Chapter Thirteen
Yume comes to the very real conclusion that she hasn't been Persona-ing right.
In more ways than one.
Saturday morning she's sitting on top of her apartment building's room, glaring at the red and black world below. Her flip phone is in one hand, thumb hovering over the accept button.
The 'Metaverse' is only supposed to be entered via the 'Metaverse Navigator', also known as the red eye app. Of course, just having the app active doesn't allow the phone's owner permission to enter. Three key words or key phrases must be said in order to allow the user access to the other world. Then, the locations the phone's owner can visit are saved to the Metaverse Navigator. And finally, the application can only let the user exit the location if the user is out of the location's bounds.
Yume, in her brilliant idea to middle finger and download the app to her computer (and subsequently her phone), does not need the key words to appear in the Metaverse. Instead, she can appear in the other world with every dungeon active at the same time. This means she is both in a dungeon and not in one at all moments. The app's default function for situations like this is consistently-out-of-dungeon-bounds. So, she can leave whenever she wants.
Yume reads over the three words on a grainy photo and then switches apps to read the match she typed on her phone. She clicks enter.
The world around her shifts in shades of red and black, and then settles. The large, never ending tower is now the only distortion in the world.
Yume starts typing out the next name on her photo list.
Flip phone typing sucks.
Because she isn't actually trying to break the world, Yume is writing out and entering all the dungeons in Tokyo into her Metaverse Navigator. This way, she can just click on one to appear in the bounds instead of being in all at once; also so she doesn't get a headache from staring at overlapping dungeons.
There is one rule she is sure she accidently stared cheating at, and will continue to do so for as long as she can. Every dungeon has a list of 'Safe Rooms'. Every safe room is listed as three question marks. At the bottom of every list is the Error: Unknown Name safe room. Yume isn't sure how the rule is supposed to play out – she'll look for it in the code later – but clicking on the named safe room makes her appear in her living room in the Metaverse. After inputting and trying dungeon three's safe room list, Yume is going to assume Error: Unknown Name leads to her living room for every dungeon, because she's not climbing the stairs for a fourth time today. The question mark safe rooms won't let her accept them. She's guessing she actually has to search for them. Ugh.
Yume pauses when she reaches three key items that make her brain trip.
'Jayshao Genshi; Tokyo: Under the Earth; Mementos: Path of Aiyatsbus: 2nd Area'
The girl then goes to the first photo she took on her phone.
"What the-" Yume swears loudly and shakes her head.
A dungeon within a dungeon.
Dun-ception.
Yume fully vows to stay away from the Mementos for as long as possible. She continues writing in locations for another hour, growing more and more worried when more routes and places appear to have dungeons inside Mementos. When she finally stops, there are at least thirteen names scattered through three different paths. If she had to guess, then that's the final dungeon-dungeon the main characters will have to go to. So, she's very prepared to avoid it.
The strangest thing is that she can't see anything different with the world when she clicks the name. Then again, it is under the Earth.
Her head hurts.
Yume stands, tugging her backpack up with her – got to get used to carrying supplies – and scrolling down the current dungeon safe rooms. She clicks the error room, and blinks. What was a scene of a red and black shaded Tokyo is now a greyscale version of her living room.
Yume turns off the app.
The girl tugs down her hole-littered mouth-scarf and breathes the fresh air. Then she turns on the television to watch some cartoons and delete her photos.
It's Phoenix Ranger Featherman.
It's… actually a really good show.
;;;
"See you Monday, Yume!"
"Bye Miwa!" Yume shouts, waving at the girl running for a car. Then she turns back inside and heads to Haru's class. "Oh, Makoto!"
"Hi, Yume," the older girl says, falling in step.
"How was your birthday?"
Makoto brightens, eagerly talking about everything that went on. From her sister mixing up the six and nine candles to the movie her father took them to.
"You do look a little tired," Yume throws in a wink. Makoto rolls her eyes. "I'm glad you had a nice day, though."
"Thank you," Makoto smiles.
Before she can say anything else, a woman's voice cuts through the air, "If you're just going to waste my time, don't bother showing up to practice. I don't have time to deal with silly girls who think dancing would be a fun hobby."
Makoto flinches at the words, and Yume automatically steps in front of the taller girl. The voice comes from the large studio, and Yume would bet money that it is Madam Himura. A few more sharp words to the class and footsteps move towards the door. Yume shuffles Makoto back against the wall.
It is Madam Himura storming out of the room, not seeing them.
"That was meaner than usual," Yume mutters, frowning.
"She is very dedicated to her teachings," Makoto says weakly.
"Not you too," Yume whines. She turns to the older girl, face almost pleading. "She shouldn't talk to people like that, especially not kids like us! If she's going to be my teacher, I'm not sure I want to continue dancing here."
