bopdog111: Well me, and Ulrich had a bit of thought in mind for the future of this fic so we decided to redo it.
Ulrich362: True, with a few changes to note right off the bat. First, this story will focus on the perspective of Jiyū, but also Akira the Trickster.
bopdog111: And we felt that Jiyū's relationship with Justine, and Caroline is going way to fast. And we also kinda made his Persona way too powerful.
Ulrich362: True, but we'll keep better track of that this time around. So with that said, enjoy the new updated version of Persona 5: Hangyaku no kokoro.
Disclaimer: We don't own Persona but we own any OCs!
"Aoi, are you really sure? I mean, I can protect him like our daughter." was the voice of a man throughout the night.
He was with a woman who is holding a basket in her hands after she talked with him a while after they came back from the hospital following the birth of the life in the basket. He wasn't fond of the idea of leaving him in a stranger's hands but if his wife trusts her to take care of him then he'll follow her judgment since none of his higher-ups know about there son yet.
"You have your hands full, and it's too dangerous." the woman mentioned.
"Well I know that... But I just feel like leaving him with some stranger isn't the right call."
"You always are such a worrywart. Don't worry me, and her were friends in school, and maybe if it's safe enough we can see him again." the woman assured the man with a smile. "For now we need to make sure he'll live a happy life, and without worrying that someone will take advantage of him."
"Well, if you're sure." the man relented before looking at the basket. "We'll be back for you when we can, she's going to take good care of you."
The woman placed the basket in front of a door smiling down, "Oh our dearest son... someday we will see you again that is a promise. You just be a good boy to mommy's friend okay?" She kissed the life before she ranged the doorbell, and they both ran hiding behind a shrub of bushes to spectate how the friend inside will take.
Earlier...
A black haired woman with glasses was working on paper work in the living room sighing exhausted before she heard the doorbell ringing.
"Visitors at this hour?" she sighed before frowning.
"I can get it mom." mentioned a young female voice.
Who headed to the door was a orange haired young girl wearing black rimmed glasses walking over to the door, and unlocked it opening it, and blinked looking around seeing no-one was there, "Hello? Is anyone here?" She then shrugged closing the door not paying any mind to the basket that was at the doorstep-
Wait a minute!
Pausing she opened the door again and looked down as her eyes widened seeing a baby sleeping in a basket. "Huh?"
She knelled down seeing a note taking it before calling, "Mom! You better get over here!"
Hearing that the black haired woman sighed before walking to the door. "Futaba, you know I'm busy lately."
The woman pause when she sees the basket, and the baby in it. Shocked she looked to see if anyone was there before frowning and picking up the baby. "Futaba, could you bring the basket inside and check if there's any kind of note."
"There's a note here." the girl, Futaba, told her handing her a note while taking the basket carefully bringing it in the house. The woman opened the note and began reading it.
Dear Wakaba Ishiiki.
Sorry for this sudden visit, but I needed a big favor from you. This is me, and my husband's son, for you to care for. To make a long story short me, and him didn't feel like he would be safe living with us since someone in my husband's job would try to use him for blackmail or something worse for him to follow there orders without question.
I also don't trust the orphanage cause you know how those places are sometimes, and odds are when we came to see how he is by then, he would already be gone, and we will never see him again. So instead, we had decided to leave him with someone we trust; you. You had been a great friend of mine since Middle School, Wakaba, and I hope that despite whatever hardships you do, I hope you give our son a happy life by the time me, and my husband are sure nobody will use him for anything.
Thank you so much, and sorry about not talking with you about this before then.
Love,
Aoi Matsuda (PS: I am using my maiden name so those same people wouldn't be able to trace us to you.)
"Aoi Matsuda..." the black haired woman, Wakaba Isshiki, whispered before carefully putting the baby on the table. "I understand, I'll keep your son safe. Futaba, can you watch him for a while? I have some things we're going to need to take care of him."
"Got it mom." Futaba nodded at that before then asking, "What's his name?"
Wakaba frowned. "The note didn't say, he might not have one yet. Oh and Futaba, I know you're frustrated lately but once I get this work done we can take a long vacation... alright?"
Futaba nodded at that before walking taking a dictionary flipping pages to find a fitting name for the baby. Soon she came across a name. The name for Freedom; Jiyū. That's when she heard crying. Hearing the crying Futaba ran back where the baby was awake crying most likely asking where's his mommy.
