So I've been thinking...as much as I enjoy the story of Persona 5, I might have been too rigid in Twilight, sticking to canon a little too much. Most of my ideas actually come later in that story but still...
Anyway, working on Twilight and reading up more about the Persona Series gave me some ideas that I decided to try out. This story is basically an alternate version of Persona 5: Twilight, so it has a lot of elements from it. Now, without further ado, let's begin!
A boy with golden brown hair sat on the room's sole bed, barely paying the pristine white and blue room any mind. His green eyes were focused on the window and the view outside. But he wasn't seeing anything, not really...his mind was once again a million miles away.
His name was Namikaze Subaru. He had awoken a few days ago to find himself in a hospital, with no earthly clue as to how he came to be there. All anyone could tell him was that someone found him passed out on the street and brought him here. But no one even know who it was.
And that wasn't even the strangest part in all this...
A tap on the shoulder startled him out of his thoughts, bringing his attention to a sheepish looking nurse. ''Sorry, I did call out before but you seemed distracted. You must be really confused, huh? Waking up in this situation...'' A nod. ''...well, try not to worry about it so much and just focus on trying to recover. I'm sure your family would be looking forward to it-they seemed like such nice people.''
"Ah, they are...'' The boy tried to return her smile but his heart wasn't it. The nurse wasn't wrong in a sense. But the matter of family was something he wasn't sure what to think of given a certain recent event...
"You really are just a good for nothing!''
"This proves it-you're nothing but trouble!''
The boy closed his eyes and tried to shake the memory. He listened to the nurse's instructions as she began to examine him. Knowing fully well that as much as he didn't want to think of them this memory and a number of others were sure to haunt him for a long time to come.
"Ru-chan.''
The boy turned slightly at the voice, his lips twitching as his grandmother Yuri walked in. Kind blue eyes met his gaze as she smiled, taking a seat nearby. Brushing a strand of greying dark hair aside, she placed the flowers in her hands within a nearby vase ''I left those two on the first floor. Your grandfather is as impulsive as ever-he was the one who wanted to come and then he starts holding us up because he jumped into things headfirst.''
Subaru blinked ''What happened?''
"Oh, he just remembered that he simply had to bring something here when were at the hospital's entrance.'' Yuri shook her head in exasperation. The boy could commiserate, this was so typical for the man. ''Anyway, how are you-the nurse said you're getting better...''
He confirmed, trying to allay her concerns. He felt much better. Not nearly as tired as he was when he first woke up, if anything he felt ready to leave the hospital. But he knew the doctors would want to keep an eye on him a little longer. Subaru felt both guilt for worrying her and his grandpa but at the same time, it made him glad that they had been so happy to see him.
Even now, after all what happened, they were still here for him and it meant much more than he could ever put in words.
He listened to Yuri tell him about their new home and how they were all set for him to come along too. ''That sounds great.''
Yuri happily wrapped an arm around him ''I hoped you'd say that-we're looking forward to it too.''
Subaru almost smiled but once again found that he couldn't bring himself to do it. He realized his expression gave him away when Yuri spoke ''Ru-chan, don't.'' Surprised, the boy listened to her continue. ''Don't do this to yourself again. None of this is your fault-no matter what any of those traitors said.''
"But, I...'' He couldn't meet her gaze. ''...you've gone through all that trouble because of me and...''
"And we'd do it again in a heartbeat.'' Yuri cut him off. ''Just like your grandfather said before-we're family. You'd do the same for us and we know it, this is only right.'' She brought him to her embrace. ''There are still people who care for you-people who believe in you. I'll say this as much as necessary for the point to sink in. We did this because we want to-because you're worth it and more.'' Subaru buried his face in her coat as he hugged her back. ''And don't forget it.''
It wasn't long before they were joined by a man with greying black hair and hazel green who came carrying a number of plastic bags. ''Hey, kiddo!'' Namikaze Itsuki ruffled his grandson's hair. ''You're really looking better-looks like I picked a good time for this.''
