Running on in with a disclaimer!
I DO NOT OWN PERSONA!
She stared at the house for a moment, looking at her phone and the name plate to be certain she was in the right place.
The sight of the backstreets of Yongen-Jaya stirred up a more comfortable feeling and it reminded her a little of the streets of her hometown if she studied it hard enough. Though it was more cramped up together, but the charm was there as she had made her way to the house.
She now stood staring at the name on the plate reading SAKURA before raising her finger to press the doorbell.
"….?"
Her finger pressed against the button again only to have her lips turned down into a frown, "What?"
Was no one home? Akira scratched the back of her head only to jump as she heard someone sigh, "Looks like no one's home." She turned around to see a deliveryman stare down at his phone, "Oh, wait. Sakura-san's usually at his café around this time. Well Leblanc's in the back alley so I should make my other deliveries first."
Leblanc…?
Well she had heard about the place, but she and her parents didn't factor in that the man wouldn't be home by the time she arrived. Akira quickly tapped against her phone as her feet lead her away from the house, there was no point in sticking around if the man wasn't home. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear she stared down as her phone gave her directions to her new destination.
"Leblanc…Leblanc," she muttered to herself as her feet lead her down the street and stopped in front of what looked to be a narrowed street. Akira glanced at her phone and noted that Leblanc was just down the path. Pushing her phone into her bag she slowly walked down the path stopping as she came upon a small building and stared up at it.
The store's sign was a tad dirty, but she could clearly read Leblanc on the red and white canopy hanging over the front. She stares at the door for a brief moment before reaching out and grasping the handle to push the door.
The café smells quite strongly of coffee as she walks in and her eyes glance about the interior curiously. The inside seems rather outdated or rather more retro compared to other coffee shops she had been. Her eyes land on an elderly couple seated in a booth with two cups of coffee in front of them. She can faintly make out the coffee still in their cups and wonders if they even took a sip of their drink. Her focus falls onto the man who is seated at the counter and she watches in interest as he stares at his newspaper.
The pen in his hand slowly taps on the paper, probably playing a crossword.
Unlike the elderly couple at the table, he doesn't appear much older and seems closer in age to her father. The apron over the pink shirt makes her tilt her head to the side. "Sa-"
"A public transit bus was driven down an opposing lane with its customers still in it!" Akira shuts her mouth as the host on the television screen suddenly raises his voice, "The citizens can't live in peace if this keeps up."
"How frightening," the elderly man sighs as his wife shakes her head with a click of her tongue, "What could be going on? Didn't something similar happen just the other day?" Akira frowns as she takes a glance over to the man at the counter. He taps his pen against the paper with a bit more force before speaking up, "Vertical is…the name of a shellfish used for farming pearls…"
"Oysters? Isn't that the answer?"
Her voice projects a bit too well and breaks whatever concentration the man has as he and the couple turn to look at her. Akira tenses and her fingers grip her bag a bit tighter before clearing her throat, "Good afternoon. I'm looking for Sojiro Sakura."
The man at the counter squints at her before blinking, "Oh right. They did say that was today." He quickly folds up his paper and sets it down before standing up. The elderly couple continues to stare at her before nodding, "Well, we'll be going now. The payment's on the table."
"Thanks for coming," the man replies as the older man continue, "This place is in the back alley, so there are no worries of a car crashing in here."
"…A what now?"
She watches in interest as the man frowns at the other's words and wonders if he was too concentrated on his crossword to not have heard the television. It wouldn't be a surprise to her; the stories of accidents in Tokyo were quite the news to share even in her hometown. She heard them enough to start tuning them out or just nod in agreement whenever someone happily boosted how safe their town was compared to how a city.
"There's been a string of those rampage accidents, you know. I just hope that none happen around here." The woman nods in agreement to her husband's words as the man just shrugs as he crosses his arms, "It's none of my concern."
"Hahaha, we'll see you next time." Akira quickly steps out of the way as the two pass her, nodding to them both slightly before watching the man study the table and sigh, "Four hours for just a single cup of joe. So…You're the kid? Akira right?"
"It's nice to meet you Sakura-san."
