her throat, gesturing him inside.

“Well, let’s not stand here all night. Come in. You must be tired from the journey.”

As he stepped inside, he felt the weight of the strange crystal pressing in his pocket, almost as if it were reminding him of the unfamiliar road that lay ahead.

Dinner was quiet, the only sounds coming from the soft clinking of chopsticks against plates and the hum of distant evening traffic drifting through the open window. Haruto kept his eyes on his plate, only half-listening as his aunt moved around the kitchen, filling plates with food. Mina sat across from him, her gaze lowered, occasionally sneaking glances in his direction before quickly looking away.

After a few moments, his aunt finally broke the silence.

“Well, I suppose a proper introduction is in order,” she began, her voice steady yet with a hint of hesitation. She set down her chopsticks and looked directly at Haruto, her expression softening. “My name is Chiharu. I’m… your mother’s older sister. We didn’t see each other much, but I’ve kept up with some of the family news.”

Haruto nodded, keeping his expression neutral. He didn’t know how to respond, so he just listened, glancing occasionally at Mina, who seemed equally uncertain, lost in her own world as she methodically ate her meal. Chiharu’s gaze softened, lingering on him with a mixture of compassion and curiosity, though she kept a respectful distance, as though aware of the emotional weight hanging over the table.

“Tomorrow,” Chiharu continued, her tone more matter-of-fact, “we’ll go to your new school to meet with the principal and finalize your registration. It’ll be a chance for you to get familiar with the place before classes begin next week.”

Haruto nodded again, his silent response met with a patient smile from Chiharu, who didn’t press him for more than he was willing to offer. The meal continued in comfortable silence, and he felt a small measure of relief that his aunt didn’t force conversation. It was strange enough being here; he was grateful not to be under any scrutiny, at least for now.

Later that night, as Haruto unpacked, he felt the faint weight of the crystal in his pocket. Pulling it out, he studied it under the dim lamp by his bed. In the low light, the stone looked almost translucent, its smooth surface catching faint hints of light, as if something alive was trapped within. Then, unexpectedly, a soft glow emerged from deep within the crystal, pulsing gently as though it had a heartbeat of its own. Haruto frowned, unsettled by the sudden warmth it emitted, yet unable to bring himself to look away.

He placed the crystal next to his pillow, a strange feeling of anticipation settling over him as he continued to stare at it, unsure of what to make of the thing that had, somehow, found its way to him. Just as he was about to turn away, there was a quiet knock on the door, and Mina slipped inside, her steps almost soundless.

“Can I… talk to you for a moment?” she asked, standing in the doorway.

Haruto nodded, gesturing for her to come in. She moved cautiously, her hands folded in front of her as she studied him with a thoughtful gaze. She seemed nervous, unsure of how to begin, but after a moment, she took a seat on the edge of his bed, glancing briefly at the faintly glowing crystal by his pillow.

“It’s… strange having you here,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I mean, I always knew about you and Mika, but we only met once when we were really young, so I didn’t know what to expect.”

Haruto listened, offering her a slight nod, his expression thoughtful. Mina shifted, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and caution, as if afraid to ask what was really on her mind. But after a moment, her resolve seemed to strengthen.

“Haruto… I mean, what happened? I heard bits and pieces, about… your mother, and that you’d be staying with us now. But it was all a bit sudden, and Mom never told me much.”

He looked down, his hands resting on his knees. It wasn’t a story he wanted to tell, not really. But there was something earnest in Mina’s expression, a gentleness that made him feel she genuinely wanted to understand.

“My mom… she… passed away.” His words were slow, reluctant, as though they were being pulled from somewhere deep within him. “And… my dad… left us. Mika and I… we were split up. She’s with our grandparents now.”

Mina’s eyes softened, and she nodded quietly, absorbing his words. She seemed to realize how difficult it was for him to speak, and she didn’t push him for more. Instead, she reached out, her fingers grazing his shoulder in a gesture of quiet solidarity.

“I’m sorry, Haruto,” she said softly. “I can’t imagine what that’s like. It must have been really hard… having everything change so quickly.”

He gave a small nod, grateful for her understanding, though he still kept his thoughts mostly to himself. It was hard to let others in, even family, especially when the wounds were still so fresh.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the quiet of the night settling around them, broken only by the faint hum of crickets outside. Mina seemed content to sit in the quiet, her presence reassuring in its own way.

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Finally, she stood up, offering him a small smile as she made her way to the door. “Well, goodnight, Haruto. And… welcome. I know this isn’t the same as home, but… I hope you’ll feel comfortable here, eventually.”