"What?" Haru says, and Yume turns around. The auburn haired girl looks crushed. "Are you not going to be here next term?"
"Probably not," Yume admits, lunging forwards and hugging the girl. "Don't be sad though. Here," she digs through her bag and pulls out a pencil and paper. She writes two lines, and then tears the paper in face, giving one to each girl. "This is my phone number. You two better call me sometime."
"What about you, Mako?" Haru asks, holding Yume and the paper like they're lifelines. "Will you be here in June?"
"Sorry Haru," Makoto says, ducking her head and letting her hair fall. "I'm doing aikido in the summer."
Haru looks like the world's been ripped out beneath her. "But…"
"Do you really love dancing, Haru?" Yume asks softly. The older girl looks down at the younger one hugging her, dazed. Yume takes the chance. "Or are you only doing it to please your father?"
"I-" Haru cuts off, holding Yume tighter. The older girl doesn't even consider what may have given her away. Softer, Haru mutters out, "I… am only doing it for father."
"Tell him you want to do something else," Makoto encourages. "I'm sure he'll understand."
Yume doesn't let go of Haru as she leans back. "Tell him you got everything you can get from dancing, and find something else you want to do and appeal that to him."
Haru relaxes at that suggestion. She looks between the girls. "I… want to try gardening one day. Father always talks about our imports and exports, and I want to see if I can grow things as good as we sell them."
"That's a wonderful idea," Yume says quickly, speaking before Makoto can offer the confused words Yume sees on her face. "And tell him just that, that maybe one day you won't have to import much if you can make it yourself."
The rich girl finally releases Yume, stepping back with a relieved smile on her face. Haru giggles weakly, "Sorry Yume, I'm still in my outfit."
Yume waves her off and starts walking backwards to the change rooms. "No worries! It's neat that we all have something we want to do this summer."
"What was it you want to do?" Makoto asks softly, coming up beside the youngest girl.
"I'm going to be exploring!" Yume says with a wide smile. "Maybe I'll see you all around town!"
The three girls share smiles.
Yume's glad she can at least help them get away from Madam Himura and the mean girls when she won't be there to buffer.
;;;
"What did you say?" her father asks, head slowly moving up, but his eyes snap to her immediately.
Haru's fists clench and go white; her thumb rubbing the paper in her hand to make sure it's still there. "I have learned everything I can from that dance studio. I want to do something else this summer."
"She has been working hard for this recital," vice president Takakura says in thought. "I don't see any harm in allowing her to try more activities. Is it that you don't like dancing, Ms. Okumura?"
"N-no." Haru hides her fists behind her back and meets her father's gaze. "I do enjoy dance-"
"Then I don't see the problem," her father snaps, eyes going back to the paper work on his desk.
The five year old rubs the paper again. It grounds her. She can remember to breathe. There is someone with faith she can do this. "You only put me in the lessons to learn how to be graceful. I have learned the most I can. There is nothing for me at the ballet studio."
She feels instant regret after saying those words. Mako and Yu are there for now. But they are also the reason she's facing her father. She won't be left behind.
Her father narrows his eyes as he appraises her. "What about your friends?"
"We can stay in contact when I leave." Haru pinches the paper between her knuckles.
"If you really feel this way," he says slowly. "Then I can pull you out now." He looks thoughtful. "It would give you more time for your lessons."
"I won't be pulled out before the recital is over, father," Haru says, her knuckles groaning. "I have gotten front row position in my group and I will not abandon them now."
"What's the harm?" the vice president speaks up, looking thoughtfully at the girl. "We could even get that new intern to come up with a list of things for her to take."
"I get final say," her father looks at her sternly. "And if you don't like the options, you will be given extra studies for the summer and placed back in dance for the fall."
"Understood," Haru says, bowing. "Thank you, father."
He dismisses her and returns to his work. Haru bows to the vice president and then tries to slowly walk out of the room. As soon as the door's closed, she's sprinting for the nearest phone. The auburn haired girl has to redial five times since her hands shake so much. By the time the phone starts ringing, she's near tears.
"Hello! This is the Ishii household. Ishii Yume speaking!"
"Y-Yume," Haru badly stutters out.
"Haru?" The older girl almost laughs at how serious Yume sounds. "What's wrong?"
Distantly, Haru thinks she might needs to take a deep breath.
"I t-talked to my father," Haru laughs, but doesn't know what's so funny. "H-he said I c-could do a different sport over t-the summer."
The sound of Yume's deep breath is what finally calms her. Haru tries to match the breathing, but it's not going well. When Yume speaks, it sounds distant. "I'm glad you were able to talk to him about it. He didn't do anything, did he? Did he threaten you?"
"I-I can't not choose what he wants," Haru giggles again, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Or else I… I would have to start dancing and more etiquette lessons."
