Warning: the next 4 paragraphs are boring so I'll tell you when the actual story finally starts, however if you want to read it you can.
AN: I'll only give a character description like the ones in the bracket when we learn the person's full name. This is just so I can make some OCS without you knowing.
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What is a persona, is it simply a fake personality that you show to society however according to wikipedia "A persona (plural personae or personas) is a strategic mask of identity in public, the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional character. It is also considered "an intermediary between the individual and the institution."
Persona studies is an academic field developed by communication and media scholars. The term "persona" has been discussed by sociologists Robert Park and Erving Goffman in the 1950s. It is a tool to become persons by constructing the conception of our role and connecting the inner conception to the outer world as individuals. Yet, the terminology of identity and personae has been applied loosely and both imply the impressions of self and social performances in their works.
The word derives from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The usage of the word dates back to the beginnings of Latin civilization. The Latin word derived from the Etruscan word "phersu," with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον (prosōpon). It is the etymology of the word "person," or "parson" in French. Latin etymologists explain that persona comes from "per/sonare" as "the mask through which (per) resounds the voice (of the actor)."
Its meaning in the latter Roman period changed to indicate a "character" of a theatrical performance or court of law, when it became apparent that different individuals could assume the same role and that legal attributes such as rights, powers, and duties followed the role. The same individuals as actors could play different roles, each with its own legal attributes, sometimes even in the same court appearance.
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Now you're probably either skipped all that and simply went onto the next chapter so that you wouldn't be bored by the author (Great got to use more tape now) who is probably using this to fill his chapter word count of about 1.5k if not more considering he keeps rambling about this even now…
Anyway the reason you just read all that or simply skipped it is simple you see I was playing one of my quickly growing favourite games "Persona 5 Royal" as for my absolute favourite games well it's Terraria, anyway as I was playing this game for my third maybe fourth time, the first time I played it I streamed it on my twitch @Babbabear_Ed(Cough shameless plug Cough) and since I haven't ever played the game before and being the slight masochist I am I decided to put it on merciless were I spent a total of 2 nearly 3 hours struggling with the Madarame boss fight.
(Haven't actually beaten the game I'm just using what I know so far into creating this story so it might have some original content that you might not like but then that wouldn't really be a fanfic if it's just a copy of the original story however I would really appreciate it if you help me with this story by suggesting ideas without actually spoiling the games story, thank you.)
Then after that painfully annoying boss fight though it was faster than my first time playing, I then went and tested my luck at the lottery only to be given a prompt that I'm pretty sure isn't meant to be in the game as a contract appeared and well me being dumb and thinking that it was actually apart of the game, so I not reading the rules and conditions choose "YES" which was also when I ended the stream after I went back to Le Blanc and saved my game only to then instantly fall asleep…
"Hello Ed… as you have agreed to the contract, I shall grant to you a few gifts, in hopes that you use them well against this manipulated world."
The gifts he gave me were so bright that I could only see their silhouettes. They were a pair of glasses, a mask, and a key chain. There were 2 more but I just couldn't see them as they were just past the corner of my eyes. It also just hurts looking any longer.
"And before we part ways allow me to say some words, I am Philemon, a dweller in the rift between consciousness and unconsciousness of all souls... I am you. You are me... I shall always watch over you from within. Farewell…"
And just like that he disappeared from my nearly closed hazy eyes leaving me to fall into unconsciousness.
(Scene Break)
When I did wake up it was accompanied by the worst headache I have ever had iw was even worse than that time I spent 3 straight days staring at the monitor then instantly sleeping for 1 straight day, the type of headache I'm currently having feels as though I've forgotten a bunch of things yet I also feels like I've gained or remembered a whole bunch of things.
Opening my eyes I realized that there are 3 maybe 5 important things about what I'm seeing first is that I'm on a moving train and seems to be heading to a quite populated place, second is that I'm leaning on someone's shoulder, third is that the person I'm learning on is a boy so as soon as I learn this all I head was the (GAY… Meme… got to get the tape now).
The boy I was resting my head against had medium black hair that reached a little past his nose. He was also wearing a casual outfit along with a nice pair of somewhat round sets of large black glasses which seem to be fake.