Haruto gave her a slight nod in acknowledgment. As she slipped out of the room, he lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, the glow of the crystal casting a faint, soft light in the otherwise dark room.

The night was silent and still, blanketed in the deep, unbroken darkness just before dawn. Haruto lay motionless, his body heavy with the weariness of an emotional day, the weight of his memories pressing down on him. But as the clock struck midnight, a sharp, brilliant light pierced the shadows, igniting the small room in an eerie, cold glow.

His eyes fluttered open, the strange light drawing him to the crystal he had placed beside his pillow. It was brighter now, its soft glow transformed into a vivid pulse, an insistent beat that matched the rhythm of his heart. Groggily, Haruto sat up, picking up the crystal and studying it, his mind thick with questions. He held it in his palm, watching the way it seemed to hum, its energy prickling against his skin as if it were alive.

Instinctively, Haruto closed his fingers around it, clutching it tightly in his fist. As he did, an electric jolt surged through him, powerful and unrelenting, like a current ripping through his veins. In an instant, it was as if his very soul was yanked from his body—a sensation so intense and disorienting that he barely had time to register it before everything went black.

When his eyes opened again, he was somewhere else entirely.

A vast, dark void stretched endlessly around him, empty and still. Haruto looked down, his hands trembling as he tried to make sense of where he was. Just ahead, in the midst of the blackness, a faint light appeared, outlining a large blue door that seemed to hover without anchor, its color so vivid it almost glowed against the dark.

Driven by some inexplicable urge, Haruto moved toward it, his feet carrying him across the void as if they had a mind of their own. He reached for the handle, pulling the door open, and stepped inside.

The room beyond was unlike anything he’d ever seen. A dim, soft blue light bathed everything, casting an ethereal glow across the strange surroundings. He found himself in what appeared to be an old-fashioned train carriage, filled with velvet-cushioned seats and brass fixtures that gleamed in the ambient light. At the far end of the carriage sat a man at a desk, his figure partially hidden in shadow, but one detail stood out unmistakably: a long, almost absurdly pointy nose that seemed to jut out from his face like a beak.

The man’s eyes lit up with a strange, unsettling delight as Haruto stepped closer.

“Welcome,” the man said, his voice smooth yet haunting, with a tone that sent a chill down Haruto’s spine. “I am delighted to make your acquaintance. This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. It is a room that only those who are bound by a contract may enter. I am Igor, the master of this place. Remember it well.”

Haruto remained silent, his expression wary but intrigued, as Igor continued, his voice layered with an almost mystical resonance.

“I summoned you here to discuss matters of great importance,” Igor said, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully as he regarded Haruto. “Matters that involve your life, as well.”

Haruto’s breath hitched. Somehow, this man’s words felt weighty, as though they carried a truth beyond his immediate comprehension. Igor continued to speak, his tone deliberate and precise, as if he were guiding Haruto through an understanding that was only beginning to surface.

“This room,” Igor explained, gesturing around them, “is a reflection of your heart—a manifestation of how you perceive your own life. Currently, we are aboard a train, its relentless speed symbolic of the way your life moves forward, fast and unyielding. Do you not feel as though events are slipping past you, leaving you struggling to catch up?”

Haruto lowered his gaze, a shadow crossing his face. Igor’s words struck a nerve, resonating with the disorientation he felt since arriving in Hikone, with memories of his family and the feeling of being carried by forces he couldn’t control. Igor’s expression softened slightly, though his intense gaze never wavered.

“This place,” Igor said with a hint of a smile, “is called the Velvet Room. It will serve as a refuge, a place where you may find answers, should you choose to seek them. But remember, Haruto—only those who understand themselves truly have the power to change their fate.”

A figure standing beside Igor cleared her throat, drawing Haruto’s attention. A woman with a poised, almost regal bearing gave a polite bow, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

“My name is Lizzy,” she said with a serene smile, her voice gentle but firm. “I am Igor’s assistant. It is an honor to meet you, Haruto.”

Haruto gave a slight nod, his silence an unspoken acknowledgment of her greeting. Lizzy’s gaze was calm, yet it felt as if she could see right through him, her eyes holding an insight that seemed both mysterious and strangely reassuring.

Igor leaned forward, steepling his long fingers as he regarded Haruto with a curious smile. “Our time together grows short, but fear not—we shall meet again, and likely quite soon. Until then, remember this encounter well, and keep the crystal close. It will serve as a guide, a means of connection between our worlds.”

With that, Igor’s figure began to fade, dissolving like mist, and the room around him seemed to blur and shift, its edges vanishing until there was nothing but darkness once more. A rushing sensation gripped Haruto, and he felt himself spiraling, the world turning and spinning until—

He opened his eyes, gasping as he found himself back in his own room, the morning light spilling through the thin curtains. His breathing was rapid, his heart racing as though he’d just woken from a nightmare. He glanced down at his hand, still clenched around the crystal, which now lay cool and dull in his palm, the strange glow completely gone.