"You're so strong, Haru," Yume says earnestly; so real, that Haru believes she means it.
"Yu," Haru chokes out. "W-why am I crying if I win?"
"Haru," Yume coos softly through the speaker. "Sometimes it just… doesn't feel like a victory. But, you shouldn't be sad about winning this time. You fought for your right to stop dancing, didn't you?
"I did," Haru gasps, trying to match Yume's breathing. "I did. But why does it hurt?"
"…Did your father seem disappointed?"
"A little," Haru says, her shuddering slowing. "Why would that matter?"
"I don't like disappointing the people I care about," Yume admits softly. "It makes me sad if I made them sad."
Haru frowns and wipes away the last of her tears. "You're too nice to make people sad."
Yume giggles and, while Haru feels like she's missing something, the auburn haired girl doesn't ask. The younger girl whispers over the phone, "You're too nice too. Don't worry about your father. Prove him wrong."
"Yume?" Haru asks as the silence stretches. "Have you ever done that with your parents?"
"…Un," Yume says. Haru frowns further at the sad note coming through the phone with the word. "Yeah… I've proven them wrong."
Something feels left unsaid. Haru leans against the wall and closes her eyes, suddenly tired form the emotional drain. "Yu?"
"Yah?"
"Do you love your parents?"
"…" the line is silent for a good dozen seconds. "I think I love them. I think I have to love them, since they're my parents. But do I like them…? …That's hard to say."
Haru closes her eyes and just matches breathing with the younger girl. "I think I love my father too."
But does she like him…?
Yume seems to get it. The younger girl changes topic to something lighter; like what Haru may want to do over the summer.
Haru wonders if this is what real friendship is.
…
She thinks she likes it.
;;;
"Sae!" Makoto shrieks, scampering away.
The older sister laughs and puts the sink nozzle back in the sink.
"Sae, you know better than to tease your sister," their father says. He ruffles his eldest daughter's head, and the teenager pulls and angry-cat face. "Go on, scamp, I'll take over drying from here."
"Thanks dad!" Makoto cries, making a face at her sister. The sixteen year old makes a face back.
Makoto runs to her room, changing out of the wet clothes. She hears a crinkle, and then pulls a paper out of her pocket. It takes her a few moments to remember that it's Yume's phone number. The recently six year old runs around and finds a pen. She writes the younger girl's name on the top and then stores the paper in her drawer.
If she's being honest, Makoto never thought she'd be friends with one of the younger girls. Oh, of course she gets swarmed by them. Makoto's friends are the popular girls. They are the outspoken girls. The only thing she has in common is her go-getter attitude. Makoto is the shy one in the group.
But the girl Miwa Takado looks out for? Miwa and Yume are the ones who whisper and giggle in class. Makoto never thought she'd be friends with them. Er, one of them.
And Haru Okumura. The girl Makoto's father off-handily said it was better not to get involved with. Makoto still feels guilty not telling him the last name of the person who gave her the scarf. Then again, she still doesn't know Yume's surname, so it isn't too bad a misnomer. Makoto likes the girls, her new friends. She doesn't understand why her father frowns at the name Okumura. She doesn't understand why Haru suddenly attached to the younger girl and leaves her old friends alone.
She at least understands Yume walks home because she lives nearby. Haru and Makoto live far from the studio; they need to wait for rides home. Yume's parents never came looking for her when she stayed with Makoto, though. The recently six year old wonders if it's like what happened with Sae and their mother. She knows better than to ask; Sae gets angry when she talks about their mother and Makoto doesn't want Yume angry with her.
Yume is a simple person to understand. Probably because she's younger.
Haru is a puzzle Makoto doesn't want to give up.
Makoto hums and tries to plan just how to spend more time with her new friends. Maybe she can convince her father to pick her up later more often.
;;;
"Hi Mr. Enomoto!" Yume chirps.
"Hey, little Yume," he greets, setting down the glass he was cleaning. "How was your dance class?"
"It was good!" Yume chirps, moving to and empty booth. She sits on her knees on the bench so she can see him better. "We're going to start leaps next week!"
"Sounds exciting," the man chuckles, handing her a menu.
"Ee!" Yume agrees, nodding. She fiddles with the menu, unsure whether to wait or order now. As he goes back to the counter, she calls out, "Have you seen Mr. Sakura?"
"Not yet," Mr. Enomoto replies, going back to cleaning his dishes. "But it is early. He'll be by."
Yume bites her lip and returns to staring at the menu. Thinking about a few hours earlier, it was a surprise to have Haru phone so soon. That just adds to the younger girl's worry. She can't imagine what it would be like living with someone who has a dungeon. It can't be healthy.
So far, it seems as though Mr. Okumura is the type of rich parent who controls from a distant. From what Yume vaguely remembers about Persona games, it could be worse. Like, a lot worse. It could be tame because Mr. Okumura's dungeon is rather low leveled, or because Haru is his daughter. Being family has to mean something, doesn't it?