Fourth is the pair of glasses that I had on as it seems to have a glowing red eye app. Fifth was the fact that I'm younger by around 7 years along with the fact that the boy next to me seems to be the same age.
The boy, probably noticing my slight movement, asked politely in Japanese, and I seemed to understand, "Excuse me but my stop is coming up." so generally lifting my head off his shoulder I began a small conversation.
"Sorry, my flight has just landed not long ago so I haven't been sleeping properly." I said all this in an almost whisper considering that the entire train compartment is very quiet with only a few others mumbling.
The boy deleting something off his phone simply nodded "It's no problem." Then there was an awkward silence for a few minutes before he got off at 'Shibuya' that was also where I was getting off as we were also walking the exact same way and just as I was about to ask him a question a weird eye app appeared.
So when I tried to delete the app as soon as my eyes saw the app, time seemed to have slowed down then came to a complete stop surprisingly only me and the boy seem to be the only ones moving with him not noticing that I'm moving as he seems to be concentrating at a mass of blue fire and a pair of yellow eyes.
As for me, my staring was interrupted by a crystal blue or maybe velvet butterfly where it guided my gaze to another mass of blue flames however the eyes on this one were that of hollow gold resembling more like rings.
After everything turned back to normal and my sense of Deja Vu is growing even more, I decide to keep this glowing eye app on my glasses, if you haven't figured it out already there A.R glasses allowing me to act in augmented reality however this pair of glasses seems to be special considering it has the specs of a computer in a simple pair of glasses, pun very much intended.
After finally separating, I started asking around as to where Le blanc is located and when I got there I'm surprised to see that the boy was also there as though he's about to enter.
Catching up to him but still being a bit behind so when he enters I can enter as well, however what I didn't know was that Japanese people don't usually hold doors open for people since if they did especially in highly populated places then they'd have gotten nothing done all day.
As a result of me not knowing this I simply but confidentiality collided into the door at full force resulting in a loud *BANG* and causing everyone inside to look my way, backing up and opening the door whilst rubbing my head which now feels even worse.
The sight argument from before seems to have stopped before it could even fully start as they're all now staring at my quickly redding face so stammering I asked nervously "I-Is Sae Niijima h-here?" as I grew even more nervous from my stuttering.
The boy who I still didn't know the name of seems to be laughing on the inside if his locked jaws and shaking body is anything to go by that or he could be as nervous as me.
Everyone in the cafe seems to have finally understood my question as they all face towards Sae Niijima or who I'm guessing in Sae Niijima.
(Sae is a tall and beautiful woman with upper-back length, ashen-brown hair that is asymmetrically parted on her right side and brown eyes that are sometimes depicted with a hint of mauve red. She wears a black business suit with a black turtleneck. Her blazer's cuffs and the lower front have clamshell-like designs. Accessory-wise, she wears a necklace of a section sign (§) which references her judicial occupation (it also appears in the top right of Shujin Academy's emblem), earrings and a few dark hair clips can be seen above her right ear. She has violet fingernails and wears dark gray pantyhose with black high heels. She is sometimes seen with a smartphone and a black bag slung over her shoulder.)
When the person I'm guessing is Sae Niijima finally speaks it sounds formal yet cold. "Yes, I'm Sae Niijima and that must mean your Edward Smith." Then turning to the boy next to me she says as though analyzing him " So that makes you Ren Amamiya, make sure to stay out of trouble also this is for you Sakura-san will explain what to do." She handed him a black-brownish notebook, 'probably a journal or something.' I thought.
(Ren Amamiya appears as a young man of slightly above average height and a slim to athletic build. He has a pale complexion with unkempt, wavy black hair that falls over his eyes. His eyes are gray, though they can vary between dark brown, light brown, black, or red depending on the lighting. He has long eyelashes as well as a pair of fake glasses. Despite his messy hair and slouched posture, he wears all of his clothes primly and properly.)
Sae Niijima then turned to Sakura and paid him for the coffee and left while basically ordering me to follow, on the way out Sakura was explaining what the journal was for then saying "This is what a criminal record gets yo-" before the door closes not allowing me to listen anymore.
