Disclaimer: Persona 5 Characters except Ryuunosuke Katsuo belongs to Atlus, this fanfic has no commercial purpose.
After a long week, everyone finished their finals. It was July 16th, two days away before the fireworks festival. We just got reunited on the usual spot, Ann and Sakamoto looked pale for some reason.
"Exams are finally over… I'm so exhausted…" Ann was the first one commenting about the week.
"I can get back to actually sleepin' in peace…" The punk was exhausted, not even for his loud tone.
"Huh. You must have been studying pretty hard if it kept you up at night." Makoto was cheerful than usual; exams are never a problem with her.
"Nah, I was up playin' video games. Slackin' off is just too much fun…" So everything I did to make him learn every single topic was for naught.
"I know, right!? I kept cleaning my room instead of studying! It might even be too clean now…" Ann too? After she asked Makoto and me to help her with the study session at Leblanc? That must be a joke.
"You two are perfect exemplars of escapism can mean." Yusuke commented about the behavior of those two kids.
"Why I'm not surprised, though...?" I felt pretty disappointed with them.
Call me a hypocrite, but I never studied for exams, despite I always got the highest scores. The difference was I kept reviewing every single day almost to death. Even classes that I still hated such as Science or Math, I got the best scores because I don't want those teachers to pester me every time.
"And I can only imagine what the end result will be." Makoto sighed.
"Whatever, it's over with now. Who cares about that anymore!? What's really important is the Phantom Thieves' popularity! Ain't it amazin'!?" Don't let that up to your head, punk.
"It kinda feels like our time's finally here!" Ann added.
"I have even heard people excitedly speculating about our next target. We will have to choose carefully." Yusuke commented while smiling.
"There's no need to hurry. We should spend some time thinking it over." Makoto commented on slow down the plans about the next target. I'm not so down for it just yet.
"Hold up, the most important thing now is our celebration party" Dammit, Sakamoto! "I hope you guys didn't forget. It's the fireworks festival on the 18th. I guess we're good meetin' up in Shibuya, yeah? Let's say… 5 pm!"
"You sure are on top of these kinds of things…" Morgana wasn't as excited as him.
"I hope to be there on time. It's going to be a lot of people with both traffic and trains." I recalled about it because 18th would be Monday, my free day. Just before doing anything else, I got a phone call. "Excuse me, guys." It was my boss from my delivery job; it was weird to call me at those hours.
"Hello?"
"Katsuo-san? Thank goodness you answered." I sounded anxious for some reason.
"Yeah, so what is it?"
"It's an emergency! Please come here to pick up this package for the priest at Kanda."
"Emergency? What happened to the other couriers?" I didn't like how my boss sounded.
"One of them was reported sick, and the others are already busy, you are the only one available! Please, I will pay you to double for this!"
"Fine, I'll be there in no time." I sighed in disbelief.
"Thank you! You are a lifesaver!" I hung up my phone.
"Lifesaver my ass…"
"Who was on the phone?" Sakamoto asked me.
"It was my boss from my delivery job. I have to go because there's no other sucker for the job besides me. I'll see you all at the fireworks festival."
"See ya, man."
"Take care."
"Be careful out there."
I said goodbye to everyone while heading right to my bike. It was a real pain those last minute 'emergencies' because no one wanted to work at those hours around Tokyo. From what the company told me, the package is for the priest in a church at Kanda. I don't remember the last time a stepped inside one though. I picked up the package and rode to Kanda for 20 minutes. Kanda was peaceful because it wasn't as busy like Shibuya, Shinjuku or even Akihabara during evenings. I kind of got lost on my way.
"Excuse me sir, do you know where the church is?" I asked an old man for directions.
"Which one?" He told me while he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh…right, I forgot there are a lot of them here. This one on the paper…" I showed to the old man the address marked on the package.
"Oooh, is not too far from here. Go straight down the street and should find it at your left side." The old man pointed at where to go exactly.
"Huh, thank you very much, sir." I kept riding my bike until I stopped in front of the church. Once inside, I looked around and heard the calming music that surrounded the place. There were few people on the benches, praying. What caught my attention was a Kosei student playing shogi by herself; I didn't mind her, so I kept walking. From what I saw, the priest wasn't around, and that worries me if he got desperate by waiting or something. I asked the teenage girl since she was the only not praying in that church.
