Alright, chapter 55 go!
First of, yay, I finally finished watching the Persona 4 Endurance run. Yep, it was funny, and I have a better understanding of P4 now. Yay.
Now to answer reviews. First off, I haven't been sleeping well recently, but last night I got a solid twelve hours done and I promise to take better care of myself in future, so future chapters should make more sense.
That being said, it's hard to describe what other people are doing when talking in first person, and even then, you have the trade off: Description or pace. When I get into fights, I find it hard enough to keep up with my own thoughts, let alone think about what's going on. However, that's still no excuse, and I'll try to improve on that in future.
Also, sorry if my switching between tenses is confusing some people. I do that subconsciously all the time in this story, and didn't consider it a problem up until now. I normally do past tense in general, then switch to present when something big is happening, so sorry if that confuses people.
Corynv, I copied Edogawa's speech direct from the game script, so yeah, Judgement was in there.
ByLanternLight, so did I, but I gotta keep these fresh.
Lone Effortz, NightmareSyndom, Fireblast123? This one's for you.
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I got the fortune tellers advice on what Pharos told me. Wanna know what she said?
"Three blades close in on you, tearing the shadow apart... A brave howl confronts them... Things seem to be stirring around you once again... There is more... In the depths of the abyss, another blade watches you closely..."
Which is pretty much what Pharos told me only with swords and Koromaru.
Ah well. SUMMER FESTIVAL!
Yukari told me to wait at the shrine for her, so I did. It would have made more sense to walk together, but it's one of those things.
So, here I am, outside the steps to the shrine, waiting on a date. This is a new experience for me.
"Hey!"
I turned around to… wow. Yukari looks good in a whatchacall it…
"How do I look?" She asked.
"Great." I told her. "Really… Great." It's not a Kimono; it's a… what's the word…
She smiled. "Though, it is kinda hard to move in a Yukata…"
Yukata! That's the word, yukata. I knew it, really.
"Sure you did." Shut up Pharos. In fact, don't say a word for the rest of the night.
"Fiiine…" Pharos groaned, walking up the steps.
"Shall we go?" Yukari asked, offering her arm.
I smiled and took it. Yeah, I know that she knows it's fake, but it's not a bad habit.
"Minato-senpai!"
What, what? Someone short redhead grabbed onto my other arm. DAMMIT RISE!!
"Oh… hey…" I said. She was in a red yukata
"Um, who's this?" My date asked.
"Huh?" Rise asked, spinning on my arm to see Yukari. "Oh, I'm Risette! Nice to meet you!"
"Oh, hey…" Yukari was angrily confused, whereas I was angrily annoyed. "I'm Yukari Takeba…" She turned to me. "So..?"
I sighed. "She's Rise Kujikawa; we met at Escapade a couple of weeks ago."
"We're working together!" She said happily.
"Wait, what?"
"Didn't I tell you?" She asked. "You passed the audition! You're playing with us at the concert on Friday the Fourth of September!"
Yukari's eyes widened. "That's the day before the next full moon!"
"Is it?" Rise asked. "Wow, you're really smart Yukari-senpai!"
Oh hell I'm a dead man. The safest way out of here would be to run like hell, only Yukari knows where I live.
"Rehearsals are at the club every weekday until then," Rise told me, "So remember to come, alright?"
Aww… I was going to check out some of those film marathons. Ah well. "Fine… Fine…" I rubbed my head. Gotta make it clear to both of 'em where I'm standing on this.
"Rise-chan!" Called a voice from behind us. Some guy in a suit.
"Oh, Manager-san!" She called back. "Hi!"
He stopped just before us, catching his breath. "Don't… run off… like that…" He suddenly glared at me. "May I ask who you are?"
"I'm the guy who's playing at your concert next month?" I suggested to the guy.
"Oh yeah?" He looked at me suspiciously. "Well, just remember to keep your hands off Risette; she's got a reputation to keep."
"Manager-san!" Rise shouted.
"What!?" Yukari shouted.
"Dude!" I shouted. "My girlfriend is right here!?" I nodded to Yukari.
Managerman glanced at her, then gave me the evil eye. "Just watch it kid. Come on Rise-chan."
"Seeya tomorrow Minato-senpai!" Rise called as she ran into the festival, blowing me a kiss with a wink.
"She one of your 'social links'?" Yukari asked suspiciously.
