AN: It's been another little while, I know! And it's another of the non-battle chapters where we see the characters doing their own thing. But the next two chapters will be rather intense. Please read, review, favourite, whatever you want to do, and thanks for reading!
Minor note: Celestine was originally going to be Half-Japanese, but upon reflection, I made her 100% French. Not wanting to waste her original surname, I gave that to Yuko Ashikaga, the Mayor of Shinshuto.
Chapter 13: Touched Heartstrings
|Sunday 9th April|Nakahara Household|9:12 am|
Finally, it was a Sunday, and now the group could have a day of rest. Shintaro yawned as he got out of bed and got dressed. As usual, however, he got distracted from his breakfast by the book he was reading – this being one of the Leanne Rouge series. When he saw the photograph of the sophisticated French novelist on one of the back pages, he blushed.
Next week, Celestine Courtois is having a book signing in Hiyashi. I can't wait!
With everything going on in the Theio Kosmos, he had completely forgotten about the signing. Today, after working on his homework, he'd go to his favourite cafe to finish re-reading the latest book in the series, the copy he intended to have Celestine sign with her signature pen. He went downstairs and found his mother preparing breakfast.
"Good morning!" Eriko said to her son cheerily. "Did you sleep okay?"
"Yes, mum. I'm feeling much better now." Shintaro said, dressed in his blue shirt and jeans. The two of them sat down to have breakfast, as Takuya was meeting an old friend for breakfast in Tarumi.
"That's good to hear, especially since you seemed so tired last night," Eriko said. "And you seem really cautious, every time I see you. You do know you can tell me and your father absolutely anything, right?"
Mother, if I told you I was fighting a crazy psycho who killed her own father, and she was only a grunt of a larger group, how would you react? I can't just tell her about the Gnosis. Komatsu-san told us never to reveal this to anyone else. Not even my mother.
"I know, you don't need to worry so much. I'm just concerned about Bythos. They've been quiet since what happened in Hanashima." Shintaro said.
"True, and what's even more strange is the awfully large increase in support of Bythos in Mizuho," Eriko said. "Strange, isn't it? Why would the people of our city support a criminal group so much?"
"I wish I knew," Shintaro said. "But they won't get to keep doing as they please. The city council won't allow that. Ashikaga-san will take care of things."
"You seem rather confident..." Eriko said. She smiled faintly, however. "Perhaps you're right. She's a strong woman, after all. And I hear she has strong allies in the government. Look at this in the morning paper!"
Shintaro looked at the newspaper. On the front page, he saw an article about a speech Yuko Ashikaga had made. Pictured was the lady herself, a tall, pale woman with raven black hair, with bangs framing her face. She seemed rather gaunt, and had a steely air about her. Those fierce eyes showed to Shintaro one thing - she wasn't about to let Bythos ruin her city.
It must be so frustrating, though. She has no means to fight the Shadows. All she can do is rely on Komatsu-san and all of us. Maybe soon enough, we'll get to meet her face to face. I hope we can restore her peace of mind, and fast.
With breakfast out of the way, Shintaro went outside, enjoying the light breeze. He walked through his neighbourhood, waving at the young kids who were playing around in their back guard. In a week's time, he would be face to face with the beautiful and refined Celestine, and learn more about how she managed to pen such a surreal series.
I wonder if she'll ever allow a movie based on her book. Maybe a TV series. I'd love to see either. But could any of those beat the way I capture the story in my mind? I'm sure no matter how good it was, Celestine's vision could never truly be bested by any other medium.
|Teruya Household|9:21 am|
Kohaku's home was a little larger than Shintaro's. Her room was filled with sheet music and many CD's and records, as well as several plush toys she had when she was a little girl. While she no longer played with most of them, she loved having them around. She also had photographs of her with her family on her dressing table, as well as one with Shintaro she took last year.
Taro-kun, I'm so glad I'm a Persona user alongside you. I get to look after you even when we're fighting scum like that bastard Ryosei. And my parents - I can use my power to protect them for harm too, can't I? I must learn more about Airmid. I can't let Bythos target my parents.
Agitated by the thought, she looked at her vast collection of CDs and saw Aika Makino's first album. Smiling, she thought back to when she first heard it.
Aika was part of Dream's Tears back when she was in high school, wasn't she? She was easily the best singer in that band. Thank goodness she moved on to better things. After all, Aika has way more talent than all of them combined. I can't wait to see her, but who do I want to come with me? Shintaro, maybe? I don't really know any other guys in school well enough to ask out. I suppose I could just go with Akari. Then again, perhaps it'd be nice for just me and Kei to hang out together.
Shrugging, she put on her orange shirt and brown skirt and went downstairs. There, to her delight, were her parents, having breakfast.
"Morning!" Kohaku said, happily greeting her parents.
