bopdog111: Introduction was short but we are saving the best stuff for later.
Ulrich362: True, there's quite a lot coming up for Sonya Narukami. Of course in one sense it's already started with that mysterious dream.
bopdog111: What is that dream about though?
Ulrich362: Maybe we'll find out at some point, only one way to know for sure though. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own the Persona Series.
4/12 (Tuesday; Raining)
Sonya slowly woke up the next day rubbing her head. She felt she had a nightmare instead of beauty sleep that traffic back at home usually stole from her. She wonders what that was about but then shrugged since her first day of school would start, and gets ready walking downstairs.
"Good morning." Nanako mentioned holding a plate before putting it on the table as she sat down. "Okay. Let's eat."
Sonya stared at sunny-side up eggs, and fresh toast that is she made as she in front of Nanko asking with a smile, "Did you made this yourself?"
Nanako nodded at that. "I can toast bread... and cook sunny-side up eggs in the morning. Dad can't cook, so I buy dinner."
Sonya blinked hearing that. "Well, I can cook a little bit if you want me to try and make dinner sometimes."
"You can do that, thank you." Nanako smiled softly. "Oh yeah you're starting school today, right?"
Sonya nodded to her hearing that, "Well yeah, I tried looking up the way but the dang GPS on my phone seems a little messed up. Might be due to the weather outside."
"My school's on the way, so... let's go together." Nanako suggested with a smile.
"That sounds good to me Nanako." Sonya smiled as the two of them ate their breakfast before getting their bags and umbrellas as they walked out of the house together.
They walked together talking before being at an area where a river is at as Nanako pointed ahead, "You keep going straight from here." Sonya looked ahead hearing that just as Nanako smiled, "My school's this way. Bye."
"See ya cuz." Sonya smiled with a wave as she watched Nanako walked off before staring back where Nanako pointed, and walked to that direction.
In the school's intersection she kept walking before hearing something, and turned around seeing someone stumbling on a bike while manning an umbrella, "W-Whooooaaaaaa!"
He crashed which Sonya gasped walking over seeing him jumping up, and down while holding his groin, "Agh! Critical hit to the nads!"
Sonya winced hearing that, "Agh man, that looked like it hurt... I'm not a boy but I felt that..." She stared before then deciding to keep doing. "I'll let him cope with his pain." She walked passed him keep going.
Eventually she reached Yasogami High School before walking in to head to the faculty office.
As she did in a classroom on the second floor a bunch of students were talking.
"Talk about bad luck... the homeroom teacher here is Morooka, isn't it?" asked a student sitting at his desk.
"Yeah, it's King Moron alright... We get to listen to his long-ass sermons every day for a whole year." groaned a student standing near him.
A female student said to them excited, "Hey you guys, I heard there's going to be a transfer student from the city in this class."
"Huh? Really? A guy or a girl?" the student sitting in his desk asked her interested.
A couple of girls happened to overhear them. One has bowled up brown hair wearing a green sweat jacket, and several buttons on it with a black skirt. The other has long black hair with a red hair band wearing a red version of the school uniform with a longer skirt, and long black socks.
"A transfer student from the city... just like you, huh, Yosuke." the brunette girl in the green jacket noted only to see it was the boy who crashed his bike with his head on his desk. "...Huh? You look dead today."
"Yeah, um... I don't wanna talk about it..." the boy, Yosuke, whispered still in pain.
"What's with him?" the brunette girl asked the girl with the red hair band.
"Who knows?" the girl with the red hair band shrugged.
Hearing a door opened they looked over as several students went to take there seats. It is Sonya with an adult who looks irritated.
The adult is middle-aged, with straight black hair in a bob-cut, hazel eyes and buck teeth. He wears a dark navy suit with pinstripes, a white collared long-sleeved shirt with a yellow-and-light orange checkered tie.
"Awright, shut your traps!" the adult snapped walking behind the desk at the board with Sonya beside him who grabs a chalk writing her name in Japanese. "I'm Kinshiro Morooka, your homeroom teacher from today forward! First things first! Just 'cause it's spring doesn't mean you can swoon over each other like love-struck baboons. Long as I'm around, you students are going to be pure as the driven snow!"
'As the driven snow?' Sonya thought blinking finishing writing her name while the class sweatdropped all together while Sonya turned around, 'That doesn't sound too bad...' She doesn't know what kind of a teacher Morooka is though...
