Author's Note: Hi, it's FallingStarXan again with another Persona 4 story... aaaannd... you may have some questions about this one. I'll get them out of the way preemptively, so that we can all enjoy the fic.
Q: Wait, wait, wait... what the heck is this? Is this a songfic? Or is this a scriptfic? Argh! I'm so confused!
A: It's both, but also neither. It's a musical screenplay. This means it's not supposed to be all that realistic (for the story), and it has a slightly different format for where dialogue goes and where dialogue tags go and where narration goes. But it's still a story. People don't like scriptfics and songfics usually because they are easy to throw together, often turn out shoddy as a result, and thus can easily clutter up a site. I hope this one didn't turn out to be shoddy, although, of course, I'll let you all be the judge.
Q: All right but... what song is this?
A: GLAD YOU ASKED! Ever heard of the cup song, AKA 'When I'm Gone'? Let me drop a few links for you that you should probably watch before reading the fic:
/watch?v=cmSbXsFE3l8 - the Anna Kendrick cover of 'Cups' I based this screenplay on. This will show you how the cup rhythm goes, if you're unfamiliar with it (the music starts at around the one minute mark so just skip to that).
/watch?v=rmO8P-p9J_Y - the original (because it's always best to credit the original) by Lulu and the Lampshades
Q: When are you going to get back to Warp and Weft?
A: Soon! I promise!
Q: Why are you writing this long-ass A/N when you know only like TWO people are actually going to read this fic?
A: Back! Back, you incorrigible bakas! Back, I say!
The setting is a Yasogami High classroom during lunch break, the day before YU NARUKAMI's departure from Inaba. Many of the students have gone elsewhere to eat, leaving plenty of desks unoccupied. However, CHIE SATONAKA, YUKIKO AMAGI, and YOSUKEHANAMURA have all convened by the window at a cluster of these empty desks, glumly having their meal in silence. Of the three, CHIE seems particularly displeased, judging by the faces she is pulling.
CHIE
Ugh! This daigaku is awful! There's no way I'm finishing this!
YUKIKO
(anxiously, worried by her friend's sudden outburst)
What's wrong, Chie? Is it different today from the usual?
CHIE
Of course it's different! (She slumps down onto her desk, sulking over the others' lack of understanding.) I can't believe I thought it would be the same... The only person who could really make it right was—
YOSUKE
(with a tortured wince)
Don't even say it!
They all stare out the window bleakly, regarding the cheery sunshine as if it were the gloomiest of fogs. With her head still down on her desk, CHIE begins toying idly with her empty plastic drinking cup, pushing it from side, tapping its edge to the desk.
YUKIKO
It's true, though… he really was an excellent cook… I don't know what I'll do when he's gone.
YOSUKE
(with frustration)
He is an excellent cook! He still is! You're all talking like he's dead or something!
CHIE
(sullenly, muffled by her jacket)
He might as well be…
Despite her despondency, CHIE has begun to establish a rhythm with her cup, holding it upside-down and using her hands, the rim of the cup, and the table to make varied percussive sounds. It is a complex rhythm, finishing with a flourish and flip of the cup and then cycling, and she bungles it up a few times before getting into a solid groove.
YOSUKE
(perking up a bit, clearly impressed)
Whoa… not bad, Chie! Where'd you learn to do that?
CHIE
(still tapping and flipping, now sitting up)
Oh, I just saw some girls doing it on the Internet and I had to try it out! (She fumbles the flip.) Jeez! You made me lose my focus!
YUKIKO giggles a little at this, then pulls out her own cup and flips it over.
YUKIKO
That's funny. I learned it too. Let's see, now…
She begins to mimic CHIE, with total ease and grace. It is clear she has practiced many times.
CHIE
(admiringly)
Wow, Yukiko! You're really good! (Something jogs her memory.) Hey… isn't there a song you sing with it, too? How does it go again? (half-singing, half-speaking) When I'm gone, when I'm go-one… You're gonna—(she falters for a microsecond with the cup in the air, and then confidently slams it down onto the desk and continues) –miss! me when I'm gone…
YUKIKO
(tentatively joining in)
You're gonna miss me by my hair, you're gonna miss me everywhere, oh…
BOTH
(chorusing)
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.