"Good morning to you too, dear!" Kohaku's mother – Naoko – said. The family were having freshly made omelettes for breakfast, light and fluffy. It had been a while since she'd had her mother's home cooking, and it was always a welcome surprise.
"You're looking bright this morning." Tomokazu, Kohaku's father, poured everyone some coffee, which smelled terrific. "I'm so sorry, we've barely seen you since school started."
"No, it's okay," Kohaku said. "I understand your work is important. And I'm almost 17 now. Believe it or not, I can take care of myself."
I can't really just say I hate being alone, though. Their work won't stop being demanding because I complain.
"Even so, I hate leaving you here on your own so much..." Naoko said, drinking her coffee. "So, tell us about your week. How is Kansei High treating you?"
And so Kohaku told them what she felt she could safely reveal. Namely, that she and Shintaro had managed to end up in the same class again. And likewise, Akari was with them too. Not only that, they had a girl from Yokohama in the class- Kei. Then, she finished with how she had purchased two tickets to see Aika Makino live.
"Oh, she's good. I need to thank you again for lending me her album again, my dear." Tomokazu said.
"Just two tickets?" Naoko asked. "Are you and Shintaro going together?"
"I don't know yet," Kohaku said. "I just felt like going with someone. And there were only two tickets left, so I figured I should make it a social event."
"Ah, Kohaku..." Tomokazu said. "As long as you have a good time, I don't mind who you take."
"Thanks, dad," Kohaku said. I don't really want to go on my own, and there were only two tickets left. Who should I ask, though? Tough choice.
"Didn't something happen with the old band she used to be in?" Naoko asked, curious. "It turned out their manager was trying to get a little too close to them behind the scenes."
"I don't think Kohaku needs to hear the details, dear." Tomokazu said, shuddering.
"Oh, I read all about him. Total bastard. Aika-chan deserved better." Kohaku said, clenching her fists at the thought. "But her new album is going to be even better than the last one, I can feel it!"
"You're quite a fan, I see." Tomokazu said, giving an amused smirk to his wife. Naoko chuckled fondly, as she poured her daughter a cup of hot coffee. "So, what are we doing today?"
"I'm not sure. Shintaro's going to a book signing, Akari's working at that pet shop again, and I'm not sure what Kei's doing." Kohaku said. I shouldn't bring up Masato just yet...
"In that case, why don't we go out for a walk around Tarumi, and see a movie?" Naoko asked. "And we can have a meal there later on."
"Sure! That sounds great!" Kohaku said, happily. The family finished their breakfast, and left for a family outing to Tarumi. It had been a long time since she had been able to enjoy the day with her parents. They had been a hard working couple, yet they had no idea how hard their daughter would be working to fight Shadows soon enough.
|Komatsu Household|13:10 pm|
Located on the edge of Totsuka was a large, three-bedroom house, grand in size, and with a somewhat European architectural style. With bay windows on either side of the front door, it had an impressive garden surrounding it, and even a conservatory.
This was the home of Shigeru Komatsu, who had lived here since just before his marriage. Today, he and his wife Kaiyo were about to watch their son Noburo audition for the role of Shin. The character was a tortured young boy, in a popular tragedy called Death By Moonlight. It had been penned in Shinshuto, and thus when it was performed there, it was a huge hit with theatregoers. With all the prep Noburo had been making, Shigeru could probably write the entire script from memory.
Maybe I should audition for this play myself. Although at forty-six, I don't think I could quite play a high-schooler, with or without emotional trauma.
"Mom, are you ready?" Noburo called upstairs. He was dressed in his finest white shirt and black tie, as well as the shiny pair of shoes he had received for Christmas. Shigeru, also smartly dressed, couldn't help but feel proud. His son would make a fine gentleman someday. Perhaps he was already there, judging from how often Teruko embraced him on their dates.
"Yes, Noburo-kun!" Kaiyo replied. She came downstairs, with her short brown hair tied in a ponytail. She wore a checked white and black dress, and a white jacket to match. "I'm so glad you were able to make it, darling." The woman kissed her husband, who smiled warmly at her.
"I feel so guilty over missing the last few of these..." Shigeru said. "But not today. I know how hard you've been working towards this role. I want to see you nail this."
"Don't worry, Dad, I've got this in the bag. I've read this play at least fifty-seven times." Noburo said, smiling. "I even wrote an essay about how much I related to Shin's character arc, remember?"
"Vividly. You certainly were vocal about your dislike for his spinster aunt..." Shigeru reflected. "Let's get going. I've booked us a table afterwards."
"Awesome!" Noburo said. Just then, his phone started to ring. "Oh, one sec. It'll be Teruko, wishing me luck!" He walked outside, heading to the silver car, and began what would most likely be a long conversation between high school lovers.
"Kaiyo..." Shigeru said. "He's growing up, isn't he?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. He's so mature for his age. And when he sees something he wants, he goes for it whole-heartedly. I'm sure he must get it from you."