Haruto exhaled slowly, his mind reeling from the encounter. The memories of Igor’s words lingered, casting a shadow over him that he couldn’t quite shake. What had he meant by “matters involving his life”? And how could a place like the Velvet Room exist—if it even did at all?

But as the light of day filled the room, the strangeness of the night began to fade, leaving him with only the lingering weight of his questions. Shaking his head slightly, he rose from bed, slipping the crystal into his pocket, the memory of the Velvet Room—and its enigmatic occupants—etched into his mind.

The drive to Hikone High School was quiet, the hum of the car engine filling the silence between Haruto, Mina, and his aunt, Chiharu. Haruto stared out the window, his mind distant, replaying the surreal encounter from the night before. The Velvet Room, Igor, the crystal’s glow—they lingered in his thoughts, casting a shadow over his morning. It felt unreal, yet somehow, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more than just a dream.

When they arrived, the school building loomed over them—a squat, gray structure with tall windows and an old, weathered sign reading “Hikone High School.” Students moved through the entrance in clusters, chatting in low voices as they passed, but Haruto barely registered any of it. Mina watched him with quiet curiosity, sensing his distraction. Chiharu led them inside, guiding them through the narrow hallways toward the principal’s office.

Once they reached the office, Chiharu knocked on the door, and a low, curt “Come in” sounded from the other side. They entered to find Principal Mori seated at his desk, his posture rigid, a sharp gaze fixed on Haruto as they stepped inside. The man’s expression was unreadable, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Haruto Ishida,” the principal said, barely nodding in acknowledgment. “Welcome to Hikone High.” His eyes narrowed slightly, an assessing look that seemed to linger a moment too long. “We don’t tolerate disturbances here, understand? Any hint of trouble, and there will be immediate consequences. I don’t care about your background or what you’ve been through—rules are rules, and they’re the same for everyone.”

Haruto nodded slowly, keeping his face impassive, though he could feel the weight of Principal Mori’s gaze on him, as though he were already anticipating problems. He wasn’t sure why, but he could tell the principal wasn’t one for second chances.

As the meeting wrapped up, they rose to leave, Haruto barely noticing the conversation ending as he turned to follow Mina and Chiharu out. His thoughts drifted once again to Igor’s cryptic words, each one seeming to echo louder as he replayed them in his mind. But as they made their way down the hallway, Haruto’s focus was abruptly pulled back to the present.

Just outside the office, he collided shoulders with someone—a rough-looking teen with a shock of dark hair, his face hard and defiant. The teen’s eyes flicked to Haruto, narrowing as they sized each other up, a subtle challenge in the stranger’s gaze. Haruto felt something shift in the air between them, an unspoken tension as they locked eyes for just a moment.

Mina and Chiharu stopped a few paces ahead, turning back to see Haruto and the teen standing, motionless, each regarding the other with a guarded expression. But after a brief pause, the teen simply gave a short, dismissive scoff, turning and striding off down the hall without another word. Haruto watched him go, a sense of familiarity tugging at him, though he couldn’t place why.

“Everything alright, Haruto?” Chiharu’s voice broke the silence, drawing him back to the present. He nodded, shrugging off the strange encounter as he caught up with her and Mina.

“Don’t mind them,” Mina said quietly as they walked. “There are a few rough kids around here, but they’re harmless… most of the time.” She glanced at Haruto, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were trying to gauge what was on his mind.

As they reached the front steps of the school, Chiharu gave him a sideways glance. “So,” she said with a raised eyebrow, “what do you think of Hikone High so far?”

Haruto hesitated, his gaze shifting from the looming building to the students milling about the courtyard, each of them seemingly wrapped up in their own lives. But even as he looked around, a strange sense of unease settled over him, a feeling that seemed to tug at the edge of his consciousness, whispering that this place was somehow connected to the things he’d seen last night.

“It’s… fine,” he replied, his tone neutral.

But in truth, there was something about the school that made him uneasy. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was—just a vague sensation of foreboding that clung to him like a shadow. He knew it was irrational, and yet, his mind kept drifting back to Igor’s words, to the strange intensity in the old man’s eyes when he’d spoken about matters “involving his life.” It was as though some hidden piece of his life was waiting to unfold here, waiting for him to uncover it.

Chiharu seemed satisfied with his answer, giving him a brief nod before they continued toward the car. But as they drove home, Haruto remained silent, staring out the window as questions raced through his mind. The Velvet Room… Igor… the crystal. Why did these things feel so important, as if they were tied to him in ways he couldn’t yet understand?