"Thankfully no." Which suggests that she's saner than Yukari? I'm worried. "Shall we go?" I asked.
Pushing the previous event out of her mind, she nodded. "Yeah, alright."
Alright, I admit it.
I suck at catching goldfish in little nets.
I mean, really. You wouldn't think there was much to it, but I simply suck. Why?
I guess something's I'm better off not knowing. Yukari was alright at it, winning a couple of fish.
Now to fail at the hoop throwing game thing.
Once again, I suck.
I think I saw Fuuka out of the corner of my eye, but she escaped.
"Wow, I'd have thought that you would be good at these games." Yukari said with a laugh.
"So did I." I replied. Pharos was chuckling in the background.
"So… um…" Yukari hesitated.
"You want to know who Pharos is." I answered. It wasn't a question.
"Well, yeah." She replied. "I-I mean, you didn't exactly deny it when Strega asked you about it."
I shrugged. "Honestly, I have no idea who or what he is, but he's damned helpful."
Eyebrow raise. "Oh yeah?" She asked.
I nodded. "Remember the night I arrived, I asked you about a contract?" She nodded. "Well, Pharos got me to sign a contract that I'd take responsibility for the consequences of my decisions, then disappeared." I shrugged. "He warned me about the Priestess battle, and he's been following me around since."
"Wait, you knew about the Priestess before it happened?"
"Only that I'd face an 'Ordeal' on the full moon." I told her. "I suspected that it'd be another Shadow, but since I had no evidence, I kept my mouth shut and kept us training. He's also the Death social link."
Pharos started whistling behind me. Smug little...
"So…" Yukari looked uneasy. "Is he here… now?"
I nodded. "Right there." I pointed over my shoulder. "You can't see him though."
She looked anyway. "Yeah, I know. No-ones there." I shrugged. "Maybe I'm only hallucinating, but he's been more help than harm."
"Harm!?" Pharos shouted. "When have I ever done you wrong?"
Alright, fine. "Actually, he hasn't led me wrong yet, so I'm assuming that I'm sane and he's something else for now. Anyways, wanna try the shooting game?" Must come across as sane.
Yukari was mildly stunned, but shrugged. "Sure, okay."
Hey, after you've seen what we've seen, you'll believe pretty much anything.
Let the world know. I rock at the shooting game.
I mean seriously. Crappy toy rifle and I hit all three Jack Frost Doll's right between the eyes one handed. The guy running the stall said that it was sharpshooter level, and I haven't even played paintball before.
Why is it that most of my skills revolve around culture or killing things?
Then again, Orpheus and Thanatos…
Oh, right. Prizes. "Here you go." I said, handing one of them to Yukari.
"Hey, thanks!" She said, taking it happily. "What're you going to do with the other two?"
"Dunno." I shrugged. "Probably give them to some kid then."
"I'll take one thank you."
HOLY HELL ELIZABETH!?
"You two know each other?" Yukari asked me. Holy hell did I just say that out loud.
"Yes." Pharos said.
Did I just say that last thing out loud?
"No." Pharos replied
What about the last thing?
"No, but you really should get back to the situation at hand." Pharos suggested.
Good plan. "Oh, Mr. Arisoto calls on my services regularly."
"Really?" Yukari asked, looking at me with suspicion.
Must… not… run from… potentially life threatening… situation…
"For Persona." I told her. "She hold records of my old Personae. Elizabeth, this is Yukari, Yukari, Elizabeth."
"Pleased to meet you." Elizabeth introduced.
Yukari smiled at her. "Nice to meet you too."
Elizabeth smiled back. "I wonder if I could perhaps steal Mr. Arisoto temporarily?" She asked Yukari.
"What for?" Yukari asked her.
"So he could please escort me around the festivities?"
"Wh-what!?" Yukari gasped in surprise.
Must… not… run from… actually life threatening… situation…
"Yes, it has been a while since he last escorted me around the human world." She said as Yukari looked at me with what looked a lot like anger. "So could I-"
"Well, no!" Yukari snapped back. Wow, she's surprisingly possessive. "No, you can't!"
"I see." Elizabeth bowed slightly. "May I ask for your answer Minato?"
GONE!!
Damn… I can run pretty damn fast.
"Whoa, chill out Minato-kun."
Huh? "Oh, hey Kenji." I bent up to face him, then looked around for any sign of danger. "What's up?"
