Chapter 3

Sadly, I do not own Persona…

There are no foggy murders here, no Shadows, no social links, and no Personas. This is about the people. At least… as far as I know.

Thoughts

Upon hearing the words that Risette had enrolled and arrived at school… all but the whole student body had crowded out around Rise by the metal gates. It made Souji wonder if someone else had heard about her incoming arrival because the students circled rather quickly. When she told him that she was enrolling, Souji had no idea Rise was coming to school this early. Souji was certainly shocked to find a group of people surrounding her before school started.

Another crazy day…

Souji tried to maneuver his away around the throng by going around the edges of the four-deep circle. He shifted his way through the throng while doing his best to ignore the voices, arms, and legs that tried to get through to Rise Kujikawa.

"Risette! Risette!" a girl was yelling, "Would you sign my textbook!"

"Risette!" a boy yelled, "Marry me!"

C'mon people…

There were only two people in class 2-2 when he arrived just before the bell, and both of those students were girls. Chie Satonaka looked exasperated while Yukiko Amagi was sleeping at her desk.

Chie seemed surprised to see a male not fawning over Rise, and she expressed it by asking Souji, "Why are you not down there blocking Rise's path to class? You are a guy, aren't you?"

"Sorry if I don't follow the crowd," Souji shook his head. He looked at the girl whose long black hair was usually full, flowing, and shining, but now was stringy and worn. He asked Chie, "Is Yukiko that worn out?"

Chie nodded, "It seems that all of the TV crews, paparazzi, and everyone else are staying at the Amagi Inn to cover Rise's arrival to Inaba. Apparently, not everyone acted properly towards her or her mother, so it has all been too much for her."

Souji had to agree with Chie; Yukiko looked terrible. The ones who came to exploit Rise had driven Yukiko to exhaustion.

Souji sighed, "I guess all we can do is wait for class to start… though I don't know if any other students are going to show up."

There were plenty of stragglers making their way into Morooka's class that morning. Morooka had no problem yelling at them, "Are you all so busy fawning after… ogling Miss Kujikawa? Enough so that you can't get to class on time?"

If only Morooka didn't take his sweet ass time getting here as well, probably staring at Rise.

If the students were distracted the past couple of days, they were beyond distracted today. The whole notion of having Rise Kujikawa at Yasogami High had brought the attention span of the student body to a standstill. It annoyed the hell out of most of the teachers, and sadly… it bugged Souji. As bored as he got with school at times, it was sad that he would rather just focus on his studies than pay attention to an idol.

I don't care how cute you think she is…

After being poked in the head by Sofue's dowsing rod… apparently, she thought Souji had some mystical powers, or was it that there was treasure in his ass?

I do have a candy bar hidden in my shirt pocket.

Part of Souji could not wait to get away from all of these distracted fools when school ended, but where would he go? He would probably end up fighting more masses when he made his way down to the first floor where Rise was in class.

Souji sighed… he could just rush out of the school as fast as he could, but it was a day where the only thing he could do was… nothing. Maybe… he could stall Yosuke and see if Yosuke married Rise or something exciting.

If Rise did not move here, people would not have all converged and started to act on their desires. How long until they start to actually ask out Rise… seriously ask out Rise?

Souji started to fidget nervously as those thoughts ran through his head and gossiping became rampant again.

"Did you know?" a boy near the far corner of the room asked, "Morooka bought a Rise pin-up book."

"That is just wrong," the other student, one that Souji had heard confessing his love to Rise earlier today, responded.

Good god… Pedophilic bastard.

When the final bell did ring, Souji ended up just resting his head on the desk. A few people made their way downstairs to see Rise. He was surprised when Yosuke of all people came by his side.

"Yosuke…?" Souji lifted his head up and looked at Yosuke. He was wondering why Yosuke was not one of the ones chasing Rise, "Shouldn't you be downstairs?"

"I think the whole first year is going to be conjugating around her after school," Yosuke explained, "I could go, but I don't think I would have a chance to talk to her today."

