Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 4. If I do, I would have make a game based on this fanfic already.
"Hm, what is it, Souji?" asked Dojima at Souji who was looking around the store curiously. Sighing softly, Souji shook his head.
"It…was nothing. I'm sorry." he apologized. 'Weird though…I thought I hear someone calling my name…'
"Well anyway, what do you think we should make for Nanako?" Dojima asked.
"Anything fine, I guess. If it was from you, she sure going to like it." Souji said with a smile.
"Hahaha, sound like you knew her better than me." Dojima laughed as he walking forward to check the meat section. Souji smiled before catch up with him.
Outside Dojima's house, Naoto was panting heavily, Junes's brand plastic bag at each of her hand. She just arrived from the store recently.
"F-Finally…" said Naoto as she regained her breath. Sighing, she opened the door slowly. "I'm back."
"Welcome back, Naoto." Rise greet before sweatdropped. "Woah, what happened to you, Naoto? You look like someone who just having a marathon." she asked.
"It was nothing, Rise." said Naoto flatly, making Rise sweatdropped even more. Saying nothing, Naoto move inside, ignoring greet from the others. She put the large plastic bags at the table with a loud thud. Everyone was sweatdropping at this, making notes that Naoto was extremely pissed right now.
'That seem very heavy to me. I bet she pissed about that.' thought Yosuke.
"Well…" she said, crossing her arm over her chest. "Is this enough for you? Did I miss anything?" she said calmly, although it was more like a hissed by the others.
"Err…hahaha…" Chie laughed nervously while checking the large plastic bags. "Yes, this is e-enough. You did a g-good job. Hehehe…" she smiled before backing away a few feet.
"Naoto, we're really sorry about that. We'll make up for you." Yukiko apologized. Sighing softly, Naoto shook her head and smiled.
"It's ok senpai. However, please answer my question, what exactly are you going to do with this many ingredients. It was more than enough for a dinner."
"Hmm…you're right. I guess we got too excited about it." Yukiko giggled while looking at the ingredients." But we can take the leftover, right?"
"Indeed, you're right senpai. I'm sorry about my attitude before, senpai." Naoto apologized, bowing her head slightly.
"Hey, no need to apologized, Naoto-kun. We're friend right?" Chie said, smiling "Now that's settle, we can continue our cooking and make the most delicious food we ever tasted!"
"Yeah!" shouted the other girls.
"Hmph, more like the most horrible food we ever tasted." Yosuke snickered. The girls glaring at him for a second before went back to their cooking. Naoto looked at the others and thought to herself.
'Should I tell them about senpai? Im not sure they will believe me. Maybe I should tell them.' She thought as she come closer to Chie and Yukiko. They noticed that, raised their eyebrows slightly.
"What is it, Naoto?" asked Yukiko curiously.
"Umm, senpai…" Naoto said softly, almost quietly. "Would you believe if I say that I saw Souji-senpai and Dojima-san at the store?"
"What! You saw them at the store?" asked Chie, even curious now. Naoto nodded.
"Are you sure, Naoto? Maybe it was just your imagination." Yukiko said.
"Yeah, Naoto. If he was here, we should have got a call from him. Besides, we all know that Dojima working right now. Right?" said Chie, arm crossed over her chest.
"That exactly what I thought Chie-senpai." Naoto nodded and sighing. "Maybe it was just my imagination"
'But still…'
"Hey, what are you guys talking about? I want to know too." asked Rise eagerly.
"Sorry, no can't do, Rise." said Chie while smiling. Naoto smiled, glad that Chie does not tell her.
"No fair." Rise pouted, her hand at her hip. "Well anyway…" she said, pointing a finger at the pot. " I think we're done with our cooking."
"Good. Now, let's serve it so we can watch some good kungfu movies." Yukiko said, smiling at Chie.
"So, anything happened to you lately?" Dojima asked while driving. They have just finished buying everything they needed for the surprise party. Right now, they were on the way to the residence.
"Well, not much happened since I left. Mom and dad were happy about my result here, so they decided that I could have another year here." Souji said without taking his eyes off from the surrounding.
"That's good. Did you tell them about…you know…"said Dojima, a sweat coming out from his forehead. Souji chuckled and shook his head.
"No, I didn't tell them about it. Don't worry."