"For what?'' His wife raised an eye, peeking into one of the bags. ''...So you raised all that fuss to get food? Honestly...''
"Well, come on, since when was eating hospital food any fun?'' He returned cheerfully, ignoring his wife's exasperation by ease of long practice.
"You didn't really have to...'' Subaru started.
"I wanted to. Besides, you really do need to eat more.'' was the response. ''Throw me a bone, kiddo. I've already dealt with two buzz kills today.''
"Um, sure.'' He took the offered food plate. Itsuki's comment made him note something odd. ''Wait-who was with you?''
"That'd be me.'' A middle-aged man with black hair and a beard and gray eyes walked in.
Subaru's eyes widened a little ''Uncle...''
Sakura Sojiro smiled ''Hey, kid-good to see you again.''
Subaru never thought things could be like this again.
Sojiro was a close friend of his grandparents back when they worked in the government. Unlike him, his grandparents decided to change jobs after a couple of years but they always kept in touch. He'd met the man when they brought him to Tokyo years ago and over time, Subaru had grown to consider him like family.
As nice as it was to see him, Subaru could admit that a part of him feared meeting Sojiro again. After what happened recently...
One night, he was just heading home when he heard a woman crying for help. A drunk man was trying to force himself on her, Subaru had tried to help-pushing the man back. But he was so drunk that he stumbled and hit his head on the ground. The man threatened to sue him and did just that. He was declared a criminal before he even knew it. The trial (he wasn't even sure it could be called that) went just like that, he was hardly even given an opportunity to defend himself. Everyone was clearly on the drunk's side. No one would listen to him, no one cared what he had to say. His parents, his friends-the people he grew up with...the ones he thought he could count on the most all turned on him. They cut their ties with him in the aftermath, thinking of him as nothing but a criminal.
Yuri and Itsuki were the only ones who had faith in him all along, remaining by his side and speaking up for him time and again. He was put on probation, having to serve it in the city and they even came to be here with him. For that he would always be grateful, he didn't know where he'd be without them.
Now, from what he was overhearing-the three of them had kept trying to find him. They had little help from the police, who insisted that they were worrying over nothing and things would straighten out soon. And then they discovered that Subaru was in this hospital recently...
The question was, what happened in the few weeks between the court's ruling and him coming here? He had no idea.
You're just lucky you can make it work.'' He heard Itsuki say. ''Who would've thought of coffee and curry? If it wasn't for her, you'd still be a real mess in the kitchen.''
"Yeah, says the catastrophe.'' Sojiro returned dryly. ''I can think of at least five reasons you can't be trusted on your own in a kitchen.''
Yuri was nodding along to that while Itsuki huffed. Subaru also agreed-Itsuki meant well but...him plus an attempt to cook usually equaled nothing but trouble. The talk did remind him of something he heard in passing earlier though.
"Does he mean Aunt Wakaba's curry...?'' Subaru faltered. ''Ah, I...''
Sojiro gave him a small smile, silently assuring it was all right. ''Yeah, guess they never told you. She figured out a recipe for my coffee and it works perfectly. But we know how good she is as something she set her mind to.''
The boy nodded, thinking of the woman fondly. She had passed away two years ago and he felt awful for missing her funeral but given the circumstances...there was just no way around it. She had been so kind, he missed her.
"Leblanc was featured in some magazines about the best cafes. I'd show you one of the articles but nothing's better than seeing the real thing.'' Yuri stated.
"Absolutely.'' Sojiro agreed. ''You've got to come over once you're out of here, kid. It'll blow you away, guaranteed.''
Subaru's lips twitched ''Okay...'' He placed his head on his knees. ''...thank you, really...for being here.''
The three exchanged glances before Itsuki chuckled ''Come on, kiddo, you've been saying that a whole lot already...we've been through this. It's nothing to be thanked for.''
"I wanted to say it though...to you too, Uncle-thanks.'' Subaru added.