"Now I hate wasting my time, but I'd better introduce this transfer student. This sad sack's been thrown out of her home in the big city to the middle of nowhere like yesterday's garbage, and from the look of her, she has a future as much of the other girls here, so you apes better not think of hitting on her." Mr. Morooka told the class in a bit of a unprofessional tone while saying this, and turned his gaze to one student snapping, "I'm looking at you, Hanamura! Look alive!"
(A/N (bopdog111): He doesn't act like that true, but remember Sonya is a girl so his dialogue with her is a little different.)
Sonya frowned at that.
"Tell them your name kid and make it quick." Mr. Morooka mentioned turning to her.
"Wow, are you that rude to all your students?" Sonya questioned looking at him in annoyance.
She isn't afraid to her speak her mind to anyone no matter who they are either it be other classmates, or adults, it makes no difference to her as she believes in equality, and people like this strict asshole is what annoys her about it. Either way her bravery shocked the whole class except Yosuke who is still stunned from his earlier experience while Mr. Morooka looked REALLY annoyed. "Hrnh... Watch how you mouth to your elders, or your on my shit list, effective immediately."
Sonya blinked hearing that as he then started to lecture her. "Now, listen up! This town is miles away from your big city of perverts and assholes, in more ways than one. You better not think of getting involved with some of these apes as they see you as a pair of breasts, and want only that to bolster there social-worth, let alone buckle down to whatever the hell they want! But what do I know... It's not like the old days. Even here, kids grow up so damn fast. Every-time I turn my back, you're fooling around on those damn phones, checking your life-journals and your my-places...!" He kept going on, and on while Sonya sweatdropped listening in wondering what she got herself into from this.
Suddenly a hand raised up, "Excuse me!" Hearing that Mr. Morooka stopped mid-rant as he, and Sonya turned over seeing it was the brunette girl. "Is it okay if the transfer student sits here?"
"Huh? Yeah, sure. Ya hear that? Your seat's over there." Mr. Morooka told Sonya. "So hurry up and siddown already!"
Sonya glared at him before going to take her seat next to the brunette girl.
"He's the worst, huh?" the brunette girl whispered to Sonya. "Rotten luck for you to get stuck in this class... Well, we just have to hang in their for a year."
"True, just one year." Sonya whispered back with a smile as she heard the other students talking about her.
"Sucks to be the transfer student, ending up in King Moron's class on the first day here..." a male student mentioned.
"Yeah, he won't think twice about suspending you if you get on his bad side." whined a female student. "Then again, we're all in the same boat..."
Mr. Morooka then snapped at everyone. "Shut your traps! I'm taking roll, and I damn well expect you to respond in an orderly manner!"
Well otherside from this strict asshole, her new life at school starts at a normal note. Sonya of course couldn't help but wonder if she can fit in... She'll just have to find out.
Later...
(Cloudy)
It was the end of the school day with Mr. Morooka teaching giving a lecture to his class before then saying, "That's all for today. Normal lectures will start tomorrow."
Several students stood up to talk while Mr. Morooka walked to the door only for the intercom to blare over as they looked over to the speaker as it announced. "Attention, all teachers. Please report immediately to the Faculty Office for a brief staff meeting. All students must return to there classrooms and are not to leave the school until further notice."
"Hrnh. You heard the announcement. Don't go anywhere until you hear otherwise." Mr. Morooka told the class before walking out of the room.
"He's seriously getting on my nerves..." complained a long brown-haired girl as she started talking to one of her classmates right next to Sonya's desk just before they heard sirens making several students to run to the window.
"Did something happen? Don't those sirens sound really close?" asked an excited male student. "Ugh, I can't see a damn thing. Frickin' fog..."
"Yeah, like every time it rains lately, it gets all foggy." another student pointed out.
"Hey, did you hear? I hear that paparazzi's looking all over for that announcer." a third student mentioned.
"Oh yeah. You mean Mayumi Yamano right?" the second student recalled. "I heard some guys spotted her at the shopping district."
'Mayumi Yamano? Are they talking about the same one that was all over the news last night following her affair with Mr. Namatame?' Sonya thought hearing that recalling the news report when she arrived at Inaba.
She then sees the second student looked shocked about something that was whispered before he walked over to the girl with the red hair band asking her, "H-Hey, Yukiko-san. Mind if I ask you something...? Is it true that announcer's staying at your family's inn?"
The girl, Yukiko, frowned saying to him, "I can't discuss such things."
