Chapter 10

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. Some of the personalities are different because of the fact that there are no social links… i.e. Nanako… other personalities are different because I feel like it.

If you have questions about why my writing is like it is, especially the order of names… read my reasoning in the chapter descriptions of Samurai and Ninjas.

Thoughts

Souji's walk home was one of trepidation and a little depressing. The whole experience of having Rise around… it changed the way his time in Inaba felt. It was painful at times, strenuous at times, and very difficult as well; he still enjoyed his time helping Rise try and find herself. Souji did not think he would ever have talked to Nanako casually if it was not for her personally asking to meet his family. Now, she was leaving… and it looked like it was harder than it thought for her. He should have expected it... her going back to modeling, acting, and being an idol.

Opening the door to his temporary home, Souji did not know what he was going to say to his cousin, his Little sis. What could he say to the person he promised to bring Rise Kujikawa back to visit?

"Welcome home, Big bro!" Nanako greeted.

"Hey, Little sis…," Souji was a little less enthusiastic with his own greeting.

Nanako seemed to sense his listless nature and asked, "What's wrong?"

There has to be an announcement coming… It'll come soon if she decides to speak out tonight.

"Are you sad?" Nanako asked innocently.

Souji smiled, or at least tried to, "I don't think I'm sad… it's just that something happened that is kind of depressing."

"Hmm…," Nanako was not sure what to say to her cousin, but she looked like wanted him to sit down across from her.

As Souji sat across from Nanako, he asked her, "Is your dad coming home tonight?"

"He said he was going to be late again," Nanako said. Souji knew that under that face was one of sadness and annoyance. She was wondering why her father was not going to be there for her daughter.

Is his work is so important that he can never spend time with her? It's like I am a blessing for him because he now has someone to watch over Nanako while he's gone, no matter how well she can take care of herself.

"Hey, Little sis... I think the next time you buy groceries, I'll make dinner," Souji said.

A smile broke on Nanako's face, "Really? Yay!"

His subtle gesture to cheer up Nanako slightly seemed to have worked and Souji now had something to do again… something to look forward to.

The two living in the Dojima family were eating what Souji hoped was one of the last processed dinners for a while when Nanako turned on the news. The reporters talked about the various sports teams, all of which in their region sucked. They talked about the weather and about the crime.

There is surprisingly a small amount of crime considering Nanako's dad never spends time in this house. He's running away from his own daughter.

When the entertainment portion of the news came on, Souji's ears perked up and his head focused towards the screen. The reporter that focused completely on the entertainment portion of the news; it was in fact, the same reporter that harassed them at the outlook, was standing outside of Marukyu Tofu.

Nanako looked at Souji, "Isn't that where Rise-chan lives?"

Souji nodded, "It looks like she has something to say to the reporters."

The reporter had entered Marukyu Tofu while a cameraman followed. He was talking as he walked, "Apparently, Rise Kujikawa, has called us for an interview. This comes as a great shock after the reaction that her boyfriend, Souji Seta, had the last time we attempted to interview her. Our station was the only one she invited and we are giving you the exclusive story."

Rise was standing behind the counter of her tofu store, and the cameras immediately focused on her as she came into view. Souji was amazed… she looked nothing like she did only a few hours ago when she left Souji's side. Her hair was down and her makeup was applied in a fashion that reminded Souji of one of the sitcoms she was in. Rise's clothes… she was wearing one of those summer dresses she had picked out earlier today. It was a yellow and orange ensemble. Souji also saw her wearing a thin bracelet that she bought that afternoon as well.

Was she planning to do this the whole time? Is this the real reason she asked me to go shopping together? Was that little thing with that boy nothing to her? She had already decided to leave.

Souji put his hand to forehead, which Nanako noticed and she asked him, "Big bro…? Are you okay?"

"Yeah… It's nothing," Souji replied.

"Is it about Rise-chan?" Nanako asked.

Souji shook his head. He just focused his attention on the TV screen to see how she would announce her return to being an idol.

The reporter had set up an extra microphone set for Rise to use; it was placed on the counter of the tofu shop. The reporter and two cameramen looked very anxious to see what Rise had to say, but Souji already knew.

The reporter finally got the courage to start the interview, only because Rise did not speak right away, "Kujikawa-san, why did you call this interview? You have been very reticent about allowing yourself in the limelight since you decided on a hiatus."