They finish and look to YOSUKE, expecting some praise, but he just sighs morosely and furrows his brow.
YOSUKE
Well, I know who I'm gonna miss…
The girls both resume their cup-tapping, their speed and adeptness increasing to a more fluid and consistent rhythm. In the background, the song's opening instrumentals have begun to play.
YUKIKO
(nodding and beginning to sing for real)
He's got his ticket for the long way round,
We'd all been warned he couldn't stay.
CHIE
But we sure did like his sweet company,
And he's leaving tomorrow, whattaya say?
(She tips her head expectantly at YOSUKE.)
YOSUKE
(singing discontentedly)
When he's gone,
When he's gone…
He stands up from his chair quite suddenly, as if the spirit of the music has struck him.
I'm gonna miss him when he's gone!
In the classroom, the handful of students have all taken out cups or bowls or pens or even notebooks and have begun to match CHIE's and YUKIKO's rhythm.
I'm gonna miss him by his walk,
I'm gonna miss him by his talk, oh,
I'm gonna miss him when he's gone.
By now, all the students in the room are keeping the beat in their own ways. CHIE and YUKIKO stand up, leaving the cups behind, and follow YOSUKE as he walks up the row of desks.
ALL THREE
When he's gone,
When he's gone,
We're gonna miss him when he's gone.
CHIE
(brushing her bangs sideways in parody of Yu's windswept hairstyle)
I'm gonna miss him by his hair…
YUKIKO
I'm going to miss him everywhere…
ALL THREE
Oh, we're sure gonna miss him when he's gone.
They exit their homeroom dancing, and the in-scene accompaniment from their classmates merges seamlessly into the background music, which continues to play as the camera pans out through the window and then up the side of the building. On the roof, KANJI TATSUMI and NAOTOSHIROGANE are conversing in a corner of the ledge around the inside of the fence, facing one another with their finished meals and cups off to one side. RISE KUJIKAWA is sitting cross-legged off to one side, staring out into the horizon. She flips her empty Aiya bowl and begins to perform the cup rhythm. KANJI notices this and, perhaps hoping to catch NAOTO's eye, follows suit, deftly adapting the motions to his lunch tray.
KANJI
(singing)
It ain't so bad to be in Inaba…
Despite the scenic vista easily visible to his left, his eyes remain on the young detective.
The town with the prettiest of views…
He realizes NAOTO has noticed his gaze and quickly turns his head away, blushing.
NAOTO
(bemused, but still picking up on the beat, using both of their cups instead of just one)
It's got mountains, it's got rivers,
It's got sights to make you shiver—
RISE
(interrupting, with one hand longingly pressed to the chain-link fence)
But it sure would be prettier with Yu.
She spins off the ledge and bangs her bowl down.
When he's gone,
When he's go-o-one,
I'm gonna miss him when he's gone!
NAOTO tosses one of the two cups to KANJI, who bounces it off the tray into the air and then catches it, surprised. He and NAOTO start performing the rhythm together, tossing the cups to one another in tandem. NAOTO seems clumsy at first, though she never misses a beat. She appears pleasantly startled to be involved with something so childish, and also wistful, perhaps thinking of all the schoolyard clapping games that she never participated in when she was young.
RISE
I'm gonna miss him for his smile,
I'm gonna miss him for a while, oh,
I'm gonna miss him when he's gone.
With surprising strength, RISE tugs KANJI and NAOTO out of their seats and pulls them to the center with her as she dances. They join in, but have to be rather creative in keeping the beat going, using the tray and still juggling the cups back and forth. They are clearly enjoying themselves, both unaccustomed to participating in such unrestrained fun; by contrast, RISE is in a world of her own, singing with genuine anguish and passion.
ALL THREE
When he's gone,
When he's gone,
We're gonna miss him when he's gone,
We're gonna miss him by his strides,
We're gonna miss him by our side,
Yeah, we're sure gonna miss him when he's gone.