"Excuse me, miss?"
"Sorry, I'm not interested in doing autographs at the moment." She replied with annoyance.
"Autographs…What are you talking about?" I got confused about what she said.
"Are you not here to ask me questions or something?"
"Look, sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to know if the priest is around."
"Why you need the priest?" Her attitude toned down and looks even more confused than me.
"I got a delivery for him, do you know if he's here or not?"
"Sorry, he just left a couple of minutes ago. I don't know for how long he would be out until he comes back though."
"Is that so? This is just great, and now I have to wait here." I just sat on one of the benches with an annoyed attitude. I wasn't sure for how long it will take until he comes back then. Despite my mood, the environment was oddly relaxing. I was starting to reflect on how my life had begun. I didn't understand how I got involved with the Phantom Thieves from one day to another. Even if things turn out better for me, I wasn't still sure if being part of the team was a good idea. I didn't contribute much with Mementos requests due to my work. I barely hang out with them. I'm still not sure how to connect with teenagers although Akira is helping me with that. I was trying to get more involved like the study session at Leblanc before finals and with upcoming fireworks festival. Sakamoto calling me Big Bro was kind of painful, I don't want to be worshiped or being admired, I'm not even someone to be followed. I wondered how I became friends with Goro and Souta when we were younger, despite not being anything special. Friendships were painful, there was always a goodbye and being forgotten.
"Excuse me…" The teenage girl asked while she was still sitting on the bench from the front row and playing shogi.
"Yes?" I replied while still with my head down.
"Are you alright? You look kind of down."
"Me? I don't even know, maybe this kind of places make me think a lot for some reason."
"I understand, this place can be calming most of the time. It helps me to think new strategies."
"You are talking about shogi right?"
"Do you play it?"
"No."
"Do you want to try it for one round until the priest comes back?" She moved to make some space for me to play shogi.
"I…I guess, is better than doing nothing anyways." I just walked and sat down while she accommodated the pieces on their default positions. I never played shogi before, so I couldn't expect to win anyways. That girl was a completely different level than any of us when it comes to strategy. It was a curb-stomp battle of epic proportions. Every move I made, she made a counter attack without time to react. One of the oddest things was she started to get way too serious to the point of calling herself the Queen of the Togo Kingdom. I mean, I just played shogi with a stranger, and things escalated pretty quickly. What the hell I got into?
"Check!" She yelled proudly. "And those, the Togo Kingdom prevailed once more."
"Well, that was…quite a match, miss." I was perplexed of her odd behavior during the round.
"Sorry, I think I got carried." She looked embarrassed
"No kidding, but I'm amazed at how you managed all those moves without a second thought. Do you play that often?"
"Yes, I usually practice with the priest here."
"I see, and why here though? Are you Catholic or something?"
"I'm not so sure, I find this place nice. Do you have a belief in particular?"
"Not really, I'm pretty open to most beliefs, but I prefer to do not stick to one unless having one or two things worth of learning about."
"Interesting, may ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Could you tell me your name?"
"Why?"
"If I want to request you for another match the next time we talk."
"I don't think I'm that good with shogi, you know?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm teaching someone else right now because I want to find new strategies."
"Are you sure? Well, in any case, I'm Ryuunosuke Katsuo, and you?"
"Togo Hifumi."
"It is nice to be your acquaintance, Togo-san."
"The same for you, 'Noble Dragon'…" It caught me off guard of what she called me.
"What the…Noble Dragon?"
"Oh sorry is just 'Ryuunosuke' is a pretty unusual surname. It exactly means 'dragon' and 'noble' together."
"I didn't know that, but I doubt I'm that noble." Compared to what my family does, I'm not even a good guy from all things considered.
"That's alright, not many people can see themselves as heroes of some kind."
"I guess…" I was thinking for a moment until I heard an old man's voice.
"Seems that you found another practice partner while I was busy, isn't that right?" It was the priest you arriving not too long ago.
"Yes, it was fun." Togo-san commented.
