Chapter Thirty-Eight
What – Has Happened, Will Happen, Or Won't Happen – Again:
June 6th, 20XX
He stops, utterly shocked by what is going on across the hall.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Haru bows slightly to newspaper club member, the one who's already made this run a little different. "Maybe she was in another class."
"Maybe," Ms. Yasui does not look confident that it's the case. "I can ask a few of my friends, but really don't think she was with us."
"That's okay. I only wanted to ask. Thank you for your time."
Haru walks by, confident quick steps. Akira can't help but stare, even long after she's gone. With nothing to lose, he approaches Ms. Yasui, "What was that about?"
"None of your business," she snaps and walks the other why. It's the same reply even after he goes back-
Goes back-
Goes back-
- and finally hurries out of the classroom fast enough to hear Haru's question. "Was there a girl in your class named Yume?"
The conversation follows, he doesn't ask anymore. The world continues moving and he toys with the name in his mind.
Yume. Who's that? What could have happened to make Haru stay after school before summer break? If he wasn't so busy, maybe he could look in on this anomaly.
No time to slack now. Soon, Akechi's confident will begin. Soon, Makoto will join their side. June is the second hardest month in the year.
The worst will always be November.
(Why can't he remember what happens in December?)
;;;
What Continues To Be:
On Sunday, June 13th, Ann Takamaki and her parents arrive in London, England.
The next day, Mr. and Ms. Ishii arrive there as well.
;;;
In Japan's Otherworld Library, four years old Yume Ishii is flicking through a rather advanced hologram of a partially completed tower.
"The Check-In Hotel has infinite rooms in this world," Chemist – Yume still doesn't know his real name – explains, pointing to a few larger places. "The Phantom Thieves have thoroughly explored the first twenty floors. Those contain activities like swimming, parties, and dancing. They were hoping to find clues here, but as you can see…"
A few treasure chests, some artifacts she and Hitoshi have been gluing back together, but nothing to indicate there's a problem. If it weren't for the Metaverse's Check-In-Hotel, they wouldn't have ever known.
Speaking of their earnings, Yume has proven she is much better than her guardian at selling what they remake. It leads her to asking a point he made, "Do I get an expanded inventory like you all?"
"Only if you believe," Chemist shrugs. "If your willpower can break the other world into accepting infinite inventory, then it will work. I'd wait until you're older, though. The more experience you have living-"
"-the more powerful you are," Yume finishes with him. As a test, she reaches into a pocket of her backpack. She pulls out an orange, but she never felt the bottom. Neat.
"Male Fools are the only ones who can keep the expanded inventory when they return to the real world," he doesn't notice the trick, too intent on filling in the calendar on her phone. "It's natural to them, so Ace normally keeps all the weapons and such when they leave."
"That is such a life hack."
Chemist snorts. "Not nearly as bad as what you could do together. Preserve the timeline, time travel, sway the masses to your whim."
"Wait, what was that about preserving the timeline?"
"Have you not got to that part yet?" Yume answers negatively. "Well, the stint of aligned days gave us some time, but if we're not careful this branch of the timestream could begin merging with another."
Yume chokes. "No way."
"Yes way." Chemist leans back, handing her flip phone over. Looks like it's going to be a busy summer for her. "It's why the Building's were made, to keep Fools from making contracts with demons. Demons and the mental representations of stories or old tales exist across space and time. Sure, they change a bit depending on the branch and time they're projected in, but their cores belong in the main stream and can only be killed there. Best we can do is keep cutting down their shades before they begin to infect our world.
"Now, if a Male Fool were to make Social Link with a shade or construct, it begins pulling the branch towards the main timeline. There's been two recorded cases of this, and both times the guys were killed in order to stop the apocalypse. They didn't even connect to strong projections, and we're lucky to be so different from the main branch, but from the accounts of what people saw… The world either falls apart or humans have to hide underground."
"Okay, but what about me?"
"What about you?"
"Female Fools?"
"Oh, you're fine. Well, you could possibly drag the world to destruction, but only if you Fool bond was with a Room, and Japan hasn't had one of those appear in years."
"Why's a room difference than- wait. Are you saying I can Social Link with demons?"
"With their projections and constructs that appear in this world. In fact, you can only social Link with them. Sure, you can create one with a Male Fool, like everyone else, but he's the only one who can see the bond. You can only see the bonds you have with creatures found in the Metaverse."
