Disclaimer: I do not own World Ends With You nor Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3.

I would
not bother making this fan fiction if I ever did.

[ Chapter 1 ]

[ Interlude of Nightmare]

[ “Where am I? What's with the buzzing sounds? What happened?” ]

...

[ “Wait, I'm...” ]

“Good evening.”

I first woke up in dazed, noticing how my surroundings seem to be quite metropolitan. If not for the
silent air, I would think that the area would be really lively. Everything was toned in black and white
that, somehow, it sent me a chill down my spine.

The words were coming from a person before him with long black hair and pair of sunglass. The
wicked smile on his face did not make me feeling well, though. Oh, and don't forget how evil-
foreboding his greeting words were. Somehow, I was reminded of Igor; were the two even related?

“You are here to choose, I assume.” he smirked again, and it irked me to the core. “While it's true
that you may have, ah, saved the world from the mistress of night herself... I sensed that you're not
satisfied with the reason. Was it because... hmm... the unfairness of life? How death manage to
capture you, even though you're the main protagonist? You... want to get back to your friends, don't
you?”

I never let myself to speak some more; perhaps, my facial expression was telling the things which I
need?

“We will grant you one second chance. However, you have to participate in a simple game. And for
you to participate the game—” I could see how the smirk turned into something more sinister...
more cunning. “—we need a certain price.”

I blink; surely, I do not really have any cash when I passed on, right? “...But I don't need any
second chance. I already played my role.”

“Tsk, tsk...” the man before commented shortly, “I believed, Arisato-san, that you haven't played
your role quite completely.”

The last thing I registered was him pointing his hand at me, something which I could not grasp
happen, and the blackness of void.

[=======]

I woke up and felt like banging my head to the rough road, once more.

The buzzing outside my head was ear-killing and made me want to hit my head to the nearest
street light. Sunlight stung my uncovered skin, and the hot air did not help in the slightest to
actually relieve my misery. Even under these circumstances, I tried to focus on anything before me.
To my disbelief, I was at a crossroad. A familiar crossroad, to be exact. Memories washed over me
as I recalled where was I then—Shibuya was as bustled as how he remembered in television. As
my eyes blinked in amazement, I realized something which bothered me a bit. Despite me being
on the asphalt, no one seemed to bother... or even notice.

I mean like, what, I'm now invisible?

My hand instinctively reached out to my pocket, rummaging anything which, perhaps, bring me to
some sort of understanding. Last time I checked, I was practically facing against Nyx; it was not
really eventful, as I was just there, facing Nyx, not even lifting a finger (geez, I was a statue, right?).
Death glare, yes, but not violence.

Which reminded me, I am still wearing the Gekkoukan Private School uniform; the summer one, at
least. I don't need any winter suit in this unforgiving weather.

I felt cold metal brushing the tips of my finger and quickly picked on the thing. I cocked my
eyebrows, seeing that the item in my hand was not something which I recognize. It was some sort
of a pin, painted in black and white. Skull-like mark was painted on the face—a design which he
had never seen nor wished to know. Skull brought bad luck; modified skull design brings even
more.

I sighed and gripped upon the item, when suddenly all the sound bursted in. It was like every
person in the neighborhood decide to karaoke together, excluding me, except that there's no
melody to accompany. Only pure chaos.

Damn, I wish my boss would understand!

Have you been to 104 again? I heard they had the latest season available!

I want to meet mommy!!

Hmm... The Prince is awesome... How did he really make money out of his blog like that...

My head felt as if it's going to burst. I don't know how, but I collapsed to my knees gripping my side
of head in agony. Every information was trying to get in, and I cannot even lift a finger to channel
any; like turning the radio on and found out that you can tune all of the channel.

...Which means, I can hear their thoughts?

The pin left my grasp and hit the asphalt floor, and the radio stopped. Everything seemed to be
normal once more, which means that something has changed. I have a feeling that the pin is
responsible for this.

Heaving a sigh, I quickly tucked my pin inside my pocket, now trying to focus more to my
surroundings. People were walking quickly, crossing from one side to the other. Some of them
were walking with their friends, others walking without even sparing a glance to their surroundings.
Business donned Shibuya crossroad, even in the stinging sunlight.