She hates the way her voice comes out timid and grits her teeth for a moment before straightening her posture, "I'm Akira Kurusu…Thank you for taking me in." The man, Sojiro, frowns before shrugging. The action making Akira relax slightly, but not enough to truly feel comfortable with the other.
"Just stick with Sojiro alright? As you know you'll be in my custody for a year," Sojiro speaks up before taking the cups off the table and setting them on the counter, "I was wondering what kind of unruly kid would show up, but you're the one huh? Can't say I didn't expect you being so…well. In person you're much better than what I was left with."
"Was he expecting me to look like a delinquent?" Akira can only stare at the floor for a brief moment before raising her eyes back to look at Sojiro as he looks back at her through his own glasses, "Maybe I should have met his expectations and come in here looking like a gyaru."
Sojiro pushes his glasses up to his eyes before speaking again, "Have you been told? A customer of mine and your parents know each other and-"
"They asked for you to take care of me…I'm aware."
The story being that her mother's old friend from college knew Sojiro and upon hearing her circumstances offered to extend a hand in helping them. Her parents had been desperate at this point and here she was. She pushes her glasses up closer to her eyes as Sojiro pauses one last time before shaking his head, "Well if you know the full story, shouldn't matter anyway. Follow me."
Adjusting her bag she hurries in step behind him as he leads her to a small staircase tucked in the very back of the café. The steps creak underneath her feet and she can see some bits of dust clinging to the top steps as they enter what she supposes is the store's attic space.
Sojiro's footsteps leave a trail on the floor as she studies the attic, taking note of the clutter made up of boxes and bags. Dust is everywhere and she glances down at her feet to notice her shoes leave marks on the wooden floor boards. Luckily the attic doesn't smell, but she can't stop her lips from forming into a tight line as Sojiro speaks up.
"This is your room. I at least gave you sheets for your bed," the man points over to the small bed set up in the furthermost corner of the room before looking at her, "Hm? What's wrong? You look like you wanna say something."
"It's cluttered," she suddenly speaks up before shutting her mouth at the narrowed look she receives from him, "But…I'm sure I can clean up the place."
"You're right about that," Sojiro answers her immediately making her shift in place as he leans against the table next to him, "I'll be leaving after I lock up each day so you'll be alone at night. No funny business though got it? Be aware I have all right to kick you out if you have a toe out of line."
"Yes sir. I'm very well aware of that," she sighs before adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, "I know this."
"Well then you already know I know your situation then," Sojiro spoke as he tugged at the end of his goatee, "You were protecting a woman from a man who was forcing himself onto her. He got injured and in the process you were sued."
"Damn brat I'll sue!"
"That's what you get for sticking your nose in a matter between two adults. And to top it off you did injure him right?"
"Stop it! Let me go!"
Akira said nothing before sighing as Sojiro continued, "And now you've got a criminal record, got expelled from your high school too. The courts ordered you to transfer and move out here, which your parents approved of."
"More like they had no choice," her right foot slowly shifting a bit until the heel rested in the center side of her left foot as he kept speaking, "They couldn't take the gossip back home. How everyone suddenly just left or just gossiped behind our backs."
Everyone left as soon as it got out she had a criminal record now.
Her fingers grip her bag straps tighter as she remembered the whispers of everyone back home and the way her parents suddenly grew distant. Not to say they weren't unloving, but they could have tried harder. She hears Sojiro shift a bit and glances up to watch the man stick his hands in his pockets, "It's best that you not talk about anything unnecessary while you stay here. I am in the restaurant business you know. Behave yourself for a year and as long as nothing happens your probation will be lifted."
"And if I don't, I'm sent to juvie," she finished before shifting her feet to stand up straight, "I've been warned."
"Good," Sojiro huffed before walking up to her, "Now we'll be going to Shujin Academy tomorrow. We'll introduce ourselves properly to the staff there."
Akira only nods as Sojiro tugs on his goatee again, "It's rare that anyplace would accept someone like you. Though still a waste of my Sunday."
"…I apologize for the inconvenience."
Sojiro only narrows his eyes at her before letting out a huff and nodding towards the boxes set in the middle of the attic, "Your luggage arrived earlier, I left them over there." Akira nods before taking a step forward as Sojiro begins to move towards the stairs, "I'll be downstairs."