Kenji grinned, holding two stick of candyfloss. "I'm looking for Emiri." He said. "She should be around here somewh-…" He trailed off as his face contorted in horror.
I followed his gaze. I didn't see anything that horrific.
"Is that Emiri?" He asked, candyfloss shaking in his hand as he pointed. "Who's that guy with his throat down her neck?"
"Hey… did you actually propose to her?" I asked him.
"Y-Yeah!" He said, his voice cracking.
"Like, actually put a ring on her finger?" I asked.
"Not a ring…" He said, "But who's that guy?"
"From the engagement ring, I'd have to say it's her fiancé." I told him. "I'm sorry…"
"S-stop it! Why are you trying to make me feel better?" He shouted, starting to cry. "I'm an idiot…" He said, dropping one of the candyflosses, which I caught with my foot. "You should be laughing at me!"
I confronted him. "Dude, you had no idea that this would happen!"
He started running away, covering his face, muttering "Baka. Baka baka baka baka…" To himself.
"There you are!" Yukari said, jogging up to me. "I've been looking all over for you! What just happened back there?"
I handed her the candy floss and my spare Frost doll. "I'll be right back."
"Huh?" She grabbed by arm. "Where you going now?"
"Kenji just found out about Kanou's fiancé." I told her. "I need to go talk to him."
"Wait, isn't she the teacher that was leading him on for the past few weeks?" She asked. "If you ask me, he had this coming."
"He loved her." I told Yukari. "I mean, he really, really loved her." Then I set off at a sprint. Dammit, I am just too nice.
"Hey, you alright?" I asked him, finding him sitting on the swing.
He didn't say a word, but he was still holding onto the candyfloss.
I sat down next to him and took the floss. Hey, why let a good piece of confectionery waste, right? "Look, I know how you feel."
"No you don't."
"Alright, I don't." I said. "Every time I went through this it was my fault."
"This was my fault." Kenji replied. "I should've known this would happen."
"With how much you loved her?" I asked, munching his sugar. "I'd have been surprised if you did see this coming."
Kenji chuckled miserably. "I'm an idiot, aren't I?"
I smiled. "Still, if you did know this was going to happen, what would you have done?" I asked him.
"Huh?"
"If you knew she was seeing someone else, would you have dumped her?" I asked him. "If you could've known that she was already taken and she was just playing with you, would you have called it off?" I asked him. "Or would you have stayed, hoping to be with her for just one more day?"
Kenji didn't say anything, so I took another bite while I thought about what to say next. "Now, if it was me, I'd go find the filthy bugger who dared touch my woman and beat him black and blue." Munch. "Wouldn't change anything, but I'd feel better."
Kenji smiled for half a second, "You would wouldn't you?"
"Yeah." I replied. "Couldn't do that last time though."
He perked up "What happened?"
I shrugged. "There were these two girls I hung out with. Nice girls, but I didn't like them that way. Thing is…" I sighed. "They thought that I was dating them, and I never cleared it up."
"So, you were two timing two girls you didn't even like?" Kenji was shocked.
"I wanted to get to know them." I defended. "But I, being a remtard, didn't think to clear that up." Munch. "Guess what happened?"
"They found out and kicked your ass?" Kenji suggested.
"Pretty much." The scary part was that I got away with it. "Point is, these things happen." I said, taking another bite outta the candyfloss. "You just gotta get over it."
Kenji laughed bitterly. "Easier said than done man." He smiled. "But thanks."
SMASH!
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou choosest to create a Persona of the Magician Arcana…
"Hey, is that my candyfloss?" He asked as I finished the pink fluff.
"…No?" I suggested. No way he'd believe me, but I reckon I can make him laugh it off.
It worked. "It's cool." He stood up with a smile. "You're paying for the ramen next time though."
Isn't it my turn to pay next anyways? "Alright then." I sighed. "I got a date to get back to."
Kenji laughed. "What, after your failure you two timing scumbag?" He said jokingly.
I shrugged. "I'm a playa. It's how I roll."
"Nice." Kenji shook his head. "I'll see ya at school then. Later."
"Later." I said, watching him go down the steps. Now to try and find and appease Yukari.
Amazingly, all it took was a box of octopus balls to share and Yukarri was happy.
Only, Elizabeth said at the stand that there wasn't any actual octopus in it. I asked what was in it, but she said that the human mind is cursed forever with any knowledge it gains, so she decided that I was better off not knowing.
