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Chapter 14

  Chapter 14“Strange ceiling...”

  If this line had a ranking, it would likely be among the top phrases galgame pyers dream of saying.

  It’s the kind of line often spoken when the protagonist wakes up with amnesia, experiences an identity shift, or finds themselves in an unfamiliar pce. A universal phrase that fits almost any occasion.

  Naturally, Jin had always wanted to say it at least once. Maybe, just maybe, after uttering those words, he would meet a girl as mencholic as a lic.

  “You’re awake.”

  Amamiya Ren’s voice greeted him.

  “Hey, instead of a pin greeting, you should be commenting on the ceiling first!”

  Morgana, the bck cat, chimed in.

  Jin had to admit, the compint was warranted.

  Because… he wasn’t lying on his back in some unfamiliar pce. Instead, he was slumped on a rather elegant-looking sofa. When he looked up, he wasn’t staring at a ceiling—he saw a table, a keyboard, a mouse, and a glowing computer screen.

  An internet café.

  Jin quickly pieced things together. The whole “being picked up by someone” scenario usually carried a different connotation, but given the circumstances—especially considering their genders—there was nothing to worry about.

  Just as he suspected, after they had escaped the beehive, the three of them had ended up at the back entrance of the Chinese restaurant. Not knowing what else to do, Amamiya Ren had brought him here and rented a private room. Carrying an unconscious person on the subway would definitely invite trouble, possibly even police questioning.

  “Well… there’s a lot to talk about. Where should we even begin?”

  Jin took note of their positioning. He was seated deep inside the booth, and if he wanted to leave, he’d have to pass by Amamiya Ren, who was sitting on the outer edge. There was no avoiding this conversation.

  Which was fine. He wanted answers too.

  The Pace, the Persona, the demon summoning program, the enigmatic Kasumi Yoshizawa…

  It’s human nature—when faced with the unknown or overwhelmed with confusion, people tend to lean on others for support, even when those others might not have the answers.

  Through their conversation, Jin learned more about Amamiya Ren’s past. One night, while walking home, Ren had seen a drunk man harassing a woman. Stepping in to help, he had pushed the man away—but the drunk had stumbled, hit his head, and suffered a serious injury. Unfortunately, the man had connections. He took Ren to court, and the woman, whom Ren had saved, had even given false testimony against him. That was how Ren ended up with a criminal record.

  Labeled as violent, he had been forced to transfer schools. People love putting bels on others, and once branded, it’s nearly impossible to change perception. In the eyes of those around him, he was nothing more than a delinquent.

  Needing a pce to stay in his new city, he couldn’t afford a hotel. If he had money, he would have used it to erase his record in the first pce. That’s when he ended up under the care of Lebnc’s manager, Sojiro Sakura.

  After hearing Ren’s story, Jin didn’t hesitate to share his own past.

  When Ren listened, his own misfortunes seemed almost mild in comparison.

  “Wait… you’re saying your father suddenly lost his mind while driving?”

  Morgana confirmed the detail, his tail flicking.

  Jin nodded, his hands tightening over his knees. “Now that I think about it… my dad’s symptoms were exactly like those mental shutdown cases all over the news.”

  His voice carried a quiet anger.

  “He was driving, excitedly telling me about how he had raised funds and was about to expand the company. And then—just like that—bck liquid started seeping from his eyes. The car lost control and smmed into the guardrail.”

  The bitterness in Jin’s tone was unmistakable.

  For the longest time, he had believed it was just a tragic accident. The grief, the trauma—it had buried the memory deep inside him. The psychological strain of awakening his Persona had likely suppressed it even further, a form of self-defense, what doctors would call psychogenic amnesia—a way to shield the mind from unbearable pain.

  And because of that, Jin had spent years trapped in a fog, unable to move forward, unable to find meaning in anything. Just drifting, until he ended up here.

  But now, knowing about the existence of Paces—knowing that someone could manipute the mind—there was only one conclusion to draw.

  This wasn’t an accident. This was murder.