It was as if he’d been drawn here for a reason, guided by something he couldn’t see, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that Igor—this strange, enigmatic figure—was somehow at the center of it all.

Throughout the day, Haruto could barely tear his gaze from the crystal in his pocket. Every so often, when he thought no one was looking, he would pull it out, watching as it faintly pulsed with a light so dim it was barely noticeable. He felt an odd connection to it, an urge that went beyond curiosity—something he didn’t entirely understand, like the crystal was trying to tell him something he couldn’t yet hear.

As the evening deepened, the quiet hum of the house settled around him. Mina had already retreated to her room, and Chiharu’s light snores drifted faintly through the walls. Haruto lay in his bed, clutching the crystal, his eyes fixed on the clock beside him, watching as the minutes crept closer to midnight. His heartbeat quickened, anticipation growing with each passing second.

Finally, as the clock struck midnight, the crystal burst into a soft, radiant glow, lighting up his room like a beacon. Haruto sat up, barely daring to breathe as he held it in his hand. The moment he closed his fist around it, that strange sensation returned, pulling him from his body, and in an instant, he felt himself slipping once more into the dark void.

When his eyes opened again, he was back in the Velvet Room.

The deep blue light bathed the room in an otherworldly glow, and the soft rumble of the train’s movement vibrated beneath his feet. Seated at the desk in front of him was Igor, his long, pointed nose casting a shadow over his face as he grinned with unsettling delight.

“Ah, welcome back,” Igor greeted him, his voice resonant and smooth. “Have you begun to grow accustomed to this place?”

Haruto looked around, his gaze settling on the train’s dimly lit walls, the seats that stretched out into the shadows behind him. The surreal atmosphere seemed less disorienting this time, though it still felt like he was straddling the boundary between reality and something else altogether. He met Igor’s gaze, offering a slight nod in response.

Igor chuckled, his thin fingers tapping rhythmically on the surface of the desk. “It seems your rehabilitation is progressing nicely,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he studied Haruto intently. “You may not understand it fully yet, but everything you are experiencing is part of a test—a test to determine if ruin can be avoided.”

Haruto’s brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion passing over his face. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but Igor raised a hand, signaling him to listen.

“Your journey will not be a solitary one, Haruto,” Igor continued. “It is crucial that you develop bonds with others. Such connections will become a source of strength, lending you the power to overcome the trials you will face. The bonds you create will serve as your guiding light.”

The words lingered in the air, weaving themselves into the recesses of Haruto’s mind. He thought of the people he had met, the brief moments of connection that had started to form: Mina’s quiet presence, his aunt Chiharu’s cautious patience, and even the brief encounter with that rough-looking student in the hallway. He didn’t know what these connections meant yet, but Igor’s words gave them a sense of importance he hadn’t considered before.

Igor’s eyes glinted as he leaned forward, his smile widening. “Now, listen carefully. The next time the clock strikes midnight, take this crystal and press it against your mirror. Doing so will open a path to a new world, one that awaits you beyond the veil of ordinary existence.”

Haruto’s heart quickened, a mixture of curiosity and trepidation flooding him as he absorbed Igor’s instructions. Another world… a place he could only reach with the crystal, and only at midnight. He nodded slowly, his grip on the crystal tightening as he felt the weight of Igor’s words.

Igor’s gaze softened slightly, though the unsettling glimmer in his eyes remained. “That will be all for now. Our time together is drawing to a close, but do not worry… we shall meet again. When the need arises, this room will be here, awaiting your return.”

With a final nod, Igor’s image began to blur, the room shifting and fading as the darkness crept in from all sides. Haruto felt himself being pulled backward, spiraling through the void as the Velvet Room dissolved around him, Igor’s enigmatic smile the last thing he saw before—

He awoke to the pale light of morning filtering through his window, the faint rustle of leaves outside signaling the start of a new day. Haruto lay still, his thoughts lingering on the surreal encounter as he blinked against the morning light. The crystal was still in his hand, cool and inert once more, but its presence seemed heavier, more purposeful.

He tucked the crystal back into his pocket, his mind racing with questions and possibilities. Igor’s words echoed in his mind, urging him to reach out, to make connections, and to test the boundaries of his reality. A new world awaited him, one hidden behind the veil of midnight.

As he got up to start his day, the anticipation of that midnight hour filled him with a strange, electric energy. For the first time since he’d arrived, he felt as though he had a purpose, a path he was meant to follow.

The waiting hours stretched before him, each minute a slow, steady countdown to midnight.