Chapter 21: Awaken to Innocence
-26/02 / 5pm-
-Main Lobby-
"Please, Seta… I think it's important you do so. Right away. I'll see to the care of your friends while you take rest."
Somewhat maternally, Mitsuru had demanded Seta take some time to sleep.
Before Seta left the lobby, he had checked in on Yosuke.
It seemed that Chie had been fighting off maids since the moment they got back.
She clearly wanted to take care of Yosuke alone; seeing as she wouldn't so much as let another female servant flip the wet towel over his forehead.
How unfortunate that the one day Yosuke was being showered by female attention, he was out like a light…
Seta was about to make his way to try and speak to Yukiko when Rise and Fuuka rushed over to request her help.
"Yukiko!" Rise exclaimed, "There's someone who's landed out near the far North shore of the island! Can you come with us? Senpai's in no condition to leave right now, but we could use your strength."
Yukiko turns to you with a look showing her need to speak to you alone. However she does not turn down the request.
- State you wish to accompany them.
(Charm rises)
- Wish them luck and prioritize rest.
(Influence rises)
"Whether you can or can't is not the question." Mitsuru intervened. "Though your determination is admirable, Aigis, Akihiko and I will fill your place as escort. So please go and rest. Furthermore, we do not even know if this presence is hostile yet. I presume it may not even be a shadow, is that possible Fuuka?"
"It could be… There's a high likely they're just two ordinary people," Fuuka nodded.
"Excellent, then it's settled… Let us go," Mitsuru declared.
-Back inside the guest room-
As Seta lay on the soft mattress, staring up at the gold and cream ceiling, he relaxed in the subtle comfort of quiet.
In the meanwhile he found himself thinking…
'The Game of Life and Death.'
Seta questioned whether keeping what he knew from Junpei was the right thing to have done?
As he pondered, he quickly realized that worrying over it now was only wastefully increasing his fatigue and stress.
In a weary and tired state, Seta reached over to open a drawer on the right side of his bed.
Simply looking to put away his glasses before falling asleep, Seta found a dusty and seemingly forgotten MP3 player in the otherwise empty drawer.
Come to think of it, before bringing him back to this guest room, Mitsuru had earlier said that Minato was the last person to use this room.
With risen curiosity, Seta took the outdated technology out of the drawer and aligned the ear phones.
He questioned whether it would still play, being so long uncharged… Naturally the device did not.
Seta was about to put it back when it suddenly began to glow luminous in his hands.
… Shining a radiant velvet in hue.
You hold the warm emanating object in your hand and Margaret's voice echoes in your mind as it moulds to a new shape…
"I have bad news… I am losing the last of my connection to you …
Though the Arcana still show partial faith to you, your contract has been violated.
My master and I can no longer serve you directly, nor can you again enter the velvet room.
…However, I refuse to leave your side…
Now and again you will see this object glow.
If you do, simply press the activation button and you will occasionally hear a message of guidance that may help you on your journey.
Stay strong and do not falter, no matter how bleakly the horizon shades itself.
As my sister said… Even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer hope.
She may be unorthodox but with your kinship to Minato, she will watch over you.
Hm?
This device?
Why yes...
It often served to fuel that young man's focus.
Consider this a gift from me and Minato both.
May my messages bring you guidance in times of need,
And may his favorite symphonies rejuvenate you in times of exhaustion."
It was during those last words Margaret's voice began to fade.
Though it saddened Seta to feel her presence disappearing, he took comfort in knowing she was still watching out for him despite no longer needing to.
The music device transformed in Seta's hands into a more modern design and formed a compact aqua shaded prism.
A finely thin silver chain looped through one end allowing him to wear it as a necklace...
As Seta pressed 'play', the diamond shaped button underneath the aquatic, opal like prism.
He was pleasantly surprised as he relaxed under melody he heard; drowning into the comfort of the soothing melody.
Composing Artist: Kondor
Track title: Story of my Life
The first track alone had left a good impression.
Seta approved of Minato's taste and with a faint smile he wondered…
Would the story of his own life one day too sound just as good?
