Chapter Twenty-Eight
What – Has Happened, Will Happen, Or Won't Happen – Again:
May 8, 20XX
Sophia glances up when she hears the door open. The woman takes her bundle of books, carefully cradling them as she skips around the shelves, aiming for the entrance. "Hey! You're all back early. Did you guys find what you needed alrea-" her breath catches at the unexpected sight, "- dy…"
Morgana grins and poses. He pretends her face doesn't go from shock to relief, "Hey ya, Angel," to betrayed to flat, "how's it be-" to her turning sharply and striding away, "en… Angel? Hey!"
"He's your problem," Sophie bites out to the other Librarian. Neither Tristan nor Morgana go after her when she storms into a maze of shelves.
"What are you doing here, Mona?" Tristan says tiredly. Morgana pretends that doesn't hurt. "You'll be in a lot of trouble if your old teammates catch you."
"Mreow," the humanoid cat brushes off the man's warning and hops on the central desk. "I'll be fine. Besides, they should be thankful! This new group doesn't have 'responsibilities' and can actually do something about palaces!"
Tristan stares long and hard. "Mona. I know you want your memories back, but running away all the time? Jumping into palaces when you don't know the strengths and weaknesses? You're going to end up getting yourself or those kids – don't look so surprised that we know – killed."
"Grr," Morgana sneers, but its more adorable than threatening. "What do you know, Chemist? These kids have skill! We're a great team! And Joker can switch Personas! With a skill like that, we can't lose!"
Tristan's face twists with pain before he goes as impassive and blank as possible. "What information are you here for, Mona?"
The stiffness hurts the humanoid cat more than the resigned attitude. Morgana doesn't say sorry – not to the Librarian's; it's their job to give information freely – and holds his head high with the cockiest smirk he can muster. "Tell me everything you have about Madarame."
What Continues To Be:
May 8, 2005
"They're so lively," Ms. Eguchi chuckles, watching the kids run around the park. "I remember when my sons were their age; my only saving grace was them listening to the 'stay in sight of me' rule."
"Ryuji follows that rule, however reluctantly," Ms. Sakamoto smiles a bit wryly, trying not to flinch when a hidden bruise twinges. "Before putting him in clubs he would be everywhere, a bit like a hummingbird. I'd see him one second, but turn my back and he'd move in front of me and start running straight."
"I worked fulltime with three boys; the clubs were my saving grace," Ms. Eguchi smiles in thought. The silence stretches and the older woman almost doesn't want to break it. This is important, though. "If you ever need a break, or a place to stay, you should come around our block." We'll help you, she wants to say. "I'm sure Yume would love to see you two more than once a week."
The mother's gaze is shunted before Ms. Eguchi can finish. "Thank you, but I don't think we have any time at the moment."
Ms. Eguchi bites back a sigh and nods. "Well, if you ever want lunch on a Sunday, I know a great café. My treat."
Ms. Sakamoto gives a strained smile. "Maybe someday."
(Yume overhears that and decides to start planting the seeds. A few words about lunch together, and Ryuji swears to persuade his mother)
;;;
Today was another of his mother's luncheons. Kimiko Kurusu nee Amamiya succeeded in her goal of becoming a high-society housewife, and Akira has to go along with his mother's lifestyle in order to get her attention. He's used to it, accepts this is how things are. Father works long hours in the government. Mother hosts gatherings and keeps everything in order. Father spends time with his family on holidays. Mother has luncheons for the other housewives on Sundays.
Father wanted a child.
Mother uses their son as a trophy.
That's how it is.
Today is different, though. Akira usually spends an hour or two sitting quietly, eating lunch with the ladies, and taking whatever praise Kimiko decides to throw at her trophy son. Today, he showed up and ate little. He left barely half an hour after he appeared.
Today, he's grabbed a lesser used phone and hid it in his room while his mother is distracted with her friends. The luncheon comes and goes, he does his homework and extra readings, and reads for fun, and waits.
Akira is good at waiting. Remembering the phone in his room and the phone number he's rewritten many times to hide in the desk corners only he knows of, Akira is patient all throughout the afternoon.
He calls Yume in the evening.
He can't explain the relief unknotting his chest as she does her custom greeting. It doesn't matter it's much too early for their usual chats, she still picked up. He doesn't have to vie for her attention, and he can't be jealous of the orange haired girl who stopped them from talking last night. He can't; the tinier girl has great tastes in television shows and is much friendlier than the other kids he's been forced to interact with. As long as they can still talk like this, he's happy.
