Summary: Years later and here they are – facing a situation larger than life. This time, they are not protected by their personas. This time, he is not a leader and she is not a detective. This time, they are only humans in love. Souji x Naoto. R&R!
Author's Notes:
- PLEASE BE EASY ON ME. It's been a really long time since I last wrote for a particular fandom/wrote anything aside from college essays. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS only, please!
- It really isn't the first time I've finished Persona 4 – I've finished it for the 4th time just recently. Let's just say that the game made me rekindle my love for the Souji x Naoto coupling.
- This plot was developed from the idea of not finishing Naoto's Social Link upon reaching the 8th level. This actually happened to me during my very first game play, which was about two or three years ago since my knowledge wasn't enough for the detective. HAHA. Back then, my Fortune Social Link reached only up to the third level. Huhu…
Pairing(s):
- Souji x Naoto
- Slight hints of PAST Souji x Yukiko
- Possible hints of Kanji x Rise
Warning(s):
- Huge possibilities of people being out of their characters
- Ratings may or may not go up
- Chapter 1: no Souji x Naoto interactions at the moment
- -.-.-Page Break-.-.-
Disclaimer:
All rights are owned by Atlus. :)
Prior Engagements:
Homecoming
"Because I love you…"
That one phrase echoed itself as calmly as it could along with the beat of the train's rapidly turning wheels. Nine years have passed since the now twenty-five year old Seta Souji last spoke those words. And it had been, as well, a hundred and eight agonizing months since he failed to get an answer from the one girl he spoke those words to.
Shirogane Naoto, Souji thought while he watched the view outside the train's window swiftly pass on by. His silvery eyes, caught into a trance, could care less of what view they could possibly catch. She never did answer me. Souji continued on hopelessly, releasing a saddened sigh while his silver head rested onto the glass. Right then and there – or, perhaps, even before his return to Inaba – he knew that if fortune was kind enough to smile upon him, his feelings were returned.
Even in the event that time had long passed since then.
However, that would be so if and only if fortune was indeed smiling upon his very own foolery.
Another sigh escaped Souji's lips as he checked his phone. '3:55 P.M.' – the phone indicated quite boldly on its screen, right above the wallpaper.
The young man smiled. Yet, it was not due to the chance of knowing that in five minutes, he would be back in his second hometown. A place he has not seen for a long time. Rather, he was delighted upon the greeting of his bright wallpaper.
The team's group photo – they were all so happy together.
At least… The silver-haired began to think once more. If fortune doesn't smile for me, they all will.
"We are arriving at Yasoinaba Station," The train's sound system rang as if on cue. "Please be careful not to leave your belongings behind."
-.-.-
"Souji, over here!" Dojima Ryotaro greeted warmly upon the first sight of his nephew. "Looks like you've grown into a fine young man." He chuckled as Souji continued to make his way down the steps.
"Uncle," The younger of the two men nodded at the moment he had reached the older male. "It's been a long time." He smiled.
"It has been!" The head of the Dojima household agreed with a laugh. "What are you? Twenty-five?" He grinned teasingly, allowing the latter to set his sights upon the lines that the years graced his uncle with. Ryotaro, nonetheless, still looked the same as ever. "Where's the wife?"
At that, Souji could only blink.
"What? You're still a bachelor? A stud like you should have gotten married—"
"—Dad!" A rather feminine voice called out suddenly, saving the twenty-five year old from Ryotaro's impending teasing. "The vending machine's out of black—Big bro!" The voice's owner paused as sudden as the moment she had earlier called. "Y-you're here!" It was Nanako.
Sporting a black Yasogami High uniform as opposed to her younger day's of pink clothes, Nanako – who Souji noted was probably sixteen – all too swiftly, pulled her cousin into a tight hug. "Hey, kiddo…" The silver-haired lad smiled into the Nanako's hold, patting the shorter girl's ponytailed head. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too," The brunette looked up towards him with an even brighter smile. "Big bro!"
The oldest of the group chuckled again at the sight and acknowledgement of the Dojima family being complete once more. "Alright, you two!" He finally spoke up, slightly regretting the fact that he had to break up the small reunion. "We can't keep the rest of the crowd waiting," Ryotaro sighed, "I don't want Satonaka complaining to me again. Let's head for the Amagi Inn."
"Oh, right!" Nanako nodded in remembrance. "Let's go!" She beamed, pulling Souji by the hand.
"Yes, let's." And with that, the three began their short walk towards the car.
