AN: Welcome back to this new Persona 5 project of mine that has been in the works for a while, I know many of you miss my other Persona 5 story, but as I said in the last chapter, there were many what-if scenarios in my head that one became a story I wanted to take a crack at. Also, don't forget I do have a personal life, and while I hope that 2021 turns for the better, my family has suffered a great loss in early January that I did what I could, and life being hard in general. But then again, I write to find freedom and share what I write with confidence that those who read it would find freedom from everything life puts in our path and forget about them for a while.

Anyway, here's the next chapter…

Chapter 2: Forgotten Dreams

March 25, 20XX

After a couple of weeks since Sumire's death, the Yoshizawa's mourned her death, but none more than Kasumi, who shut down from life. All she thought about were Sumire's final words, thinking that all this was her fault for not being the sister Sumire needed.

And that why she was in a waiting room for a counselor to seek professional help to help her live with what happened.

"Kasumi Yoshizawa," a tall, bespectacled man with short unkempt brown hair called out.

Kasumi got up, and the man led her into his office.

"So," the counselor started, "you're Kasumi Yoshizawa, huh? I'm Dr. Maruki, the counselor assigned to help you."

Dr. Maruki smiled as he said, "First of all, thank you for coming to see me. After I heard about been ailing you, I knew I had to do something, so commendable that you took the first step of the healing process."

"Yes… Thank you for seeing me…" Kasumi said, still disconnected from the world.

"Um… I'm sorry," she apologized, "I'm not sure what to discuss…"

Dr. Maruki just smiled and suggested, "Well, tell me about yourself. I feel that counselors should get to know their patients as a way to be comfortable with each other."

"If you like, I've also got some sweets and some salty snacks here if you want some," the doc offered.

"I can't," Kasumi said to the doc, "as an athlete, I have to maintain an ideal diet to be fit and in peak condition for competitions."

"I have to say I'm impressed that you care so much about nutrition," Dr. Maruki complimented, "You must be really on top of things."

"My coach has told me more than once to be conscious of everything I eat," "besides, it was my sister who took care of our meal."

"I see…" the doctor observed, "Out of curiosity, how's practice been going for you? Has it been rough lately?"

"No, it hasn't…" Kasumi admitted, "Whenever I perform, I feel that the one who I want to show my routine isn't there watching."

"Sorry to hear that…" Dr. Maruki solemnly said, "But please answer me this, do you enjoy gymnastics?"

"I do, especially when Sumire and I did a good job we were rewarded with ice cream by our coach," Kasumi told the doctor with fondness in her voice, "It's how our dream to reach the top of the gymnastic world together came to be."

"So now that she's gone, you feel like that dream can never come true?" The doc asked.

"Yeah," Kasumi melancholy said, "and the worst part is that I failed her as a sister and a rival."

Maruki then had a moment of realization, "I see, you saw something that your sister didn't, and in your own way, you tried to convey that message through your routines."

"That's right, and I guess I wasn't clear enough," Kasumi disappointedly confessed.

Dr. Maruki thought hard about what he was about to do as he spoke to Kasumi, "You know, I once had a friend who was in a situation like yours once."

"Really?" Kasumi asked with genuine curiosity.

"Yes, her name is Rumi," Dr. Maruki explained, "and while visiting her parents on her birthday, some criminals invaded the house and killed her parents, and ever since then, she's been in a state of catatonic depression."

"That's terrible," Kasumi gave her condolences.

"It is," the doc continued, "It's gotten to the point that whenever someone mentions her parents, she suffers a mental breakdown due to the memories of that tragic event."

The counselor and his patient sat in silence, contemplating what was said.

"Sorry, I probably shouldn't have told you that, but seeing your case reminds me of her," Dr. Maruki admitted to Kasumi.

"Seems like you two were close," the gymnast commented.

"We were," the counselor confessed, "and it's my greatest regret that I couldn't do anything to ease her pain, but I hope I don't fail you as I did her."

As the doctor pushed his glasses up and reality went out of focus for an instant.

When reality settled down, Kasumi smiled, feeling a little bit better.

"You're kind, doctor," Kasumi continued to smile and spoke, "knowing that you'll help me reach my dream of reaching the top gymnastics world means a lot to me."

Dr. Maruki smiled back, "Of course, Yoshizawasan, feel free to drop by again sometime should anything come up. We can even just chat."

"I will, and thanks again for your support," Kasumi thanked as she left the office.

When the door closed, Dr. Maruki whispered longingly, "Yeah, just like Rumi."

AN: In case you're confused, what Dr. Maruki did to Kasumi wasn't turning her into Sumire like in the game, but rather he pulled a Rumi and erased the memory of Sumire, making her non-existent in Kasumi's thoughts, it's the reason I made him talk about her. I believe that if Kasumi failed to save Sumire, it would be a case of Maruki trying to help Rumi by erasing the memory rather than changing it. But as the summary says and the game has shown, the Trickster's job is to heal the hearts of confidants, giving them strength, and in turn, they will grant them their support. So next time, will you see Kasumi meeting the aforementioned Trickster, or will something else happen for them to meet? Who knows, maybe all of this is nothing other than the delusions of an old and tired soul, until next time.