6/21 - Morning - Iwatodai Dorm - Kotone
"You sure you'll be fine on your own, Fuuka?" Kotone asked. "You don't want to stop by Naganaki Shrine with me?"
Currently, only Fuuka and Kotone were inside the dorm. Everyone else had left for the day; Junpei said that he was going to Naganaki Shrine to meet a kid. Yukari and Ren tagged along to make sure nothing bad happened. Kotone could only thank them silently in her head; Junpei is a good guy, but he can get a bit in over his head at times, just like during the Class II Full Moon Operation.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Kotone. I'll be fine," Fuuka said. "I'm used to it."
Kotone slightly grimaced. "If you're sure. I'll get going to the shrine then," she proclaimed as she opened the front door. "If you need anything, just let any of us know, okay?"
Fuuka nodded and waved as Kotone exited the dorm and closed the door.
It was a sunny day in the city with clear skies, strong sunlight. All clear signs that summer was coming soon.
Frankly, Kotone was excited that school was ending for the summer. It might mean that she could spend more time with others and build up her Social Links faster. She had to increase the pace just in case the upcoming Full Moon Shadows became even stronger than before. They even had abilities that the Tartarus Shadows didn't have. What would they have next, and how could SEES prepare for them?
Kotone shook her head, remembering Akihiko's words from yesterday. They have the time to train and get stronger. On top of that, they got two new members: Fuuka and Ren, and that had caused Mitsuru to move to the front lines, something that excited Akihiko.
Kotone placed her ATH-EQ300M headphones on her ears and played a random song to drown out her surroundings.
'For the first group going through Tartarus, it should be Ren, Yukari, and Mitsuru-senpai. Yukari and Mitsuru-senpai took the back seat last time, and they haven't worked with Ren before. This would also be Ren's first time working as a proper member of SEES and through Tartarus as well,' Kotone thought with a shiver.
'I can finally see that costume again. That was so cool. And, on top of that, all those stunts he pulled last time. It was like watching a real-life movie, or as close as the Dark Hour could be to real-life,' she thought with a small smile. Pausing her thoughts for a moment, she noticed she had arrived at the Iwatodai Strip Mall. She continued to walk towards the Naganaki Shrine rather than use the trains. 'There's also Mitsuru-senpai, who Akihiko-senpai said was as battle-ready as he was. Apparently, being a navigator was a secondary job for her, not the primary. I wonder what she'll bring out to the front lines. I can't wait to see them both in action.'
Still, the trip to Tartarus is about a week away. The more pressing matter was last night. 'It was a good thing that the conversation went in another direction,' Kotone contemplated with a frown. It had gotten too close, too personal, for comfort. 'Last night was weird, like I lowered my guard around him and almost spilled a bit more than normal. It was a good thing that I changed the topic, and he didn't seem to notice.' She sighed. 'Still, it wasn't all for nothing. I got a promise to meet up with him for a movie night. There was also that thing with Mama. Did he get scammed by a fortune teller back in Tokyo or something? Then there was Tanaka...' The thought of him made Kotone's face sour. 'Like hell I'll let anyone get close to him. He's scummy and opportunistic. I still don't know why I bonded with him, of all people.' She could still remember when she visited Igor and Theodore to ask about how she connected to Tanaka and how she begged to cut her ties with him, to no avail. 'At least it's the Devil Arcana. It makes sense, considering how bad of an influence he can be.'
A small smile crawled up her face as she remembered the other Social Link she grew closer to. 'It wasn't all bad last night; at least the Fortitude Arcana got stronger. And since we promised a movie night, we have some plans to hang out again instead of just waiting. I wonder if he'd notice that I copied some of The Bride's moves. Ren probably got his from the movies he watches.' Kotone chuckled at the thought that Ren might be a dorky movie buff, contradicting the quiet, cool, and charming face he showed in school. 'The same face that caught Tanaka's eyes... Maybe spending time with Tanaka would be more bearable if Ren were with me.'
In no time at all, lost in her thoughts, Kotone arrived at the Naganaki Shrine. As she walked up and reached the top of the staircase, she noticed that Junpei, Yukari, and Ren were talking to a kid in the middle of the shrine grounds. On one side of the shrine grounds, by the benches, was the man that was with Maiko before.
"Hey, Kotone!" Yukari called out to Kotone as she waved her to come by. "This is Ken," she said as she pointed to the kid. "Apparently, Junpei talked to Ken first."
"Did not!" Junpei yelled out. "The little guy looked sad, being here all alone. So I talked to him... Not on purpose, I mean."
"How do you talk to someone, but not on purpose?" Ren muttered though it looked like Junpei didn't hear him. Kotone wondered the same, too.
"Junpei-san, you did come up to me first," Ken corrected. "Today, he introduced me to Yukari-san and Ren-san."
"That's right, it'll be good to see Ken-kun make more friends," Yukari exclaimed. "By the way, Kotone, what are you here for? Any plans for the day?"
Kotone nodded. "Yep. Planning to work at the movie theater today. Fuuka said that you guys were here, so I thought I'd come by and say hello before going to work," she replied before glancing at Ken. "By the way, why did you come to a shrine? There's no one here to begin with."
