"-determine whether our state of dress affects Shadow behavior."

(chapter originally by Phantom Pen at writing.com)

Yukari and Minako each raised an eyebrow in curiosity, while Aigis remained impassive.

"What do you mean, senpai?" Minako asked for both herself and Yukari. "How are we going to test something like that?"

Mitsuru shifted her posture, sheepishly holding an arm across her midsection to grasp her other arm. "Well, there's only one way to really determine this. We've always fought Shadows fully clothed, so, in order to determine if our state of dress has an impact, we'll have to..."

"You mean we're gonna fight Shadows naked?!" Yukari gasped, finishing the sentence Mitsuru couldn't bring herself to complete. "Senpai, that's just- that's ridiculous!"

"I'm not ecstatic about this either, Takeba. However, this Shadow behavior has to be studied to make sure it won't pose a serious threat in the future." Mitsuru explained, regaining a bit of her normal commanding stature. "And besides, if it's just the four of us, it won't be too embarrassing. Would you rather have Iori or Akihiko present?"

Mitsuru had a point, at least she would if this experiment was based on something that had actually happened. As it stood, Mitsuru was preparing to have the three of them (not counting Aigis for obvious reasons) fight Shadows naked for essentially no reason. It had been bad enough when she was naked alone, but the idea of running around with two of her friends in a similar state? Talk about embarrassing.

Minako raised her hand at this point, waiting for Mitsuru's nod of approval before speaking. "Uh, senpai, if Fuuka-chan and the others are in Tartarus, where are we going to do this experiment? I mean, don't Shadows usually stay in Tartarus?"

"Normally, yes." Mitsuru explained. "However, there are usually a few stragglers on any given night, mostly prowling for people who aren't in coffins and lack the potential to summon Personas. As such, these stragglers are usually in high-population areas."

"High population? You mean... you can't possibly mean we're going to do this downtown?!" Yukari gasped. Didn't Mitsuru realize the dangers of something like this?

"Unfortunately I do. However, that's another reason we have Aigis with us. Her internal clock can keep track of the Dark Hour and how long we have before things return to normal. So long as Aigis is with us, we'll know when it's time to get dressed."

It seemed that Mitsuru had thought of everything. So, with an increasingly nervous Yukari in tow, the four SEES members made their way through the city streets, waiting for the Dark Hour to fall. Past the Moonlight Bridge that connected Port Island with the rest of Iwatodai, Mitsuru finally decided on a good spot. Sure enough, there were plenty of people going about their business, unaware of the impending Dark Hour, and paying no mind to the four young women with concealed weaponry. In an instant, the buzz of noise from the people stopped and the sky took on an eerie green glow. Coffins stood where there were once people, and blood had appeared on surfaces all over. The Dark Hour had arrived.

"It's time." Mitsuru said, slowly reaching for the buttons on her blouse. "Everyone, please disrobe."

The silence was awkward as the girls undressed, the three humans unwilling to look each other in the eye, or anywhere else for that matter. The only one not bothered was Aigis, who stood watch. Once the other three were finished Mitsuru spoke up once again.

"Okay. Now we wait. Assuming we encounter a Shadow, we are all to keep an eye on its behavior. We know their normal behavior, so take note of anything unusual. We have to get to the bottom of this. Aigis, how long do we have?"

"The Dark Hour will end in fifty-four minutes and sixteen seconds."

"Very good. We've got almost an hour, so let's make the most of it. Keep your eyes peeled for Shadows everyone. Aigis, please notify us at every ten minute interval of remaining time, then every minute of the last five."

"Understood."

Fifty minutes.

Forty minutes.

Thirty minutes.

Twenty minutes.

Ten minutes.

After the majority of the Dark Hour had passed without incident, Minako let out an irritated sigh. "Come on! After all we did for this experiment we can't get a single Shadow to show up?"

"If nothing appears tonight, we'll simply have to repeat the experiment another day." Mitsuru said, leaning against a nearby wall. Minako and Yukari both let out another sigh at Mitsuru's declaration; one night had been ridiculous enough, but now Mitsuru was going to make them keep this up? A Shadow had better appear soon...

As if on cue, Aigis sunk into her battle pose, fingertips retracting as she readied her machine guns. "Shadow sighted!"

"There we are! Get ready everyone, and keep your eyes peeled!" Mitsuru called, grabbing up her rapier and evoker, Yukari and Minako close behind.

There were several Shadows, enough for each girl to have her hands full. Blows were exchanged, Personas were summoned, and victory was achieved. By the end of it, the three human SEES members were panting in exhaustion. The fight hadn't been as easy as they'd hoped. Indeed, things had been a bit dicey until Minako busted out her strongest Personas.

"Hm. Nothing unusual about their behavior" Mitsuru noted. "It seems that our clothing had nothing to do with it."

Yukari gulped. Mitsuru was about to figure out that it had all been a lie! She was doomed!

"Perhaps it's only certain types of Shadow. Or it was the fact that we had our evokers." Mitsuru continued, resulting in an unnoticed sigh of relief from Yukari.

"Five minutes remaining in the Dark Hour."

"Five? Oh, wow. Guys, we need to get dressed quickly!" Minako said, dashing back to where she and the others had left their clothes. However, what Minako and the others saw was-