Ta-dah! Yes! THIS is my new story idea, and thankfully I managed to get this out quicker than before! I'm glad to have written this idea with my fellow co-author, Messiah of author's, and even helped trying to write how Subaru might react the way he should be.
Because I'mma be honest here, it's surprisingly hard writing Subaru as a character considering his depth. But nonetheless, I'm taking this story by the 'nads, and going to tackle it head-on!
This is a PersonaX Re:Zero crossover, though it will mostly take place in the events of Persona 4 rather than the Re:zeroverse.
As a result, just expect a few things different to happen, and by the end of the chapter I'll explain a bit about a few rules.
But for now, I want you to enjoy the chapter!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Re:zero or Persona 4!
Chapter 1: Starting Over in Another Town.
(April 11th, 2011)
The humming and rumbling consisted of a set of repeating patterns, in a way that many people would consider the act in a varying number of reactions. Either irritating, soothing, or excitable if your so inclined. Natsuki Subaru slowly rubbed his eyes, glad for the silence that came along with it.
At first sight, you would be forgiven for thinking that he doesn't get out much, that he spends his entire time inside of his room possibly playing videogames and watching anime. Because you'd be absolutely right. It wasn't until recently, but Subaru did indeed spend most of his time inside.
And it showed in what he wore, and how he looked. His hair was not messed up, but it did look choppy even when it was swept back revealing his eyes. His sanpakugan eyes looked distinct from everybody else's. At best they looked weird, and at worst they looked scary, and intimidating as well. His face currently enough, looked rested and somewhat attractive, though it's eerily expressive when scowling.
Subaru currently wore his tracksuit, matching black, orange, and white underneath a jet-black shirt, and matching track pants. These were his usual casual clothes, and exactly how he did his exercises. Though for the past two days he needed to focus on other things.
Currently, he had been staring absentmindedly out the window partially because he already re-read a couple of manga's that he had brought with him. Sure, the first few hours it was easy to re-read what he liked, and while he decided to play some portable videogames on his Nintendo 3DS at about half-way, he found himself bored of that quickly when he couldn't do much else.
But that's pretty much his daily routine, so he reasoned out that it was normal. Taking a moment to look around the train cart, he noticed that barely any people were traveling to this side. On the other side of the train, and far ahead that they probably didn't notice, Subaru witnessed what seemed to be a couple about his own age of 16, or older.
They laughed, as they discussed about sweet nothings, or at least that's what Subaru assumed in the beginning. Subaru sighed, resigned to looking back at the same window he'd been staring before. Seemingly as if to spite him, the view was replaced with the stone walls of a train-tunnel.
Great, I probably should have expected that. Subaru consciously frowned, though it didn't last long. What reason was there for him to even be frustrated or mad about? It's what he should have expected, especially since where he's going might as well be an excuse.
An excuse… He didn't want to think that, but what else could it be? It wasn't like his parents weren't being subtle.
(FLASH-BACK)
(February 24th, 2011)
The day began like…well, almost any day really. He had woken up around the same time, got man-handled into wrestling positions by his dad, nearly getting the leg up on him. Then as usual, his mother let them both know about breakfast.
Peas day had arrived, and certainly neither of the three members of the Natsuki family bothered to even take one bite out of it. That is until dad decided to cook up a rice pilaf, and everybody finally decided to bear with the taste of greens.
Then came the conversation. Where everything was bound to change the course of Subaru's daily life.
"It's simply a year of living with your uncle, Subaru." Her mother said with her smile, and the 'scary' eyes that he had inherited from her. Back then, she almost fooled him into thinking she was going to miss him…or at least, he was hoping that she was pretending. "I'm sure you'll do fine with my brother."
Natsuki Naoki, certainly was attractive for a mother her age, and certainly had long hair tied into a ponytail, her clothing modest and mother-like since she still wore her apron. Her eyes, much like Subaru, were sanpakugan and striking, though in her case it made her air-headedness much more noticeable.
"You sure? I mean, I didn't even know I had an uncle until lately, and this is coming on…kinda suddenly." He had admittedly tried to play it off, though he found it difficult to even smile at all. "Are you sure you're not pulling my leg?"
"No, no, I'm being serious here." She had simply said while waving it off. "I just never managed to find a good time to mention him before."
"Any time would have been good to mention that I had an uncle, let alone that he lives far away in the country-side!" He exclaimed, seemingly in surprise. Then again, since when does someone not tell that he has an uncle? Even more so when that uncle has known you were alive all this time?
"Why, son, it isn't just the countryside, it's Inaba!" A hearty laugh, familiar to his ears erupted from his father, Natsuki Kenichi who sat across the dinner table, arms crossed and grinning. "You should at least be more excited to get to know your family!"
His father, compared to Subaru and his wife, wore a simple deep blue t-shirt, though earlier he'd been shirtless when grappling his son. His chiseled features were noticeable in his face, and his hair much like Subaru's being swept back and slightly choppy. Natsuki Kenichi also was certainly built like a bodybuilder, if it wasn't clear from his developed muscles on his arms and body.
"I didn't say I wasn't, but…" Subaru sighed as he gave a disinterested shrug, before taking a bite out of his western toast. She always seemed to have an insistence on mixing Western meals with Japanese meals. "…what about school?"
He didn't ask because of any concern for school. The idea of school left him with a pit in his stomach.
"Oh, well…that's the funny thing." Mom smiled, before putting her finger on her chin in thought, nonetheless. "We…might have enrolled you for your second year…in Inaba."
Subaru nearly choked on that piece of bread, needing to pound his chest before slightly exclamation. "And you didn't even bother to tell me!?"
Seriously!? It's already stressful enough he has ot go meet someone in Inaba, and now he has to go to school on top of that!? He didn't ask for that, and he didn't even intend to do that!
"That's exactly what I said!" Dad shook his head, though he joked around with his wide grin. "But we figured that it'd be a good time for you explore! Experience the world, and reconnect with a family member, and a cousin!"
"Now it's a cousin?" Subaru simply leaned his head on his hand and scrunched his eyebrows together. "You're really giving me so much incentive to meet them."