Meh, I've eaten Dibbler level pies. Whatever's in it, I'll live.
So long as the Octopia lady isn't called Dibbler in any way.
"Who, Cheeks?" Yukari asked when I told her this. "No, why?"
"Wait, Cheeks?"
Yukari nodded. "Yeah, her nickname is 'Cheeks'll fall off Debby'."
No. Bloody. Way.
I'll never eat from there again.
We saw Mitsuru and Aigis checking out a mask stall on our travels.
We escaped before they noticed us.
Summer festivals are hard.
You know what I miss? Fireworks.
Yeah, we have fireworks now, and Japanese fireworks are better than the English ones, but you know what I miss?
Proper Fireworks.
Back in the day, you asked for a Banger and that's what you got. A Banger. Nowadays they're just unimpressive.
And the safety instructions. They used to be worth reading.
Light blue paper. Stuff in small child's hood. Run.
Hey, is that a fireworks stand over there?
…
Pharos, wanna go do something bang out of order?
"I'll find Kenjamin." He told me, licking a huge lollipop. How the hell did he get that?
Pharos just shrugged and walked into the crowd.
Sadly, Kenjamin didn't come. Wise decision on his half, since he escaped my experiment on natural selection.
The kids who are fit to survive notice the explosive and get rid of it. Fast.
However, the festival ended with little more incidents, and I escaped with my scrotum intact. Yay.
Now for a day of guitar playing tomorrow. Joy.
Then started my two solid weeks of concert practice. So much for relaxation.
But hey, I downloaded the game I play with Ms. Toriumi / Maya onto my iPhone, so at least I have something to do on the train as I went to and from band practice on Monday.
Now it was said Monday, and I'm on the train to band practice, so I whipped out the phone and started playing.
I hadn't been on in a while, so I didn't know about this notice from the staff in my inbox.
-{ Attention players, }-
-{ Although we initially planned to allow "Innocent Sin" to run indefinitely... }-
-{ Recent feedback has shown that player participation is not adequate to continue. }-
-{ We are terribly sorry for any inconvenience this causes for active players. }-
-{ However, the servers will remain open until the official end date. }-
-{ We hope that you understand and that you enjoyed your time with "Innocent Sin." }-
-{ Sincerely, -"Innocent Sin" staff }-
Dammit! That was a wasted app.
Maya appeared behind me. –{ u got that message from teh admins, rite tatsuya? T_T}- Her avatar 'said'
I typed the affirmative. –{ it said their cancelling innocent sin. ...think its for real?}- Maya asked.
I checked the date and typed a reply. –{ End date next week, so most likely. }-
Maya's avatar started crying comically. –{ tatsuya... do u think we'll still be able to see each other? T_T }-
Start September I can guarantee it. –{ I think so. }-
Maya stopped crying. –{ yeah... we can meet each other in different ways I guess ¬_¬ }-
-{ maybe there will be another MMO or we could hook up irl, but still =S }-
-{ NO! we have to stop wasting our tiem! }- Maya did a super saiyan impression.
–{ maya's not goin quietly! )=/ i'll beat them to the punch! }-
Interesting. –{ What's the plan? }- I asked.
-{ ...oh dun worry tatsu. i won't do ne thing dangerous ¬_¬ }- Well, she seems a little happier.
-{ im gonna send them a log fo the convos we've been havin together here ^_^ }- That may not be a bad idea really.
-{ if they knwo this game is important to us, maybe they'll reconsider =D }-
-{ even tho tatsuya's just some lonely kid and maya likes to bitch too much... ;) }- Me? Lonely? Well, I suppose that's how I come across to her.
-{ that shouldn't matter!!!1 }-
-{ (to tell u the truth, i kinda hope ur a handsome guy tho...) }- Oh don't worry, I am.
-{ don't worry, maya will protect u! we'll always be partners, k? }-
SMASH!
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou choosest to create a Persona of the Hermit Arcana…
-{ alrite! i'm gonna go write my email w/ our convo log! ^_^ }- Maya sent me.
-{ don't mess w/ maya & friends or u'll regret it! MwahAHaHhaHa! }-
-{ next time we'll celebrate our victory, k? bai! }-
BING! _/\_ We have arrived at Port Island Station. Please take all your belongings with you. _/\_
-{ Alright then. You on later tonight? }- I hit enter.