"No specific reason," Ken answered. "I can just relax when I come here."
Ren nodded with a gentle smile. "I completely understand. Temples and shrines have always been places to calm the heart."
"Ew," Kotone said with a small smile. "You sound like an old man, Ren."
Ren shrugged. "Just because I used to meditate in a temple doesn't make me old."
Ken's eyes lightly glittered as he looked up to Ren. "You sound so mature," he muttered.
"Well," Kotone said as she checked her phone, "I've got to go to Port Island Station now if I don't want to be late. See ya!"
"Port Island Station?" Ren asked. "Then I'm coming with you. I've got to do some digging."
"Digging?" Junpei asked. "What for?"
Ren glanced at Ken before looking back at Junpei. "For my own curiosity. I'll tell you guys at the dorm, but it's what I told you guys last night."
'Crimes on the Lost?'
Yukari gasped, realizing it. "Oh okay. Gotcha."
Junpei looked at Yukari before realization hit him as well. "You sure, Ren? I thought Mitsuru-senpai said that she's handling it."
"I know," Ren said, "but it doesn't feel right to leave it alone."
Junpei narrowed his eyes but then sighed. "Fine, but you are going to tell us later." Ren nodded.
Meanwhile, Ken only looked back and forth between the others, not following the conversation.
"Alright, come on, Ren," Kotone urged. "We stay here any longer and I'll be late for work." Ren nodded, and both headed for the Naganaki Shrine train station.
"So, Ren," Kotone piped up. "Now that Ken isn't here, why are you going to Port Island Station? The only things there are the movie theater and the flower shop."
"You forgot a place, not a store," Ren said.
"A place?" Kotone repeated with a confused look. "What else is..." Suddenly, her eyes widened. "The back alley?" Ren nodded. "What's there?"
"I'm hoping for more info on the Lost and crimes related to them."
"But why?" Kotone asked. "Junpei's right, Mitsuru-senpai said that she's going to start something to help them, so we don't need to do anything else."
"This stuff with the Lost has been going on for a long time, Kotone, but it's only now that Mitsuru-senpai is acting on it, and it's only because someone got caught," Ren countered. "What about those that aren't reported? Crime rates are usually higher than you know because there are incidents that aren't reported.
"But, there are people that know about this, and they hang out in shifty places. I thought you knew this," Ren said, glancing at Kotone. "You went there before for info on Fuuka, right?"
"Well, not really," Kotone answered. "We went there because we heard the girls hung out there, not that it was a place for crime. That was why we weren't ready for a fight. Was that why you were there that day?"
Ren nodded. "Yep. Like I said before, I was looking into the Apathy Syndrome because I got curious. Looks like I'll be continuing that."
"And where did you learn how to do all this?" Kotone asked. "This isn't something you learn at a bar, right?"
"Well, a bar is a shifty place to get info, but that doesn't answer your question," Ren said before frowning. He began scratching the area between his chest and his right shoulder.
Kotone raised an eyebrow. 'Did a mosquito bite him last night?' "Is something wrong?"
"No," Ren denied, and stopped scratching. "I just knew a guy that worked with the police before. That's all."
"The police?" Kotone asked. "You had a run-in with them before?"
"What? No," Ren denied as he pushed his glasses up his nose. "Nothing like that. Anyway, don't worry about me. You do your own thing, I'll do mine, alright?"
Kotone frowned. "Hmm. Fine, but you better tell us if you're in trouble, alright?"
Ren smirked. "Worried about me, Kotone? I'm honestly touched, but I'll be fine. I know how to handle a crowd, so I won't get myself shanked."
"Shanked?" Kotone repeated. "What's that?"
"Oh," Ren stuttered. "Uh, well, it means to get stabbed, basically."
Kotone became horrified. "That's horrible!"
"Shh! Quiet, Kotone," Ren pleaded. "People are staring." Kotone shut her mouth quickly, glancing around at her surroundings. They arrived at the train station but were just waiting for the train. Luckily, there weren't many people in the station this early on a Sunday morning.
"Sorry... But do you really think you'll get, uh... Shanked?" Kotone asked.
Ren snorted, causing Kotone to glare at him. "Sorry, sorry. It's just weird hearing you say shanked. But to answer your question, no, I don't think I will."
Kotone narrowed her eyes as she continued to glare at him. "Why is it weird for me to say the word shank?"
Ren hummed for a moment. "Well, it's a street slang. It's not something a cute girl would usually say."
'He thinks I'm cute?' Kotone thought to herself, slightly blushing in embarrassment.
"Is something wrong? Are you okay?" Ren asked. "You went quiet again."
"Nothing's wrong. I'm good!" Kotone replied, trying to calm herself and stop the blush forming on her face.
Thankfully, the train had arrived, saving her from any more embarrassment.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
6/21 - Morning - Port Island Station - Ren
"Take care, Kotone," Ren said as he waved at her right outside the movie theater.
"You need it more than me! See ya!" Kotone waved back and entered the movie theater.
