Short notice: My (maybe) short fic about Persona 4! Well, it's actually a Persona 4 in words ^_^ Paring? Yes, there will be. What paring do you like? Review to me after you have read. (In my opinion, I like Souji x Chie, but I guess you guy will either choose Yukiko or Naoto. Sighed…)

Disclaimer: Me no own Persona series. So give the credit to Atlus and especially Shoji Meguro.

Story reading guide: Here is how you read my story. In case of someone get confused.

"I don't know about this." Italic + quotation = Someone is mumbling. Sometimes can be heard by other person.

I don't know about this. *Name* Italic only = Someone's thought. The name is right after the thought (well, sometimes, though…)

"I don't know about this." Normal = talking (easy, right?)

I'll put the in-game date in bold.

Chapter 1: Ready…

04/11/2011

*Background music* "I'm tire of diet and enough with going into the gym. Good thing there's something even I can handle *giggled*" A TV in the electronic shop was showing commercial of a girl in a bikini who is on a beach, drinking some can called 'Quelorie Magic'. "Aaand, we back. Now for some juicy news. The Mayumi Yamano scandal…" The scene turned back to the regular news channel. There was a gossip about the announcement on the TV between a man and a woman. Souji Seta silently waited for the train to arrives, unnoticed their conversation.

*Train's brake noise*

Souji slowly walked into the train and grabbed onto the handle hung on top of the train. He looked outside as the train moving. Countless of trees passed by while Souji thinking about his old school…

*Flashback*

Souji felt the heavy on his left shoulder as the hand of a middle-aged teacher placed on it. He had a kind smile on his face when he said: "Well, I'm sure you're all know already but at the end of this month he will be transferring to another school."

"Wait, seriously?. I thought it was a joke!"

"Aww, I can't believe this!"

He could hear his classmates going on about this stuff. Souji didn't say anything, he showed no emotion on his face since he had already got used to thing like this. Because of his parent's job, he has to move rapidly and continuously studies in a different schools. As far as he could tell, elementary school was the place that he spent the longest.

"Quiet down, guys! I'm not done yet."

*End of flashback*

The ride was pretty long, longer than he expected. There was a stop along the ride so he soon found himself a seat. Dug his hand into his pants pocket, Souji pulled out his cell phone and checked the message one more time. It was sent by his uncle.

"meet us outside yasoinaba station at 4pm"

"Yasoinaba huh?" Souji thought. "Just another year with someone I don't even know… wish this year better than the last…" He closed his phone and put it back into his pocket.

"We will arrive at the Yasogami terminal in a few minutes. Passenger headed for Inaba city and Yasoinaba station, please go to the other side of the platform." The speaker on the train suddenly announced. Souji snapped out of his thought, stood up and put on his bag…

The train finally stopped at the station and the crowd started to head for the exit. It took Souji a great effort to squeeze through them to get off the train. He switched to the other platform and got into the new train. He quickly took a seat before anyone could steal it away from him. Put down his bag, Souji shut his eyes to take a nap as the train passed though a tunnel. A man with a long nose and a woman in a blue dress appeared in his mind…

"What the…" He instantly opened his eyes and looked around, noticed that he still on the train. *Exhaled* Maybe I didn't get enough sleep last night, I'm seeing things… He lifted his face up and looked at the window. The typical view for a countryside town: trees, small building, lake and river.

The train stopped, Souji got out from his seat with his bag hung on his shoulder. The moment he stepped out, he saw a middle-aged man wearing a shirt with a red tie. Standing next to him, a little girl who maybe about six years old. She is wearing a pink, orange and white long-sleeved T-shirt with a brown skirt. "Hey! Over here." The man waved at Souji.

Souji approached him and shook his hand. "Well, you're more handsome in person than in your photo." He spoke with a smile on his face. "Welcome to Inaba, I'm Ryotaro Dojima. I'll be looking after you for the next year."

Souji remained silent 'cuz he really doesn't want to strike up a long conversation. But Dojima kept on talking. "Let's see… I'm your mother's younger brother…and that about sums it up."

He couldn't be silent anymore since it would be rude if you not answer to someone keep saying things to you, so Souji decided to say something, which is out of his character. "Nice to meet you…"

"Haha, maybe you not remember me but I've seen you a long time ago. Man, you're really grown. I still remember when you were in diapers."

