I do not own the characters I only have one copy of the game and I cherish it.
Boy friend, Boyfriend?
Dorm life is pretty cool everyone is so nice, but that's not even the most important thing going on in my life. I've been bestowed with the power of Persona... not only that but apparently I'm special.. I have control of many different Personae where everyone else who has the power only has one. To be honest it really doesn't make me feel anymore powerful, or special.. but Mitsuru-sempai and Akihiko-sempai are convinced that I would be perfect for the role of leader. It was weird enough as it is.. to have this power.. and now I am in charge.
At my old school I was never noticed by anyone I always kept to myself.. in fact I didn't even have any friends.. but now I'm living in a dorm with people my age who actually care about what I have to say.. and I'm the leader of a special team that is charged with killing these mysterious monsters known as Shadows.
It's bad enough being in charge of a class assignment I guess I shouldn't complain, fight to survive or die.
At first one of my dorm mates was put off by me becoming leader, and for a little while I thought he didn't like me... and he seemed a little misogynist .. a lot of guys our age are.. so it really wasn't a big deal, I would just steer clear of him if I had too. It may be hard to avoid someone who is in your homeroom class and living in the same dorm as you.. oh well.
As it turns out he wasn't as bad as I originally thought and he just seems to be a guy who puts his foot in his mouth quite frequently.. much to Yukari's dismay. I think it's kinda charming in a weird way.. he just sort of blurts out what he is thinking and sometimes he's hilarious.
As the days pass we would walk back to the dorm together, that train ride can be really boring and long if you don't have some one to talk to. Most of the time Yukari wouldn't walk with us, sometimes she would have archery other times she would just disappear without us.
"Oh.. uuh, you see..." Junpei stammered as Ms. Toriumi tapped her foot expectantly. It looks like Junpei didn't study the material she assigned. Poor Junpei, I didn't want him to be embarrassed in fount of the whole class. I discreetly wrote the answer on a sheet of paper with thick letters so he could see it. Luckily he noticed and not the teacher.
"Oh that's easy sensei, the answer is the subject, the noun then the verb"
"Hmph, very good Iori, perhaps you were paying attention after all"
She turns back to the board and continues her lesson. Junpei flashes me a smile as he sat back down in his seat.
At lunch we sat together at my desk and talked. "Whew, you really saved my ass today. I totally owe you one!"
"No, no think nothing of it. You would have done the same for me right?"
"Of course.. but I don't think you would ever want to ask me for school work help, we'll both end up looking like dumb asses." Junpei laughed at his own statement and I laughed a little too. After classes ended that day he got my attention before I got up from my seat.
"Look, I said I was going to pay you back for helping me today and I mean it" He looked determined. I gave him a look and playfully crossed my arms.
"Okay, okay.. What did you have in mind?"
"Let me buy you a deluxe ramen bowl., come on you don't have volley ball practice today how about it?"
He was right, I didn't have practice today and who's crazy enough to turn down a bowl of free ramen? I agreed to go with him and we left quickly so we could avoid the rush.
The cook sat down to huge bowls of the deluxe ramen and we promptly started to dig in. The soup and the noodles were perfectly cooked like they always were, and the extra ingredients that made this bowl deluxe were tender. He finished before me then he sat his bowl down triumphantly. When I finished my bowl I laughed.
"You didn't tell me it was a race Junpei!" I said between laughs. "I would have beat you if I known"
"Yea right, like a chick could beat me."
"Is that a challenge? Two more bowls please"
"Oh you are so ON!"
We leaned on each other as we slowly made it back to the dorms. Talk about a stupid idea. The both of us were filled to the brim with noodles and soup..
"I don't think I will be able to eat anything for a long time" I hiccup.
"I know right... one bowl was enough.. I can't believe that we had 3 each.. ties both times.. I would be impressed but I feel like I am going to hurl.."
"Ugh, don't say hurl..."
Needless to say, we didn't go to Tartarus that night.
Every day I didn't have practice I spend the after school time with Junpei. He was easily my best friend. I enjoyed spending my time with him and it's not like we liked each other or anything.. We were just friends but, rumors will buzz around anyways..
"Look, are you and stupei, like an item?" Yukari suddenly asks me one day during classroom clean up. I looked up at her confused.
"No we aren't, why do you ask?"
Yukari takes a deep breath in relief. "I was about to say.. out of all the guys in this school I would hope you wouldn't have fallen for him "
Yukari, sometimes lets her popularity go to her head, I thought she and Junpei were suppose to be friends.. but sometimes she acts just as two-faced as some of the other girls in this school.. she even dislikes Mitsuru-senpei the most elegant person I know... oh well I don't think I could ever understand her.