"Saying goodbye to your girlfriend, huh, kid?" a voice said from Ren's left. It was a man with shoulder-length hair.
Ren shook his head. "No, just a friend."
He was about to leave, but a thought entered his mind. 'Before checking out the back alley, it won't hurt to get more info.'
"Have you seen anyone suspicious around the area?" he asked.
The man regarded him with a raised eyebrow. "What's it to you? Don't tell me you're some detective? Or are you that worried about your 'friend'?"
Ren shook his head with a smile. "A bit of worry and curiosity, that's all."
The man hummed as he kept staring at Ren, only to shrug. "You know how in movies, you see bodyguards with tattoos on their arms, and you know they're badass? Well, I saw one of 'em. It was right near here. He wasn't built like a bodyguard, though... He was rail-thin... It was easy to tell, 'cause he wasn't wearing a shirt."
"Doesn't sound healthy..." Ren commented.
"Kid," the man said, "don't do anything dangerous."
"What do you mean?" Ren asked.
"I heard rumors that he had a gun."
Ren frowned. 'That should be illegal and even harder to get.' "Thanks for the tip. I'll keep an eye out," Ren said as he waved at the man, walking towards the back alley.
Behind him, he heard the man murmur, "Stupid kids. Suit yourself."
"Been a while..." Ren muttered as he entered the back alley. "Though, it's only been a week."
A cat meowed weakly nearby. Ren glanced at the source of the sound, revealing a thin, black cat. It was very thin, enough to show the ribcage. No one else seemed to be around.
'I guess I can try again later.'
Ren approached the cat, knelt, and scratched it under its chin. "Poor cat..." he murmured. "I'll get you something soon."
As Ren kept scratching the cat's chin, he heard a door open nearby. He glanced to his side and saw that two men came out from the staircase going down.
"Did you hear?" one man began. "My buddy says these three weirdos come here a lot, but I haven't seen 'em yet."
"I couldn't give a crap about 'em," the other man responded, "so long as they don't start shit. They're fine with me." With that, the two smoked, no longer speaking.
Before the two became suspicious of Ren, he left the back alley and entered the movie theater, intending to buy some fried chicken. When he reached the cashier, he should have been surprised to see who was manning it, or, rather, womanning it.
"Of course it would be you," Ren said, smiling at the cashier in front of him.
"So," Kotone began with a grin, "it's my turn to serve you food, huh?"
Ren snorted. "That's right. I'd like to buy some fried chicken."
"Sure thing." Kotone nodded as she inputted his order into the system. "I thought you were going to the back alley."
"I was there already. There was a cat, so I'm going to give it some food."
Kotone looked at him with a questioning look. "Will that be okay?"
"Yup," Ren said. "So long as I don't feed it the skin and bones. Fried food isn't actually good for it, but it's an emergency."
"Order up!" a voice from the back called out.
Kotone left and came back with a pack of fried chicken. "Good luck, Ren. I hope it works out."
Ren left with a wave and rushed to the cat, hoping that it was still there. Luckily, it was, and Ren fed it the fried chicken meat.
Ren left the back alley when the cat finished the fried chicken, now standing by the stairs leading to the alley.
'Only 11:47. Still a lot of time before lunch,' Ren thought as he looked at his phone. With some time to kill, it wasn't like he had finished info-gathering in the area. Ren glanced around the station. The man from earlier was gone now; most likely have moved on for the day.
A couple sat by the flower bed. He could feel the awkward tension from where he was. 'Is it okay to listen in for a bit?' Ren hummed. 'It could be too private, too personal for someone like me. I should leave them be.'
Looking further, he could see a man in a business suit. 'He seems normal, nothing like the weirdo from the rumors. Should I try talking to him?' As Ren got closer to the man, he realized that the man was muttering to himself. 'And that's my in.'
"Are you doing alright there, sir?" Ren called out.
The man turned to Ren with a face of realization. "Ah, sorry about that. I didn't realize I was talking to myself. Was I loud? Did I bother you?"
Ren shook his head. "Not at all, I was just concerned, all with the Apathy Syndrome going around nowadays."
"Eh, don't worry about me, kid. I'll be fine."
Ren hummed. "That so? Then what got you talking to yourself?"
"Well, I heard about the disaster from someone I know who works at Gekkoukan High."
"The Apathy Syndrome?" Ren asked. "I heard about those."
The man nodded. "I think it's awful the way those students are falling victim to it. It's probably because of all the excess studying. Why would they study so hard...? I hope they don't have delusions of going to a famous university, and getting a high-powered job..."
"Why do you say that?" Ren asked. He had a feeling what the man's answer would be.
"Why bother trying so hard when the future isn't looking good? Studying excessively would only lead them to get Apathy Syndrome."
Ren grimaced. There it is: human apathy, believing that nothing mattered since the future was bleak. He heard the same thing from the inmates of the Prison of Regression.
"We can't help it, can we?" Ren countered. He could have just left the conversation at this point. It was clear that the man knew nothing about the weirdos hanging around the area. Still, his experience wouldn't let him. He had to say something back. "We don't really know what's going to happen tomorrow. Doesn't that mean that we have to keep trying to make tomorrow better?"