"Me? You really think so, dear?"
"Of course. You're his father, no matter what," Kaiyo said, happily, and she pulled him into a tight embrace. "I'm so glad I met you. If I hadn't, I might still be hiding from...him."
Shigeru frowned, albeit briefly, and tightly held his wife in his arms. "That was an aeon ago. You'll never have to worry about him again. That's a promise."
With this strong vow, Kaiyo smiled, tearing up a little.
The two of them waited for Noburo to finish his phone call with Teruko, and once he was free, they were good to go. Shigeru drove them to their destination, and as Noburo and his mother talked about the play in minute detail, Shigeru dwelled on the events of last night.
So now we have high school students as Persona users. It seems like what you'd expect from a video game or an anime. But this is the reality I'm forced to deal with. And It's not fair. All I want is for children like Noburo to be at peace, away from fighting monsters like Shadows. But I have no choice. I must carry on my work. I must protect Kaiyo and Noburo at all costs - they are my reason for living.
They continued on their way, reaching the audition hall where Noburo planned to wow the casting director. As Shigeru drove the family car, he continued to lament his current situation. Defeating Bythos still seemed far off, but perhaps he was a little closer now.
|Mizuho - Asami's House|12:00 pm|
Natsumi, as she walked to her friend's house, was wondering about the events of the past week. She had ended up seeing two familiar faces from her past – and it brought back a lot of bad memories. The cruel things she had ended up doing in middle school would haunt her forever. She and Masato had ended up ruining precious friendships, and all to be 'cool'. Never again would she do such a thing.
Yet, after yesterday, she noticed Masato seemed oddly happy. And she didn't quite understand what had changed. Sure, he did babble on about Dorothy a lot, but this was different. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his mind. Did it have something to do with that weird phone she had heard him talk about? She hadn't seen anyone else use one, she thought.
Why won't Masato tell me? He keeps saying it's a 'surprise' but won't say anymore. Maybe I should try asking Hideki. He usually gives in after I beg.
"Hey, Natsu! Is that a new dress? It's so cute!"
Asami had already opened the door in anticipation and smiled at her friend. Natsumi was wearing one of her favourite outfits, her pink floral dress with matching boots. Much of her wardrobe seemed to be various shades of pink and red, which her brothers had teased her about before. Asami, on the other hand, was wearing a sparkly green top and denim shorts, preferring a slightly more tomboyish look.
"Thanks!" Natsumi said. "It's the one I made for myself last November!"
"Oh yeah, you were in the club room after school all month trying to finish it. You gonna make me one too?" Asami asked.
"I dunno. This one took a long time to get right. I'm good at designing clothes quickly, but making them takes forever." Natsumi said.
"Ah, you're too hard on yourself. Make me a green one to match and I'll be happy." Asami said. "C' mon, let's get inside. My parents are out all day!"
The girls ran upstairs to her room. It was covered in mostly pink furnishings, but there her expensive camera and lighting system was set up. With the revenue she had earned during her online career, she had been able to afford some new equipment to improve the professionalism of her videos, to some good results. After all, 1080p and 60fps seemed to draw in the crowds.
"Wow!" Natsumi said, sitting down on the purple sofa by the back wall, and gazing at the white cushions. "Your studio is awesome!"
"I know, right?" Asami said, adjusting one of the lights. "Some mean people are saying I post too much. That there's a lot of old videos they'll never get through. But I don't want to keep my thoughts to myself. I've got to get them out there."
"You should just do what makes you happy. Screw what others think." Natsumi said. "I wish I'd been more like you when I was in junior high. Maybe I'd still be friends with Kohaku and Shintaro..."
Akari looked up at her friend, with sadness in her eyes. "...I know. You've seen the error of your ways. If you tried to pass off what you and your brother did as 'harmless teasing', or something similar, then -
"No, I'd never say that," Natsumi said. "I'm not the stupid girl I was back then. I have to move on. I can't keep thinking back on the friends I've lost."
"Yeah, good point. C'mon, let's get going to Ginumi!" Asami said, happily. "Let's get away from all this sad talk."
Just as Asami was getting her stuff together, Natsumi noticed something she hadn't seen before. A framed photo on Asami's desk, next to her neon green laptop. It was of what appeared to be a younger Asami, with longer and straighter hair, and she was huddled together with three other girls Natsumi didn't recognise.
"Hey, who are those -"
Before she could finish, Asami grabbed the photo and span it around, hiding it.
"It's nothing. Just an old photo from years ago." Asami said, hurriedly. "Come on, what are we waiting for? Let's go shopping!"
