"There are countless people in the city who have talents that a weakling like you doesn't. You better rack that noggin of yours and get them on your side. We'll change that into power."

"Indeed. You should be prepared to use even myself, or your ambitions will not come to fruition."

Strength from other people, huh. 

She's dubious about that. But it costs nothing to ask. 

"Will you let me free, then?" She gestures to the manacle on her foot. "If this is to be a partnership, right now it's hardly an equal one."

He chuckles. "In due time, yes. When you have grown a bit further, Caroline and Justine will release you temporarily to use the other facilities of this prison. You cannot be fully released until you have completed your rehabilitation, however."

"I see." 

Mystical bullshit. 

"What did you summon me to speak of, then?"

"You will understand it all in due time. Continue devoting yourself to your rehabilitation."

"Now this conversation's over! Get lost, Inmate!"

And she once again blacks out, waking up in her bed in Leblanc on Wednesday morning, 4/13.

Akira sits up, and rubs sleep from her eyes. Morgana's sitting on the foot of her bed, curled up in a small ball. There's a grappling hook sitting on her newly-cleared desk.

... She feels fine, surprisingly. Persona fatigue seems to be pretty transient. 

Her phone's got a notification on its screen. Someone texted her...?

She picks it up and unlocks it, and opens the text. It looks like it's a group chat...?

Hey it's Ann

hope you got a good sleep, Akira 

text me in the morning!

hey it's ryuji

hope you're feeling better this morning

Akira stares blankly at the texts. 

They... worried about her? They cared? 

Even though she's... like this?

... a grin spreads across her face. 

Hey you two. omw to school atm. feel ok. tysm for the stuff

She looks down at the not-cat at the base of her bed.

morgana says hi

The animal-shaped companion in question stretches as they wake up. "Morning, Akira. Feeling better?"

good shit

glad to help see you soon

"Yeah, definitely."

Akira stretches. 

"We'd better get moving. It's a long way to Shujin."

Morgana nods and stretches a bit more while they wait for Akira to be ready to head down.

She swaps out her uniform for one of the spares, then grabs her pack, puts the grappling hook in it — it's weird but not illegal as far as she knows — and heads downstairs. 

"Morning, you two," Sojiro says as he plates up one plate and one small bowl of curry, and pours Akira a coffee. "Feeling better? Your friends asked for your number, by the way, and left you theirs."

And he passes her the note with the two phone numbers.

"Thanks Boss!", Morgana exclaims as they dig in.

"Yeah, I got their texts." Akira accepts the slip of paper and tucks it away in her blazer pocket. "It's weird having people care about me."

She manages a smile. "And yeah, I am feeling better."

"Good to hear. Be safe out there, today."

"I'll do my best."

Akira gets to work on her curry.

Soon enough it's all gone and Sojiro takes the dishes to wash. "See you tonight, kid."

"Yeah, see you."

And off to Shujin Academy she goes.