She was always in the way…
Nothing that she did was ever right…
Completely worthless… a waste of space… nothing like Airi.
And nothing like Naoto Shirogane.
…
The "Detective Prince": the mysterious youth, who had arrived one day in the quiet town of Yasoinaba.
An "unattainable beauty" by common standards, Naoto had everything that she'd always wanted: strength, confidence, control, and above all an iron will.
Such personal perfection was her goal, and still… so far out of her reach.
Erin Suzuki had always just been the "elder twin"; never nearly matching up to her genius of a sister, at least in her parent's minds. She'd hoped to be able to break free – after moving to live with her grandmother in Inaba – and attempt to change herself for the better.
Through her new part-time job at Junes, she'd met Yosuke Hanamura – a zealous young man, who was not only attending the same school as her, but by pure coincidence was also in her class. His casual flirting turned into friendly conversation, and before she knew it the two of them had become fast friends.
"Yo, Rin-chan."
"Yosuke! Hey, what's up?"
"Nothin' much… but you're looking as cute as ever, I see!"
"U-Uhh…!"
"Haha! You're pretty when you blush, you know."
"I-I…"
"Oh hey, I was wondering, are you free this Sunda—"
"Yosuke-kun! Quit flirting with the new recruit and get back to work!"
"Oops… better go! Heh, I'll catch you later!"
"Y-Yeah… see ya."
Erin cared a lot for Yosuke, being that he was her first real best friend; she felt comfortable around him, but still always became flustered by his flirtatious looks and compliments, to which he would smile and laugh. In all, though, he was a genuine guy, and through him she also became close friends with Rise Kujikawa and Yukiko Amagi.
"No, Erin!"
"Rin-chan!"
"Look at me! Look at meeee!"
"S-Stop! Please!"
"SOMEONE LOOK AT MEEEEEEE!"
"N-Nooooo!"
"Rin-chan's shadow is going bear-serk!"
"We gotta save her; let's do this, Jiraiya!"
"Everyone… get ready!"
"Right behind ya, sempai!"
For a while, she'd thought that Yosuke was "the one"…
Rise's constant coaxing may have had something to do with it, but it was true: he'd been the one there for her when she had to face her shadow self, and he'd helped her in coming to terms with her role as a Persona-user.
However… he was out of her league.
Yukiko and the other girls were far more beautiful and confident than her… in her eyes at least. What real chance did she have?
…
But things changed.
Naoto had come along; and to everyone's surprise, became the latest victim of the Midnight Channel.
Whereas Erin's dungeon had been a Drama Theatre, reflecting her desire to act, the fabricated world they found themselves in was like something out of one of those detective hero shows for kids: in short, not at all what they had been expecting.
What came as even more of a surprise to Erin than Naoto's true "identity" was the revelation: that the detective wasn't as cool and collected deep down as she had first thought, and in actual fact… was a lot like herself.
"My sex doesn't fit my ideal image as a detective…
The police department is a male-orientated society. If they had even the slightest reason to look down on me, I wouldn't be needed anymore…
But I see now, that what I should strive for isn't to become a man.
I have to accept myself… for who I really am…"
For the first time in her life, Erin had felt a strange connection. It was as if they were one in the same, maybe having been "destined" to meet…
The feelings of inadequacy, and wanting to be someone that you weren't… she knew how that felt, more than anyone; and for some strange reason it made her happy, to know that there was someone else just like her.
After the long, rough battle inside Naoto's secret base – incidentally, their hardest challenge yet – Erin had earned an unlikely friend… and, more importantly, someone to take care of.
The detective was the quiet type; she knew that already. But Erin couldn't help but hope that she would open up to her, just a little bit.
She wanted Naoto to trust her, and see that she wasn't alone. She'd been in the same boat herself after all, for almost the entirety of her life.
"U-Um… good morning, Naoto-kun."
"Hmm? Oh… isn't it already past twelve?
"Uhh… oh! R-Right sorry, ahaha…"
"…"
Their awkward encounters in the school corridors were difficult at first, consisting of a nod or two and some fumbled words. Erin only wished she had the courage to say more; a lot of the time, she didn't quite know what to say, and would end up blushing and only embarrassing herself. Naoto would stare, pensive and slightly confused, as if trying to figure her out… or possibly wondering what kind of motive she would have to want to talk to her.
Naoto's pain was her pain too; and after a while the detective, slowly but surely, began to realise that, as well.
"Suzuki-san, right?"
"Oh! U-Um, yes! H-How did you—?"
"Remember your name? My memory is quite efficient in that way… and, well… you did help to save my life, after all."
"I-I did? I mean… I did?"
"Listen… I do apologise for being short with you as of late. To be honest… my mind's been all over the place since then…"
"Oh! Please, don't apologise! I mean… I totally understand, you know…"
"Sempai briefed me on a few things. I realise that you and I went though quite similar predicaments."
"Huh? Yu-sempai told you about my…?! Oh gosh…!"
"Well… yes, but… I figured out the most part on my own. He didn't disclose anything personal about you."
"Oh… um…"
"I realise that you've only been trying to help me, so again… I apologise. Perhaps… to make up for it, we could spend some time together after school?"
"W-Wha?!"
"Um… only if you want to, that is. It's just that… I do feel as if I can trust you the most, out of everyone in the team. I… I guess I'm just trying to be more honest with myself, and others too, so… I thought it may be a good idea for us to… get to know each other?"
"Really?! I mean, um… y-yes, of course… sure, I'd love to hang out!"
"Um… you've gone completely red. Are you alright Suzuki-san? Shall I take you to the nurse's office?"
"N-No… I-I'm fine, really!"
"…If you're sure."
Naoto had her own share of problems; but when she found Erin there, by her side, the desolation inside her seemed to recede… and it would dawn on her, that it was safe to be herself.
Awakening to her Persona, representing the arcane of Fortune, seemed to be no mere coincidence.
When grey eyes locked with blue, suddenly perfection didn't seem so far away…