Persona: Devil Soul

I idly played with what appeared to be silver pens as I waited for my train to arrive in Inaba. I was… apprehensive about meeting my uncle. I tended to… not get along with my mother's side of the family. I would have just kept to himself, but because some bureaucrat noticed that I didn't currently have a legal guardian, as if that'd matter in a year, when I'd be a legal adult. But no, I have to live with someone I don't know from Adam because of 'suicidal tendencies'. Like it was my fault I had to jump off that building. It wasn't pleasant, but it beat taking the stairs. The absolute worst part about that experience was that none of my friends visited me in the hospital. Not even Ai-...her. That stung more than the broken bones. Oh well. I could give the silent treatment just as well.

As the train slowed to a stop, I grabbed my duffel bag and briefcase. As I exited, my Uncle was waiting for me… along with a young girl. That was a good sign. People usually didn't take their kids along when they were planning to kill someone… unless my family was slightly more messed up than I thought.

I couldn't help the mental image that thought produced.

("See how the blood's spraying everywhere, sweetie? That's because Daddy hit a main artery. Now go fetch that barrel of lye, I want this bastard dissolved before the cops get here.")

Oh well, fortune favors the bold. I flashed a grin, walking over to my uncle, and bowing deeply.

"This one is honored to make your acquaintance, Dojima-san."

My uncle looked at him oddly.

"No need to be so formal. I did change your diapers in the past, though obviously you don't remember that. I'm Ryotaro Dojima, and you must be Yu." Uncle Ryotaro states, as he extends his hand for a handshake.

"Please, call me Hitoshura. Everyone else does." I answer, returning the shake.

"Hitoshura? How did you get that name?"

"Someone started calling me that a couple of years ago, and it stuck, almost to the point I don't even answer to Yu anymore. Even my teachers call me that." To be precise, it was a teacher who first started calling him that. To say I was friends with Ms. Takao would be an understatement. Too bad she wasn't in the land of the living anymore.

"Alright then. Hitoshura, this is Nanako. Say hi to your cousin, Nanako."

Nanako peeked out from behind Uncle Ryotaro, and softly muttered "H..hello."

"Hi there, Nanako." I say, smile never leaving my face.

She ducked back behind Ryotaro.

"Don't worry, she's just shy."

"I don't take it personally." After all, being scared of him was a perfectly reasonable response.

"Well, let's get your bags in the car, and I'll show you your new home."

As we drove along, Ryotaro tried to strike up conversation.

"So, why aren't you living with your parents?" he asked.

"... They've been dead for close to eleven years now." I answered, confused as to why Ryotaro had asked. Surely he already knew.

The car screeched as Ryotaro slammed on the brakes, screaming "WHAT!?"

Okay, so maybe he didn't.

"I thought you knew."

"I… didn't. I mean, I thought it was weird that I haven't heard from them in quite some time, but I just thought we grew apart, not ...that. So, who have you been living with until now?"

"Well, I started out living with Grandfather, until he... disowned me when it turned out I was the end result of my Mother… not being entirely faithful to her husband. Then, cousin Naoya took me in, until he died a year ago, during the Shibuya Quarantine. Since then, I've been living in the school dormitory, until someone found out I had no legal guardian, and as a result, here I am."

"You were there for the Shibuya Quarantine?"

"Yes."

"... Forgive me if I'm overstepping my boundaries, but is that why you jumped off your school rooftop? Or was it because you were being forced to live with me."

"No. I was… in danger of being attacked. Jumping off was my only reliable escape route. It had nothing to do with emotional trauma. As for being forced to live with you… While I admit I greatly enjoyed my freedom, and I am...annoyed that it has been taken from me, I am not going to do anything drastic over it. It is only mandatory for a year, after all. And even if you were such unbearable company that I was seriously contemplating taking my own life just so I wouldn't have to put up with you anymore, there are other options. And even ignoring all of that, it was being hospitalized by my 'suicide attempt' that brought this about, not the other way around."

"You were being attacked?! Why didn't you tell the police that?"

"I did tell Officer Kurosawa. However, there was no evidence, and my assailants aren't a threat anymore, regardless."

Conversation died after that. Ryotaro had a lot to absorb, and Nanako was observant enough to realize it was not the time for idle chatter.

In the silence, I was able to better contemplate my new home. Inaba felt… off. It almost felt like… no, that wasn't possible. But even so, I could not deny that Inaba was more than what met the eye. I felt my blood… burn in anticipation. Inaba was my home now, and that meant I was going to find out what made Inaba so special, as either I would seek it out, or it would seek me out. And here I was, thinking life in a country town was going to be boring.