Snippet #1117727

Moving through the Dark Hour gave him a rush, it was the only feeling he lived for these days. Besides training, it was the only thing he looked forward to. He wasn't sure why but the shadows were intriguing, even though at first he found them terrifying. It was the only normal reaction to those creatures and he'd been sent down here during the Dark Hour to find more people like him. Those that had the persona ability, those that would be aware of the shadows and the Dark Hour. Personally, Akihiko didn't like the idea of “newcomers” joining S.E.E.S, but he couldn't help but admit they needed more people for their cause. They needed others who had the same kind of abilities to fight alongside them—he just hoped they wouldn't get in his way. He remembered stumbling upon the first few others and he'd found them in the same situation: shaking, sitting on the ground, and too afraid to even scream. It was understandable.

Akihiko rounded the corner, rubbing his aching knuckles as he ran and breathed heavily. He'd been wandering around now for what felt like hours, fighting his way through Iwatodai Station. The hellish version of the place he often walked through used to make his skin crawl, now it was just something he was used to, and the others would get used to it too. Everything seemed eerily quiet, except for the sounds of running. He followed the sound, weaving around bike racks and jumping over a low fence. Once he landed, he was running again until he caught sight of who he'd been looking for. There was a boy with blue hair, eyes wide in terror as large coffins anchored in the ground towered over him. Finally reaching him, Akihiko shot his hand out to the boy and narrowed his eyes.

“Time to join the group...” Akihiko said, waiting for him to take his hand, “Get up.”