Souji could tell by the serious face Rise was showing that though she was not perky, she was not going to be lethargic like the last time she held an interview. Rise took a deep breath before saying, "I have an announcement for everyone. I would like to announce the end of my hiatus and my return to show business."

Nanako looked away from the TV and to Souji, "Rise-chan is going back?"

"Looks like it," Souji said.

The cameras flashed repeatedly and the video cameras focused and zoomed in on Rise's face as the reporter asked, "This is quite a different view from your previous statements. What caused you to suddenly change your mind?"

"The reasoning is my own," Rise responded succinctly.

"Okay…," the reporter had to regain his focus after her abrupt comment. He followed up that question with, "What did your boyfriend have to say about this?"

"My boyfriend?" Rise looked straight into the reporter's eyes.

"Yes… what does your boyfriend, Souji Seta, think about this decision?" he asked. He continued, "Considering the actions he has taken before and the eyewitness accounts from others, we can assume that he did not take this news well, am I correct?"

"What are they talking about, Big bro?" Nanako looked at Souji.

"It's nothing to worry about," Souji said.

Stupid paparazzi… She'll probably tell them the truth about the whole thing. It doesn't matter.

"First of all, I want you to know that Souji Seta is the sweetest, kindest person you could ever meet, and that meeting him has changed my life. The things said about him were completely false and you were completely misled by people who do not understand him." Rise started.

"Well… thank you for clearing that up with us, Kujikawa-san," the reporter said.

"I'm not done!" Rise cut in, "The things you said about him… they hurt him… and he doesn't even show it. Even more so, they hurt me."

What are you doing, Rise-chan?

"We are sorry if we hurt you, but you have to believe that we were only trying to report the truth," the reporter apologized.

"Rise-chan must really like you, Big bro," Nanako said to Souji.

"I guess so…," Souji shrugged.

Souji's head turned when Rise started speaking again, "I want you to know that Souji Seta was not my real boyfriend while I was on hiatus."

The news that the silver-haired young man was not Rise's real boyfriend certainly surprised the reporter and cameramen.

Nanako looked at Souji with a surprised look on her face as well. Souji just nodded in agreement with the statement.

It had to come out eventually.

"Then… why the charade…?" the reporter started to say.

"Souji-kun… he was somebody who would never take advantage of me; he helped me look for my true self," Rise explained, "I needed the solitude and for someone to listen to me. He was the one person I trusted."

Great… Now that everyone knows, can we get on with it all?

Souji was still thinking when Nanako brought him out of his reverie, "You weren't going out with Rise-chan?"

Souji shook his head, "No… we were just pretending to."

"You told me that you were," Nanako pouted.

"Sorry, Little sis…," Souji shook his head.

Souji's head turned when the final words were spoken.

Rise's words rang through Souji's ears, "Souji-kun has allowed me to find myself again and it was difficult to decide to leave Inaba again. I want him to know… if he's listening, thank you… and… and…. I can't say it."

Rise had lost her composure and was not able to finish her final statement. The cameras flashed as she suddenly left the room and the view of the reporter. He did not even have time to ask anymore probing questions before she disappeared.

Rise-chan… what were you trying to say? You weren't trying to say what I thought you were going to say, were you? Don't do this now…

Souji excused himself from Nanako's company before she could ask anymore questions about his tenuous relationship with Rise. He did not want to watch the entertainment newscasters' analysis of the interview, either. All Souji wanted to do was to read before going to sleep…

Reading proved fruitless for Souji; he got absolutely nowhere in his novel. When he tried to sleep, he shifted around in his futon for hours. The little sleep he did get was filled with nightmares. Dreams did not come easily for Souji that night.

Why did my nightmare involve Rise leaving in such an angry fashion? She doesn't hate me…

Souji's trip to school the next day… he tried to take an inconspicuous route to school. Souji had a feeling that he would get a lot of interesting looks during the next couple of hours at Yasogami. His secret life was exposed by Rise last night; the fact that they were not really going out. It was necessary for everyone to know, but it was still damaging to him.

Souji knew that he was going to get a lot of weird looks, but he did not expect the disgusted looks. They were looks of disgust from people who thought that Souji had led them on by pretending to go out with Rise. Souji had no response to their leers, to their gossiping.

"There's that guy," a second-year girl smirked, "He thought he was going out with Rise Kujikawa."

"I almost feel sorry for him," another girl, who Souji recognized as one of his classmates said, "He must have felt so foolish when she left."