"Y-Yeah, I guess not." the student admitted before running off as the brunette girl walked up to Yukiko only to frown as she sighed.
"Sheesh, how much longer is this gonna take?" she asked Yukiko.
"There's no telling." Yukiko answered calmly.
"I should have left before the announcement came on." the brunette girl frowned before smiling. "By the way, didja try what I told you the other day?"
Yukiko blinked in confusion hearing that.
"You know... that thing about rainy nights..." the brunette girl reminded her causing Yukiko's eyes to widen in realization.
"Oh... no not yet, sorry." Yukiko apologized.
"Ahhh, that's ok." the brunette girl reassured her with a smile. "It's just, I heard a guy in the class next door yell something like, 'My soulmate is Yamano, the announcer'!"
Sonya blinked before the intercom blared again which they turned over. "Attention, all students. There has been an incident inside the school district. Police officers have been dispatched around the School Zone. Please stay calm and contact your parents or guardians as soon as possible, and quickly leave the school grounds. Do not disturb the police officers. Head directly home. I repeat-"
"Incident!?"
"What, something actually happened?"
"C'mon, let's go take a look!"
Sonya frowned as the two students with her walked off, "The announcement said to head back home though..." She sighed at this. "Uncle Dojima is probably there right now to investigate if I know him right. I mean, Nanako said he's a detective..."
With that said she stood up to leave only to see the brunette girl, and Yukiko walking over to her.
"Hey, are you going home by yourself?" the brunette girl asked curiously.
"Yeah, I was about to head back." Sonya nodded.
"Why don't you come with us?" the brunette girl offered with a smile. "Oh, nearly forgot! I'm Chie Satonaka. You know I sit next to you right?"
Sonya couldn't help but chuckle slightly at that. "I remember."
Chie smiled. "Well, nice to meet you! This is Yukiko Amagi."
"Oh, nice to meet you... I'm sorry that this is so sudden..." Yukiko apologized.
"C'mon, don't apologize like that. It makes me look like I got no upbringing." Chie pouted slightly causing Sonya to smile again.
"Well sorry you two didn't get my name." Sonya then said in annoyance turning her head to the door where Mr. Morooka walked off. "Morooka the Jackass Monarch thought it be better to insult me, and my hometown rather then introducing me." Chie, and Yukiko are pretty surprised from Sonya's crassness or feel a bit amused from her nickname towards there homeroom teacher before she turned to them smiling, "Anyway, I'm Sonya Narukami. It's nice to meet ya two."
"Well it's nice to meet you Sonya." Chie smiled just as Yosuke nervously walked up to them.
"Uh, umm, Miss Satonaka...?" he started nervously holding a DVD box. "This was really awesome. Like, the way they moved was just amazing to see..."
He suddenly bowed holding the DVD out nervously.
"And...I'm really sorry! It was an accident! Please just have mercy until my next paycheck!"
Chie frowned taking the DVD.
"See ya! Thanks!" Yosuke cried turning to run off.
"Stop right there! What did you do to my DVD?" Chie questioned chasing him as Sonya saw Yosuke crash into one of the desks hard before crying out and grabbing himself clearly in pain.
"Damn!" Sonya said surprised from this.
As she, and Yukiko walked over Chie opened the DVD Case, and balked at what she's seeing. "What the!? I can't believe this! It's completely cracked...! Ahhhh, my 'Trial of the Dragon'!"
"I think mine's cracked too... C-Critical hit to the nads..."
Sonya winced again from the wording while Yukiko, and Chie looked at him confused while Sonya admitted, "Again, I'm not a guy but I felt that..."
"A-Are you alright?" Yukiko asked him.
"Oh, Yukiko-san... are you worried about me...?" Yosuke asked her.
"He's fine, Yukiko. Let's ditch him and go home." Chie mentioned clearly still annoyed about her DVD as she put it in her bag and walked out as Sonya took one last sympathetic look at Yosuke before following the two girls.
Outside Yukiko, Chie, and Sonya were talking when suddenly a student in a different uniform approached them and walked up to Yukiko.
"You're Yuki, right? Y-You want to go hang out somewhere?" he asked suddenly.
"What...? Wh-Who are you?" Yukiko asked hearing that as more students walked up behind them.
"What's up with him? What school's he from?" asked a male Yasogami student.
"Never mind that, he's going for Yukiko-san? Man, you'd think he'd at least wait until she's alone to make his move..." another student commented.