Without any further delay, Asami grabbed her purse and her bag and practically raced out of the house. Natsumi, having never seen her friend like this before, wasn't sure how to react. She slowly got up and followed her friend, worrying she had said the wrong thing.
|Midori Park|13:09 pm|
For Masato, the day had been rather uneventful so far. He had written another long message to his beloved Dorothy, which had reached over four thousand years according to his chat app. As much as he wanted to, he didn't dare reveal anything about the Shadows and Personas. He was still getting to grips with that himself, after all. Yet he did tell her about him and Shintaro.
She had already been aware of his past as a bully and despite everything, she had chosen to keep an open mind about him. "After all," she had typed, "why should the past haunt you forever?" In her eyes, everyone deserved a second chance. Hopefully, she would be happy to hear that he had made up with his former friend, even if it was still a little awkward between them.
Even so, he knew had to keep up his fitness, and so he went for a run around Midori Park, weaving in and out of the way of trees and other visitors. However, after the 12th lap, he took a break and sat at the bench.
"Phew..." Masato said. "I wonder what the others are doing?"
Sweating, he adjusted his wristbands – a pair of red brand ones – and stretched his arms. He scanned the park, in case he saw anyone else he knew, but alas no one seemed particularly familiar to him. Until he laid eyes on a man in a black suit.
"Huh? That's...that creepy guy!"
The tall man was by the pond, gazing at the rippling water. His back was turned, but from the ponytail, it was clear to Masato who exactly this person was. Keiya Tsukino, the card magician. And, as it turned out, was likely part of Bythos. The same group that apparently had tried to kill him with that monstrous EX-NIHILO.
I'll take you on right here, right now!
Just as he got up from the bench, preparing to charge at Keiya, he was stopped by someone tightly grabbing his arm. Angry, he tried fiercely to break free, but to no avail.
"Whoa, what the hell -"
"Don't even think about it, kid!"
Masato recognised the deep male voice and stopped struggling. Behind him was a man who previously had worn a full military uniform. Now, however, he was in a plain red t-shirt and jeans. Colonel Hiroyuki Kita, of the JSDF, had halted the baseball-loving kid from making a huge mistake.
"What – but – Kita-san, that guy, he's -" Masato said, desperately trying to get his point across.
"Shigeru and Novalie have already told us about his Gnosis," Hiroyuki said, sternly. "So I came here to follow him in secret. I didn't expect to have to babysit you as well."
"Can't we do something about him?" Masato asked. "If we just let him go, then who knows what he'll do next? They already tried to kill me once before, and I don't even know why!"
"While I understand what you're saying," Hiroyuki said. "Even so, I can't just let you rush into things and make matters worse. I need to stop the good men under my command from making bad decisions. Trying to challenge Tsukino now won't accomplish anything. Or worse, he'll call the police on you."
"Damn..." Masato said, looking down at his feet. "I didn't even think of that."
"You want to defend Shinshuto from Bythos, don't you?" Hiroyuki asked. "Then you have to use your head a little. Picking a fight with him here in public is only going to get you in trouble. If he becomes aware of who we really are, that's going to make tailing him much harder. You'd only help them, not us."
Masato, silent, gazed back at the pond. Keiya was wandering away, not even noticing the two of them further back. Although it hurt to admit it, Hiroyuki was right. He could have ruined everything by trying to be a hero.
"...I'm really sorry, Kita-san."
Hiroyuki, while calm, still frowned at the boy, and crossed his arms.
"This better not happen again. Leave the fighting to the Theio Kosmos. We can't keep running around trying to keep you out of trouble."
Damn, can he not say 'it's okay' and smile? I mean, Shigeru probably would be even madder, but I'm sure Novalie would be a bit sweeter about it. But he's right. I'll wait until we meet Keiya in the Theio Kosmos. Then I'll get a chance to show that card freak a thing or two.
"...I won't tell Shigeru about this, of course." Hiroyuki said. "Trust me, you don't want to tick him off."
"Got it, sir," Masato said. Hiroyuki didn't seem quite as happy as he did yesterday, but Masato wasn't particularly keen on finding out why. "I'll leave Keiya alone. I promise."
"Good," Hiroyuki said. "So far, he hasn't done anything openly suspicious. But I was able to confirm that he does indeed possess a Gnosis. And it's definitely not one of the red ones the Claret Squad and the other soldiers use, either. He's far above their league. It's quite likely he answers directly to Nisa Liat."
"Yeah, probably," Masato said, pondering what sort of Persona Keiya could be using. "...I'll be heading home now."
"Then be safe, Yoshinaga," Hiroyuki said. Quickly, Masato walked away from the park, eager to get away from the Colonel. Could he really have been stupid enough to expose himself as a Persona user to Keiya? He could have risked the safety of his friends and family.
No more mistakes. I need to listen to Hiroyuki and the others. After all, they're the ones in charge.
|Mizuho - Reverie|14:16 pm|
The Reverie was a popular cafe in Mizuho, located quite close to Shinshuto City College. Known for a black and dark red colour scheme, it prided itself on a sophisticated atmosphere that still managed to be inviting. Shintaro was something of a regular here, and as soon as he walked in, the barista greeted him warmly.
