Hello everyone, I have returned from the dead and I am so sorry this next chapter took so long, I was getting around it I promise but then multiple things happened. The fuel in my inspiration tanks were empty so I was busy brainstorming ideas while I was waiting to be ready to work again, I tried to work and got distracted, I get easily procrastinated sometimes and a few things in life that really shattered my inspiration to work on anything. But I will do my best to make more with the series, idk if it will end, maybe it will but I've got plenty of ideas and I hope you are all looking forward to it! I always appreciate everyone's continued support, thank you all so much for that and for your patience.
The sun shone through Bradley's window causing him to slowly open his eyes. He started to sit up as Morgana approached him. "Good morning, you got quite the day ahead of you. I'm ready when you are."
Bradley stood up, got dressed and headed downstairs to see Sojiro for breakfast as he took a seat. Sojiro approached Bradley with a plate of curry and a cup of coffee and placed it in front of him. "Good morning, sleep well?"
Bradley nodded.
"Good, once you've finished that, help out with the dishes. You still remember how everything works around here right?"
Bradley nodded responding to Sojiro's question.
"Good but feel free to ask if there is something you're unsure of, always happy to help," Sojiro said with a slight smile then continued speaking. "Anyway, I'll let you finish up. You've got some time to kill so might as well help me out a little, I'd appreciate it."
Bradley continued to eat his curry while also drinking his coffee as he eventually finished and started washing dishes including his own. Futaba then stopped by with Kana for a short visit so they could have breakfast as well. Then after that, they waved as they left for school.
Bradley and Sojiro began working through the day as the customers came in for coffee and curry. After a couple of hours had passed. Once the usual customers had gone, and when the shop wasn't busy, Sojiro spoke up.
"Thanks for your help, I can handle things for now, go and explore town for a bit but be ready if I need you, I still know your number so don't worry, go relax for a bit."
Bradley nodded as he went to grab his bag with Morgana in it. After that he left Leblanc, and he began exploring the backstreets of Yongen-Yaya, re-familiarizing himself with the area. From places like the clinic, the supermarket and the second hand shop where Bradley got a few of his old electronics like the CRT TV and his gaming console.
Bradley took the train to Shibuya and explored the area, as he walked through the underground mall, he picked up a magazine and saw Ann on the cover. It was similar to the one he was given as a gift but this was a new issue. Bradley had a quick flick through while thinking back to his first days of school when he met Ann, she was a victim of the student abuse with Kamoshida. His palace was the place where Bradley, Ryuji and Ann awakened to their power of their Persona, defeated his guards, and took his treasure. Morgana instantly fell in love at first sight but Ann constantly rejected him, her purpose was to give others hope, especially her best friend she cared deeply for, Shiho.
Morgana popped out of the bag curious of what Bradley was looking at. "What's up?" He asked, then looked at the magazine. "Oooh, Lady Ann. I see she's doing well being a model." He sighs lightly as he asks, "You think she'll fall for me one day? I've tried what I could but maybe if I could become human, she would give me the attention I want."
"Possibly," Bradley replied.
"Thanks, I mean you were able to score your love, I mean, you have your looks, kindness, a lot of great features about you. But just wait till I'm human, heh heh, I hope to be as handsome as you are," Morgana replied with a smirk. Bradley then smiled as he put the magazine away and continued walking.
After walking around the city, Bradley returned to Leblanc to wait for Futaba then after some time, Futaba came over with Kana as Bradley approached them.
"Yo, how are you fitting in?" Futaba asked as she was the first to speak up.
"Like a face in the crowd," Bradley replied plainly
"Ooooo, so mysterious, hehe," Futaba replied while shaking her hands in pretend fear for fun.
"So ummm, this won't take long but do you mind helping us with our homework?"
"Not at all," Bradley answered with a smile.
"Great! Let's go!" Futaba shouted cheerfully as she fist pumps. Bradley, Futaba and Kana then made their way upstairs and set up the table in the attic as they began working on homework problems.
Some time passed as they finished their homework. Once they had finished everything, Bradley stretched and Futaba began to speak. "Thanks for your help, we really appreciate it." Futaba then flopped her upper body on the table. "Is school always going to be this hard?"
Bradley raised his fist with enthusiasm. "You can do it, I believe in you."
Futaba sat up quickly. "You're right, we've tackled WAY bigger challenges than this!" Futaba slammed her finger on the paper proving her point. "I'll definitely be ready next time!"