"Hey, it's alright. Mom just went to get stuff for you Jiyū." Futaba mentioned before pausing and giving him her finger to hold.
Taking it the baby starts sucking on it like a pacifier. She frowned before pulling her finger away from him only to pause and try to give Jiyū his thumb. He takes it sucking on it without hesitating.
"You're actually kind of cute." Futaba smiled looking at him.
Jiyū stared at her while sucking on his thumb blinking.
"My name's Futaba, your big sister I guess." Futaba smiled.
Jiyū sort of giggled reaching over to her, "Ah, ah..."
"Oh... you're so cute." Futaba smiled picking him up and hugging him close.
He reached taking her nose. Futaba blinked at that. "What are you doing?"
He giggled while holding her nose. Hearing that Futaba couldn't help but giggle. "What should we do while we wait for mom? Oh, I have an idea... come on we can go to my room."
She walked him up while carefully holding Jiyū close to her. When they arrived Futaba carefully sat him on the floor before getting some paper and crayons. "We can draw, see?"
She drew a few small circles before showing them to him. He watches curiously before clapping giggling seeing this.
"You want to try?" she asked putting a blue crayon in his hand and taking his hand to the paper.
Jiyū watches as he drag the crayon, and giggled when he sees a line. Futaba smiled at that as the two of them started to draw together. Later they hear Wakaba call, "I'm home!"
"We're up here mom, Jiyū's a little artist." Futaba called.
"Well I brought Sojiro with me!" Wakaba called to them.
"Really?" Futaba asked excitedly.
She brought Jiyū, and the drawing supplies down with her where they see Wakaba is back with baby supplies with a older man with a black goatee, and glasses was with her.
"Take a look at what Jiyū drew." Futaba smiled showing them a paper with smiley faces and small shapes all over it.
"Heh, well I'll be." the man chuckled rubbing his head, "Maybe he could be a great artist in the future."
"It's possible." Wakaba nodded.
"Well in any case, I brought something your gonna like Futaba." the man grinned pulling out a tupperware case.
Her eyes lit up. "Is that what I think it is?"
"If by what you think you mean 'Sojiro's curry' then yup." the man chuckled to her.
"Thank you so much." Futaba smiled happily.
"Hey your gonna need your energy for taking care of him." the man, Sojiro, said to her before looking at Jiyū, "So your naming him Jiyū right?"
"That's apparently what Futaba decided." Wakaba nodded. "I think it fits."
"Well if you need any help to raise him Wakaba, I'm game." Sojiro grinned to her in a attempt to swoon over her.
"I told you I'm not looking for marriage right now Sojiro, though I would appreciate the help from such a good friend." she chuckled.
Sojiro snapped his fingers in playful frustration before chuckling a bit, "Well I'm content with being with someone like you."
With that the family was slowly brought to happiness. Wakaba's work kept her busy from there trip but Futaba, and Jiyū's lives were great together now that Futaba has someone to have fun with while her mother is busy. He doesn't get her computer habits but is glad she's happy to do what she likes to do. It was during the times that Jiyū is growing up.
2 years later...
Wakaba, Futaba, and Sojiro were downstairs placing decorations up for a special occasion before Wakaba asked Futaba, "Futaba you wouldn't mind bringing the Birthday Boy to his Birthday Party?"
"No problem mom." Futaba smiled walking upstairs to Jiyū's room. "Jiyū, are you up?"
She opened the door where she sees a cute young 2 year old boy with blonde hair snoozing happily on his bed. Futaba giggled before walking over and gently shaking him. "Jiyū, it's time to get up little brother."
Jiyū slowly wakes up from this opening his eyes.
"Morning, did you have good dreams?" Futaba asked him.
Jiyū smiled up to her, "Yeah big sis, I had really good dreams." He sat up before asking, "What's today?"
"Why don't you get dressed and then come down to find out." Futaba smiled before walking back downstairs. "He'll be down in a little bit mom."
Wakaba nodded with a smile before telling Sojiro, "Okay Sojiro when we surprise him show him the cake okay?"
"Got it, you can count on me." he chuckled.
Just then they hear footsteps walking down before Jiyū arrived downstairs dressed.
"Happy birthday!" the three of them smiled to him.
Jiyū jumped from this, "H-Huh?" He looked around, "It's my Birthday today?"
"It sure is." Sojiro smiled showing him a cake.
