A/N:
Hello everyone and welcome to the next chapter of Codename: Songbird! I am glad you are all enjoying this story, because I am having fun writing it. So This chapter is going to be one of those necessary filler chapters, that will slowly start moving the plot along. I do hope you dont mind these, because it gives me a reason to explore the characters a bit, raise ranks and all of that jazz. It won't be long until the next arc starts, if you are all intelligent sleuths, you will already know that we are heading in that direction. So do pay attention to everything in these chapters, because I always leave clues about what is about to happen in the following chapters...more often then not they will be clues about the future of the story as well, and other times they will be references to pop culture, memes, the illuminati and debates about their existence, stuff like that. You see, when you are a night owl like me, and spend six hours looking up dank memes you tend to start adding said memes to stories. But I'll try not to let my dank speak in these chapters...you know...maybe.
Anyway, I'm not gonna make a particularly long authors note today. I've been a little lazy and took two days of from writing to think about the ending of this arc. Normally, I would have already planned the events of the next arc by now, but this one has been challenging, writing two palaces is tough especially when you want to give equal attention to both of them. I don't want it to seem like the original one is superior to Futaba's or vise versa, since both of them are equally important. Also, to my guest, I mean all the female confidants, minus Erica and Mitsuhide will be available to romance, that includes Ayumi and Kanami as well.
Now then, something for all of you writers out there struggling with grammar, I just tried something that a friend recommended, I'm sure you've heard of it, but if you haven't, here it is. It is something called Grammarly, it's a program you can install directly onto your browser, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Netscape if you still use that, it will help you check your grammar. It is free and it is a boon, I didn't know I made so many mistakes that I didn't catch, this thing caught them all and made changes for me that I wouldn't have considered. So if you wanna make your writing visually pleasing and nod word soup, or you are struggling to find your own style because you have dislexia, something I myself suffer from greatly, then this is the program for you. Give it a try, it might just make you a better writer.
And now for the shout outs, I don't give these out often but I want to show my appreciation for you lovely readers. BloodyDemon666 and G King, my writing bros in arms, you two are always welcome in my little nook of fanfiction, so I hope you enjoy this chapter. I will read your stuff when I can, I've been super busy with stuff. ReallyLazyReader, I'm happy to see you as well and I hope you are liking the stuff so far, let me know what you think. And finally, one of my newer readers and or reviewers, RosyMiranto18 who was a total boss and ended up finding the kanji for the names of every oc I have added in this story as well as their meanings, this chapter is dedicated to you specifically, I will be adding those kanji below for you all to see. It was well thought out and gave more insight to the characters. I know more often than not it is hard to visualize someone without drawing them, but this adds loads of depth to them. We already have their VA's, so why not add this too? Thank you once again for actually taking the time to do this, you are awesome my friend!
So, I do hope you like this chapter, leave your thoughts in the reviews. I hope to see you awesome readers in the next chapter, feel free to PM me if you have questions and the like, I'm always here to answer them. See you all on Thursday!
Mashita Takumi: 真下 匠 (You know, i secretly hoped that his name is an Initial D reference)
Mashita Takarou: 真下 隆朗 (His name means Prosperous Bright, referencing his desire to only keep his company prosperous, ignoring everything else)
Mashita Rika: 真下 理香 (Her name means 'Always Strong')
Mashita Naotarou: 真下 直太朗 (I don't understand why did her name is Naotarou. While it's named after a Pop Singer-Songwriter, it's still a male name regardless)
Isoshima Billerica: 五十島 ビルリカ
Isoshima Ayumi: 五十島 歩実 (Her name means 'Walking Truth', referencing that she's the only Non-Persona User to have entering the Metaverse (until Sae is involved, but it's a necessity for her))
Isoshima Mitsuhide: 五十島 光秀 (Akechi Mitsuhide, too obvious, nothing more)(References Akechi Mitsuhide, a samurai general from the Sengoku Period of Feudal Japan)
Otonashi 'Toni' Kotone: 音無シ 琴音 (It is ironic, both her name and surname contain Kanji for 'sound', yet her surname means… soundless)
Shimizu Ryoutarou: 清水 瞭太郎 (In this case, Ryou means 'Obvious')
Shouji Akihiko: 晶司 晶彦 (You see, i gave the same initial kanji for both name and surname, also the Shouji part is taken from Segawa Shouji, a Shougi player)
Akashibi Ayane (the Sixth Kanamin Kitchen member who broke her leg): 赤鮪 彩音 (Akashibi literally means 'Red Tuna'. The surname is referencing the members of Kanamin Kitchens who having edible meats as their tagnames (with Ayane referencing Fish in this case) Ayane itself means Colorful Sound. Her name is also a reference to Hirata Junko, whose stage name is Ayane.)
Fujisaki Kagura: 不二咲 神楽
(Fujisaki references Danganronpa's Ultimate Programmer, Fujisaki Chihiro. While Kagura is... well... a Gintama reference.)
Credit for the above goes to RosyMiranto18, once again thanks for this, you are awesome!
