"Where…where am I?"

"Welcome to the Velvet Room…" Welcome?...Velvet Room?... Igor? Souji Seta thought to himself as his white blur vision cleared. He looked around and found himself sitting on a chair, facing an antique rectangular table and a large blue armchair in the middle of a small room. Then he spotted a large window behind him. He standing up quickly and head toward the window. To his surprise, he did not see anything else outside the window except fog. A very thick fog.

"I see you were surprise as well." A voice come out suddenly, startled him. Turning around, he saw Igor sit on the large blue armchair and a girl that looked like Margaret standing beside him. "Have a seat, my boy," Igor said, gestured Souji to sit at the chair he sit earlier.

"Where am i?"Souji asked as he sits down. "And most important, why am I here?" Igor chuckled, seeing the confused look on the silver hair teenager and his assistant.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room…or should I say welcome back."

"Master…" Igor's assistant interrupted. "If I may be correct, my sister has told me about a man before. Is this the exact man?" Igor nodded. "Then why has this man returned? I believe our assistance is no longer necessary. Has this happened before?"

"No…not at all my dear." Igor chuckled. "But we can say that this young man returned because it was his destiny. And because of that, we should provide any assistance he needed" he looked at Souji and smiling.

"But I haven't entered a contract…"

"You will enter a contract later. When is it happen, I do not know."

"Is it Izanami?"Souji asked. Igor chuckled.

"Maybe and maybe not. However, remember, everything occurred to you is tied to your fate. It must be your destiny that brings you back here. It must be your destiny that you will enter the contract. It must be your destiny that there a specific reason and truth waiting for you to be unfolded that will answer your entire question. You see all of this happen because it was your destiny, Souji Seta."

'My destiny…'Souji thought to himself before letting out a small chuckle. "I guess I should see this till the end like last time, huh?" He smiled as Igor chuckled, glad that he understands.

"Indeed. Now let see your fate shall we?" Igor smiled as he waved his hand over the table. A deck of tarot card materializing in front of them. He waved his hand again, causing the eight random cards to fall into an octagon pattern.

"Now let's see…"he waved his hand, flipping a card. "…the Fool in upright position. This card represents a new beginning, a journey, a fresh start in any aspect of your life. You will face difficult challenges. Therefore, you must face this problem with energy, optimism and faith which will ensure a positive outcome."Souji nodded. Igor chuckled and flipping another card.

"…the Fortune in upright position. This card represents a good luck. You will face an unexpected event or encounter. Trust your heart it will bring a good result. It also says that you will find someone special on your …interesting isn't it?" He chuckled. Souji nodded lightly, smiled embarrassedly.

' Someone special...'

"And lastly…" Igor flipped another card.

"Death in reversed position. This card reversed tells you that you are powerless to resist or fight the inevitable. Nevertheless, the bond you have created with your friend will help you see this through the end." He waved his hand again, causing the cards to vanish.

"I don't quiet understand…"he sighed before yawning lightly.

"It's alright, my boy. You will understand as you ventured deep further inside the problem." Igor smiled and chuckled. "Nevertheless, we will be here if you need any of our assistance. Trust me, you will."

"It was nice to meet you, the chosen one." Igor's assistant said, smiling. "By the way, im Elizabeth."

"Till we meet again…Souji Seta…"Igor smiled as Souji's vision begins to blur. The only sound he heard was a girl voice.


'Yasoinaba is a peaceful small rural town. This placed is famous with the legendary inn…'

Blinking and rubbing his eyes, Souji Seta awoke by the female announcer's voice. He was sitting on the chair, lining along the wall in the subway. Yawning lightly, he looked around the subway. It was nearly empty except for a few peoples. He spotted an old man leaning at the wall, reading a newspaper. A young boy was drinking a juice and a young girl playing with her mom. The girl noticed Souji was staring at her, waving her hand while smiling happily. Souji smiled back.

"The next train destination is Yasoinaba. Everyone is advice to not standing closer to the rail. Thank you."