"Unfortunate," Souji shrugged. He really did not care.

As Yosuke adjusted his headphones, he said to Souji, "I have an idea."

Souji stood up and collected his bag, "What is it?"

"Why don't we both go straight for the front gates and meet Rise there?" Yosuke suggested.

Souji shook his head as took a step back, "Wait… why would I want to go meet Rise at the front gates?" He continued, "I thought you said you wouldn't have a chance to talk to her. Why'd you change your mind?"

Yosuke smiled, "It is Risette… and a new plan, so I believe that I should talk to her."

Souji put his thumb and forefinger in-between his nose and closed his eyes. Stressed as he was, Souji had to restrain himself from venting his frustrations. "I'm not going to say anything, nor am I going to join you, Yosuke," Souji said after taking a deep, calming breath.

"Are you sure?" Yosuke asked. He thought it was a good plan.

Souji's fingers still in-between his nose, said, "I'm sure…"

Yosuke gripped his bag and nodded, "See you around Souji."

Seeing Yosuke leave the classroom, Souji turned his head to see Yukiko heading out through the other doorway. She still looked tired, however.

Souji heard a voice from his left, "Yukiko has to work at the Inn again. They are running her ragged."

It was Chie that had spoken to Souji, and he responded as he turned to her, "Hopefully, the business will slow down a bit after Rise settles down."

Chie nodded, "I agree… I don't want Yukiko to get sick from all of this."

"Yes," Souji said.

Souji had his bag and prepared to leave the school, but… how would he leave without being trapped in the quagmire that awaited him below? Souji was sure that there a few people that had the same idea as Yosuke's, so the front gates will probably turn into as big of a mess as the first floor.

I can jump out a window. If I jump out the 2nd floor window I'll probably break something. That is not possible.

Souji had no idea what to do when he suddenly exited his classroom, turned left, and kept going past the main stairwell where all the people and noise was currently congregating.

I can not believe I did not think of it earlier. I'll leave through the Practice Building's Soccer Field. Daisuke most likely has the other gate fence unlocked, since he is probably practicing by himself today. He is scared of girls or something.

As Souji headed towards the Practice Building staircase, the only students he passed were couples. Boys whose girlfriends would not let them anywhere near Rise, no matter how much they wanted to. There were students that just left early, like Yukiko, because they had important tasks to do. The real question is why Souji is leaving early?

No matter how bored I am, it's not important to me to waste time in screwing around trying to get some popular girl's attention when she is worn out and obviously wants to relax. I guess no one actually talked to her to figure that out.

Making his way to the first floor of the Practice Building, Souji saw something that annoyed him. The Rise fan club, black hole, whatever the hell it had become… it had expanded well into the club area.

You have to be shittin' me.

"Yo Souji!" A familiar voice belonging to a young man wearing a light blue track suit called out, "I can't get to the Practice Field." He seemingly had tried to get through the main staircase to the Practice Field.

"Daisuke!" Souji shook his head, "Do you have the keys to get out the back way?"

Daisuke cocked his head, "Are you planning on leaving through the soccer fields?"

"I'd like to," Souji told Daisuke.

Daisuke replied and pulled a set of keys from one of his pockets. He yelled to Souji as Daisuke threw them to Souji's hands, "Give them back to me tomorrow morning!"

"I understand," Souji said.

Souji made his way out the door to where the soccer team practiced. He almost joined the soccer club instead of the basketball club. He played quite a bit of soccer as well, but the weather seemed to be a bit too erratic here in Inaba; it was always raining and becoming foggy.

I don't know how Daisuke was going to practice by himself… dribble around?

The goals were taken down and none of the equipment was set up. If Daisuke wanted to practice his shot, he would need to spend quite a while setting up the net by himself.

If he's really that dedicated… damn.

Souji sighed as walked through two soccer fields to the side entrance and found the correct key to place into the swing gate. Before he could turn the key, Souji heard a yell behind him. A voice he had heard before…

"Are you leaving this way? There's a way out?"