No one seemed to care about how I was lying on the ground, though.

It does not matter for me; for all I know, I am now free to become a person here. Which means, no
one was guarding the seal, isn't it? Then, Erebus would be free to connect with Nyx and started the
Fall. I gasped at the realization; how come the simple logic did not even cross my mind?

I should get back, or else the Fall will come again. And I don't want my friends to suffer with the
death price.
...

But who are they?

I heard screams and gasps; time, perhaps, suddenly stood still before me because every person in
my sight stop walking. Something is wrong in the air, and I finally noticed why; I suggested that y
mind was playing tricks on me, because I see... graffiti in the air, devouring several persons not so
far from where I stand. I thought the heat had me gone hallucinating, but the graffiti—frog-like
graffiti—jumped to my side and gave me the bruise of my life.

Was it a shadow? No, I did not even sense it to be shadow. Something about these things are
different from shadows.

Acting on reflex, I jerked to set free from the froggy-like graffiti and pulled my evoker. I was quite
surprised—and glad at the same time—to have it inside my pocket and quickly pointed it at my
temple. My finger quickly pulled the trigger, waiting for the familiar feeling of summoning my
persona to envelop my mind.

Nothing happened.

Out of panic and reflex, I ran as fast as I could towards the station. Frogs will never be my favorite
pet from then on.

[=======]

“Hey! Pact with me!”

At first, I thought my hearing was playing dumb. But when I turned towards the voice, I realized that
I was wrong. Apparently, the plight was meant for me, not some other bystanders in the area which
does not seem to realize a graffiti frog was chasing me through downtown. However, the boy who
called me (later I realized that he had the brightest orange hair ever, but who am I to judge?)
noticed my problems.

“Wh—How? Why should I?!”

Before long, he joined me and brought down flocks of frogs in his back. Truth to be told, I already
hate how one frog could hurt like hell (I never have plans to be frog food, no thank you); two flocks
are more than enough. I could hear the crackling sound of the boy, which perhaps came from his
teeth. He turned to me once more, eyes blazing irritatingly. “Just say you accept, or we're all frog
food here!”

At least we're on the same term: do not want to be frog food.

“I accept,” my voice was oddly calm, even when bluish light bathed us both. From the depth of my
conscious, something was soaring... like the times when I formed my bonds with other people
through the power of the Arcana. Not only that, something deep inside me stirred... as if it had
waited me for years.

And I knew what it was.

When the light show was over, the orange-haired boy from before pulled out several pins from his
pocket. And coming from nothingness was spouts of flame, which then quickly burned down the
frogs. I am downright sure that the boy had done something, because he seemed to be
concentrating hard on what below the frog—where the flame had started.
The boy surely could not handle anymore than what he could; another flock of those frog-like
creatures was prying him as dessert, and I know I have to do something to teach the creature a
lesson. My hand was twitching in anticipation as my fingers, once again, grazed the metallic object
in my pocket before pulling my evoker.

The rest of the world seemed like a blur as I pulled the trigger of my evoker; as the light particles
flew out of my temple, hazy voices filled my mind—one of them seemed to belong to the boy, but I
could make out the strongest of them.

Thou art I, and I am thou

From the sea of thy soul, I cometh back

I am Orpheus... Master of Strings!

Power surged out, draining me in split second. My knees gave in, and I stumbled forward. The
evoker had been thrown out of my sight. Hell, I think my vision itself is playing; the asphalt floor
before me was practically too smooth to be true. I tried to focus on anything with the rest of my
senses; I heard screeches, perhaps from the frog-like creatures as they perished into
nothingness? Orpheus' scream was distantly heard. And then, there was nothing; not even a
sound.

I slowly lifted my head. My stomach felt so sick that I would like vomit, but I held back the urge. It
seemed Orpheus did his job very well, because there's not even a trace of graffiti left. Said
persona was still there, eyeing me with those glowing merciless red eyes. Aside from the fact that
the orange-haired kid was staring at my persona in awe, I was positive that Orpheus strummed his
lyre once more, without my consent.

The rest was pitch black.

[ To Be Continued ]