"That's the spirit, Subaru!" As always, his father chuckled, though he might have misunderstood it. On purpose, Subaru already knew. They smiled once more and seemed pleased about it that morning. The family enjoyed the morning meal, and nobody seemed to argue with that.
"Whew…thank you for the meal…" Subaru managed to groan out, satisfied with the meal after all. If there was one thing, he could be grateful for it was that at least he was well-fed.
"Indeed! Now, then!" Father exclaimed as he got out of his chair and stretched his arms. "It's still pretty early in the morning, I'm sure that if we race each other we'll be able to make it to-"
"Stop trying to make this an excuse for me to go to school." Subaru dismissed his excitement as he stepped up from his chair. He dragged his feet, and his expression more tired than before. "I'm sleeping in…"
If his parents made any expression, he could only guess, since by the time he finished his sentence he was already in his room. The one safe place he had for his own. The place that he spends almost every day in for the past year ever since high school started. His humble abode, and his personal headquarters if you will.
Adorned in the shelves were a couple of figurines he managed to buy himself over the years. Most of them have the same sort of motif, at least to Subaru's own personal taste. Female Heroines, with…attractive proportions.
Still, he took his seat on the western bed, sighing as he narrowed his eyes to the clock sitting on his personal desk…and began once more the process.
7:56
It's close…so close…
7:57
If I don't get ready now…
7:58
I'm not going to make it…
7:59.
Subaru continued to watch as the secondhand tick clockwise. The process excruciatingly crushing, and dreadful, before…
8:00
Subaru released his held breath and felt once more at ease and relief. His body relaxed as he laid there on his bed again.
That was all the excuse he needed. And now, he could take some time to think about what his parents discussed.
Subaru knew they were nice to him and giving him a choice helps with that. His father always the shining example of patience, dignity, and charisma. His mother, albeit unable to read a room, always treated him with kindness, and Subaru reluctantly agreed.
Well…at least because he knew what they were trying to do.
Trying to get me out of the house. He thought, not bitter in the least. If anything, he relaxed and felt more…at ease about it. And the more he thought about it, the more he thought that this could be a chance.
Even though he had little to no idea what this Inaba is like, he did understand from the way they talked about it that it's in the countryside. Isolated for the most part, and certainly nothing like living in an urban environment.
He figured it'd be difficult to get manga from a place that's secluded from the rest of Japan…but he couldn't help but feel less hesitant to go to Inaba now. And not because it wouldn't allow him to not go to school.
His parents made it clear that he's enrolled for the second year at Inaba, whatever the school is called, he could ask his…uncle about it. God, that sounds weird to say. Who knew he had an uncle of all people?
Well, at least I'm not the only teenager at home at least… He figured, at least wondering what this cousin might be like.
As these thoughts swirled in his head, they all came to a head as he slowly found himself falling to sleep. Falling back to the same routine he would have for the next month.
Guess he's lucky in that regard…for it would be the last time that his routine would be a part of his life.
(April 9th, 2011)
The day came and surprisingly it was sunny outside as the Natsuki family drove to the nearest train station that would lead Subaru on the right track to Inaba. It wasn't a one-train trip, but it was the closest start they would have.
Subaru, much to his embarrassment, was being led by his parents to the train station while they passed through the crowd.
"Now, be sure to be polite when you meet your uncle, Subaru" His mother smiled brightly, though she looked like her head was in the clouds as always. "He's plenty stressed as of late, so I think he'd appreciate some calm when you arrive."
"Right, right, I got it, mom." Subaru shrugged, though he carried the suitcase in his left palm with trepidation. "Though I can't believe the day finally came, not gonna lie…I got goosebumps."
"I'm sure you'll find your way there! It's not that complicated to find the right train, after all, I only ever got lost 4 times in the past year!" Blustering and enthusiastically laughing, his father folded his arms with a grin that reassured Subaru for a hot moment. "But hey, if you ever need anything, you know we're always a call away!"
"I mean, it's kinda concerning you even have to tell me that." Subaru sighed at that, before taking a deep breath. "But…yeah, I'll keep that in mind."
"Yeah, be sure to keep it." His father looked at him, sighing before adopting a sincere smile and patting him on the shoulder. "Look, I know you'll do alright. After all, you're my son."
…
You're son, huh? He looked stunned, but nonetheless sighed one more time before adopting a melancholic smile. "Yeah, I know."
One last nod, and Natsuki Kenichi watched as his son walked and passed the gates to board the next train. The mother didn't tear up, instead continued to smile in confidence, and Subaru himself stopped as he saw the train stopping.
In that split-second, Subaru stopped and noted his breathing to quicken. Not enough for it to be him panting, but not slow enough to be unnoticeable. He's really doing this, isn't he?
"I'm actually going to leave my parent's…aren't I?" The thought was nerve-wracking, leaving his home and going into uncharted territory. Albeit he knew he shouldn't be but he tightened his hand around the suitcase handle, feeling sweat forming into his brow.
He slowly breathed a bit, noticing that there were people leaving the train and many going in. Knowing that if he didn't get on the train, he'd miss the opportunity, Subaru forced himself to march forward inside the train and power through a few people.
Once he made it in, he let out a breath of relief…and slowly realized that he did it. It's the first step forward, and Subaru only hoped it'd be better from now on.
(Present)
Guess I shouldn't have expected anything else. He stretched his body as he yawned, feeling drowsy again. To be fair, he had been on this trip to Inaba City, and the ride is still nowhere near done.
He took another look around the train cart and found that nothing had changed in the silence or even the amount of people there were. Which is to say, the couple were still there ahead of the train.
It's not like he was bitter about it, but considering him and his experience with school, he resigned himself to a life of solitude. At least, that was the plan until his parents planned this trip and one year in Inaba.
It's not like he didn't want to go, but it took a bit of thinking and convincing to even go there. Going to the countryside is always a neat little thing many want to do, but Subaru had only gone on a few trips with his dad back in elementary during the summer.
Plus, he didn't know much about Inaba anyway. His mother said that it used to be a coal-mining village, recently being modernized, and given a chain-store. Aside from that, she told Subaru that his uncle is a local detective in the middle of a few cases.
While that was enough to make Subaru wonder what's going to happen in Inaba, he didn't have much time to think about that.