Yume is glad she's sitting down, because she can hear her dear, deceased, Christian mother screaming about devil associates in the back of her head. That may just be the shock of it all, though. "So… what? I just get a full deck of Social Links plus the ability to boost any human Fool."
"Pretty much. If it makes you feel better, guys get a full deck of human links and can switch what personas they use."
"That doesn't make me feel better, but thanks."
"Oh…"
Yume steels herself, drawing her shoulders up and waving around the phone's screen. "So, tomorrow Hitoshi shows me how to enter the hotel from the real world. Do I check in here with you and Angel before I explore the day after?"
"And you check in with us at the hour we set," he tries not to be stern, but it's obvious the man is worried about a four-year-old sneaking around the Metaverse. Yume's nervous and does not appreciate his fidgeting. "If you don't, we'll send in backup to look for you."
"Got it." The girl looks back to the map. This is something she's used to, even if she's not the best. Her sister would have known where to look, and as it is Yume has three places she suspects where the treasure is located. It's either in the basement, the penthouse, or in the room of the owner's secret lover.
Yume doesn't know where it will be at first glance, but that's what working legs are for. To scout the target. To sneak around. To run away.
Maybe it's time to play with the odd touch-copy skill. It doesn't work in the Library, but it will make everything so much easier when walking through the front door.
;;;
Akira Kurusu almost snaps his pencil at the unfairness. His dance recital went off without a hitch. His mother bragged about the whole thing to her friends. His father… seems to have forgotten. The man is suddenly much busier since his co-workers are taking time off their jobs to spend time with their children before summer activities begin. It's been five days since the father-son Kurusus have seen each other.
To make matters worse, Akira's mother plans to travel to different events and reconnect with friends this summer. The child now has more tutors, three summer camps beginning in the morning, and was told there was no time to travel to Tokyo.
He was so excited to surprise his best friend with a visit. Now it's just a cold – angry? – feeling at being unable to see her. She has had a lot of changes happen this past month, and his tutors have explained that others need support when life changes. The phone calls are enough for now, but how can he be sure what she feels if he can't see her?
For the most part, being so busy has kept him from thinking about it. This morning, though, Akira's mother told him about a playdate he will be attending, along with a few other children. Most of them he will know, but to his five years old self it is unacceptable she will make him go to visit people he barely knows when he's asked to see his friend.
Akira breathes and tries to rationalize the heavy emotions away. He is only five, however, and is better at pretending things are okay than actually working through his feelings. Repress and-
(pull strength from the one social link)
-get back to work.
;;;
Goro phones Tuesday night, asking if she's ever played basketball. Asking if Yume can stop by his practice.
She jogs up to the park just in time for him score a basket. Just in time for him to be swapped out.
It feels like the soccer classes are repeating themselves. Yet, he smiles and greets her warmly. They catch up, she explains that she has time to stop by once a week, if he wants her to come by.
"Of course," Mr. Akechi smiles, something a bit warm, not as guarded. "You can let me know how I've improved."
"If that's what you want. I'll be happy just to see you play."
She has to go long before he gets called back in, but for him it is okay. Seeing Yume was a simple reminder for Goro, that an unfair world does have few bright spots.
Meanwhile, Yume disappears in the crowds of people before teleporting to a safe room.
;;;
Haru calls Friday, excitedly going on about her new activities. She isn't allowed to hold the large knives yet, but she's learning thin slicing and the ins and outs of kitchen tools. Meanwhile, tennis is going amazing, and she's gearing up to asking her father into enrolling her in a gardening summer camp.
"But before that, you need to come over," Haru declares. "My next free day is the 26th."
"That works fine," Yume assures, carefully holding a piece of expensive vase while her guardian glues it. Her shoulder is kind of hurting from pressing on the phone, whoops.
Another few minutes of catching up, and then Yume can let go of the piece. She marks down the date before they hang-up, and it's only after that her stomach drops out.
"Come hold this," Hitoshi's too into fixing the vase twice Yume's size to notice. "You'll need the step stool."
Yume numbly holds it, taking deep breathes at the thought she might meet Haru's father for an extended period of time. She's yet to meet Ryuji's and the thought of being face-to-face with her friends' dads – more Metaverse targets – is terrifying. These are the people who rule their lives. They determine whether they can see each other or not.