The man hummed. "Whatever. What would a kid know?" he muttered and left with a frown.
Ren sighed and rubbed the back of neck. 'Damn it, I lost it there. Morgana would have berated me for being so talkative to where the person I'm talking to would leave.'
Ren glanced around the station again. The only people he hasn't talked to are the station officer and the Rafflesia clerk. 'Funny, there was another Rafflesia in Shibuya. Was it a franchise by 2017 and I didn't know it?' Ren shrugged. 'Maybe some flowers would help calm me down?'
Ren approached the clerk. "Good morning."
"Hi!" the clerk greeted Ren back. "How may I help you?"
"I've been feeling..." Ren trailed off. Someone has been on his mind recently, someone with a very specific color. "Red. I've been feeling red lately."
-.-Take Your Time-.-
6/21 - Afternoon - Iwatodai Strip Mall - Ren
Ren bit into his Wild-duck burger, contemplating how his day had gone. Before coming to Wild-Duck Burger, he dropped the bouquet of three stems of Scarlet Rose and three stems of orange Fluorescent Freesias in his room. Afterwards, he went to Paulownia Mall. A student had said that he saw a new guy playing with a ball or something in the arcade. The student said that he had never seen the ball before, even as a prize.
It wasn't something concrete. It could just be some kid from outside the city, visiting to kill some time. And so it was low on Ren's totem pole of important things.
The more important rumor was what he heard just outside Wild-Duck Burger.
"I heard there's a growing movement on the Internet these days... I don't know what it's called, but this one guy is gathering lots of users around him... They say people just naturally take to him, 'cause he understands them."
Ren frowned as he remembered the rumor. It was something similar when the Phantom Thieves grew more famous after Kaneshiro and Medjed.
'This is getting worrisome. Back then, if we grew more and more famous, Mementos would let us in deeper and deeper. Is it the same with Tartarus? Are there even blockades in Tartarus?' Ren hummed and took another bite of his burger.
'The Tartarus trip is happening next week. Will it be alright to ask about it, or am I asking too much now? I could just wait while continuing to patrol,' he thought while chewing. He took a fry to break the monotony of a fast-food burger, glancing at it. 'Not bad. Compared to Big Bang, the burger actually looks fine, not a smashed burger.' Ren remembered how flattened the burgers were when he bought them from Big Bang Burger. The workers always overworked and went through so many orders that they didn't care how the burgers looked so long as it reached the customer's hands. Here in Wild-Duck Burger, the buns actually look like a bun, not a disk.
He shook his head. 'Back on track, I have three big catches today: a group of three weirdos hanging out by back alleys near Red Hawk; a weirdo that has a lot of tattoos; and finally, someone is gathering people online.
'The first two are more likely connected and are most likely far more dangerous. The man said that Tattoo has a gun, so I'll have to rely on Kurosawa-san for this. Even though I took bullets from Akechi and Sumire before, that was in the Metaverse,' Ren thought as he scratched his chest. 'This is the real world, and that means real bullets. I'm not willing to test if I could survive an actual gunshot.' Ren paused. 'Wait, what are the chances that this could be an Evoker or something similar...?
'Nah, while an actual gun is illegal and is near impossible to get without underground connections, an Evoker among the public is even more impossible. Still, the chances are not zero. I'll have to keep an eye out for a possible second group of Persona users.
'Most likely, Tattoo is related to this. He'll stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the day, so he should go out at nighttime. I'll have to keep an eye out around the Port Island Station.
'The third rumor is probably the most important in the long run. Someone is gathering online influence which could affect us later if it turns out they're fighting against us. Will we have to fight against the Will of the Masses, 2009 edition?' Ren sighed. 'I hope not. It was not fun the first three times.'
Ren stood up, intent on cleaning up his table. He had lost his appetite after thinking that he would have to fight an egotistical god again. Sure, they were fun, filled with adrenaline and all, but they hurt every time.
'Still, I'd rather that than the alternative of being completely brainwashed,' Ren thought with a smile. 'No regrets.'
-.-Take Your Time-.-
6/21 - Night - Iwatodai Dorm - Kotone
"I'm home!" Kotone announced as she opened the doors. Surprisingly, Mitsuru and Akihiko weren't at their usual spots in the lounge, though she saw Yukari, Junpei, and Fuuka sitting at the table. In the kitchen, Ren was busy cooking something, presumably dinner.
"Hi!" Fuuka greeted her back. "How was your day?"
"The movie theater is picking up, with summer coming and stuff," Kotone replied. "How about you guys?" she asked as she approached the dinner table.
"Yukari and me spent the entire day in the Shrine with Ken," Junpei said. "Ren was already here by the time we got back."
"Yep!" Ren exclaimed from the back. "I'm making dinner right now, so I hope you're hungry."
Kotone snorted. "Of course I am! What are you making, though?"
"Chicken katsu," he replied. "I found myself thinking about chicken since I ordered it in the theater."