Yume knows that all she can do for now is be there for the older girl. She doesn't want money or connections; just a friend. Making that clear to Haru early is important. The brown eyed, auburn haired girl needs someone in her corner. Someone to speak to without fear of gossip or retribution from her rich parent. A person that doesn't care when Haru's repressed, vindictive feelings rise to the surface.
Little Haru's issues are almost tame compared to those of Yume's last-life sister's.
Yume can be there for the older girl. A phone call away. An ear that will listen. In return, Yume wants Haru to do her best. Haru needs to stay alive. Yume won't lose her potential support pillar to the stress of rich parents and fake people.
The door to the café chimes. Yume quickly releases her shirt, frowning at the stretch marks. That's a bad habit that will have to stop. She can't keep white knuckling everything.
"Yume!" Sojiro calls.
The girl almost falls out of her seat. She gets out of the booth with a wide smile, and then loses her balance when an orange blur latches onto her middle.
"Futaba," Yume greets, hugging the girl back. "How are you?"
"Good!" Futaba chirps, switching positions to grab Yume's arm with an iron grip. "Sojiro! Phoenix Ranger Featherman!"
"I got'cha kid," Sojiro sighs, digging out some action figures from a cute, sparkly backpack. He sets them down on Yume's booth. "Order your food, and then play."
"Ee sir!" Yume smirks at his annoyed, fond, eye roll. "Hey, Futaba, I actually saw an episode of Phoenix Ranger Featherman this morning."
Futaba looks up at the older girl with stars in her eyes. "I saw too! New Feather Eagle!" Then she frowns seriously at Yume. "He bad guy."
Yume lets out a surprised laugh. "Really?"
Futaba nods. And then proceeds to spoil the entire plot of the current rerunning season.
Yume just shrugs and goes with it. It's not like she has the time to watch all the episodes anyway.
;;;
"So," Mr. Enomoto leans over the counter, eyebrows raised at the government worker, "is Wakaba coming or…?"
"I'm taking Futaba for the weekend," Sojiro says, sipping his coffee.
When the customer doesn't offer anything else, the café owner sighs and gets back to cooking. "Are they still on her case about looking into mental shutdowns?"
"How do you even know that?" Sojiro groans curtly.
"I may be retired," Mr. Enomoto says wryly, "but I'm never really retired. So, Wakaba?"
"Yes, they are," Sojiro says, glaring at his coffee. "She's still denying them, since they only want her for her researcher title. And the pay is less than what she would get now."
"But she wants to, doesn't she?"
Sojiro is silent for a long time. "I won't speak for her. Ask her after a few drinks, and maybe she'll entertain that question."
Former government worker Mr. Enomoto rolls his eyes. "It's not like this is what she's researching or anything."
Sojiro's eyes flick to the girls playing with action figures and then back to his coffee. "She's got more important things in her life than her research."
Mr. Enomoto almost – almost – asks if it's having a child that's holding the woman back from taking the job. He knows better than to say that offhanded question to her number-one love interest. Sojiro glares up at his with laser focus and a dark scowl, as if he knows that man's thoughts. The café owner holds up his hands. "Mah, mah, Sojiro. Wakaba does well for a single woman and we are always happy to see her and Futaba back in the neighborhood."
Sojiro glares harder. "I better not hear or see you ever imply anything again. Just because your wife felt children were a full time career doesn't give you the right to hold judgement."
Mr. Enomoto bites his tongue. The men glare at each other, only breaking away at the peals of laughter that come from the children. Sojiro huffs, small smile crossing his face as he goes back to glaring at his coffee.
"Has she said anything about Futaba's father?" Mr. Enomoto inquires quietly.
"No," Sojiro says stiffly. "And I wish you and Maki would stop asking."
Mr. Enomoto sighs and changes the subject while he dishes the food. By the time everyone's finished eating, the adults are back on friendly terms.
"Don't be a stranger," Mr. Enomoto tells Sojiro. "And if you or Wakaba ever want me to look into that offer…"
Sojiro nods curtly. "We'll let you know."
Because not only does the job offer come with less money, less benefits, and more hours, the subject matter they focus on sounds suspiciously fake. But Wakaba Isshiki is the leader in cognitive psience. She is the best at getting results. And after a decade lull in research, the cognition research needs all the help it can get.
A/N: Well… that turned into a lot more POV's then I expected. Then again, this story is also turning into a lot more backstory then I expected (Akira's introduction chapter feels so far away, gees). Thanks for reading! Hope people enjoyed!
Thank you, Harukawa Ayame, for your review! I'm so glad to hear that; hope you don't mind if I sprinkle some more angst through this chapter… Thank you again for your review, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!