"Whoa! That's HUGE!" Jiyū cried out seeing the cake's size. Although it wasn't that large it certainly looks bigger then the ones he normally sees which are small size at best.
Sojiro chuckled at that. "Well you are two."
"Yup your two years old now." Wakaba smiled to her adoptive son. "Which means you get to do some more big kid stuff."
"Nothing like big sis? I don't really get what she does on her computers, it hurts my brain." Jiyū admitted to them.
"That's alright, there's plenty of things a big kid can do." Sojiro reassured him.
Jiyū chuckled at this before Wakaba looked contemplating a little before asking, "And Jiyū?" He looked at her confused which she asked, "At the end of the party, I want to tell you about something."
"Ok mommy." he nodded hearing that.
With that the party went through pretty normal. Futaba gotten him a cap that said Medjed on it which while he doesn't really get what it is Medjed does he is glad to have something that reminds him of his sister with him. Sojiro meanwhile gotten him some art supplies included a instruction book for art. Wakaba also gotten him a jacket that has Jiyū's favorite cartoon character; SpongeBob Squarepants on it with his catchphrase 'I'm ready!' on it.
Overall big points of successful Birthday Party on the young boy's part throughout the night. But now comes the time where Wakaba has to tell Jiyū of something important at the end of the party which they all sat down together in the living room after having some cake.
"So... what do you want to talk to me about mommy?" Jiyū asked her curiously.
Wakaba hesitated a little trying to think how to tell him. "..." Sojiro can see she's struggling while sitting beside her.
"Mommy?" Jiyū asked nervously.
Sojiro pat her shoulder which she looked at him. He gave a nod, and a smile before she smiled back looking back to Jiyū, "Well Jiyū... what I need to tell you is something that I wanted to tell you about when I had the chance. Your 2 now, so I feel now is the time for you to know for real."
"What is it?" Jiyū asked hearing that a little nervous.
"Well... to put it simply..." Wakaba tried to think of the words before then revealing, "I'm... not your real mother."
Jiyū blinked hearing that tilting his head, "Huh?"
"It's true." Sojiro nodded.
"What do you mean by...?"
Wakaba at this explained to the confused boy. "Well Jiyū... what I mean by this is that, you are not related to me, and Futaba... We're not of the same blood, and by taking you in, it means that I adopted you."
"Adopted... So I'm not a part of your family?"
Wakaba was a little surprised from how understanding he is at this point but is glad cause he is able to get it which saves her the trouble of explaining what it meant. "Well... to put it simply yes, your not. But even if we aren't related, your still my son... In fact your real family. They gave you to me."
"Do they not want me?"
"N-N-No nothing like that!" THAT was the kind of reaction Wakaba was expecting from him from telling him all of this. She just didn't know when it would come. "Well you know about that cartoon you watched? Where the small evil guy tries to steal that recipe?"
"Yeah, Plankton wants the Krabby Patty Secret Formula but SpongeBob always stops him!" Jiyū called excited hearing that.
"Well... there are some people in real life that can do stuff like that but... not for things like that." Wakaba said to him which confused Jiyū. "There are some people here that can do more things then stealing things but the most cruelest of them will often use people you care about for there own personal gain."
Jiyū stares at her as she explained this while listening intently. "You see, your real parents they didn't feel you would be safe if you stayed with them. Your father's boss or someone else from his job would try to use you to have your father do things he doesn't want to do all for the sake your safe. So your parents had to make a hard choice, and chose your safety. In that moment, they decided to leave you to me for me to care for you until they feel that you are safe enough for them to care for."
Wakaba then smiled looking down. "I owed a bit to your real mother, she was a great friend when I was a little older then you are. She helped me get where I am today, and I would gladly due what I can to repay her. If it meant keeping you safe." She looked at him before saying, "Then I will do so."
Jiyū stared at them silently once Wakaba finished talking not saying anything while Futaba, Sojiro, and Wakaba waited for his response but all they hear was silence.
"Jiyū..." Futaba whispered nervously.
"So... the reason why they gave me to you was that... I can be safe?" Jiyū slowly asked starting to understand the reason.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean we love you any less." Wakaba told him softly. "You're still my son even if I didn't give birth to you."
Jiyū stared before getting off, and hugging Wakaba. Her eyes widened before she gently hugged him back.
"My real mommy, and daddy never hate me... They wanted me to be happy, and trusted you." Jiyū say to her at that, "So I trust you too... Even if you aren't my real mommy, you took care of me all my life."