Her child body hates the emotions coming with the thoughts of losing friends because she isn't 'good enough'.
"Will you walk to your friend's, or should I ask Kayo to give you a ride?"
Hitoshi breaks the thoughts. Yume's never been more grateful for him. "Can you ask for a ride?"
"Sure."
;;;
Sunday comes with Ms. Eguchi, with meeting Ryuji, with being a kid. He's in a gymnastic camp that goes all summer. Yume's being taught by Bones and Poppy, and in fact has another lesson with them later in the day.
Sunday comes with bright smiles and an invitation to Ryuji's birthday party next month. Yume agrees in an instant, laughing quietly to herself at how different and so familiar this is. He wants the Phoenix Ranger Featherman action figures, is excited that a movie for it will come out around his birthday next year.
There are bruises on both Sakamotos, but both are smiling. Ryuji's mother seems happy that he's happy, but to Yume it's not enough. He's too young to work for his happiness, so his friend will.
Even if it's not her place. Yume's known enough about the darker side to humanity that the decision will come down to who's the worst father. There is only one more place the treasure for the Check-In-Hotel could be, third and final time's the charm. After the Phantom Thieves change the hearts there, they'll do one of hers. They'll have no choice if they want to keep an intake of income.
Haru or Ryuji. Which one is in a worse place? It should be an easy decision, but nothing is ever simple in life.
;;;
Monday morning arrives. Hitoshi is cooking his breakfast while Yume is getting ready for one with Sojiro. It's completely coincidental she opens the door as said man is about to knock.
How did you get in here? "Hi Sojiro! Hi Futaba!" Why are you both here?
Ten minutes later, they get at least one answer. Sojiro explains, "Futaba doesn't want to go to any camps, and Wakaba is coming up on her vacation day limit. She's offered to pay if you'll babysit her throughout the day."
Yume and Hitoshi share a look, him at the kitchen table with the stressed man and her on the couch entertaining Futaba's budding anime addiction. She shrugs because, honestly, she's busy enough throughout the week but he's the one officially in charge here.
"For how long?" Hitoshi stresses.
"End of July."
Yume shrugs again when her guardian looks for guidance.
"Alright," Hitoshi agrees. "Here are my rates. Have Ms. Isshiki let me know if it works?"
"Thank you," Mr. Sakura huffs, grabbing his coat as he hurries for the door. "Have fun today, Futaba! Yume!"
"Bye!" the girls wave, some more excitable than others. Sure, it's a dent in Yume's plans, but nothing she can't work around. All Hitoshi has to do, is keep the three years old busy.
;;;
Ann stumbles, smile falling from her face as the world around her looks much, much different to how it had seconds ago.
"Äiti?!" she cries, shuffling towards the empty streets. Not even her caretaker is here. "Isä?! Äiti?! Isä?!"
As the blonde four years old screams for her mother and father, something else in the dungeon hears her calling.
A/N: Childhood Arc: Start. Thank you so much for reading and keeping with this story. The support really means a lot.
Thank you, kalmaegi, for your reviews! Oof, yah some uploads take ages to appear, especially two chapters back-to-back. Yep! The time shift had an echo-like effect, though how much will stick in the next time loop remains to be seen. Thank you so much for your reviews, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, xenocanaan, for your review! Glad to hear! I really hope you enjoyed the chapter and thank you again for your review!
Thank you, MiserableSOUL660, for your review! Her parents are definitely up to something… besides unintentionally ignoring their child. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, InnocentSerenade, for your review! Yume is definitely doing something to time, however unintentional. I haven't seen 'Kimi no Na wa'|'Your Name', but it sounds very interesting! I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you again for your review!
Thank you, Victoria, for your review! These 'new' thieves will slowly get more and more description the more they appear. They got so little explained about themselves (appearance or otherwise) last arc mainly because Yume wasn't focused on being near them. For these Thieves, the only ones not OCs are Tae Takemi (Death), Sadayo Kawakami (Temperance), and Kayo Murakami (Ichiko Ohya's work partner). I hope this helps. Unfortunately, the most a Wildcard could do is tell their active Persona to defend her. Yume will have a few tricks of her own, though. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, RavenMichaelis, for your review! I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you again for your review!
Thank you, starfish, for your review! Glad to hear! Thank you again for your review, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!
I hope everyone has a fantastic day