They finish the set and the music simplifies into a fiddle solo, fading a little to allow the dialogue to take greater precedence.
KANJI
(no longer singing)
Yeah, and speakin' of Narukami… where the hell's he been? How come I ain't seen him around?
NAOTO
To my knowledge, he is at home. I believe he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Nanako-chan, since she is still recovering from her illness and could not go far.
RISE
(indignant, with the fire of a revolutionary)
Then why don't we join him? If Yu-kun can blow off school for a day, then so can we!
KANJI
(amused and enthusiastic)
Hell, yeah! I'm all in for that plan! How 'bout you, Naoto? Feel like playin' a little hooky with me... (slight pause) and, uh, and Rise'n 'Narukami? And everyone else?
NAOTO
(in concerned tones)
Kanji-kun, are you sure that would be wise? Didn't your counselor say—
KANJI
To hell with what my counselor says! Come on, dude! We're doin' this for our Senpai!
RISE is already halfway through the door leading off the roof, with her cellphone open and against her ear. She is speaking animatedly to someone on the other end.
RISE
(to her caller)
Really? I had just the same idea! (listens for a moment, and then giggles) All right, then, it's on! (covering the mouthpiece of the phone) What are you two waiting around for? Didn't you hear it's a race now? You do want to get there before the others, right?
KANJI
Wha—huh? It's a… a race now?
NAOTO
(inclining her head in assent)
I believe Rise has engaged us in a friendly competition with the others, to see which group will reach Narukami first. (taking KANJI by the hand, trying to coerce him into motion) Do you not wish to participate in this added frivolity?
She gives him a moment to reply, but he is so flustered by her touch that he misses his chance. Amusedly shaking her head, NAOTO wheels around and tows KANJI along after RISE, who has already vanished into the building. The music fills out and swells as the camera pans out, away from the school and out across the town.
ALL SIX
(from off screen)
When he's gone,
When he's gone,
We're gonna miss him when he's gone,
We're gonna miss him with our songs,
We're gonna miss him with our bonds,
Oh, we're sure gonna miss him when he's gone.
We now see YU NARUKAMI in his room, sitting on the sofa across from the television with a mask of blank regret filling his features. The music slows in tempo, dropping all instruments but a piano which turns melancholic. The cup rhythm has ceased.
YU
(singing softy)
We saved the world and now the case is closed,
The Midnight Channel's bound to fade…
He approaches the television and crouches down to peer inside, his fingertips close to the screen but not quite touching it.
But I've been spending all my youth,
Just to reach out to the truth…
There is a drawn-out break in the music. His fingertip finally does meet the screen, causing a ripple of light. YU flinches back from it and looks away, swiping his hand on his pants and beginning to clap out the cup rhythm using only his palms and his thighs.
… and the truth is that I wish that it still played.
The music resumes with full instrumentals.
But it's gone,
But it's gone…
It's blank and dark and never will turn on.
He exits his room and descends the stairs, still clapping. He pauses, however, when realizes that his rhythm has backup. His cousin NANAKO DOJIMA comes into view. She is kneeling at the dining room table, cheerfully playing along with a cup of her own. YU smiles gently when he sees this.
YU
(now with fondness, directed at the girl he cares for as a little sister)
I'm gonna miss it when it ends,
I'm gonna miss it for my friends, oh,
I'm gonna miss them when I'm gone.
YU kneels across from NANAKO, and she slides the cup over the table to him so he can have a turn. They swap roles; now YU is keeping time with the cup and NANAKO is singing.
NANAKO
(eyes closed, swaying her arms to the melody, lost in the same place of sweet rapture that she visits when she sings along to the Junes theme)
When you're gone,
When you're gone,
I'm gonna miss you when you're gone…
YU taps the cup to the tip of NANAKO's nose playfully, and she giggles and swipes it away.
YU
I'm gonna miss the way we play,
I'm gonna miss you every day,
Oh, I'm sure gonna miss you when…
He trails off, shifting from singing to speaking.