Maya's reply was fast. –{ k. c u them }- She logged off. I did the same.
I'm beginning to suspect that the reason behind this practice is to make sure I'm good enough to not embarrass Rise, but not so awesome that I upstage her. Apparently the manager was against picking me for some reason, but Rise insisted. Thanks Rise. Really.
But hey. I got two free tickets to the concert and a paycheck out of it. It's all good.
Note to self, buy one of Rise's CD's on the way home, need to set up a playlist that her fans will like.
I logged back onto Innocent Sin on the train home that evening. I got teleported to some beach within five seconds.
Maya was there as well. –{ i saw you log on so i brought u here w/ magic. sry ^^; }-
-{ It's cool. }- I sent back.
-{ ...i should apologize }-
About teleporting me? –{ Oh, no worries. }-
-{ no tatsuya, if u keep being nice i won't ever move fwd =S }-
Wait, is this the max social link conversation?
-{ remember how i said i would send our chat log to the admins before? ¬_¬ }- Maya sent.
-{ i dun think i will... }-
Oh? –{ Is that why you're sorry? }-
-{ Kinda, but... i meant sumthing else too ._. }- Maya kicked the ground in an Emote.
-{ i read over our chat log and i didn't like waht i saw =/ }-
-{ what kind fo person plays an MMO jus to bitch about coworkers? -_- }- More people than you'd think, I suspect.
-{ u shouldn't have had to put up w/ me doin that. im sry m(_ _)m }- Hey, is that a grovelling smiley? That's awesome!
-{ sum teacher i am, rite? =/ }- Fair point.
-{ i kno it'll look like i'm chickening out an stuff, but... }-
-{ im thinkin bout quttin the MMO today i... dun think i'll c u again T_T }-
This was sudden. –{ I'll miss you. }- For like, two weeks.
-{ i'll totally miss u more *^_^* }- Yeah, since you don't know you'll see me back at school.
-{ since nobody can see my face on teh intarweb, i could be mean... =( }-
-{ so i jus have to look myself in the mirror and make it rite! ^_^ }-
-{ shyeah rite. =P i never would've figured this out w/out ur help }- That's how I roll.
-{ tatsuya taught me to be thoughtful even when im not around ppl =) }-
And cue the level up.
SMASH!!!
Right on cue.
Thou art I… And I am thou…
The bond thou hast nurtured hath finally matured. The innermost power of the Hermit Arcana hath been set free.
We bestow upon thee the ability to create Arahabaki, the ultimate form of the Hermit Arcana...
This bond shall never be broken… even as you part ways…
But we're not parting ways! We'll see each other in two weeks!
You know what, never mind.
-{ ...well, i better go now ¬_¬ }- Maya posted.
-{ i drew something in the sand for u }- Wait, you can do that in this game?
-{ check the ground once i log off, k? ^^; }-
-{ its kinda embarrassing, but i worked real hard on it }-
-{ if u upload a screenie to ur cellphone, u can keep it always! }- Or I can just save it since I am playing on my phone.
-{ i dun even cry during romance movies but my eyes'll be red tonite... T_T }-
-{ remember, let's think positive! }-
-{ Sure. }- I sent back, getting my avatar to wave.
-{ gg, tatsu. thx 4 everything }- Maya logged off.
I got to work finding the thing she did.
Found it. She wrote something in the sand.
C {3 –
I tilted the screen to read it. The display tilted with it, so I uttered a sly "Buggery" and tilted my head.
…
Wow, Kenji would love to be in my shoes right now.
Screen shot, save to images, and delete Innocent Sin App.
BING! _/\_ We have arrived at Iwatodai Station. Please take all your belongings with you. _/\_
Yay. Now for sleep.
"'Sup dude?" Junpei shouted when I got in. "Let's go to Tartarus man!"
Sigh. This is gonna be a looong summer.
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Yes it is.
Gonna take a break while I try to organise my social link guide so I can make the most time skips. I really need to make up for lost time. By which I mean a few hours. So you won't really notice it.
Gonna skip the next two weeks, so chapter 56 will be the first day of the new term. Yay. Gonna get some focus on the Priestess Arcana done in the new term, as well as Fortune and others.
As always, review. I'm taking suggestions for Minato's set list; give me your suggestions because I got nothing.
