Chapter Thirty-Six
"…How do you normally reach this stuff?" Hitoshi asks, head tilted in curiosity as he places the vegetables in his bag. In response, Yume tugs out a strategically placed employee's stool with her foot. "Oh."
"To be fair," the four-year-old isn't hiding her maturity in the moment, "I normally buy a lot of instant-things. They are near the floor and have cooking instructions."
"Can you read?"
"…Mostly."
"Mostly?"
"Officially, I'm about sixth grade level," Yume gets on the stool to peer at the produce. "But really, I only have difficulty with uncommon or big words and colloquialisms."
Hitoshi blinks at the odd child. He nods. "I will start a list to help you learn them."
"Thank you! Oh, and do you think we can get this?"
Grocery shopping goes rather smoothly, with Yume charming the people who ask about the stranger following her. Many are nicer once they hear he's her new guardian. The only one to give any sort of shrewd look is the collage business student at the cash register. "I guess we won't see you running here as often Yume?"
"I'll still come by!" Yume protests, eyes wide. "I need milk to grow big and strong, and we haven't got that yet! We can get more milk, since Hitoshi can carry two and I can carry one, right Hitoshi?"
He blinks. "I think one for each of us is enough."
"But we'll keep coming back, Hanasaki," Yume still has wide eyes at the cashier who isn't looking. Currently, the young woman is finding the new minder lacking. "We'll eat twice as much to be back twice as often!"
Hanasaki's smile at Hitoshi screams 'you hurt that girl, I break you'. Hitoshi, lacking the ability to pick up on most hidden social cues, only pays and thanks the young woman. "Please come back soon. I look forward to seeing you again, Yume!"
"Bye!" Yume calls out her farewells to all those in the store. Hitoshi looks exhausted. Must be those four bags. "You know, I can carry more than the desert."
"Yume, I know you told me you did a lot of runs on grocery day, but how many people do you know?"
Ignoring her offer? Well, Yume grins like a shark and begins describing everyone on the street in excessive detail. She's still talking as they put groceries away, and still while they begin gluing together pieces of a shattered vase. By the time Kayo appears with her car, Yume's voice is on the brink of cracking.
"I think Yume could help you write an article if anything happens in this neighborhood," is all Hitoshi says as he takes the front seat. Once again, no one mentions that Yume is much too small to be riding in the car without a booster seat. It is likely the adults aren't even aware, since Hitoshi surely wasn't ready for sudden child acquisition. The short four-year-old doesn't role her eyes as she struggles to get up and belted in. Honestly. "She knows practically everyone."
"Not everyone. Just the child-friendly ones."
"Oh?" Kayo raises her eyebrows, waiting for Yume to belt in. "How do you know they're child friendly?"
"I look them up online." More extensively than you think.
"You shouldn't believe everything you read on there. Or trust it. People post a lot of lies and there are a lot of brain rotting videos."
"Videos can rot your brain?"
"It's just an expression."
Hitoshi pipes in, "Yume has troubles with those. I'm writing her a list if you want to add to it."
"Sure thing."
Meanwhile, Yume's staring blankly at the two because apparently her sarcasm wasn't strong enough. Oh well. At least they're finally on their way to the lawyer's office. Deadlines need to be met and her brain is still a bit fuzzy on what's changed from the timeline shifting. Hopefully it's nothing too important.
An hour and a half later, everything is signed and legalized. By tomorrow, Hitoshi Eguchi will officially become her guardian.
;;;
"Poky?" Yume asks.
Goro Akechi's hand stills just over the boxes. One second turns to two, and then he carefully takes an item with a soft, "Thank you."
"Keep it," Yume takes a bite of her own chocolate one. "Actually, would you like a bento too? My new guardian made me two, I think cause it's our first day together." Liar, liar. Yume made both after meeting Sojiro, while Hitoshi was still asleep. Today is Goro's birthday, not that he's told her. "Here."
The young boy fiddles with the ribbon; it's not too formal nor too everyday. "Would you like to sit under the tree together?"
"Don't you have to play?"
"They won't notice I'm gone."
"Okay."
The ground isn't too wet for how early it is, though it may be due to how hot the weather is becoming. Yume settles easily, trying to remember if there's a proper way to eat poky. It snaps in her face and almost tumbles to the ground. Goro chuckles beside her, smiling when she turns her head.
"You should eat your meal first," he lightly scolds, tugging off the ribbon. Yume pulls her own out and follows his lead. "Is this your first bento?"
"I don't think so," and she really does have to think about it. She looked up how to make one, back when she thought it might be needed to pass as having a caretaker. "My mother may have made one back when we had picnics, but I can't remember."