"My apologies, sir. I brought the order you requested not too long ago." I handed the package to the priest while I was pulling out a pen and the receipt. "I need you to sign this, please."
"I hope I didn't cause you much trouble because of my absence."
"Not by much, at least I sat here and reflected before playing with Togo-san."
"That's good that you got your time to grasp life."
"Well job here is done; it was a pleasure to meet you, Togo-san."
"Likewise, Ryuunosuke-san. Take care."
Left the church with a lot to think about, I never thought those kinds of places made me feel too much.
July 17th in the morning, I got another package but this one was a special request. I already got the idea for who was the delivery. I had to come back to Kanda for this 'special' request because my life wasn't already bad enough, seriously. Why did I keep doing promises to more people? Lucky for me, I didn't get lost like last night with the church.
The houses around neighborhood looked nice as always, but there was something that didn't inspire me confidence. I couldn't stop thinking about a lot of things from yesterday. The address was pretty far from the area, what kind of house would that far? After looking number by number, I finally found the right one but I didn't like it. From all the places I had to deliver, it was an orphanage.
Geminis Orphanage, what an odd name. The exterior looked pretty old, with decaying paint on the walls and dusty playground. The front yard could use some work, too bad I had no idea about gardening or someone to help with. I had nothing but shiver while I was walking towards that place.
Right in front of the door, I knocked twice to see if there was someone at home. I heard steps coming and I scary-looking man with long brown hair opened the door.
"What do you want?" His tone was really gruff.
"Hello? I got a special package for Arisato Minako, is she here?" I tried to not lose my cool.
"Who's at the door Shinji-kun~?" I heard a woman's voice coming from inside.
"Someone saying he got a special delivery for you hon, were you expecting something?" The man answered to the woman, I presumed the woman was Arisato-san.
"Let me see..." I heard steps coming until she appeared on the front door. "Hi, Ryuunosuke-kun! How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you for asking Arisato-san."
"Do you know him hon?" The man asked to Arisato-san.
"Yes, he was the young man that delivered my teacup at Shibuya the other day."
"Oh, that's right...dammit Mitsuru." He mumbled something.
"I didn't introduce you to my husband. Ryuunosuke-kun, this Aragaki Shinjiro. Shinji-kun, this Ryuunosuke Katsuo."
"Hey"
"Sup"
It was an awkward introduction from one cheerful woman to two confused men.
"I know this is none of my business, but I noticed you have different surnames despite being married." I didn't want to ask, but the curiosity got the best of me.
"Please excuse her, we are actually engaged, but she never stops telling anyone that we are married."
"Well, I don't want to wait until spring." She inflated her cheeks with an upset tone. "Anyways, I hoped Shinji-kun didn't scare you, Kat-kun."
"Kat-kun?" Why everyone kept calling me names? "No, absolutely no ma' am." Regardless of what I said, I was just a little.
"Don't worry, it's alright if you are. He doesn't leave the best impressions at first, but once you know him he is a big softie~" She said while hugging him in cheesy tone.
"Please, don't do this…" He blushed but didn't mind about the hug. "I have to check on Yuki-chan. It is nice to see you, kid."
"The same, Aragaki-san." I said goodbye to him while he gave a kiss on Arisato's-san cheek and came back inside. She looked at me with a weird expression.
"Are you alright? You looked nervous for some reason."
"It's nothing." I replied quickly. She wasn't satisfied with my answer.
"Don't lie to me; I can see everything on your eyes. It's something bothering you?" She knew something about my behavior although I'm a good liar. Was I that predictable? Damn.
"Well, I don't want to sound insensitive, but I have bad vibes with orphanages in general."
"It's okay, I know most orphanages have a bad reputation, but we are trying our best to change that."
"Even so, why you owned an orphanage?"
"That would be a story for another time. Why don't you come in? I can make you some tea." She sounded a really kind of person, for some reason she reminded me to Akira in kindness.
"I would like to thank you, but I have to refuse the offer because I have more work to do and I will need to rest for tomorrow to see some friends at Shibuya for the fireworks festival."