"I bet you a can of TaP he gets knocked out."
"No bet. Haven't you heard how difficult the Amagi Challenge is?"
The strange student only ignore them repeating his question, "Uh, s-so, are you coming or not?"
Seeing Yukiko being uncomfortable Sonya frowned before telling him, "Hey buddy?" They looked at her as she tells him simply, "She's not interested in you, your making her nervous. Get lost."
"...Fine!" the strange student yelled angerly running out.
Sonya shook his head, "Asshole, sometimes they don't give girls personal space." Turning to Yukiko she asked her, "You okay Amagi-san?"
"I'm ok, thanks." Yukiko nodded before frowning. "Wh-What did he want from me...?"
"What did he want? Obviously, he was asking you out on a date." Chie answered.
"Huh? Really...?" Yukiko asked as Sonya noticed she looked genuinely surprised.
"You really had no clue? Sheesh..." Chie sighed before frowning. "But then again, that was way over the top. It was creepy how he called you Yuki all of a sudden."
"Yeah." Sonya nodded in agreement as Yosuke walked over on his bike.
"Yo, Yukiko-san. Turned down another lovelorn fool, huh?" he asked with a grin. "Man, you're cruel... You got me the same way last year."
"I don't recall doing that." Yukiko admitted to him.
Yosuke had a grin hearing that. "Whoa, you serious? So then, you wanna hang out sometime!?"
"...I'd rather not."
Yosuke sulked down, "That'll teach me to get my hopes up... Anyways, you two better not pick on the transfer student too much."
He rode down on his bike which Chie snapped to him, "We're just curious, is all!"
Sonya chuckled a little, "I met plenty of lovestruck people at my time... From what I know, he is chasing love which means he's hopeless, am I right?" She sees there looks which she defended, "W-Well, I mean, not a BAD hopeless, I just mean he's rushing things!"
"U-Um... I'm sorry for dragging you into this..." Yukiko apologized again.
"It's ok, it just gives me the feeling this is going to be a good year after all." Sonya smiled as a crowd started forming around them.
"C'mon, let's go. Everyone's staring." Chie pointed out as the three of them walked off together.
While walking together they talked to each other while Sonya was telling them why she came here eventually making there way down a road finishing, "...and that's the story."
"Ah... so you came here because of your parents' job. Haha, I thought it was something way more serious." Chie said in relief before looking around. "There really is nothing here, huh?"
"Yeah nothing. Nothing then peace, and quiet, and let me tell ya... THAT is actually a blessing in disguise if you come from the city." Sonya admitted to her, "Every girl's got a 'beauty sleep', and traffic noises usually stole that from me."
"That's what makes it nice, but there is mothing much we can show to people from outside." Chie admitted with a shrug to her, "Though, there is something from Mt. Yasogami... I think our dyed clothes or pottery or something is kind of famous." She then gasped, "Oh wait, and there's the Amagi Inn! Yukiko's family runs it. It's the pride of Inaba!"
"Oh really?" Sonya asked interested hearing that looking at Yukiko. "I heard from some students about Mayumi Yamano staying at a inn which Yukiko owns, that's actually true?"
"Huh? It's... just an old inn." Yukiko answered.
"No way, it's been in all sorts of magazines as a hidden treasure." Chie mentioned turning to her before turning back to Sonya. "It's a great inn! It's been going for generations, and Yukiko here is going to take over someday. Their inn actually attracts a lot of people it Inaba. It pretty much keeps this town going."
"... I don't think that's entirely true." Yukiko mentioned.
Sonya shrugged a bit from that, "Well I'm not a successor but I can feel the pressure that might be. Don't work too hard okay, Amagi-san?" She then looked at the sky. "Actually I do have a dream one day. It isn't as grand as running an inn but it's one I treasure."
"Really, what kind of dream is it?" Chie asked curiously. "Oh, if you don't mind me asking that is."
Sonya blushed before asking, "Promise you two won't laugh?"
"Of course we won't." Chie smiled as Yukiko nodded in agreement.
"Well... I want... to be a housewife." Sonya blushed a bit.
"Huh?" Yukiko asked hearing that.
"You mean like cooking and cleaning and that stuff?" Chie asked. "Well, I guess if that makes you happy then that's the important part right?"
Sonya nodded before explaining, "Well I do that stuff back at home. It's just a dream of mine, I like to take care of my house. It's nothing like 'it's my duty as a wife or as a woman' or all that crap, that stuff is SO outdated. I just do it cause I want too. I mean, depending on how your lives are, you probably do the same cooking, and cleaning in the future."
