Chapter 1: Mirror, mirror, on the wall... Who is the unfairest of them all?
-Evening-
"Who is it?" A soft voice called from behind the door.
Seta stated his name calmly.
Removing his drenched jacket, he waited under the entrance shelter.
The building's front door was answered.
A dazzling young woman approximately his own age appeared,
wearing elegant specs and a comfy winter dress.
"Ah! Welcome, you must be the new tenant! My name's Chihiro," the girl stated with a confident radiance.
(A.N: Bold indicates Seta's selected response)
- You're not who I was expecting to meet.
- Is this Minatodai Dormitory?
"Yes it is!" Chihiro reassured with a bright welcoming smile. "Don't worry, you've got the right place. Come in. Oh here, I'll help you with your bags."
Seta gently shook his head and took the bags in himself.
On his way in, he was careful not to soak the new clean scented auburn carpet.
"Oh don't worry too much about the floor,"
Chihiro stated with a casual sigh.
"Once we have new students they're likely to make a mess of this area... Happens in every common room."
Suddenly a refined feminine voice called out to them from a leather lounge nearby.
"Chihiro, don't discourage his proper etiquette... Future tenants should learn from his example."
"Y-Yes, Mitsuru-san," Chihiro stated a little apologetically.
"Welcome, my name's Mitsuru Kirijo." Stated the stylish maroon haired woman.
As she approached, Seta noticed her sophisticated clothing accentuated her class.
- Souji Seta. Pleased to meet you.
- The tenants here certainly are beautiful. (Courage Lv.6 required)
- It was a long trip, so…
"Courteous and groomed I see… You do have the air of a leader about you." Mitsuru said with an elegant smile. "It somewhat reminds me of-"
Mitsuru seemed to stop her own words with a troubled melancholy.
"I... I'm sorry. Never mind that, you must be tired after such a long trip. Come this way, let me show you to your room."
She began walking.
Seta followed.
"I can give you the tour tonight and we can discuss formalities in the morning. Mr. Dojima has taken care of most things on this end for you already," Mitsuru said as she led the way.
Seta nodded and followed her to a spiraling stairway.
He took a moment to acknowledge Chihiro's wave saying goodbye for now,
He also thanked her for the warming welcome.
She beamed brightly his way.
Mitsuru continued the tour once she had Seta's attention again.
"As you can see, the place has been newly refurbished."
She pointed down the hall of the first floor. "This floor is where you will be staying. Your room is the farthest down the hall on the left hand side."
Seta looked up with curiosity as he noticed the stairway continue on endlessly.
"The building, newly extended, now towers at seven stories high. The first three floors are for the male residents, then floors four to six are for female tenants.
- Quite the daily climb for the girls.
- May I excuse myself for tonight?
"Oh, don't worry. We have an elevator for when they're slacking... Not that I encourage it. If it didn't add an element of sophistication to the dorm, I'd gladly have it removed."
Mitsuru let out a faint grin while Seta listened a little tensely.
She was not joking...
"Anyway," Mitsuru held out her hand. "Here are your room keys and front door keys. I cut a spare for each just in case... Now please get some rest. We'll talk in the morning," she stated with a regal flair.
At that moment, something odd happened...
Seta felt his head pulse with a strange feeling.
It wasn't too dissimilar to what he experienced the day his powers first awoken.
It was an aura coming from nearby.
Seta felt an anomaly and glared at the room door just opposite of his.
"What is it?" Mitsuru asked. "If you're wondering about that room... We don't permit anyone to use it,"
Mitsuru spoke somewhat abruptly.
Seta turned to her curiously.
"You see, a very close friend of ours used to live there and well... He passed away nearly three years ago."
- Is it at all possible to look inside?
- I'm sorry to hear of your loss. (Understanding rises)
- But... I sense the trails of a presence. (Corruption Lv. 3 required)
"It is kind of you to offer your condolences." Mitsuru said.
She showed appreciation towards Seta's sympathy.
"I think the other dorm members will enjoy meeting you." She continued. "Many of them found themselves returning here for university. Akihiko is my age and around two years your senior. He can be abrupt at times, but returns respect when shown to him. Junpei is a little thick-headed, but a very good willed man underneath. Yukari and I won't always see eye to eye, which I'm sure you will quickly notice, but we respect each other in ways neither of us like to admit. Politics aside, I think she will get along with you just fine... Lastly, Chihiro already seems willing to warm to you so no problems there. We do have a few more close friends you will eventually meet, but I'll save those introductions for later."
Seta nodded with an accepting smile.
Mitsuru seemed to suddenly recall something.
"I believe there's a girl from your old school also coming here to stay soon, isn't she?"
Seta nodded.
"I look forward to meeting her then," Mitsuru grinned.
That reminded Seta, there was a letter from his good friend Yukiko in his bag which he'd not yet read.
Perhaps later tonight would be a good chance, as he settled into his new room.
Mitsuru showed Seta the trick to unlocking his room door and said her goodbye.
"Well then... Goodnight for now. If you get hungry, come join us for a meal. If you need rest, then you can acquaint yourselves with the other tenants tomorrow morning." She said as she pulled back her fringe.
As she left, Seta noticed there was a distinct aura around Mitsuru.
It made her appear as charmingly courteous but also strict.
She seemed like a very proper young woman.
Mature and strong, yet eloquently feminine.
However, that said, it was also really quite clear that she was the type of woman who would make any man 'forever sorry' if he ever were to fool around with her...
-Midnight-
Seta entered his room and dropped his bags on the floor with a relieved sigh.
The quiet patter sound of raindrops hitting the nearby window was soothing.
The room was neat, with a desk for his laptop and University material to perch on as well as a double bed that looked incredibly soft.
As Seta made his way over, he sank onto the clean lime scented linen.
Instantly, he felt weariness catching up with him.
As he stared at the wall opposite him, he noticed a sliding clothes cabinet with a huge mirror door.
Eying his weary reflection for a while, he lay down feeling sleep approaching...
He began to lower his eyelids...
Reopened them...
Closed them...
Then reopened them once more...
It was about the third time he did so,
that for the brief second he reopened his eyes,
he shot up to his feet...
!?... Yukiko's letter.
He decided to read it now before going to bed.
Making his way over to the bag, Seta searched the contents.
It was around then...
From the corner of his eye,
An odd sight he caught glimpse of... Made him freeze still.
...
Slowly turning his head to face the mirror,
He broke into a cold sweat.
Thunder crashed outside in time with his spine-chilling realization...
Just how many tired blinks ago was it...
That his reflection in the mirror nearby, had completely disappeared?
END CHAPTER.
Souji Seta's current status
Age: 18
Persona equipped: Fool Arcana – Izanagi Lv.56
Courage - 5 stars: Heroic
Charm - 3 stars: Suave
Knowledge - 3 stars: Bright Minded
Expression - 2 stars: Reserved Eloquence
Understanding - 5 stars: Saintly
Dilligence - 7 stars: Indomitable
Influence - 2 stars: Ex-Leader
Corruption - 1 star: pure
(Note: Max star count attainable = 7)