After explaining to Yukari that Junpei and I were just friends I finished my portion of the cleaning and left the class room. I was upset about my discussion with Yuka and I really wanted to let off some steam.. I think I might go do some solo karaoke tonight.
I ventured out to Paulownia Mall and was about to go up the stairs to Mandragora when I heard my name behind me being called out.
"Hey, fancy seeing you here!" Junpei called as he walked up to me. Should I tell him about the rumors, or should I just let it alone?
"Hey are you going to do karaoke? m..mind if I join you?" Junpei seemed a little off... well more then usually.. did he hear about the rumors as well? We paid our shares for a double session of karaoke and belted a few hits out. Singing your soul out really is a great stress reliever and I felt myself grow even more so courageous especially since there was some one else there that could hear my singing voice.
We took a break after a long song and got some drinks from the vending machine. Junpei kept looking at me like he was going to say something then he was just turn away quickly.
"What's wrong Jun?" I asked starting to get a little frustrated.
"Well, it's like this.. and I'm going to come out and say it" he looked like he was going to be sick. "Some one has been taking pictures of you.."
"W..wait, what?"
"I mean they are not bad pics or anything..." He looked like he was having a difficult time talking to me about this, but I needed information.
"Well then what type of pictures then?"
He pulled a crumpled photo from his jacket pocket and showed it to me... It was a picture of me during gym.. how was this taken?
"Some chode from class f-3 asked me if this was the girl from my dorm, I took the picture away from him and asked who gave it to him... the asshole said he found it.. but I don't really believe him.."
"You didn't have to do that. Thank you Junpei."
"When I find out who did this, I might have to break his face."
I laughed when he said this, I couldn't really imagine Junpei fighting anyone.. battling a shadow is different then a school brawl..
"Aw, I mean it.. what if they catch you off guard and take worst pictures?"
I didn't even think of that.. why would anyone take a picture of me in my gym uniform. With out thinking I ask this question out loud and Junpei's face grows red and then he starts to laugh this goofy laugh.
"You.. know..stuff.."
For a moment I look at him like he has grown an extra head what the heck is he talking about... oh...
"Ew, so some perv is taking pictures of me so other pervs can... can.. you know.." I stand up quickly "Why would anyone want to do that?"
"Well, you are kinda hot, so of course some dude is going to use you for the ole' spank bank" Junpei says matter of factly. Ugh, that is definitely a draw back with being best friends with a guy.. the brutal, and blunt honesty.
"Junpei!"
His face grows red and he looks away from me "Shit, I'm sorry ..I didn't .. I mean... damn"
I'm not really upset and I betray myself by laughing again...
"I'm just glad the pictures aren't any worst then this.." I say shaking my head
"Well, I got some more bad news for ya."
"What now.." I groan.
"Well, people at school seem to think we are dating... every time I here someone say it I correct them.. but no one is really listening." Junpei took a long sip of his drink "And who knows, maybe this secret photographer will catch me in one of your pictures.. it would certainly do wonders for my reputation"
Once again we shared a laugh and after our short break was over we started to sing again. I couldn't really stop thinking about the pictures and the rumors though.. it was bad enough some pervert was stalking me for these secret photos... and everyone though Junpei and I were seeing each other.. can two friends hang out without someone assuming that there is something else there?
That question was never really answered and we walked home together without thinking much more about it. Tonight was a a training night at Tartarus so I would need to clear my head for the battles ahead.
In the next few days we got closer and closer to finding out who was at the bottom of the picture debacle, we even interrogated the photography club.
After school one day we met for ramen like we commonly did. But Junpei seemed quieter then usually but he was sporting a huge grin. I was just about to ask him what he was smiling about when I saw the darkened area under his eye.
"Junpei.." I gasped
"Heh heh, so you see it.. don't worry it looks worst then it feels" he said grin growing bigger. "I taught that clown a lesson, then I turned him in to a teacher"
I was relieved, but I didn't like that he was hurt because of me. "You really didn't have to do this... but thank you for looking out for me"
"What are friends for, now come on stop looking so sad.."
For a little while the rumors of Junpei and I being an item had died down apparently there was a new dish the students where buzzing about.. I was happy to have captured just a little piece of mind again... well at least at school.