Persona 5
Codename: Songbird
Chapter 21
Laying Low II
Date: Saturday July 16th 20XX
Time: Afternoon
Location: Akihabara
Weather: Sunny
Objective: Survive Finals
xxx(Take Your Time)xxx
Finals week was finally over. Takumi was confident that he was going to pass them with flying colors, but Ryuji was a different case. He had made it blatantly obvious that he hadn't studied at all, despite hanging out with Ren and asking him to study. Ann had been the same, English was the only subject she was good at, and she hadn't studied at all. The young actor had finished rather early, and had been let out by Ms. Chuno, who had been impressed with the speed he had finished his exams in. Usually the entire day was given to the students, but for those that finished early, they were allowed to go home. Since only two exams were taken a day, it left the students with quite a lot of time. Which was why he had gotten in contact with some directors and asked them if they had any open roles. Much to his surprise, there was one who was currently holding auditions for a new movie, as well as a director for a new soft drink commercial.
It was also why he had invited Ann to go with him. This would be the perfect way for her to learn about acting. Ren was coming along for the ride, curious as to how a commercial was filmed. So after each of them had finished their final exams, they took the train to Shibuya and switched to the Akihabara line. Electric Town was as lively as ever, but he lead them down another route, away from where his older sister lived, to a more lively area of Akihabara. They passed by the GiGO arcade, one of the most famous landmarks in Electric Town and one that he frequented a lot when he was younger. If you were a fan of Sega this was the place to go. But since Takumi was a man on a mission, that meant he had a place he needed to be at and that place was Don Quijote, a discount store chain on the level of Junes. It was a tall building consisting of grocery and specialty stores, toy stores and the famous AKB48 theater, where the idol group AKB48 did daily shows, and where most of the idols associated with that group started out. It was also where he was meeting the director of one of the commercials he was going to film.
"I've never been to this part of Akihabara...you know this place like the back of your hand don't you Takumi?" Ren asked curiously.
"You could say that...this was my favorite place when I was growing up. I used to spend all of my pocket change at GiGO trying to get some high scores on the machines there. I just feel at home here, plus some of the more interesting acting gigs take place here. If we finish early, we can stick around for one of AKB48's shows."
"You know I've always wanted to see one of their shows live. How exactly did you get this gig again?"
"It was Kanami, she put a good word in with the director. It's just a short commercial for some new soft drinks. Apparently some of the idols are gonna have specialty drinks and they needed someone to drink out of the can." he said jokingly, earning a chuckle from Ren.
"Poor Takumi, surrounded by pretty idols and all he gets is a free soft drink."
"Eh...shuddup! Now remember Ann, I called you here so you could take notes on how to act. I'm going to be surrounded by a group of the most famous idols in Japan, hell the world. While I am a big fan of their work, I am going to be a professional about it. So remember to pay attention, got it?"
"Sir Yes Sir! I shall follow your orders to the letter!" the girl cried, giving him a salute.
Once they arrived at the correct building, they stepped into the elevator, going straight to the eighth floor. It was here where the AKB48 theater was located, and where he would have to meet the director of the commercial. He could see various people walking around with cameras, cables, tripods, lamps and various other things. On stage were various cardboard cut outs of the soft drink they were advertising. There were a few idols on stage that he hadn't seen before, mostly around his age, so they were probably the new girls. The director that he had spoken too had told him he was doing this commercial just to get attention to these girls, so it was a good way to get himself recognized as well. AKB48 was a national icon, so if he did commercials with their girls, he would definitely bring more attention to himself. He looked around for a few seconds, spotting the man near the stage.
"There he is, this man is an American director, I heard he came to Japan to get his brand of directing recognized here." he said, leading his friend's down the aisle toward the stage.
"Does that mean he's here to film the next Godzilla movie?" Ren asked earning a laugh from the actor.
"Maybe, and if we're lucky we'll get hired as extras."
"Hey, that would be pretty good. I heard extras get paid a lot per scene." Ann said.
"It depends what kind of extra you are. Some even have a couple speaking lines so you might get lucky...well, wish me luck."
"Good luck Takumi, you've got this in the bag!" Morgana cried from within Ren's bag. He took a deep breath, adopting a confident look as he walked up to the director, a man in his early thirties, wearing a pair of glasses on his face, dressed rather casual for his role.
"Excuse me, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Ah, Mr. Mashita! I was wondering when you'd be coming, oh you're dressed in uniform, school just let out didn't it?" the man asked curiously.
"I had finals today, I didn't want to be late. The last time I was, the director ended up shouting at me. So I made sure to be extra punctual, I've got another meeting in Asakusa after this, so I couldn't really change." he said, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"It's totally fine, in fact I think the student look will be perfect for our commercial. This young woman is Clara Morita, she's a new idol for AKB48, so we need to get her face out there." the man said.
"It's nice to meet you Mashita-kun! I hope we can get along well together." the girl said happily, shaking his hand.
She looked to be around Takumi's age, with light hazel colored hair, styled into twin drills, and held up by white ribbons. Rather than wear the usual get up the idols wore, she was wearing a French Maid outfit, which was black and white in color, with short puffy white sleeves. She wore a white apron over it, which had a name tag sown onto the side, in the shape of a heart, which was pink in color. She wore white stockings and formal black shoes. It was a rather odd style for an idol, but AKB48 was known for having different sister groups, each with their own unique style, so he didn't question it.
