With Maki perched firmly on his shoulder, Haruto led the way deeper into the darkened theater, the corridors winding like the twisting recesses of a nightmare. Shadows flickered across the walls, giving the illusion of silent watchers looming in the distance, but Haruto’s resolve held strong. Mina needed him, and he wasn’t about to let her shadow keep her prisoner in this palace of torment.

  As they rounded a final corner, a chilling sight met their eyes. Mina was on her knees, her face bruised and streaked with blood, her shoulders trembling as she fought to hold herself together. Her shadow loomed over her, a twisted mockery of her, radiating power and malice. The shadow’s voice was a low, venomous whisper, cutting into Mina with each word.

  “You’re a puppet, a weak, desperate fool who can’t survive without the approval of others,” the shadow sneered, circling her like a predator. “You’re nothing without their praise, and you know it.”

  Mina shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “That’s… not true… I… I don’t need anyone’s approval…”

  Haruto’s anger flared. He stepped forward, his voice steady and filled with resolve. “Enough!” he shouted, his gaze locked on the shadow. “You’re not helping her—just let her go!”

  The shadow’s eyes flicked toward him, narrowing with annoyance. With a flick of its wrist, it released a surge of dark energy, blasting Mina backward with brutal force. She landed hard, her body skidding across the floor as she let out a pained cry.

  Haruto clenched his fists, preparing to charge forward, but Maki tightened his grip on Haruto’s shoulder, stopping him. “Stay cool, Haruto,” he whispered urgently. “This shadow’s feeding off her denial. Every time she refuses it, it gets stronger.”

  Maki leapt from Haruto’s shoulder and landed on the ground, addressing Mina with a stern but empathetic tone. “Mina, you’ve got to be honest with yourself. Stop feeding it and face it!”

  Mina struggled to her feet, her expression defiant. “No! This… this thing isn’t me! I don’t need anyone’s approval—I’m fine on my own!” Her voice was filled with desperation, but the shadow only smirked, its form swelling with renewed energy as her denial fed its strength.

  The shadow let out a low laugh, its aura flaring as it loomed closer. “You can keep denying me, Mina, but I’ll only grow stronger. Just admit it… you need me. Without approval, you’re nothing but an empty shell.”

  A dark blast suddenly shot from the shadow’s hand, striking Haruto in the chest and sending him crashing back. Maki had jumped clear just in time, landing beside him as he struggled to rise.

  “Haruto!” Nao shouted, rushing to his side with a look of concern.

  Haruto pushed himself up, his gaze never leaving Mina’s trembling form. “Mina, you have to stop denying it,” he said, his voice steady but pleading. “You’re giving it power. Just… just admit the truth.”

  Mina closed her eyes, her face twisted in pain as she gripped her shoulders, trying to block out the words. But her shadow continued to taunt her, its voice dripping with mockery and disdain.

  “Look at you, struggling even now,” it sneered. “Why don’t you just give in? You know I’m right—you’ll always need the approval of others because deep down, you know they’d never accept you as you are.”

  Maki turned to Haruto, Nao, and Shinji, his voice low and urgent. “We need to fight it,” he said. “It’s going to keep attacking her, bombarding her with those words until she can’t think straight. We need to give her time to process, time to find her strength.”

  Haruto nodded, his gaze sharp with determination. “Then let’s do this.”

  Shinji rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles with a grin. “About time. I was getting sick of listening to this thing.” He shot Haruto a sidelong glance, his smirk tinged with dark humor. “Ready to kick some shadow ass?”

  Nao raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shinji with a faint smirk. “Just try not to let it be the other way around.”

  The shadow’s expression twisted into a sneer, and with a wave of its hand, it summoned thick chains of darkness, which shot out toward the group, striking them with a brutal force that knocked them all back. Haruto, Nao, and Shinji struggled to their feet, determination blazing in their eyes as they prepared to face the shadow head-on.

  Nao stepped forward first, her gaze fierce as she pulled a bobby pin from her hair. With a quick flick of her wrist, she tossed it like a dart, hitting the shadow squarely in the eye. The creature hissed in anger, momentarily stunned.

  “Bufu!” Nao shouted, summoning Aphrodite. Ice surged forward, blasting the shadow and leaving it vulnerable. She jumped back, giving Shinji space.

  “Alright, my turn,” Shinji grinned, summoning Hades. “Giant Slice!” Hades charged forward, slashing at the shadow with a powerful, sweeping strike. The blade tore into its dark form, but the shadow only growled, its eyes blazing with hatred.

  Haruto prepared to join in. Maki glanced up at him, his expression alight with a mischievous glint. “Go for it, Haruto. Hit it with your best shot—and then tag me in.”

  Haruto grinned, summoning Aries. “Eiga!” Dark energy surged forward, hitting the shadow squarely, causing it to stagger. Haruto turned to Maki, nodding.