Sometimes, Akira wonders why he doesn't feel with others like he does when Yume and he talk. He takes the scraps attention his parents give him like he's starving. He smiles politely and does as told, yet others don't connect like Yume did. It is like there is a wall.
There was one with her, too, Akira reminds himself. The first time he saw her there was a cool wave of potential, which faded behind the wall. She included him, though. Still does. And somewhere in the days they talked, something gave and let her through the wall blocking him from everyone. Potential seen through.
Five years old Akira Kurusu craves for more friendships like this.
May 9, 2005
Yume makes progress through the cabaret now that she has a map. What she doesn't make progress with is her… level.
Because that is a thing. There is a Stats Screen section of the Metaverse App. She found it completely by accident when she was hiding out in a safe room. It won't let her see anything else because it's corrupted, but she's apparently level one.
Not gud enough.
And, because Yume will do everything to avoid confrontation, she doesn't risk getting spotted by the shadow people. She's slowly becoming pro at stealth – it's been a week; she's lucky not to have been caught yet – and she's probably the greatest vent duster to ever live. When the vents have dust, that is. She's a bit paranoid when some don't.
Point is: Yume's dodging all chances for experience points. Stupid videogame logic won't count all the times she's crouched and snuck around as points. She wants a high sneak skill already!
The girl pretends very hard that she isn't inside some weird fetish room as she snoops for clues. Alha is lead in the erotic dances going on on-stage. The dancer who was dragged off to learn this stuff is doing very well hiding in the background of the other dancers. Who knows how long that will last, though.
Yume finds an old map which must have been misplaced in between the pamphlets. She slips that into her backpack for later, and continues to search for something. Success comes minutes later; the next dates of real Alha's night job. Very hush hush and no online fingerprint. The illegal owners of the joint are either really smart or really paranoid. They would have gotten away with it for years.
However, Himura is their best supplier of desperate dancers. In here, the woman keeps track of everyone who studied under her. Yume just had to thoroughly search seven rooms to find her information.
Her sister would have found it in three.
Yume leaves the palace feeling very nostalgic, the pamphlet tucked securely in her bag. She thinks about looking into the information tonight before deciding, Nah. She needs to try and fix the stat's section of the app, lest she be forced to run around at level one forever.
;;;
Kotori makes a face but Yume understands. The once-woman had to make nice to her connections or else she'd lose them. Kotori clearly doesn't want to go over there, but she needs the gossip and fallback of the girls she's hung out with. Yume's not close enough to join in.
"I'll go be friendly to the others," Yume smirks a bit to the squinting girl. "It's okay."
"We'll talk after this," Kotori promises, going to stand beside the girls near the front.
Yume understands that too. No need to gather suspicion of the instructor. The girls who were in trouble together join up? That's a red flag for anyone watching.
Yume's not quite sure why Kotori's latched onto her, but she'll take any friends she can. Dancing hasn't lost its appeal but… it's so much nicer doing it with people she knows.
Yume twirls and thinks maybe one day she'll learn modern. Maybe there's a school club she can join when she's old enough.
Thoughts to chew on later.
May 10, 2005
"Sojiro?" Yume walks into the man's kitchen holding a book. "Can I borrow this?"
He blinks and raises an eyebrow. "Can you read that, Yume?"
"Some of it," she flips the large business textbook open and skims a bit. "I'm sure I can look up the words I don't know."
He hums and flips the pancakes. "How about we read it in the mornings, so you can ask when you don't know a word."
Yume doesn't admit her breath catches before she swallows her flare of excitement. It's been a week of these morning breakfasts and afternoon dinners with Sojiro. However, reading with him so she can ask questions and learn the words is very different from listening to Akira read out loud for practice. Sojiro's offer is a bit too much like what she'd expect of a parent.
She can't afford to turn away the offer. Her only hesitation is that it's edging on familial territory, and she's not ready for that. "Hai, please! Can we start now?"
He smirks. "After breakfast."
Maybe this will keep the meals from being prolonged silences.
;;;
"Miwa," Yume frowns as she hovers with the Haru and Kotori.
"I'm fine," the older girl laughs off their worry. It's not reassuring, as she's in the dance school's nurse's office. "It's just a small twist. Some ice and I'll be good to dance by tomorrow!"
"If you say so," Kotori sniffs, irritated. "Stay off your feet. Don't let it turn into anything serious."