"You look familiar...have we met before?" he asked, after a few seconds.
"I don't believe we have...ah...wait...I might have handed you a flier once. This isn't my only job, I work at My Own Maid, I'm sort of klutzy, so I don't get many shifts. I needed a source of income, and I'm a good singer, so why not right?" she asked, her eyes twinkling a bit. The tone of her voice betrayed her look however, which made the boy rather suspicious.
"I suppose...you must be a rather patient person, getting a job like this and all."
"It pays the bills." she replied, glancing back at the director.
"Well, I should explain...we've already got some scenes filmed. This one is rather short, all you have to do Takumi-kun, is stand on stage and drink out of this. Clara-chan will walk up to you, read her lines and you just reply with, Oh this is the new cherry flavored mineral water Sakura-Mizu, you take another drink, and that's it. Simple right?" he asked.
"I suppose...how many of these do I get to drink?" he asked curiously. The man chuckled, handing him a few cans of the drink, in various flavors.
"We have plenty, this commercial isn't just for the idols here. It's also for the grocery store and for the company. They're small, but they wanted to start with something small like soft drinks. I promise they're really good." he said. Takumi shrugged, cracking one of the cans open, taking a gulp from it. He turned to his friends, having handed them some of the drinks he had been given.
"Ah...you're right, this is pretty good. Now then, pay close attention to how it's done Ann. This is a learning experience after all." he said, walking up onto the stage, along with Clara. Ren and Ann backed away from the stage a bit, allowing one of the camera men to set up where they had been standing.
"Alright Takumi-kun, just stand in front of that vending machine we set up. There's an unopened can inside, all you have to do is reach into it, open it and say the lines we gave you." the director said, earning a thumbs up from the boy. One of the make up artists walked up to the young man, looking him over for a second before applying some make up to his face.
"Don't worry, this stuff isn't harmful for your skin." she reassured, earning a groan from the boy. Ann and Ren couldn't help but laugh quietly to themselves. Once done, Takumi took his position. The cameraman started rolling.
"Rolling."
"And action!" the director cried.
Takumi reached into the machine, just as he had been told, grabbing the can from inside. He cracked it open and pressed it to his lips, drinking from the contents, turning around to walk away. Clara started walking toward him about to read her lines when she stumbled on her own feet falling hard onto the stage. Somehow she had grabbed a hold of Takumi's hand, sending the drink he was holding to the ground, spilling it all over the place.
"Ow!"
"Cut, Clara-chan are you alright?" the director called out.
"I'm fine." she replied, sounding muffled due to her face being pressed against the floorboards. Takumi knelt down in front of her, holding his hand out.
"You didn't even get a line out...usually people get tongue twisted, not leg twisted." he joked, earning a giggle from the girl.
"Like I said...I'm a little klutzy...can we take it from the top again?" she asked.
"Yes...put a new drink in the machine." the director said. A man from the prop department placed a new can within the machine. Takumi got back into position, earning a nod from the director.
"Rolling."
"Okay, with feeling this time! Action!" he cried.
Takumi sighed inwardly as he grabbed the new can from inside the machine. Just like last time, he opened it taking a gulp from it. He turned around, slowly walking away from the machine waiting for Clara to enter the scene. She didn't stumble this time, instead she stood in front of Takumi, a blank look on her face. He stood there awkwardly, waiting for her to say something.
"Um...s-sorry to bother you s-sir...what might t-that be in y-your hand?"
"Oh this? This is a brand new soft drink called Cherry-Mizu. It's cherry flavored sparkling water with zero calories. Would you like to try it?" he asked.
"S-sure...I'd love to."
"Cut...Clara-chan, honey, you aren't reading your lines right. I like the stuttering though, it makes you look like an innocent maid. If you wanna keep that, go for it. But just read the right lines. Places everyone." the director called. Takumi frowned, taking another drink from his opened can, handing it to one of the stage hands, who replaced it with another unopened one.
"I don't think Takumi is having fun up there." Ann said from her seat.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well look at him, he looks a bit...disappointed? Like he wanted a little more from this. Plus that Clara girl is kinda klutzy."
"As if you could do a better job than her Lady Ann." Morgana said.
"What is that supposed to mean? Of course I could do a better job than her. It isn't hard to read some lines you know!" she exclaimed, catching the attention of the director.
"Oh, you're an actress?"
"Huh? Not really." Ann replied.
"Hmm...I have an idea, how about you take a break Clara-chan, we'll let this girl handle it. Don't worry, you'll still get your chance to shine." he said. Clara frowned, giving the man a nod as she got off the stage.
"I can't go up there...I'm not ready for something like this!"
"Come on Ann, it'll be fun. This is a learning experience after all, and you fine. Give it a shot, I promise it's a lot less nerve racking on stage." Takumi said cheerfully. The girl sighed, giving him a nod.
"What do I have to say again?"