"OHMYGOSHISTOMORROWISTHEFIREWORKSFESTIVAL!?" I jumped with surprise due to her sudden change of behavior. "Thank you for reminding me that, I need to tell that to Shinji-kun. It was nice to see you again. Please take care of yourself and enjoy the festival." Despite her hasting attitude, she never broke that smile.
"Sure… Take care you two." I was out of words of how things ended. I mean, what the hell just happened? I never expected to see her again and her fiancé this time, owning that old place for some reason, I wondered why though...
At the evening, things were as calm as always. I looked at my phone about the weather forecast of possibly raining the next day, I doubted that would happen but bringing an umbrella in the case is always important. Summer rains are unpredictable after all. While working at Crossroads as always, I checked the messages from the others about tomorrow plans.
Ryuji: Tomorrow's the fireworks festival! Let's meet in Shibuya at 5!
Katsuo: No promises, it's going to be hard for me to find parking with so many people.
Ryuji: Why not just take the train instead of going in your bike?
Katsuo: Maybe…I will try it.
Ann: Hey, Makoto. Are you going to wear a yukata?
Makoto: I'm planning on it.
Yusuke: Yukatas are great part of the summer tradition… They truly heighten a woman's beauty.
Katsuo: I have to agree. It is something hypnotizing about a woman wearing yukata.
Yusuke: I think I will wear mine as well.
Katsuo: I said a woman…
Ryuji: You've got one, Yusuke…? How about you two?
Katsuo: Nay
Akira: I don't have a yukata either.
Ann: Hey, I know! Why don't you come without your glasses?
Katsuo: But don't you think he needs them to see?
Akira: Those aren't prescription. I don't need them at all in actuality.
Katsuo: Really? I didn't know that.
Makoto: In any case. What's the point in that?
Ann: I dunno, you don't get to see fireworks every day, so it'd be sad just wearing normal clothes!
Ann: I was just thinking he might want to go for a change of pace.
Ryuji: That sounds great! You should totally come without glasses!
Katsuo: I don't see the difference, but is his choice after all.
Ryuji: Welp, you guys better not be late tomorrow!
I decided to put back my phone after the chat was over. Already outside for my break, I decided to see Mifune-san because it's been a long time since I talked to her before I became a Phantom Thief. Maybe my luck finally changed after everything I went through. I walked to her usual spot, and she looked happier than usual.
"Hey, Mifune-san."
"Oh, Katsuo-kun. Long time no see, I was waiting for you."
"Is that one of your predictions or just you are saying that?"
"Whichever at your interpretation."
"I don't like those vague answers. Anyways, I came to see if my luck changed or not."
"Sure thing, have a sit." She started to shuffle the deck while I was waiting. It's weird that her last prediction was accurate about The Reversed Tower: Those warnings turn out to be true for the best; my actions led me to be one of them under unusual circumstances. I was hoping if the thing would be different for me. She stopped shuffling the deck, and one card came out, it was the Hermit in the upright position.
"You know what this card means, Katsuo-kun?" She tested me if I finally learned the meaning of each card.
"It's the Hermit, upright position."
"And…?"
"I guess it means reflection and knowledge…What it has to do with my luck?"
"As you can see, your luck didn't change at all, but it seems that things started to move because of your actions. Have been doing something different since the last time I saw you?"
"Well…I made some new friends since the last month. They are good people, but sometimes I have self-doubts if they deserve me as a friend."
"That's what the Hermit is all about, knowing yourself and understanding what goals you set for them and your future. If they are a positive influence for you, then you should keep looking for them." I trusted her predictions and advice about this.
"I guess so, thank you for the reading."
"No problem, now that would be 5,000 yens."
"Wait a sec… I thought you said I don't have to pay unless may luck changed. I don't feel anything different."
"Yeah I said that, but your luck at least made a different turn than other times. I'm more surprised than you about this."
"I suppose it's fair enough. You never stop to amaze me." I took my wallet and gave her the 5K bill. Well, at least I had to pay the fortune reading after so many attempts of my luck not changing at all.
I thanked her before going back to work and prepare for tomorrow's plans with the others. I had to admit; maybe Mifune-san was right about sticking with them so at least we can help each other. I was pretty sure they won't have any problems as long Akira and Makoto are supporting us. Oh boy, what a day…