"Rise Kujikawa?" Souji turned around to see a girl wearing a white blouse with the yellow ribbon over a somewhat short skirt; her red hair done in double ponytails that he had seen in a commercial. Her shining eyes though… they were still dull.

"Yes…?" Rise responded, "I am in a hurry, so…"

Souji nodded and turned the key, "Let's go..."

Souji walked through the small gate, there was room for one, and gestured for Rise to follow. When she did not, he turned back around, and saw that a group of ten people had followed her to the soccer fields.

"We have to hurry," Rise said, almost monotonic as she turned her head, walked through the gate, and grabbed Souji's wrist.

"Hey… what are you doing!" Souji was surprised by the most recent actions that were undertaken by Rise.

"Rumors will start if they see you," Rise sighed.

Souji was going to respond that he did not want that, but Rise started running, which resulted in dragging Souji towards the Shopping District.

Wait… what the hell is going on?

For a girl Souji thought would be completely out of shape, she was able to keep up a decent tempo… at least until there would be no one be stalking her. They stopped completely somewhere near the Shopping District, the edge of the Floodplains, to be exact. They were close to the rice paddies where Chie tormented Yukiko after the very first day of school, actually.

Rise had let go of Souji's wrist and was walking a step in front of him. Souji's wrist hurt a little bit.

My wrist will be sore tomorrow.

"Are you okay?" Souji asked, looking at Rise, "My classmates or anyone else bother you too much?"

"Nothing that I'm not used to," Rise said plainly, "Actually, I'm used to worse."

Souji and Rise continued their walk until they reached the gas station. They were getting close to the tofu shop, but Souji had barely said anything. He did not have much to say, anyways.

"I know you must have come here to rest, but you have to deal with the same exact things you always deal with," Souji apologized.

Souji realized that what he had said to her was improper as soon as he had said them, but all he could do was receive the tongue-lashing that Rise gave him.

"Do you pity me? Do you think all I deal with… care about are paparazzi and stalkers?" Rise gave Souji a look of disgust, "You are making assumptions of what I was dealing with when you have no idea…"

"I'm sorry," Souji bowed his head.

Rise shook her head, "You wouldn't know, no one does… it has all been too much."

As they reached the tofu shop, Souji stopped as Rise turned to enter her work and home. She turned back for a moment and surprised Souji by giving a small smile, "Thank you for helping me get away… hopefully I won't need it again."

Souji nodded in response… it bothered him.

That smile… it was not quite genuine. Whatever is on her mind… she's really hurting.

"Rise!" Souji yelled. He did not know why he decided to yell, but he did anyways.

Rise was already at the doorway of the shop when she heard Souji's voice. She almost did not turn around, but amused him and turned again.

"I don't know anything about what's wrong… but I'm willing listen if you want to share," Souji told her.

Souji did not wait for a response before he walked off towards the Northern Shopping District. He did not even know why he told her that. It just… did it seem like something amusing to do? Would it be interesting to listen to some worn-out girl's problems that are probably much worse than anyone thought? He had time, but did he really want to do so?

I am acting kind of stupid today… Letting Rise drag me around and then saying I would listen to her problems when she yelled at me for not understanding them. Asinine...

Souji really hoped that Rise was right about no one seeing him and that no one started a rumor about him; that was last thing he needed. He just wanted a normal year in Inaba. Tomorrow was going to be normal, hopefully… and he could get out of it with no problems. Souji was being berated by one of the members of the Drama Club to join, but she looked a bit moody. It could be worse…

I wonder what Yosuke thought of Rise in the school uniform outfit? Did he end up bleeding to death when he saw her? He didn't get to see her after school, though. Well, I am sure there were a few fatalities when she dresses in a school uniform. Childish…

As he turned towards the Residential District and towards his temporary home, Souji realized he was not bored today.

I wanted to finish this chapter today, but it was bugging me and I slowed down a few times. I was busy and I am now filling out an application for a field research school trip… thing in Malta. Happy Readings and Auf Wiedersehen.