"All you have to do is ask Takumi-kun what he's drinking, and he'll in turn reply with the name. It should be easy enough right?" the man asked. Ann nodded, walking past Clara onto the stage, fixing her hair slightly. One of the make up artists checked her over, giving the director a nod.
"Take three, rolling." the cameraman cried out.
"Action!"
Takumi mentally sighed, reaching into the machine for the soft drink, opening a new can for the third time. He took a drink from it, walking away from the can, just as Ann excitedly ran up to him, causing him to stop in his tracks.
"Hey there, I couldn't help but notice that drink in your hands. Would you mind telling me what it's called?" she asked, her voice sounding a bit ditzy as she spoke.
"Huh? Oh, this is a brand new drink called Cherry-Mizu! It's cherry flavored sparkling water. Do you wanna try it?" he asked, holding the can out to her. She gratefully took it, downing the rest of the drink, wiping her mouth with her arm.
"That was awesome, oh but I drank it all. I know, I'll buy you one since you let me drink yours!"
"Hehe...okay."
"Cut...that was brilliant! It was so normal, like two teenagers just hanging out. Miss are you sure you aren't an actress because that was perfectly well done." the man asked.
"Um...I'm not really an actress or anything. Takumi has been giving me lessons, but that was something simple. I acted like I would in school." she replied, giving the man a smile.
"Well it was perfect, we're gonna keep that take. Don't worry Clara-chan! We've got a restaurant scene in the final act of the commercial, since you work at a cafe that should be much easier for you to handle."
"Okay...whatever works!" the girl replied happily.
"Thank you so much Takumi-kun! That was all we needed you for today, if we need you for another commercial, my secretary will get back to you. Could I trouble your friend for her information? I feel like I've seen her somewhere before."
"I'm a model, I was in last weeks cover of Vague magazine. I guess this stuff just comes natural to me." Ann said.
"Ah yes...I knew you looked familiar. Ann Takamaki-san, my name is Albert Martinez, I came all the way here from the United States to learn more about foreign film and to teach some directors here how Americans handle filming. It would be an honor if you could be in more commercials for me."
"Huh...I guess I wouldn't mind that but...I'm really not that good of an actress." she admitted, giving the man a sheepish look.
"Nonsense, you did great in that one scene. It looked really natural, like a normal conversation between friends." Ren said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She shared a look with Takumi, who gave her a similar nod.
"This young frizzy haired lad has a point. If you have the time, I'd love to invite you to be in more commercials. Who knows, perhaps you'll even be found and be put in movies all around the world...here's my card, call me if you're interested." the man said, handing her a glossy business card. She reached into her skirt, pulling out her wallet, drawing one card from inside, handing it to him.
"Here's all my information, my manager told me to have these ready just in case. I never knew I'd actually have to hand one out. Kinda glad I got them made now." she said.
"That reminds me, I gotta get some business cards printed out too...I'm gonna talk to Yusuke, he'll make them all pretty and junk. Anyway, we gotta go before my train to Asakusa leaves. It was awesome working with you Director. Do you know how long it'll be until my pretty face is on television?"
"Hehe...a couple of weeks at most. We gotta edit it and present it to the CEO to see if he likes it. We'll let you know when it gets a slot on television. Thanks again for coming, I wish you luck on your next outing." he said.
"That was pretty fun...you looked much different when you were acting with Lady Ann." Morgana said, once they entered the elevator.
"Did I? I didn't notice a change." Takumi said, leaning against the wall.
"I agree, I think it was because you and that idol didn't have an chemistry. So you were just reading lines, but with Ann it was more natural and it flowed like a conversation would." Ren said.
"Interesting...I guess even I can still learn something new about acting. Clara has a long way to go if she wants to be an actress. I really hope she's a good singer, because I doubt she'll get any real work if she's that klutzy." he said, sounding a bit worried about the idol.
"I'm sure she'll be fine...still though, that face plant must have hurt." Ann said. Takumi nodded, about to say something when his phone started ringing. He sighed, pulling it out, seeing Rise's picture on the screen. He took the call, pressing it to his ear.
"Hey Rise, what's up?"
"Hey Takumi, remember how we were talking about Shimizu hurting people on set? I think I have some information that you'll be interested in. When can you get to my apartment?"
"I'm in Akihabara, in Don Quijote actually. I can get to your place inside of ten minutes. Is it something serious?"
"I'm not sure, but it is something that I needed to say to you. It doesn't involve your sister so don't worry."
"Alright...I'll be there soon."
"Who was that?" Ren asked curiously.
"My friend Rise, she needed to tell me something important. I don't wanna sound like a dick or anything, but this is more of a private matter."
"Hey, we totally understand. I gotta go do some modeling later anyway, and I'm sure Ren has some Ren stuff he has to take care of."
"Ren stuff?" the black haired boy asked, glancing at the blonde model.
"Oh you know...stuff that only you do. Which reminds me...we're running a bit low on meds. We can't go to the Metaverse without them, I'll try to buy some at the general store. But the stuff you always gets is the best stuff, think you can manage?"
"Mhmm...leave it to me."