"Whew, I'm relieved." Dojima laughed. "Your mom's sure going to kill me if she knows anything bad happened to her son. But don't worry…" Dojima said, smiling sincerely. "I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you this year. I promise." Souji said nothing but nodded.
'I'm sorry, uncle Dojima. I'm not sure this year would be the same or different from the last year.'
"Alright, we're here." Dojima said happily, interrupting Souji thought. Looking in front of him was Dojima's house. Souji smiled as sweet memories at that house flash through his mind.
'Oh, what would I give only to be with you?'
'You don't have to give me anything. You just have to give your heart.'
'For you, I give you more than my heart.'
"This is…not a kungfu movie, right?" Yosuke asked without taking his eyes from the screen. Kanji shook his head.
"I don't know Yosuke- senpai. I thought kungfu movie more like beat up and kick some badass people. But I don't see any of that since we watch this movie…" Yosuke nodded his head and closed his eyes.
"Chie?"
"Yes?"
"This is not a kungfu movie right?" asked Yosuke as he opened his eyes.
"What? This is a kungfu movie." Chie answered. A sweat started to form at her head. Her answer seem can't be accepted enough by Yosuke as a vein throbbed from his head.
"This is a kungfu movie? This is not a kungfu movie, dammit!" he growled and pointing his finger at the screen. "This is a romance movie. A romance movie!"
"Yosuke-senpai was right, Chie-senpai." Naoto interrupted. "This movie doesn't show any characteristics of kungfu movies. Besides…" she stopped, sweatdropped as well "I believe kungfu movie don't have a sparkling or flower background."
"See? Even Naoto was agreed with me." Yosuke nodded, crossed his arm at his chest.
"This definitely not a kungfu movie. Are you sure you bring the right movie, Chie-senpai?" Rise asked as she checked the cd case.
"I-I'm positive I bring the right cd" Chie said, cheek flushed with embarrassment and angry. "But, maybe I put the wrong cd in the wrong case…" she said the last quietly.
"You what!" Yosuke shouted.
"Oh come on. I-It not that bad." Yukiko said to calm them down. Her body was visibly shaking, trying hard to suppress her laughing fit. However, Yosuke noticed that.
"You knew this all the time, Yukiko?" he asked. Yukiko looked at him for a second before nodded and giggled.
"Thanks a lot, Yukiko." Chie glared at her before looking back at Yosuke. "So? It's not hurt to watch a romance movie sometimes, Yosuke."
"It's about man pride, dammit!" shouted Yosuke. Those two stand up from their place and continued bickering as Yukiko tried to calm them down. Sighing, Naoto moves closer to Nanako who was watching the scene all the time.
"You ok, Nanako-chan?" she asked. Nanako nodded and smiled.
"Yes, I'm ok. It kinda reminds me when big bro was here." Nanako said with a sad expression on her face. That has stopped everyone from what they are doing. Yosuke and Chie have sit down to their place. The loud and chaos atmosphere become quiet.
"I miss big bro"
"So do us, Nanako." Yosuke said, his eyes never taking off from the table. Everyone seems really down. After a few moment later, a sound of car entered the garage filled the room.
"Is that noise coming from your dad car, Nanako-chan?" Chie asked. Nanako nodded her head.
"I'll go see dad." she stand up quickly and walk toward the door.
"Remember the plan, Souji?" Dojima asked as they exit the car. Souji nodded and smiled.
"Yes, I do." he closed the car door and slung his bag over his shoulder. "I'll wait here until you give me a signal." Dojima nodded and smiling happily.
"Alright. I cannot wait to see the look from Nanako when she saw you…"
"…and the look from Nanako when she angry with you." Souji joked, laughing a little.
"Why you make me remember about that…" Dojima winced before walking toward the door with plastic bags from Junes.
"Welcome back, Dad!" greeted Nanako as she hugged Dojima tightly. Dojima laughed and ruffled his daughter hair affectionately.
"I'm back. What're you doing when I wasn't home?" Dojima asked as her daughter leading him to the hall.
"We're eating and watching a movie. It was fun." Nanako giggled. Dojima stopped walking, raising his eyebrow.