"Good afternoon, Shintaro-san!" The barista said. She was Suzume, a student at the college.
"Hi, Suzume-san! The usual, please. And a chocolate muffin!" Shintaro said. She smiled and prepared the coffee expertly. He took his coffee and his muffin, and sat by the window, where he had a view of the city around him. So many people coming and going. Something disturbed him, however. Quite a few people had oddly glazed looks in their eyes. Perhaps it had something to do with what his mother mentioned before.
Bythos are up to something with Mizuho, aren't they? That's pretty scary...
Trying to ignore it, he started reading the latest book in the Leanne Rouge series, Hail to the Blue Veil Society. Young Leanne was uncovering the dark secrets of the titular society, known only for their elegant blue scarves they left at the site of their crimes. He had already read through this once before, but on his second read, he wanted to make sure he kept all the details fresh in his mind.
It had been after nearly an hour, and several refills later, when someone else suddenly sat at the chair in front of him. Startled, he lowered his book – and gasped. There, smiling, was the charming Novalie Vinters, who was one of Shigeru's aides.
"Hi Shintaro-san!" Novalie said. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Ha, well I'm here all the time. It's a great place to read." Shintaro said, showing his book to the Norwegian lady. She looked at the cover, smiled, and sipped her own tea. "What brings you here?"
"I was at the college library writing one of my papers for a module I'm taking. It's all finished now, so I thought I'd come here for a refreshing cup of coffee. Then I saw you, and..." Novalie said. "After everything that's been happening, I was a little worried about you. Especially with Shigeru being, well...Shigeru."
"He's a bit scary, yeah..." Shintaro said, shuddering. "His Persona took out the Claret Squad as if they were made of paper! I wonder if we'll ever get that powerful..."
"In time, I'm sure you'll be capable of similar powers. The same goes for Bythos, however." Novalie said. "Shigeru is a good man, though. He doesn't talk too much about his personal life, but from what I've heard, he's a complete sweetheart when it comes to his wife. And he's a good father, too."
"He could be a bit friendlier, though," Shintaro said. "It's scary enough fighting Shadows, without worrying about getting him upset."
"Bear in mind, however, how stressful his career can be, and now he has this to deal with," Novalie said. "I'm a student, so it's not as demanding for me, but..."
"It's okay. We all know we can trust him, and that's all that matters right now." Shintaro said. Then, he turned serious and leaned in closer. "Novalie, have you noticed something...strange about the people of Mizuho?"
"Some of my classmates were acting oddly in college today, actually," Novalie said, shuddering. "People who normally didn't discuss politics were badmouthing the government and praising Bythos like wildfire. And they look almost dazed."
"...Do you guys know what's wrong with them?" Shintaro said.
"Other than it involves Bythos, no..." Novalie said. "But I intend to get to the bottom of this. If someone wants to support Bythos with all their heart, fine. But if Bythos are swaying their hearts through force, that's not acceptable."
"I agree," Shintaro said. "For false feelings are no feelings at all."
"That's rather poetic. But I understand. If you all will join us in the Theio Kosmos tomorrow after school, then we'll begin exploring Mizuho there. We should uncover something."
"I'll be there, then," Shintaro said, smiling. "So, what books have you been reading lately?"
"Is that your best pickup line?" Novalie said, laughing. Embarrassed, Shintaro's face went red, and he looked away. "I'm only joking, Shintaro, don't look so nervous. I'm not sure if my library compares to yours, but I do like a lot of Nordic Noir titles..."
The conversation continued as normal, with Shintaro discovering some new titles to read. Novalie, despite having an ice-based Persona, seemed to have a warm heart. Yet the citizens in Mizuho were in danger of losing their minds to Bythos. Could the Knowledge Seekers turn the tide? Shintaro was determined to find the way.
|Tarumi – Oracle Cinema|13:45 pm|
After two hours of a rather insane French movie – subtitled rather awkwardly – the Teruya family walked outside of the movie theatre, equally stunned.
"I must say, that was the most creative use of expletives I've ever heard!" Tomokazu said.
"I'll say. What a complete waste of talent, though." Kohaku said, in what her parents had dubbed her 'Evil Film Critic' mode. "A score lacking cohesion, extremely inept direction, lacklustre special effects, and acting more wooden than my old treehouse."
"That's so mean, Kohaku!" Naoko said, laughing.
"It was an experience, anyway," Tomkazu said. "Perhaps they should have asked your friend Aika to write the songs for that movie."
"I don't think her style really fits scene involving purple giraffes and haunted pink torpedoes," Kohaku said, shuddering. "And she's not even my friend anyway! Hold on a moment. That girl over there...!"