"The way you talk...you aren't buying illegal meds from some back alley doctor, are you?" Takumi asked. Ren and Morgana shared a look, before bursting into laughter, surprising the young actor quite a bit.
"Ah...you're really funny man. Anyway, I'll see you all later...be safe you two." the boy said, once they were outside.
"Okay...see you later!" Ann added, sharing a brief hug with Takumi, before she and Ren left for the station. He watched them go for a few minutes, before heading toward Rise and Kanami's apartment.
He wasn't exactly sure why Rise had called him, but he knew it had to do with Shimizu. The tone of her voice suggested it, and he was quite worried about what was going on behind the scenes. So he hurried toward her house. After moving through the busy crowds of Chuo Dori street, heading toward the apartment. He made it ten minutes after, entering the elevator, pressing the button with the number four on it. Once on the fourth floor, he walked down the hall toward the apartment on the end, ringing the bell a couple times. The door swiftly open, and he was pulled inside, without much warning.
"Ah...Rise, why'd you pull me in?"
"Sorry, I just didn't want anyone to see I was home. Some guy found out I lived here and was sitting outside for hours. I finally got the cops to remove him, but you can't be too safe." she said softly. He noticed she was wearing an over sized tee shirt, over a pair of shorts, her hair being down as opposed to its usual style.
"Let me guess, day off work?" he asked, earning a giggle from her.
"Yup, I'm in between albums so I got nothing to do. It's sort of fun, not having to worry about concerts and junk. Though my manager said he would be scheduling some performances nearby. But my idol career isn't what I called you here for, it's about Shimizu." she said, leading him to the kitchen.
"What...what did you find out?" he asked.
"Well...it's some heavy shit...according to one of his stage hands, he's pretty abusive. Anyone who doesn't complete a certain task within the time he has given, is fired on the spot. Usually minor characters in his movies. But the big actors are treated even worse, some people say he's in cahoots with the son of the famous actor, Takeshiro Shouji." she said.
"Tch...the son of that man...his name is Akihiko, he's the bastard who took my role in his movie. I'm sort of glad I got shit canned then." he said. Rise pulled a couple drinks from inside the fridge, handing one to the boy. He twisted the cap off, taking a drink from it.
"What do you mean in cahoots though? What does he do?"
"According to this person, quite a lot. Since Shimizu is the reason why his father became famous, Akihiko treats him almost like family. He basically does whatever he wants on set. He gets whoever he hates fired, sexually harasses the women on set and worse...apparently he's hitting some of the interns. Shimizu just stands by, adding to the fire as well." Rise said, earning a frown from the boy.
"This sounds concerning but...one person alone saying this isn't enough. If more people spoke up, I think I would be able to discern its validity."
"Huh...why do you need to know if it's true? If someone is saying it then it is...I mean, Kanami comes here with bruises. So that means either Akihiko or Shimizu himself is hitting them."
"Trust me Rise...you can't jump the gun with only a handful of facts. It's best to have an entire file of proof, it's a lot more valuable. Right now, I only have second hand information, in order to get the truth, I'll have to speak with Kanami herself. Even if she refuses to say anything." he said. Rise set her bottle down, a dry chuckle leaving her lips.
"Good luck with that. I'm sure everything is all just speculation and rumors. I mean I've met Shimizu myself, and he seems nice. But going but what you said before...I just need more information. I'm positive I'll find something." she said cheerfully.
"Can you keep tabs on Kanami for me? I'm worried about her. She's been really busy with this damn movie. It doesn't make any sense, Shimizu said filming starts during the summer, but over the last month, he's been filming stuff. What the hell is he making if it's not When Idol's Fly?" he asked.
"That I am not sure of. Whatever the case, it's gonna be a hit as soon as it comes out. One thing I did find out, is that he treats Jadis and Associates like some sort of sacred shrine. He said in an interview that young people make his movies more impactful. And that he's responsible for starting many actors on the right path. It's through hard work and love that his movies score so highly."
"Sacred shrine? That sounds sick...so he treats that place like a recruitment center...but why go after idols though? I mean, idols do make for good actresses, and the transition is natural. It's just...something is off about him." Takumi replied, finishing his beer, setting the bottle aside.
"I can agree with you there...this almost reminds me of that time. It's been quite awhile since I've done some investigating like this." Rise muttered, eyes narrowed as she lost herself in thought. Takumi glanced at her, a curious look on his face.
"Investigating? What are you going on about Rise?"
"Huh? Oh nothing...nothing at all. I know...how about I become your inside girl? After all, in order to get information on idols and celebrities, you need someone vibrant and cheery to squeeze information from them. I know you are technically a celebrity, but with your career in shambles how it is now, I doubt you'll get anything from anyone."
"Hey! My career isn't in shambles! It's just...an uphill battle. But you do have a point...having someone as cheery as you would be a benefit. Okay then, Rise Kujikawa, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to get deep inside the bowels of Jadis and Associates, and bring me back information. Not just that, you'll aid me with getting information from celebrities as well."
"Why? I get the first part, but why the second part?"
"I got my reasons...what do you say?" he asked, holding his hand out. She gave him a nod, giving the boy a firm shake.
