While Daniel was enjoying valuable moments with his family and his girlfriends in Mexico, in Kuoh, the shadows of fate were silently weaving.
In the exclusive Kirijo Group dormitory, Mitsuru Kirijo was seated before a surveillance console, her red eyes calmly analyzing the real-time recordings. The cameras, discreetly installed by group engineers under direct orders from her father, recorded all movements within the building.
Akihiko Sanada appeared on one of the screens, training with determination. Well-aimed punches, tireless repetitions, his sweat was proof of his commitment to personal progress. Mitsuru nodded slowly.
—Promising... definitely, if he has the potential, it will manifest soon. With the right motivation, he'll be the first to accept.
On another screen, Yukari Takeba was seated before the mirror, applying makeup. Mitsuru didn't see frivolity in that gesture, but a facade. Yukari was cunning, observant, emotionally reserved... and didn't trust easily. Convincing her would be more complex.
Mitsuru intertwined her fingers before her mouth, thoughtful.
—Yukari is a delicate case. Her family history, her distrust... I'll need a more measured approach. Perhaps if Akihiko joins first, she'll open up to the idea.
She rose from her chair with elegance and determination. Tonight wouldn't just be another night. It was the first official step in the formation of SEES.
The team that would take on the Shadows, protect the innocent during the Dark Hour, and perhaps, prevent a greater tragedy.
Mitsuru crossed the silent hallway of the dormitory, her heels echoing softly against the marble floor. She knocked firmly on Akihiko's door.
—Sanada. May I speak with you?
Akihiko's voice was heard from the other side.
—Huh? Yeah, sure, Kirijo. Come in.
Mitsuru entered solemnly. It was time to explain the truth to him, at least part of it. About the Dark Hour. About the Shadows. And about the power that might awaken in him if he accepted that truth.
Yukari would come later.
But for now... the board was in motion.
The night had fallen with its usual deceptive tranquility. The city lights twinkled in the distance, unaware of what was about to happen in a quiet corner of Kuoh.
Mitsuru Kirijo walked down the dormitory hallway with firm steps, her boots resonating softly on the marble. Her expression was a mix of relief and determination: she finally had a companion for this crusade.
The conversation with Akihiko Sanada had been simpler than she expected. He agreed to join the SEES project almost without hesitation, his eyes lit by the possibility of becoming stronger, of protecting others... and of facing the unknown.
—Dark Hour, huh? —Akihiko murmured as he looked out the main living room window—. Sounds like a challenge... a real one.
Mitsuru, seated with a cup of tea, watched the clock attentively. The hands were approaching midnight.
—In a few minutes, you'll see it with your own eyes. If you have the potential, you'll be able to resist it.
—And if I don't?
—Then, you simply... won't wake up —she responded honestly—. You'll remain in that "sleep" state, like the rest of the world. But I wouldn't be so sure about that in your case.
The clock chimed midnight.
The world stopped.
The light faded.
The air changed.
The sky was tinged with an unnatural dark green, and in the distance, like a cursed scar on the world's fabric, Tartarus rose, completely replacing Kuoh Academy.
Akihiko opened his eyes in astonishment. His whole body tensed.
—What... what is this...? —he muttered, bringing a hand to his head.
—Welcome to the Dark Hour, Sanada.
Immediately, Akihiko fell to his knees. His breathing became ragged, drops of sweat ran down his face. The dizziness was overwhelming. Mitsuru stood up immediately and knelt beside him.
—Akihiko! Are you okay?
He gritted his teeth hard. The pressure inside his head was intense. Something was calling him. A muffled roar echoed in his mind. A primitive and powerful instinct fighting to break free.
And then...
A flare of blue energy surrounded him.
—Persona...! —he shouted, not fully understanding why he knew that word.
From the depths of his soul, a figure emerged: Polydeuces, the boxing champion. Its presence manifested violently, its energy swept the room like a storm of pure power. Its fists burned with spiritual strength.