"That's a good point." Chie admitted as they continued walking only to notice a crowd along with a police officer.
"So that high schooler left school early, and as she came down the street..." a housewife with shopping bags mentioned.
"Wow. Who could imagine THAT hanging from an antenna?" asked another housewife.
"I wanted to see it too." the housewife with the shopping bags admitted.
"Uh, you got here too late... the police and fire department took it down just a moment ago." a third housewife mentioned.
"Well, I think it's terrifying. I can't believe a dead body showed up around here..." the housewife with the shopping bags commented causing Sonya's eyes to widen.
"Wait... what did she just say? A dead body?" Chie asked stunned.
Sonya stared on in shock just as a male voice called, "Hey, what're you doing here?"
They looked over seeing Dojima walked over to them in front of the girls which Sonya said to him, "Did something happen around here?"
"You could say that." Dojima answered before sighing placing a hand on his head, "That damn principal. We told him not to let them through here..."
"...You know this guy?" Chie asked Sonya blinking.
"Yeah, he's my Uncle." Sonya answered with a nod.
"I'm Detective Dojima, her guardian. Uhh... Well, how should I say this..." Dojima cups his chin thinking before saying to them, "I hope you get along with her." He then informed them, "But you three really ought to stop wandering around and head straight home."
They nodded as Dojima turned to walk back only for a young black haired detective with a red tie ran passed him, and the three girls surprising them as they turned over where they see him puking his guts out at a nearby shrub.
"Adachi! How long are you gonna act like a rookie? You want to be sent back to the central office!?" Dojima snapped at the young detective.
"I-I'm sorry... Nngh..." the young detective, Adachi, groaned as Dojima sighed.
"Go wash your face. We're gonna go around and gather information!" Dojima told him before walking off as Adachi ran after him.
"Was this what that announcement was about...?" Chie asked quietly.
"What do they mean... it was hanging from the antenna...?" Yukiko asked.
"Hey, Yukiko...? Why don't we go to Junes some other time?" Chie suggested.
"Good idea..." Yukiko nodded as Chie turned to Sonya.
"Alright then, we're taking off. Starting tomorrow, neighbor, let's do our best!" Chie smiled.
Sonya nodded with a smile as they went separate ways. Sonya wasted no time, and arrived back at the Dojima House calling, "Nanako, I'm home!"
"Welcome back." Nanako smiled as Sonya saw she was sitting watching TV.
"How was school cuz?" Sonya asked her with a smile.
"It was good, how was your day?" Nanako asked turning to her.
"It was... interesting. One thing bad about it is the homeroom teacher is such a hard-a-" Sonya stopped herself remembering Nanako's age, and quickly corrected, "S-Such a hard-... dumb! Yeah, a hard-dumb, ha..." Yeah a weak cover for what she would really say.
"Hard-dumb?" Nanako asked in confusion.
"Well I, uh..." Sonya tried to think of a definitely for it before then shrugging, "Ah, forget it, I lost my train of thought." She sat down in front of Nanako, "Well Nanako, in a little bit, I'll be making dinner for us, and some left-overs for Uncle Dojima. Is there anything you want to have?"
"Oh... I wonder if dad's not coming home again tonight..." Nanako frowned.
Sonya blinked hearing that before the TV chimed up the news. "Our top story this evening concerns a bizarre case in a quiet suburb. Around noon today, a woman was found dead near the Samegawa River in Inaba."
"What?" Sonya asked shocked hearing that placing her hands on her mouth while the TV shows the School Zone. "Is this the incident the school announcement talked about?"
"The deceased has been identified as Ms, Mayumi Yamano, a 27-year-old announcer at the local television station. The initial results of the Inaba Police Department's investigation have revealed..." the reporter mentioned as Nanako's eyes widened.
"Ah! The Inaba Police Department! Th-That's where dad works!" Nanako cried before looking down sadly.
Deciding to try cheering her up Sonya smiled, "Hey I'm sure it'll be okay. Nothing's gonna happen to Uncle Dojima."
"... I know. That's his job, so this stuff happens." Nanako nodded.
"The body was found hanging from a large television antenna atop a local resident's roof." the reporter announced. "Authorities are uncertain as to why the body was in such a state. With the cause of death also uncertain, police continue to investigate whether the death is an accident or a homicide."