"We? Who're you talking abou-"
"Hi, Dojima-san"
"Hey Dojima-san"
"Hey…"
"It nice to see you again, Dojima-san"
"Err…hi. Thanks for accompany Nanako for me." Dojima nodded to them before sighing. 'Damn, our plan ruined. There's nothing I can do now.' He thought. 'The rest is up to you now, Souji"
The loud beeping sound of the alarm from Dojima's car echoes the garage. The alarm hold for a few second before it stopped. This was a signal for Souji to enter the house. Smiling, he walked toward the door. He opened it slowly to make sure that no one heard him entered.
'Huh?' Souji raised his eyebrow when he saw a line of high school shoes. He recognized it immediately and smiling. 'It's them.'
"What's that?" Nanako asked excitedly, pointing her finger at the Junes brand plastic. Dojima shook his head but smiled.
"It's nothing. It's just groceries" Nanako nodded her head, appeared to be a little sad about it.
"Dojima-san, you just came back from the store, right?" Naoto asked suddenly, gaining attention from the others.
"Err…yeah."
"If I may ask, did you come alone or with someone?" she asked as Dojima started sweating.
"A-Alone. Why do you ask?" he stuttered. 'Did she suspect me?'
"Weird though…" she said as she put her hand at her chin. "I thought I saw you at the store with someone"
"W-Well, I d-didn't com-"
"You don't have to ask him like that, Naoto" a familiar voice came out suddenly, surprising everyone. Eyes widened as they spotted a person standing while smiling. There was a gasp and squeals.
"Big bro!"
"Souji!
"Souji-kun!"
"Souji-senpai!"
"Sensei!"
Before Souji knew it, Yosuke, Kanji and Teddie tackled him, hugging and punching him at the same time.
"Souji, you bastard" said Yosuke as he playfully threw a punch at Souji's shoulder. "You even don't tell us about you're coming here."
"Yeah, that's kinda rude, senpai." Kanji patted Souji on the back, a bit roughly. "But, it's kinda cool."
"Sensei!" Teddie hugged Souji tightly and crying at his shirt. "I-I miss you so much. I thought you not going to come back and see us."
"I'm sorry, Teddie." Souji apologized and patted Teddie's head. "But, I'm here right now, right?" Teddie nodded and let go of Souji.
"Big bro, you jerk. Why you didn't tell me you were coming?" Nanako hugged him tightly, tear started to formed in her eyes.
"It's ok. I'm here now." Souji wiped off the tear from her eyes and smiled at her.
Chie and Yukiko both hugged him after Nanako released him. "You really should have called, Souji-kun." Chie hit his arm softly. "Now, you have got a detective going suspicious on you." Souji raised his eyebrow slightly.
"…Detective? You mean, Naoto?" he asked.
"Yeah, she said that she saw you at Junes. I guess she was right after all." Yukiko said while looking around. "Oh, there's she is." Souji moved his eyes and saw the detective who was looking at him all the time. Souji chuckled and came closer to her.
"So, I bet you're the one who calling me at the store, am I right?" Naoto looked away and lowered her cap to hide the blush that started to form on her cheeks.
"Err…yes. I was surprised when I saw you at Junes. Chie and Yukiko-senpai told me that was only my imagination but I doubt that. So that why I need a few…evidence to confirm my suspicion and I was right all along."
"I see." Souji shrugged before smiling. "I guess there's nothing can escape from your eyes, detective prince."
"Quit it, Souji-senpai." Naoto growled and punching his arm playfully. "You know I hate that nickname."
"Yeah, I know that. I'm sorry." Souji chuckled before been tackled to the ground by Rise.
"Souji-senpai, I miss you so much!" she said hugging him very tightly.
"Umm…Rise, I-I can't breathe…" Rise quickly let go of Souji and muttered an apology.
"It's ok, Rise." said Souji, waving his hands.
"I'm sorry, senpai. We were thinking about you, and then you suddenly come out of no way."
"Really? I'm sorry about that but I want to surprise everyone. Therefore, Dojima and I planned it secretly." Souji said looking at Dojima.
"You knew about this, dad?" Nanako asked her dad. Dojima nodded shakily. "You should have told me sooner." Nanako scolded him lightly, making him winced. The others are laughing at Dojima as he sweats horribly.
"Anyway, what're you doing? Souji asked as he looking around.
"We decided to watch a movie at Nanako's house today. Since it late, we decided to make dinner as well." Rise said pointing at the plate full of food. It was curry fried rice. The fried rice was done well except the curry. It was slimy, a mixture of green and red colored. The curry powder can be seen means that it was not stir well.