Souji smiled as the train ride to Yasoinaba arrived. Standing up, he slung his bag over his shoulder, moving inside the train. Sitting on the chair near the door, he takes out his phone. A huge smiled on his face.


'Uncle Dojima, I will arrive in two hours. Please do not tell anyone about this-Souji Seta'

A huge smiled was spread across Ryotaro Dojima as he reading a text message Souji send him. 'Damn you Souji…Nanako is going to kill me about this'. He thought to himself, a sweat coming out from his forehead. Apparently, no one knows about Souji arrival, except him. They have planned it secretly three month ago. Nanako is going to be extremely mad if she find out about this. The image of his beloved, innocent daughter mad at him, making he sweat horribly. Flipping his phone, he types a message to Souji.

'I hope you happy Souji Seta…'


"Dammit…math sucks…school sucks…everything sucks…"a young spiky brown haired teenager, Yosuke Hanamura sighed deeply, his face flat on his table.

"Geez… get a grip Yosuke."Another young brown-haired teenager who was sitting in front of him, Chie Satonaka sighed deeply. "It only been two weeks since the school new semester started" she said, making Yosuke groaned.

"Chie was right, Yosuke…"a long and elegant black haired teenager who was sitting beside her, Yukiko Amagi interrupted.

"I know that. It just… this year seems empty without him…,"he said while ruffling his spiky hair. Chie and Yukiko nodded slowly, their expression changed. "We miss him a lot huh?"

"Yeah…"Chie sad expression changed into cheerful one. "Cheer up, im sure he will come back anytime. Now… let's go meet Nanako-chan. We promised her that we come to her house today and watch my new movies right?" Yosuke and Yukiko nodded while smiling.

"…Yeah. Let's go meet the others" Standing up, Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko walk toward the door and open it, revealed a boy with a bleached-blonde swept-back, Kanji Tatsumi, a blue-haired girl,Naoto Shirogane and a girl with a reddish brown hair tied in two pigtails, Rise who was just about to open the door.

"Yosuke-senpai, Chie-senpai, Yukiko-senpai! I was just about to call you." Rise said shocked.

"We are just about to call you too."Chie laughed while closing the door as they exit their class. She looked at Kanji and Naoto who was standing beside Rise and smiled.

"Are you guys ready?" she asked. Kanji and Naoto nodded.

"As a matter of fact, we are."Naoto said, smiling. "So…let's go shall we?" They nodded and moving toward the stairs to exit their school.

' Ok, but you owe me Souji. Im dead if Nanako found out about this-Ryotaro Dojima'

He chuckled as he read a message his uncle send him. It was true that Nanako is going to be mad if she found out about this. Sighing softly, he looked around the train car. It was empty except for a few travelers. Everyone else seemed to have disembarked at the last station before Yasoinaba Station. He spotted the young girl he met before sitting not so far from him. The young girl's mom noticed he was staring at her daughter. Standing up, she moves closer to Souji.

"Hello young man." She smiled at Souji as she took a sit next to him. Souji smiled back.

"Hello madam. I am sorry I was staring at your daughter earlier. I didn't mean anything." He apologized. The woman chuckled, waving her hand.

"Don't worry, its ok. You seem a nice man to me." Souji smiled. "Judging by your face, I say that you've been here before?" The woman guessed. Souji chuckled.

"Indeed I am. How did you know that?" he asked.

"I live here for almost 30 years, young man. I almost recognized all of the people that come and live here in Inaba." She giggled, amused by the surprised look on the silver hair teenager.

"You live here that long?" He asked. The woman nodded and smiled.

"Yeah…well, I have to go. Bye." She nodded, extending her hand for Souji to shake. "It was nice to meet you." Souji smiled, shaking her hand.

"It was nice to meet you too madam." They exchanged a smile as the woman stands up and walking away from him. Souji watched the woman go back to her daughter. Her daughter looked at him waving her hand and smiling happily. Souji chuckled as he waves his hand.

'Yasoinaba…Yasoinaba…'

'Finally…' Souji thought to himself as the train passed along the dark tunnel. Smiling to himself, he peered out the window and gazed upon the countryside. Sakura trees has began to blossom marked the beginning of spring. The dark green grass was blow by the slow and calm wind. The sky was clear and flock of birds flying freely around. Chuckling, Souji imagining the look from Nanako and his friends when they find out about this.