Do you really need to say that out in the blue? Souji sweat dropped. Then, Dojima gave a gently push on the back of the little girl to makes her stands in front of Souji. "This here's my daughter." said Dojima. "Come on, Nanako, introduce yourself to your cousin."

There was a short paused, Nanako was gazing down at the ground under her feet.

"…'lo." She took a glimpse at Souji's face and slightly blushed. Then she hid herself behind her father's back. It was an adorable reaction though.

"*Chuckled* What are you so shy for?" Dojima teased her.

She slapped Dojima from behind but that just made him amused. "Ow, hahaha."

"Well then, let's get going. My ride's over there." He pointed at a white van and started walk toward it. Souji opened the backseat door and threw his bag and himself in while looking at Dojima got behind the wheel…

They all arrived at a gas station called 'Moel'. A station attendant ran at their direction with a cap on his head, covered most of his face. "Hi! Welcome to Moel." He said.

"Can you go to the bathroom by yourself?" Dojima turned to Nanako, who was sitting on the passenger seat.

"Uh-huh."

They are all got out of the car simultaneously. Dojima walked near the gas attendant for a conversation. Before they could begin to talk, the gas attendant turned his head to Nanako, who seemed to be having trouble of finding the bathroom. "It's in the back, to your left. You know which way's left, right? The side you don't hold your chopsticks in." The guy said.

"I know…geez…" Nanako answered in annoyed tone and then ran inside.

"Are you taking a trip?" asked the attendant.

"Nah, we just picked this guy up. He just moved here from a big city." Dojima replied, pointing his finger at Souji.

"The city, huh…"

"Fill up my car while you're at it. Regular's fine." Dojima looked at the empty street. "Good time for a smoke…" He walked away from his car.

"You're in high school, aren't you?" The attendant asked Souji.

By reaction, Souji turned his attention to him. Now that he takes a good look, he noticed that the attendant doesn't look like a male at all. 'He' was actually a 'she'. What's with the outfit and the voice? Souji thought.

"Does it surprise you to see how little there is out here?"

"A little, I guess." Souji wanted to end this conversation as fast as he can.

"I know, there aren't a lot to here either. You'll either be hanging out with your friends or doing part-time job." …and Souji's attempt failed. She doesn't seem to be done talking anytime soon. "By the way, we're actually looking for part-time help now." She approached him and offered her hand. "Give it some thought, why don't ya. We don't mind if you're a student."

Souji tried to act politely so he gave her a hand shake. Right when their hands touched, Souji felt something isn't right. Her hand was… weird somehow. He could feel some kind of electric ran through his body from her hand. Tried to ignore that, Souji smiled.

"Oh, I should get back to work." She broke the hand shake and walked to the gasoline pump, just right when Nanako returned from the bathroom. She silently stood in front of the van and looked at Souji. And at that time, he felt a bit dizzy and nausea. Placed one hand on his head to regain balance, he saw Nanako approached him.

"Are you ok?" asked Nanako worriedly.

"I'm fine, just a little tired from the long trip that's all."

"You don't look so good. Maybe you got car sick?"

"I guess…" Souji put on a weak simile to calm Nanako down…

They finally arrived at Dojima's house. It was a decent kind of house, small if it was in a city, but big enough for a father and a daughter to live in. So this is where I'm gonna live in one year… nothing to ague much… Souji thought as he set his foot inside. The decorations in the house wasn't too catchy or luxury. Like outside of it, the inside of the house was just plain… normal, it had a couch in front of a small coffee table which in front of a small TV. To his left, Souji spotted a fridge with all kitchen utensils right next to it. Not much really, but I only live here for one year… He thought.

Moment later, they all sat down around the coffee table to have dinner. "All right, let's have a toast." Dojima spoke as he picks up a soda can. Souji picked one can up and opened it to drink along with Nanako and his uncle. "I know it's only for a year, but getting stuck here because of your parents might be tough for you, huh." Dojima asked Souji.

"I've got use to it, sir."

"Well, from now on, you're part of the family so make yourself at home."

"Then I'll just do that, sir."

"Come on, don't need to be formal." Dojima smiled. He looked over Nanako's place. "Look, you make Nanako all tense."