"…My mother made me one," he isn't smiling now. "This is my first birthday without her."
"…" Yume does her best to pinch his clothing and not him. When he looks over, she's honest, "I'm sorry for your loss."
He looks away and begins eating. They don't mention the tears on his face. When they're done, she gives him her phone number.
"Call me, day or night," Yume smiles the best she can. As honestly as she can. There is a strange feeling as she clasps his hand; a liquid thing trailing up her arms, looking for purchase. "We are friends, ee? So we can talk or hang out?"
"Y-yes." Goro's hand flexes, wanting to tense but not wanting to crush the note. "I'd like that."
"Then I look forward to hearing from you! See you next week, and happy birthday Akechi!"
;;;
Everyone is beginning to panic, even if they don't show it as often. The instructors are losing their minds because Himura still isn't showing or answering calls. Miwa sits every chance she gets. Makoto has been snappier at those goofing off in the theatre. Haru was on the verge of a panic attack in the bathroom. Kotori is stumbling more than usual. Yume has comforted, calmed, or been a steady body next to the girls, plus those of her own class, whenever she can.
The countdown to tomorrow's recital is on.
Which means Yume is only too happy to be dragged into wrapping a present and hurrying to the Metaverse that late evening. The Library stands as tall as ever, only this time the tables have been moved towards the receptionist desk. Presents, food, drinks, and games line the tops. This is a birthday party.
Hiroki Hoga's birthday party, in fact, though everyone is calling him Saber. Yume frets for all of ten minutes before the Librarians pulls her aside and explain that time's been slowed down while here in the Library until they decide to flick the switch.
"We can't do it often," Chemist explains, sipping a flute of a glowing liquid. "Most palaces and dungeons do have slower moving time compared to the real world."
"The distortions cause a reeeeal mess with physics," Angel is handling the heavy booze very well. "But you- oooh, you, girl, have soooo much power. You could do this one day. You can slow time waaay doooown. Hours here, seconds there. And you wouldn't age because you're," she motions to all of Yume.
"Let's get some food in you," Chemist, the information blocker, begins steering his co-worker away. "And, Yume? Feel free to use the training rooms for dance practice. Spike said he'll take you home in an hour this-world's time."
The girl grits her teeth and foruces out a smile, "Thanks!"
She'd rather read, but whatever. There will be moments for that, while the recital is tomorrow. The small girl ignores the sounds of partying and focuses. One, two three. One two three.
But thing's aren't that easy, and birthday boy bursts into the room, mostly drunk and telling her that her present to him should be exploring the Check-In-Hotel. Apparently, they've all been stuck searching it for months. Yume's seen the building, knows it's rather out of the way, and would rather not be forced into anything. However, "Okay! I'll scout it for you!"
Saber grins from under his mask and proceeds to explain in unneeded detail what she's likely to find. A smuggling ring. Money laundering. Don't forget the illegal fighting club. It all sounds like mid-to-upper level shenanigans a level one such as herself has no business being in.
Challenge accepted. Yume hides the gulp by clasping her hands behind her back. And here she thought the dance recital and Madam Himura were the worst things to face this week.
Ah well, the police are getting a nice big tip this Saturday about the goings on of the missing teacher, just in case something falls through. Then it will be a coinflip: the arsonist case Sojiro is on or this Check-in-Hotel?
Decisions, decisions.
A/N: As I'm unsure when I can next update, and with the two-year anniversary of this story coming up, here is the last bit of this arc. Thank you so much to everyone who's stuck with this, the support truly means a lot.
Thank you, xenocanaan, for your review! I really hope you enjoy these chapters and thank you again for reviewing!
Thank you, MiserableSOUL660, for your reviews! It is definitely going to be an adventure with all the feelings (buried or otherwise). I'm so glad you like it! Thank you so much for your reviews, and I really hope you enjoy these chapters!
Thank you, kalmaegi, for your review! That's a perfect description! What's worse is Tetsuya gets the chance to keep trying for a social link. Akira's got if rough and doesn't know it yet. I really hope you enjoy these chapters, and thank you so much for your review!
Thank you, RavenMichaelis, for your review! One down, finally, hahaha! On to the next! I'm so glad you liked it! I really hope you enjoy these chapters, and thank you again for your review!
Thank you, MiharuTousaka, for your review! I'm glad to hear! I've only played P5, so I'm still debating how much of the other games show up. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoy these chapters!
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Thank you to everyone who is reading this story! I hope you have enjoyed it thus far, and that you have a fantastic day