Why? Because his eyes grew heavy with the dim light of the train and the tunnel just outside the train tracks. Slowly, as sleep took hold of him, he felt a slight pull. Then, a dive…
And then…a different bristle.
The rumbling disappeared, replaced with what felt like a smooth movement akin to being a passenger. In fact, Subaru had a better seat that felt soft and comfy. Immediately he figured he was dreaming, and that he was probably dreaming of a better road that wasn't bumpy and noisy.
If anything, he slowly smiled out of comfort…before stirring from his sleep and rubbing his eyes. "Ugh…guess that's what happens for playing video games the entire trip…"
He slowly rubbed his eyes, blinking a couple times…before opening to a symphonia of the singular color.
What…is this? Deep velvet blue adorned the interior, which resembled that of a limousine. The seats, carpet and ceiling were brilliantly decorated with the same dark blue aesthetic that for a moment Subaru blinked to himself. Even the lighting itself shone a hue of sapphire, and the rack of crystal wine glasses were neatly stacked, next to cleverly positioned bottles of liquor that were varied, the only notable part of the limousine where it didn't have a hue of blue.
While this scenario felt weird, and certainly unique to him and him alone…Subaru listened to a set of piano and violins, which were accompanied by a woman's voice in tune. Immediately, he pictured being in a small opera house, and that this dream's surrealist had taken him to comfort…but that thought didn't last.
Because he realized that sitting opposite from where was, two…people sat in their seats. The first of these, Subaru immediately pictured…
Crow's nose!?
He slightly gasped and widened his eyes. This man clearly wasn't human, or else he wouldn't have a ridiculously crooked nose. Thin, and almost skeletal in appearance, this offset his black suit attire. He was bald, with white fringes of hair along the sides. ears were pointed and only shorter than the flesh-colored beak.
W-what the heck is this? One question to add to the pile, as he looked towards the one sitting to the man's left…and immediately Subaru found himself stunned. Being a growing boy, and more interested in the opposite sex than most kids his age, he couldn't help a tinge of pink on his cheeks. She looked pale, wearing dark blue jacket and matching skirt with black stockings. Her hair, white and pure as the driven snow…checked a lot of marks for Subaru's own personal favorite heroines.
She's closer to silver-haired, which automatically made her a favorite…which only begs the question.
Why are these two looking at me? The man's bulbous bloodshot eyes offer Subaru a sinking feeling that he could see right through him, but the woman's eerie yellow-gold orbs were comforting…if mysteriously alluring.
"Welcome…to The Velvet Room." The crow man introduced himself with an extended gesture, and surprisingly his voice wasn't coarse, hoarse, or forced. The contrasting deep voice with a gentleman's flair nearly made Subaru stare.
"O-Oh…uh, um…h-hello?" He fumbled, but he managed a simple wave and a smile, before looking wary if a bit…expectant.
"Yes, greetings, young man." Igor chuckled, unnerving Subaru. "My name is Igor…it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"R-right…" Subaru was caught off guard so suddenly by the bizarre nature of this dream before blustering with a chuckle. Best to keep calm and carry on…with the only way he can introduce himself. "W-well, I'm Natsuki Subaru…um, question."
'Igor' laughed again, his grin widening as he stared to Subaru. "Yes?"
Knowing nothing else to do, Subaru simply pointed his finger at Igor and asked, "Why is a long-nosed crow-man like you in my dreams? This isn't what I expected to dream of after playing video games for about hours on end! Like, where's the Asterisk War characters? Who are you? And important question…where am I!?"
…
He looked incredulous, and yet he had every right to be. What sane person would consider this reality? Of course, If there was any reaction, the lady held in a chuckle, and Igor seemed…amused if his half-lidded expression was anything to go off. His grin still perpetual that it reminded Subaru of the situation.
Subaru flinched, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "O-oh, not that I'm mad about it or anything! I just need to know what's going on!"
"No, No, it's a valid question, young man." Igor waved it off, not offended in the least. He went on to explain. "To answer your questions in order…I'm simply an attendant of your destiny. This is the realm found between dream and reality, mind and matter. It is a room that only those that are bound by a 'contract' may enter…under normal circumstances."
"An attendant…of my destiny? Bound by a contract?" Subaru repeated, dumbfounded but almost…excited as he grinned. Is this…like a special world or something? W-wait…it's just exactly like a few manga's he's read before!
"Yes indeed…in fact, I have a simple query." Igor waved his gloved hand, and a stack of blue cards appeared placed before him. "Do you believe in fortune telling?"
Fortune telling? Subaru figured that such ideas would be bogus, considering he only tried them when he was a child. Innocent fun, but simply parlor tricks. Except Igor commanded a stack of cards to appear! At will!
Another flick of his hand, and the cards blurred with motion and shuffling in a manner that Subaru blinked to make sure what happened. Then they arranged themselves in seven spaces face down, as if waiting to be revealed for Subaru's future.
What future, you dumbass? He suppressed a thought down, instead arching his eyebrow. He wasn't completely sure what this reading was.
"Every reading is done with the same cards…yet the future for every individual is always different." Igor's low chuckle and piercing eyes forebode. "Life itself follows the same principles, doesn't it? Now…let's look at your future, shall we?"
One motion of his hand, and the card on Subaru's lower right flipped upwards. The position…looked like an omen. The tower being sundered by lighting, and shaded human figures toppled to the ground. The roman numerals spelled out "XVI", leaving Subaru befuddled. Igor then repeated the process with the identity of the lower left card. This time it was something simple, a crescent moon outlined with a face in a shaded circle. This specific card was given the roman numerals of "XVIII" this time.
"I see…The Tower in the upright position foretells a catastrophe in the near future, and The Moon in the upright position tells of a mystery…very interesting." Igor hummed, explaining what the future of Natsuki Subaru was.
Of course, Subaru couldn't keep his mouth shut. "L-like, a mystery hunt or something?"
"Perhaps…but this reading foretells something grave. You will encounter a grave misfortune at your destination…and a great mystery will be imposed upon you." Igor continued with even more theatrical drama, that Subaru grew a bit jealous of it.
It certainly was a better performance than his first day in high school, but then again, this guy has experience practicing this job…he thought.