One day when I got out of practice Akihiko-senpai was waiting for me and he offered to walk home with me.. I could literally feel the glares of some of the other girls and I did my best to ignore them. Walking home with my senpai was informative to say the least.. I honestly never noticed how reserved he was.. and I certainly didn't notice how handsome he was... well maybe I did... but I would never want to say it out loud.. I saw how some of those girls looked at me... they would tear out my eyes if they found out I was making a move on 'their Akihiko'.
On the days that I had practice it was now commonplace for Akihiko to met up with me after boxing practice so we could walk home together.
One day Akihiko had asked me what was my relationship with Junpei and when I told him we were just friends, he seemed relieved.. I didn't want to get the wrong idea.. but … was he flirting with me?
I decided to just brush it off especially when he quickly changed the subject and started taking about something else.
I didn't really know who to talk to about this. I knew I really couldn't relay on Yukari.. Anything I told her would be gossip on someone's lips before I could even say 'persona'.
I could talk to Mitsuru-senpai, but her relationship with Akihiko-senpai was just as dubious as Junpei and I's friendship... what does that even mean?
Yamagishi has just moved in so I don't really know her yet..
And then there's Junpei...
Some time after Tartarus training, I sent Junpei a text message. I know he normally stays up late playing his computer game so I know he isn't sleeping. He response to me quickly
whats up?
I need some advice
i'll lev my dor unlocked.
Hm.. maybe this was a bad idea.. if Mitsuru-senpai caught me on the boy's floor there would probably be trouble.. but I guess I'm feeling brave. I slip my house slippers on and creep out of my room. I go over in my head the excuses I will have to make it I am discovered. Umm, uhh.. bathroom, right bathroom. I walk down the hallway without incident and then I crept down the boys hall and slip into Junpei's room. I feel like I was holding my breath for the whole trip... that wasn't so bad. Junpei's room is messy.. there are stacks of manga and discarded snack containers everywhere. There was no where clean to sit expect on Junpei's bed.. with him.
What the hell is my problem, I've been in here and I have sat on his bed before... the only difference is it wasn't in the middle of the night.
"So wasstha matter?" he asked closing his laptop. Now the only light in the room was the light from the tv.
"It's... well it's embarrassing for one.." I manage to get out. Here I am about to ask boy advice from Junpei.. I don't even know how I really feel about senpai.. other then I think he is handsome.. even if he asked me out .. what if he wanted to kiss...
"Hey, are you okay, you just kinda zoned out there..." Junpei asked sounding concerned.
"Have you ever kissed anyone Junpei?" Might as well blurt it out, I already feel like I am going to die of embarrassment.
"I.. um.. I err..." Junpei wipes his mouth that has now become dry "...No, you?"
I look away when I answer "No..."
I see him grinning again, what is he up to now "This is about Akihiko-senpai, isn't it?" He asks smugly
"I.. don't know.. I think... wait.. how do you know?"
"Have you seen the way he looks at you when were in Tartarus? …. I mean it's painfully obvious"
"What really?" I can feel a blush slowly making it's way up my neck"
"...You haven't noticed, I mean he nearly scoops you up into his arms when you stumble"
"I thought, he was just trying to help..."
"Then why does he only offer a hand to help Mitsuru senpai up?" Junpei said playfully hitting me on the head with a magazine.
"What am I going to do?" I grab Junpei by the shoulders.
"What, do you like him or something? Well, then just go out with him or something.." I could tell Junpei was getting a little embarrassed at the subject at hand.
"I've never had a boyfriend before..." my voice trailed off. What was I even talking about? "What would I even do with him?"
"You know, boyfriend girlfriend stuff.. like … uuuh..." Junpei scratched his head through his hat "Hell, I don't know... like all that stuff in the movies..."
I released his shoulders and we sat in silence for a moment.
"I wonder how many girlfriends he's had" Junpei suddenly asks then makes a face when he realized what he has said out loud.
"That's not helping me Jun!"
There is still a possibility that I am other thinking this... Both Junpei and I could be over analyzing Akihiko... what if we are both wrong and he's just really nice? There is still the chance that he views me as something more then a friend. What then?
"I need you to do me a favor." I ask him with deadly seriousness.
He swallows hard and starts shaking his head. "No way, nuh uh, I ain't doing it!"
"You don't even know what I am going to ask!" I nearly whine.
"You are going to have me ask Akihiko-senpai how he feels about you then you want me to relay it back to you.."
Okay... maybe he does know a lot about women. I begin to playfully … but seriously plead with him. Junpei stands his ground though. I don't really blame him this whole situation is really embarrassing. I start to play with the hem of my night gown. I have an idea that hopefully he won't turn down.
"Practice kissing with me."