"You went to watch a movie?" Yukari asked with a frown. "I thought you were going to investigate."
"Nah, nothing like that," Kotone denied before Ren could. "He bought it for some cat, apparently."
"Will that be alright?" Fuuka asked. "Also, what investigation?"
"It'll be fine, so long as the cat doesn't eat it all the time and I take the skin and bones," Ren responded with a glance towards the others. "As for the investigation thing, I'm looking into the Lost and if anyone is taking advantage of them. So far, no dice," he said as he looked back at the stove and tasted the katsu sauce. "Nice."
"Well, it's only been a day," Kotone said as she let her head rest on the table. "It would have been too much to ask." 'So tired...'
"Got that right," Ren said with a nod. "I'm just honestly surprised that the Lost are just left alone like that on the streets. They're easy pickings like that."
"I mean," Junpei began, "once we beat the Full Moon Shadows, all this will be over. We'll be heroes for that!"
"But the Shadows will take time to appear. Ikutsuki-san said that the last Shadow will appear in September," Yukari said. "Besides, do you think we can take them all on at once?"
"Please, we beat them last time! Just watch Da Man in action from the back, Yuka-tan," Junpei said with a smirk.
"Confidence is nice, Junpei, but too much isn't." Ren chastised. "As someone said, 'twice the pride, double the fall.'"
'Wait...' Kotone looked up from the table, with her chin resting on it. "You know Star Wars?"
Ren looked at him chopping cabbages and waved a hand in a so-so fashion. "Only a bit. Didn't watch the entire series. I'm honestly surprised you know about it."
"Hey, the stunts they do are really amazing!" Kotone exclaimed. "I even got one of my moves from there!"
"Wait." Junpei narrowed his eyes at Kotone. "The one where you jump and twirl in the air? Isn't that a bad guy's move?"
"The one where Palpatine screeches?" Ren asked, and Junpei nodded.
"Hey!" Kotone glared at the two. "If it works, it works. No complaining."
Yukari leaned towards Fuuka. "Did you get anything out of that?"
Fuuka shook her head. "Not really. I'm not really into that kind of movie."
"What kind of movies do you watch?" Kotone asked. 'I hope Fuuka starts joining these kinds of talks. I don't want to alienate her.'
"Maybe not movies, but videos and documentaries of animals," Fuuka responded. "That reminds me, I was watching this video about pets and how they tend to match their owners. It's quite funny since Ren seems like a cat person."
Kotone giggled. "No wonder you gave that cat some food."
"I won't lie," Ren said with a wistful smile. "I do like cats. What about you guys?" he asked as he started arranging the plates.
"Well, I like dogs," Junpei said, "especially the ones that listen."
"Funny you say that," Yukari interjected. "There was a dog that came by here yesterday afternoon."
"Aww man, that's a bummer," Junpei whined. "What about you, Yuka-tan?"
Yukari shrugged. "No preference, really. We'll let you know if Koromaru comes around again," she said with a small smile. "He's such a loyal dog... And he's cute too."
"Don't you think that Akihiko-senpai would look good with a dog?" Fuuka asked.
'Oh?' Kotone looked at Fuuka with mischief in her eyes.
"Not an unusual one, just an ordinary, playful dog..." Fuuka continued.
"Oh, what's this?" Kotone asked with a small, devilish grin as she straightened her back, properly sitting now. "Has Akihiko-senpai been on your mind lately?" she teased.
Fuuka blushed. "Eh?" she asked before rapidly shaking her head. "N-no, nothing like that!"
Yukari sported the same grin as Kotone. "Just imagine him running through the beach, playing catch with a dog, without a shirt, showing those abs of his..." Fuuka blushed even harder and hid her face behind her hands.
"Alright, alright, you two, that's enough," Ren said with a smile, bringing plates of rice, chicken katsu dressed in a sauce, and cabbage slaw. "Anymore and Fuuka might overheat from embarrassment."
Fuuka slightly sniffed. "Thank you, Ren," she murmured. The others thanked Ren as well.
"Sorry, sorry," Kotone said to Fuuka, putting her hands together as she apologized. "It's just that we don't talk about that here, so someone having a crush is some fresh air, you know?"
"I'm sorry too," Yukari said as well. "Mitsuru-senpai, Kotone, and I aren't really into that stuff, so being able to talk like this is nice. On another note, some girls in the Archery Club told me they heard Akihiko-senpai offered you a spot as the Boxing Club's manager. Is that true?"
"Isn't this the right time to go on the offensive?" Junpei asked with a smirk. "Offer him a towel and water bottle when he gets off the ring, cheering him on during his matches, him always noticing you. Sounds like you got him on the ropes!"
Ren snorted slightly at Junpei's pun. "Seriously, Junpei? Ropes and boxing? Sounds like we might have an Ikutsuki-san in the making," he remarked as he took his seat now that he served everyone's food.
Junpei looked at him with horror. "Oh god, I hope not!"
"Still," Ren said as he turned to Fuuka, "is that rumor true?"