Mitsuru looked at him, dazzled.
—A real Persona... You did it.
Within seconds, the figure disappeared as if it had never been there. Akihiko fell unconscious to the floor, his body exhausted from the first manifestation.
Mitsuru, carefully, lifted him and carried him to the lobby sofa. Covering him with a blanket, she arranged him gently.
For the first time in weeks, a soft, almost maternal expression crossed her face.
—Thank you... Sanada. I'm no longer alone in this.
She looked out the window.
Tartarus still rose in the distance, waiting. Twisted. Impossible. Cursed.
But that night... the first flame of resistance had been ignited.
The midday sun bathed Daniel's house with warm light. The air smelled of copal, pan de muerto, and marigold flowers, whose vibrant orange covered the ground before the Day of the Dead altar like a river of fire.
Before the altar, decorated with care and devotion, were photos of grandparents, uncles, and other deceased relatives. Smiling figures in black and white, surrounded by lit candles, papel picado, and favorite dishes: tamales, mole, rice, sweets, fruits.
Daniel stood in silence, next to his parents. Around him, his girlfriends watched in respectful silence, not fully understanding what that altar represented or why everyone maintained that solemn silence.
Tamamo, curious, leaned in and whispered:
—What exactly is this...? I've never seen anything like it.
Daniel took a deep breath, with a mix of nostalgia and love, and turned to explain:
—This is the Day of the Dead. Today, we pay tribute to those who are no longer with us. We thank them for what they did in life, we remember their journey, their love... and we celebrate it. —He pointed to the altar with his hand—. First, they are honored. We talk about them, we thank them. Then... after a while, we celebrate. Because it's a festival, not of sadness, but of respect for La Catrina and the cycle of life.
The girls looked at each other. Alya and Sakura clasped their hands, gradually understanding. Hibiki and Hikari, with their wings retracted, nodded in respect. Raynare lowered her gaze, thoughtful. Tamamo, still holding her tail nervously, looked with softer eyes.
Then, Daniel knelt before the altar. He closed his eyes.
—Grandpa, Uncle Luis... thank you. Thank you for the stories, the lessons, the scoldings and the hugs. I hope you're proud of who I am. —He slowly opened his eyes—. I miss you, but I celebrate you. Today you are with us, even if only for this night.
His mother placed the pan de muerto next to the altar and his father left a craft beer his uncle loved.
A soft breeze swept through the house. The candles flickered.
And then the music began. A speaker in the living room played "La Llorona" and later "Cielo Rojo" and "Amor Eterno." The initial sadness transformed into gentle joy. Daniel took his girlfriends' hands and his parents began to share anecdotes about the deceased amidst laughter, tears, and bread.
For the girls, it was a lesson in life and death.
—I never imagined death could be celebrated like this —said Sakura, smiling tenderly.
—This tradition is beautiful... —added Raynare, with a thread of emotion in her voice—. It's like... giving them an eternal place in memory.
Daniel hugged them affectionately, surrounded by family, love, and flowers.
That night, amid the scent of copal and the murmurs of the living, the souls smiled too.
While on the other side of the world Daniel was celebrating the Day of the Dead with his family and his growing group of girlfriends, Mitsuru Kirijo and Akihiko Sanada were in the middle of the night facing a completely different threat: Tartarus.
The structure, which had completely replaced Kuoh Academy, rose in the darkness like a wound in the sky. Cold, gigantic, sinister. It wasn't just a building... it was an unnatural phenomenon.
—Today we'll go further —said Mitsuru, checking her equipment—. We can't stay on the surface forever. We must gather information.
—I'm ready —Akihiko responded with determination, adjusting his gloves—. I won't let what happened to Eiichiro Takeba and the others happen again.
Both entered Tartarus cautiously. The ascent was slow, methodical, avoiding unnecessary confrontations. They managed to advance to the fourth floor, facing small hordes of Shadows. The creatures seemed to move faster and in greater numbers as they ascended.