Gazing back at the countryside, he remembered Igor's words. He had hopes for a normal year in Inaba this time, but that not going to happen. A new problem has occurred .The reason why he came back to the Velvet Room is waiting to be discover, along with his friend. 'I guess I'll do what I can…' he thought to himself, a smiled spread across his face. Reaching out his phone inside his jacket pocket, he flipped the phone and typing a message.

'Uncle Dojima, I will arrive at the station in few a minute.-Souji Seta'


A big smile once again spread cross Dojima face. Apparently, he was just arrived at the station when he received the messages. He locks his car and sits at the nearest bench.

"Good thing Nanako wasn't at home when I go out..." he sighed deeply while pulled out a carton of cigarette. He lights the cigarette and blow a smoke.

"I wonder what she's doing right now…"


"Hello…Dad…" a girl with short brown hair tied in two ponytails, Nanako Dojima called softly as she enter her house followed by Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, Naoto, Rise, Kanji and Teddie.

"Where's your dad, Nanako?" Yosuke asked while looking around. Nanako shook her head, smiled slightly.

"Dad's not here. He probably was handling another case right now." she sighed softly.

'Case?' Naoto thought to herself. 'Weird though. I did not get any call from headquarter…did something has happened?'

"Oh, then he don't mind if we watch movies at your house, Nanako-chan?" Chie asked worriedly. Nanako smiled and shook her head happily. They smiled and move inside the hall. The boys were sitting around the tatami, chatting as the girls go prepare a snack.

"So senpai… what movie are we going to watch today?" Kanji asked at Yosuke who was listening to his earphone.

"Don't know…" he said as he takes off his earphone from his ear and sigh. "Maybe another kungfu movie. I'm 100 percent sure of it. Come on, this is Chie we're talking about."

"Yeah…" Kanji nodded and sighed deeply. Yosuke was about to put his earphone back when he saw Kanji pulled out a platypus doll with a needle and a roll of thread.

"Nice." Yosuke praised. Kanji scratched back of his head embarrassedly as he handed Yosuke the doll. "It's nothing senpai, really."

"Nothing? Dude, this is awesome!" Yosuke said amused as he and Teddie inspecting the doll. "If you sell this in Junes, I'm sure it will boost my family business."

"Yeah, Kanji-chan." Teddie said as he moves the platypus doll's arm. "I didn't know you were good at making doll. When is this start? Can you teach me?" he asked eagerly.

"Careful with that, Teddie. It not finished yet." He said as he took back the doll from Teddie's hand. He inspecting the doll and smiling to himself. "Actually I already give up from making doll long time ago…"Kanji paused, sighing softly. "But it all changed after I meet Souji-senpai. He made me realize that I don't need to act tough or doing anything manly to prove that I'm a man. Just be yourself and protect the one you love." He stopped, smiling brightly. Yosuke smiled and patted Kanji's back while Teddie's eyes full of tear.

"Man, that's cool."Yosuke laughed while looking back at the doll in Kanji's hand. "But seriously, this is awesome! Did anyone else know about this other than us?"

"Yeah, I show this to Rise and Yukiko-senpai once for them to comment. I was planning to give this doll to Nanako today anyway. But it looked like the doll not finished yet."

"You need help?" Yosuke offered as he took a seat next to Kanji. Kanji nodded.

"What about me? I want to help too. Pleasee, please, pleaseee…" Teddie asked eagerly. Yosuke and Kanji sighed deeply.

"Ok, ok!" Yosuke shouted annoyingly. Teddie smiled brightly as he took a seat beside Yosuke. Kanji looked at Teddie who was just stabbing a needle at the doll rapidly and laughing.

"You know what, senpai…"

"What?"

"If I were you, I will be crazy having him inside my house and living with me. I feel sorry for you senpai."

"Thank you Kanji. Thank you for understand…"


Rise hummed happily, as she put the one of the ingredients into the pot and stirred it. Glancing around, she saw Chie was cutting vegetables and meats while Yukiko and Nanako arranging plates on the table.