"So, this might be some sort of mystery-game I have to solve… like Edogawa Conan in Case Closed!" Subaru spoke out loud to himself, surprisingly enthusiastic over something so…trivial. "O-oh, right, sorry."
"No need to apologize. Perhaps a third card will reveal more beyond the veil?" Igor chuckled, amused as he flipped the center card…and revealed a blast of colors. The card had a rainbow of colors, five figures within: four in each corner and one at the center. A bull, angel, bird, and lion at the corners, with a majestic woman in the center…along with the roman numerals "XXI" were listed at the top of the card this time, and yet reversed.
"The World…in the Reverse position," Igor noted with a calm voice. "Very interesting indeed."
Subaru still had no idea what any of this means, so he just waited for an explanation. "Does it, uh, mean anything?"
"A significant change, indeed. The coming year is a turning point in your destiny… If the mystery goes unsolved, your future, perhaps far more, may be forever lost. That is what the world foretells."
Future, and more may be lost? Subaru unconsciously frowned; a bit concerned…if a little bit curious why he's so invested. Oh, right. Because this is totally a situation you would see in some video game.
However, Igor flicked his wrist and in a flash every card disappeared from the table. "You will return here after entering a contract. My duty is to help our guests in their journey. Perhaps our aid will allow you to aver the coming disaster."
"Still pretty cryptic…but thanks, I guess?" Subaru scratched his cheek, grinning a bit unsure but glad nonetheless…and his eyes couldn't help but wander to the mystery lady. "Question, is she working with you?"
"I'd say more of an assistant, but, well, I have been remiss with my manners." Igor's smile widened to a creepy degree, as he waved a hand to her. "She's also a resident to this room."
"My name is Margaret."
Oh, man…I'm in love. Subaru's cheeks flushed at her voice. It was clearly mature, if a bit cold, though he figured she's the cold calculating librarian trope. "I'm here to accompany you on your journey."
"Well, Well, it's a pleasure to have such a lovely lady such as yourself taking care of me!" Subaru deepened his voice to a somewhat gentle degree, though to any outside viewer it'd make him look a bit ridiculous and dramatic. Something that even Subaru knew.
…
Of course, the last thing he expected to hear was her stifled laughter.
Oh shit, she laughed. Was that actually funny? Usually, it just comes off as...creepy. He thought with a sheepish chuckle.
"Now, it seems to me that you might have more questions, young Subaru." Igor cut into the conversation, his eyes peering into Subaru's. "But we shall attend to the details another time. Until then, farewell…"
"Huh?"
His vision slowly blurred, and just like that…he fell to slumber.
The humming of the limousine was once again replaced by the rumbling of the train's gears. Subaru rubbed his eyes as he slowly woke up, stretching outwards with a yawn. Not long after that, "-aba city and Yasoinaba Station, please go to the other side of the platform. I repeat; we will arrive at the Yasogami terminal in a few minutes. Passengers heading for Inaba city and Yasoinaba Station please go to the other side of the platform."
Huh? Subaru noted as he looked at the doors open up, and widened his eyes, scrambling to get his suitcase, his manga, and 3DS back into his backpack. As soon as he did, he followed the instructions as he made his way out the door and into the station.
Just one more train. One more train before he meets his uncle.
Though, now he felt a bit…expectant. What's going to happen in Inaba? And was that dream real? It felt lucid…so only time could tell.
The last trip in the Yasoinaba train was the final stretch, and for the most part Subaru had no reason to complain. In fact, he'd argue this trip was a bit easier to keep awake. It helped that instead of 6 hours on a train, he only had to take a few more hours before meeting up with his Uncle Dojima at 6:00.
The train to Yasoinaba, compared to the train he was on before at least, felt barren and empty. Emptier than before, to the point that Subaru knew he was the only one on the train. Aside from being unnerving, it really started to sink into Subaru what Inaba really is.
It's serious. He's moving into a country-side city. With his uncle, and cousin…away from his parents and the people who knew him.
On one hand, it was depressing. Being separated from your parents for a year tends to do that to you, and the thought was not really welcoming for Subaru. But then again, what else is new? He couldn't even be bothered to leave his room unless it was for food or the convenience store.
So, on the other hand, this could be a good excuse for Subaru to get out there and try. Like his dad told him.
…
If only it were that easy. He frowned to himself…before the view on his window changed. Mountains and hills that made up Yasoinaba valley's walls carpeted with green. While Subaru hasn't gone outside like this in a while, he had to admit one thing. The scenery looked amazing! Heck, he didn't expect it to look this good, so that's a plus.
Who knows? Maybe the actual place itself might not be so bad.
"Thank you for riding with us," The intercom chattered with cheer. "We'll reach our final stop, Yasoinaba Station, momentarily. Please make sure you have all of your belongings before departing the train in an orderly manner."
Subaru reached for the suitcase above his seat and took a deep breath this time. A small gesture, but a calming one all the same.
"Yasoinaba. Final stop, Yasoinaba" And there's the intercom. One more time he breathed in and out, before putting on a polite smile that he would get from his dad.
As he walked out of the station, he let out a sigh of relief at what he saw. Inaba wasn't back-water, heck, it wasn't even that ancient! The buildings were constructed out of wood and tiled rooftops, and there were telephone cables rooted near each building and stretched their webs all over the skies of Inaba. The roads were the best part for Subaru since it was marked and paved for driving and vehicles.
Damn, and here I thought it'd be like an Inuyasha scenario…but this actually looks like a livable place! Subaru turned his head with a small smile as he took in the scenery…and the lack of people.
Huh. That's probably the only thing that Subaru had mixed feelings about on top of living with his Uncle. The streets were just as barren, and devoid of people. And while he knew he was near the marketplace, a hub for Japanese exchange and cities like this…he did not expect it to be this freaky to watch.
"Like a ghost town…" Subaru spoke, as he chuckled to himself. "H-hey, come on, there's no way that sort of thing exists."
"Oh, there you are!"
Subaru snapped his heads towards where the voice came from. He didn't exactly know what his uncle looked like, considering he never asked for a picture. Busy spending time in his room, but now that he took a good look at this middle-aged man…he really started to believe that it might be his uncle.