"It's a deal!"
"I am thou, thou art I, thou hast acquired a new vow...
It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh
thy chains of captivity...
With the Rebirth of the Sun Persona, I have obtained the winds of
blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power..."
xxx(New Confidant Acquired: The Sun)xxx
"Huh...Kanzeon?" Rise muttered, once she let go of Takumi's hand. She shook her head, looking a bit dazed.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're a light weight."
"Absolutely not. I just felt a little dizzy there for a second."
"Hmm...you shouldn't drink if your pregnant, that could be harmful for the baby you know." he said, giving her a cheeky grin.
"I am not pregnant...anyway, I'll get you some information later. I'm set to pick Kanami up later, we're going out to dinner. She's been trying to meet someone for the past year and hasn't been successful. So I'm gonna be her wingman, see if I can get her a good man."
"Good luck with that, anyone who can handle Kanami's cow jokes, her lust for meat and bouncing personality at five am is worthy of being a god. If not you could always marry her, I wouldn't mind having two big sisters."
"Screw you Takumi, you know I don't swing that way. Gee, that's the last time I give you Bud Light Platinum. We're getting you something else."
"Oh, Four Lokos!" the boy said cheerfully.
"Absolutely not...Jeez, what the hell is wrong with you?"
xxx(Take Your Time)xxx
Date: Saturday July 16th 20XX
Time: After School
Location: Sunshine City(Ikebukuro)
Weather: Sunny
Objective: Survive Finals
xxx
"I was quite surprised when you invited me here. I had thought you were gonna be busy in Asakusa for quite sometime." Yusuke said, following Takumi deeper into the abandoned park.
"Nah...as it turns out, I was late to my meeting there. The director was pretty pissed and told me I wasn't needed. It's like every time I want to audition for a movie, there's some force preventing me from succeeding. I guess I really am the Tower arcana huh?" he said, muttering the last part.
"Worry not friend, I'm sure you will get that role soon. Perhaps you should focus on aesthetics, to stand out more. That way, you'll get more roles coming your way."
"Maybe...so, is this a good spot? I know you wanted to sketch some stuff." Takumi said, leaning back against a nearby stall.
They were currently in the biggest part of the park, in front of the Destiny Land castle. It was a large street covered in abandoned booths, surrounded by various attractions, with the castle right in the middle. The entire place was full of trash, leaves and broken parts. A few people were walking around, snapping pictures while others were content with breaking even more stuff. Most of them were vandals, others were homeless and some were just there because they had nothing better to do. He had seen Toni among them earlier, but she hadn't noticed him, which he was rather thankful for.
"Yes, this spot is perfect. It conveys just what I am looking for, a once beautiful park, filled with people, now devoid of most life. Only a few still stay back to explore the once bustling area. This will be the perfect piece for my end of the year project." he said, opening his sketch pad, pulling one of his pencils from within.
"Ren told me you were in some sort of slump. That you painted something based on the Metaverse and some guy in Ueno was harsh about it."
"That is correct...I wanted to convey the unsteadiness of the human heart. How cognition changes it into a dark and twisted place...I thought I had conveyed that through my art. But the man who viewed it didn't think it was perfect at all. In fact, he said it was the opposite." Yusuke replied, glancing up for a brief second before continuing his sketch.
"I don't really get art critics but there is one thing I do get. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You can't really appeal to everyone, so you can't say your painting was a total failure. But I am happy to know that you aren't letting that get you down. Drawing more human stuff like this will show both sides of the heart. The real side, and the cognitive side." Takumi said. Yusuke looked at him, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Yes...I feel like that isn't a bad idea at all. In fact, you have given me quite a lot to think about. Have you ever considered drawing? I find it to be quite a relaxing thing from time to time. It's natural to let the mind wonder after all."
"I'm not that good of an artist, if I'm being honest. I guess with time, I can draw something really good, if I put my heart into it. Mostly anime stuff." he replied. He glanced to the path ahead, seeing some teenagers doing flips from the statue, while others filmed. He could see Toni from a distance, preparing to scale the side of a tall building, being urged to do it by the ones already on the roof of it.
"Perhaps that is your true calling in life. You seem to be quite fond of anime and video games. Maybe you should become a voice actor, if real acting is giving you trouble."
"I've thought about it...and I have voiced anime characters before but...it's just. I don't wanna give it up you know? It isn't about my acting, I love it. But now, it's just about recovering my career, to show the world that I'm not what my father said I was. If anything, I want to soar with my acting, so I can tell him that no matter how many times he kicks me down, I'll rise above it and be the better man." he replied.
"So, it's resentment toward what he did that fuels your passion for acting. I suppose you and I share something else...after what Madarame did, I couldn't help but ask myself why. Why would he abuse all of those people for personal gain? I realized that he and your father have quite a lot in common. Both would do anything in order to ensure control over people, to a certain degree. The plagiarism was how he controlled his pupils, and how he gained money. Ruining your career was how your father gained a subservient heir."