In addition, the curries are still boiling means that it was hot and spicy enough to make someone mouth bleeding.
"Well, what do you think senpai?" Rise winked at Souji and held the food in front of him.
"It's look…delicious." Souji sweat dropped.
"Really? Great. I bet you hungry right now. Have a seat, senpai." Souji nodded reluctantly and took a seat between Naoto and Yosuke. Yosuke crossed his arm at his chest and groaned.
"Dammit, why we're always become the girl's cooking test subject? No offence, Naoto." Naoto glared at Yosuke for a minute before looking to Souji.
"Are you okay, senpai? You looked pale." Naoto asked worriedly. Souji shook his head. Just then, Rise, Chie and Yukiko came out with a plate of curry fried rice each on their hand. They placed it in front of the others.
"Ooohhhh, it looked delicious." Teddie said excitedly as he moved closer to take a smell of the food. "Arghhh! My eye's burning!" he rolled around the floor while crying. Kanji sweatdropped before moved to help him.
"Burning?" Yosuke asked as he moved closer to smell the food. "What the hell! I can feel the heat coming from this thing. How much curry powder did you used?"
"I don't know. Maybe a packet or two..." Chie said coolly.
"T-Two packet! Dammit, are you trying to kill us?" Yosuke said angrily, balling his fists. Chie narrowed her eyes and balling her fists as well. Rise however decided to ignored them and take a seat in front of Souji.
"What're you waiting for, senpai? Eat it before it cold."
"H-Huh?" was the only word Souji could say. Yosuke held Souji's shoulder and looked directly at his eyes.
"Souji, as your friend, I advice you…don't eat this food. EVER!" Kanji nodded and sweatdropped.
"I agree with Yosuke-senpai, senpai. This thing looked like it can kill you."
"Geez, could you just shut up and eat." Chie said angrily, stomping her foot. The boys nodded and sighed in defeat.
"We can't escape from this, huh?" Yosuke said sadly, as they scoop the food on the spoon "Well…here goes nothing." They put the food in their mouth and slowly chew it.
"This is…" Kanji's eyes widened.
"Bearrrryyy delicious!" said Teddie happily, as he scoops the food as many as he can in his mouth.
"I can't believe this. It's actually good." Yosuke and Souji nodded as they did the same as Teddie. Naoto chuckled when Souji choked but continue to eat anyway. Dojima and Nanako laughed at the others as they join them.
"Whew, I'm full." Yosuke leaned at the wall, rubbing his stomach. Souji and Kanji nodded, doing the same. Teddie burped, earning a giggled from Nanako.
"Told you that we can cook." Chie said proudly. Yukiko giggled and nodded.
"Yeah yeah, you're right, I'm wrong." Yosuke waving his hands coolly. Dojima laughed before looking over at the watch.
"It's getting late. You should probably go home already." They nodded, standing up quickly. After saying a quick goodbye to Nanako and Dojima, Souji accompanied them to the door.
"Anyway, it's good to see you again, partner" Yosuke smiled, punching Souji's shoulder lightly. "So I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow then." Souji nodded and smiled.
"See you later, senpai." Kanji give a quick patted at the back. Chie and Yukiko hugged and bid him goodnight. Rise hugged him tightly, same as Teddie.
"I'll see you later, Souji-senpai. Goodnight." Naoto smiled. Souji chuckled and closed the door quietly. Sighing softly, he moved inside the house. He saw Dojima and Nanako were cleaning the plate and table.
"Did you need some help?" Souji asked. Dojima shook his head and laughed.
"No. You should've rest. We're fine here." Souji nodded. After bid them goodnight, Souji went upstairs to his room. It was empty except a few boxes and a futon. Souji put his bag on the floor and spread out his futon. He turned off the light and laid down on his futon after a quick changed of his cloth. He lay there thinking about what has happened to him today. He has returned to the velvet room. However, what the reason he has returned was unknown. Closing his eyes, he trying to remember what Igor has said to him.
'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 looked at his hands before chuckled. Standing up, he walked to the window and lift up the curtain. The night was quiet and peaceful. The stars can see very clearly. Souji smiled as he gazed at the sky.
'Let's hope that this year would be better…for everyone.'