As Sae was leading me to where she parked her car I decided to observe my surroundings noticing that this area had a clinic, battling area, local shop, movie theatre, the cafe obviously and also a shop that sells bits and bobs basically.
When we finally reached the car it was a nice silver matching her hair… so I asked "Do you want me in the front or in the back?" (Wait PAUSE… Okay continue)
"In the front, I just have to move something… Right, there you go and don't touch anything." The second part of her first sentence was noticeably quieter as though speaking to herself.
The drive to Niijima's resistance was quiet with mainly the sound of the car engine accompanying my thoughts. There was a slight awkwardness between the two of us however there was one question I had in mind that desperately needed answers.
"So Miss Niijima, Why'd you agree to house me while I'm studying in Japan?"
The car ride fell into a silence again after I asked that question until what felted like ten years past when in reality it only took 5ish seconds probably so Sae could think of a good answer
"Well, allow me to answer that question with a question, how well do you know your dad?"
That question made me freeze. After all we had a slightly weird relationship, he would sometimes treat me as an equal but in the end he always treated me as his son, though…
Leaving the thought in the back of my head I placed a neutral, almost cold expression on my face and simply said "I'd rather not talk about my father, so please just give me a proper answer."
Sae Niijima wasn't expecting that answer out of all the possible answers he could have given through realising that it's none of her business to interfere she simply told the truth "I owed your father a favour." That answer seems to have satisfied Smith-kuns curiosity if his expectation is anything to go by.
However in my mind it was anything but satisfying 'owed my father a favour, what type of cheap answer is that meant to be and with the whole "how well do you know your father" thing from before clearly it's more than a simple favour.'
The car ride succumbs to the sound of silence once again as Sae focuses on driving while I am diving further into my own mind as I was doing this I didn't realise how much time has actually passed but just as I felt as though I was about to know something Sae forced me back into the real world.
"Come on, get up, we're here." Looking around I see that I'm standing In Front of an apartment complex so getting out of the car and collecting my things we departed into the apartment complex.
As we entered and headed towards the receptionist sitting behind the desk was that of a polite and professional long black-haired woman, she seemed to be in her early 20s the outfit was that of a slim tight suit.
"Hello Miss Niijima and guest, what can I do for you today?" The expression she had on while saying all this was that of a machine, detachment as though this is all just a routine or maybe that of a puppet being moved.
Sae responded with her usual professional tone, "I need the key for Apartment 1307. It should be under my name."
The receptionist nodded, typing away at her computer with a practiced efficiency. While waiting, I glanced around the lobby. It was sleek, modern, and eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of an elevator and the occasional muffled footsteps of residents coming and going.
After a moment, the receptionist retrieved a keycard and handed it to Sae. "Here you go. The apartment has been prepared per your request."
Sae took the key and nodded. "Thank you." Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and motioned for me to follow.
As we stepped into the elevator, I couldn't shake the feeling that something about this whole situation was off. Not just the fact that I was now living with a complete stranger, but the way Sae was acting—like there was more to all this than she was letting on.
Still, I kept quiet. No point in pushing when I wasn't going to get any real answers.
The elevator ride was silent, save for the soft hum of the machinery. When we reached our floor, Sae led me down a quiet hallway, stopping in front of a door labeled 1307. She swiped the keycard, and with a soft beep, the door unlocked.
The apartment was… well, exactly what I expected from someone like Sae. Minimalistic, clean, and professional to the point of feeling lifeless. The living room had a sleek black couch, a glass coffee table, and a bookshelf filled with law books and neatly arranged documents. The kitchen was pristine, with stainless steel appliances that looked barely used.
"Your room is down the hall, second door on the left," Sae said, slipping off her heels at the entrance before walking inside. "You'll find everything you need there."
I nodded and made my way to my new room. It was small but comfortable—bed, desk, wardrobe, and a window with a view of the city. A suitcase had already been placed by the bed, likely my luggage from the airport.
Dropping my bag, I let out a sigh and flopped onto the bed. My head was still throbbing from earlier, but I was too tired to think much about it. Everything felt so surreal—this whole situation, the weird eye app, the strange time freeze with Ren Amamiya, and now Sae Niijima acting like she was hiding something.
I needed answers but first, I needed sleep besides I'll just Take my time…