  Someone had done this to his father. Someone had taken everything from him.

  His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. This was no longer about closure.

  This was about justice.

  This was about revenge.

  Ren remained silent. He couldn’t truly understand Jin’s pain, but as someone burdened by his own past, he knew better than to offer empty words of sympathy. If he spoke carelessly, it might only anger Jin further.

  In terms of Persona abilities, they might be equals. But if this came down to a physical fight, Ren—who had never trained in combat—knew he would stand no chance against Jin, who was now a boxing instructor at a gym.

  “Well, let’s not dwell on depressing things forever.”

  Jin stretched his arms, a newfound crity in his movements. Whether it was because he had finally voiced emotions he had kept buried for years, or because he had found a purpose, he wasn’t sure. But he felt lighter. Almost… refreshed.

  As refreshed as putting on brand-new underwear on New Year’s Day.

  “You two were talking about something interesting earlier, right? Something about Kamoshida?” Jin’s expression darkened. “Man, just thinking about that bastard makes me mad! Back in Kamoshida’s castle, I was begging for you guys to save me, and you just walked right past me?! Cold-hearted much?!”

  Morgana’s fur bristled. “Wait, that was you in the cell?! I thought it was just a cognitive version of you in Kamoshida’s mind…”

  “No, it was me!”

  “Ahahaha… well, everyone makes mistakes sometimes…” Morgana ughed nervously, scratching his head.

  Ren smirked. “Looks like someone really did trip over their own front paws.”

  “I’M NOT A CAT!”

  As the two bickered, Jin suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It reminded him of the way he and Kasumi used to tease each other…

  Wait. Where was Kasumi?

  His gaze shifted.

  Kasumi sat across from him, watching him with a quiet, knowing smile. She hadn’t said a word this entire time, just observing.

  And as much as he loved seeing a beautiful woman smile… being stared at by one was an entirely different experience.

  His forehead began to sweat.

  (Did I… do something to offend her?)

  Jin gulped.

  Somehow, dealing with demons and knights seemed far easier than dealing with Kasumi’s unreadable expression.

  Soon, Jin and Amamiya Ren separated.

  Neither of them were the type to initiate conversation. Sitting face to face, silence quickly settled between them, thick and awkward. Jin, ever mindful of his dwindling funds, decided there was no point in stretching out a conversation that had nowhere to go. Internet cafés weren’t cheap, and he didn’t have money to waste.

  After exchanging contact information, Jin headed straight to Takemi Medical Clinic.

  Even though the battle had taken pce in the Pace, the wounds he sustained weren’t just illusions. They left their mark on his real body—bruises from being rammed by that damn Red Knight, deep stabs from the spear, aching muscles that protested with every movement.

  The Persona seemed to dull the worst of it; otherwise, being trampled by a warhorse multiple times would have left him in a full-body cast. Still, the pain was very real.

  He needed painkillers. Fast.

  But as he stepped into the clinic, he realized something unusual—Takemi wasn’t in the waiting area, which meant someone else was already inside.

  Not to be rude, but… Takemi wasn’t exactly loved by the neighborhood. First, there was her fashion sense—who had ever seen a doctor show up to work in studded leather? Then there were the mysterious drugs she prescribed, ones that no major hospital stocked and couldn’t even be found online. Rumors ran wild. Some said she experimented on patients, testing bizarre concoctions on the desperate.

  If this were a few centuries ago, the locals probably would have tied her to a stake and set her abze.

  Normally, the clinic was deserted. Today, however, someone was already inside.

  “How many times do I have to tell you? Stop making that kind of drug!”

  Even through the door, the man’s voice was sharp with frustration.

  “Huh? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” came Takemi’s signature deadpan reply.

  Jin raised an eyebrow. The wooden door was solid, yet the sheer intensity of their argument made it clear neither party cared about keeping their voices down.

  “Don’t py dumb! You’re the only one capable of developing something like this! ‘Drink this and unlock superhuman power’? That rumor is everywhere now! Don’t you dare say you have nothing to do with it!”