Sonya tched shaking her head, "Yeah, no way that's an accident. If it was hanging like that, how is it an accident?"
"A thick fog common to the area has slowed their progress, and plans to fully canvass the area after delayed until tomorrow." the reporter finished as it went to a different program.
"Mayumi Yamano..." Sonya trailed off looking down thinking to herself, "Her scandal with Mr. Taro Namatame had been all over the news last night, and now she's dead after staying a night at the Amagi Inn?"
"They found her on the roof? That's scary..." Nanako admitted looking down. Sonya looked over, and before she can talk Nanako cried excited noticing something, "Oh it's Junes!"
Looking over Sonya watches the commercial like before. "At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! *Every day's great at your Junes!*"
"Every day's great at your Junes!" Nanako sang happily at that before turning to Sonya expectedly.
Sonya smiled at this calling, "Your Junes!"
"You memorized it already? I'm the best one in my class!" Nanako smiled before singing the jingle to herself over and over.
Sonya giggled a little at that before standing up, "Well Nanako, I'll see if I can get some dinner made. You like to join me, or do you want to stay in here?"
"Oh... I can try and help." Nanako nodded with a smile.
After dinner Nanako was sitting watching more TV.
"Maybe if I have time, I'll head to Junes for Grocery Shopping." Sonya thinks to herself after finishing up dishes. "One last step..." She places a lid on a tupperware labeled, 'Uncle Dojima', and placed it in the fridge, "There we are that way Uncle Dojima gets some." She then yawned stretching her arms, "Oh man, I must still be getting used to my life here." Yawning she walked telling Nanako, "I'm gonna go to bed early Nanako. Wake me up if anything happens, and don't stay up too late okay?"
"Ok." Nanako nodded. "Good night."
"Night, love you." Sonya waved walking up to her room to head to bed for the night. She was asleep by the time her head hit her pillow on her futon.
The next day...
4/13 (Wednesday; Cloudy)
Sonya was walking to school sighing with a big smile, "Finally a good night's sleep of peace, and quiet without traffic stealing it..." Suddenly a bike breeze by as before her eyes it crashed against a trash can alarming her, and she ran over seeing it was Yosuke rolling around in the trash can trying to get himself out. "S-Someone..."
Sonya sighed but said, "Alright hold still." She reached helping him sit up, and pulled the trash can off of him sitting it down, and placed the lid back on as he stood his bike up.
"Whew, you saved me. Thanks! Umm..." Yosuke started before pausing. "Oh yeah, that's right. You're that transfer student, sorry I don't think I got your name yesterday."
"Sonya Narukami." Sonya introduced herself with a small bow to him. "And from Chie your first name is Yosuke, and Morooka the Jackass Monarch called you Hanamura which means your name is Yosuke Hanamura right?"
"Yeah, that's right." Yosuke nodded. "Say, did you hear about the incident from yesterday? They found that announcer lady hanging from an antenna! You think it was some kind of warning? No way something that weird could've been an accident."
"I thought the same thing." Sonya admitted with a small nod agreeing to that.
"Dangling a dead body over a roof like that... That's just messed up." Yosuke admitted to her before then admitting, "Then again, it's pretty messed up to kill someone in the first place." He looked down saying that before seeing his watch, and widen his eyes, "Oh crap, we're late!" Looking at her, "You wanna ride? It's a little squeaky, but it should be fine."
Sonya sweatdropped hearing that but decides she doesn't have another option so she agreed. "Okay."
Yosuke nodded as the two of them rode to Yasogami together fortunately without crashing again.
Later Sonya and the others were in the classroom as Morooka gave a long lecture.
Eventually at the end of the school year Sonya readies herself to head home while Yosukle stretched, and asked Sonya, "Hey, Sonya? Are you getting used to this place?"
"Maybe, I only been here for 2 days but already settling in." Sonya admitted to him before shrugging, "Though I don't think I am."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Yosuke grinned. "There isn't much to do here compared to the big city, but there is that certain... something you can't get anywhere else."
Sonya blinked hearing that. "What's that?"
"The air's clean, the food's great... Oh, you know about the local delicacy?" Yosuke asked her.
"Local delicacy? I seen a river nearby so fish?" Sonya guessed.
"What no. It's grilled steak, man!" Yosuke answered with a grin. "Like that's anything special, huh?"
"Well a person's gotta love the meat." Sonya admitted but shrugged with a smile, "Though I do like meat as long as it's not heavy."