Fuuka nodded. "He did ask me about it. I'm currently attending a Cooking Club too, so the schedules might clash. However, Akihiko-san said that it was fine. He said something about making sure I have something to do in the afternoons, so if I don't have any club meetings, I can join him."
"I wonder how the other girls are going to react to that..." Kotone muttered as she began to demolish her share of dinner.
"Luckily, the rumor has only started," Yukari mentioned. "But, we should do something before it gets out of hand again."
"What do you think, Fuuka?" Ren asked.
"I..." Fuuka trailed off.
"You know," Kotone said after swallowing the food, "if you take up on that offer, it'll be easier to do you-know-what."
"What's you-know-what?" Junpei asked.
Kotone glanced at Fuuka. 'I'm not going to say it unless you want me to.'
Fortunately, Fuuka understood her and shook her head. Kotone smiled at Junpei. "Sorry, but a girl's got to keep a secret!"
"Aww, come on!" Junpei groaned. "Not even a hint?"
"Nope!" Kotone voiced out as she shook her head.
"Hey, Ren," Junpei leaned towards Ren. "Let's keep our own secret, just us two!"
Ren smiled mirthfully and leaned towards Junpei. Junpei leaned his ear to listen in. "Wait, seriously?" he asked incredulously. "You've got to be kidding me."
"It's true," Ren said with a shrug. "I can teach 'em to you."
"No way, you're serious?" Junpei asked again, only for Ren to nod. "Of course Imma take you up on that!"
"What are you guys talking about?" Kotone asked. 'It's something he can teach?'
"Forget them, Kotone," Yukari said with a sigh. "Can't believe you're doing this too, Ren. I thought you were more grown-up than this."
Ren shrugged. "We've got to have some fun when we can, Yukari. Our lives can't be all serious business." Yukari stared at him but sighed after a few moments.
"You're right, sorry. I'm going to my room for the night. See you." Yukari stood up, leaving her dishes in the kitchen sink, and left to go to her room.
'Wow, that went well,' Kotone sarcastically thought.
"Wonder what's up with her..." Junpei mumbled.
'Must be because she doesn't like secrets...' Kotone thought, trying not to sigh. 'Seems like she hasn't told anyone about her dad yet.'
Ren shrugged. "Everyone's got secrets, Junpei. A lot of people are not comfortable talking about them. I guess she didn't like us keeping secrets."
"But she's okay with Kotone and Fuuka?" Junpei muttered. "Man, the double-standards." He sighed before rubbing the back of his head in frustration. "Argh, whatever. Yukari will be back to normal by tomorrow morning; she always does. In the meantime, this chicken ain't going to eat itself," he said as he began to wolf down on his share.
Kotone sighed. 'Ren's right, we've all got our own secrets, and it's not like I can force everyone to come clean.'
"Your plate's been empty for a while, Kotone," Ren said, taking Kotone's attention from her thoughts.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Do we have seconds?" Kotone asked.
"Sure do. Let me take that plate away," Ren said as he rose from his chair. He came back quickly with a new serving for her.
Kotone took a bite and sighed blissfully. 'God, this is so good. The chicken is so juicy, the outside is crunchy, the sauce has kick, and the slaw ties it all together,' she thought before she began devouring her new share.
"Thank you, Ren, that was delicious," Fuuka said demurely. Her plate was clean; not a grain of rice to be found. "May I ask a question?"
"Shoot," Ren said as he took in a small portion of rice and chicken.
"Would you like to join the Cooking Club?" Fuuka asked.
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"
Fuuka nodded. "Currently, it's just me and Kotone. However, her specialty is in sweets, so I would like to diversify the club."
"Sorry!" Kotone grinned. "I like sweets too much. But, Fuuka, will you be okay with Ren in the club?"
Fuuka nodded. "I have to. I can't just dodge a problem because I don't want to face another problem." She turned to Ren with a serious face. "That's why I would like to ask you to join us. Amongst everyone in the dorm, you're the most knowledgeable of the kitchen."
"Sure," Ren said it so simply that Fuuka initially missed it.
"I understand completely if you- "Fuuka paused. "You're agreeing already?"
"Yeah, of course," Ren said with a crooked smile. "Can't turn down a friend, now, can I? Especially one that needs help."
Fuuka gracefully rose from her chair and bowed. "Thank you so much!"
"Don't worry about it. Like I said, I can't turn a friend in need down," Ren said to calm her down. "What's the schedule like?"
"I'll have to make it first," Fuuka stated. "If possible, I would like all three of us together when we can. I know that will limit our options, but I feel much calmer with Kotone around. Sorry."
Ren nodded. "Understandable. I'm open most afternoons anyway, so just let me know ahead of time."
"Thank you very much," Fuuka repeated. "I should get going, too. I have to study. Have a good night!" Fuuka placed her dishes away and left for her room.
'Study?' "Oh, right, finals are in less than a month," Kotone voiced out. "And with Tartarus exploration and the Full Moon Operation coming soon, we actually don't have much time for the finals. Mitsuru-senpai is going to be so mad at us!