"Ugh," Miwa flops back on the bed. "Hear that, Haru? I'm being lectured by my students."
"Get well soon, senpai," Yume says so seriously that the other girls crack up into giggles. The smallest smirks a bit and leans into Kotori.
"We do have to go back," Kotori sighs. "You better not get injured too, Haru."
"I'll try my best," the girl giggles silently, hair bouncing to give her away.
"See you after class!" Yume cheers, waving. "I'll carry you to your car, so don't leave without us."
They think she's kidding.
Little Yume gets Miwa on her back and runs the whole way just to prove them wrong.
May 11, 2005
"I'm so glad you came today," Ryuji groans, dragging Yume towards a bunch of kids. "We've been booted to the side 'cause the older guys want to practice on the field."
The blatant favouritism is gross.
"So, what are you guys doing now?" Yume asks, looking around at the girls and boys just kicking dirt and looking lost.
"We could do races?" Ryuji suggests.
A couple kids make faces so Yume thinks fast. "How about those who don't want to race be the start line and finish line watchers?"
There are some explanations on what to do, and within ten minutes they have a mini race group set up. First are the runners; Yume ends up around mid-pack with Ryuji. Then they switch for fun races; hopping, skipping, backwards jogging. Some kids a few years older have a cartwheels contest. It's a fun morning, and by the end Yume knows everyone's name and is known as more than 'Ryuji's friend'.
While being remembered is great, it also means more families to info-creep tonight.
;;;
The little blonde girl looks up from her dinner. She gasps excitedly and practically leaps from her seat, "Äiti!"
The girl's mother chuckles and picks her up, speaking Finnish, "Hello, Ann. How have you been?"
Ann Takamaki says string after string of words as he mother sits, Ann on her lap. Her mother pays close attention, memorizing everything said and noting what she can. She loves her daughter and wishes these moments would happen more often. The only thing to make this complete would be her husband, sitting and listening as they'd have a true family meal.
Speaking of, "We were thinking of having a summer vacation in London this year; just you, your father, and myself. What do you think, dear?"
Ann nods and stresses yes she'd love that.
Well, that was easy. Hopefully the dungeons they've been tasked to deal with will be just as simple.
May 12, 2005
Yume cuts through the park because she's determined to at least check in on the kid she gave cleats to. Even if by now he's likely forgotten her, he is the first one to trigger the strange, foreboding feelings. Making Thursday her supplies day is also a good way to check up on the shopkeepers. As long as she keeps being friendly – memorable – there's a safety net in the neighborhood. If she goes missing, people will see her go missing. No back allies if she can help it.
The boy sees her first. She knows this because he is watching her from his spot on the bench, and he doesn't look away when she glances. Yume smiles widely and breaks stride to wave.
He waves back.
He waves again when she's jogging back with her purchases. Yume has to initiate it, but he does wave back.
It's a start, maybe.
It's something that separates him further Yume's last-life's deceased older sister. She'll stop comparing them eventually. Maybe if she can break that cold, calculating look from his eyes. Or at the very least lose its edge.
After all, she doesn't know if the orphan boy has someone to pull him back from the brink.
(Not that it did her sister any good in the end.)
;;;
The whistle of a train echoes as she burns the fake demons in the streets. Carmen sighs and plants a foot on the back of one of her little boy toys. With a snap of her fingers the flames flicker and die, leaving a lonely street for all to see. Everything is so weak. It's so boring. "Pixie, dear, have you found us an exit yet?"
Ishtar looks over from healing Lilium as the pocket-sized woman zooms down from the rooftops. Pixie buzzes just out of reach, shaking her head. "Whoever's dungeon this is, they're laying low."
"Lovely," Carmen drawls, lips pulling in a dainty sneer. She tosses her hair and looks over her shoulder to the other women. "Are either of you ready to trying forcing a way out? This steampunk is doing nothing good for the skin."
"Maybe a few more days," Ishtar says with a small shrug. "If nothing attacks us, of course."
"Don't look at me," Lilium says, flinching as she tries to roll her shoulder. "I'm out for at least today."
Carmen huffs but turns back to Pixie. There are always other things to take her annoyance out on, after all. "Where is the nearest shadow nest?"
"Up three blocks, turn left," Pixie replies with ease. "Want some eyes in the sky?"
"Thank you, hun," Carmen says with a smile that promises good times – for her at least. "I'll be back, ladies."