Taller by a small margin, slouching due to work most likely, his dark har was starting to go gray-cropped short. Subaru figured that working as a detective would add some stress and grey-hairs, but the noticeable sign of his lack of hygiene was the rough stubble on his chin. His dark eyes nearly reminded him of his mother's, if only in color and not structure, though Subaru gulped under his piercing gaze. He worse gray button-up shirt and dark gray slacks, clearly used and worn over hordes of paperwork in the dreadful office.
Funny, Subaru, but try to be polite…don't need to be a mess like the last time. He mustered up a welcoming half-smile, being greeted by Dojima's own.
"Well, you certainly have your mother's eyes." He commented, and already Subaru sheepishly scratched his cheek. Of course, he would say that upon meeting him. It's the one noticeable trait about him. "You've grown so much since I last saw you. Your mom and dad were certainly in agreement about you coming over, but I am surprised you actually wanted to."
"Y-yeah, me too." Subaru chuckled slightly nervously but gave a small wave and a half-bow. "Good to see you, Dojima-san."
"Come on, no need to be so formal." Dojima eased the formalities with a small smirk. "I mean, I've known you since you were in diapers. I even changed them once."
"G-gah! That's what you say in front of your nephew!?" Subaru flinched in small shock, before sighing ruefully. "Nah, of course you'd say that. You're related to my mom."
"Hehehe…yeah, I get it. Naoki's always...been eccentric growing up." Dojima chuckled awkwardly himself, and for a moment silence hung in the air. "Sorry for bringing that up."
"Thanks…" Subaru looked a bit embarrassed by that before he noticed somebody behind Dojima. Roughly only about the size of a child and hiding behind Dojima. "Oh, who's that?"
"Oh, right, she doesn't know you yet." Dojima looked behind him and gently nudged her to move forward. "Go on, Nanako. Say hello to your cousin."
Subaru's face slightly lit up when he finally saw his…cousin. He did not ask how old said cousin would be, so even now he's kinda regretting that decision. Nanako's brown hair parted into a pair of short pigtails and a knee-length pink and white dress. She looked shy, and her eyes trailed to her shoes as a blush creeped in her face. Of course, Subaru looked at her slightly dumbfounded, before smiling softly as he realized.
She is cute! Like, in a little sister kind of way obviously!
",,,llo." She spoke barely above a whisper, leaving Subaru slightly chuckling. She blushed a deeper shade of red.
"Well, hello there!" Subaru crouched down to eye level, giving her a bright smile and a look into his eyes. "I knew I was going to see my cousin, but I didn't expect them to be adorably shy like you!"
She froze up, flushing deeper and whispering even lower. "…not shy…"
"Oh, I'm sorry, what was that?" Subaru asked curiously, tilting his head. That seemed to elicit a rection from Nanako and hid behind her father again. Subaru chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head as he stood up straight. "I, uh, think I scared her."
"What's wrong, Nanako? Was the compliment a bit too much?" Dojima teased her with a smile, but Nanako stiffened and quickly slapped his backside in retaliation.
Dojima cringed for a moment, though his good-natured laugh had Subaru chuckling as well. She's definitely shy, and clearly not in the mood for a joke like that.
Adorable! Subaru thought with a small polite smile. So far, he seemed to just be having a bit of a good time meeting them. Even if the situation was a bit…awkward?
No, that's not it. Meeting a relative you don't remember might be part of the atmosphere, but Subaru wouldn't call it awkward. It's more like…a lack of conversation and familiarity. Nanako just met her cousin, and Dojima is seeing his nephew for the first time in a long time.
Since he was in diapers, for god's sake. It's easy to understand why the atmosphere's pretty…damp.
"Well, no point in standing around here," Dojima simply shrugged his coat over the shoulder, giving Subaru detective vibes. "We got a lot of catching up to do back home. Is that everything you need?"
"Oh, yeah, it's got all the basic necessities…plus some hobbies so I'm good, Dojima-san." Subaru spoke and clarified, lifting his suitcase up. "Oh, yeah, I heard mom sent you the rest?"
"Yep, all in boxes at home. "You'll have to unpack them and set up the guest room to your taste. If you need help, be sure to ask. That said, I need to get some gas in my car."
And with that, Dojima made his way to the car, leaving Subaru to follow. He didn't pay much mind to a passerby, until—
"…hey."
"Huh? What is it?" Subaru turned his head towards the person in question. Immediately he noted she looked…unfriendly. Her appearance struck out as unique, compared to the people he's seen so far anyway. She wore a sleeveless white dress shirt, with red and black bands around her armbands. "Whoa…"
Despite her unfriendly expression, even he couldn't deny that she looked…stunning, if anything, pretty cute in the way that he liked. He found himself staring a bit before blinking.
She seemed to arch an eyebrow as well, and immediately he flinched and chuckled nervously as he tried to play it off. "O-oh, uh, sorry about that! I-I was just stunned for a moment."
"…by what?" She seemed unamused, though nonetheless unexpressive.
"N-nothing, really! U-um…" Subaru pointed to the paper she held. "I-is that yours?"
"Oh. No, it's actually yours." She raised it up and handed it to Subaru much to his shyness.
"O-oh, well, thanks for the help!" Subaru stumbled with his words, though he couldn't help a dumb grin.
"Whatever. All I did was pick it up." Her expression shifted, as she shrugged and simply walked away. AT that Subaru stared at her retreating back before blushing slightly.
Damn…even with her unfriendly expression she's…pretty cute.
"Subaru! You don't want me to leave you behind, do you!"
"AH! R-right, Right, my bad I'm on my way!" Subaru fumbled with his words, before walking towards the car.
MOEL Gas Station.
Subaru tapped his foot by the side of the car, passing the time as Dojima filled his car with gas. Nanako left for a potty break, and Dojima just needed a smoke break, so Subaru wandered around the area of Inaba to get acquainted with the small country city.
Rustic, but has a surprising bit of charm…well, at least for a place in the middle of nowhere. He thought with unimpressed smile, but nonetheless eager to know about the city. The gas station sat next to a string of stores that collectively formed the Inaba Central Shopping District. Subaru was expecting more people than he saw and had pocket money ready to spend for anything they offered. The reason he had money to spend was because of the allowance from his parents, but he figured that he'd get the allowance from Dojima straight on now.