-Evening-
Seta had fallen asleep for quite some time.
When he awoke, it was 5 p.m. already and the sun felt to be glowing several shades dimmer.
Still battling weary eyes, unwilling to fully open, Seta felt a soft poke to the cheek to which he instinctively brushed the hand away.
This hand was small, soft and smelled like vanilla scented soap.
That was Nanako's fragrance.
Seta's eyes instantly opened to find Nanako smiling warmly as she stood near Seta's dopey, awaking expression.
"Big brother! How are you?" Nanako exclaims excitedly, leaning over the bed to give you a warm hug… It's been a long time, what will you say to Nanako?
- Your summer dress looks really nice! (R.P up 5)
- Thank you for coming to see me at the hospital. (R.P up 4)
- You get prettier and prettier each time I see you Nana-chan! (R.P up 4. NOTE: For this option, Nanako will laugh and say how that was a great Teddy impersonation.)
"You noticed!" Nanako exclaims ecstatically. "Dad helped me pick it out, he's been spending a lot of time with me lately! But we both really miss you in Inaba…" Nanako added a little sadly.
Seta sat up, feeling his aching muscles catching up pain.
Mitsuru had been right… He really had needed the sleep. Now that his muscles had entered recovery, they didn't hesitate to let him know they preferred rest over movement.
"Do you feel alright?" She asks you with genuine worry, catching you wince from the pain. You recall how faithfully she had waited for you during nights at the hospital... Will you reassure her?
- "I've endured worse." (Diligence up and R.P up 3)
- "It hurts everywhere." (Diligence down)
- "Much, now that you're here." (Expression up and R.P up 5)
- "Stop worrying about me." (Expression down)
"Yay! I'm glad we came! Want to come down and see dad too? He brought me here; we came on a special police boat after catching the bullet train to this beautiful city on an island! It was so much fun there!"
Nanako excitedly recited the details of her trip to Seta.
Seta listened on with a warm smile, feeling a fondness radiating from Nanako's endearing presence.
Before Nanako finished, Seta noticed Fuuka had been quietly standing by the open door this whole time too.
Seta realized she must have brought Nanako to come see him.
Worried for Nanako's sake, Seta quietly asked Fuuka if she thought any of 'those things' could potentially appear again?
Fuuka shook her head.
"Well, anything is possible, but with Miss Risette's help we did a full region scan. Now that we'd collected the right… Erm, signals, we memorized common detection traits and sweep scanned a hundred mile radius… Fortunately, we found nothing. So please don't worry." Fuuka stated as secretly as she possibly could.
Nanako looked a little confused… "What things are you worried about, big bro? Are you two talking about your college work?" Nanako asked, feeling a little left out.
Seta patted her gently on the head and told her everything was fine; putting the worrying child at ease again.
Seta remembered he had purchased a present for Nanako for her 9th birthday which he had been unable to attend in person nearly six months ago.
It was beyond late… but Seta thought he might as well give it before her next birthday drew any closer.
Walking over to his bag, he moved aside his clothing to take out an orange colored Junes handbag.
Seta walked over to Nanako and held it out for her.
"Happy birthday," he said somewhat apologetically. "Sorry it's so late."
Nanako looks elated. The poor thing barely knows what to say…
-You should go try it on.
-You better like this…
-It's your favorite color! I think…
Before Seta said anything, Nanako excitedly pleaded to try it on immediately.
With Seta's approval, she made her way to the nearby bathroom to change, disappearing from the room.
Seta was left alone with Fuuka.
Courteously, she spoke first to break a moment long silence.
"She's such a good girl. It's easy to see how much she adores you…" Fuuka stated in a complimentary tone. "… In fact, you're surrounded by many wonderful people. It's a rare gift which I've only ever seen one other person to possess."
Fuuka walked over to Seta and handed him a cup of warm jasmine tea from a tray she had earlier rested on a chest of drawers.
The hot drink was revitalizing and restored much needed energy back into Seta's body.