  “You really love your gossip, huh?”

  “You mix drugs like a mad scientist and completely disregard modern medical standards! Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re causing me?! The police might not be onto you yet, but if the media catches wind—”

  “You’re so annoying. I’m just a quack doctor…”

  “Enough! Do you even care how much disgrace you’re bringing to the academic community? People like you are an embarrassment!”

  There was a pause. Even without seeing her face, Jin could tell Takemi had faltered slightly.

  “From this moment on,” the man continued, voice full of disdain, “your so-called medical practice is over. Get rid of those drugs. Stop calling yourself a doctor. From now on, the name Takemi is finished—”

  The sudden silence was unsettling.

  Jin frowned. He had been irritated from the start, hearing someone tear into an acquaintance like that. But when he felt the man’s anger shift toward him, his irritation turned into outright defiance.

  “Who’s out there?!”

  Jin crossed his arms, unimpressed. “I’m here to see a doctor.”

  Click.

  The door swung open.

  A middle-aged man in a suit stood in the doorway, the picture of a self-important elite. He gred down at Jin with barely concealed contempt. “Don’t come here again. There’s something seriously wrong with this clinic.”

  Jin arched a brow. “What’s with the attitude?”

  Before the man could say another word, Jin cut him off.

  “Is that how you talk to a patient? What’s your name? I think I’ll file a compint. What kind of professional yells at someone coming in for treatment? Or are you trying to intimidate me? Intimidate a high school student? Maybe you’re linked to that scam ring in Shibuya—the one targeting kids?”

  He pulled out his phone and swiftly dialed the police.

  The man’s face darkened. He knew he had stepped over a line—chewing out Takemi was one thing, but getting caught harassing a patient? That would be his own mess to deal with. He prided himself on his reputation; an incident like this could tarnish it.

  Snorting in frustration, he straightened his tie. “I’m not a doctor at this clinic. Do whatever you want. I’m leaving.” With that, he stalked off.

  Jin watched him go, then casually hung up before the call even connected. He fshed his cracked phone screen at Takemi, the words Call Ended still visible.

  She smirked. “I don’t fix phones, kid. But I do appreciate the effort, little guinea pig.”

  Jin exhaled. “Yeah, well… I actually did come here for treatment.”

  He stepped inside, peeling off his uniform jacket with practiced ease, revealing the bruises and shallow cuts across his torso.

  Takemi’s sharp eyes scanned over the damage. “Bruises, stab wounds… got into a street fight?”

  She sounded unimpressed, but her fingers moved deftly as she examined him.

  “I never knew Dr. Takemi actually cared about her patients,” Kasumi suddenly chimed in from the side, smirking. She had been watching quietly, but now she clearly couldn’t resist teasing him.

  Jin rolled his eyes. Kasumi was definitely getting bolder about making fun of him tely.

  Takemi sighed. “It has nothing to do with me. We don’t interfere in each other’s business, remember?” She pulled open a drawer, retrieving a set of medicated patches. “But you’re my important guinea pig, so don’t go breaking yourself.”

  Without warning, she spped a patch onto his side.

  “Damn it, at least warn me first!” Jin winced.

  “You’ll live.” Takemi applied the rest just as mercilessly. “Pain means you shouldn’t be getting hurt so much in the first pce.”

  She knew Jin had his secrets—most people who came to her did—but she didn’t press. As far as she was concerned, they were using each other. That was all.

  “By the way, doc, think you could sell me some of this ointment? Or anything good for healing injuries?”

  Takemi gave him a look. “Didn’t I tell you to take it easy? Whatever. You’re my guinea pig. As long as you pay.”

  Jin grinned. As expected, Takemi was reliable when it came to this kind of thing.

  Then he gnced at the price list.

  “…Hey, we’re close, right? How about a discount, sis?”

  “No.”

  At that moment, Jin realized his retionship with Takemi wasn’t nearly as solid as he had thought.

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