  Maki leapt forward, summoning his own Persona, Zeke. A brilliant, electrifying figure appeared behind him, crackling with lightning. “Zio!” Maki shouted, his voice filled with authority.

  Electricity surged toward the shadow, striking it with a blinding flash. The creature let out a shriek, its body crackling with energy as it stumbled, momentarily stunned.

  Maki glanced back at the others, a wild grin on his face. “Now’s our chance! All-out attack!”

  Shinji raised an eyebrow, looking confused. “All-out what?”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Maki rolled his eyes, his voice exasperated. “Just beat its ass, Shinji!”

  Shinji’s face broke into a grin, and with a shout, the group charged forward together, striking the shadow with everything they had. Haruto slashed with Aries, Nao blasted it with ice, Shinji struck with Hades, and Maki commanded Zeke to hit it with another burst of lightning. Their combined assault drove the shadow back, its form flickering, weakened—but still standing.

  Behind them, Mina struggled to her feet, her face pale but resolute. She looked up at Haruto, her eyes filled with pain but also a newfound clarity.

  “Haruto…” she murmured, her voice trembling. “This… this shadow, it is a part of me. It’s true—I’m terrified of what people think of me. I just… I just want people to like me, to accept me. I’m scared of being hated, of being alone…” Her voice broke, her confession raw and honest. “I try so hard to make everyone happy… because I don’t want anyone to see me as someone they can’t stand.”

  As she spoke, the shadow’s form began to flicker, its power weakening as her words cut through its dark energy. Mina clutched her head, her voice strained as a gentle, warm voice echoed in her mind.

  “You have finally accepted a piece of yourself,” the voice said, resonant and kind. “Now, accept the power I bestow upon you—let it be the strength that grounds you in your truth.”

  A crystal materialized in Mina’s hand, glowing with a soft, golden light. She took a deep breath, her expression resolute, and crushed the crystal in her palm. “Persona!”

  With a burst of light, her Persona, Gaia, emerged—a towering, nurturing figure, her form exuding an aura of healing and strength. Gaia raised her hands, and a soothing energy washed over the group, healing their wounds and restoring their strength. She then channeled her power into each of them, enhancing their abilities with a radiant boost.

  Mina stood tall, her eyes blazing with newfound courage. “I won’t let you control me anymore!” she shouted at her shadow. “I accept that I want to be liked, that I want people to see the real me. But I’m done letting that fear hold me back.” She looked at her friends, her voice steady. “Now, let’s end this.”

  The group regrouped, their bodies surging with renewed power, their resolve unbreakable. They charged together in a final, all-out attack, each of them striking the shadow with everything they had. Haruto, his eyes flashing with determination, slashed through the air with Aries, his sword gleaming as it sliced through the weakened shadow. With a swift, powerful strike, he cut the shadow cleanly in half.

  The shadow staggered, its form flickering, before exploding in a burst of dark energy that dissipated into the air, leaving only silence in its wake.

  Haruto adjusted his shirt, brushing off his shoulders as he took a steadying breath. Maki jumped back onto his shoulder, giving him an approving nod.

  “Not bad, Haruto,” Maki said, his tone playful but impressed. “You’re stronger than I thought. And the way you fought—graceful, powerful. Consider me impressed.”

  Haruto managed a small, grateful smile, but his focus was on Mina, who now stood free of her shadow’s influence, her face alight with relief and a quiet strength. The palace around them began to shift, the dark energy receding as the walls brightened, the theater returning to its original, peaceful state.

  With Mina’s shadow vanquished and her strength restored, they had not only freed her from the palace, but also forged a bond that would strengthen them all in the battles yet to come.

  Mina then blinked blankly. “Wait a minute, is that a…” Mina seems shocked as she slowly starts to realize what Maki was. “Is that a talking monkey?”

  Maki seems offended. “I’m more than just a talking monkey! You’re not anything special either!”

  Nao tugged Maki’s tail. “Shut it!” Maki squeeled slightly as his tail was tugged. Suddenly, the palace rumbled.

  As Mina’s shadow dissolved into the air, the entire palace began to rumble, the walls flickering and crumbling as cracks spread across the ornate theater. Dark energy radiated from the ground, distorting the space around them as the palace’s very foundation seemed to buckle and collapse.

  “Uh, Haruto?” Maki piped up from Haruto’s shoulder, his tiny claws digging into Haruto’s jacket. “We might want to make a quick exit. Palaces don’t like sticking around after the shadow gets taken down!”

  Haruto didn’t need to be told twice. “Let’s go!” he shouted, grabbing Mina’s hand as they bolted down the collapsing hallway, Nao and Shinji close behind.

  Chunks of debris fell from the ceiling, and the walls warped and shifted as they sprinted through the palace. Mina ran alongside Haruto, her breathing ragged, fear and adrenaline mingling in her wide eyes as they navigated the twisted corridors.

  Just as they reached the main hall, Shinji stumbled, his shoelace snagged on a cracked floor tile. He yelped, tumbling forward. “Oh, come on! Not now!”