She gasped. Across from the movie theatre, staring at the beach from the lavender stone wall, was none other than Aika Makino in the flesh. Excited, Kohaku stared at her in awe, while her parents exchanged amused looks.
"You must have summoned her forth, Kohaku-chan," Tomokazu said. "You've been raving about her quite a lot today."
"Why not say hello?" Naoko asked.
"What? But I can't just..." Kohaku said.
"Don't be so shy. Didn't you just say that she tries to bond with all her fans?" Tomokazu said, gently.
"Well..." Kohaku, nervous, thought for a moment. "I suppose I might not get another chance. Even if I see her in concert, in the front row. Here I go!
Trying not to let herself get too starstruck, she walked across the road, pretending as if she wasn't going straight towards the rather dainty singer. However, Aika turned around, and her gaze caught Kohaku's. Paralysed with fear, the schoolgirl stood there for a moment but finally made it over, her courage finally kicking in.
"Um...Makino-san?"
"Yes, miss?" Aika asked, gently. Kohaku shook her heard, frantically trying to think of something to say. Aika simply smiled and patiently waited for the girl to speak. It may have only been a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity had passed by the time Kohaku spoke.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but...I just wanted to say I really love your music."
"Oh?" Aika said, a little surprised. "Thank you very much. It's always nice to hear nice things about my music. Tell me, what's your favourite song?"
"It'd have to be Floating Stones," Kohaku said. "I learned how to play it on the flute, actually."
"Really? I was never good at the flute. I've always loved the piano." Aika said, happily. "Are you still in high school?"
"Yes, I'm attending Kansei High. I'm in my second year there." Kohaku said, happily.
"Ah, I've heard good things about that school. Of course, Chieki is a fine place too." Aika said, fondly. "I'm sorry, I'm running behind for a rendezvous in Ginumi, but perhaps we'll talk again. What was your name, by the way?"
"Oh, it's Kohaku!"
"Ah. A nice name." Aika said. "We should talk again online. There's a great group chat I hold with my fans every week. I'd love to see you there."
"Great! My dad's a fan of yours too. Maybe he'll join in!" Kohaku said, pointing to her parents, who waved politely at them.
"Well, I'm glad to have anyone listen to my music." Aika proclaimed. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Kohaku. Have a wonderful weekend!"
"You too!" Kohaku said, waving goodbye. Aika left, heading down the road, while Kohaku returned to her parents.
"See? Not all celebrities are pure evil!" Tomokazu said, laughing out loud.
"You've made that joke at least once a year..." Naoko said, shaking her head.
"And that's why I went into politics instead of stand-up comedy. Ah well." Tomokazu said. "Let's go for something to eat."
"Okay!" Kohaku said, brimming with joy. Her brief encounter with Aika was far better than that awful movie she saw. And a meal with her family would make this a completely perfect day, she thought.
|Ginumi Shore|14:00 pm|
The two girls were exploring the sea-facing Ginumi district, the most built-up area of the city. A splendour of flashy hotels and restaurants glittered the coastline, with a golden beach covered with loungers. Three small artificial islands were being constructed further away, in an attempt to expand Ginumi in a similar manner to Tokyo's Odaiba. A huge bridge was being built to connect all three islands to the city, somewhat resembling the famous Rainbow Bridge.
"Wow. Watermelon ice cream is way better than I thought it'd be." Natsumi said, happily licking her cone.
"If you say so, but for me, it's mango or nothing!" Asami said, teasingly. The two had visited some of the popular stores and attractions of Ginumi, such as the stone pillar that constantly had water flowing down from it, like an urban waterfall. There was also the popular Seabreeze Gardens, dedicated to flowers, that had several places for people to have barbecues.
"I love Ginumi. But I wish Chieki was nearer." Natsumi said, as they sat on the stone wall between the promenade and the sand.
"Me too. How many times have we been here since we met? Are we in the double digits now?" Asami asked.
"Probably. I'm crap at keeping count at these things." Natsumi said. "You doing one of your fan gatherings any time soon?"
"Actually, I've got one planned for tomorrow after school. It's going to be big. And I mean really big. About fifty people are coming from all over the city for a Q&A!" Asami said, happily. "It's not as much as some people stars online these days get, but -"
"Wow, that sounds cool! I'll go too. I'll be your bodyguard! Hehe!" Natsumi said.
"Don't be silly, Natsu. I can look after myself now." Asami said. She cleared her throat and got serious. "I...I need to tell you something. It's about what happened before we met at Chieki."
"What's this, all of a sudden?" Natsumi asked.
"I used to be friends with another group of girls. Ayako, Moriko, and Takumi. We spent every day with each other..." Asami said, hands tightly gripping the wall. Her heart seemed heavy as she reflected on her former band of friends. "I thought we'd be friends forever. Laughing at each other's jokes, cheering each other on, that kind of thing."
