"I would love to go with you, but I think I would like some time alone today. Yesterday was fun, but it was also tiring."
Reading Chie's text, Francis replies before going out to the living room.
Having received confirmation from Yosuke that Yukiko is safe, he puts that matter to rest.
Francis knows that Nanako is spending time with her friends today, and his other friends are doing their own thing.
"Well, might as well go take a look around town." Francis comments playfully in Japanese before heading out.
In the living room, the inner voice speaks up in Japanese.
Thy bonds of the Chariot and Aeon Arcanas have been strengthened. Thou shalt received more power when wielding and fusing Personas of the aforementioned Arcanas.
Hearing this, Francis thanks it in Japanese. Before he can go on, the inner voice talks again.
And damn, Thou art making progress.
Francis sighs before leaving the house. Outside, he comes to the realization he is speaking to himself in Japanese. He smiles gently before continuing to take a walk around town.
"How do I keep coming back here?" Francis thinks to himself with humor in Japanese as he stands in front of Daidara's smithy.
"Can I take a spear with me?" Francis asks the owner politely, who looks at him sternly. "I thought I wanna switch up my style."
"Don't see why not. Not like anybody else appreciates my art." Daidara says calmly before sitting down.
"Not working today?" Francis asks curiously.
"Everybody needs a break once in a while."
"Right. I am gonna come back and pick it up another time."
Francis says his farewells and leaves the shop. He passes the spear that Chie eyed a short glance before heading out.
As he walks out, he realizes something weird. He takes a look at the spear once more.
On the second look, he sees that the spear head is not a straight blade, but rather the shape of a cross. At the base of the blade, two other blades protrude out.
"Jumonji-Yari. That's what it's called." Daidara explains from the side.
"A spear with the kanji for ten, huh?" Francis comments playfully before walking out.
Taking the bus, he eventually reaches the station he first came out from.
"Now, Marie said she met me here somehow."
Francis thinks to himself before taking a look around the area.
"No hint, huh?"
Unable to find anything, Francis decides to sightsee instead. Seeing nothing but trees, he jests playfully.
"Trees as usual."
After getting a drink from the vending machine, Francis decides to head to Junes.
"This town really is the slumps."
Francis thinks to himself after walking around Junes for a bit, finding nothing that catches his interest.
Seeing that he still has a long day ahead of him, Francis casually takes a walk around town. While walking around, he encounters Yosuke. The two merely exchange greetings before going their own way.
As he walks, he sees a fox walking around. The fox comes up to him, as if begging him for food.
"I got nothing. Sorry."
Seeing the fox eye him, Francis decides to pat it on the head. After he pets it, the fox licks his hand.
"Huh. Got a new friend. Don't think I will be seeing you around much though."
As the day proceeds, Francis continues to walk. Eventually he walks past Samegawa, seeing Chie training alone as he does. He walks towards her and greets her.
After greeting one another, they simply exchange nods before Francis keeps moving.
Eventually, Francis comes to Tatsuhime Shrine, a shrine near the shopping district. Francis feels it is a small shrine, despite the fact he didn't visit shrines much in Tokyo.
He sees the main building, what seems like a notice board, and what he assumes is the offering box.
As he goes inside, he hears sobbing. Although uncertain what is happening, Francis still decides to check it up.
He sees a man crying in the corner. The man has no defining features, with an average build and short hair.
"Hi?" Francis greets the man awkwardly.
"Oh. Sorry, I wasn't feeling too well." The man apologizes while still sobbing.
"I understand if you don't want to, but perhaps we can talk?" Francis asks kindly.
Seeing the man gesture him to sit, Francis follows suit. After he does, the man starts talking with a gloomy tone and expression.
"I originally came from Tokyo. I had to move after a personal incident. The woman I loved lived around here, but something happened to her and I wasn't able to stop it."
The man pauses to breath. Francis waits silently for him to continue.
"At first, I was devastated, but then I noticed another young girl was facing a similar situation. That time, I decided to intervene, but my efforts ended up being fruitless and the girl ended up suffering the same fate."
The man's words remind Francis of what happened to Konishi.
"I understand."
After Francis speaks, the man looks at him wide eyed.
"I promised my friend that we would save his friend, and I ended up failing them both." Francis says with sadness.
"I see. Hard to believe one so young would go through something like that." The man says gently.
"Thank you." Francis says kindly.
He then continues talking about his experiences. "The girl I like ended up facing a similar situation, and I almost died trying to save her friend. I was so worried that I would fail the whole time, but we managed to pull through together."