"When you put it that way, it really makes me wanna punch him. I'm not sure who's worse though...my father ruined my public image sure. But Madarame drove someone to suicide...I think that's four times worse than what I'm going through. I wonder what he was thinking about, you know? Before he pulled the trigger." Takumi said, causing Yusuke to stop.
"Life is a beautiful thing...we wonder through it, wanting to make something of ourselves. But when what we love and cherish most is gone, we lost ourselves. Perhaps he was thinking about his art, and how what he loved once made him happy, and then started making him sad and depressed. I heard he had lost everything, his job, his art career, his fiancee and their child, which was a miscarriage. All of that coupled by what Madarame did...he didn't stand a chance." the blue haired artist said, bowing his head in shame.
"I didn't think it was that bad."
"I blame myself...if I had spoken out, and told someone about what Madarame was doing...perhaps it wouldn't have ended that way."
"It isn't your fault Yusuke...you were being oppressed by him too. He was in control, and you couldn't do anything about it. You defeated him, and that's what matters...this is exactly why Goemon came to you...because you and him share that. Both were oppressed, both wanted to do something. The only difference is, Goemon was killed for what he did, and you had a chance to blossom from your experience, so don't waste it."
"Hehehe...you are quite insightful for your age...might you secretly be a psychologist like your younger sister?" he asked curiously.
"Me? A psychologist? Ha, that's a joke...I don't think I could ever handle that stuff. I'm just...talking from experience I guess. I understand what people are going through...which is why I'm happy to be a Phantom Thief, because I can be myself around you all." Takumi said, a smile on his face.
"Yes...it is quite something, to be part of a group that will change people for the better. I am finished sketching, I will complete this back in my dorm. I'm glad you invited me here today Takumi."
"Well...you asked me to hang out here so I couldn't let you down. Besides, I had a bit of a request for you, if you can handle it. I'm in need of some business cards, and since you draw some awesome calling cards, I figured you could come up with a design. I only need one, I can handle getting them reprinted." he said.
"I believe I can handle that. I'll come up with some designs and bring them to you when I can. When do you need them?"
"There's no hurry. Maybe by Tuesday, like I said I'm not going to be needing them for a bit. After this latest blunder in Asakusa, I think I'm just gonna stick to filming commercials for now." he said, giving the boy a sheepish grin.
"Then I shall take this time to come up with some designs. Perhaps watching the fireworks festival shall give me some inspiration for both this and your cards. Speaking of which, are you planning on wearing a Yukata to the event?"
"Nah...I just wouldn't look right in one. I'm just gonna go casually, though I am looking forward to seeing the ladies in Yukata. Some designs are quite beautiful, and I want to see them dressed in traditional clothing."
"I agree, they do bring out the beauty of a woman don't they?"
"Takumi, is that you? Why didn't you tell me you were gonna be here?!"
"Run!" Takumi cried, urging his friend to head toward the gates. He didn't want to hang out with his sister's perverted friend, especially when someone like Yusuke was with him.
xxx(Take Your Time)xxx
Date: Sunday July 17th 20XX
Location: Takumi's House(Shibuya)
Time: Late Night
Weather: Clear
Objective: Await the Fireworks Festival
xxx
"Come on dammit, get me up! We're right there!" Takumi cried, clicking the keys on his keyboard. The clicks coming from his mouth were audible, as he continued to shoot the mob of undead surrounding him.
"Don't worry Firewire, I got you!" a cheery voice said. Suddenly, a character started bashing the undead from around him with a baseball bat, before quickly reviving him.
"Oh god, thanks Alibaba, I thought I was gonna die there for a second. Let's get to the chopper, quick!" he cried, quickly using his Adrenaline shot, giving himself a boost. The two characters quickly jumped into the chopper, where the rest of his teammates were waiting.
"Nice game guys...wanna play Swamp Fever next?" one of the other players asked.
"Hell yeah, I'm down. I don't got anything to do tomorrow anyway, what about you Alibaba? You game?"
"Of course I am...you know, it's really weird to be playing a game with someone so famous." the girl said, earning a chuckle from the boy.
"Hey, I'm just Firewire on here okay? Let's try advanced this time around, normal mode is for pussies." he replied, picking his character for the game.
"Just don't make me carry you. I whooped your ass with Rachel Alucard, don't make me leave you behind."
"Ah...what did you bring that up for?" he asked, grabbing a hold of his drink, sitting back against his chair, waiting for the level to load.
"Sorry guys, but I'm gonna bail on you. Mom is telling me to go to sleep, I'll play with you later." the third and last player said, leaving the game. Takumi frowned, earning a groan from Alibaba.
"I'm just gonna make this game for the two of us. I don't want any randos in this lobby."
"Alright, I'll let you handle it. Hey Alibaba, how much of a gamer are you?"
"Eh...that's a random question. Well, I guess I can indulge your curiosity, mwehehe! I have quite the collection, but Left4Dead2 is my favorite out of the bunch. It's always interesting."
"I agree...been playing this since I was in the States. I'm just glad my version of the game works on the Japanese servers. I didn't want to buy the localized version of the game, it makes the mods look dumb." he replied. The level started, and he ignored the beginning of it, waiting until he could move. Once he could, he grabbed the MP5 from the top of the table, leaving the train car right after.