"...Something happened to those girls, right?" Natsumi asked. Asami was quiet, and then Natsumi realised. "That photo! Those girls were -"
"...Yes. It was my favourite photo of the four of us, even back then." Asami said. "It feels like yesterday. We were all so happy, until this bastard started bullying us online. He was relentless, too! He kept making new online profiles just to abuse us, all because it seemed like fun to him. He made us all feel worthless like we had no reason to live in this world. I thought we could handle him, but one by one, we fell victim to his curse. We started to believe the nonsense he spouted at us was true."
Natsumi listened, gazing at her tearful friend. She had never heard anything like this before. Asami never got this emotional in any of her videos, but perhaps pain like this was not meant to be captured for others to watch. This was personal and between close friends. For that reason, Natsumi stayed still, listening carefully.
"It got so bad, they even called the police. But it didn't help..." Asami said. "Do you know why?"
"No...Why?" Natsumi asked, tense.
"His fucking asshole of a father is in the police!" Asami said, raising her voice. "And as far as that bastard's dad was concerned, it was all just harmless teasing. Well, it wasn't. How harmless can it be when all of them killed themselves?!"
"That's..." Natsumi muttered, unable to process what she had just heard. Three innocent girls harassed for no reason at all. Due to a monstrous boy, they had been driven to suicide, and the perpetrator was still walking free."That's inhuman!"
"He might as well have pulled the trigger on them. Him and his scumsucking father. All because of them, I'll never see either of the girls again!" Asami said. "The worst part is, he's still out there, up to his same tricks! It won't end, not as long as he can run to daddy and beg him not to do anything about it!"
"...I'm so sorry, Asami. I never realised such a horrible thing could happen in this city." Natsumi said. She gave Asami a hug, somewhat teary-eyed herself.
"My parents were at their wit's end trying to get me to go back to school. I must have gone through hundreds of counselling sessions. But now that I've finally told you...I can start making peace with what's happened."
Natsumi nodding, managing a small smile. Now Asami was hugely popular, and perhaps that would explain her work ethic. She was working so hard for her friends, to make them proud.
"But it's not like he can get away with it forever. The police might not be able to do anything about it, but now I know for sure I can! I'm far stronger now than I was back then. It's like I know exactly who I am. And the other me inside."
"What do you mean?" Natsumi asked, confused.
"I...I can't say, not just yet. The important thing is, I finally have a chance to make Ryosuke Kinoshita suffer." Asami said, smiling. "This is top secret, so I don't want you telling anybody. Not even Masato."
"This is safe, right?" Natsumi asked, concerned. "What if something happens to you?"
Asami was quiet. She stared at the waves, as they glistened in the sunlight. Whatever she had planned, she was deeply reflecting on it.
"Don't worry, Natsumi. I couldn't save Ayako, Moriko, or Takumi, no matter how hard I tried. But I will have justice, one way or another!"
"How can you be so sure?" Natsumi asked, still worried. There was something uneasy about her friend's confidence that didn't seem to assure her this time. "What if the police get involved with whatever you're up to?"
Asami shook her head, laughing. "They won't be able to stop us. We'll be just fine, I promise. But I really want you there with me. The thing is, Ryosuke is acquainted with someone you know. Someone else that's a piece of shit..."
"Who's that?" Natsumi asked. Then, after a second, she soon realised exactly who her friend meant. "You don't mean Rokurou Iwasaki, do you?!"
Asami nodded. "Yeah, that's the guy. He's the one who forced Masato to tear apart that book, right?"
Natsumi nodded, shuddering at the thought.
"He's probably forgotten all about it. Bastard!" She said, angry. "If we can punish him too, then count me in! I'll do whatever I can to help!"
Asami, elated, smiled. "I'm so glad. Then if you're absolutely sure, meet me tomorrow after school. You, me, and the other fans - we'll have a chance to bring justice. For Shintaro, Kohaku, and my former friends."
"I won't let you down," Natsumi said. "Those two will never ruin anybody's life ever again."
"Oh, they won't, not after what I've got planned," Asami said, with a somewhat sinister smile. "After tomorrow, no one will ever have the chance to suffer at their hands."
The two of them left Ginumi, chatting about their regular lives at school. Yet Natsumi couldn't help but dwell on everything that Asami had just told her.
What is she planning to do? Surely, she's not planning to kill them, is she? If she does anything drastic, I have to stop her. But what that boy did to her friends is wrong. I can't just let him get away with it. The police may not lift a finger, but I certainly will!
|Tarumi – Yew Steakhouse|17:00 pm|
The Yew Steakhouse was a top-class restaurant, and while the prices weren't exactly low, the quality and presentation were nigh-unbeatable. Kohaku had only been here once before, so it felt great to be back. They were on the ground floor, decorated with white walls and blue marble flooring, in a booth towards the back.
