Not too far away, Chie just finished up with school for the day. It's been a couple days now since Yu went back home. School started up just like normal despite the hectic break they had. First Labrys then that crazy Sho guy...
Pumping herself up, Chie starts to bounce up and down as she goes down the street. Sure, it HAD been pretty crazy...but...it was sorta fun too. It had really gotten her blood pumping and now she just wanted to work out and practice all the time.
Who knows when that Sho guy will be back, right? I gotta stay strong so I can protect everyone!
She kicks the air then and watches as a passerby ducks, a little frightened by her sudden outburst. A slight blush comes to her cheeks as Chie looks toward the ground and continues on, attempting to hold herself together until she got to the riverbank for practice.
Man, in the TV – and in that weird red fog – no one blinked an eye when I pumped myself up. Why does everyone think it's so weird? I mean, I'm just a kid trying to stay strong and healthy right?
As Chie walks, she thinks about what Yu and Mitsuru told her about Sho. Apparently, he had been a test subject of some crazy guy named...Ikutski something or other. Not just any test subject either, the favorite and the youngest. Poor guy probably never even knew how bad he really had it huh? And it wasn't even that he had split personalities either. According to Mitsuru, that crazy Ikutski guy had put a "plume of dusk" into Sho to try to make him have a persona. How crazy. Anyway, the plume of dusk actually made its own personality thus there were two people living in the same body. And as crazy as that is, Minazuki actually WAS able to use a persona while Sho wasn't. Well, at least until after everything. Yu had said Sho was finally able to use Minazuki's persona in the end. But, doesn't that mean that Minazuki must have died in the midst of all of that.
Isn't that kinda sad though? I mean, he already lost his messed up dad. But then he lost the other person he grew up with too. Man, that's harsh.
Shrugging off the awkward feelings, Chie picks up speed to head toward the river bank. She would train these weird feelings off. You aren't suppose to feel bad for the enemy right? And she trots down the stairs, her heart stops as she sees a head of brilliant crimson hair laying near the river. That couldn't be...Sho?!
Quietly, Chie steps forward enough to check if it really is the boy they'd fought against only a few days earlier. When she sees the unmistakable x shaped scar, Chie gasps and steps back.
What do I do?! Yu said we should try to be friends...but Sho DID try to kill everyone. I don't know if I can really trust him.
She paces back and forth quietly before stopping to observe the still lying boy. Upon closer inspection, Chie realizes that Sho is crying. She makes a tight fist and turns around to leave, still not sure what this crazy guy could be up to, but then Yu's words pop back in her head.
You have to show him how important friendship really is.
If I run away how will I be able to show him that? And Mitsuru said he hasn't ever known anyone but Ikutski and Minazuki...and now he doesn't have either of them. Plus he's crying...
Making two tight fists and taking a deep breath, Chie turns back around and walks over to Sho. When he doesn't notice her standing near him, Chie observes him for a moment. His eyes seems hollow and sad, a total opposite of the crazed, maniacal look that was there during the P1 Climax. Tired tears slowly roll down his cheeks and over the vicious looking scar on his face. Laying there, under the tree near the riverbank, Sho's spirit seems to have crumbled to pieces. At last, Chie clears her throat and tries to sound strong.
"You're Sho right?" She barks out the quick sentence then watches as Sho seems to jump a little and simultaneously spin away from her. With a subtle arm motion, he attempts to wipe away the tears without Chie noticing.
"Yeah. What about it?" Faking his typical harsh demeanor, Sho continues to rub away the tears, not wanting anyone to see him looking so weak. "You're one of those dumb 'Investigation Team' people right? Are you hear to tell me all about how great 'bonds' are? Or maybe you just want to tell me how magical 'friendship is, huh?" Though it still sounds angry, his words fall a little short of the intimidating tone they had during the P1 Climax.
"Actually, I came here to practice and just happened to see you over here..."
What do I say now?
"Oh and you just had to bother me. Couldn't have just done your own thing and left me the hell alone?!" With his face finally dry, Sho hops up and crosses his arms over his chest. As he hadn't done much crying before, Sho doesn't realize that his glowing blue eyes are still bloodshot.
"Well, um..." Chie swallows a large lump in her throat then exhales slowly." Actually, I saw that you were crying and so I – uh – thought I'd-"
"Oh! I see so you came to make fun of me. Real thoughtful." Sho rolls his eyes then lean on a tree. "I left you and your stupid friends alone so why can't you just do the same to me?!" He rolls his eyes then looks up the branches of the tree.
"I was wondering if..."Chie bites her lip. Maybe she should just leave him alone. But he has to be sad, especially if... "Has Minazuki came back?"
"Nope." Sho spits the word out violently. "You guys must have killed him." He looks at her with hatred in his eyes. "So thanks for that." Sho shrugs then turns to leave, but not before punching the tree with all his might. A few leaves float to the ground.
"I'm really sorry." Chie chokes out the words. She watches as Sho stumbles and seems to freeze up. "I don't think we knew how to handle things. We – we didn't know what we were up against. I doubt we would have killed him if-"
"If what?!" Sho spins around and flails his arms up in the air. "If you'd known I was a pathetic little kid who just wanted a friend?! If you'd known I'd been tortured all my life?" He keeps stepping closer and closer to Chie. "Or maybe you wouldn't have killed him if you'd known he was the only person who cared about me? Is that it?" With one final flail, Sho slams his hand into the tree again. "Too late now huh? Not that you really care."
"No that's not true." Chie tightens her fist then takes a fighter's stance. "Yu said you like to fight to make friends, well then lets fight because I'm gonna be your friend. Starting right now." As the final words exit her lips, Chie begins to hop on her toes. Sho just stares at her.
"Who says I even wanna be your friend, huh?" Despite what he says, Sho's lips curl up just a little. "What are you suppose to even be? A damned rabbit?"
"IT'S KUNG FU!" Chie jumps toward him and is surprised when she doesn't land a hit. Even when caught off guard, Sho is fast. She continues to barrage him with attacks until they are both out of breath.
Together, they sit onto the soft, green grass and take deep breaths. Sho seems to feel a little bit better, but Chie can see that he is still not himself. She wants to say something, but at the same time, she doesn't entirely trust him yet.
