He had been told that members of the group were on edge – but he hadn't quite expected this. Ono sighed. He didn't blame them, really, but nor was he in a position where he could allow anyone to just walk out.
Yoshinari moved quickly, interposing himself between the blind girl and the door. It wasn't the best position to address the group from, but his voice was loud enough that he figured he could make himself heard from anywhere in the room.
"Before you all get up and walk out on this," he said, gaze dancing from one team member to another, "I want to confirm something that these people have said to you already: there are no other options. Do you think the Japanese government would send its promising future to war if it didn't have to? There's no country on Earth that operates that way. I worked for the Kirijo Group for long enough to see Personas before anyone else on the planet knew what they were. I watched adults in tears because they couldn't channel the power. No one over the age of 21 has ever been able to summon one. Fuck, I don't think there's even a confirmed case of anyone older than 18."
"You lot are this planet's only hope. I know that sounds melodramatic, but it's the God's honest truth. I would not have allowed these people to drag me from my comfortable retirement otherwise. I will be up front with you – this school has in its ranks a handful of lesser Persona candidates. Past you all, there are perhaps twenty more individuals – but their capabilities are considerably less than you all. You are the best and brightest Chitoku Academy has to offer, and the most capable of wielding the power of Persona. If you walk away, there is no one to protect Japan or the world from the Shadow threat, let alone any new threat Reflections pose."
"Before you, there were two other teams of Persona users – on Tatsumi Port Island, and in Yasoinaba. Hazama Miyume is the first Persona-user to be killed in the other world. The only other P-user casualty occurred in this world. Those teams were very much like you – high school students placed in impossible situations. But they all walked out of their ordeals alive. Do you know why?"
"They lived because they EMBRACED the poor hand they had been dealt. They came to trust in one another. Befriend one another. They became linked together, and fought for one another as hard as they fought for themselves. Did they like being forced into this? I would imagine not. But they accepted it. They accepted the fact that, if not for their actions, their world was in grave danger."
"This is real life, everyone. Walking away from this team and this mission has very real consequences. It endangers those whom you are leaving behind, as well as all of us. I know you are not fond of much of the staff of this Academy – but they are soldiers. They are used to dealing with soldiers, not high school students with all of their emotional turmoil. Make no mistake – you are capable of wielding Personas because of that turmoil. Personas are Shadows. Adults have long since determined their true selves. For you all, that true self is changing."
"Do not turn your back on me. Do not turn your back on this institution, your friends, your country, and your world. We are in grave danger once again, and we face an enemy invulnerable to the bullets and tanks of the JSDF. I reiterate that you all are our only hope."
With his comments made, Ono removed himself from Haruka's path, stepping to the side, allowing her free access to the door if she so chose.
"You can run away and abdicate the mission you have been given," he said, after another moment, "or we can all work together to make sure what happens to Miyume never happens again. The decision is yours."
no subject
Yoshinari moved quickly, interposing himself between the blind girl and the door. It wasn't the best position to address the group from, but his voice was loud enough that he figured he could make himself heard from anywhere in the room.
"Before you all get up and walk out on this," he said, gaze dancing from one team member to another, "I want to confirm something that these people have said to you already: there are no other options. Do you think the Japanese government would send its promising future to war if it didn't have to? There's no country on Earth that operates that way. I worked for the Kirijo Group for long enough to see Personas before anyone else on the planet knew what they were. I watched adults in tears because they couldn't channel the power. No one over the age of 21 has ever been able to summon one. Fuck, I don't think there's even a confirmed case of anyone older than 18."
"You lot are this planet's only hope. I know that sounds melodramatic, but it's the God's honest truth. I would not have allowed these people to drag me from my comfortable retirement otherwise. I will be up front with you – this school has in its ranks a handful of lesser Persona candidates. Past you all, there are perhaps twenty more individuals – but their capabilities are considerably less than you all. You are the best and brightest Chitoku Academy has to offer, and the most capable of wielding the power of Persona. If you walk away, there is no one to protect Japan or the world from the Shadow threat, let alone any new threat Reflections pose."
"Before you, there were two other teams of Persona users – on Tatsumi Port Island, and in Yasoinaba. Hazama Miyume is the first Persona-user to be killed in the other world. The only other P-user casualty occurred in this world. Those teams were very much like you – high school students placed in impossible situations. But they all walked out of their ordeals alive. Do you know why?"
"They lived because they EMBRACED the poor hand they had been dealt. They came to trust in one another. Befriend one another. They became linked together, and fought for one another as hard as they fought for themselves. Did they like being forced into this? I would imagine not. But they accepted it. They accepted the fact that, if not for their actions, their world was in grave danger."
"This is real life, everyone. Walking away from this team and this mission has very real consequences. It endangers those whom you are leaving behind, as well as all of us. I know you are not fond of much of the staff of this Academy – but they are soldiers. They are used to dealing with soldiers, not high school students with all of their emotional turmoil. Make no mistake – you are capable of wielding Personas because of that turmoil. Personas are Shadows. Adults have long since determined their true selves. For you all, that true self is changing."
"Do not turn your back on me. Do not turn your back on this institution, your friends, your country, and your world. We are in grave danger once again, and we face an enemy invulnerable to the bullets and tanks of the JSDF. I reiterate that you all are our only hope."
With his comments made, Ono removed himself from Haruka's path, stepping to the side, allowing her free access to the door if she so chose.
"You can run away and abdicate the mission you have been given," he said, after another moment, "or we can all work together to make sure what happens to Miyume never happens again. The decision is yours."