"Oh...now I'm curious about what mods you got. I would ask you to list them, but it's much easier for me to see them. Too bad I can't do that."
"Why not? You live anywhere nearby? We could meet up somewhere and share mods. I promise, I'm not a creep."
"I'm...not allowed to leave home."
Takumi frowned, wondering why she couldn't exactly leave. She sounded a bit sad when she spoke. As he was about to ask why, she ended up changing the conversation.
"What do you think of the Phantom Thieves?"
"That's a random question...but I'll bite. I think their the necessary justice...you know, like Batman. He isn't the hero Gotham deserves, but it's the one Gotham needs right now. The Phantom Thieves get shit down, so as long as they take creeps off the street, I'm totally for whatever they do." he replied.
"Interesting reply...does that mean you support them?"
"Yep...I'm 100% on the Phantom Thief express. Why so interested? Are you against them or something?"
"Not really...I just needed someone's opinion...I think I finally got an honest one. All of the ones online are kinda crappy...anyway, I'm most likely gonna have to leave after this campaign. But I have one more question for you."
"Okay...what is it?"
"Can I spam your chat with dank memes later? I got some really good ones." she said, earning a laugh from the boy.
"Yeah, that's totally fine. I've got my own share of dank memes, let's out meme each other. Whoever delivers the worst meme has to file for dankcruptcy and just leave the world of memes for a week."
"I would hate to file for dankcruptcy...you are on, Firewire! Bring on the memes!"
"Hehe...let's finish this campaign first." he said, his attention back to his computer monitor.
He and Alibaba continued playing Left4Dead2 for another hour, speaking mostly about memes and video games. He was curious as to who this girl was. She sounded a bit young, meaning she was most likely his age, probably beginning her summer vacation. She ended up quitting the game at around 1:34 in the morning, promising to play another round when she had time. He was curious as to what it was she was busy with, but he didn't like prying into people's lives. She did end up sending him the first round of memes, which he ended up laughing at for a good ten minutes. He sent some of his own, decide it to call it a night.
"Aw...man...I'm so glad exam week is fucking over. Now all I have to worry about is summer vacation. And all of my failures in acting." he muttered to himself, glancing at his ceiling. He shivered a bit from how cold his A/C was, but he didn't feel like turning it down. As he was about to fall asleep, his phone started buzzing loudly. He grabbed a hold of it, wondering if Alibaba had replied with more memes, but it was actually Ann who was calling him. Growing concerned, he took the call, holding the device to his ear.
"Hey what's up?"
"Did I wake you? I'm sorry if I did."
"Nah...I was still up...I was looking at dank memes. Why are you still up? Did you take a shot of espresso or something?"
"No...I was a bit restless. I was thinking about that commercial I filmed, and I was a little excited to see it. Anyway, I heard there was this new movie out, and since you're an actor, I figured I could use this as an experience. You know...watching a movie and then analyzing it, I just had to call you, you know?"
"I guess...so you want to go watch a movie and ask me for my opinion, while also focusing on the actors. That isn't a bad idea...you're really into this, aren't you?" Takumi asked. He could almost see the sheepish look on her face.
"Hey, when I'm into something, I like going in hard. I've...been having a lot of trouble with modeling. Mika has been upstaging me a lot, so I've decided to focus more on it. I used to see it as a hobby, but I wanna take it seriously, just like with acting. That's why I had to call you, even though it's almost 2AM." she replied.
"It's fine...I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. If I can help you take your mind of it, then I'm glad you called me. So, what's the name of this movie?"
"It's called Love Actually...it's a chick flick...I know, I've wanted to see it for awhile. But I couldn't ask someone like Ren or Ryuji to come with me. It's a bit sappy."
"Ugh...I hate chick flicks...but alright, wanna meet at the theater in Shibuya at like...uh, Eleven?" he asked curiously.
"That works. Since I'm inviting you, I'll pay for the tickets...thanks again for agreeing to go with me."
"No problem, I'll see you tomorrow...bye Ann." he said, ending the call right after.
"Love Actually...ugh...sounds like something I'd watch when Ready Player One is sold out. Fuck me...I hope you know Ann, you are literally the only woman I would go to a chick flick with. I don't know what that says about our relationship, but I'll be damned if it makes me look bad." he said to himself, his eyes closing right after.
xxx(Confidant Ranks)xxx
Ren Amamiya 0 The Fool(Rank 3)
Morgana I The Magician(Rank 1)
Makoto Nijima II The Priestess(Rank 2)
Yusuke Kitagawa IV The Emperor(Rank 2)
Ann Takamaki VI The Lovers(Rank 3)
Ryuji Sakamoto VII The Chariot(Rank 1)
Billerica Isoshima XI The Strength(Rank 1)
Kotone Otonashi XV The Devil (Rank 2)
Mitsuhide Isoshima XVIII The Moon(Rank 1)
Rise Kujikawa XIX The Sun(Rank 1)
Igor XX The Judgment(Rank 2)
Justine & Caroline XXI The Aeon(Rank 2)