… when I'm… gone… what—?
Out of nowhere comes the sound of many footsteps approaching the house at a very rapid pace. YU barely has time to react with surprise at this before the thump of many bodies hitting his front door in quick succession provides him with a far better reason to look startled.
YOSUKE'S VOICE
(muffled, from behind the door)
All right! And the prize goes to me!
RISE'S VOICE
Not so fast! We both know the race was to get to Yu, not just his house! It's not over yet!
YOSUKE'S VOICE
(accompanying the sound of a scuffle)
And I'm… ngh... still gonna win! Watch… ow!… watch and learn—Chie?! What was that for? You're on my team, too!
CHIE'S VOICE
I'm telling you, that wasn't me!
NAOTO'S VOICE
I… I don't feel so comfortable with—ouch! (a gasp) R-Really, that wasn't necessary!
KANJI'S VOICE
Hey! Watch who you're shoving, you idiots! Just… just quit your stupid game already; you could hurt someone! (his tone shifting to awkward concern) Uh, Naoto… you okay?
RISE'S VOICE
Stop it! I'm going to get to Senpai first! I do love him, after all! Can you say as much, Yosuke-kun?
YOSUKE'S VOICE
Wh-what? N-no! Don't be— I'm not— that's not— it's, it's not! J-just let me by, okay?!
YUKIKO'S VOICE
I think we should stay out of this one…
YU approaches the door warily, not wanting to break the dam holding back the flood of friends fighting for his affections. Before he can open it, though, a new voice breaks through the chatter.
TEDDIE'S VOICE
Not so fast yourselves! If this is a race to get to Sensei then there's no way I'm going to lose! Even if I have to bear-eak down this door myself! Rawwwrr!
YU
(starting to sweat a little)
Oh no… Please don't do that…
After a glance back at NANAKO, YU pulls out the key and swiftly unlocks the door before any harm can come to it. He is hit by a flying armful of TEDDIE, and falls backwards in shock.
TEDDIE
(sprawled on top of YU, beaming like the sun)
Mwahahahaha! I WIN! Now no one can say I didn't get to him first!
YU
(gasping for air)
Teddie, no… you're… too heavy… somebody help me…
NANAKO
(giggling hysterically at this slapstick and clapping her hands with glee)
Yay! Teddie won! Teddie won!
TEDDIE
(sparkling with virtuous pride and charm)
I sure did, Nana-chan!
The others all file into the room, most of them laughing. CHIE and YUKIKO sit down on the couch and begin chatting animatedly with NANAKO. KANJI and NAOTO drift in behind the rest, with KANJI still stubbornly fussing over any supposed injuries that NAOTO may have sustained, despite her protests. YOSUKE and RISE both rush to drag TEDDIE off of YU and help him up from the floor.
YU
(joyfully surprised by all the company as he is hauled upright, with one arm eagerly enveloped by RISE, and the other by YOSUKE)
But… aren't you all supposed to be in school?
KANJI
(calling over to him)
Nah, we ditched. Come on, dude, you think we'd let school keep us from hangin' out with our Senpai? Wait, Naoto… y-you sure you don't need any ice for that? I could get you some ice—
NAOTO
(sighing)
Your concern is endearing, Kanji-kun, but I assure you, it is not necessary. I am quite all right.
KANJI
Well, uh… if you say so… (hesitantly) What's 'endearing' mean?
YUKIKO
Oh! It means 'sweet' or 'charming'! (chuckling into her hand) That means Naoto thinks you're sweet and charming, Kanji-kun!
KANJI
(going brick red)
She thinks I'm—what?! (a little panicky) C-cut it out, Yukiko-senpai… you're just makin' fun of me now… and I ain't fallin' for it!
NAOTO
(with naïve sincerity)
Actually, she's correct. That is what the word means, Kanji-kun.
KANJI
(defensively)
R-right, but you didn't mean it like how Yukiko-senpai made it out to be! That ain't cool, twisting a person's words like that! People could get the wrong ideas about… y'know… things…
While all this is going on, RISE and YOSUKE flank YU from both sides, vying for his attention.