"Happy hunting!" Lilium cackles.
Steampunk-dungeon London really isn't the vacation they were hoping for.
May 13, 2005
"Hello," says the boy, and Yume's so shocked she gapes a little at him. "I don't know if you remember me, but you bought me cleats a while back."
That's a power move. He'll need to try harder; Yume can practically smell underhandedness. Still, a good attempt. However, since he didn't say her name, it means she has the upper hand. "I remember." They did wave at each other yesterday. "You're Mr. Akechi." His smile grows but his eyes spark with something ticked off. He isn't an 'employer' though, so the girl responds with a cheerful smile. "I'm Yume!"
"Yes," he nods, neutral. Like he didn't find her on a less-populated street after her dance class; him trying to throw a power move. Like he didn't forget her name. "What are you doing here, Yume?"
Alone is the word he leaves off. She just smiles disarmingly. "I could ask you the same thing!" She continues before he processes that enough to narrow his eyes. "I just finished dance classes and am heading home."
"Interesting," he nods. "May I walk with you?"
Try harder. "How about you walk with me to the grocery store? It's a block away and I need to get some things for lunch tonight. I'll buy you something too, for keeping me company."
A neutral place. Doesn't tell him about where she lives. Let's him know she's left alone often. He nods seriously and then hesitantly holds out a hand, awkward. "Would you like me to carry your bag?"
That was a real offer. He's trying to be gentlemanly or someone's trained him to offer help to those smaller or helpless looking. As nice as it is, no way is she letting him hold her bag. An easy smile, "No thanks! I'm supposed to carry it around to build muscle. Thank you for the offer."
He's relieved, and a bit amused. "It's no trouble."
What follows is an hour of talking about nothing important, ending with him taking home enough for a small meal. She notices he starts to smile – small upturned lip corners – when her answers and babble tells him nothing important like his smooth and long-paused replies tell her nothing.
She doesn't notice his eyes sparking with interest, or the longing they hold when they say their goodbyes. She does make sure she isn't being followed home, but never once thinks he's waiting for her to warm up to him. He's accepted her appearing in his life. So, he waits. Just having someone to talk to is good enough for now.
;;;
"My youngest will be staying in my apartment this coming week," Ms. Eguchi says during one of the rare dinners Yume has with her and not Sojiro. "Would you be alright dragging him around when you leave the building, just so I make sure he's getting out of the house?"
After Goro, Yume's on high alert for all double meanings; not that she isn't on a normal day. Normally she doesn't care. Ms. Eguchi's at least appealing to her child-self's need to feel accepted by taking a responsibility an adult offers. The girl's also warming up to the older woman again, since she's seen her more these past two week than she has in a month. Sojiro's made good on that promise and got the woman back for a few meals.
It wouldn't be hard to drag the youngest son out; Yume goes to dance six out of seven days a week. As long as he doesn't switch into the Metaverse beforehand, it should be alright. "I'll do it!"
"Thank you, Yume," Ms. Eguchi with a warm smile.
Yume's real, returned smile makes her feel like she's glowing.
May 14, 2005
The blonde girl steps out of the doorway, taking in a deep breath of cold air. She closes her eyes and hums. The air's a bit more metallic but, "smells like home."
Alice opens her eyes as the door behind her slams shut, keeping her here in the Earth's unconscious. She gazes around the London-that-isn't and wonders if she can find a dungeon resembling home a bit more. She's feeling rather nostalgic, now that she's here. For all the fakes terrorizing the human's unconsciousness, the Room's owner is usually good about keeping shadow levels on the cusp of keeping the real demons out.
Mr. Butterfly's nice, but she's so glad to not appear in Japan for once.
Well, she better get onto exploring. Her uncles won't be too happy she left home without telling them again. Not that the Jacks told on her last time. No, they aren't– Alice giggles as she skips down the desolate street –tattle tales. So comes the debate: find and defeat a dungeon before her uncles realize she's missing or do some reminiscing in England while she can.
An explosion from inside one of the dungeon zones makes up her mind. Time to make sure she's not missing out.
;;;
Yume spends the night watching camera feeds.
It's one of the dates of the real Alha's night job. Yume's been in the system since before they started setting up. Alha does not look happy, dragging around chairs in an outfit that is in no-way work safe. Yume even recognizes the other person; who Metaverse-Himura told the woman to teach.