-.-.-
The car ride towards the Amagi Inn had been quite informative, not that Souji could complain. The silver twenty-five year old was quite welcoming towards the stories Nanako told him; although he felt at a loss due to knowing very little about everything in Inaba while he was away. It was not, however, because he failed to keep in contact. It was more of knowing what was happening in very little detail – such, being the consequence of having a busy schedule.
"Uh, what else!" Nanako thought aloud, trying to think of moments Souji may have missed. "Chie-chan's been complaining of how lame it was being stuck with traffic duty most of the time."
"What else does she expect?" Ryotaro grumbled as he drove. "It's a small town, after those murders, nothing's been happening."
Souji chuckled – Well, at least she's in the force. He mentally commented, remembering the message the light brown-haired lass sent him. She, in very brutal words, expressed how tough the police accreditation exams were.
"Teddie's still working in Junes, as the official mascot." The youngest of them noted while one of her index fingers rested on her chin. "Yosuke-kun found a way to create a partnership with the Shopping District – he's actually doing a pretty good job since he took over as general manager. He got into a motorcycle accident last month though. It happened at the Amagi Inn too!"
"I heard he was pretty drunk at the time." Souji replied. "He was celebrating, I think, with Teddie and the rest of his Junes crew?"
"You got that right," The eldest answered. "He's lucky Amagi was his friend, she didn't press charges against him for wrecking a part of the inn's property. She's a good manager in her own way but she's pretty lenient when it comes to her friends crashing the place."
Souji released a chuckle once more – "I doubt she let him off easily." He said somewhat knowingly as he recalled the simultaneous messages Yosuke and Yukiko sent. The former's stated, 'I'm dead.' While the latter mentioned, 'Yosuke's dead.'
"Rise-chan's been working with Kanji-kun lately," Nanako beamed, starting a new conversation about his friends. "She's the official spokeswoman for Plush Co.!"
"Plush…co.?" The silver's head tilted in question. "Kanji owns Plus Co.?" With that, Souji shot his cousin a look of disbelief. It was not because he lacked faith in the former delinquent, it was just surprising.
"Yup!" Nanako nodded.
Ryotaro laughed at his nephew's reaction. "As shocking as it sounds, Kanji owns the company. His plush works really took off."
And, still, Souji was in a state of incredulousness. He knew Rise has been helping Kanji out with 'a little something-something', as the idol had put in her message. Yet, he never thought it would be Kanji's 'shit's been goin' on' – which, he now knew, meant the Plush Co. franchise that has been all over lately. The silver male thought that there was some incident concerning the Tatsumi Textiles business.
He was wrong.
"Wow," Was all the twenty-five year old could gather. "I didn't expect that…" He managed to gulp down.
"They said they'll be holding a plush gallery soon!" Nanako beamed. "I hope dad let's me go!"
The eldest laughed, "Aren't you too old for plush toys?"
"Dad…!"
"Alright, alright," Ryotaro continued on laughing. "As long as it isn't too far."
Souji, at the scene, smiled to himself before asking, "How… I mean, what about Naoto?" The question rang hesitantly – to which the older Dojima failed to notice.
"Shirogane's been in and out of Inaba for quite sometime." He answered. "She went off to some university in England at her grandfather's request. After that, the kid's been making a more prominent name in the police scene – people have been requesting her assistance, you see." Ryotaro paused as he made a quick turn. "I have to admit, the girl's talented."
"So there's a possibility I won't see her around, huh?"
Absent mindedly the eldest responded, "Maybe."
At that answer, Souji shifted into a position where he could once again watch the view as the car passed them by. His expression, as hard as he could try to hide it, was disappointed. Thus, the young man no longer spoke.
Out of everyone else, Naoto was the least he spoke to throughout the years. He knew next to nothing of what the blue-haired lass attempted next. At the moment they had exchanged mere greetings of hi's and hello's through their phones, Souji could not bring himself to ask how she was or what she was doing. Perhaps it was due to the assumption that he may have been rejected.
Nanako – without her cousin noticing – took note of the expression she could see before her. Through the gap between the passenger seat and the car door, the sixteen year old could tell something had been bothering Seta Souji. "Nao-chan," The brunette spoke, using the nickname she became familiar with as she addressed what the twenty-five year old wanted to hear. "Comes back mostly for the holidays. Still, she said she's definitely coming today."
Silver eyes glanced through the gap as their owner shot his younger cousin a small serene smile. "Thank you." Were the silent words the came from him.
"We're here!" Ryotaro suddenly announce in an eager manner, parking the car by the inn's entrance.
-.-.-
"PARTNER!"
"SENSEI!"
"SENPAI!"
"SOUJI-KUN!"
"LEADER!"