RISE
(clinging to YU's arm)
We couldn't wait till the end of the day to see you! We have so little time left to spend together…
YOSUKE
(clapping a hand to YU's shoulder)
You'd better believe it! I know you're going to visit from time to time but… man, it's going to be so weird not having you around!
YU
(overwhelmed by all this love and attention)
I'm… sure it will be… Yes, of course I'll visit…
TEDDIE
(distractedly)
Nana-chan? Where did you wander off to…? Don't you want to play with your bear-y best of friends?
NANAKO enters the room with CHIE close behind. The little girl's arms are filled with plastic cups, and she is wearing a huge smile.
NANAKO
(happily dumping her load onto the table)
Look! (giggling) Now there's cups for everyone!
This announcement from NANAKO brings about a lull in conversation. CHIE picks up a cup in each hand.
CHIE
There sure are, Nanako-chan! Now, who wants one?
CHIE begins to toss cups to people in the room. NANAKO selects what she deems to be the best one of the batch and proffers it to YU.
NANAKO
Here you go, big bro!
YU takes the cup and sets it face-down on the table top. He is aware of everyone's eyes on him, but is still frozen by emotion. A tapping sound breaks the ice. YOSUKE is attempting the cup rhythm for the first time. He makes it past the first few measures and then knocks the cup to the floor.
YOSUKE
(clumsily fishing around under the table)
Ehehehe… Damn, that's… that's tougher than you guys make it look…
The tension is shattered. YU laughs kindly, leans down, and picks YOSUKE's cup up for him.
YU
The key is practice.
He goes through the motions slowly, so that YOSUKE can follow along, and starts to quietly sing.
I've got my ticket for the noonday train,
Oh how I wish that I could stay,
Cause I sure did like your sweet company,
But I'm leaving tomorrow, what do you say?
The background music returns as all the others join in with their cups, save for YOSUKE, who is still watching YU's hand movements with sheepish bewilderment and awe. YU continues to sing, his confidence growing.
When I'm gone,
When I'm gone,
I'm gonna miss you when I'm gone.
He keeps his gray eyes wide and innocent as he sings the next few lines and the awful pun they contain.
I'm gonna miss you when I roam,
That's why I packed a few Goho-Ms
So I'll always make it back where I belong.
YOSUKE and CHIE both groan at this, and YUKIKO explodes into giggles, causing her to fumble her cup. They are all clearly touched by the sentiment, however. The music cuts for a moment as they switch their cup rhythms, improvising a bit before settling in a simple marching beat. It builds to a crescendo and then, at that point, the background music exploded into full force.
ALL, EXCLUDING YU
When you're gone,
When you're gone,
We're gonna miss you when you're gone…
YU
I'm gonna miss all of my friends,
Wish this day just never ends,
'Cause I'm sure… that I will miss you…
He holds the note, for the space of three sharp taps of the cup to the table.
When…! I'm…! Gone,
The cup rhythm returns for the finale.
When I'm go-o-one,
I'm gonna miss you when I'm gone,
I'm gonna miss you all, I swear,
I'm gonna miss you everywhere,
Oh, I'm sure gonna miss you when I'm gone!
The others finish off the rhythm; YU tosses his cup into the air. It falls into YOSUKE's lap, whose hands dart out without thinking. In the silence that falls, the only thing that can be heard is the drumming of the cup against the table: tap-tap-dududum-tap-dit-dum, tap-click-tap-pop, dit-DUM – the cup rhythm. Triumphantly, YOSUKE slams the cup down on the final beat and throws his hands up into the air.
YOSUKE
(exulting at the top of a mundane Everest)
Hah! If the key is in the practice, I guess I'm just a natural! Score one point for Yosuke!
YUKIKO
Are you sure it isn't just beginner's luck?
YOSUKE
(with a self-deprecating smirk)
Not a chance! Just… don't ask me to do it again, okay?
YU smiles, stands up, and begins to collect the cups.