"Yes," she replies before setting her bag down onto the couch and quickly waves her hand as a puff of dust emerges up into the air. Holding back a cough she quickly turns to the boxes and curiously looks them over.
There is a large box that she knows is filled with clothing and other necessities she needed, but the second box makes her frown as she carefully begins to open the large box first. She needs to change out of her uniform first if she was planning to clean the attic.
Settling for a fitted white V-neck sweater and faded blue skinny jeans Akira zips up her boots before advancing to the second box to open. Unlike the first this one was longer and as she gently shook it she could hear faint rattling inside similar.
Opening the box Akira sighs as she catches sight of black parts of a familiar barre she had back home along with a shoe box carefully placed at the end. "Of course she would," she sighs as she takes the shoe box out and opens it. Her mother had placed both her ballet slippers and pointe shoes carefully into the box and Akira can only smile as she runs a finger over the black leather of the slipper.
She takes the box and settles it on the couch along with her bag; she'll assemble it once she gets the rest of the room clean. Turning she folds her sleeves up before sighing, "Now where to start?"
"Seriously? I heard you making all sorts of noises up here, but I didn't think you were actually cleaning."
She turns her head towards Sojiro as he speaks up from the landing and only nods to him in greeting before getting up from the floor. She had just finished cleaning up a while ago and had spent the rest of her time assembling her barre once she found a spot for it. Almost all signs of dust and cobwebs were gone and now the room seemed to sparkle a little bit from all the dusting and mopping she had done to clean up the place.
"Sojiro-san," she stands and steps a bit closer to the man, "Did I make too much of a racket?"
"Uh no, but hm. Actually, the place doesn't look that bad. Nice job I guess," the man's lips tug into a smile as he seemed to study the room. Akira watches him pause as he regards the barre set up by the table. He tilts his head before looking at her and pointing a finger towards it, "What's this?"
"My barre," she answers before walking over and settling a hand over the metal pole, "My mother shipped it over I guess. I told her I only needed my clothes, but I guess she wanted me to have it here."
"Barre? You uh do ballet?"
Her lips tug into a smile at his question before nodding, "It's something I've been doing. Though I doubt I'll ever be a professional."
"Huh, well just don't get too loud up here," Sojiro tells her before taking one last look at the barre curiously, "Didn't peg you for a dancer…" Akira only shrugs before dropping her hand from the barre as he continues, "Why don't you go to bed for tonight? I'm going to close up shop and get myself out of here."
"Good night then Sojiro-san," Akira answers as the man nods before making his way to the stairs again, "Oh and, don't get sick from staying up to late. I'm not looking after you if you do, got it?" She nods before stopping a moment and smiling, "What's so fun-"
Sojiro halts as she carefully slides her right leg behind her and raises her hands up before bowing to him. The movement is something simple to her, but she doubts it's anything normal to Sojiro as she straightens up, "I'll keep that in mind. Good night."
The man stares at her in silence before shaking his head, "Night." She holds back a giggle as the man leaves before taking her phone out and quickly snapping a picture of the barre to send to her mother.
Once sent she quickly sets her phone down on the bed before quickly undoing her braids allowing her long hair to fall out in waves around her shoulders.
Time for bed.
Her phone rings out from its spot as she pulls loose black shirt over her head and she frowns, her mother didn't text back that quickly…
Walking over she picks up her phone and frowns as a familiar red eye app appears on the screen and runs her fingers through her hair, "That's weird. It's back on my phone again. I was sure I deleted it. I better get rid of it…"
Her finger presses against the screen and she drags the app down into the trashcan at the bottom before sighing. "I should go to sleep now. It's been a long day…" With that Akira sets her phone on the window sill and walking towards the end of the room to switch off the lights. Her eyes survey the attic one last time before sighing, she'll be staying here for a year...She might as well make the most of it.
With that she turns the lights off.
Akira knowing ballet, Akira knowing ballet!
Just throwing out a personal head canon of mine in this. Hopefully you all enjoy me chanting this out in the background ha ha. Personally for male Akira I have a bit of a preference of him knowing gymnastics and for female Akira I just like the idea of her being a ballerina.
I'll go back into my trashcan now ha ha.