Souji would have felt foolish if he thought that people would treat him better after Rise left. He had lost faith in the people of Inaba, at least those in Yasogami High. He found one place of solace… and two real friends. He found refuge in basketball club this week, playing pickup games with Kou and then later on with Daisuke. They said nothing about Rise leaving or his faux-relationship with her. Souji could just forget about what happened.

It was on Thursday after basketball practice when he once again confronted by Yosuke. The bandages on his face were removed by Sunday. The reason why he Yosuke had bandages on his face was Souji pounding on him for giving an interview with false information. There was no telling smirk on Yosuke's face this time. He actually looked a little sad as Souji rested his back near the gates.

Yosuke walked up to Souji and said, "Man, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have done all of that. I didn't know that you and Rise were… I still don't really know what you two were doing."

Souji sighed, "It doesn't matter. She came to me because she thought I was reliable and that I would be able to help her find herself."

"You don't seem very reliable, man," Yosuke muttered, "But… I can see why she might trust you. You are usually… level-headed."

"Usually?" Souji shook his head.

Yosuke patted Souji on the shoulder and they walking for a ways.

At least we're not fighting.

As the two headed towards Junes, Yosuke smiled, "I heard Kanamin is coming to Inaba for filming a movie. No one knows where and when in Inaba, though."

Great, another god damn idol…

"I can't deal with another idol," Souji said.

"I don't think this one is on hiatus, Souji. You better watch yourself," Yosuke smirked.

The two ended up eating at Junes and they actually improved their friendship a little.

The rest of the week went a little better with Yosuke telling people to cool down. But, school was still unbearable.

Sunday was a day that Souji was more than happy to see come. He had a little breakfast with Nanako by himself; Dojima was not home when he came down. Even though he did not have school, Souji had no idea what to do. The past couple of weeks, Souji would have gone to Marukyu Tofu and done something with Rise. Now, he was completely unsure of what to do. That was Souji started wandering around till he headed towards where he last met with Rise Kujikawa before she left.

He could not just hear the Samegawa River flowing past, he could feel it… even if he was nowhere by it. The closer Souji walked towards the covered benches, the more props and people he encountered. Yosuke said there was an idol filming a movie, the same idol that was becoming more popular than Rise; the idol was here right now, Souji had ascertained.

"Okay, that's a wrap!" Souji heard a loud male voice call out, "Take a break! I'll see you after lunch!"

I should leave them alone.

Souji started walking away. It was not his business, after all. He got about ten steps from the site when a male voice called out for him.

"Souji Seta, right?" a male voice that Souji recognized called out.

Souji turned around and saw the former manager of Rise Kujikawa standing before him, Inoue. He looked extremely busy and a bit flustered. If he was the new manager of Kanami, she was working him hard.

"It's a surprise to see you here," Inoue said, "I guess you are not marrying Rise-san, right?"

Souji nodded, "I guess not."

"I hope you don't feel too bad about everything that's happened," Inoue said.

"No… it's okay," Souji shook his head.

A higher-pitched female voice rang out, "Inoue-san, who are you talking to?"

"An acquaintance of Rise-san, Kanami-san," Inoue turned his head and called out.

"Let me talk to him, Inoue-san," Kanami said.

Inoue nodded and backed away. From behind came a girl with long brown hair wearing a short white skirt and a skinny white shirt. She seemed to recognize Souji and walked up to him.

"You're Souji Seta, right?" Kanami asked.

Souji nodded, "Kanamin…"

"I'm excited to meet the guy who 'supposedly' dated Risette," Kanami responded with a bubbly smile.

"She doesn't like to be called that," Souji told her.

"Really?" Kanami looked a little confused, "She used to love it."

"I learned a lot about her," Souji said.

"Anyways, you sure looked like a real couple from what little I saw," Kanami smiled, "I think she really liked it when you stuck up for her. I would fall for you, if I was her."

Souji shook his head, "She just wanted it to look real…"

"To look real, or be real?" Kanami asked.

"Look real…," Souji answered.

"Well… if you really believe that," Kanami's smile brightened, "I like bad boys…"

Souji closed his eyes. He did not want to hear another word. If she was getting started with this, he could not handle it…

I need to leave…

"I'll get back to you, Kanami-chan," Souji said, with no intention of ever speaking to her seriously.

Souji shook his head. As soon as he could get rid of her, Souji was going to head home and find someone sane.

I'm missing Rise already…

Thank you guys for your support… Auf Wiedersehen…