"Thanks for the dinner, Ren! I really have to get started too!" Kotone placed her dishes in the kitchen sink and, after getting herself ready for the night, began to study in earnest.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
6/21 - Late Night - Port Island Station - Ren
Ren took a deep breath before entering Red Hawks again. He had tried to enter the Que Sera Sera bar from earlier today but got stopped without a legal ID. Seeing as he didn't have anyone like Ohya from last time, this was only to be expected. And so, the next option was Red Hawks, the mahjong club.
When Ren got inside, the smell of cigarettes invaded his senses. He frowned. 'I seriously hope I don't have to stay for long.'
"A new face?"
"Ain't you a bit too young?"
"What's the boss going to say?"
"Hey, kid," a gruff man called out to Ren. "You should leave. You're way too- "
"Oh, my!" an old woman called out. "I remember you. You came by last week, right?"
Ren's face softened into a smile. "Hello, ma'am, I actually did. I remember talking to you last week. I played here for a bit since I was new to the city and all."
"You play it?" the man asked. "Why didn't you say so from the start?! Take a seat already! We can't really play with just two people, but three will do."
Ren followed the man's word and took a seat for the game. Ren could see that there were other games being played in the building. The man set the game up and called himself the dealer. Ren and the old lady didn't raise issues.
'It doesn't matter who dealt for the game, anyway. I'm not here to win.'
"No bettin' for our games," the man stated. "We've got a minor with us, and we don't want no trouble with the boss's brother."
Ren raised an eyebrow at the statement. "This place connects to Pub Sec?"
The man returned the questioning look as he took a deep breath with a cigarette. "More like the popos. Fortunately, he ain't stationed in this city, but he could visit whenever."
The old lady laughed. "Even as an adult, Katsuya still dotes on the boss."
Ren smiled at the old lady's words. "Sounds like simple sibling love."
"Hah!" the man barked. "Unfortunately, he's a bit suffocating, if you catch my drift."
Ren grinned. "Don't I know it," he muttered. 'Seriously, everyone was so worried after escaping Sae's Palace that someone always monitored me. Talk about no space to breathe.'
"You have siblings of your own?" the old lady asked.
Ren shook his head. "No, though my closest friends basically are."
The man grinned. "Sounds like you're set, kid. Family ain't about who you're born with." He discarded a five circles.
"It's about who you choose," Ren continued. The man nodded at him. "By the way, chow," Ren said, revealing a three and four circles. With none of the others having mahjong or pung. And, since it was his turn, it was his tile to take. He discarded a seven bamboos.
A hand held Ren's right shoulder, and he heard a lighter flick on his right as well. "I didn't think this place would be interesting enough for a kid," someone said over Ren's shoulder.
"B-boss!" the gruff man yelled out. "You're back!"
Ren looked over his shoulder. It was a tall man, possibly over 183 centimeters, and had long, brunette hair with a center part. He wore a red jacket with a huge X on it. "I am. What's a minor doing here?"
"Don't worry," the old lady said. "I let him in. He was just looking to pass the time, so I thought why not?"
The man in red hummed with a nod. "Well, alright. Still, follow me. I just need to make sure about some things."
Ren shrugged. It made sense. It's very suspicious for a teenager like him to hang around a place like this. Guessing from what was going on from before, this man in red had to be the boss from earlier too, who let his employees deal with some mess before he left.
The man in red maneuvered around the tables, letting people know that there were no problems for the night. Ren followed him until they reached some sort of back room. Red prepared a seat for each of them, and both sat down.
"Look," Red, the man in red, began, "if you're here for drugs, don't bother. I make sure this place is clean and legal."
Ren shook his head. "I'm not here for drugs. I- "
"Same deal with the cigarettes," Red interjected.
"Not the cigarettes, either," Ren said.
"We don't gamble," Red stated with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm doing decently with money, so no thanks," Ren said. "Look, before you say anything else, I'm not here for anything illegal. I'd rather not deal with that stuff either."
Red looked at him with an unimpressed face. "Then what are you here for? There is nothing here for a kid."
Ren had to think about how to approach this. On one hand, he could tell Red that he's just bored. On the other hand, Red's probably going to see through it immediately. Having a sibling in the force does that, unfortunately.
"I'm here on a rumor," Ren said, and the man straightened himself.
"What kind?" Red asked.
"I heard some weirdos were gathering around the area. One of them could be a guy with tattoos," Ren noted.
"And why are you looking into it?" Red asked. "Leave it to the police; it's their job."
"Call it curiosity," Ren answered.
Red nodded at Ren's answer. "Curiosity killed the cat."
"And satisfaction brought it back," Ren countered.
The man stared at Ren for a few seconds before shrugging to himself. "Then why don't you do me a quick favor? I'll tell you what I know, then you do me a favor."
"Depends," Ren said as he crossed his arms. "I won't do it if it's illegal."
"Don't worry," Red pacified him. "It won't cross the law at all. It's also very quick. You don't even have to come back if you don't want to. Whether or not you do, it is up to you."
Ren narrowed his eyes as he regarded the deal. While it was reminiscent of Mune's favors, not even his deal went like this. 'It's a one-time deal and I don't have to come back to finish it.'