"Stay in the back," is Alha's command to the younger dancer. None of the others look surprised. Some even stick close, hiding the dancer from view of the cameras every now and then.
The night continues on. Yume makes note of every politician, boss, and shady character to enter. They probably won't get caught when the place eventually gets found out, but she can always keep making 'incentive' (blackmail) until she's ever faced with one of them. It's amazing how many ties the people in this city have to one another.
After seeing Himura's dungeon, the club is what she expects it to be.
The night continues on.
What – Has Happened, Will Happen, Or Won't Happen – Again:
May 15, 20XX
He's waiting out front of the art museum for Ann and Ryuji. He knows what's about to come (does he? (yes)) yet can't quite work up the excitement for it. He'll enjoy having Yusuke on the team again, and convincing the blue haired artist to join has by far the most interesting series of events, but it's turning into a… flat run. This version of him cares less and less the more the year progresses.
It's not the first time it's happened – it's not the worst it's been – but detachedness either leaves him with Mementos requests unfinished or an early death. He doesn't like the thought of either. And nothing ever really snaps him out of it; the only exception being-
"Hey, transfer student."
-something new.
Akira looks over and wonders what he's done different for the Newspaper Club Member to approach. "Hello, what are you doing here?"
Because really, he's never seen her outside of school. After the first dozen (or couple dozen) runs he stopped going to her for gossip. She says the same thing all the time. Did he see her this run? Oh, yah (to talk about the after-effect of Kamoshida's confession (but he didn't ask about it this time did he?) it's been too long to remember, but he knows they did talk).
He picks up the unimpressed look she's thrown over her glasses just as she drawls, "The school newspaper always sends someone to these big events. We don't sell second-hand gossip."
Akira raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"
He can tell she holds back a sneer. "Yes. Though I guess I shouldn't have expected you to know. You're… new after all."
Has he ever bought something from the school newspaper?
(No, she's good enough for information.)
((…what's her name again?))
She glances over at something before he can retort. Then she's waving and walking away like she hasn't woken him up from the emotionless void he was falling into. "See you around, transfer student. Pick up a newspaper sometime; I always write an article."
"What's your name?" Akira asks for… ((the first time)).
"Yasui Kotori," she says over her shoulder. "All my articles are under my first name."
Akira thinks he might just buy a newspaper this run.
Or maybe he'll save it for when he gets detached again.
(The small changes with no impact to the bigger picture (are what he lives for now-a-days (why won't it end)))
What Continues To Be:
May 15, 2005
Tetsuya looks from person to person at the round table in the library. Starting tomorrow, the gathered have around a week to defeat the palace in the marine center. He's going to miss having his heavy hitter, his scout, and his main navigator. They can do this, though.
"Everyone ready?" Tetsuya asks.
Four teenagers give their positive.
"Then I'll see you all tomorrow," says Ace – Tetsuya – the leader of the Phantom Theives.
Six-to-seven days. They can do this.
(After all, they've done it before)
A/N: In which there is a lot of foreshadowing but almost nothing gets done. Thanks for reading!
Thank you, kalmaegi, for your review! Yep, Yume just needs a little nudge to realize not everything is as it should be… The recital is coming up; though it sure feels like forever away. It is, um, Dream… kid!Yusuke just has a talent of making it sound like he's talking out loud and not to a person. I might be posting an AU drabble soon! Depends on how many spoilers I can keep out of it. Thank you so much for your review and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, Avatar . NIX, for your review! Japan really does face a lot of craziness in the Persona world. The people who face the dangers are really strong though… I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you so much for your review!
Thank you, CureCaligraphy, for your review! Goro Akechi's alive, don't worry! His mother though… Yusuke is great; I can't wait to write more for him. Thank you so much for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, A is for Anon, for your review! Thank you, I'll go back and fix it when I can! I'm so glad Akira has an actual tag (and that I remembered to update it whoops) instead of vague Protagonist; that made my day. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you again for reviewing!
Thank you, RavenMichaelis, for your review! I'm glad to hear! Again, thank you so much, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, Lexyfied, for your review! Haha, good things I hope. Thank you so much, it really means a lot to hear that. Thank you for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, TouMikasa, for your review! I hope you're enjoying the story, and thank you again for your review!
Back when I was guessing b-days for the game-plot Phantom Theives I was only a couple days off with most of them, but with Futaba it was a whole month. Just… so much to reconfigure… Anyways, happy a-day-off-from-being-a-month-late-birthday Futaba.
Have a great March.