"I know a place where you can get it cheap. Wanna come? You helped me out this morning so its on me." Yosuke offered just as Chie walked up to them.
"What about me, huh? No apologies?" she questioned. "My 'Trial of the Dragon'."
"Urgh... You always come around when I'm talking about food..." Yosuke sighed in exasperation.
Turning over to Yukiko, Chie smiled, "How about it, Yukiko? Don't you think he should treat us, too?"
Yosuke widen his eyes as they turned over which Yukiko stood up answering. "I'll pass... I don't want to gain any more weight. I need to help out at the inn today, anyway."
Curious Yosuke asked her, "Wow, Yukiko-san? You started training to take over the business?"
"It's not like that! I'm just helping out when it gets busy." Yukiko answered quickly. "Well, I should be on my way."
With that she walked off.
"Oh well. We should be going too." Chie mentioned to Yosuke and Sonya.
"Huh? Do I seriously have to treat two people...?" Yosuke asked in shock.
"Well, you did break her DVD." Sonya pointed out.
"Exactly, you owe me Yosuke." Chie agreed as Yosuke sighed in defeat.
"Fine, let's go." he relented.
Sonya stood up sighing offering to him, "Well if it makes you feel any better, I'll pitch in on the bill."
"Huh, you don't have to do that." Yosuke mentioned before they walked out and arrived at a foodcourt in Junes.
(Cue Theme: Junes)
"THIS is the cheap place you were talking about...? They don't have grilled steak here." Chie complained as Yosuke walked over to them with a tray of food.
"Yeah, well, once you hopped on the freeloader train, I had to change my plans." Yosuke pointed out.
"Still, that's no reason to take us to your place." Chie pointed out.
"Dude, this isn't my place or anything."
Sonya blinked confused hearing that, "His place? You mean he works here?"
Hearing that they looked to him where Yosuke remembered, "Oh, right. I haven't told you yet, huh?" He then explained to her, "I moved here from another city about six months back. This location just opened up, and my dad was assigned to manage it. So our entire family came out here."
"Oh, so you came to this town for the same reason I did." Sonya realized hearing that, "And this place is what you mean by next paycheck yesterday before Chie pushed you into the desk." That thought made Yosuke wince from the painful reminder.
"Yeah." Yosuke nodded before taking one of the drinks. "Here, this is to welcome you to town."
"Thanks." Sonya smiled taking one of the other two drinks.
"Satonaka, yours is on me too." Yosuke smiled turning to her.
"Yeah, I know." Chie nodded taking the third drink.
They raise, and took a sip placing there cups down before Sonya asked them curious, "So are you two like... going out?"
"Huh, no way!" Yosuke cried in shock.
"Yeah, not even close." Chie agreed.
"Well... you two just seemed like the typical budding couple. I could be wrong." Sonya shrugged to them. "I mean, I don't have a boyfriend in my life." Catching Yosuke grinning she stopped him before he say anything, "And before you say it, I'm not interested in your offer since I just got here. I appreciate you treating me to this here though, and letting me know where Junes is."
Yosuke just shrugged only to notice a girl sit at a different table as he smiled. "Hey it's Saki-senpai! Sorry, be right back."
"Oh, she must be Yosuke's girlfriend right?" Sonya guessed as Yosuke walked over to the girl.
"Haha, he wishes." Chie laughed.
She then explained to Sonya, "That's Saki Konishi. Her family runs a liquor store in the shopping district. ...I think she's working here part-time, though."
Sonya nodded at that. "I can understand that. I heard from the residents there blaming Junes for lack of business. At this point, it's either lose there home, or lose there pride, and Saki picked to swallow her pride, and work for the competition to make money."
"Yeah..." Chie nodded at that.
"Hey, how's it going? You look beat." Yosuke mentioned getting Saki's attention.
"Heeey! I'm finally on break..." Saki sighed. "What's up Hana-chan? Boosting the family business by bringing your friends here?"
"Madam, you wound me!" Yosuke feigned being hurt before smiling. "Kidding aside... You look down. Did something happen?"
"... It's nothing. I'm just a little tired." Saki answered.
"Hey, if you need to talk, I'm always willing to listen. I..." Yosuke trailed off while saying that.
Saki chuckled a bit before assuring him. "I'm okay. Thanks, though." She then sighed looking down. "Why'd I leave school early yesterday...?" That confused Yosuke before Saki noticed Sonya, and widen her eyes, "Hey... is she the kid who transferred here?"