"Fine," Ren said. "What's the deal?"
"You send a message to a certain someone," Red said.
"That's it?" Ren asked.
The man nodded. "Now, before I tell you what I want, I'll say my piece first. There is a man with tattoos that leads a group of weirdos. They frequent this area because they constantly meet with someone around here. As for what they do or if it is your guy, I don't know. I don't really care for it."
"Thanks," Ren said. "And as per our deal, what's that favor of yours?"
Red stood up, getting ready to leave. "Tell Igor that Tatsuya said hi and for you to no longer involve Red Hawk or me in the future."
Ren froze. 'Igor? Tatsuya? How does he know Igor?' Ren turned to Red. "Who's Igor? Tatsuya?" Ren asked, opting to play the dumb card. Unfortunately, Red saw right through it.
"You're not the first Persona group out there nor the last," Red said. "I used to do that stuff too."
Ren looked at him with his head in a tilt. "Why don't you want to be involved?"
Red stared right at him. "Because this is your Journey, not mine. I believe in Igor's ability to find people. To top it all off, this is my retirement."
Ren looked around the room while remembering the smoky insides of Red Hawks. "This place isn't very good for a retirement plan," he commented, only for Red to shrug.
"Everyone has their own tastes; it just so happened that this is mine," Red said. "Anyway, I don't want to deal with those kinds of things now; I've done my part already."
Ren nodded; he understood, after all. Akechi was like that too; he wanted to be done with everything by the time he fought Maruki. "Yeah, I get it. Don't worry, I'll drop your message." Ren paused. "By the way, what do you do here during your retirement?"
Red sighed. "I'm a mechanic and this club is just a front. Now get going, kid. We can't have the next savior of the world get mugged in the middle of the night."
Ren grinned. "No worries, I'll get going." He stood up and approached the door of the room, but an idea came to his mind. "One thing I should correct, Tatsuya-san," Ren said, taking Red's attention. "I'm not the hero for this Journey."
Red looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Igor asked me to help the hero of this era. I saved the world at another time," Ren said with a Cheshire grin. Red continued to look at him with a questioning look. "You're looking at a savior of the future."
"What?" Red asked with an incredulous look.
"I'll be taking my leave now," Ren said with a wave and grin. "Have a good night!" He quickly left, leaving Tatsuya, the man in red, with an unanswered question.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
Activities:
6/21 – Afternoon – Movie Work
6/21 – Night – Study
-Take Your Time-
Social Links (No Change):
Fool - SEES - 3
Magician – Junpei Iori - 6
Priestess - Fuuka Yamagishi - 1
Emperor - Student Council - 3
Hierophant - Old Couple - 8
Lovers - Yukari Takeba - 5
Chariot - Volleyball - 8
Hermit - Health Committee - 3
Hanged Man - Girl at the Shrine - 3
Death - Mysterious Boy - 1
Temperance - Transfer Student - 3
Devil - Businessman - 4
Star - Akihiko Sanada - 2
Fortitude - Ren Amamiya - 2
-Take Your Time-
Author's Notes:
Thank you, everyone, for your patience. I finally got Ch10 out. As of this chapter, I will also start adding titles for previous chapters, so ignore those notifications.
I will also address some comments that I feel that readers would or should know about.
My scheduled targets are two weeks between releases. If I finish a chapter before that, then I will post it. If I don't get it in two weeks, I'll try to explain in the next chapter's Author's Notes. If I don't write anything for a while, PM me or comment in the last available chapter. I will most likely answer you there.
As for reviews in the future, I'm interested in those related to my story, such as pacing, if my point is coming across, do my characters make sense, and so on. This is what I want to improve on. If something doesn't make sense, let me know that too. We can talk in PMs, if in FFN, or in the comment thread, if in AO3. If it is something relatively huge, I will try to improve in future chapters. This does not mean I don't appreciate other types of reviews. I am always grateful that someone was inspired enough to write anything about my works.
I may start adding more formatting options (?) as I move on. I felt a bit restricted with the way my writing is formatted but can't remember why.
Now, on to the story.
This is the first time Ken is introduced in the story, though I'm not sure if he was introduced even earlier. However, since this is my earliest introduction, this will be Kotone's earliest introduction too.
I'm also beginning to start ramping up the attraction between Ren and Kotone for the upcoming Full Moon. I won't spoil what will happen though.
I hope that Ren and Kotone make sense as characters and people. This includes Kotone's thoughts in making a shell around her, Ren's passive act to not call Kotone out, and Ren going out of his way to find more about what's going on with the Lost and the city itself.
The character at the end is pure fanservice and he will not do anything for this story. If you know, you know. Also, I ship with Jun. I wish he had a scene too, but I felt this was a perfect spot to stop. If I got his character wrong, I'm sorry. I never played his game(s).
Onto other things.
FGO LB4 is finally out. Very excited to play through the story, but I stopped playing for a few months because the farming was too much. Now that it's summer, I hope to play more again.
FGO Carnival is also out…
I have so many things I want to do, but I can't write while watching a TV show. Best I can do is play music or a stream in the background.