"Speaking of which…" Fuuka continued, "I spent a long time speaking with one of your friends while you were asleep just recently, Risette... Or rather, I should say Rise." Fuuka blushed feeling excited to know a celebrity at an informal level. "She's a lovely person and it's still hard to believe I could finally meet someone with my own Persona abilities too!" Fuuka added excitedly. "In S.E.E.S, I'm the only one with my power… So the team doesn't really understand the tactician's responsibilities. But Rise made me feel so proud of what I could do after sharing her own experiences and praising my efforts when we shared our stories… I only wish I were half as incredible as her though. Despite being younger than me, she's so humble, a beautiful aspiring actress and still so kind to others… She's the ideal girl. I idolized her before, but… I never knew I'd get to know her personally to appreciate her even more," Fuuka shyly confessed.
It was amazing to see just how far Rise's influence had spread.
Sometimes Seta forgot to give Rise's modesty credit given being a respected celebrity had never corrupted her character.
Seta watched Fuuka make her way over to the flowers by the window sill.
"These are beautiful," she stated admiringly. "Their color… They have a very special aura, my Persona is drawn to them. I wonder why…"
Now might be a good chance to get to know Fuuka a little better.
-[Discourse] So, you have the same power as Rise?
(Tower Arcana Equips)
-[Praise] You're an excellent cook.
(Sun Arcana equips)
-[Ponder] Have you ever taken a serious gamble?
(Hanged Man Arcana equips)
Fuuka smiled softly. "Yes, I have… I accepted my position in S.E.E.S despite knowing I wasn't cut out to be a strategist... Fortunately, that was a gamble where I won against the odds," she gently said with a hint of pride.
Seta watched in a sense of admiration as the seemingly timid girl shouldered the lives of her peers without
Seta wondered, had he under-appreciated Rise's duties in the past if he was only now noticing what silent resilience a strategist needed?
"Anyway, Seta-kun… I better go help get the dining table ready. When you two are done come down and eat with everyone." Fuuka said chirpily.
"I'm sorry Mitsuru was a little demanding when she told you to go rest. She just has everyone's best interests in mind, though she could really work on better voicing them," Fuuka sighed.
"I think she truly wants to atone for not taking better care of Minato-senpai when he was our team leader. I believe remembering what happened to him is what urges her to ensure you're well looked after… I really hope he returns soon so we can all thank him properly. We were just so happy to see him back at the dorm that we never truly said all that we wanted to…" Fuuka sadly looked out the window with searching eyes. "And now thanks to similar miscommunication, poor Junpei's left on his own too... Why couldn't I have said something more?"
Seta was about to comfort her when she smiled and shook her head wisely. "It's alright, Akihiko already feels guilty about what he did, and I know when Junpei returns in his own time the group is going to welcome him warmly... Sometimes all it takes is absence to remind us of our friends' immeasurable worth."
As Fuuka bowed formally, taking Seta's empty cup, she was thanked by Seta before deciding to take her leave.
Giving thought to her wise words, Seta looked out at the nearby window and wondered, where had Minato and Junpei disappeared to…
At that moment as Seta sat back down on the bed like an old man with a still very sore body, Nanako soon came dashing out in joy.
The strawberry shade of the cloth was a color tone that had always suited Nanako.
The neatly fashioned dress she had put on was simple, but the conservative frills at the ends gave a subtle elegance while still maintaining her innocence and charming youthfulness.
Stunning and seasoned for her age, the dress matched Nanako's loveable nature.
"It's so pretty! I love it! Does it look alright to you?" Nanako asked hopefully.
Seta walked over to a nearby notepad sitting on the table. Using the pen perched above it, he wrote something on the first leaf, tore the sheet off the pad and then held it up with two hands and a firm upright stance.
"Yay!" Nanako exclaimed in laughter. "A perfect score!"
Ready to make his way downstairs, Seta had Nanako trailing closely behind with one hand tightly holding his.
As they closed the door behind them, Seta's 'paper-made score card' fell to the floor facing side up.
...
Of course it read nothing less than a perfect ten.