—This is too much —Akihiko growled, retreating after an exchange.
—We're not ready to go further yet —Mitsuru decided, pressing her lips—. Retreat!
The duo descended as quickly as they could, escaping the shadows pursuing them, until they finally crossed the tower's doors and returned outside.
The night was still young.
But they weren't alone.
—What the hell is that thing?! —shouted Yukari Takeba upon seeing them emerge. She was standing a few meters away, stunned, breathing with difficulty. She had followed Mitsuru and Akihiko, confused by their behavior every night and drawn to the tower she only saw during that strange green hour.
But before Mitsuru could respond, a scream tore through the air. A Shadow had emerged from the perimeter and lunged at Yukari with ferocity.
—Yukari! —they both shouted in unison.
But it was too late to intervene.
Yukari, paralyzed by fear, felt something explode within her chest. A repressed force, an intense blue light ignited on her forehead.
An arcana card appeared for an instant.
—Io! —she instinctively shouted.
Her Persona, of feminine and mechanical form, emerged with a silent roar and charged against the Shadow, annihilating it with an electrical discharge that illuminated the plaza.
Yukari fell to her knees and then fainted.
The silence was total.
Akihiko ran to catch her before she hit the ground.
Mitsuru watched, impressed.
—...A third flame has been ignited.
Akihiko carried Yukari carefully.
—Did you expect this?
—I had suspicions... but I didn't think it would happen so soon —Mitsuru responded, while looking at Tartarus once more—. Now... we are three.
With the night still pulsing with shadowy energy, the trio left the area, returning to the dormitory.
Mitsuru, for the first time in days, let out a sigh of relief.
The SEES group was finally beginning to take shape.
The Day of the Dead had ended, the house was clean, the marigold flowers still gave their sweet scent to the air, and the altar had been carefully taken down with everyone's help.
Now, the return trip to Kuoh was imminent.
Daniel had already finished packing since morning, with the efficiency given by years of living with powers, magic, and impatient girlfriends. Meanwhile, his girls were still going up and down stairs carrying suitcases, toiletry bags, souvenirs, and more than one stuffed animal his parents had given them "in case they missed their in-laws."
In the living room, Daniel was sitting between his parents, enjoying a momentary pause before the airport chaos. As part of the traditional Mexican pre-departure ritual, his parents took advantage of the calm to give him the customary lecture.
—You know, son —his mother said, crossing her arms—, take good care of yourself, okay? No being a hero with those supernatural things without thinking.
—And be respectful to the girls, huh? —his father added with a raised eyebrow—. And if you're going to have a harem, well, don't let it grow any bigger, because then you won't even be able to support yourself...
Daniel swallowed, sweating cold while Ddraig let out a shameless laugh in his mind.
> "HAHAHA, those humans sure know how to press where it hurts. Though the 'don't get one pregnant before university' bit was pure gold."
Daniel just smiled nervously.
—I'll do what I can...
Before his parents could scold him for his lack of commitment to premarital celibacy, the girls finally came down, all dressed up, with their suitcases ready and a positive energy that filled the room.
—We're ready now! —Alya announced with a bright smile.
Hibiki spun around showing her decorated backpack, Sakura hugged a jaguar stuffed animal Daniel's mother had given her, Raynare glanced at Daniel sideways as if he were her exclusive possession, and Tamamo, with her usual charming elegance, just bowed with refined grace... though she winked at her mother-in-law for effect.
—We're leaving, in-laws! —Tamamo sang.
Daniel's parents sighed. His mother hugged each girl, with sweetness and soft whispered warnings, while his father just nodded... and murmured things like "let it be God's will."
On the way to the airport, the atmosphere was lively for everyone... except for Daniel, who sat between his parents while they gave him subtle looks speaking of future weddings, grandchildren, and inheritances divided equally among a complete harem.