  Without missing a beat, Nao rolled her eyes, grabbed him by the collar, and practically dragged him along. Shinji flailed as she tugged him through the collapsing hall, his voice rising in exaggerated protest.

  “Nao, slow down! I’m not some rag doll!” he wailed, his voice muffled by his jacket as he was half-dragged, half-yanked forward.

  “Quit complaining, Shinji!” Nao shot back, but a faint smirk played at her lips. “You’re the one who can’t even keep your shoes tied!”

  Shinji’s face was red, but he continued yelling dramatically. “You’re gonna ruin my collar! And for the record, this is abuse!”

  Behind them, walls and seats crumbled into shadows, the entire theater seemingly devouring itself as they sprinted for the exit. Just as they reached the shimmering portal, a section of the ceiling caved in, narrowly missing them. They dove through the portal, leaving the chaotic collapse behind.

  They hit the floor of Haruto’s bedroom in a tangled heap, limbs tangled and breaths coming in ragged gasps as the morning sunlight filtered in through the curtains.

  Shinji groaned, dazed, sprawled on top of Nao. Realizing his position, he blinked down at her, his face lighting up with a mischievous grin. “Hey, Nao. Nice catch.”

  Nao glared up at him, her cheeks flushing as she slapped him across the face with a resounding smack. “Get off me, you pervert!”

  Shinji yelped, stumbling backward as he rubbed his cheek, grinning sheepishly. “Ow! Geez, can’t a guy make an innocent comment?”

  “You and innocent comments don’t belong in the same sentence,” Nao huffed, adjusting her shirt as she shot him an icy glare.

  Haruto shook his head, fighting back a laugh as he helped Mina to her feet. Maki darted to hide in a pile of blankets as they all scrambled to gather themselves.

  Suddenly, a voice called from down the hall, and all four of them froze.

  “Haruto! What’s going on in there?” Chiharu’s footsteps approached, and the door handle jiggled.

  Shinji and Nao exchanged a quick, panicked glance before darting toward the window. They slipped through as quietly as possible, Shinji rubbing his cheek with a grin as he made his escape. Maki burrowed deeper into the blankets, vanishing from sight.

  Mina and Haruto shared a quick look, both scrambling to put on innocent expressions as Chiharu opened the door and peeked inside, her brow furrowed with suspicion.

  “What was all that noise?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she glanced around the room.

  Haruto cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head as he tried to sound casual. “Uh, sorry, Aunt Chiharu. I, um, tripped over a book… and Mina is… here.”

  Mina nodded quickly, though her flushed face and awkward smile were less than convincing. “Y-Yeah! He, um, really took a tumble. Didn’t expect him to land so… loudly. Also, hi Mom.”

  Chiharu rushes to Mina and hugs her. “How did you… I thought you were at the hospital.”

  Mina tries to think of a lie which won't make her mother think she's crazy. “The nurses told me I was all cleared and I took a ride home.”

  Chiharu stiffens and lets go of Mina. “What did I tell you about riding with strangers!” She scolded Mina. “You're gonna get yourself kidnapped!”

  Mina lowers her head. “Sorry Mom.” She fidgets nervously as she sways her body .

  “Well, I'm really glad you're okay. I don't know what sort of magic happened to make you magically wake up, but honestly I'm just glad you're okay.” Chiharu smiles and cups Mina’s cheek. “Please don't scare me like that anymore, Mina.”

  Mina hugs her mother again. “I promise. I won't scare you like that anymore.”

  Chiharu ruffled her hair. “Alright, go get ready for school you two. If you aren't feeling it today Mina, just tell me.”

  Mina nods and Chiharu closes the door, her footsteps fading down the hallway. Haruto and Mina exchanged relieved glances, both letting out the breaths they’d been holding.

  Maki’s tiny head popped out from the pile of blankets, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Smooth cover story, you two. Real smooth.”

  Haruto shot him a dry look, but he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. “Come on, let’s get ready. We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

  As Mina nodded, she gave him a quiet smile, one filled with gratitude and newfound strength. They had made it out of the Dreamscape together, and now, they were stronger for it.

  Haruto sits down next to Maki. “So, what happened to Mina’s body at the hospital?” He asks with genuine curiosity.

  “I don't know exactly, but if I were to take a guess. It vanished into thin air since that was simply just a sack of skin and bones.” Maki explains as he dangles his legs off Mina's bed. “Her consciousness is the most important part of her, so when her consciousness came back to this world, they just snapped together causing her body to merge with her consciousness and bring them together as one, right here.”

  “Holy shit, that's bizarre.” Mina lets out a low whistle. “I should call the hospital and explain myself so they don't end up calling Chiharu.”

  “Good thinking pretty girl.” Maki shot her a large grin. “Do that and get ready so you aren't late. I have a feeling today's school day is going be interesting for you guys.”