Saying that she walked over to Chie and Sonya. "Are you the transfer student? Oh, did you hear about me already?"
"Yeah a bit." Sonya admitted with a nod, "I'm Sonya Narukami, it's nice to meet you."
"It must be nice to have someone else from the big city to talk to, huh?" Saki asked her before admitting, "I don't see Hana-chan hanging out with the other guys much."
"Other guys?" Sonya asked with a raised eyebrow.
Yosuke flinched rubbing his head. "Uh-not necessarily..."
"He doesn't have too many friends, so I hope you two get along good." Saki added to Sonya.
Sonya smiled to her at that. "Well, I helped him out of a trash can this morning, and he treated me to some food here so I guess you can say, that already happened."
"Hana-chan's a good guy, but he can get nosy sometimes. You gotta tell him right to his face when he starts to annoy you." Saki said to her which made Sonya blink.
"No, I don't think he's annoying. True he's a bit clumsy but he has a heart of gold." Sonya admitted with a smile.
"Ahaha, I'm just kidding." Saki mentioned as Sonya noticed Saki didn't seem to like Yosuke much.
"Hahah... You had me going there, Senpai." Yosuke admitted.
"Well, my break's just about over. Back to work I go... Later." Saki mentioned before walking off.
Sonya watched before standing up calling, "Hey, Konishi-san?"
"Huh, what is it?" Saki asked turning around.
"Sorry, but can we talk in private?" Sonya asked her walking over before turning to Yosuke, and Chie, "Sorry but I want to talk with her about something real quick."
"Oh, ok." Yosuke nodded hearing that.
She, and Saki walked together.
(Cue Theme: Traumerei)
The two girls arrived at a corridor alone as Sonya turned to Saki looking over her. Eventually she then asked, "Are you feeling alright?"
"Huh, yeah just a little tired that's all." Saki nodded.
"That isn't what I mean." Saki looked at her confused before Sonya repeated, "Are you feeling alright? I know you must have hated working here at Junes."
Saki's eyes darkened. "Look, just leave me alone alright?"
She turned and walked off at that.
"Saki." she stopped before Sonya said to her, "I get what your feeling. Junes had been taking away business from your family's workplace, and you had to come here to make ends meet. I'm sorry, you had to go through that but... you didn't had a choice since Junes came in. Just try to understand, Yosuke didn't have a choice here for his Dad to manage this place."
Saki just frowned but didn't say anything as she walked off. Sonya stared before sighing walking back.
(Cue Theme: Junes)
She arrived back smiling to them, "Sorry about that, me, and her had something important to discuss."
Yosuke nodded at that. "Well you saw Saki-senpai called me annoying, but she's even nosier than I am. She has a younger brother, and she treats me pretty much the same way..."
"Ohhh, you don't want her treating you like a brother, huh? I get it... so that's how it is..." Chie teased. "The daughter of a local family-run liquor store and the scion of the invading chain... Hoho, the flame of forbidden love!"
Sonya laughed at that while Yosuke stammered with a blush. "Wha-!? Dude, it's not like that."
"Oh reaaaally... Well, I know just the thing to clear up that lovesick heart." Chie chuckled more. "You ever hear of the Midnight Channel?"
Sonya blinked hearing that, "The what Channel?"
"You're supposed to look into a TV that's switched off, alone, exactly at midnight on a rainy night." Chie explained. "While you're staring at your own image, another person will appear on the screen... And they say that person's your soulmate."
"What?" Yosuke asked before shaking his head, "For a second, I thought you were actually going to say something useful... How can you get all excited over such a childish urban legend like that?"
Irritated Chie snapped. "Childish, huh? You don't believe it, do you!?"
"Of course, I don't!" Yosuke answered.
"Well, it's raining tonight! Let's all try it out- Then you'll see!" Chie told him.
"Try it out...? Wait, you haven't even tried it yourself!?" Yosuke questioned. "Wow, I'm trying to remember the last time I heard something this stupid..."
"I don't know, it might be fun to try at least." Sonya suggested. "What's the worst thing that could happen?"
Ulrich362: The Midnight Channel, I wonder if the rumor is true.
bopdog111: I wonder if it's true too. Who knows?
Ulrich362: Well, Sonya will probably find out tonight. A soulmate though... wonder who that would be for her. Guess we'll find out, see you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!