"So Kohaku-chan, how is school?" Tomokazu asked while looking at the menu, scanning it for something gluten-free.
"It's been great, father!" Kohaku answered happily. "We have a new Geography teacher. He's really good, and kind, and much more competent than the last one. Although..."
"What's the matter, dear?" Naoko asked, concerned.
"He's... Well, you see... His name is Hideki Yoshinaga."
There was a stony silence, as Tomokazu gazed in anger at the sound of that family name. Kohaku gulped, but Naoko held her hand tightly.
"Of all the people to end up teaching my daughter..." Tomokazu said, angrily. "Haven't that family caused you enough trouble?"
"It's fine, dad..." Kohaku said, gazing up at her father's eyes. "Really. It's not like Hideki was involved. And it's not like Masato or Natsumi are at school with us anyway."
"Hideki always seemed like such a nice young man. It's such a shame his brother and sister turned out to be such awful bullies. I wonder what they're doing now?" Naoko said.
"I just hope they're not making a nuisance in whatever school they're at." Tomokazu. "I, for one, will never forgive them for what they put you through."
"I..." Kohaku began, but trailed off. She wanted to say that she had already forgiven them. But then she realised how it must have felt back in those days. Her parents, when they heard about the incident with Shintaro and his grandfather's book, were apoplectic with rage. To see their only child reduced to tears, day after day, must have been awful for them.
There's so many things I want to say to you both, especially since we don't get to spend that much time together during the week. But how can I tell you that I'm friends with Masato? That I want to be friends with Natsumi again? If I do that, I might end up bringing up the Theio Komos. And I can't do that.
"Darling, you're upsetting her..." Naoko said, holding her husband's hand. He sighed, and mumbled a short apology. The group ate in silence, at least until her father looked to the right at the front door. Having just entered the group was another family of three – and two of them Kohaku recognised.
"Oh, there's Komatsu-san!" Tomokazu said.
"Ah, and that must be his boy Noburo!" Naoko said. "He's in Kansei as a first-year, I heard."
"I know, I've seen him around," Kohaku said. "We've not exactly had much of a chance to talk, though. He's rather enamoured with another student."
"I didn't know that..." Tomokazu said, chuckling. "Shame, though. Perhaps you could have invited him to Aika's concert."
"Dad, don't be silly! I barely know him anyway!" Kohaku said, blushing. She had to admit, the more she looked at Noburo, she did admit he was quite handsome. If only her father and Kei wouldn't tease her about it. To her fright, however, Noburo noticed her, and waved. Shigeru saw her as well..but did not emote at all. Clearly, he wanted to keep any association with her secret. She'd have to do the same.
|Yew Steakhouse – Upstairs|17:05 pm|
"I didn't think I'd cry so much..." Kaiyo said, wiping away a tear. "That was a wonderful audition, Noburo-kun! They'll have to cast you for sure!"
"I really hope so..." Noburo said. "Teruko's up for a role next week in some new TV series. Maybe I should have auditioned for that too."
"You shouldn't mix business with pleasure, son. Romance on the set might conflict with your acting duties." Shigeru said. "But I've never seen you act like that before, Noburo. It's as if you've been treading the boards for decades."
"Hardly..." Noburo said, a little embarrassed. "But...thanks, Dad. Having you there helped."
Shigeru smiled, and the group ordered. After doing so, they continued to talk about the play and Noburo's audition. It wasn't the first time Shigeru had seen the play, but he was starting to consider that his son had bested the actors that came before him. Of course, he would be biased, but fatherly pride continued to swell in his heart.
It's been so hard to spend time with him and Kaiyo since that damn Gnosis got sent to my office. Today was perfect. My son's ambitions of being an actor might just pay off. As long as he doesn't fall behind at school, I'll be a happy man.
"By the way, who was that girl you were waving to downstairs?" Kaiyo asked, curiously.
"Oh, that was...actually, I don't know her name. But she goes to Kansei, and she's in the year above me. Dad and I saw her in the box office, remember? It was when we were getting the tickets for me and Teruko to see Electric Sea!"
"That's the rock band from Portugal, isn't it?" Kaiyo asked. "They're not to my taste. Quite honestly, I'd rather hear that nice Aika Makino girl sing."
"She's okay, I guess. But Electric Sea know how to put on a real show! Especially their lead guitarist. I just wish I could play the guitar as brilliantly as Netuno Fonseca can." Noburo continued. "Oh yeah, in one of their concert videos, he swings onto the stage with a huge rope, and fireworks are going off, and there are dancers wearing a Chinese dragon costume, and..."
He has some strange tastes. Even so, I'm glad I was able to see my son perform today. So talented, and only fifteen. I never had the aptitude for that back when I was his age, or even now. I hope I remember this day for a long time. For it might be some time before things are this peaceful again.