Persona 2 protagonist

I was at school, trying to fix my bike when some thuggish students came up to me.

"Going somewhere?" one of them asked.

"That piece of crap ain't gonna start without this." the slightly less thuggish one said.

"Nothing to say, huh? I don't like that pissy face of your's. You think you're hot shit, don't you? Dude, what's wrong with you?"

"Take... my... hand..."

"Something's wrong here," said the less thuggish one. "This guy's sweating bullets."

"Do not fear me... I am thou... Thou art I..."

At that moment, Principal Hanya arrived on the scene.

"Alright, you three!" he said. "What are you chuckleheads still doing here? The last bell rang a while ago."

Takashi Hanya was the new principal transferred from St. Hermelin High. There he was hated but at Seven Sister's he's looked up to.

"Principal Hanya!?" said the more thuggish student. "Okay, sir! We'll go straight home and do our schoolwork! C'mon man, let's go!"

He took off and his friend gave me the bike piece.

"Here, we're done borrowing this!" he said. "See ya!"

"Just so long as you understand!" the principal said. "What a delight, young people are!"

He turned to me.

"That goes for you too!" he told me. "Didn't you hear what I said!?"

I ignored him.

"Why won't you obey me!? This is unacceptable! Who are you and what class are you in!? State your name! C'mon, spit it out already!"

I finished fixing my bike.

"John Doe" I said.

"Ah, I should have known," the principal muttered. "You're that John Doe I've heard rumours about. If that nasty resonance I sensed from the hall as you, it makes sense. Looks like you're as much trouble as the rumours say. Well, I'll leave you alone. He'll be along to guide you soon enough. Enjoy what few moments are left of your youth."

The principal went back inside. Another student came up to me.

"Yo, looks like you got a raw deal." he said. "Then again, Principal Hanya's a great man so I suggest you listen to what he says. Hey, no need to glare like that. I just came to say that Ms. Saeko is looking for you. You've been dodging guidance counselling, eh? She looked ready to chase you all the way to your house. Better go see her."

I ended up running all round the school for Ms. Saeko. At the end, I found out she'd been headed to where I was in the first place the whole time. We must have run past each other. I returned to the bikes to find her waiting for me.

"Aha, I thought you'd be here, John," she said. "I figured it would be easier to find you by your baby here."

Saeko Takami was my teacher, a transfer from St. Hermelin. Her students adore her frankness and emphasis on individuality.

"Don't worry, guidance counselling of a pretty informal process," she said. "Good, good. Well, then! Have you decided what you what to do after graduation?"

"Not yet." I said.

"I see. Then tell me and you don't have to get specific. Is there anything you want to do?"

"Actually, there is."

"Ah, I see! You don't have a specific goal in mind but you want to follow your dreams? But you can't go that way forever, can you? What do you think?"

"I'll balance my dreams and my life."

"Is that so! If you're that fired up, I'm sure you'll do just fine! Good luck! I'll be cheering for you! John, why do you put up walls like that?" she asked. "You look like you're in so much pain that I can't bear to see it."

"Oh, there you are!" said Lisa Silverman, a student in class 3-C and native caucasian who's fluent in Japanese and loves kung-fu. Despite the fact this story is written in English, we're all actually speaking Japanese. She's also the self-proclaimed hottest girl in school.

"Wait... Aiayh!" she exclaimed.

"Hey!" she said. "John! Hold up! Wait... Aiyah!"

"Lisa! What's all the hubbub about?" asked Ms. Saeko.

"Sorry, Ms. Saeko! I have important business with John here!" Lisa stated. "Can I borrow him?"

"Well, alright. See you, John." Ms. Saeko said as she left.

"We have a problem, John!" Lisa explained. "Wait a sec... Aiyah! I don't believe this! Why are you still wearing your emblem!? You do know about the emblem curse, right? Geez! I worry about you sometimes. But, oh yeah, that can wait! I got a challenge note for you! A guy from Cuss High told me to give it to you!"

Lisa gave me the note.

"John Doe, We're holding a girl from your school hostage. If you value her life, come to Sumaru Prison alone. Kasuyayama High Boss, Michel Eikichi."

"Haime! Seriously!? Now that's old school." Lisa said. "I dunno, though, rumour has it this guy's really strong! I also heard a rumour that it was a Cuss High jerk who cursed our emblem. I bet it was this same guy! John, you're going alone, huh? Knew it but do you know how to get to Sumaru Prison? I can at least show you the way! I don't want to sit around until the curse gets me too. Please, take me along!"