Putting that aside, he noticed that while some stores had novel concepts, handmade tofu, pharmaceuticals and liquor, all made by family-owned businesses. Of course, he also remembered why it was barren. The Junes Department store built to the south of the river offered a lot of the same products with encouraging business sense and prices.
While Subaru felt relieved at having a modern touch in the city, he quickly realized the cost of such convenience was choking the life of the Inaba shopping district. Its former customers were now regulars in Junes, like tuna swimming upstream to a different river. Most of the family-owned business were forced to close, as the many closed buildings were missing signs. Subaru didn't really dislike the silence, so much as he was unnerved by the thought.
His mother told him these details when he asked before they dropped him off, so it's not like he wasn't paying attention. But well, being told that it is a ghost town, and seeing a ghost town is a contrasting experience.
"So, you're a high school student?" The gas attendant who was working on the van asked with an androgynous voice. Subaru couldn't really tell, but they looked and held up like a male. He sported the red, yellow, and white MOEL uniform, with a matching hat over short wavy gray hair.
"H-huh, um…y-yeah, you could say that." Subaru answered tentatively, averting his eyes a bit to the side. Considering the subject, he didn't really feel too comfortable.
"Oh, touched a nerve? Sorry 'bout that." The attendant quickly apologized with a lighthearted tone, though he continued to ask. "Well, then mind telling me about why you came here?"
Oh, great, easy to answer. He cheered mentally as he eased up with a shift in feet before answering. "My parents kinda just decided to have me get to know my cousin and uncle over there, so, well, you could say it was a pretty sudden decision. A long trip in the stuffy train, my legs are starting to get stiff!"
He didn't mention the bare emptiness of the train from before, as he stretched his legs back and forth.
"Yeesh, a long train ride like that's bound to leave ya dead and tired." He let out a whistle, quirking an eyebrow in interest. "So, you a city boy from what I can see. Bet you're shocked about how little there is out here, huh?"
"Shocked? That's the tamest word you could have used here." Subaru remarked with a shrug. "But hey, I'm thinking the quiet's going to be nice."
"You say that now but wait until you stay here over a week." He chuckled, as if Subaru had drawn the short end of the stick. "Sadly, there's no arcade, not many activities, heck, even with work taking up most of your time, you'll be bored out of your mind."
"I'm not really worried about anything exhausting like work, but I can kinda understand." Subaru sighed, before chuckling a bit. The talk was a bit enough for him to unwind, somewhat glad about the anonymity, and the relaxed conversation.
"That's too bad, our station's looking for a new part-time worker for a while now. You could get a lot of yen with enough work." The attendant shrugged, though his jovial tone hinted no offense.
"I'm already on allowance on a weekly basis, and I'm not that much of a hard-worker…I think you'd be better off with someone else." Despite the words, Subaru tried to hide it with a small chuckle.
Just laugh it off, Subaru. Best to ignore the real issue at hand.
"Eh, not gonna force it on ya. But you sure are lucky to get an allowance." The attendant threw a hand, grinning all the same while extending a hand for a shake. "Still, for a city-boy your surprisingly easy to talk to. Just be sure to think on it, you got an entire year after all!"
"Well…" He looked at the hand, before smiling and shaking the hand firmly as well…ignoring the tingle on contact. "…guess some thought wouldn't hurt. Oh, right, didn't introduce myself!"
What are you doing?
Subaru took a step back, and out of habit seemingly took a pose with his finger upwards as he raised his voice in a bombastic boom. "My name is Natsuki Subaru! I'm an otaku expert, and I'm also living with my uncle! Nice to meetcha!"
FUCK, FUCK!
Despite the outward excitement…he done did it again. He didn't really know how else to introduce himself, so…he made himself look like an ass.
A silly ass, great, Subaru.
Of course, he was not met with awkward staring but…laughter? Yeah, the attendant seemed to be belly-laughing while holding their sides. At first Subaru felt embarrassed, though he still kept the triumphant pose, but the attendant had a wave of his hand and a smirk. "Oh, oh man! That's one way to introduce yourself! But hey, you're gonna be a riot here!"
He tipped his cap though, as he rushed to the station. "Hope to see you around here, Subaru-san!"
…
Huh…that went better than I thought it was going to be. He blinked for a moment, before smiling to himself in embarrassment…and pounding his head with a fist and a frustrated expression. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT!? FIRST TIME MEETING SOMEONE FROM INABA, AND YOU END UP PULLING THAT STUNT!? NATSUKI SUBARU, YOU FRIGGIN' IDIOT!"
"Hey, Natsuki-kun." He blinked and noticed Dojima arrived back to the car, opening the driver's seat while throwing Natsuki a glance. "We're ready to drive home."
"O-oh, right, you got it Dojima-san!" He brushed it off with a shaky smile, before walking to put his suitcase in the trunk of the van. "I'm coming i-"
Grrk!
Fire, and frost. His body lurched forward, before his head pounded like a drum solo. The sensation left him grimacing for a moment, and he slumped while trying to massage his temples. It had been rather sudden, that while Subaru didn't feel any more pain beyond that split-second…it nearly left him scrunching his brows in pain.
Guh…what…what was that?
"What's wrong?" He turned his grimacing expression to Nanako, who's quiet voice became thick with concern. "Are you carsick?"
"N-nope, I'm all right, Nanako-chan! J-just caught something in my throat." He tried to force a smile, and it seemed convincing enough. But damn did that hurt… "That and I just need to stretch my legs…"
"Well, I guess we can wait a bit longer. Go ahead and walk up the street, get the blood flowing." Dojima glanced back with a neutral but authoritative expression. "Just be sure not to get lost on the way or go too far."
"Right, right, I'll be sure to be careful with that." Subaru managed to recover with a breath, before nodding in acknowledgement and looking around. His steps were a bit slow at first, and he honestly didn't expect many people to be around.
As the walk went on though, he slowly took in the details and felt at ease that there were not that many people at all. Sure, some of them may have glanced in his direction, but Subaru chalked it up to curiosity at the new guy in town. The stores had their signs proudly on display, and two-storied building held the family upstairs and the business on the ground floor.