Those were the greetings that excitedly met him as Souji slid open the door of the room assigned to their little gathering. The happy smiles and blissful faces that welcomed him along with the push Nanako had given as they entered were enough to make him feel at home with the Inaba atmosphere. Then and there, the silver man felt the gravity of missing the small rural town being whisked away by those around him.
"Oh, Senpai, I've missed you so much!" Rise bounced her way towards Souji, pulling him into a tight embrace – just as tight as the one his cousin had earlier given him.
"I missed you too," Souji responded. "Miss Plush Co. spokeswoman." He teased the red-headed idol as he shot Kanji a grin.
"I was about to tell you that." The former delinquent coughed embarrassedly while Rise decided to let her upperclassman go with a light giggle.
"I heard from Nanako," The twenty-five year old gestured towards his cousin who also grinned at the action. "Fill me in later."He added as he observed how much his underclassmen had grown.
Kanji still sported his blond hair but had seemingly lost his taste for delinquency. The lone facial scar had faded and his piercings were gone just as his leather clothes were. The now twenty-four year old wore much more comfortable clothing. Rise, on the other hand, looked as bubbly as ever. The pigtails were gone, however, as her hair was free of the ribbons that kept her hair up.
"Wow, I never thought I'd be seeing you again in person!" Chie, who had yet to change from her police uniform, grinned as she lightly scratched her nose. "Man, I can feel the good ol'days coming right back!" She heartily laughed. "I feel so pumped!"
Chie was still the same, Souji had noted. It was the same short haired tomboy he had met in high school. Only, this time, she was wearing another uniform. He liked it though; he liked seeing the evidence of his friends' progression.
"Seta Souji," Yosuke called out, resting his hand on his best friend's shoulder. "In the flesh, ladies and gentlemen – it's been long!"
"It certainly has, general manager." The silver haired young man replied while he allowed his orange-haired friend to lead towards an empty seat. "How are the injuries?"
"It's all good, it's all good." The orange one replied with a wide smile, scratching the back of his shorter-haired head. "I mean, I got a few stitches on the head but I can think."
"I guess the accident did do you some good." Souji teased.
"H-hey! What's that supposed to mean!" The Junes manager retorted violently.
"Lost the headphones?" The latter quickly changed the issue at hand.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, they broke during the accident."
"Actually, that was one of the punishments for breaking the entrance hall." Yukiko, clad in red kimono, added to the conversation. "The rest was him working weekend night shifts here." She said as she served her group their respective drinks.
Her raven hair, Souji acknowledged, was tightly kept in a bun. He also noticed that time had served the Amagi heiress well. Her confidence in herself had resonated quite clearly in her actions as well as her face. Perhaps the silver youth would have regretted breaking up with her had he not been too fond of another person.
"You're looking as lovely as ever." Souji commented as he watched her move.
"Thank you," Yukiko smiled confidently. "You look as if you haven't aged a bit."
"Of course!" And the attention, then, went to Teddie, who seemed to have changed into more extravagant clothing than Souji last remembered. It was a formal coat and tie, but the rose still remained just as his blond hair did. "I wouldn't have chosen a master who would grow old and wrinkly in a few years! My master should have a face of a baby! Forever!" The blond proclaimed brightly and proudly. "That way, he can easily score!"
Everyone could only stare at the bear-turned-human.
In Yukiko's case, she glared.
"Uh…hah, right…?" The silver-haired laughed awkwardly before he turned to Nanako, who sat right beside him. "Where's your dad?"
"Oh, he got a call from the office; don't worry though," She said reassuringly, "He'll be back."
"I see." Souji nodded as he turned back to the scene before him.
His friends.
They – all of them – were still the same; however Souji knew they had all developed a sense of maturity from what they had experienced since they met until what they had to deal with in their own respectively lives. They had surely grown so much and that fact made the twenty-five year old both proud and sad at the same time. He had felt as though time had left him without any change for himself.
Yet, he was still glad to have been friends with them.
Although, Souji pondered – I wonder how much Naoto's changed.
"Sorry for the wait," Ryotaro entered, interrupting the silver youth's thoughts. "But guess who I ran into—"
"I apologize for being late." A familiar mix of feminine and masculine voice rang into the room. "I was caught up in work."
Souji's eyes could only widen at the sight.
"Well," Rise started as she happily stood up, "It looks like the gang's complete and back together!"
"Welcome home to you too," Yosuke chimed in. "Naoto."
And true enough, there she was – Shirogane Naoto. Standing beside at the doorway with her right hand resting onto her him, a gesture she has done since they all met. "It's nice to be back as well." She replied with a smile Souji had been in love with for the longest time.
To Be Continued