Once at the airport, after check-in and security, the time for goodbyes arrived.
The girls, one by one, respectfully said goodbye to their in-laws, thanking them for their hospitality. Even Raynare, usually more reserved, bowed slightly with a kind smile.
Daniel was the last.
He approached his parents and hugged them tightly. His mother squeezed him tenderly, his father gave him a few pats on the back and murmured:
—Take care of those girls, son... and don't forget to call us. Even if it's just to show off.
—I will, I promise.
With a final smile and a wave, Daniel joined his girlfriends and boarded the plane.
The flight to Kuoh took off shortly after, taking Daniel back to the world of shadows, Personas, and the mysterious Tartarus... but also to the place where he had found love, adventure, and his purpose.
And though he knew the challenges ahead were many, for now, he could relax for a few minutes.
After all... not every day you survive the judgment of your Mexican parents with a harem included.
The morning after the strange events she experienced, Yukari Takeba slowly opened her eyes, feeling a throbbing pain in her head. She was reclining on one of the lobby sofas in the dormitory, the sun weakly filtering through the windows, illuminating the place with deceptive tranquility.
—Are you okay? —asked Akihiko's voice, deep but concerned, kneeling beside her.
—No... my head hurts... —she responded with difficulty, bringing a hand to her forehead.
But as soon as she finished speaking, the memories of the previous night hit her like a cold wave: monstrous shadows, a gigantic tower replacing Kuoh Academy, immense pain in her chest, and then... that figure that emerged from herself.
Her eyes opened wide, fear and confusion invading her body.
—What was that?! What the hell was that last night?! —she exclaimed, standing up abruptly and staggering a bit.
Without waiting for an answer, she walked firmly up to the third floor, heading directly to Mitsuru Kirijo's study, who was already waiting for her.
—You! —Yukari spat, entering without knocking—. I demand answers, now! What happened last night? What was that thing that came out of me?!
Mitsuru, seated at her desk, briefly closed her eyes. She had expected this reaction... but that didn't make it any easier to handle.
—Yukari... what you experienced last night was the Dark Hour. A phenomenon that occurs every midnight during a hidden period of the day. That tower you saw is known as Tartarus, and the creatures that attacked us are called Shadows.
Yukari looked at her with a mix of disbelief and rage.
—And what about my body...? That thing that appeared from me?
—That was your Persona —Mitsuru responded seriously—. A manifestation of your true self. Only a select few can awaken that power, and you are one of them.
Akihiko appeared at the door, with a calm expression.
—I also awakened my Persona recently. It was shocking, but it makes sense. And... I want to use it to fight, to protect.
Yukari looked at both of them, still doubting... until Mitsuru took out a small memory stick and placed it in one of the study computers.
—There's something else you must see. Your father... left this before the Kirijo laboratories were destroyed. I never thought you'd see it, but now is the time.
The video began.
On the screen appeared a man in a white lab coat, young, but with the same determined gaze Yukari had at that moment. The man's voice —her father— filled the room.
> "Yukari... if you're seeing this, it's because something has gone terribly wrong. Our research... created something that should never have existed. The Shadows, Tartarus... it's all our fault. I made sure the Kirijo Group protected this information, but... I don't know how long it will last. I beg you, if you have the power... use your Persona to stop this. Not for me, but for yourself... for the world."
The video cut off.
The silence in the study was overwhelming.
Yukari clenched her fists, holding back tears. Then, she took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
—Alright. I'll join you. I'm not doing it for the Kirijo Group. I'm doing it for my father... and for myself.
Mitsuru exhaled softly, relieved.
—Welcome to the team, Yukari.
The SEES group had officially just been born. The three were Persona users, and together they would fight to understand and stop the Dark Hour phenomenon.
Or at least, that's what they believed.
Because far from there, Daniel, unknowingly, was the key to an even darker future: the arrival of Nyx.