"Together, huh?" The man says with a kind smile. "Unfortunately, I do not have the fortune of having allies."
"I wish I could say you should, but I understand that life sometimes does not deal you the cards you wish to have." Francis says with understanding.
"Aren't you a bit too mature for your age?" The man comments kindly and humorously.
Francis chuckles. "My father was killed years ago, and when I moved to Tokyo I didn't have a happy life either. Guess all those experiences made me more mature."
"I see. I can't say the same for my life though. I had a good life, but it got dreary after a while and that sapped me of my will to go on." The man says with sadness.
Seeing, Francis continues warmly.
"Truth be told, the girl I told you about. She feels the same way about me, and that is what gives me strength to go on. In fact, her friend would probably be dead had she not given me the strength I need to save her."
"You really love the girl, don't you?" The man asks kindly, with a hint of cheer.
"I do." Francis says happily.
"I used to think the same of the woman I loved, but I was unable to save her. I am happy that you can save your girl's friend." The man says kindly.
"Thank you." Francis replies.
"I am afraid that more trials will be put in front of me, and that I will not have the power to overcome them." The man says with fear.
"I… I can't say I understand that. I don't want to sound insensitive, but I believe it is because I have allies." Francis says with assurance.
The man sighs.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset." Francis apologizes.
"Don't worry. My life is my own, and you do not hold responsibility for what happens to me." The man says kindly.
He then gets up and walks to the offering box.
"I came here because my grandparents told me many years ago that a god resides here. I don't exactly believe in gods, but without doubt coming here allowed me to meet you and have a talk." The man says gently.
He prays, and puts some money into the box.
"Thank you, young man." He says kindly while bowing. Francis bows back.
After the man leaves, Francis starts walking out the shrine as well.
"Yip."
Hearing a weird sound, Francis turns around. He sees a fox behind him.
"Another fox?" Francis says.
The fox walks up to Francis like the previous one. Seeing it eye him, he pets in on the head. After being pet, the fox licks Francis' hand.
It then runs towards the shrine. As it does, it looks back at Francis, waving its tail as it does.
"Uh, it's getting late so I should go." Francis says kindly.
Grrr
"Woah, chill, I can come back another time." Francis apologizes.
The fox eyes him. After a while, Francis sighs and follows the fox. As he does, it yips cheerfully.
Following the fox, Francis finds a piece of wooden board being posted up on the notice board. Curious, Francis reads it.
"I wish I can move past my regret."
"Okay. What about it?" Francis asks the fox.
Yip.
"Right. Thought about adding fox whisperer to my resume, but seems like I should forget it. At least hearing magic voices can be on it." Francis jests.
May I speak?
"Go ahead." Francis responds to the inner voice, who is speaking Japanese now.
I believe the fox holds great power, and it wishes to aid thou in thy endeavor.
"And you can tell because?" Francis asks humorously.
No response.
"That's helpful." Francis jests. He then turns to the fox and makes an inquiry. "So you wish to help?"
Yip.
"And it has something to do with this wooden piece?"
Yip.
The fox then moves to the offering box.
"You want me to donate?"
Grrr
Francis thinks. He looks at the piece, and then to the box. Something then clicks. "Oh ya, if people get their wishes fulfilled, they will donate more money."
Yip
"So you are in it for the money?"
Grrr
"You want to help?"
Yip.
Something then clicks for Francis. "The man mentioned a god, are you the god?"
Grrr
"So the god rumor is caused by you?"
Grrr
"Oh make sense already. I don't speak fox." Francis complains.
The fox walks towards Franics and eyes him.
"Sorry. Been a long two weeks. With many happy moments, but long." Francis says. He then pets the fox.
"Sorry, but I don't get what you want. Now, let's assume you wanna fulfil the wishes, and that matter is tied to the offering box…." Francis stutters at the end.
Something clicks.
"The man put money in after I talked to him. Considering what he said, I will say he is plagued by regret, which I helped him move past…"
Yip! Yip! Yip!
"Okay, I think I get it." Francis says kindly. He then chuckles and jests. "Maybe I should add fox whisperer to my resume after all."
Yip…
The fox yips weakly, almost like it's disappointed in Francis.
"Oh, find somebody else to fulfill the wishes then!" Francis complains. After shouting, Francis chuckles.
Thou hast formed a new bond. It shall grantest thou strength when fusing and wielding Personas of the Hermit Arcana.