"Rise, I thought we're going to make a snack." Naoto who was standing next to her, asked curiously.

"We're going to. But it's getting late so we decide to make dinner instead of snack, Naoto." She explained happily. Naoto nodded and smiled.

"So…you need my assistance?" she offered. Rise nodded and smiled happily. Naoto smiled.

"What're we cooking right now, Rise?" Naoto asked while raising her eyebrows at Chie and Yukiko who was chatting quietly. She noticed a faint blush on Chie's cheek. However, she decided to ignore it.

"Curry fried rice."

"I see…" Naoto nodded as she saw Chie and Yukiko coming toward them carried the ingredients. Yukiko was smiling while Chie was still blushing slightly.

"What exactly happen with you two?" Naoto asked. Yukiko waved her hand and smiling mischievously.

"Oh, it's nothing Naoto-kun." she said, looking at the blushing Chie and smiling. "How's the curry?" she asked as she handed Rise the ingredients.

"Almost done, Yukiko-senpai." said Rise happily while putting the ingredients into the pot and stirred it.

"Ok now, Chie and I going to prepare the fried rice." Yukiko paused, looking at Naoto and smiling. "Naoto, you're going to help us too."

"S-sure." Naoto nodded quickly and follow Yukiko and Chie who was pulling out the ingredients they need at refrigerator.

"Hmm…it looked like we short on ingredients." Yukiko said while looking at the ingredients they placed at table. Chie nodded while inspecting the ingredients.

"Naoto-kun, can you go and buy the ingredients?" Chie asked.

"Sure, Chie-senpai" Naoto nodded. Chie smiled while writing the list of ingredients on a piece of paper. She folded it and gave it to Naoto.

"Here's the list and the money inside." Naoto nodded, putting the paper into her pocket.

"Well then, I'll be going." Naoto nodded to Yukiko and Chie while walking toward the door.

"Come back fast Naoto-kun!"

"Don't forget to buy Animal Cracker, Naoto!"

Naoto chuckled as she closed the door. Sighing softly, she makes her way to the Junes Department Store.


"Uncle Dojima…"

"There you are, Souji. I'm glad to see you again." Dojima smiled as he embraced his nephew.

"I'm glad to see you too." Souji chuckled as Dojima let go of him.

"You better be. Nanako was going to kill me if she find out about this." Dojima sighing. "Oh well… at least this well planned surprise worth it."

"I'm sorry about that." Souji apologized. Dojima smiled, ruffling Souji hair affectionately.

"Hey, it's ok. Come on, we better get going now." He led Souji to his car.

"Still the same car?" Souji asked. Dojima laughed loudly.

"Yeah, this car holds a lot of great memories. It'll be a waste if I throw it away." The two got into the car, and Dojima started driving away from the train station. Souji smiled as he saw the familiar places in Inaba.

'I miss this place a lot…' admitted Souji as they passing through Central Shopping District. It was completely different. The business was booming. All of the stores in Central Shopping District were full of costumers, making Souji hard to believe.

"Alright, we're here." Dojima said while smirking. Souji raised his eyesbrow as they exit the car.

"Junes Department Store?"


'Every day's great at your Junes!'

Naoto growled quietly when she heard that song. It has been playing repeatedly and it really annoyed her, probably everyone in the store. Sighing, she continues searching the ingredient she needed.

"Umm…let see…black pepper sauce." Naoto said as she reading the list given. She takes the ingredient and put it into the basket.

"I wonder what they're going to do with these many ingredients." Naoto take a look inside the basket before pick it up. "I-It's very heavy…" Naoto gasped, trying to keep herself from falling down.

"I think that's all the ingredient they needed." Naoto read the list again and confirm it. "Now I just have to pa-" her word was stuck in her throat when she spotted a familiar figure in front of her.

'No, it can't be!' thought Naoto as she hid herself, heartbeat quicken.

"Souji- senpai?"


Alright! Im done with chapter one. Please RnR ^_^. Enjoy!