Well, not that many stores open…and damn, Junes. He wasn't really saying Junes was at fault, but many stores had their shutter's drawn and closed off. Sort of depressing, even to Subaru. His hometown still had many stores despite being a local community, but only one or two ever closed as far as he remembered.
Junes' prices must really be that good if the stores had to close.
Still with whatever stores that were open…one did catch his interest. In fact, he grinned slightly at the title. Daidara's Metalworks was run by a blacksmith, he figured, and even more so had odds and ends…though the samurai armor sitting outside the front door is asking for attention. The authority behind a statue and piece of armor had Subaru thinking a lot of ideas if he could buy replica weapons here!
…
Shit. He sighed. There's no way Dojima's going to allow that. Well, at least they are there for window-shopping.
Aside from all that, there's also a tofu store that Subaru made a mental note of. If it's cheap, he might buy some to eat, though he's never cooked before so definitely not for cooking ingredients.
And so, he sprinted back to the car. He wasn't particularly thinking of it much, but he felt a bit of relief that he still arrived in time. And as he took a seat inside the van, he found himself thinking a bit of the glances he got…and realized something.
I'm the city boy here, sure…but they don't exactly know me. Or anything about him, for that matter.
For reasons he didn't know why, he had a brief smirk on his face.
Dojima Residence
Subaru's own home was compact for a family of three. Aside from the kitchen, living room, and his family's respective rooms, the apartment wasn't anything too fancy. The only notable thing that could be said was the countless bottles of mayonnaise Subaru had in the fridge, and even then, he wasn't eating it day in and day out.
However, the Dojima household impressed him to the point of a whistle when he first saw it. It was a two-story traditional Japanese home with enough space for three people like his own. It seemed too big for only two people, so Subaru wondered if there used to be another person living with them.
The inside however actually felt homey and lived in for Subaru. Knick-knacks of a tasteful combination of Japanese furniture, with modern aesthetics and a kitchen useful for cooking meals. Not that Subaru would be cooking much, but it helped with easing him in to the new environment.
When he first arrived, his first order of business was to set-up the guest room he'd be staying in. With some of the cardboard boxes, he managed to get his manga settled in on the desk that was already there, and even a few figurines. Of course, the bare necessities were ready and prepared as well. The futon was unrolled and inflated, so Subaru had a decent place to sleep tonight.
Of course, hanging in the closet he noticed a uniform. A school uniform. For Yasogami High. Another thing he was explained shortly that afternoon, and it seemed to make sense within the mind of Subaru. Tomorrow would be the first day of the school year, and Subaru's second year in high school.
Still amazing how they managed to let me in. He sighed, though he also felt an unease about going to Yasogami High tomorrow. The association with school like that didn't sit well with him, never did ever since Elementary and Junior High.
He was scared, if a bit frustrated with himself for feeling scared.
Brushing off that thought, he turned to more happy thoughts as he finished packing what he needed and prepared to join the Dojima family for dinner. Luckily for Subaru, Dojima had ordered takeout and sodas for dinner. The low table was set up in the middle of the living room, and thankfully the set-up was a bit more familiar to Subaru.
"Thanks for ordering take out, Dojima-san." While the smell of food wafted in the air Subaru looked to Dojima with a sheepish chuckle. "I'll admit though, I was hoping you didn't go all out cooking for me."
"Ah, well if we had enough time, I'm sure Nanako could have whipped you something up, isn't that right?" Dojima smiled and shook his head, gesturing his head to Nanako.
"Y-yeah…" Shy as always, she blushed slightly before looking down at the soda in her hand.
"You know how to cook at your age? That's awesome!" Subaru encouraged her with a grin, taking his soda and lifting it up. "I guess since it's my first dinner with you all, how about a toast?"
"To family?" Nanako offered, lifting her own.
Followed by Dojima, he smiled and raised his own can. "To family…"
Family, huh? Subaru chuckled awkwardly, but he nonetheless shared the toast as their cans met with a klink and sipped to it before eating in earnest.
While Subaru was more than excited to eat takeout, though not at all surprising for a shut-in like him, Dojima spoke up before he took the first bite. "As you can see, it's just me and Nanako around here, so it'll be nice to have some company. So long as you're here, your part of our family, so make yourself at home."
And if it wasn't clear, Subaru still felt a bit awkward despite the hospitality, so he scratched his cheek and gave a small smile. "Yeah, thanks, Dojima-san."
"C'mon, you don't need to be so formal at your age." Dojima laughed and waved his hand dismissively, leaving Subaru wondering how he and his mom are related. "Nanako's all tens again."
"Huh?" Subaru looked at Nanako in concern, and she did look surprised and a bit embarrassed when she squirmed in her seat. For a moment he chuckled, but it seemed to make Nanako pouty again.
"We should get to eating before it gets cold. Itadak—" He spoke before a ringing interrupted, leaving him to groan. "Who's calling at this hour?"
He reached for his phone and flipped it open to answer, and the casual awkward uncle was replaced with the professional business tone of the detective. "Dojima speaking."
Subaru noticed Nanako looking nervous as she watched her dad, and Subaru simply hung there with his chopsticks midway to his mouth…ready to bite down on take out. The thing is, he froze because of the sudden change in tone.
"Yeah? I see… so where is it?" Dojima's expression turned grave, and the longer he spoke he eventually stood up and turned away from the table. "Uh huh…alright, I'm on my way." He stuffed the phone back into his pocket, before adding quietly. "Guess I got lucky. Glad I didn't take the booze…"
Subaru remained silent, though his expression turned a bit sour. "Detective work?"
"Exactly…" His tone sounded disappointed. "Sorry about this happening on such short notice, Subaru."
"W-well, I mean, a detective's gotta do their cases, ya know?" He tried to give a shaky smile, though even that was a bit awkward. "I'll hold down the fort and make sure everything's alright."
"You're…really enthusiastic, you know that?" Dojima had a grave smile on his face, though Subaru noted he probably still felt bad about this. "Go ahead and eat without me, I don't know how late I'll be. Nanako, be sure to help him if he needs anything, okay?"
His daughter looked crestfallen, a sad frown as she nodded. "…okay."