Kana put her hand on Futaba's back supporting her as she spoke up as well. "You have me helping you as well so don't you worry, me you and Bradley, we're with you and we're gonna get through this."
"Definitely" Futaba said, nodding a little. "After all, I do wanna…" Futaba suddenly blushed deeply as she recalled a memory.
Ryuji: Marriage, huh… Do you wanna get married Bradley?
Bradley: Of course.
Futaba: M-M-M-Marriage...?!
"...you wanna what?" Kana asked a few seconds after Futaba stopped talking.
Futaba regained her composure and then pushed up her glasses. She smiled widely, still blushing a little as she spoke "It's a secret! For now...uhhh, yeah. Let's do our best at school, Like always!"
"Well, we've got the boring stuff out of the way, I'll walk Kana to the station then we can be alone together, wait here for me okay?"
Bradley nodded.
While he was waiting, Morgana popped out of his bag and spoke up. "I think I'll leave you two alone, I might get more jealous, take me outside? There might still be customers down there."
Bradley gave another nod before he stood up, picked up the bag and went downstairs heading outside. Morgana then jumped out onto the ground and a moment later looked up at Bradley.
"I'll go take a walk around, I'll be fine and I won't go far, you have fun then come get me when you're ready." Morgana left to walk around, then Futaba approached Bradley.
"What's up with Mona?"
"He's giving us privacy," Bradley replied
Futaba frowned slightly, when she spoke, her tone had slight concern in it. "Ah, I see. He's not mad or anything? Don't want that to happen again."
"I trust him," Bradley replied again
"Alright, let's go then."
Bradley and Futaba both headed upstairs after that. Once up there, they both sat on the couch close together. Bradley reached his arm around Futaba as she felt her heartbeat hasten.
She then looked up at him. "I-Is this okay? I mean, I know I missed you all but…"
"You worry too much."
"Yeah, you're probably right, I'm just nervous is all."
Bradley and Futaba then proceeded to kiss for a few seconds. It was a peaceful bliss between the two of them. After they broke away from the kiss, she spoke up again.
"I've been waiting for that for a long time, we never actually had our first kiss!"
"How did it feel?"
"...Warm and sweet, I want more."
Futaba then gripped Bradley's shirt with one hand. She smiled before putting her other hand around his back and pulled him down. With her tight grip practically forcing him to kiss her more, Bradley didn't mind as he let Futaba continue. With their eyes both closed, they then proceed to enjoy the romantic evening they had together. Every moment a new wonderful memory in their minds.
A while later, Futaba laid on Bradley enjoying his warm embrace. Bradley patted her head a few times as she smiled broadly.
"I finally have my reward for my hard work, totally worth it. I love you."
"I love you too."
Futaba sat up, stretching slightly before speaking. "Alright, I am satisfied for now but I may want more later, for now. Lemme tell you what I discovered. Now this may sound unusual but I've been looking through Mom's research a little more, I know we erased the metaverse and all that but I managed to recover the research that Shido stole from her. I had a feeling they couldn't have deleted every trace of it, they had to keep around a spare or something just in case."
"How did you recover the data?"
Futaba hummed softly as she thought on the question for a second before replying. "Let's just say I'm sneaky and smart."
Futaba then stood up and started motioning her hands around as she explained.
"So, as I was reading the research about the cognitive world and how we can go there. Shadows, cognitions, treasures, yadda yadda yadda. I have this special program which I used to detect anomalies in the area and guess where I found an anomaly!?" Futaba spoke rather excitedly as she dramatically pointed at Bradley's TV remote.
Bradley looks over to where Futaba pointsed, he then grabbed the remote and tossed it to her. Futaba then turns on the TV, acting dramatic again. "Voila!"
Bradley turned his attention to the TV as an image of the beach was displayed. With a slightly confused look, he turned back to Futaba.
"Oops! Heh heh, wrong channel," Futaba muttered, a little embarrassed as she positioned her thumb on the right button correcting her mistake. With her dramatic flare quickly returning, she changed the channel. "Now! Voila!"
Futaba then switched the channel to a commercial for the new burger joint GalaxyBurgers.
"That's where we are going to investigate. If my theory is right, well…let's just say Ryuji is going to flip."
Bradley's eyes widened in surprise. There was a small pause before he started to smile, getting a good feeling about what Futaba said. Then she walked over to him and offered her hand to help him up.
"Let's go, leader," Futaba said with a smirk "We've got work to do."