The young girl looked up, glared at her father because of his tease. Saw that, Dojima just laughs. "Anyway, let's eat."

Before Dojima could even touch his chopsticks, the phone inside his pocket began to ring. "Ugh, who's calling at this hour?" He pulled out his phone from his pocket and placed it on his ear. "…Dojima speaking." His voice sounded serious. "Uh-huh… oh." He stood up and walked to the corner of the room. "Ok… Where is it? … all right, I'm on it." He shut his phone and sighed. "Look like I made a right choice to skip the booze…" He turned and looked at Souji and Nanako. "I have to take care some businesses, go ahead without me." He started walked outside, not forgetting to grab the car's key on the table. "Is it raining?" He mumbled. "Nanako, did you bring the laundry in?"

"Yes, I did, dad."

"Ok, I'm off. I don't know how late I'll be so Nanako, help Souji out, ok?"

"…Okay." She seemed sad.

Dojima closed the door as he walked out. Souji could hear the car engine from the distant. Back to Nanako, she grabbed the remote control and turned the TV on. "…let's take a look at the weather of tomorrow. With storm cloud moving from the West, expect rain throughout the day tomorrow in most areas…" The weather channel was on.

"…let's eat." said Nanako as she picked her chopsticks up.

"So, um… What does your dad do?" Souji decided to strike up a small conversation with the little girl.

"He… investigates stuff. Like crime scenes."

Crime scenes? Then he must be… His thought was cut by Nanako. "My dad's a detective."

Wow, a daughter of a police. Must be tough for her… He thought as the TV switched to the evening news. It was about some guy name Taro Namatame is having some trouble with his wife and a woman name Mayumi Yamano. "This is boring." Nanako changed the channel to a commercial about Junes, a really famous store since Souji always see it in everywhere he had lived in.

"Every day's great at your Junes!~" After finished its normally commercial, the familiar song was sang. To Souji this is just too normal to him. Well, at least until Nanako sang along in a cheerful tone, though. "Every day's at your Junes!~" She moved her body slowly back and forth to match with the song rhythm. Souji smiled toward his cousin cute action. "Aren't you going to eat?" She stopped her singing and asked Souji. He grinned, then, started to chow down…

After the meal, Souji helped Nanako with the dishes before going to his new room. His room was small, smaller than his last 'new' room. There was a desk to study, a small shelf, a TV, a couch, another coffee table, a small cabinet, and a futon. All were squeezed into a tiny room, not to mention the boxes which contained his stuff were sent to his uncle also in here. He sighed, made his way to the futon and put his back down, and hoped that he will sleep soon for school tomorrow…

The fog was already thick when Souji set foot on the mysterious red road. Opened his eyes and looked around, he saw the path ahead of him was covered by the fog. Stood up and started to walked, Souji could hear some whisper in his head. "Do you seek the truth?" Startled, he turned his head to see his surrounding. "Who's there?" There was no answer but the echo of his own voice. Souji reduced his walking speed and decided to continue to go on with caution. "If it's truth you desire, come and find me…" The same voice again, but this time it had some ridicule in it. "Truth? What truth? The truth a want now is who was it?" As he proceeded forward, he saw a weird-looking door stand in his way. He could also sense someone was beyond that door, but he continued anyway…

Suddenly, Souji found himself holding a katana. In front of him, he could barely see an image of a person, who is folding his/her arms. "Hm, so you're the one pursuing me… try all you like." The person mocked him.

Without hesitation, Souji charged at that person and rapidly swung his sword. "So you can see a little, despite the thick fog. But… you can not catch me so easily. If what you seek is 'truth', then your search will even harder…" The fog became thicker and thicker until Souji couldn't see the image anymore. "Everyone sees what they want to… and the fog only deepens…"

"Will you shut up and come out here?" Souji yelled, his voice echoed.

Took no interest in Souji's anger, the person kept on his/her speech. "…Will we meet again…? At a place other than here… Hmhm… I look forward to it…"

Souji felt his vision became blurry till everything in his eyes was white… Drenched in sweat, he kicked away his blanket and got up. The sunlight hit the TV and landed across the wooden floor. Looking around, he realized that he had gotten back to the real world...

Author's note: Okay, done! Your thought, please. I know I made the opening the same as the game but the story will change in the future ^_^