Dojima nodded, before walking over to the door and picking out his coat. With heavy footsteps, he slowly made his way out the door, closing it and leaving the house silent with only the white noise of rain outside.
…
Well…this is awkward. He slowly put the food in his mouth as he chewed it down, though his eyes trailed over to Nanako, who looked down and sad, though he was surprised when she breathed in and took it well.
She took the remote, turning to the TV before turning it on. The screen flashed to a news station and the weather announcement.
"Itadakimasu…" She mumbles softly, leaving Subaru to clumsily say the same. He nearly forgot to do that didn't he?
Darn it. He cursed himself, slowly chewing his food while enjoying it all the same. Of course, while he ate he noticed how Nanako's disheartened expression grew as she continued to eat. Now, Subaru didn't know how to cheer her up…but he didn't want to make himself look like a dunce in front of her.
Wait.
He dug into his pocket, taking out his wallet and noticing the antique coin he kept among the pile… well, not ancient but unique.
Slowly but surely, a plant formed in his head…and despite how the situation looked he grinned.
"Yo, Nanako-chan!" He spoke out loud with gusto, earning her surprise and curious eyes. Slowly but surely, he held the coin his fingertips and played it up like a magic trick. "What I have here is one grooved-edge ten-yen coin!"
"I will now clutch it tightly in my hand!" He put the coin in his palm and began to press on it with his free hand. Rocking it three times, he made sure Nanako paid attention, and much to his delight she was entranced.
"One, two, three…and when I let go there will be…!" He suddenly opened his right hand, and much to Nanako's surprise the coin was no longer there. She looked to Subaru with wide-eyes, and Subaru responded with a smile of his own. Of course, he reached his left hand to her head, and swept it down before revealing via a sleight of hand the coin. "Here's where the coin's been hiding! Behind your ear!"
"W-whoa…!" She gaped in awe at the magic trick, before looking innocently curious. "H-how did you do that magic trick?"
"It's a Natsuki family secret, Nanako-chan! Besides, a magician never tells their secrets!" Subaru folded his arms with a grin, before handing the coin to her. "You can keep this coin if you want. Think of it like a present from one cousin to another!"
"O-oh, well, um…thank you so much!" Nanako looked excited to have such a rare coin, and she smiled brightly for the first time since Subaru arrived. Needles to say, when met with such cuteness…
Yep…I might die of coronary hearts disease. The sweetness is comparable to diabetes you could say. Nanako's seriously a small little angel.
Slowly after the cheerful mood mellowed out, the TV decided to report a few things in regard to a recent scandal in Inaba. About some guy named 'Namatame' and a popular singer, such as an affair of some sort…Subaru wasn't really one for tabloid reporting.
"This is boring." Nanako admitted.
"Well, change the channel if ya want." Subaru continued to eat, but even he would be relieved to hear anything else other than pointless gossip. It wasn't really something he would do, let alone condone, so at best it was white noise for him.
"Hmmm." Nanako nodded, as she used the remote and changed the channel to something different. Subaru looked at the TV for a moment and—
"Geh!"
"At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself and get in touch with our products!" A Junes commercial with all the corniness of a Saturday-morning cartoon blinked into the TV. Subaru had an awkward twitching smile, partially because even he found it surprising for how well it was being marketed. As if that wasn't enough… "Every day's great at your Junes~!"
They got a catchphrase and everything! Subaru rubbed the back of his head in befuddled thought, before looking at Nanako who smiled brightly, much more than when she saw the magic trick and began to sing along with a wave of her hand. "W-wha?"
"Every day's great at your Junes~!" Her voice was no where near professional, but it didn't need to be. Subaru noticed her radiant expression, and she sat back down as she looked like she was in a better mood than before!
Damn advertisement, you stole my thunder! He internally exclaimed in pettiness, but nonetheless chuckled as he grinned, to keep Nanako happy.
Though he was slightly disappointed that she became more radiant because of some advertisement.
Note to self, gotta make sure to get some instant ramen. Subaru jotted down in his head as he changed from his tracksuit, into the more comfortable sleeping wear he had before. Right now, he was just laying down in his futon, shifting for comfort to get used to it.
He thought back to how the entire day passed, and for a moment felt like nothing inconvenient happened yet. It was kinda refreshing honestly, considering that his uncle and cousin were both welcoming, if also unique in their own way. Subaru may not be the best at reading a social situation so he still didn't understand what was going on between Dojima and Nanako, but he didn't want to pry in and potentially make things worse if it wasn't his business. It's not like there's anything he could do.
Still, I wish I didn't have to go tomorrow… Right, there was the one thing that he's apprehensive about. His mom and dad enrolled him in Yasogami High to continue his education, and Subaru knew they still wanted to make sure he had a good education even if they didn't push him for that.
But the idea of going to school…well, he'd never admit it to anybody but he just didn't want to make the same mistake.
My first-year introduction was basically my death-sentence. He chuckled bitterly to himself, as he laid his head on the bed, his thoughts swirling before he arrived at a conclusion.
But nobody knows who I am here…and I'm just the transfer student from the city Admittedly, that alleviated the sinking pressure in his mind, and it did slightly better to give him…albeit a rushed idea.
If he's introducing himself all over again to new classmates, and a new school, maybe…maybe he might be able to muster up the courage to go. But then, how would that go? Well, whatever, he'd figure it out once he's walking to school.
Slowly, a haze filled his vision, and his body feeling heavy, along with a mixture of… calm bliss.
And so, Natsuki Subaru's first night in Inaba…came along with a hazy dream.
And fog to be seen for miles.
Now I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I wanted to focus on the preparation for Subaru's eventually first day of school, and his first day in Inaba in general.
I mentioned a few things or rules as it were, but really they are just some expectations to be reminded of. There isn't going to be any Return By Death, or any death's for Subaru, considering that's not the purpose of this story.
I want to posit how Subaru would develop if he were in one of the best JRPG's whose main them is facing your dark parts of your psyche and growing as a result of facing them.
While me and Messiah are rather confident in our approach, I'm always willing to hear any feedback or suggestions from the community!
Now, with all that said! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, leave a favorite, follow and a review!
This is the the Maelstrom, and I'll see you on the horizon!