Wakaba's eyes widened as she teared up slightly. "Jiyū..."
"He really is a special kid." Sojiro smiled gently.
They hugged each other before he pulled back asking, "So mommy... do you know who my real parents are?"
"Well I know your mother but not her side of the family." Wakaba admitted before handing him something, "This note was from your mother when you came to our lives."
Jiyū took it only to frown. "I... can't read it mommy."
"Let me." Wakaba said placing him in her lap before she read it aloud for him to understand.
When she finished Jiyū started tearing up, and snuggled into Wakaba's front. She hugged him gently at that just as Futaba hugged them too. Sojiro watched with a soft smile before Jiyū turned to him, "Y-You two... Sakura-Sensei."
He chuckled joining the hug.
... However the happy family would soon face a terrible tragedy.
3 Years later...
Wakaba had called Sojiro to come over to have a drink with her together while Futaba, and Jiyū were downstairs having fun but also cause she has something to say to him.
"Is everything alright?" he asked. "You sounded strange on the phone."
"Sojiro, I don't know either I'm not feeling well, or maybe mad but something was going on the back in my mind for a while." Wakaba admitted to him.
Sojiro nodded listening calmly.
"...I think I'm going to die in a odd way soon." Wakaba admitted.
Sojiro's eyes widened hearing that. "What, Wakaba who would want to kill you? I think you might be spending a bit too much time buried in your work."
"I know." Wakaba admitted, "But, I had been feeling that for a while."
"It's probably nothing to worry about." Sojiro reassured her softly.
Wakaba looked down not convinced but shakes her head, "Sojiro, I want you to do me a favor."
"Of course, anything."
"Can you make me your coffee?" Wakaba smiled to him.
"Of course." was his grinned reply.
Meanwhile downstairs...
Futaba, and Jiyū now 5 years old were downstairs watching SpongeBob together, and the subject of todays episode was of 'Pretty Patties' which after they started to be sold successfully due to the uniqueness it started to backfire when Mr. Krabs took over the stand after it proved more popular then the Krusty Krab after the burgers changed the colors of the citizens, and even made a tongue glow in the dark.
Futuba wondered how THAT was possible but reminded herself it's only a cartoon, and completely unrealistic.
That didn't matter to Jiyū though as he laughed clapping, "Oh man! Mr. Krabs still has his work cut out for him for money like always! I can't imagine him catching a break if he gets involved in stuff like this, and takes all the credit for it."
"He's probably going to try and make money anyway." Futaba mentioned before turning to her computer. "Huh, another one?"
"Big sis?" Jiyū looked over to her hearing that.
"Someone else is using my name." she answered before shrugging. "I think I'm done with Medjed for good."
Jiyū only shrugged before saying, "Well I don't know with all this Medjed stuff, but I do know that you are great big sis. No matter who tries to be you on Medjed, I know you are the real thing!"
"Thanks bro." she smiled.
A few days later Jiyū, Futaba, and Wakaba were on their way home from some shopping only for Wakaba to suddenly pause in the middle of the sidewalk.
Confused seeing this the two looked over only for in slow motion Wakaba jumped in front of a car as they watched stunned before...
SMACK! HONNNKKKK!
The car screeched to a halt as Futaba, and Jiyū watched stunned from what they just witnessed as Jiyū cried, "M-Mommy!?" He ran over to see if she's okay. Futaba stood frozen seeing that as Jiyū saw Wakaba wasn't moving.
2 months later...
An organ pipe was played in a funeral home where Futaba, Jiyū, and Sojiro attend all in black clothing. Jiyū had been stunned these past couple of weeks, and then after seeing Wakaba's coffin he knows contains who took care of him he let the dam broke crying non-stop often saying, "Mommy", and "Please don't go".
Sojiro noticed the rest of the people there glaring at him and Futaba as he frowned before a man in a suit approached them.
"If you could follow me, we'd like to read something to everyone gathered here." he told them before turning to Sojiro. "Family only, you understand."
Ulrich362: Well, a few happy years that ended tragically due to Wakaba seemingly committing suicide.
bopdog111: We changed things here quite a bit.
Ulrich362: Jiyū learned about his adoption from Wakaba instead of the suicide note for starters, but that's just the start of what's going to make this one different from the original version.
bopdog111: It'll be next chapter, and up too Youji's treatment of them next chapter right up until Sojiro has had enough.
Ulrich362: True, very true. See you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!