"Don't sweat it, you just focus on recovering now.'' The man returned and he nodded back.
Days passed and Subaru was released, going to his new home with Yuri and Itsuki. It was a four room place not too far from Yongen-Jaya. Most of the luggage was unpacked but there were boxes on one side of the front hall. The hall had a variety of decorations, most of them souvenirs picked up from his grandparents' travel. There were also a few medals and trophies on one area. Mosts of the hall was done in vivid of colors of white, blue and green-with some silver designs on one end. Over all, it was obvious that the house was in good care.
"You know Yuri, she always has a hard time deciding where everything has to go.'' Itsuki remarked as Subaru continued looking around curiously.
"It looks nice...'' The latter's eyes settled on the trophies and medals. ''...oh, those are...''
"Mmhm, we could hardly leave those behind.'' Yuri smiled ''Come on, let's get you settled in.''
Subaru looked around the room, it was a modest one with a big bed. He found that his things where pretty much set. A closet with a guitar case propped against one side, there was a table and a chair, along with a number of medicine bottles, books and other things he recognized from his home.
He shook his head-right his former home. It wasn't as if he could go back there anymore-not after what those people said and did. There was no way he would ever see that place the same way again. Even his probation officer agreed that expecting him to go back after all that was uncalled for. Thankfully, she was able to settle things so that he could spend his probation here.
Sad as it all was, he tried to console himself with the fact that he spent enough time in Tokyo that it became a second home of sorts. He was familiar enough with the city so that at the very least it didn't feel like he was thrown off the deep end. With that thought in mind, he decided to see what the rest of the place was like.
A few days later...
Tokyo was as active as ever, people rushed about to their destinations, chatter between the crowds, sellers promoting their wares and so much more. As busy as a bee hive, that was for sure.
A man in a suit straightened his tie, preparing to address the crowds when someone bumped into him, both falling as a result. The person got up, sparing the man a disdainful look, muttering something about the failure Yoshida before walking away.
"Are you all right?''
The man blinked, dark eyes meeting green ones as Subaru stood before him. He stood, smiling ''Yes, this is little trouble. I've seen worse.''
"That doesn't make it okay.'' The boy picked up a nearby sash and held it out. ''Is that yours?''
The man's face lit up ''Thank you! I just don't feel right without that when I'm working.'' Subaru gave him a curious look. ''Oh, I give speeches around these parts. I intend to join the Diet party someday and hopefully make a difference out there. But I wish to speak to the people and reach their hearts-I believe we can come to understand one another.''
Subaru sensed the passion and sincerity behind those words. The man was certainly driven ''That sounds good-I hope you can pull it off.''
"Thank you, I intend to.'' Yoshida smiled as the boy bid him farewell and headed off. ''What a kind person...ah, I forgot to ask his name...''
Well, let's stop here.
I hope it was good-I know this is short but I want a little intro before really diving into the story. Nothing really different happens on his first visit to Shujin, so the next chapter starts after that. I haven't had much time to write lately but I'll try to prepare the next one soon.
Subaru's like Namine in some ways but he's different in others. They've had a number of similar experiences (like the burglary incident). He's been to Tokyo a bunch of times over the years and he got to know Sojiro, Wakaba and Futaba pretty well. Those of you who read Twilight would know why he couldn't go to the funeral. But I'm going to touch on that in the next chapter. He has no idea what's really going with Futaba yet but he's going to find out in time.
Oh, before I forget-in Twilight, the arrest happened while Yuri and Itsuki were on the trip, which was Namine told them not to give up on it. But here it was shortly before they could even get going and Subaru basically disappeared around that time so they put all their efforts to find him. There's a good reason for that and the fact that Subaru has no idea just what happened but it's something for later. But people don't want them digging too much into this so he's been allowed to stay with Yuri and Itsuki while the probation officer keeps an eye on him. I intend to keep working on this story and Twilight if everything pans out.
Welp, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it, till next time!